One of the nice things about new recording technology is that two older albums can often be re-released on one CD. The Red Rodney Quintets combines Modern Music from Chicago and Broadway, two recordings from the early-to-mid-'50s. On the first set Rodney is joined by tenor Ira Sullivan, pianist... [+] Expand

One of the nice things about new recording technology is that two older albums can often be re-released on one CD. The Red Rodney Quintets combines Modern Music from Chicago and Broadway, two recordings from the early-to-mid-'50s. On the first set Rodney is joined by tenor Ira Sullivan, pianist Norman Simmons, bassist Victor Sproles, and drummer Roy Haynes. All 12 selections sound great, but the slower numbers seem to be the band's forte. "Red Is Blue" is a relaxed piece that gives Rodney plenty of room for some nice, intricate work, which is balanced agreeably by Sullivan's fiery horn. "Laura" is another standout, with the muted horn delivering spare, melodic lines against the backdrop of Simmons' piano. The second set finds trumpeter Rodney teaming up with alto Jimmy Ford, pianist Phil Raphael, bassist Phil Leshin, and drummer Phil Brown. The band's beautiful rendition of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" shows that sometimes the origin of a song matters less than the way it is approached. This pop song works perfectly as a jazz standard, converted by way of odney's trumpet. Without knowing the original, the listener would probably believe it to be a Gershwin or Porter song. "The Baron," a nice up-tempo piece, begins with some swinging harmony from the horns before breaking into lively solos. Both sets are satisfying and work well together, giving the listener nearly 70 minutes of nicely performed modern jazz. For the Rodney fan, or for lovers of great trumpet music, The Red Rodney Quintets is a fine release. ~ Ronnie Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide [-] Collapse

• songs
• similar
• videos
• eyeviews
• reviews
• download directory