Frank Strozier – Fantastic Frank Strozier

Thanks! Share it with your friends!

Close

Fantastic Frank Strozier is the debut album by American saxophonist Frank Strozier, recorded in 1959 and 1960 for Vee-Jay Records. The personnel includes the rhythm section from part of Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue, recorded earlier in 1959.

Scott Yanow of AllMusic describes the music of Fantastic Frank Strozier as “advanced hard bop” that “is both enjoyable and (due to Little’s presence) somewhat historic”; (trumpeter Booker Little died in 1961 after a short but brilliant career, making this album one of Little’s few recordings). Critics Richard Cook and Brian Morton of The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave the album a favorable review, noting that “we have long held this record in high esteem and it never fails to deliver.

 

 

Track listing:
All compositions by Frank Strozier except as indicated

“W. K. Blues” (Wynton Kelly) – 4:07
“A Starling’s Theme” – 5:27
“I Don’t Know” – 8:19
“Waltz of the Demons” (Booker Little) – 5:42
“Runnin'” – 4:20
“Off Shore” (Leo Diamond, Michael Goldsen) – 6:51
“Lucka Duce” – 9:57
“Run” – 3:39
“Tibbit” – 9:51
“Just in Time” (Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green) – 7:30

Personnel:
Frank Strozier – alto saxophone
Booker Little – trumpet
Wynton Kelly – piano
Paul Chambers – bass
Jimmy Cobb – drums

_______________

Released: 1960
Recorded: December 9, 1959 (#1-2, 7-10)
February 3, 1960 (#3-6, 11)
Studio:
Fine Sound (New York City) (#1-2, 7-10)Bell Sound (New York City) (#3-6, 11)
Length: 34:46 original LP
72:15 CD reissue
Label: Vee-Jay
VJLP 3005
Producer: Sid McCoy