ProJazz.net

In May 1961, Jack Sheldon recorded what today is one of his rarest and most interesting albums—A Jazz Profile of Ray Charles (Reprise). Over two days, the West Coast trumpeter recorded with a trio—Marty Paich (p,org), Joe Mondragon (b) and John Markham (d)., and when the album came out in July, the back cover featured an essay by Ray Charles praising Sheldon.

What’s particularly fascinating about this album is how much air Sheldon puts through his horn and how ruminative his playing is as he takes on Charles’s singing voice. Also terrific is Paich’s quirky organ, which has a hard tonality set to sound like Charles’ organ on Genius + Soul = Jazz, released two months earlier. Paich almost as if the organ is an accordion, sustaining chords until his fingers move seamlessly on to the next one, making it seem as if the instrument is being operated by a bellows.

For those who dig Sheldon, this is an opportunity to hear him out in the open, with just a supportive trio. The result is wonderful evidence of his technique, his improvisational choices and his soul (Marc Myers/JazzWax).

Track listing:

01. Am I Blue? (Akst-Clarke) 0:00
02. Just for a Thrill (Armstrong-Raye) 2:29
03. Basin Street Blues (Spencer Williams) 5:55
04. When Your Lover Has Gone (Einar Aaron Swan) 8:42
05. Cherry (Redman-Gilbert) 11:23
06. Moonlight in Vermont (Blackburn-Suessdorf) 14:00
07. ‘Deed I Do (Rose-Hirsh) 16:18
08. Come Rain or Come Shine (Arlen-Mercer) 18:47
09. There’s No You (Hopper-Adair) 21:10
10. One Mint Julep (Rudy Toombs) 23:41
11. Georgia on My Mind (Carmichael-Gorrell) 27:36
12. Rosetta (Hines-Woode) 29:40

Personnel:

Bass – Joe Mondragon
Drums – John Markham
Organ – Marty Paich
Trumpet – Jack Sheldon

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Label: Not On Label – none
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Test Pressing, Blank White label
Country: US
Released: 1961