Stan Hope feat. Houston Person - Put on a Happy Face

Killer session featuring the great Stan Hope on piano, a player who has been active for seven (!) decades as an active jazz pianist and a long-time sidekick of great tenor sax man Houston Person who participates on three numbers. Stalwarts Ray Drummond and Kenny Washington on bass and drums respectively provide the rhythmic foundation and superb sound is guaranteed by the great Rudy Van Gelder, what more could a jazz lover ask for?

track listing

1. R.D.'s Blues
2. Then I'll Be Tired of You
3. My Ship
4. Easy to Love
5. Put on a Happy Face
6. They Can't Take That Away from Me
7. I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is Over
8. Somewhere in the Night
9. Medley: I'll Never Stop Loving You/The Island: I'll Never Stop Loving You / The Island
10. K.W. Groove


personnel & info

Audio Mixer: Rudy Van Gelder.

Liner Note Author: David Jaye.

Recording information: Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (12/22/2004).

Personnel: Stan Hope (piano); Stan Hope; Houston Person (tenor saxophone); Ray Drummond (bass guitar); Kenny Washington (drums).

Additional personnel: Houston Person (on tracks 1, 2 & 7)

Tim Hagans & Marcus Printup - HubSongs - The Music of Freddie Hubbard

The Hub, of course, is Freddie Hubbard and although he doesn't play he's definitely at the center of this recording. Freddie picked and arranged the tunes, which are, save for one, all Hubbard originals. Hagans and Printup have both expressed their admiration for Hubbard's work and their delight in tackling his sometimes complex music is evident throughout. The bulk of the material is drawn from Hubbard's hard bop days at BlueNote and his jazz/funk output for the Atlantic label. Vincent Herring (alto), Javon Jackson (tenor), Benny Green (piano), Peter Washington (bass), and Kenny Washington (drums) provide the twin trumpeters with "all-star" support. Green is most effective in a duo role with Hagans and Printup while Jackson gets to strut his stuff on "Thermo", a bop classic that dates back to Hubbard's tenure with Art Blakey. Herring is best heard on an intense performance of "Life Flight". The real stars of this date are, of course, Tim and Marcus. I'm betting that Freddie was thrilled by their crackling interplay and inventive improvisations on this terrific "tribute" CD. ~ John Sharpe @ allaboutjazz.com


Tracklisting:
1. Backlash
2. Happy Times
3. Hub Cap
4. Lament For Booker
5. On the que-Tee
6. Crisis
7. Byrd Like
8. Thermo
9. Up Jumped Spring
10. Life Flight

Release Date: Jan. 13, 1998
Recorded at Avatar Studio C, New York, New York on August 1 & 2, 1997
Produced & arranged by Freddie Hubbard
High-rez recording mastered from 20-bit sources