A special treat this week. We don’t often delve deep into the 1950s and 1960s with our mixtapes but when our friend Tony Higgins offered us the chance to post this stellar mix of jazz, we just couldn’t say no. Originally posted on his own TonyTales Mixcloud, we are pleased to offer it up once again and just from the tracklisting alone, you can tell this ranks right up there when it comes to heavyweight selections. Featuring music from an all-star cast of musicians including Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Jordan, Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard and Hank Mobley, there’s over an hour’s worth of hard bop, soul jazz and classic jazz grooves to get your teeth into. From the opening strains of ‘Theme From The Cool World’ right through to the cool interplay of Garland, Coltrane and Byrd on closing cut ‘Birk’s Work’, this is the sweeping and undistilled sound of a genre as it moved away from swing and ventured deeper. Give it a listen and let us know what your think!
For more Tony Higgins selections, make sure to check our mix archive.
TRACKLIST
Dizzy Gillespie – Theme from ‘The Cool World’ (Philips, 1964)
Clifford Jordan – One Flight Up (Jazzland, 1961)
Les McCann & Bobby Hutcherson – Oatmeal (Fontana, 1961)
Bobby Timmons – Dat Dere (Riverside, 1960)
Dave Bailey Qunitet – Comin Home Baby (Epic, 1961)
Oliver Nelson, King Curtis & Jimmy Forrest -Â Anacruses (Esquire, 1960)
Jimmy Smith – One O’Clock Jump (Blue Note, 1960)
Ben Webster – Late Date (Verve, 1957)
Rocky Boyd Quintet – Why Not? (Jazztime, 1961)
Milt Jackson – The Spirit Feel (Atlantic, 1957)
Ernie Henry – Orient (Riverside, 1956)
Freddie Hubbard – One Mint Julip (Blue Note, 1960)
Paul Horn Quintet – Count Your Change (Columbia, 1962)
Bobby Hutcherson – Ivy League Blues (Fontana, 1961)
Teddy Edwards Quartet – Blues in G (Contemporary, 1960)
Curtis Fuller & Benny Golson Jazztet – Kachin (Savoy, 1960)
Hank Mobley – Mighty Mo & Joe (Blue Note, 1957)
Red Garland Quintet feat. John Coltrane & Donald Byrd - Birk’s Work (Prestige, 1957)
FILE UNDER:Â Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Modal Jazz