Gigi Gryce - Nica's Tempo (1955) {Savoy Jazz Japan, Mini LP, CY-18057 rel 1998}
Gigi Gryce - Nica's Tempo (1955) {Savoy Jazz Japan, Mini LP, CY-18057 rel 1998}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 207 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 106 Mb
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© 1955, 1998 Savoy Jazz / Denon Records Japan | CY-18057
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Saxophone
Oh…if these sessions could have only been issued in separate long forms with the bands that are included. Nica's Tempo comprises six tracks with Gigi Gryce's groundbreaking big band, and another four ostensibly as a member of the Thelonious Monk quartet, all from 1955. Each band showcases the estimable compositional and arranging genius of Gryce, as well as his unique sound on the alto saxophone. In this CD format, the music serves a purpose in displaying Gryce's many talents, but ultimately leaves the listener wanting more. What the orchestra tracks offer in terms of an advanced concept paired with extraordinary musicianship is indisputably brilliant.
The combination of Gryce with Monk is unparalleled in another way, the brief but fruitful joining of jazz masters that helped both of them grow, while attaining a symbiosis that Monk only reached briefly with Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and later in extensia with Charlie Rouse. Gryce is perfectly situated in his element, able to not only exploit the individualism of his bandmates, but play his slightly tart alto sax in a manner that very few have ever imagined. His shining charts emphasize lower octave tones by baritone saxes, trombones, French horns, tuba, the lone trumpet of Art Farmer, and no extra woodwinds. This larger band, averaging ten pieces, is influenced by Duke Ellington during the fully flowered ballad "In a Meditating Mood," or traditional Irish music on the short and sweet, perfectly layered, bluesy swinger "Kerry Dance." Dizzy Gillespie's complex bop visage is present for the nifty, sub-toned, dynamically controlled in mezzo piano, hard surfaced and simmering "Smoke Signal," with clever meter switchings from 4/4, 3/4, or 2/4, while Bill Barber's tuba lurks underneath. The opener "Speculation" reflects its title, with the composer Horace Silver's piano solo intro nicely drawn out, merging into warm simple horn charts with off-minor flourishes – a great jazz composition – especially engaging considering this is an emerging Silver at age 27. Ernestine Anderson's Sarah Vaughan styled dusky voice is featured in slight echoplex production on the all-time classic "Social Call" about a left behind lover still hoping for a reconnect, while her confessional balladic rendition of (You'll Always Be) "The One I Love" is as passionate as any romantic love song ever. The Monk quartet tracks are as precious as can be, with the dynamite rhythm section of Percy Heath and Art Blakey really on top of it. The pianist is happy to hand the spotlight to Gryce on selections made more famous later on by Herbie Nichols or the Steve Lacy and Roswell Rudd bands. He's comfortably animated during "Shuffle Boil" cutting loose with flurries of notes, using staccato and staggered phrases for "Brake's Sake," and traverses the treacherous, slippery melody of "Gallop's Gallop" as if it had no degree of difficulty. Gryce's Nica's Tempo concludes in off-minor and obtuse angles as Monk liked it, with Heath and Blakey swinging expertly as only they could. These performances are nothing short of flawless, and though one might wish for additional tracks or outtakes, this album remains highly recommended with no reservation, and one for the ages.
Gigi Gryce - Nica's Tempo (1955) {Savoy Jazz Japan, Mini LP, CY-18057 rel 1998}
Personnel
Gigi Gryce - alto sax
Art Farmer - trumpet
Eddie Bert, Jimmy Cleveland - trombone
Danny Bank, Cecil Payne - barithone sax
Gunther Schuller, Julius Watkins - french horn
Bill Barber - tuba
Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk - piano
Oscar Pettiford, Percy Heath - bass
Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke - drums
Ernestine Anderson - voice
Track Listing
01 - Speculation
02 - In a Meditating Mood
03 - Social Call
04 - Smoke Signal
05 - (You'll Always Be) the One I Love
06 - Kerry Dance
07 - Shuffle Boil
08 - Brakes Sake
09 - Gallop's Gallop
10 - Nica's Tempo
EAC extraction logfile from 10. December 2009, 16:31 for CD
Gigi Gryce / Nica's Tempo
Used drive : HP DVD Writer 1170d Adapter: 2 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Used output format : C:\Eac\Codecs\flac.exe (User Defined Encoder)
320 kBit/s
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "artist=%a" -T "title=%t" -T "album=%g" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%n" -T "genre=%m" -T "comment=EAC Flac 1.1.2 -8" %s
Other options :
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Installed external ASPI interface
Track 1
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\01 - Speculation.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D434DE11
Copy CRC D434DE11
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\02 - In a Meditating Mood.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:01.90
Peak level 96.4 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 57F4B035
Copy CRC 57F4B035
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\03 - Social Call.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:01.84
Peak level 98.0 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 9C9A2D62
Copy CRC 9C9A2D62
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\04 - Smoke Signal.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.06
Peak level 95.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC E6F76366
Copy CRC E6F76366
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\05 - (You'll Always Be) the One I Love.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:01.69
Peak level 84.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC B61151C3
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Track 6
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\06 - Kerry Dance.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.02
Peak level 95.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 93A4BDCE
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Track 7
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\07 - Shuffle Boil.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.17
Peak level 97.3 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 6ABBBCDB
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Track 8
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\08 - Brakes Sake.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.09
Peak level 97.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC F31FD10F
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Track 9
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\09 - Gallop's Gallop.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.04
Peak level 96.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 849883CB
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Track 10
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\10 - Nica's Tempo.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.60
Peak level 99.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 2510613E
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No errors occured
End of status report
Gigi Gryce / Nica's Tempo
Used drive : HP DVD Writer 1170d Adapter: 2 ID: 0
Read mode : Secure with NO C2, accurate stream, disable cache
Read offset correction : 6
Overread into Lead-In and Lead-Out : No
Used output format : C:\Eac\Codecs\flac.exe (User Defined Encoder)
320 kBit/s
Additional command line options : -8 -V -T "artist=%a" -T "title=%t" -T "album=%g" -T "date=%y" -T "tracknumber=%n" -T "genre=%m" -T "comment=EAC Flac 1.1.2 -8" %s
Other options :
Fill up missing offset samples with silence : Yes
Delete leading and trailing silent blocks : No
Installed external ASPI interface
Track 1
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\01 - Speculation.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.00
Peak level 100.0 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC D434DE11
Copy CRC D434DE11
Copy OK
Track 2
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\02 - In a Meditating Mood.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:01.90
Peak level 96.4 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 57F4B035
Copy CRC 57F4B035
Copy OK
Track 3
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\03 - Social Call.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:01.84
Peak level 98.0 %
Track quality 99.9 %
Test CRC 9C9A2D62
Copy CRC 9C9A2D62
Copy OK
Track 4
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\04 - Smoke Signal.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.06
Peak level 95.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC E6F76366
Copy CRC E6F76366
Copy OK
Track 5
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\05 - (You'll Always Be) the One I Love.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:01.69
Peak level 84.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC B61151C3
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Track 6
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\06 - Kerry Dance.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.02
Peak level 95.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 93A4BDCE
Copy CRC 93A4BDCE
Copy OK
Track 7
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\07 - Shuffle Boil.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.17
Peak level 97.3 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 6ABBBCDB
Copy CRC 6ABBBCDB
Copy OK
Track 8
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\08 - Brakes Sake.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.09
Peak level 97.8 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC F31FD10F
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Copy OK
Track 9
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\09 - Gallop's Gallop.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.04
Peak level 96.5 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 849883CB
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Track 10
Filename C:\Documents and Settings\gigi\10 - Nica's Tempo.wav
Pre-gap length 0:00:02.60
Peak level 99.6 %
Track quality 100.0 %
Test CRC 2510613E
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No errors occured
End of status report
Gigi Gryce - Nica's Tempo (1955) {Savoy Jazz Japan, Mini LP, CY-18057 rel 1998}
Gigi Gryce - Nica's Tempo (1955) {Savoy Jazz Japan, Mini LP, CY-18057 rel 1998}
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