Tommy Flanagan - Jazz Poet (1989)

Tommy Flanagan - Jazz Poet (1989)

Thomas Lee Flanagan (16 March 1930, 16 November 2001) was an American jazz pianist born in Detroit, Michigan, particularly remembered as an accompanist of Ella Fitzgerald. He played on a number of critically acclaimed recordings, such as John Coltrane's Giant Steps, Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus , The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, and Art Pepper's Straight Life. The Tommy Flanagan Trio (with bassist Wilbur Little and drummer Elvin Jones) released their first album, Tommy Flanagan Trio Overseas, in 1957. Flanagan's style was both modest and exceptionally musical. He embodied many of the most important qualities associated with jazz: swing, harmonic sophistication, melodic invention, bluesy feel and humour. Interestingly, he appeared on a number of highly innovative albums. (His awkward solo on the extremely fast and harmonically complex title-track of Giant Steps is a rare [if famous] instance on record of the usually unflappable pianist being caught off-guard.)

Track Listings

1. Raincheck - Tommy Flanagan, Strayhorn, B.
2. Lament - Tommy Flanagan, Johnson, Osie
3. Willow Weep for Me - Tommy Flanagan, Ronell, Ann
4. Caravan - Tommy Flanagan, Ellington, Duke
5. That Tired Routine Called Love - Tommy Flanagan, Dennis, Matt
6. Glad to Be Unhappy - Tommy Flanagan, Rodgers
7. St. Louis Blues - Tommy Flanagan, Handy, W.C.
8. Mean Streets - Tommy Flanagan, Flanagan, Tommy
9. I'm Old Fashioned - Tommy Flanagan, Kern, Jerome
10. Voce Abuse - Tommy Flanagan, Lins, Ivan