Coles, Johnny – Little Johnny C

Description

New Vinyl Record -Coles, Johnny – Little Johnny C

This Blue Note Classic Vinyl Edition is stereo, all-analog, mastered byKevin Grayfrom the original master tapes, and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.

TrumpeterJohnny Coleswas performing with the Gil Evans Orchestra at Birdland in 1959 when he unknowingly made a fan who would open an important door for him a few years later. That fan was pianistDuke Pearson, who was enthralled by the trumpeters solo spotlight that night, and after hearing him again the next year as a featured soloist inJames Moodys band, Pearson and Coles formed their own musical relationship and began performing together frequently.Alfred Lioncame to hear Pearson at one such gig a couple of years later and loved what he heard, in particular a tune of Pearsons called Little Johnny C. Lion gave Pearson the greenlight to assemble a Blue Note recording date with Coles as the leader, and so Pearson selected a program including five of his own original compositions that showcased Coles unique abilities such as the hard-charging Heavy Legs, the lilting waltz My Secret Passion, and the tender ballad So Sweet My Little Girl. The dynamic sextet Pearson put together for the date included himself on piano,Joe Hendersonon tenor saxophone,Leo Wrighton alto saxophone and flute,Bob Cranshawon bass, and splitting drum duties wereWalter Perkins(Side 1) andPete La Roca(Side 2). Little Johnny C, recorded in 1963, would be the only album Coles would cut for Blue Note, but it remains a little-known treasure of the catalog.

A1: Little Johnny C.
A2: Hobo Joe
A3: Jano
B1: My Secret Passion
B2: Heavy Legs
B3: So Sweet My Little Girl