1956 The Lawrence Marable Quartet Featuring James Clay “Tenorman” on Jazz West

Sure, the cover has seen a few Rent Parties, and survived the terms of twelve presidents, while the vinyl appears to have bopped its way from swing to disco to hip hop to trance to thrash without much care for its health and safety, but as all of us have remarked again and again, sometimes these hammered old discs sound fantastic! There’s definitely a little crackle at times, but it’s minor compared to the fullness and depth of the sound. Single mic, single take mono recording on half-inch tape is a gift from the music gods! As is languorous, syrupy, heavy brass quartet bop that is as much about tone as arrangement or improvisation. Yup, it’s bourbon music, late night music, rueful reflection music, seduction music, Manhattan at sunrise music. I love everything about Jazz West, from graphics to heavy wax to photography (William Claxton!) to art to font to choice of releases. Ultra early Kenny Drew! Jack Sheldon! Mr. PC! Artie Pep! They didn’t last long or have a big run, but they did it in style and pure sound. Lawrence Marable (his only release as leader but played on many HEAVY records) on drums and Sonny Clark (pre-Blue Note!) on piano are a genius combination, and then add Jimmy Bond on bass and the way-underrated and bold-toned James Clay as the Man Of Tenor, and you have a genuinely killer straight jazz record that cooks and swings and totally ignores the “cool” sound of both its label and peers. TOP action.