Houston Person

So Nice High Note***

The word "jazz" has been stretched in so many directions over the past few decades that we now need a new word to describe the music as it used to be. Or you could just check out this slice of classic American mainstream from a veteran tenor saxophonist. Known for his Prestige recordings in the late 1960s, Houston Person has a big, soulful sound and exudes a Coleman Hawkins kind of languor that makes everything cool. The septet accompanying him here on a set of lesser- known standards is similarly louche, including trumpeter Warren Vaché, guitarist Howard Alden, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Lewis Nash. There are hundreds of classic albums in this style, and if you don't own any at all, this wouldn't be the place to start. But if you already own most of the others, then So Niceis a good example of the sort of record you had despaired of ever hearing again. See jazzdepot.com