Name: Gemini by Les Spann
Brand: Les Spann
SKU: 8718375724590
Price: 7.92 USD
Availability: OnlineOnly
Rating: 4 (56 reviews)

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1

Smile View on Youtube

06:13

Popularity 5/10

06:13

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2

Con Alma View on Youtube

03:37

Popularity 5/10

03:37

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3

Q's Dues Blues View on Youtube

06:15

Popularity 5/10

06:15

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4

It Might As Well Be Spring View on Youtube

04:45

Lyrics available

Lyrics available

Popularity 10/10

04:45

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5

Stockholm Sweetnin' View on Youtube

05:35

Popularity 3/10

05:35

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6

Blues For Gemini View on Youtube

04:54

Popularity 10/10

04:54

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7

Afterthought View on Youtube

05:08

Popularity 3/10

05:08

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8

(There Is) No Greater Love View on Youtube

04:47

Lyrics available

Lyrics available

Popularity 10/10

04:47

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Les Spann was a perfect example of a jazz artist who had an impressive list of sideman credentials but never got very far as a leader. Although he played with heavyweights like Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Hodges, and Ben Webster, the guitarist/flutist didn't record on his own extensively -- which is regrettable because Spann was an intriguing musician. How many guitarists are equally proficient when it comes to playing the flute? Spann's two instruments get equal time on Gemini, an excellent hard bop date that was produced by the ubiquitous Orrin Keepnews. This album, which Fantasy reissued on CD on its Original Jazz Classics imprint in 2001, was recorded at two different sessions in December 1960. One finds Spann on flute, while the other finds him on guitar. Both sessions employ Julius Watkins on French horn, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Sam Jones on upright bass, but there are two different drummers -- Al "Tootie" Heath at one session, Louis Hayes at the other. Spann gives 100 percent at both sessions. As a guitarist, he is bluesy and expressive on material that ranges from Quincy Jones' "Stockholm Sweetnin'" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" to the standard "There Is No Greater Love." But he is equally impressive when he picks up the flute on tracks that include the melancholy "Afterthought" and a lyrical performance of the standard "It Might as Well Be Spring." One thing Spann doesn't do on this album is play both flute and guitar on the same tune; he is careful to keep them separate. And while it would have been interesting to hear him play a flute solo right after a guitar solo, Gemini is still excellent. It's too bad that Spann didn't do a lot more recording as a leader.

1. Smile

by Les Spann

Primary Artist: Les Spann; Main Performer
Music Publisher: Emi United Partnership Ltd.; Other
Musicpublisher: Emi United Partnership Ltd.; Other

2. Con Alma

by Les Spann

Primary Artist: Les Spann; Main Performer
Music Publisher: Emi Music Publishing Ltd.; Other
Musicpublisher: Emi Music Publishing Ltd.; Other

3. Q's Dues Blues

by Les Spann

Primary Artist: Les Spann; Main Performer
Music Publisher: Prestige Music Ltd.; Other
Musicpublisher: Prestige Music Ltd.; Other

4. It Might As Well Be Spring

by Les Spann

Primary Artist: Les Spann; Main Performer
Music Publisher: Warner Music Publishing Ltd./ Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd.; Other
Musicpublisher: Warner Music Publishing Ltd./ Warner Chappell Music Publishing Ltd.; Other