Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and
Shirley Scott set an enduring standard for tenor saxophone/organ groups, beginning with this, their first recording together.
Davis' authoritative, hard swinging style came through seasoning as a key player in the
Count Basie band.
Scott, an accomplished pianist, took up the organ when she joined
Davis in 1955, emerging with her distinctive, driving yet subtle style virtually fully formed. The music on this 1958 date holds few surprises; it's meat and potatoes all the way, but it's made using the choicest ingredients. The barbecue sauce is applied in moderation, as the band steers closer to
Basie-style swing than to overt R&B riffing.
Davis and his working band --
Scott and drummer
Arthur Edgehill -- are joined here by reed player
Jerome Richardson and bassist
George Duvivier.
Richardson, playing flute on most tracks, provides a useful complement to
Davis' tenor.
Duviver is indispensable in anchoring the music with a commanding walking bass.
Edgehill's quick, light touch helps maintain the swinging, jazzy feel. The tracks comprise three strong
Davis originals, two standards, including "But Beautiful," which ranks as a master class in ballad playing, and the CD's centerpiece, the 12-minute plus "In the Kitchen." This slow blues by
Johnny Hodges has room for extended soloing all around in a performance that underlines the skill, passion, and artistry that made the
Davis and
Scott partnership a potent and influential combination. ~ Jim Todd