Broadcast on 03-Jan-2011

Alto saxophonist John Jenkins was a rather shadowy figure on the Jazz scene in New York in the 50's. John was born on Jan. 3,1931 in Chicago and today would be his 80th birthday...he died in 1993. Jenkins worked with Mingus for a very short time after arriving in New York in March 1957 then he freelanced. He recorded a number of dates in 1957 as a sideman and a couple as a leader...that's basically it. He dropped out of active playing to go into business and raise his family. The Feature tonight is a tribute to Jenkins' great talent. It's his only album under his name for Blue Note Records and was done in August 1957. John is partnered on the front line by guitarist Kenny Burrell. The rhythm section is a stellar one with the legendary Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and John's friend from his time with Mingus, drummer Dannie Richmond. This rare item has some good standards like Cole Porter's "From This Moment On" and the ballad feature made famous by Billy Eckstine, "Everything I Have Is Yours". The rest is made up of 3 Jenkins originals and one by Kenny Burrell. All in all a worthy tribute to a fine and almost forgotten talent...Mr.John Jenkins a strong voice of the alto saxophone.