The Jazz Feature: Saxophonist/clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre: "Ad Lib"

Tonight's Jazz Feature is an atypical recording by multi-instrumentalist/composer Jimmy Giuffre. He had been mostly associated with "West Coast Jazz" or "Cool Jazz", a style prominent in the 1950's that combined tight arrangements with Jazz solos. Giuffre in 1958 had gigged with his "folk Jazz" trio in New York and while there he was impressed with the harder, more emotionally outgoing Jazz of Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and returned to L.A. where he was based a bit of a changed man as he wanted to be more outgoing and emotional in his playing. He had great technique on his horns, clarinet and tenor saxophone and changed his approach. Hence tonight's recording which is a quartet date with minimal arrangements and featuring Giuffre on his two horns backed by a solid rhythm section with the great Jimmy Rowles on piano, Red Mitchell on bass and Lawrence aka Larence Marable on drums. The album is a mix of standards and original simple compositions by Giuffre. It all adds up to a fine date representing a different approach to the music by a very talented man who left an amazing legacy of music of many styles. The Jimmy Giuffre Four: "Ad Lib" should be a treat for your ears.