1. Straight Ahead
2. When Malindy Sings
3. In the Red
4. Blue Monk
5. Left Alone
6. African Lady
7. Retribution
Abbey Lincoln – Vocals
Max Roach – Drums
Coleman Hawkins, Walter Benton, Eric Dolphy
– Saxes
Mal Waldron – Piano
Booker Little – Trumpet
Julian Priester – Trombone
Art
Davis – Bass
Recorded
in 1961 in NYC.
Apparently
show business professionals had tried to turn
Abbey Lincoln into a cabaret performer, instead
of the jazz performer she wanted to be. This
album was the time she broke free from all
that, to become the out-and-out jazz performer
she is known as. She has a very powerful voice
and a big range, which this recording amply
demonstrates. In her later recordings, she
got so far away from the original songs that
it was hard to recognise them, but it is not
the case here.
The
all-star accompanying group affords her excellent
support, I particularly liked the ‘Hawk’ of
course, but Booker Little plays a very fine
trumpet. There are a lot of slow tracks which
does give the album a mournful feel, but I
associate Mal Waldron, who wrote the arrangements,
with that kind of music.
Max Roach as usual excels in the rhythm section;
he really was an exceptional drummer.
‘Retribution’
written jointly by Lincoln and trombonist
Julian Priester, lifts the tempo a little
and Priester solos well.
Overall
this album is just too dismal for me, but
no doubt it will appeal to the Abbey Lincoln
fans.
Don
Mather
CD Reviews
Candid CCD 79015
