1. There Will Never Be Another You
2. What’s New?
3. Too Marvellous For Words
4. A Foggy Day
5. Beano
6. Day By Day
7. Robbins’ Nest
8. I Only Have Eyes For You
9. Sweet And Lovely
10. Street Lights
11. The Way You Look Tonight
12. It’s A Pity To Say Goodnight
13. Time On My Hands
14. What’s New? (alternative version)
15. Beano (alternative version)
Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis – Tenor sax
Don Patterson – Organ
Paul Weeden – Guitar
George Duvivier – Bass
Billy James – Drums
This album contains the only two LPs that tenor-saxist Eddie “Lockjaw”
Davis made with organist Don Patterson. In fact they were recorded
at the same session in 1962, but released as the two albums Trackin’
(tracks 1-7) and I Only Have Eyes For You (tracks 8-13).
This CD adds a couple of bonus tracks recorded by Lockjaw in 1960
and 1961 respectively.
Davis and Patterson make a good team together, with solid help from guitarist Paul Weeden, drummer Billy James and bassist George Duvivier. It is unusual
to have a bassist on an organ record, as the organist usually supplies the bass foundation using the instrument’s pedals. However, Don Patterson trained as
a pianist before, inspired by Jimmy Smith, he diverted to playing the organ. One can occasionally detect his early training in an approach to the organ
which is piano-based. But he has learnt chordal patterns from Jimmy Smith and he accompanies Eddie Davis helpfully, having played with several sax players
including Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons. Paul Weeden is an adept guitarist with a bluesy edge.
Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis is his usual powerful self, with a deep, often growling tone which is a treat to hear. Like Ben Webster, he seems to have two
different personalities: playing with a strong roar on fast numbers but much sweeter on ballads, although still with the sense of hidden strength below the
surface. What’s New exemplifies the ballad Davis, while Too Marvellous For Words illustrates his more potent side .He augments
expression by bending notes at will and adding a rough edge to emphasise phrases.
The two bonus tracks are alternative versions of tunes on the original LPs. Track 14 includes Shirley Scott (best-known
as an organist but here at the piano), and track 15 puts Lockjaw alongside another fierce tenor man, Johnny Griffin.
Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk
CD Reviews
Groove Hut GH 66720
