Gil Melle Quartet - The Complete Prestige Recordings 1956-1957 / 2CD set

2008 European CD collection.

Writer-baritone saxophonist Gil Mellé led a quartet that played some of the most creative, ohesive and provocative jazz sounds of the Fifties. His unorthodox approach echoed his attitudes toward the whole field of jazz and his thoughtful frameworks were, in his own words, the perfect admixture of classical techniques with jazz emotion and beat. Mellé's cliche-free writing was always fresh and bright, his lines attractive and flowing.

On baritone he was a relaxed soloist, with a warm deep tone, rolling phrasing and fluid beat. But though his was the prime voice, his colleagues also displayed a consistent quality of musicianship. And although all were fine musicians in their own right, it's worth noting the lucid and imaginative guitarist Joe Cinderella, and the musical breadth and intelligence of drummer Ed Thigpen.

That said, the music you will hear on this CD unquestionably bears the emotional and intellectual stamp of Gil Mellé (1931-2004), a thinking musician, daring and unafraid to push the boundaries.

All compositions by Gil Mellé, except CD 1 #9 & 12 by Ellington-Mills.

Sources CD-1:
Tracks 1-6 from the 12" LP 'Plays Primitive Modern' (Prestige PRLP 7040)
Tracks 7-13 from the 12" LP 'Quadrama' (Prestige PRLP 7097)

Sources CD-2:
Tracks 1-6 from the 12" LP 'Gil's Guests' (Prestige PRLP 7063)
Tracks 7-9 from an unfinished Prestige 12" LP

Personnel on CD 1

Tracks #1-6: Gil Mellé, baritone sax; Joe Cinderella, guitar; Billy Phillips, bass; Ed Thigpen, drums.
Hackensack, New Jersey, April 6, and June 1 (#4-6) 1956

Tracks #7-13: Gil Mellé, baritone sax; Joe Cinderella, guitar; George Duvivier, bass; Shadow Wilson, drums.
Hackensack, New Jersey, April 26, 1957

Personnel on CD 2

Tracks #1-3: Art Farmer, trumpet, Julius Watkins, French horn; Hal McKusick, alto sax; Gil Mellé, baritone sax; Joe Cinderella, guitar; Vinnie Burke, bass; Ed Thigpen, drums.
Hackensack, New Jersey, August 10, 1956

Tracks #4-6: Kenny Dorham, trumpet; Don Butterfield, tuba; Hal McKusick, alto sax; Gil Mellé, baritone sax; Joe Cinderella, guitar; Vinnie Burke, bass; Ed Thigpen, Drums.
Hackensack, New Jersey, August 24, 1956

Tracks #7-9: Art Farmer, trumpet; Hal McKusick, alto sax; Seldon Powell, tenor sax; Gil Mellé, baritone sax; Teddy Charles, vibes; George Duvivier, bass; Shadow Wilson, drums.
Hackensack, New Jersey, January 18, 1957

All sessions engineered by Rudy Van Gelder
Original sessions supervised by Bob Weinstock