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One of the most overlooked masters of the alto saxophone is Frank Strozier. Frank is still alive in New York but reclusive. Mr. Strozier was one of the many talented musicians who was born in Memphis. He came up with pianist Harold Mabern, tenor saxophonists George Coleman, Charles Lloyd and trumpeter Booker Little. Frank like most of these players moved to Chicago and graduated from the Chicago Conservatory of Music then made his way to New York. Frank was praised by none other than John Coltrane as "having one of the most advanced harmonic senses of any young player on the scene today&q...

Tonight's Jazz Feature is all about pianist Sonny Clark. Sonny was only 31 when he passed away, a victim of drugs. However he left a wonderful legacy of recordings as a leader and sideman in his short life. Never a virtuoso or a technical wizard but an extremely distinctive pianist who played long beautiful lines and when playing with horns was a master accompanist. This album, recorded when he was 28 displays his talents as a player and composer. All eight pieces are Sonny's and this once in a lifetime trio was augmented by the great George Duvivier on bass and drum pioneer Max Roach. They br...

Gene Ammons is tonight's Jazz Feature artist. He was and remains one of the most important voices of the tenor saxophone. He was noted for his huge sound and blues based concept. He successfully combined the influences of Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young into a style that was Gene Ammons. This recording called "Live in Chicago" was recorded in Gene's home town in a local club with two fine Chicago based players. Eddie Buster is the Hammond organist and he's a great accompanist and provides the base for Gene's outpourings. On drums is Gerald Donovan who later became known as Ajaramu....

Tonight's Jazz Feature is the only American recording, under his name, of Belgian born guitar master Rene Thomas. Rene emigrated to the US in 1958 and then returned to Europe in 1962. He sadly passed away at age 47 from a heart attack after a concert in Spain. Rene's reputation preceded him when he arrived in the US and he was able to sit in and play with Miles Davis. Zoot Sims and many others. He worked briefly with Sonny Rollins and appeared on Sonny's album called "Sonny Rollins and The Big Brass". On this album Rene chose his sidemen wisely as he had worked with them in both Mo...

Tonight the Jazz feature spotlight is on a sadly neglected and forgotten great voice of the tenor saxophone: Walter Benton. Walter after touring with Latin bandleader Perez Prado Walter returned to his home town of L.A. and freelanced there until he decided to move to New York in 1960. Here he joined Max Roach and his band and achieved a higher profile. He was asked to do an album for Jazzland Records, a division of Riverside Records run by the indominable Orrin Keepnews. This album is our Jazz Feature but sadly Walter Benton's only album under his name. Walter was given carte blanche and he p...