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Blue Note Records was recording some big names in the jazz world in the early 1960s—artists such as Jimmy Smith, Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan and Herbie Hancock. But producer Alfred Lion also recorded some lesser-known musicians, including some who ended up recording only several Blue Note recordings. Such is the case of two reed players, George Braith and Don Wilkenson, who each recorded three albums for Blue Note in the early 1960s. These albums have now been reissued on CD in a pair of two-CD Blue Note Connoisseur limited edition releases. Blue Note has created two very nice compact packages—each set has two CDs in a single-sized case, and includes the original liner notes, session photos by Francis Wolff and reproductions of the original Reid Miles covers. All six sessions benefit from the expressive playing of guitarist Grant Green.
Tenor player Don Wilkerson recorded three sessions for Blue Note in 1962 and 1963—Elder Don, Preach, Brother! and Shoutin'. Wilkerson grew up in Houston and played with Amos Milburn and Charles Brown. He had a soulful, blues-oriented Texas tenor sound. His playing also had elements of gospel and R&B. His most well known work may be the tenor solos he played while in Ray Charles's group in 1954.
These sessions suit Wilkerson's straighforward, but expressive style. The first album is enhanced by the presence of pianist Sonny Clark, who has some excellent solos. Grant Green is an asset to all three enjoyable sessions.
Reed player George Braith's three Blue Note albums—Two Souls in One and Soulstream, both recorded in the Fall, 1963, and Extension recorded Spring 1964—are also rereleased on two CDs. Braith is a multi-reed player—he plays soprano, alto and tenor saxes and the stritch (a kind of straight alto sax).
Like Roland Kirk, he also has a technique of playing more than one reed instrument simultaneously, although Braith has his own sound—blues oriented and soulful. I didn't particularly care for the combined sound at first, but it grew on me—I think it helps to listen to his horn sound without having the expectation that he has a typical sax sound. He also plays single sax and on these he has a dry, but nice tone.
The recordings use Braith's organ trio featuring organist Billy Gardner and a variety of drummers. Guitarist Grant Green guests on all three sessions. Gardner has a round sound and gets a nice variety of tones from organ player. Gardner, who deserves to be better known, has some good soloing, as does Grant Green, who's again on all three sessions.
A highlight of the first session is a mellow version of Buddy Bernier and Nat Simon's much recorded song from the early 1940's, "Poinciana," with very fine solos from Gardner and Green, who makes good use of space and rhythm. "Braith-A-Way" is a stretched out tune, with another excellent Grant Green solo.
Although Don Wilkerson died in 1986, George Braith is still playing today. It's nice to see their Blue Note work back in print.
— Alan Lankin, May 2001
Release Date: 8 February 2001please send comments to jazzmatazz@att.net
last update 15 May 2001