Sonny Clark: Cool Struttin' (Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series) [BLUE NOTE]

Why you'll love it

This Classic Vinyl Series edition was mastered all-analog by Kevin Gray from the original tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal in Germany. The New York Times called the album an "enduring hard-bop classic," and it has a near-cult following among jazz collectors.

This edition

• Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series
• All-analog mastering by Kevin Gray
• 180g vinyl
• Pressed in Germany
• Stereo mix

About the album

Some album covers do half the selling on their own. Reid Miles built this one around a Francis Wolff photograph of a pair of legs in heels striding down a New York sidewalk (they belonged to Ruth Lion, wife of label boss Alfred Lion), and it's become one of the most recognized sleeves in all of jazz.

The music lives up to it. Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio on January 5, 1958, it pairs pianist Sonny Clark with trumpeter Art Farmer and alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, over the Miles Davis rhythm section of Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. The title track saunters along in a blues groove, "Blue Minor" is moody and swinging, "Sippin' at Bells" runs fast and bright, and "Deep Night" gives Clark room to sparkle. Alfred Lion produced, and Nat Hentoff wrote the original liner notes.

AllMusic praises its soul appeal, and it's still a gateway record for new Blue Note fans. Four tunes, two sides and one very confident pair of shoes.

Also at Kops: more Sonny Clark on vinyl · browse Classic Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Blue Note (cat# 3579178), a reissue of the 1958 album.