Four Classic Albums: Kelly Great / Kelly At Midnite / Wynton Kelly! / All Members

Wynton Kelly didn't make many albums under his own name back in the fifties and early sixties so when he did, they were important events in the jazz calendar. We have been patiently waiting for an opportunity to release a second set but just couldn't find that fourth album. Recently an opportunity presented itself when we happened upon an album made by a young 22 year old trumpeter named Don Sleet when we were searching for great unsung trumpeters for our Classic Jazz Instrumentalists series (AMSC1293). We were caught by the amazing band this young man had managed to assemble; Wynton Kelly, Jimmy Heath, Ron Carter and Jimmy Cobb, not a bad little combo! On reading about this young trumpeter, formed in the mould of Kenny Dorham and Art Farmer with a little lyrical Miles for good measure, we discovered that this was to be the only album recorded under his own name and is now pretty difficult to track down. Don unfortunately never got the chance to make another album and sadly died in obscurity at age 47 in 1986. Here was our opportunity to complete our tribute to Wynton Kelly by including his three remaining albums of the period as listed above and hear his performance on the rare Don Sleet All Members album.

"Born in Jamaica in 1931, but growing up in Brooklyn, New York City from the age of four, Wynton Kelly was barely out of his teens when he cut his first recording session "Piano Interpretations" in 1951. As a young prodigy Wynton had already played with Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young and as accompanist to Dinah Washington for three years! Drafted into the army in 1952, it would be another six years before he made another album under his own name. Music for Trio and Quartet feature on "Piano" an album of "two quite different flavors" to quote from the original liner notes. In the Trio "for a more subdued, moody, almost delicate vein" we find Wynton joined by Kenny Burrell on guitar and Paul Chambers on bass. For the Quartet, Philly Joe Jones steps into the drum seat where Burrell's guitar takes on "more of a horn's role". More music for Trio but now also featuring some tunes for Sextet, "Kelly Blue" recorded in 1959... taken from the original liner notes to our final selection "Someday My Prince Will Come", "Wynton's the light for a cigarette. He lights the fire and keeps it going. Without him there's no smoking". That's Miles! All four albums have been digitally re-mastered."

And of course our three new selections feature Wynton with his usual array of fine top class jazz men including such young guns as Wayne Shorter, Lee Morgan, and Paul Chambers as well as older hands like Cannonball Adderley, Philly Joe Jones and Jimmy Cobb who can also be heard on the Don Sleet album alongside Wynton himself. As with all AVID releases, we hope you enjoy this classic set and check out our extensive catalogue for more great music across jazz, blues, country and many other musical genres.