THE DEFINITIVE CLIFF - CD

Personnel includes: Clifford Brown (trumpet); Neal Hefti, Quincy Jones (arranger, conductor); Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Helen Merrill (vocals); Lou Donaldson, Gigi Gryce (alto saxophone); Harold Land, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone); John Lewis, Richie Powell, Horace Silver (piano); Percy Heath, Milt Hinton, George Morrow, Curley Russell (bass); Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Max Roach (drums). Producers: Alfred Lion, Bob Shad. Compilation producer: Richard Seidel. Recorded between 1953 & 1956. Includes liner notes by Donald Elfman. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Clifford Brown (trumpet); Dinah Washington, Helen Merrill, Sarah Vaughan (vocals); Barry Galbraith (guitar); Gigi Gryce (flute, alto saxophone); Herbie Mann (flute); Herb Geller, Lou Donaldson (alto saxophone); Harold Land, Paul Quinichette, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone); Danny Bank (baritone saxophone); Clark Terry, Maynard Ferguson (trumpet); John Richard Lewis, Horace Silver, Jimmy Jones , Junior Mance, Richie Powell (piano); Max Roach, Osie Johnson, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey (drums). Liner Note Author: Donald Elfman. Recording information: Hollywood, CA (08/28/1953-02/17/1956); Los Angeles, CA (08/28/1953-02/17/1956); New York, NY (08/28/1953-02/17/1956). Photographer: Francis Wolff. Arrangers: Ernie Wilkins; Neal Hefti; Quincy Jones; Richie Powell; Tadd Dameron. Trumpeter Clifford Brown had a brief career. He started playing jazz in the late '40s but was killed in a car accident in 1956 (along with pianist Richie Powell, younger brother of Bud). In that short time his interest in expanding the bebop medium is apparent on The Definitive Clifford Brown. Several of the legendary hard bop quintet sides he recorded with Max Roach for Emarcy are featured as well as his warm tone mixing beautifully with string arrangements and backing up vocalists Helen Merrill, Dinah Washington, and Sarah Vaughan. The Definitive Clifford Brown is a well rounded introduction providing a glimpse into the full spectrum of a career cut tragically short. ~ Al Campbell