Recorded on January 18, 1979
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis was remarkably consistent throughout his career. With his growling tone and take-no-prisoners approach, it's nearly impossible to imagine him playing with indifference.
This session, originally recorded for Muse, benefits from a top-shelf rhythm section. The LP is one of the finest that Davis made during the 1970s.
More Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
- Leapin' on Lenox (Black & Blue, 1974)
- Swingin' Till the Girls Come Home (SteepleChase, 1976)
- Straight Ahead - with the Tommy Flanagan Trio (Pablo, 1976)
- Light and Lovely (Black & Blue, 1979); also released as Sweet and Lovely (Classic Jazz)
I developed while listening to Lockjaw in 2 past contexts: organ groups with Shirley Scott; and 2-tenor groups with Johnny Griffin. These formats fit a lot of Jaws' work in the late 1950s and on into the 1960s. By comparison, "Heavy Hitter" gives a good account of his tenor brilliance, and I like the individual in the group. But it just doesn't "hit" me the the same way as the classic earlier groups.
ReplyDeleteThis, of course, is my problem and not the players. It's common to discount great artists once they pass their prime years (just ask Sonny Rollins), but it's not fair at all. Nothing in "Heavy Hitter" is dull and none of the artists coasts through the session.