Art Farmer – Farmer’s Market – Prestige/New Jazz/Concord

by | Aug 17, 2007 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Art Farmer – Farmer’s Market – Prestige/New Jazz/Concord PRCD 30166 mono, 36:41 ****1/2:

(Art Farmer, trumpet; Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Kenny Drew, piano; Addison Farmer, bass; Elvin Jones, drums)

I’ve always been partial to the lyrical trumpet stylings of Art Farmer, and considered his late 50s to early 60s recordings to be his prime period, even though he recorded well into the 90s, ending his career largely playing the Flugelhorn. One of Farmer’s classic Prestige sessions of the mid-50s has been reissued in the RVG Remaster Series under the auspices of Prestige’s new owner, Concord Records. Its sound is brighter than the original CD issue, with both Farmer more upfront in the mix and the drums, especially the cymbal work, much more present. Farmer’s Market presents a dream band of hard bop stars with Hank Mobley on tenor, Kenny Drew on piano, Art’s brother, Addison Farmer on bass, and the master drummer, the ubiquitous Elvin Jones on the skins.

This 1956 session is classic hard bop.  Farmer is at his most powerful, both sweet yet assertive.  Mobley is the perfect foil, and Drew, Addison Farmer, and Jones, provide the dream rhythm section for the horns.  Standout compositions include Ad-Dis-Un, the frenetic boppish title track, as well as the lyrical ballad, Reminiscing, and the Farmer/Mobley workout, Wailin‚ with Hank. For both Art Farmer fans, and classic hard bop devotees, this reissued CD is a Must Purchase.

TrackList: With Prestige, Ad-Dis-Un, Farmer‚s Market, Reminiscing, By Myself, Wailin‚ with Hank

– Jeff Krow

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