“And The Jazz Lab Quintet” is an album by Gigi Gryce, recorded on February 27 and March 7, 1957, at Reeves Sound Studios, New York, and originally released on Riverside Records (RLP 12-229). The Jazz Workshop Vinyl reissue as a 180-gram audiophile LP (JW-077) revives this record with remastering that highlights the saxophone’s clarity. The lineup features Gigi Gryce (alto saxophone), Donald Byrd (trumpet), Hank Jones (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Art Taylor (drums). The album includes Gryce’s originals like Speculationand Nica’s Tempo, plus standards. The music is hard bop with refined arrangements, with Gryce’s saxophone and Byrd’s trumpet crafting a harmonious dialogue. The Jazz Workshop reissue, limited to 500 copies, is prized for its detailed sound, capturing the quintet’s energy. “And The Jazz Lab Quintet” is a classic, showcasing Gryce’s compositional genius.
Gigi Gryce (November 28, 1925 – March 17, 1983) was an American alto saxophonist, composer, and arranger, a prominent hard-bop figure. Born in Pensacola, Florida, he studied music at the Boston Conservatory, inspired by Charlie Parker and Benny Carter. In the 1950s, Gryce became a key player in New York’s scene, collaborating with Max Roach, Clifford Brown, and Lionel Hampton. His style blended bebop virtuosity with melodic, intricate arrangements, distinguishing him as a composer. Gryce founded the Jazz Lab Quintet to experiment with new jazz forms. Later, he taught and wrote music, leaving a legacy as an innovator.
TRACKLIST
Side One:
1. Love for Sale (Cole Porter) 7:59
2. Minority (Gigi Gryce) 6:26
3. Straight Ahead (Lee Sears) 9:29
Side Two:
1. Geraldine (Wade Legge) 5:34
2. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (James F. Hanley) 5:59
3. Wake Up! (Lee Sears) 4:37
Personnel:
Donald Byrd (trumpet), Gigi Gryce (alto sax), Wade Legge (piano), Wendell Marshall (bass), Art Taylor (drums).
Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, New York, February 27 and March 7, 1957
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