Junior Mance – The Albums Collection 1959-62 – 4CD

Julian Junior Mance, who died in January 2021 at the age of 92, was a modern jazz pianist who began his career in the bebop era, and whose playing was characterised by a soulful bluesy style. He worked in the bands of Gene Ammons and Lester Young before army service, and then accompanied Dinah Washington and was with Cannonball Adderley and Dizzy Gillespie in the 1950s before forming his own trio to record first for Norman Granzs Verve label and then for Jazzland and Riverside through into the 1960s. This 64-track 4-CD set comprises all the titles from his albums released during these years Junior for Verve, The Soulful Piano Of Junior Mance, Junior Mance Trio At The Village Vanguard, Big Chief, The Soul Of Hollywood (recorded with an orchestra), and Happy Time for Jazzland, and Juniors Blues for Riverside. The musicians featured in his trios include bassists Ray Brown, Ben Tucker, Larry Gales, Jimmy Rowser, Bob Cranshaw and Ron Carter, and drummers Lex Humphries, Bobby Thomas, Ben Riley, Paul Gusman and Mickey Roker. This set captures Mance during a key formative era when he was leading his own trios for the first time, after which he enjoyed another five decades performing and recording in a variety of settings. It offers a substantial and enjoyable showcase for his notable skills as a distinctive piano stylist.

Track Listing:

CD1:
The Junior Mance Trio: 1. A Smooth One -   2. Miss Jackie’s Delight -   3. Whisper Not -   4. Love For Sale -   5. Lilacs In The Rain -   6. Small Fry -   7. Jubilation -   8. Birks' Works -   9. Blues For Beverlee -   10. Junior’s Tune -   11. The Uptown -   12. Ralph's New Blues -   13. Main Stem -   14. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup -   15. Playhouse -   16. Sweet And Lovely -   17. Oo-Bla-Dee -

CD2:
The Junior Mance Trio: 1. I Don’t Care -   2. Swingmatism -   3. Looptown -   4. Letter From Home -   5. Girl Of My Dreams -   6. 63rd Street Theme -   7. Smokey Blues -   8. 9:20 Special -   9. Bingo Domingo -   10. You Are Too Beautiful -   11. Big Chief -   12. Love For Sale -   13. The Seasons -   14. Filet Of Soul -   15. Swish -   

CD3:
The Junior Mance Trio: 1. Ruby My Dear -   2. Little Miss Gail -   3. Summertime -   4. Atlanta Blues [Make Me A Pallet On The Floor] -   The Piano & Orchestra Of Junior Mance: 5. Never On Sunday -   6. Maria -   7. Tara’s Theme -   8. Fanny -   9. On Green Dolphin Street -   10. One-Eyed Jacks -   11. Exodus -   12. Invitation -   13. The Apartment -   14. Goodbye Again -   15. Spellbound -   The Junior Mance Trio: 16. Down The Line -   17. Creole Love Call -   18. Rainy Mornin' Blues -   

CD4:
The Junior Mance Trio: 1. Yancey Special -   2. Gravy Waltz -   3. Cracklin' -   4. In The Evening -   5. Blue Monk -   6. The Jumpin' Blues -   7. Happy Time -   8. Jitterbug Waltz - 9. Out South -   10. Tin Tin Deo -   11. For Dancers Only -   12. Taggie’s Tune -   13. Azure Te [Paris Blues] -   14. The Simple Waltz -