An Ace Face

Performer: Allen Eager
Engineer: Andrew Thompson
Distributor: Infinity Entertainment Gr

Notes: Personnel: Allen Eager (tenor saxophone); Allen Eager; Gene Dell, Al Valente (guitar); Rudy Williams, Jerry Therkeld, Jerry Therkeld, Pete Brown Brooklyn Blues Blowers, Pete Brown (alto saxophone); Mickey Rich, Zoot Sims & His Five Brothers, Illinois Jacquet, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Charlie Ventura (tenor saxophone); Danny Bank, Danny Banks, Serge Chaloff (baritone saxophone); Fats Ford, Stan Fischelson, Tommy Allison, Fats Ford, Tommy Allison, Jimmy Deuchar, Red Rodney (trumpet); Bob Ascher, Mario Daone, Chauncy Welsh, Chucky Koenigsberger, Mario Daone, Bill Harris Quintet, Bob Ascher (trombone); Walter Bishop, Martail Solal, Ed Finckel, Harry Biss, Duke Jordan, Eddie Finckel, Harry Biss, Jimmy Jones , Jimmy Jones , Al Haig, Ralph Burns, Walter Bishop, Jr. (piano); Don Elliott (Mellotron); Chubby Jackson, Benoit Quersin, Earl Anthony, Tubby Phillips, Phil Leshin, Curly Russell, Gene Ramey, Al McKibbon, Tommy Potter, Bernie Griggs, Bob Carter (bass guitar); Gene Glennon, Junior Bradley, Stan Kay, Gene Glennon, J.C. Heard, Bradley Junior, Stanley Kay, Tiny Kahn (drums); Gail Madden, Gail Madden (maracas); Mary Osborne, Billy Bauer , John Collins (guitar); John LaPorta (clarinet); Eddie Caine, Charlie Parker (alto saxophone); Coleman Hawkins, Al Cohn, Phil Urso, Wardell Gray, Brew Moore (tenor saxophone); Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Phil Gilbert, Fats Navarro, Tony Fruscella (trumpet); Billy Byers (trombone); Bill Triglia, Ken Kersey, Richard Twardzik, George Wallington, Harvey Leonard, Lennie Tristano, Tadd Dameron (piano); Terry Gibbs (vibraphone); Charles Perry, Sid Bulkin, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach, Shelly Manne, Walter Bolden, Buddy Rich (drums). Recording information: Birdland, New York, NY (02/27/1946-09/24/1956); Carnegie Hall, New York, NY (02/27/1946-09/24/1956); Hackensack, NJ (02/27/1946-09/24/1956); New York, NY (02/27/1946-09/24/1956); Paris, France (02/27/1946-09/24/1956); The Hi Hat Club, Boston, MA (02/27/1946-09/24/1956); The Royal Roost, New York, NY (02/27/1946-09/24/1956). Photographer: William Gottlieb. Arranger: Phil Sunkel. One of the up-and-comers of the bebop era, Allen Eager emerged before Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, and Al Cohn as a Lester Young-inspired tenor saxophonist who had a slightly harder tone and the ability to master bop. However after 1956 (when he was 29), Eager largely lost interest in playing except for very rare returns to the scene. This British two-CD set has many of the high points from Eager's career. He is heard leading a pair of four-song quartet/quintet sessions from 1946-1947 (although a second 1947 set is bypassed altogether) and a rare live version of "Zootcase" from 1953. In addition, Eager is featured with Coleman Hawkins ("Allen's Alley"), on a previously unreleased excerpt from a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert ("Blues"), Red Rodney, the WNEW Saturday Night Swing Session, the Buddy Rich Big Band, with Barry Ulanov's Metronome All Stars, Tadd Dameron, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan (the lengthy "Mulligan's Too"), Terry Gibbs, Kenny Clarke and, on nine selections, with trumpeter Tony Fruscella. Eager holds his own with everyone including Charlie Parker (with Ulanov's group) and Fats Navarro. Although not a "complete" reissue, this two-fer covers most of the more significant moments in the all-too-brief career of Allen Eager. ~ Scott Yanow

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