Lawrence Marable Quartet, The: Tenorman - Tone Poet Series (Vinyl LP)

A West Coast jazz date that blows with hard bop gusto, Tenorman by The Lawrence Marable Quartet featuring James Clay was a hard-swinging session led by the esteemed drummer (Marable) that served as an introduction of the young Texan tenor (Clay) with sturdy support from pianist Sonny Clark and bassist Jimmy Bond.

Recorded in August 1956 at Capitol Studios in Hollywood for the Jazz: West label, a boutique imprint allied with Pacific Jazz, the album presents assured versions of well-worn standards (“The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea”, “Easy Living”, “Willow Weep For Me”, “Lover Man”) with a trio of original compositions by Clark interspersed (“Minor Meeting”, “Three Fingers North”, “Marbles”).

This stereo Tone Poet Vinyl Edition was produced by Joe Harley, mastered by Kevin Gray (Cohearent Audio) from the original analogue master tapes, pressed on 180g vinyl at Record Technology Inc. (RTI), and packaged in a deluxe gatefold tip-on jacket.

1. The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
2. Easy Living
3. Minor Meeting
4. Airtight
5. Willow Weep For Me
6. Three Fingers North
7. Lover Man
8. Marbles