This 4CD Set includes eight of Gene Ammons’ most esteemed and celebrated albums, originally released between 1955 and 1960. All coming from the great man’s 1950s output when he worked with many of the finest jazz musicians around, the collection illustrates perfectly how he helped develop the sound of the tenor saxophone to higher levels of expressiveness. Ammons, together with Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt, helped integrate their developments with the emerging "vernacular" of the bebop movement, and the chromaticism and rhythmic variety of Charlie Parker is evident in his playing.
This compilation forms an ideal starting place for beginners to this maverick musician’s work and talents, but works equally well for those already well versed, as a perfect reminder of just how extraordinary an artist Gene Ammons was.
DISC ONE
1 My Foolish Heart 2:50
2 Prelude To A Kiss 3:02
3 It’s You Or No One 2:45
4 Can Anyone Explain 2:55
5 Goodbye 3:11
6 Pennies From Heaven 2:38
7 Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe 2:49
8 You Go To My Head 3:00
9 Once In A While 3:13
10 It’s The Talk Of The Town 2:49
11 Woofin’ And Tweetin’ 15:05
12 Juggernaut 10:29
13 Blues Up And Down (Take 3) 2:39
14 Blues Up And Down (Take 1) 1:28
15 Blues Up And Down (Take 2) 2:24
16 You Can Depend On Me (Take 1) 2:51
17 You Can Depend On Me (Take 2) 2:51
18 Stringin’ The Jug 5:06
19 New Blues Up And Down 5:08
DISC TWO
1 The Happy Blues 12:08
2 The Great Lie 8:42
3 Can’t We Be Friends? 12:55
4 Madhouse 6:43
5 Jammin’ With Gene 14:23
6 We’ll Be Together Again 10:00
7 Not Really The Blues 16:08
DISC THREE
1 The Twister 12:16
2 Four 13:03
3 Pennies From Heaven 13:03
4 Cattin’ 11:59
5 Funky 9:01
6 Pint Size 12:24
7 Stelia By Starlight 8:58
DISC FOUR
1 Blue Gene 13:58
2 Scamperin’ 8:49
3 Blue Greens And Beans 9:05
4 Blue Hymn 12:39
5 The Real McCoy 8:34
6 Cheek To Cheek 14:14
7 That’s All 13:56