| Ballads & Blues | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1956 | |||
| Recorded | January 17 & 21, and February 14, 1956 | |||
| Studio | New York City and Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 42:02 | |||
| Label | Atlantic 1242 | |||
| Producer | Nesuhi Ertegun | |||
| Milt Jackson chronology | ||||
| ||||
Ballads & Blues is an album by the American jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson of performances recorded in 1956 and released on the Atlantic label. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [3] |
The AllMusic review awarded the album 4½ stars. [2]
The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called the album "near-perfect Jackson fare," and wrote: "The others mostly keep out of his way and let him blow, although Lucky Thompson is on the final three tracks and in excellent fettle." [3]
Jazz Journal's Derek Ansell stated that the album "makes me want to trot out the tired old cliché – they don't make 'em like this anymore. The trouble is it's true, they really don't." [4]
A reviewer for Billboard commented: "The fans should heartily welcome this 'blowing' session... An excellent set that should sell well." [5]
Recorded in New York City on January 17 (tracks 6, 8 & 9) and January 21 (tracks 1, 3 & 5) and at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey on February 14 (tracks 2, 4 & 7), 1956
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