Mr. Wizard (Vincent Herring album)

Mr. Wizard
Studio album by Vincent Herring
Released	April 27, 2004
Recorded	December 10, 2003
Studio	Eastside Sound, New York, NY
Genre	Jazz
Length	49:27
Label	HighNote HCD 7121
Producer	Vincent Herring
Vincent Herring chronology
All Too Real (2003) Mr. Wizard (2004) The Battle: Live at Smoke (2005)

Mr. Wizard is an album by saxophonist Vincent Herring which was recorded in 2003 and released on the HighNote label the following year. ^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[3]

AllMusic reviewed the album stating "Hard bop fans will want to snap up this delightful CD without hesitation". ^[2] JazzTimes observed "Vincent Herring’s third album for HighNote demonstrates once again the altoist/sopranoist’s prodigious skill as an improviser in the hard bop/modal tradition ... Herring possesses a virtuoso technique and an acute ear that allow him to execute long, melodically and rhythmically complex lines without missing a note or a beat. And his full, expressive tone permits him to render the slower tunes with grace and feeling". ^[4] All About Jazz noted "Vincent Herring has developed a foolproof prescription for making great records: employ compatible sidemen, choose appealing compositions and approach the music with zealous devotion. On Mr. Wizard the brilliant saxophonist follows this formula faultlessly and the result is another rewarding listening experience". ^[5]

Track listing

1. "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm" (Bronisław Kaper, Walter Jurmann, Gus Kahn) – 4:28
2. "Citizen of Zamunda" (Richie Goods) – 4:43
3. "Hopscotch" (Danny Grissett) – 4:05
4. "You Leave Me Breathless" (Friedrich Hollaender, Ralph Freed) – 5:04
5. "Four by Five" (McCoy Tyner) – 5:04
6. "Encounters" (Grissett) – 7:43
7. "Cassius" (Jeremy Pelt) – 5:21
8. "The Walk Home" (Pelt) – 7:19
9. "Mr. Wizard" (Vincent Herring) – 5:40

Personnel

• Vincent Herring – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Jeremy Pelt – trumpet (tracks 1, 3 & 5-9)
• Danny Grissett – piano
• Richie Goods – bass
• E.J. Strickland – drums

Production

• Vincent Herring – producer
• Lou Holtzman – engineer

References

1. Jazz Depot: album details accessed January 11, 2018
2. Dryden, Ken. Vincent Herring: Mr. Wizard – Review at AllMusic . Retrieved January 10, 2019.
3. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 695. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
4. Franklin, D., JazzTimes Review, accessed January 11, 2018
5. Musto, R., All About Jazz Review, accessed January 11, 2018