Take Aim | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1980 | |||
Recorded | July 25, 1960 | |||
Studio | Radio Recorders, Los Angeles. | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 57:23 | |||
Label | Blue Note | |||
Producer | Leonard Feather | |||
Harold Land chronology | ||||
|
Take Aim is a studio album by American hard bop tenor saxophonist Harold Land. The album was recorded in Los Angeles in 1960 but released only in 1980 via Blue Note label. This rare record was re-released on CD in 2005 and 2012.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [2] |
George Harris of All About Jazz stated: "Take Aim has all of the features of classic hard bop: tight ensemble work, creative and hard-driving solos, and crisp rhythm work. It makes you wonder where Leon Pettis has been all these years. At times, the drummer sounds like thunder from on high as he pushes this band. Martin Banks is articulate and has that Brownie quality in his trumpet solos. Of course, Land, with an immediately identifiable rough yet light sound, is the epitome of hard bop. His music sounds as fresh today as the moment it was recorded over forty years ago." [3]
Scott Yanow of AllMusic wrote: "This little-known Blue Note session by tenor saxophonist Harold Land went unreleased until this 1980 LP. Land and an obscure supporting cast (trumpeter Martin Banks, pianist Amos Trice, bassist Clarence Jones, and drummer Leon Pettis) perform five hard bop originals and a lyrical 'You're My Thrill'. The performances, which are now hard to find, should interest Land collectors and fans of the era's modern mainstream jazz, although overall the results are not that memorable."
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "As You Like It" | Land | 7:11 |
2. | "Take Aim" | Amos Trice | 3:39 |
3. | "Land of Peace" | Leonard Feather | 6:16 |
4. | "Reflections" | Land | 6:42 |
5. | "Blue Nellie" | Martin Banks | 4:50 |
6. | "You're My Thrill" | Jay Gorney, Sidney Clare | 7:58 |
7. | "Straight, No Chaser" | Thelonious Monk | 20:47 |
Total length: | 57:23 |
Hard bop is a subgenre of jazz that is an extension of bebop music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz that incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in saxophone and piano playing.
Henry "Hank" Mobley was an American hard bop and soul jazz tenor saxophonist and composer. Mobley was described by Leonard Feather as the "middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone", a metaphor used to describe his tone, that was neither as aggressive as John Coltrane nor as mellow as Lester Young, and his style that was laid-back, subtle and melodic, especially in contrast with players like Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. The critic Stacia Proefrock claimed him "one of the most underrated musicians of the bop era." Mobley's compositions included "Double Exposure," "Soul Station", and "Dig Dis," among others.
Harold Floyd "Tina" Brooks was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and composer best remembered for his work in the hard bop style.
Harold de Vance Land was an American hard bop and post-bop tenor saxophonist. Land developed his hard bop playing with the Max Roach/Clifford Brown band into a personal, modern style, often rivalling Clifford Brown's instrumental ability with his own inventive and whimsical solos. His tone was strong and emotional, yet hinted at a certain introspective fragility.
Miles Smiles is an album by jazz musician Miles Davis, released on February 16, 1967 on Columbia Records. It was recorded by Davis and his second quintet at Columbia 30th Street Studio in New York City on October 24 and October 25, 1966. It is the second of six albums recorded by Davis' second great quintet, which featured tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams.
Study in Brown is a Clifford Brown and Max Roach album. The album consists predominantly of originals by members of the band. The songs "Lands End", by tenor saxophonist Harold Land, and "Sandu", by Brown, have gone on to become jazz standards. The song "George's Dilemma" is also known as "Ulcer Department". Brown's solo on "Cherokee" is among the most acclaimed solos in jazz.
Takin' Off is the debut album by jazz pianist Herbie Hancock released in 1962 by Blue Note Records. Featuring veteran tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, bassist Butch Warren and drummer Billy Higgins. The album is a creative example of music in the hard bop idiom. The bluesy track "Watermelon Man" made it to the Top 100 of the singles charts, and went on to become a jazz standard. Hancock released a funk arrangement of “Watermelon Man” on his 1973 album Head Hunters. Takin' Off was initially released on CD in 1996 and then again in remastered form in 2007 by Rudy Van Gelder.
No Room for Squares is an album by jazz tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley recorded on March 7 & October 2, 1963 and released on the Blue Note label. It features performances by Mobley, trumpeters Lee Morgan and Donald Byrd, pianists Andrew Hill and Herbie Hancock, bassists John Ore and Butch Warren, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Material recorded at the March 7 session was also included on The Turnaround! with the entire session collected for the first time on the 1989 CD edition of Straight No Filter. The 1989 CD issue of No Room for Squares collects the entire October 7 session save an alternate take of "Carolyn" that was first issued in 2019 as part of The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70.
Hub Cap is an album by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and was released on the Blue Note label in 1961 as BLP 4073 and BST 84073. It features performances by Hubbard, Julian Priester, Jimmy Heath, Cedar Walton, Larry Ridley and Philly Joe Jones.
Sonny Side Up is an album by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, and the tenor saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins, recorded in December 1957 in New York City. It was released in 1959 on producer Norman Granz's newly launched Verve label.
West Coast Blues! is a studio album by American tenor saxophonist Harold Land, released in 1960 by Jazzland label.
True Blue is a jazz album by tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks recorded on June 25, 1960, and released on the Blue Note label. In the hard-bop idiom, it was Brooks' only performance as leader to be released during his lifetime, and features performances by Brooks, Freddie Hubbard, Duke Jordan, Sam Jones and Art Taylor.
Jackie's Bag is an album by American saxophonist Jackie McLean recorded in 1959 and 1960 and released by Blue Note. It features three tracks with McLean in a quintet featuring trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones, and six tracks with a sextet featuring tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor.
Eastward Ho! Harold Land in New York is an album by American saxophonist Harold Land, recorded in late 1960 and released on the Jazzland label.
Solid! is an album by Eric Alexander, with John Hicks, George Mraz, and Idris Muhammad.
Mode for Mabes is an album by tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander. It was recorded in 1997 and released by Delmark Records.
Xocia's Dance is the thirteenth studio album by American hard bop tenor saxophonist Harold Land as band leader. The album was released in 1981 via Muse Records label and re-released on CD in 1990.
Exploring the Future is an album led by American jazz bassist Curtis Counce recorded in 1958 and released on the Dooto label.
Spirits Alike is an album by the all-star jazz group The Leaders. It was recorded in August 2006 in New Jersey, and was released later that year by Double Moon Records. The album features performances by a reconstituted version of the band: original members Chico Freeman and Cecil McBee (bass) are joined by alto saxophonist Bobby Watson, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, pianist Fred Harris, and drummer Billy Hart.