While Concord continues to release excellent mainstream jazz albums, the label also has an extraordinary back catalog from the ’70s and the ’80s. Straight Ahead packages two albums — Trio (1981) and Overseas Special(1984) — by pianist Monty Alexander, guitarist Herb Ellis, and bassist Ray Brown. The first disc captures the happy meeting of musical minds as the participants explore nine bubbly tunes. While the band can certainly cook on a piece like “I Want to Be Happy,” the drummer-less trio brings a lighter touch to classics like “Sweet Georgia Brown.” The four-to-five minute length of most of these songs leaves room for extended solos while retaining the taut, intimate feel of good trio work. The live Overseas Special was recorded almost two years later at the { – Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
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| Disc 1 of 2 | ||||
| 01 |
I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over |
4:08 | $0.99 | |
| 02 |
You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love |
3:54 | $0.99 | |
| 03 |
Blues for Junior |
5:15 | $0.99 | |
| 04 |
Sweet Georgia Brown |
5:18 | $0.99 | |
| 05 |
I Want To Be Happy |
2:38 | $0.99 | |
| 06 |
Put Your Little Foot Right Out |
5:58 | $0.99 | |
| 07 |
Captain Bill |
3:10 | $0.99 | |
| 08 |
To Each His Own |
5:17 | $0.99 | |
| 09 |
Sister Sadie |
4:05 | $0.99 | |
| Disc 2 of 2 | ||||
| 01 |
But Not For Me |
9:38 | ||
| 02 |
A Time For Love |
6:00 | $0.99 | |
| 03 |
Orange In Pain |
6:17 | $0.99 | |
| 04 |
F.S.R. |
6:15 | $0.99 | |
| 05 |
For All We Know |
7:43 | ||
| 06 |
C.C. Rider |
8:35 | ||