Ammons Returns, Swinging Free
A 1972 Prestige session where Gene Ammons trades the small-group intimacy of his earlier records for a full big-band setting.
Free Again arrived in 1972 on Prestige, a label that by then had long since built its catalog around Gene Ammons. Its reception is harder to pin down than the record itself. It was not a major commercial event, and it did not announce a new chapter the way some of his Chess-era or late-period recordings are sometimes credited with doing. For most listeners it has lived as a dependable item in the Ammons catalog rather than a landmark, which is roughly where a record like this tends to sit.
What makes it worth hearing is the setting. Ammons is best known for his big, warm tenor tone in small combos, and this session places him inside a large ensemble with a sizable horn section, several trombones, and a rhythm section that includes Joe Sample on piano. The arrangements give the band room to push and pull around his lines rather than simply framing them. Ammons sounds comfortable here, leaning into the groove and letting the brass answer him rather than competing for space.
It is not the place to start with Ammons. Listeners new to him would do better with the earlier small-group sessions that show his sound in its most direct form. But for anyone who already knows his playing, Free Again offers a useful look at how he handled a bigger canvas, and it holds up as an enjoyable, unpretentious swing record.
Who's playing
Chuck Raineybass
Bob Saraviabass
Dwight Dickersonpiano
Joe Samplepiano
Arthur Adamsguitar
Dennis Budimirguitar
Gene Ammonstenor saxophone
Pete Christliebtenor saxophone
Red Hollowaytenor saxophone
Al Aaronstrumpet
William “Cat” Andersontrumpet
John Audinotrumpet
Buddy Childerstrumpet
Gene Coetrumpet
Reunald Jonestrumpet
Jimmy Clevelandtrombone
Grover Mitchelltrombone
Benny Powelltrombone
Mike Wemberleytrombone
Britt Woodmantrombone
Paul Humphreydrums
Candy Finchdrums
Bob Noriscongas
David DukeFrench horn
Tommy Johnsontuba
Jack Nimitzreeds
Jerome Richardsonreeds
Herman Rileyreeds
Henry SigismontiFrench horn
Ernie Wattsreeds
Where next?
More by Gene Ammons
Boss Tenor 1960
Bad! Bossa Nova 1962
Jammin' With Gene 1956
Boss Tenors: Straight Ahead from Chicago August 1961 1962
The musicians on this record
Voices in the Rain 1981
Joe Sample
plays piano here
plays piano here
born again 1962
Chuck Rainey
plays bass here
plays bass here
♫
Cookin' Together 1972
Red Holloway
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
