1956 · Album
Illinois Jacquet Flies Again
Recorded 1956 · Clef · Produced by Norman Granz
Jacquet Takes Flight Again
Illinois Jacquet's tenor sax soars over a loose, swinging bop session that never loses its footing.
Put the needle down and the first thing you hear is Illinois Jacquet's tenor, big-toned and unhurried, leaning into the beat like a man who has all night. The rhythm section keeps things loose and bouncy, the kind of swing that feels more like a crowded floor than a studio. There is nothing precious about the sound. It is warm, a little rough at the edges, and built for playing loud.
The album comes from the period when Jacquet was working hard to keep his name alive after his famous 1942 solo on Lionel Hampton's "Flying Home" had made him a star. By the mid-1950s the big-band boom was fading and small-group jazz was where the action was, and Jacquet adapted by stripping his music down to tight, hard-swinging combos. This record sits comfortably in that world. It is not reinventing anything. It is a skilled player doing what he does well, with musicians who know how to keep up with him.
If you are new to Jacquet, this is a fine place to start, though his earlier work with Hampton and his big Lester Young-influenced recordings give a fuller picture of his range. Here you get the swing and the honk, delivered cleanly. It is a solid, enjoyable record rather than a landmark, and it rewards listeners who like their jazz direct and full of energy.
