Gene Ammons and the Summit Jam, 1961-62
A loose, uneven, all-star jam session that still holds enough gems to reward a listen.
Soul Summit Vol 2 sounds like a session that was meant to be heard as a party. Gene Ammons's tenor is warm and unhurried, and the rhythm section, often built around Jack McDuff's organ, keeps the grooves loose and swinging rather than tightly arranged. The tempos shift from relaxed ballad feel to brisk blowing numbers, and the mood stays friendly throughout, like a room full of musicians trading choruses late in the evening.
The record was pieced together from four sessions in 1961 and 1962, and it shows. Personnel changes from track to track, with Clark Terry on trumpet, Oliver Nelson on alto, and a rotating cast of drummers and bassists, including Wendell Marshall and George Duvivier. Etta Jones's vocal contribution adds a different color to the proceedings. The arrangements are looser than on Ammons's best-organized dates, and some tracks feel like warm-up material rather than finished statements.
AllMusic reviewer Stacia Proefrock noted that the album was one of the first Prestige released after Ammons's incarceration, and that its all-star presentation partly hides a slapdash quality. Her verdict, that the record is uneven but contains enough gems to be worthwhile, is a fair one. Start with other Ammons sessions if you are new to him, but this is a pleasant, honest document of a working soul-jazz tenor player at ease.
Who's playing
Wendell Marshalldouble bass
George Duvivierdouble bass
Patti Bownpiano
Richard Wyandspiano
Eddie Diehlguitar
Gene Ammonstenor saxophone
Robert Ashtonbaritone saxophone
George Barrowtenor saxophone
Red Hollowaytenor saxophone
Oliver Nelsonalto saxophone
Hobart Dotsontrumpet
Clark Terrytrumpet
Bill Englishdrums
Walter Perkinsdrums
Joe Dukesdrums
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
The Blues and the Abstract Truth 1961
Oliver Nelson
plays alto saxophone here
plays alto saxophone here
Hot Barbeque 1966
Jack McDuff
plays organ here
plays organ here
♫
Cookin' Together 1972
Red Holloway
plays tenor saxophone here
plays tenor saxophone here
