Nathan Davis Quintet, Carmell Jones

Considered one of Nathan Davis’ best albums, and long a collector’s item, The Hip Walk was recorded in 1965, a time when the Afro-American Davis lived in Europe, working with such legends as Kenny Clarke, Eric Dolphy, and Art Blakey. Nathan’s Kansas City school mate, trumpeter Carmell Jones comes along for the ride. Jones played trumpet on Horace Silver’s classic 1965 Song for My Father – ‘nuff said about his credentials! Nathan’s rhythm section represents the underpinning of one of the greatest big bands of the time, Kenny Clarke and Francy Boland, with Jimmy Woode. The Hip Walk struts along with outstanding solos over dense, dark chords. While Children Sleep reveals Davis as a superb balladeer. Train of Thought has something of Tad Dameron’s Super Jet in it as Davis, Jones, and Boland fly through the changes. Jerome Kern’s Yesterdays features Davis with a virtuoso exhibition of flute playing, whereas That Keycee Thing shows Davis’s debt to Trane on this hard-swinging modal piece. The beautiful Carmell’s Black Forest Waltz features Jones on his own composition in a fitting tribute to the MPS ethos. B’s Blues finds Nathan on soprano. Jones and Davis exchange fours on the way out. A superb album of soulful, swinging jazz – the perfect companion when you feel the need to get in the groove.