ART FARMER QUARTET - Art, 1960
During a career that spanned close to a half century, Art Farmer was well-known for his consistency as a soloist and a bandleader. This series of studio sessions from 1960, with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Tommy Williams, and drummer Albert Heathe, find the trumpeter in great form, with the usually impeccable accompaniment one expects from Flanagan. Many of the rich ballads featured, including "So Beats My Heart for You,""Goodbye Old Girl," and "Younger Than Springtime," have fallen out of favor in the early 21st century, but Farmer's impeccable performances of these chestnuts sound timeless. A slightly jaunty take of Benny Golson's "Out of the Past" and a spirited rendition of "The Best Thing for You Is Me" also merit attention. - Ken Dryden
ART FARMER QUARTET - Perception, 1961
This 1964 release of a 1961 date with pianist Harold Mabern, drummer Ron McCurdy, and bassist Tommy Williams is a breezy affair, a stark contrast to the hard bop that was still pervasive at that time. Farmer had fully developed his sensual and lyrical style by this time, and was making records with Benny Golson when he led this date. The set features two fine originals, which are notable because Farmer didn't compose much: the elegant and spring-like "Punsu" and "Kayin," a breezy West Coast affair. Farmer had given up the trumpet completely by this time and concentrated all of his efforts on the flügelhorn. Its large, warm tone and rounded sound fit perfectly with Farmer's penchant for the exploration of melodic modes within a given tune. On "Lullaby of the Leaves," Farmer's lead into the melody prefigures his solo by moving both off key and off beat to shape a large conical center in the tune. On Ray Bryant's "Tonk," Farmer swings out of the blues and into a shimmering solo all around a triplet figure in B flat. Mabern does far more than comp his way through the changes here, extending his chord voicings to let Farmer fall inside the cracks and nest. This is a gorgeous record, full of light and airiness; it showcases the depth rather than the breadth of Farmer's contribution. - Thom Jurek
Tracks
01. So Beats My Heart For You(Pat Ballard/Charles Herdenson/Tom Waring)
02. Goodbye, Old Girl (Richard Adler/Jerry Ross)
03. Who Cares George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin)
04. Out Of The Past (Benny Golson)
05. Younger Than Springtime (Oscar Hammerstein II/Richard Rodgers)
06. The Best Thing For You Is me (Irvin Berlin)
07. I'm A Fool to Want (Joel Herron/Frank Sinatra/Jack Wolf)
08. That Old Devil Called Love (Doris Fisher/Allan Roberts)
09. Punsu (Art Farmer)
10. The Day After (Tom McIntosh)
11. Lullaby Of The Leaves (Bernice Petkere/Joe Young)
12. Kayin' (Art Farmer)
13. Tonk (Ray Bryant)
14. Blue Room (Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers)
15. Change Partners (Irvin Berlin)
16. Nobody's Heart (Lorenz hart/Richard Rodgers)
ART FARMER trumpet
TOMMY WILLIAMS bass
ALBERT HEATH drums (1-8)
ROY McCURDY drums (9-16)
HAROLD MABERN piano (9-16)
TOMMY FLANAGAN piano (1-8)
Tracks 1-8: Art (Argo LP78) recorded September 21-23, 1960, New York
Tracks 9-16: Perception (Argo LP738) recorded October 25-27, 1961, New York
Poll Winners Records - PWR 27291