Groovin' Blue (Tone Poet Series) vinyl

Human novae of the 1950s jazz circuit in Hollywood, Curtis Amy and Frank Butler imploded the local scene at the turn of the swinging decade when they began to record for local label Pacific Jazz. Laid down in a single session at the PJ studio, Groovin' Blue is a timeless and idiosyncratic experiment in jazz, its specialty being tss-tss rhythms, unhindered lead instrumental melisma, sax counterpoint, and smackout drum fills and solos from Butler, which more than transcended the strictures of the swing form of the time. Also hearing vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, who was just 19 years old at the time of this recording, this excellent six-song set is perfect for those audiophiles keen on the interesting intersection of blues and jazz.