My album of the week is:
Informal Jazz by the Elmo Hope Sextet aka Two Tenors with John Coltrane and Hank Mobley
Elmo Hope — piano
Donald Byrd — trumpet
John Coltrane, Hank Mobley — tenor saxophone
Paul Chambers — bass
Philly Joe Jones — drums
Track listing
"Weeja" (Elmo Hope) — 11:00
"Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke) — 8:31
"On It" (Elmo Hope) — 8:58
"Avalon" (Al Jolson, Buddy DeSylva, Vincent Rose) — 9:37
I discovered this by accident because I am a huge Hank Mobley (and Coltrane) fan and the thought of a collaboration between two of my favorite tenors plus under appreciated Elmo Hope was too much to pass up. I prefer this period in Donald Byrd's career vs his later work. It was originally called Informal Jazz by the Elmo Hope Sextet and since Elmo Hope never became famous and John Coltrane became a mega star the album was reissued as Two Tenors with John Coltrane and Hank Mobley. This is not a homogeneous quartet but mainly everyone going about their own agendas but with moments of individual brilliance (not surprising considering the all star cast). If you are a Hank Mobley and/or John Coltrane aficionado you will enjoy this.