Fantastic Frank Strozier

Fantastic Frank Strozier is the debut album by American saxophonist Frank Strozier, recorded in 1959 and 1960 for Vee-Jay Records.[1] The personnel includes the rhythm section from part of Miles Davis's Kind of Blue, recorded earlier in 1959.[2][3]

Fantastic Frank Strozier
Studio album by
Released1960
RecordedDecember 9, 1959 (#1–2, 7–10)
February 3, 1960 (#3–6, 11)
Studio
  • Fine Sound (New York City) (#1–2, 7–10)
  • Bell Sound (New York City) (#3–6, 11)
GenreJazz
Length34:46 original LP
72:15 CD reissue
LabelVee-Jay
VJLP 3005
ProducerSid McCoy
Frank Strozier chronology
Fantastic Frank Strozier
(1960)
Long Night
(1961)

Reception

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Scott Yanow of AllMusic describes the music of Fantastic Frank Strozier as "advanced hard bop" that "is both enjoyable and (due to Little's presence) somewhat historic";[2] (trumpeter Booker Little died in 1961 after a short but brilliant career, making this album one of Little's few recordings). Critics Richard Cook and Brian Morton of The Penguin Guide to Jazz gave the album a favorable review, noting that "we have long held this record in high esteem and it never fails to deliver."[3]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]
Penguin Guide to Jazz    [4]

Track listing

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All compositions by Frank Strozier except as indicated

  1. "W. K. Blues" (Wynton Kelly) – 4:07
  2. "A Starling's Theme" – 5:27
  3. "I Don't Know" – 8:19
  4. "Waltz of the Demons" (Booker Little) – 5:42
  5. "Runnin'" – 4:20
  6. "Off Shore" (Leo Diamond, Michael Goldsen) – 6:51

Bonus tracks on VeeJay 2014 CD reissue:

  1. "Lucka Duce" – 9:57
  2. "Run" – 3:39
  3. "Tibbit" – 9:51
  4. "Just in Time" (Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green) – 7:30
  5. "Off Shore" (Alternate Take 3) (Leo Diamond, Michael Goldsen) – 6:32

Bonus tracks on Koch Jazz 2000 CD reissue:

  1. "Lucka Duce" – 9:57
  2. "Tibbit" – 9:51
  3. "Just in Time" (Jule Styne, Betty Comden, Adolph Green) – 7:30
  4. "Waltz of the Demons" (Alternate Take) (Booker Little) – 6:30
  5. "Off Shore" (Alternate Take 3) (Leo Diamond, Michael Goldsen) – 6:32

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "Frank Strozier discography". Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Yanow, Scott. Fantastic Frank Strozier at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  3. ^ a b Morton, Brian; Richard Cook (2010). The Penguin Jazz Guide: The History of the Music in the 1001 Best Albums. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (10th ed.). New York: Penguin. pp. 237–238. ISBN 978-0-14-104831-4.
  4. ^ Morton, Brian; Richard Cook. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (9th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 1350. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.