Product details
- Label Contemporary Records
- Artist Phineas Newborn Jr.
- Series CRAFT Recordings
- Format 1LP
- Country Germany
- Released Date 2023
- Genre Jazz
- Sealed Yes
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A World Of Piano! by Phineas Newborn Jr..
Few pianists in the history of jazz possessed the sheer command that Phineas Newborn Jr. brought to the keyboard, and "A World Of Piano!" stands as a definitive statement of that gift. Recorded across two sessions at Contemporary Records in Los Angeles, on October 16 and November 21, 1961, the album captures Newborn at a moment of astonishing technical fluency and musical maturity, moving through a program that spans bebop fire, ballad tenderness, and Latin-tinged momentum.
The record opens with a run of tunes that showcases the breadth of Newborn's vocabulary. Charlie Parker's "Cheryl" launches Side 1 with crisp, articulate lines, followed by the churning Afro-Cuban energy of Dizzy Gillespie's "Manteca." Then comes "Lush Life," Billy Strayhorn's harmonically intricate meditation, given here the kind of thoughtful, unhurried reading that reveals every shadow in its melody. The side closes with Clifford Brown's "Dahoud," a hard bop staple that lets Newborn stretch out with both precision and swing.
Side 2 continues the momentum, beginning with Sonny Rollins' "Oleo," a tune whose rhythm changes have long served as a proving ground for improvisers. Newborn approaches it with the confidence of a player who has nothing left to prove, threading dazzling runs through the familiar chord structure. "Juicy Lucy" keeps the groove alive before the set turns inward with "For Carl," a piece of quiet reflection nestled among the flashier material.
The album concludes with "Cabu," a fitting close to a record that never once lets its virtuosity overshadow its musicality. Across both sides, Newborn demonstrates why he was so admired by his peers and by the listeners fortunate enough to catch his work; the two-handed unison lines, the harmonic depth, and the rhythmic drive all serve the music rather than mere display.
This edition, pressed for vinyl with etched runouts, presents the album as it was meant to be heard. It carries a ℗ 2023 and © 1962 Craft Recordings designation, manufactured and distributed by Concord, and made in the U.S.A. The care taken in this reissue reflects the lasting stature of a session that has held its place in the jazz canon for more than six decades.
For collectors and newcomers alike, "A World Of Piano!" remains one of the essential documents of postwar jazz piano. It is a record that rewards repeat listening, revealing new details in Newborn's phrasing and touch with each pass. Whether you come to it for the bebop classics, the ballads, or the Latin rhythms, this pressing offers a chance to experience one of the instrument's true masters at the height of his powers.
Pressing Details:
Side 1 was recorded October 16, 1961, and Side 2 was recorded November 21, 1961 at Contemporary Records in Los Angeles.
℗ 2023 & © 1962 Craft Recordings. Manufactured and Distributed By Concord.
Made in U.S.A.
Etched runouts.
Track Listing:
A1. Cheryl
A2. Manteca
A3. Lush Life
A4. Dahoud
B1. Oleo
B2. Juicy Lucy
B3. For Carl
B4. Cabu
Artist: Phineas Newborn Jr.
Format: 1LP
Genre: Jazz
Label: Contemporary Records
Catalog Number: CR00606
Series: CRAFT Recordings
Release Year: 2023
Country: Germany
Condition: Sealed (New)
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