Fantastic Frank Strozier

Fantastic Frank Strozier
Fantastic Frank Strozier
Studio album by Frank Strozier
Released	1960
Recorded	December 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);
Genre	Jazz
Length	34:46 original LP; 72:15 CD reissue
Label	Vee-Jay; VJLP 3005
Producer	Sid McCoy
Frank Strozier chronology

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]

Reception

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
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Penguin Guide to Jazz	^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Frank Strozier except as indicated

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

Bonus tracks on VeeJay 2014 CD reissue:

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

Bonus tracks on Koch Jazz 2000 CD reissue:

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

Personnel

Frank Strozier – alto sax
Booker Little – trumpet
Wynton Kelly – piano
Paul Chambers – bass
Jimmy Cobb – drums

References

^ "Frank Strozier discography". Retrieved 26 May 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c Yanow, Scott. Fantastic Frank Strozier at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
^ ^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.
^ 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.

[1] "Frank Strozier discography". Retrieved 26 May 2020.

[allmusic-2] Yanow, Scott. Fantastic Frank Strozier at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-07-05.

[penguin-3] 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.

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