Holiday Soul (Prestige)
Bobby Timmons
Re-released in 2016
DownBeat Four-Stars Review
YouTube:
https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mG9fGungG8ZJCC-HuGWpitMdmiUcL8jb8
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About:
A superior album of soulful jazzy holiday music is a coveted Christmas music album. Joined by Butch Warren and Walter Perkins, legendary pianist Bobby Timmons turns in fresh, groovy takes on classics like “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “We Three Kings.”
Timmons’ artistry and signature sound are on full display on this inspired set of holiday fare.
Timmons, jazz pianist and composer, was a sideman in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from July 1958 to September 1959 and from February 1960 to June 1961. Between those two periods of time, he was also part of Cannonball Adderley’s band. Jazz compositions by Timmons include “Moanin'”, “Dat Dere”, and “This Here”.
Track Listing:
1. Deck The Halls (Traditional) 3:10
2. White Christmas (Irving Berlin) 7:00
3. The Christmas Song (Mel Tormé / Robert Wells) 5:15
4. Auld Lang Syne (Traditional) 4:35
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Haven Gillespie / J. Fred Coots) 6:00
6. Winter Wonderland (Irving Berlin) 5:30
7. We Three Kings (Traditional) 5:00
8. You’re All I Want For Christmas (Glen Moore / Seger Ellis) 5:00
Personnel:
Butch Warren: bass
Walter Perkins: drums
Bobby Timmons: piano
Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder
Supervised by Ozzie Cadena
Design: Don Schlitten
Lacquer Cut by dP
Review:
Available again in the LP format for the first time since its 1965 debut, Bobby Timmons’ Holiday Soul finds the former Art Blakey and Cannonball Adderley sideman (who famously wrote “Dat Dere” and “Moanin’”) officiating on piano with swinging authority. The Bud Powell-influenced musician energizes “Winter Wonderland” and seven more selections without seeming the least bit self-conscious about his soul-jazz and blues tendencies. The sound of sleigh bells adds to the yuletide atmosphere.
Frank-John Hadley (DownBeat)
