About

• Limited Edition 200 gram LP
• Part of the ultimate audiophile Prestige stereo reissues from Analogue Productions — 25 of the most collectible, rarest, most audiophile-sounding Rudy Van Gelder recordings ever made. All cut at 33 1/3.
• All mastered from the original analog master tapes by mastering maestro Kevin Gray. 200-gram LPs pressed at Acoustic Sounds' state-of-the-art pressing plant, Quality Record Pressings, plated by Gary Salstrom.
• Deep groove label pressings, tip-on jackets on thick cardboard stock.

"Both are gorgeous impressions of soul, jazz and blues, brought together through the legacy of standards and new compositions. The tonality of Gene Ammons in particular is transfixing and it is with the stereo reissues from Prestige that Gene will get a lot of love with multiple titles scheduled for release. Booker Ervin was another great tenor sax player and his contributions to the Prestige vaults are timeless with Exultation!." — Erik Otis, Sound Colour Vibration, May 9, 2015.

“For nearly a quarter-century, beginning in 1950, tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons (1925-1974) was among the brightest stars in the Prestige Records firmament. Whether leading, or partaking in, one of Prestige’s jam sessions, immersing himself in the organ-dominated blues and gospel grooves that in the 1950s came to be called “soul jazz,” or digging deep for heart-rending ballads, Ammons was multiply masterful. And in 1960, leading a quintet featuring the impeccable pianist Tommy Flanagan, plus Ray Barretto’s piquant congas, he produced the insuperable Boss Tenor.

 From the blues that drips from “Hittin’ the Jug” and “Blue Ammons” to the infectious medium bounce of the standards “Close Your Eyes” and “Canadian Sunset,” and from the sophisticated swing of “Stompin’ at the Savoy” to the finger-poppin’ bop of “Confirmation” and the after-hours balladry of “My Romance,” Boss Tenor has something for everyone claiming to be a fan of modern jazz.” – Acoustic Sounds

“Tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons' tone can be best described using the qualities of an ideally brewed cup of joe: rounded, bold, smooth, and exhilarating after first taste.

Widely regarded as an original founder of the "Chicago school of tenor sax," Ammons' nonchalant, yet indelible sound—echoing the soft, breathy tone of Lester Young—drove him to a great deal of fame within the post- World War II jazz crowds of the '50s. Ammons, famously nicknamed "Jug," had an inherent ability to cultivate new emotion within any obsolete standard, stemming from his signature timbre that was steeped in the blues, gospel, and R&B. Renowned for his versatility, Ammons was well-versed in the bebop tradition, yet greatly influenced the marketable "soul jazz" movement of the '60s. …

Whether it be during smoldering blues originals ("Hittin' the Jug," "Blue Ammons"), Latin-tinged bop classics ("Confirmation," "Stompin' at the Savoy"), or late-night balladry ("Close Your Eyes," "My Romance"), Ammons never fails to fall into a groove where expressiveness reigns above all else. His unwavering originality is best displayed during the album's revamped, contagious centerpiece, "Canadian Sunset," where every note played sounds as if it was deliberately picked with the utmost conviction. Overall, Boss Tenor is a sensitive, laid-back listen that evokes a multitude of raw human emotion.” – All About Jazz

Musicians:

• Gene Ammons, tenor saxophone
• Tommy Flanagan, piano
• Ray Barretto, congas
• Doug Watkins, bass
• Arthur Taylor, drums

Item description: