Released 1956 (1956) Studio Capitol Studios Producer Bill Miller Release date 1956 Genre Jazz | Recorded March 14 & 16, 1956 Length 41:33 Artist Serge Chaloff Label Blue Note Records | |
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Jazz albums Sonny Clark Trio, My Conception, Dial "S" for Sonny, Last Chorus, Memorial Album | ||
Blue Serge is an album by jazz baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff, and released by Capitol Records in 1956. It was recorded on March 14 and 16, 1956 at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, California.
Contents
Reception
David Szatmary, writing for All Music Guide to Jazz, described Blue Serge as "[a]n indispensable session by one of the great underrated baritone sax players...."
Richard Cook and Brian Morton of The Penguin Guide to Jazz wrote, "Chaloff's masterpiece is both vigorous and moving, not for the knowledge that he was so near his own death but for the unsentimental rigour of the playing. 'Thanks for the Memory' is overpoweringly beautiful as Chaloff creates a series of melodic variations which match the improviser's ideal of fashioning an entirely new song. 'Stairway to the Stars' is almost as fine, and the thoughtful 'The Goof and I' and 'Susie's Blues' show that Chaloff still had plenty of ideas about what could be done with a bebopper's basic materials. This important session has retained all its power." The Penguin Guide includes both Blue Serge and the Definitive Records pairing of Blue Serge with Boston Blow–Up! as part of its suggested "Core Collection," and gives both releases a four-star rating (of a possible four).
Scott Yanow, writing for Allmusic.com, described Blue Serge as Chaloff's best recording, noting that the saxophonist had already contracted spinal paralysis.
Personnel
Release history
In 2004, Definitive Records released Blue Serge and Boston Blow Up! together on a single CD, which presented the tracks in reverse chronological order of recording.
Songs
1A Handful of Stars5:38
2The Goof and I4:49
3Thanks for the Memory3:51