Abbey Lincoln - Abbey Is Blue (1959) [1991]

Abbey Lincoln's third of three Riverside albums directly precedes her more adventurous work with drummer (and then-husband) Max Roach. With fine backup from trumpeter Kenny Dorham, pianist Wynton Kelly, Les Spann (doubling on guitar and flute), bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Philly Joe Jones) on seven of the ten numbers, and by Roach's regular quintet at the time on the other three selections, Lincoln is quite emotional and distinctive during a particularly strong set. Highlights include the first vocal version ever of "Afro-Blue," "Come Sunday," Oscar Brown, Jr.'s "Brother, Where Are You," "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," "Long as You're Living," and Lincoln's own "Let Up." A very memorable set.


Tracks:

1. Afro-Blue (Brown-Mann)
2. Lonely House (Hughes-Weill)
3. Let Up (Abbey Lincoln)
4. Thursday's Child (Boyd-Grand)
5. Brother, Where Are You? (Oscar Brown, Jr.)
6. Laugh, Clown Laugh (Lewis-Young-Fiorito)
7. Come Sunday (Duke Ellington)
8. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (Hammerstein-Romberg)
9. Lost In The Stars (Anderson-Weill)
10. As Long As You're Living (Brown-Priester-Turrentine)

Personnel:

tracks 1 & 10:
Tommy Turrentine - trumpet
Julian Priester - trombone
Stanley Turrentine - tenor sax
Bobby Boswell - bass
Max Roach - Drums

tracks 2 & 4:
Abbey Lincoln- vocal
Kenny Dorham - trumpet
Wynton Kelly - piano
Les Spann - guitar
Sam Jones bass
Philly Joe Jones - drums

tracks 3 & 6:
Tommy Turrentine - trumpet
Julian Priester - trombone
Stanley Turrentine - tenor sax
Cedar Walton - piano
Bobby Boswell - bass
Max Roach - Drums

track 5:
Abbey Lincoln- vocal
Kenny Dorham - trumpet
Cedar Walton - piano
Les Spann - guitar
Sam Jones bass
Philly Joe Jones - drums

tracks 7-9:
Abbey Lincoln- vocal
Kenny Dorham - trumpet
Phil Wright - piano
Les Spann - guitar
Sam Jones bass
Philly Joe Jones - drums