Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis - Body & Soul (1998)

This CD by Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis was initially issued by Black & Blue under the title Leapin' on Lenox. This Laserlight budget edition eliminates one track ("The Shadow of Your Smile") and has several misspelled and incomplete composer credits. Aside from this problem, the sound quality of this edition is very good, with Davis in robust form, accompanied by pianist Milt Buckner, bassist Jimmy Gourley, and drummer Gus Johnson. Davis' strutting blues "Leapin' on Lenox" proves to be a smashing opener, followed by a spirited "On Green Dolphin Street," which alternates between a Latin setting and hard bop. Davis is also a masterful interpreter of ballads, as heard in the lush setting of "Body and Soul," while his interpretation of "I Can't Get Started" opens with a playful exchange between the leader and the pianist. Due to the difficulty of acquiring the European edition of this music at a reasonable price for many fans, this U.S. reissue may fill the bill, even with one less track. ~Ken Dryden