Peti tv handed rhythmic firmness; and as Williams' debut as a leader, it in sue ulent harmonic sense. dicated unusually forceful, personal new...«! promise. This second, longer album, ati >n this set, however, Billy seems to b- holding back a little, to be aiming however, underlines several of Wil­ ferul ; a it too directly at a “wider audi­ liams’ liabilities as well as strong i th., ence.” Let me make clear that aside points. Although there is no lessening meh ; frmn a rather brittle But Not for Me, of potential, Williams spread over 12” ns t > everything here is a pleasure to dig. indicates considerable growing has to Bi there is little wailing as such. occur. One thing, to begin with, may T session is just a little too consis­ not be his fault, and that’s the pro­ >a\\ ter lv well-mannered. This is the one gramming of 12 titles on one LP. To ke; ingredient Billy’s otherwise wholly repeat a frequent rhetorical question rill. agreeable playing on occasion lacks— in this space, why waste the challenge a isty shout. The set is certainly rec of extended time by treating an LP as a collection of 78s? ’Dave McKenna's on aended, however, as is the recorded first LP is a remarkably refreshing sound engineered by Rudy Van Gelder. More to the playing point is the solo debut1’’ n*t hentoff down bim (ABC-Paramount 12" IP ABC-112) narrowness of Williams’ interpretive range as indicated here. With few ex­ DAVE McKENNA —SOLO PIANO—104 Steve M hite ceptions, like the deeply tender Heart­ Recorded Jan . 1956 ______Liberty in II hite; Mister Thing; ache, there is a surfeit of pound­ Musin'; I Only Have byes for You; ing, chopping, short-lined blowing that nt on Rushin' the Rlues; Reside a Sea; Stop- becomes overbearing after a time. A pt'il Ion Sea; Lazy Lady Rlues; 0 hat Sleeping Ree, a fine choice, does not il \ Makes Me Blue Today? Paper Moon; flow nearly as gently as it should. And tkins Don't Worry Bout Me; Apiil Showers Williams’ admittedly dynamic treat­ 1st ment of Someday My Prince Will Come ■ tarsi, Rating: **1^ nonetheless sounds like the prince is much Jazz Mad: The Unpredictable Steve Rocky Marciano. Williams certainly White is the LP debut of the 30-year- swings, and hard. He also comes close old Los Angeles tenor who has worked in places to his aim (as quoted in the >ng< with Butch Stone, Jimmy Dorsey, Al notes) of making the piano do what vino Rey, and in L.A. clubs. He is ac­ the horns of and companied by a competent rhythm accomplish. section of pianist Bob Harrington, But to limit the piano to largely Green’s test Lr It s bassist Harry Babasin, and drummer this function is to miss so many of the relaxed, modern mam stream jazz1 Boone Stines. On the first and better resources the piano alone contains. side, White just plays. He sings the Williams needs to broaden his range BLUES AND 01HER SHADES Of GREEN last five titles, and his decision to vo­ of tone colorations, lengthen his lines, athei -HRBIE GREEN—101 calize is extremely ill-advised for just and soften his touch when the music ■ ■ .... <¿ui 11 about every reason ir the book. His requires more than horn-like wailing. : own lyrics on What Makes Me Blue anco He says, again in the notes, that he For free’Jazz Catalogue Write to ates i Today? are the most alarmingly me­ admires Hank Jones because Hank diocre in my experience. CATALOBUES-ABC PARAMOUNT Joo I “gets a flying flow in his phrasing.’’ f As for his playing on both sides, It is this kind of airborne flow that Oiyl 0 1501 I en N T. )l N T White is a modern, Pres-derived tenor Williams very often lacks. Once he ’edily with frequent touches of Getz. He does tempers his impressive vitality with MAIL ORDER JAZZ not, however, have the flow of inven­ lyricism, Williams can become a major nson. 25 Sprues Street tion and the constant good taste of jazzman (EmArcy 12" LP MG 36061) Getz. His taste, in fact, sometimes lapses and while there are pleasant SPECIAL BONUS OFFERS! moments in his work due to a generally SPECIAL BONUS NO. 4: Keepnews­ good tone, frequent vigor, and fluent ot ÌOI I Grauer Book "A Pictorial History of technique, he is not especially indi­ Music Fraternity Jazz', FREE with evary $25.00 order. t for vidual nor is his conception usually fresh. SPECIAL BONUS NO. I: Feather's Sher Honors Ellington book "The Encyclopedia of Jazz", ;oul