Paul Gonsalves - Tell It the Way It Is!/Cleopatra -- Feelin' Jazzy

Mad Mex in fine form

Paul Gonsalves is an underrated, underappreciated tenor, falsely characterized as a honker for his Newport blowout. In this 1963 small group setting, he shows the great lyrical, subtle tenor that he is. Yet he always swings intensely. Like Getz and Lester, he is a nice contrast to the hard bop machine guns. With Ellington colleagues Johnny Hodges and Ray Nance, and the wonderful pianist Walter Bishop, he's in top form here. He's one of the best; check him out. January 27, 2001

Tell It The Way It Is -- OK, It's Pretty Lame

This one was a real disappointment! After loving "Gettin' Together" (see my review), I was thinking two albums on one CD from the mid-60s would be more adventurous and just plain more music. But "Tell It The Way It Is" is basically a smaller version of Ellington's band playing music that was interesting ten years earlier, in the mid-50s. The title track by pianist Walter Bishop, the album's supposed selling point, is an univentive boogie-woogie meets swing number. It only gets worse on the warped concept album "Cleopatra." Without going into the gory details, it's basically just boring, commercial soul/organ jazz despite a lineup that features Kenny Burrell, Hank Jones and Roy Haynes. I can't bring myself to give this CD only two stars because I know there are people out there who will enjoy this release. But for my money, it's better to get "Gettin' Together" or Gonsalves' album with Sonny Stitt, "Salt and Pepper." August 2, 2000

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