Kenny Drew – Undercurrent (1961/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Kenny Drew – Undercurrent (1961/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/192 kHz | Time – 00:38:37 minutes | 1,57 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: Qobuz | @ Blue Note Records
Recorded: Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 11, 1960

Kenny Drew was an unsung master of bebop. A brilliant pianist who started with the example of Bud Powell and then developed his own sound within the style, in the ’50s Drew worked with some of the most important innovators of all time including Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Buddy DeFranco, Dinah Washington and Art Blakey. By 1960 when he recorded Undercurrent, Drew had already led ten albums of his own, mostly with duos and trios.
Oddly enough he only had the opportunity to lead two albums in his life for Blue Note, an early effort from 1953 and the classic Undercurrent. Joined in a quintet by the young firebrand trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, the always-stimulating tenor-saxophonist Hank Mobley, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes, the 32-year old pianist shows that he was ready to truly make his mark on the jazz world. All six compositions are his, and in his accompaniment of the passionate horn men and also in his soulful solos, Drew shows that he was one of the major hard bop stylists.
This high energy album, which finds Hubbard, Mobley and Drew consistently inspiring each other to come up with heated statements, has many of the pianist’s finest compositions including the roaring “Undercurrent,” the bluesy “Funk-Cosity,” the gospellish “The Pot’s On,” the well titled “Groovin’ The Blues” and the beautiful “Ballade.” Kenny Drew, who would move permanently to Europe in 1964 and would not lead another album until 1973, is heard throughout at the peak of his powers, creating his finest recording.

Kenny Drew’s seventh recording as a leader is significant for many reasons, not the least of which that it is one of the finest Blue Note hard bop statements in either of their catalogs. Teamed with rising young star, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, and the wonderful tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley fresh off stints with Donald Byrd and Art Blakey, Drew is joining the ranks of the premier mainstream jazz pianists just prior to moving permanently to Europe. He’s a complementary piece of the puzzle as a player, but stirs the drink as the composer of all of these very fine hard bop vehicles. Bassist Sam Jones and especially drummer Louis Hayes contribute mightily to the beats that keep Hubbard and Mobley flying on this recording, whose energy runs contrary to the more subtle, suggestive title. The band is roaring out of the gate on the title track in a Blakey-like stance, where Drew’s rambling piano fortifies the under-the-surface horns. There’s no messing around during the straight-ahead, fleet “Lion’s Den,” as the steady Hayes drives the combo, and Jones masterfully commands held tension-and-release segments. Toning it down into the blues spectrum, “Funk-Cosity” offers a beautiful melodic line where the identity might be typical, but the individualism of the performers is not. There’s deft unison playing between the very compatible Hubbard and Mobley during the simplified “Groovin’ the Blues,” and even more pronounced on the ultra-melodic “The Pot’s On,” a gem of a tune that swings with a religious fervor via the adept drumming of Hayes. The lone downtempo track, “Ballade,” is a real beauty as the trumpeter and tenor saxophonist wax poetic, but it is Drew whose cascading piano and deeply emotional romantic forays come across symphonically, like a young Erroll Garner. This is an extraordinary recording that reveals more upon repeat listenings. One does wish there was alternate or bonus material from this fine jazz band, but as is, it’s the best of Drew as a leader aside from his quintessential work as a consummate sideman. –AllMusic Review by Michael G. Nastos

Tracklist:
1 Undercurrent 7:18
2 Funk-Cosity 8:25
3 Lion’s Den 4:53
4 The Pot’s On 6:05
5 Groovin’ The Blues 6:19
6 Ballade 5:32

Personnel:
Freddie Hubbard, trumpet
Hank Mobley, tenor saxophone
Kenny Drew, piano
Sam Jones, bass
Louis Hayes, drums

Download:

http://subyshare.com/d2ry2fr0fzqt/KennyDrewUndercurrent196119224.part1.rar.html
http://subyshare.com/nhaf1xt2kq5y/KennyDrewUndercurrent196119224.part2.rar.html