Wein, Women & Song (CD - 1955)

Originally released on Atlantic (1221).

Personnel: George Wein (vocals, piano); George Wein; Howard Alden (guitar); Sam Margolis, Sammy Margolis (tenor saxophone); Warren Vaché (trumpet); Bill Pemberton, Stan Wheeler (double bass); Joe Craig Jones, Oliver Jackson (drums); Ruby Braff, Wally Wales (trumpet); Jo Jones , Marquis Foster (drums).

Audio Remixers: Roy Yokelson ; Bryan Shaw.

Liner Note Authors: George Wein; George Frazier.

Recording information: Atlantic Record, New York, NY (04/11/1955-05/22/1992); Clinton Studios, New York, NY (04/11/1955-05/22/1992).

George Wein is best known as the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954 and an enthusiastic impresario who became instrumental in jump-starting jazz festivals in New York City in the early '70s, but Wein has also recorded as a pianist and singer from time to time. The Atlantic LP Wein, Women and Song features Wein in fine form; his friendly sounding vocals are rather soft and mellow, with a bit of vibrato on the end of nearly every phrase, though the trumpet solos by either Ruby Braff (trading licks with tenor saxophonist Sammy Margolis on a superb treatment of "You're Lucky to Me") or Bobby Hackett (with fine muted backgrounds on the melancholy "I'm Through with Love") add something special to each song. Wein's consistent ability to put together swinging groups of all-stars to accompany his concerts and occasional recordings can't be discounted, so this entertaining album shouldn't disappoint anyone familiar with George Wein's somewhat sporadic but long career as a performer. ~ Ken Dryden minimize