Leonard Feather Albums (6)
What The Critics Say
This joint project by Leonard Feather and Dick Hyman is a bit unusual, as the nine compositions within their Hi-Fi Suite are intended to provide a workout for the listener's audio equipment while also playing swinging music. Most of the songs are named for various audio terms; for example, "Tweeter" showcases Jerome Richardson's piccolo, while "Flutter" features Hyman performing a waltz on organ with bassist Eddie Safranski and drummer Don Lamond. The most interesting solos take place in the blues "Woofer," featuring trumpeter Thad Jones, tuba player Bill Barber, tenor saxophonist Frank Wess, trombonist Benny Powell, and Richardson on alto sax. In spite of the presence of these all-stars, along with Joe Newman, Oscar Pettiford, and Kenny Clarke, most of the music is merely pleasant, but not particularly memorable. In any case, fans of Dick Hyman will likely want to look for this long-deleted MGM LP. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
'Swingin' on the Vibories'
Release Date 1/1/1956
Tracks 8
Label Paramount
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
In 1956, jazz critic Leonard Feather briefly championed the vibories, a keyboard that attached to the vibes and allowed pianists to transfer their ideas to the vibraphone. The results could sound impossible at times, such as when the pianist used block chording because, instead of utilizing two or four mallets, the player was able to use all ten fingers, making the vibes sound remarkably dense. The vibories soon disappeared into history, with this long out of print and obscure album probably being the only example of the device being recorded. The most memorable performance is on "Stompin' at the Savoy," which has Gerald Wiggins playing block chords, and Feather himself making appearances on piano and vibories. Other players who take turns on the vibories along the way include Red Mitchell (who was normally a bassist), Kenny Drew, and Sonny Clark, with Bob Enevoldsen heard taking solos on both tenor and trombone. This historical curiosity does contain some worthwhile and swinging music by young greats of the mid-'50s. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
In 1971, critic Leonard Feather, who only recorded on a very infrequent basis through the decades, led two albums by a group that he called the Night Blooming Jazzmen. The two Mainstream LPs were briefly reissued on CD in the early '90s. Feather, who plays background piano throughout the date, performs eight of his originals with trumpeter Blue Mitchell, Ernie Watts (on tenor, alto and flute), guitarist Fred Robinson, organist Charles Kynard, Al McKibbon on acoustic or Max Bennett on electric bass, drummer Paul Humphrey and percussionist Chino Valdes; Kitty Doswell takes the vocal on "Evil Gal Blues." In addition to "Evil Gal," Feather's best-known numbers on the set are "I Remember Bird" (an excellent showcase for Watts' alto) and "Signing Off," while "Nam M'Yoho Ren'ge Kyo" is a particularly catchy number. Worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
