Review – Philly Joe Jones’ “Look, Stop, & Listen”
I was excited to listen to this album because it had gotten great reviews in print and online. I was right to be excited because this album became one of my all-time favorites after the first listen. Here’s why:
- Album Cover Art
Back in the 1950’s, Tadd Dameron was throwing out bop tunes and was great at it. Philly Joe Jones was part of this ensemble. When Tadd Dameron died, Jones started a tribute called “Dameronia.” Look, Stop, Listen” is the only album available (at least that I could find after searching around) by Dameronia. What I found on this album blew me away. The drum fills that Jones delivers are jaw-dropping. There is so much feeling throughout this entire album, and that is what makes it great. It is hard for me to come up with a list of favorite tracks, but here is my best shot, in order of preference:
Notable Tracks
Dial B For Beauty
Look, Stop, and Listen
If You Could See Me Now
Choose Now
Track List
Look, Stop, and Listen
If You Could See Me Now
Choose Now
Focus
Killer Joe
Dial B For Beauty
Our Delight
Theme Of No Repeat
If You Could See Me Now (1st Take)
Look, Stop, and Listen (1st Take)
Personnel
Philly Joe Jones – Drums
Johnny Griffin – Tenor Sax
Don Sickler – Trumpet
Virgil Jones – Trumpet
Benny Powell – Trombone
Frank Wess – Flute & Alto Sax
Charles Davis – Flute & Tenor Sax
Cecil Payne – Bari Sax
Walter Davis Jr. – Piano
Larry Ridley – Bass
The Verdict:
If you don’t already own this album, you owe it to yourself to buy it. I believe that it’s an album that belongs in the collection of every jazz fan. It is well worth the money! You can listen to samples and purchase the album by clicking the link below.
Hey Robert,
I just popped over here from Elements of Jazz. Don’t know tweet from shinola.
Thanks for the tip on Dameronia. I’ll pick it up post-haste.
If you’re Philly Joe Jones fan, have you checked out his playing on Everybody Digs Bill Evans? It’ll make you fall over.
Jon
Jon,
Thank you for the comment! Dameronia is definitely a great one. I’m surprised that I haven’t heard of it until now, especially since it came out back in the 1980’s. I haven’t heard Everybody Digs Bill Evans, but I’m going to look at it on Amazon in a few seconds and possibly buy the MP3 album.
Thanks for the comment and come back sometime!
Robert
Hi, I just had this very record and dropped here after some random googlin’.
As Luthro, I’d recomend this for the great Philly Joe. One of the very forst jazz cds I ever bought and listened close to has been Bill Evans’ Quintessence (1976), where this swinging jet subtle drummer really in the same years of this very session teached me first what a drummer is (I’d warmly reccomend a close listen if you do not know that record already).
I bought this cd because I long love old Tadd Dameron’s lp (cd) The Magic Touch (Riverside 1962), where in an orchestra Philly performs Dameron’s arrangements with Evans and many others.
Thank you for reading my review and for the recommendation! I will see if I can find Quintessence at the local record shop today and give it a listen. When I first listened to Look, Stop, and Listen, I was blown away. When I listen to it now, I hear nuances in Jones’ playing that amaze me. I will also be picking up Dameron’s The Magic Touch if I can find it. I’d like to hear more of Jones’ phenomenal playing.
Thank you once again for the great input. I love having new albums to listen to and the two that you recommended are definitely going to be good ones. Please check in once in a while! I’d love to have more of your comments in the future.
Ross
Sure, too kind. It’s always a pleasure to share listening clues with people interested in this music. Thank you, bye