Celebrate Ralph Alessi Part 5

You can almost tell how this record is a bit of a rarity just by virtue of the fact that I was only able to find a jpg image of the album cover online that's about the size of a postage stamp. Nonetheless the tunes are great. Also, the group on this is first rate, Rainey on drums, Berne on alt sax, Taborn on piano and Alessi on trumpet.  

It's always fun to check out records by great bass players in the role of band leaders. This record is no exception. It's a rewarding listen and a lot of fun. Bassists tend to get buried in the mix. This has been the case throughout the recorded history of jazz up through the present. Just listen to Vijay Iyer's incredible sextet record from this year and ask yourself, 'Where's the bass???' That makes a good reason to hear records where the bassist is in the driver's seat. Also great bassists tend to have great ideas for composition. Just ask me! ;) 

_Alibi