Ease It Explained

Ease It
Type:	studio
Artist:	Rocky Boyd Quintet
Cover:	Ease_It.jpg
Released:	1961
Recorded:	March 13, 1961
Studio:	Bell Sound (New York City)
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	39:42 (original LP)
Label:	Jazztime Records (JTL 001) Black Lion (BLCD 760119)
Producer:	Fred Norsworthy
Chronology:	Kenny Dorham
Prev Title:	Whistle Stop
Prev Year:	1961
Next Title:	Inta Somethin'
Next Year:	1961

Ease It is a jazz album credited to Rocky Boyd's Quintet, featuring Kenny Dorham on trumpet.^[1] It is the only known recording by the saxophonist, and was first released by Jazztime Records (JTL 001). It was also released by Muse Records as Ease It! (MR 5053). In 1989, Black Lion released an edition on CD titled West 42nd Street, credited to Kenny Dorham, which comprised all the takes from the session.

Reception

The contemporaneous DownBeat reviewer commented on a strong John Coltrane influence on Boyd, but stated that little was expressed emotionally, and concluded that, "On the whole, this is a depressing and disappointing date".

Track listing

Ease It (1961) (1974 Muse)

1. "Avars" (Boyd) – 7:42
2. "Stella by Starlight" (Young, Washington) – 5:05
3. "Why Not?" (LaRoca) – 7:26
4. "Ease It!" (Chambers) – 10:35
5. "Samba De Orfeu" (Luiz Bonfá) – 4:31
6. "West 42nd Street" (Hardin) – 4:23

West 42nd Street (1989)

1. "Avars" [Take 3] – 7:42
2. "Stella by Starlight" [Take 1] – 5:05
3. "Stella by Starlight" [Take 2] – 5:17
4. "Why Not?" [Take 1] – 7:26
5. "Why Not?" [Take 2] – 9:17
6. "Ease It!" [Take 1] – 10:35
7. "Samba De Orfeu" [Take 5] – 4:31
8. "Samba De Orfeu" [Take 6] – 4:29
9. "West 42nd Street" [Take 7] – 3:51
10. "West 42nd Street" [Take 8] – 4:23

Personnel

• Kenny Dorham – trumpet
• Rocky Boyd – tenor sax
• Walter Bishop Jr. – piano
• Ron Carter – bass
• Pete LaRoca – drums

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzdisco.org/kenny-dorham/catalog/ Ease It at Jazzdisco