Jazz Lab Explained

Jazz Lab
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Donald Byrd and Gigi Gryce
Cover:	Jazz Lab.jpg
Released:	1958
Recorded:	February 4–5 & March 13, 1957 New York City
Genre:	Jazz
Label:	Columbia CL 998^[1]
Chronology:	Gigi Gryce
Prev Title:	Nica's Tempo
Prev Year:	1955
Next Title:	Gigi Gryce and the Jazz Lab Quintet
Next Year:	1957

Jazz Lab is an album by American jazz trumpeter Donald Byrd and saxophonist Gigi Gryce, released in 1957 by Columbia.^{[2] [3]}

Reception

AllMusic awarded the album 4½ stars, stating: "With some of the best arrangements heard in jazz and excellent solos by Gryce, Byrd, and Flanagan, Jazz Lab makes for an excellent introduction to the hard bop catalog."^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Gigi Gryce except as indicated

1. "Speculation" (Horace Silver) - 3:38
2. "Over the Rainbow" (Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg) - 8:21
3. "Nica's Tempo" - 5:27
4. "Blue Concept" - 5:03
5. "Little Niles" (Randy Weston) - 7:04
6. "Sans Souci" - 7:17
7. "I Remember Clifford" (Benny Golson) - 4:57

• Recorded in New York City on February 4, 1957 (tracks 1 & 3), February 5, 1957 (tracks 2 & 6), and March 13, 1957 (tracks 4, 5 & 7)

Personnel

• • • • Gigi Gryce - alto saxophone Donald Byrd - trumpet Jimmy Cleveland (tracks 5 & 7), Benny Powell (tracks 1 & 3) - trombone Julius Watkins - French horn (tracks 1, 3, 5 & 7)
• Don Butterfield - tuba (tracks 1, 3, 5 & 7)
• Sahib Shihab - baritone saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 5 & 7)
• Tommy Flanagan (tracks 1-3 & 6), Wade Legge (tracks 4, 5 & 7) - piano
• Wendell Marshall - bass
• Art Taylor - drums

Notes and References

1. Book: Popoff, Martin. Goldmine Record Album Price Guide. September 8, 2009. Penguin. 9781440229169. Google Books.
2. Web site: Jazz news: Gryce and Byrd's Jazz Lab. All About. Jazz. All About Jazz News.
3. http://www.attictoys.com/GigiGryce/Gigi_Gryce_discography.php Gigi Gryce discography
4. Cook, S. Allmusic Review accessed August 31, 2012