The Big Challenge Explained

The Big Challenge
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Cootie & Rex
Cover:	The Big Challenge.jpg
Released:	1957
Recorded:	April 30 and May 7, 1957
Studio:	Webster Hall, New York City
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	37:23
Label:	Jazztone J 1268
Producer:	George T. Simon
Chronology:	Rex Stewart
Prev Title:	Dixieland Free-for-All
Prev Year:	1956
Next Title:	Rendezvous with Rex
Next Year:	1958

The Big Challenge is an album by trumpeter Cootie Williams and cornetist Rex Stewart, recorded in 1957 and released on the Jazztone label.^[1]

Reception

Scott Yanow of AllMusic states, "a fun and unusual Jazztone session. Six distinctive and very different veterans were teamed together ... the unique matchups are very successful. Each of the musicians has an opportunity to be featured and the tradeoffs are quite memorable. A colorful gem.".

Track listing

1. "I'm Beginning to See the Light" (Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, Harry James) – 6:06
2. "Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me" (Ellington, Bob Russell) – 4:07
3. "Alphonse and Gaston" (Ernie Wilkins) – 8:29
4. "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) – 4:09
5. "Walkin' My Baby Back Home" (Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk) – 4:42
6. "When Your Lover Has Gone" (Einar Aaron Swan) – 5:08
7. "I Knew You When" (Rex Stewart) – 4:42

• Recorded at Webster Hall in NYC on April 30 (tracks 1-3) and May 6 (tracks 4-7), 1957

Personnel

• Cootie Williams – trumpet
• Rex Stewart – cornet
• Lawrence Brown, J. C. Higginbotham – trombone
• Bud Freeman, Coleman Hawkins – tenor saxophone
• Billy Bauer – guitar
• Hank Jones – piano
• Milt Hinton – double bass
• Gus Johnson – drums
• Ernie Wilkins – arranger

Notes and References

1. https://londonjazzcollector.wordpress.com/2016/07/28/50s-record-clubs-jazztone/ London Jazz Collector: American 50’s Record Clubs: Jazztone