Further Definitions (Vinyl) – Benny Carter

In his only session as bandleader for Impulse!, Further Definitions found alto saxophonist, composer and arranger Benny Carter at the head of a sturdy octet anchored by a four-saxophone front line of Carter, fellow altoist Phil Woods, and tenor saxophonists Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Rouse. The line-up evoked a similar exploration Carter and Hawkins embarked on during a 1937 session in France with Andre Ekyan, Alix Combelle, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Here, the session is rounded out by John Collins on guitar, Dick Katz on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass and Jo Jones on drums. The album offers swings and standards including “Body and Soul,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” and “Crazy Rhythm,” as well as the Carter originals “Blue Star” and “Doozy.” Verve Acoustic Sounds Series titles are mastered from the original analog tapes by Matthew Lutthans, pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings (QRP) and packaged in high-quality tip-on gatefold jackets.