Performer Notes

Personnel: Red Rodney (flugelhorn), Chris Potter (alto & tenor saxophones), Garry Dial (piano), Jay Anderson (bass), Jimmy Madison (drums).
Recorded at BMG Studio B, New York on May 13 & 14, 1992. Includes liner notes by Red Rodney and Bob Belden.
Personnel: Red Rodney (flugelhorn); Chris Potter (saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Garry Dial (piano); Jimmy Madison (drums).
Liner Note Authors: Bret Primack; Red Rodney; Bob Belden.
Recording information: New York, NY (05/13/1992/05/15/1992).
Director: Roy Spangenthal.
Editor: Jeremy Kipnis.
Photographers: William Gottlieb; Jay Manis; Stanley Schnier.
Arranger: Bob Belden.
Red Rodney's final recording (cut two years before his death) finds the 64-year-old sticking exclusively to flugelhorn and still displaying strong chops. Performing with his working quintet (Chris Potter on tenor and alto, pianist Garry Dial, bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Jimmy Madison) Rodney returns to his roots, performing 11 bop-era standards with a twist. Producer Bob Belden helped reharmonize many of the songs, and even though the original melodies are stated, the results sound more modern than one would expect. Potter (showing a great deal of potential that he has since realized) and Dial have many fine solos, while Rodney sounds pretty strong, pushing himself. The CD concludes with Rodney talking for 9? minutes about his experiences in the bebop days and about this project, a perfect conclusion to a successful and important career. ~ Scott Yanow

Professional Reviews

JazzTimes (Jan.-Feb./93, p.74) - "...The tunes are from the bebop era and the improvising is informed by the bop tradition that produced Rodney, one of bop's finest second-generation trumpeters..."

Village Voice (2/2/93, p.78) - "...the year's best purebred bop album. Garry Dial's arrangements contrive a new sheen for Dizzy, Bird, Bud and Dameron classics; the solos and spirit are dead on, in the pocket, authentic..."

Stereophile (2/93, p.109) - "...Red and his band give a new feel to old classics while remaining true to the originals...THEN AND NOW has some of the best sound ever captured on a jazz recording..."