Gene Ammons recorded many albums for Prestige but, if this CD is a good start for listeners unfamiliar with his playing. A reissue of two LPs (
Up Tight and Boss Soul) recorded during the same two-day period, these performances find
Ammons backed by a pair of four-piece rhythm sections (with either Walter Bishop or
Patti Bown on piano and
Ray Barretto's congas a major asset) and taking the lion's share of the solo space.
Ammons sounds particularly warm and emotional throughout this CD, particularly on such numbers as "The Breeze and I," "I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is over," a cooking "Lester Leaps In" and "Song of the Islands." His sound and style effectively bridged the gap between bop and soul jazz. ~ Scott Yanow