Illinois Jacquet's "You're My Thrill"

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

If you know Illinois only a honker, his playing on my favorite Billie Holiday tune, "You're My Thrill," will redefine him for you!

I love Illinois Jacquet, my mother's 78s of him, his own band, his work with Hamp, his screaming solos at JATP, and his later stuff like 'Soul Explosion.' But this cut -- 'You're My Thrill' -- is one of the very best things he ever did, and I think one of the great sax ballads. You'll hear a little Ben Websterish breathiness in it, but where Jacquet takes the tune is his own.

There's other fine material on the album, too, including some bright interplay between Burrell and Tommy Flanagan. (Sometimes this is marred by Willie Rodrigues on hand drums, who seems a little superfluous to some of the cuts; he's OK on some others, like the campy 'Canadian Sunset.')

The album is one of the those fixed-term rereleases on Argo. Just out this year, recorded in 1964. If you're a fan of Illinois, you MUST get this! If you're not, this may make you one.

[vibes]

I picked this one up a couple weeks ago, and have been enjoying it a lot as well. My only previous experience with Illinois Jacquet was the Mosaic set, and since that's mostly honking, "Desert Winds" has been a pleasant surprise. Recommended.

[Richardo Caerleoni]

Great Post! I did start a post on this "era" a few months back... Lucky Thompson etc..."I remember Lucky"

There is some glorious music that is really going to get lost...Gene Ammons? Don Byas?..anyway, thanks again for the reminder.

These people really paid their dues.