CiTR

Booker Telleferro Ervin was one of the most distinctive and easily identifiable voices of the tenor saxophone to emerge in the 1960's. After years of study (mostly self-study)and dues on the road with a variety of Jazz and R&B bands, Booker arrived in New York at the end of 1958. He was heard and immediately hired by Charles Mingus. He became Mingus' favourite tenor player and Mingus also relied on Ervin's photographic memory for explaining various ensemble roles to different players in Mingus' Jazz Workshop. Booker remained with Mingus from 1958 to 1963. He also worked with pianist Randy Weston and recorded on his own as a sideman and as a leader. He signed with Prestige Records in 1963 and began a whole series of albums for which he is best known...The Book series..."The Freedom Book", "The Blues Book" etc. This fine recording is his second to last and his second for Blue Note records. Ervin died of kidney failure in July of 1970 at age 39. After this date there was only one more recorded appearance and that was with alto saxophonist Eric Kloss on Prestige called "In The Land Of The Giants". This date is important as it is so strong and the band sounds like a working band. Booker is heard with Woody Shaw on trumpet, Kenny Barron on piano, Jan Arnet (from the Czech Republic) on bass and the great Billy Higgins on drums. Barron and Shaw contribute a tune each and Ervin wrote the rest. There are five tunes in all. This is a fine date that should be better known in the small legacy that was left by Booker Ervin. Tex Book Tenor cooks!