Unsung Hero

Artist: Charlie Rouse
Label: Sony
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 074644618129
EAN: 0074644618129
ASIN: B00000274N

Release Date: 1990-09-07

Related Categories:

Bebop General

| Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

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| Jazz | Styles | Music

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Hard Bop

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Listmania:

Obscure Treasures: 26 Endangered Jazz Recordings
Massive Tenor Attack!

Tracks:

When Sunny Gets Blue
Billy's Blues
Stella By Starlight
Lil Rousin'
(There Is) No Greater Love
Quarter Moon
I Shoud Care
Rouse's Point
You Don't Know What Love Is

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Customer Reviews:

Ironic Title.......2006-08-14

The fact that this CD is out of print in itself makes the point of the title. Charlie Rouse was not only the most consistently inventive player in Monk's Quartet of the 1960's but, in my estimate, one of the top 10-12 tenor giants of all time. All he has to play is one or two notes for anyone with ears to recognize his inimitable, personal voice on the instrument. His technique is awesome--not just the speed but the "cleanness" of his articulations. He makes all the hype about Johnny Griffin or whomever being the "fastest tenor in the West" nothing more than hype. Melodically he's never at a loss for ideas (in fact, no saxophonist is more averse to time-killing, sound "effects," or tonal tricks; for Charlie, it's all about substance). He can be playful (Monk's quartet), subtle and elegant (Les Jazz Modes, pairing him with Julius Watkins' French horn), or purely soulful. Rhythmically he's the essence of swing.

Pick this one up, even at its currently inflated price. By itself it's worth several or more albums by numerous other, "big-name" tenor players I can think of. (The appreciative and informative liner notes by Will Friedwald are another attractive feature.)

I'm just glad I once had a chance to address Rouse after a Monk set, expressing my life-long appreciation of his playing.

TRULY AN UNSUNG HERO.......2006-05-09

Charlie Rouse is, in my honest opinion, the best tenor sax player Thelonious Monk every played with. Monk's Dream is a perfect example of that. Sure, all the other great tenors Monk played with were great, but none could conform to what Monk was doing as well as Rouse did. Ever. Rouse did a bunch of great albums on his own. This compilation, great tunes from 1960 and 1961 recorded in NYC, is absolutely great ROUSE. I was lucky to get my hands on this baby when I did. Rouse is a GREAT tenor. The only Rouse recordings to avoid were the ones recorded by Rouse when he and everyone else jumped on the Bossa Nova bandwagon during the Getz era. Those are not examples of Rouse's greatness. His greatness was with Monk, and when he recorded on his own, his own style, all the way up to his last album, recorded in 1988 just before his death. Like I said, you will NEVER be disappointed with Rouse except for the few Bossa albums he should have never recorded. Unsung Hero is one of my top ten Desert Island picks along with Monks Dream which is probably the best recording of Rouse at his best. This CD is heaven.

Truly an Unsung Hero..........2005-10-19

Charlie Rouse is amazing on this CD. After hearing the first ten seconds of the first song you will be convinced. He had an incredibly mellow tone and a style that he never got full credit for. This is really a great jazz CD; I will have to echo the sentiment of the other reviewer who said this is a good one to put on after a hard day. This is one of the most relaxing jazz CD's I can think of. The title "Unsung Hero" definitely applies to Charlie Rouse. The proof is that every person I have played this disc for wants to know who it is and where they can find it.

Truely, a good find!.......2000-03-27

I entirely agree with the above statement; This is a great CD, quite a pearl in our collection; I just wish I could find more mellow sax like this one!

Outstanding! A must have for any serious collector of Jazz.......1999-03-06

If you've had a hard day, maybe it's even raining outside, grab a bottle of your favorite wine. Light a few candles, and a fire. Pop this CD in and before you can sit down "When Sunny Gets Blue" will already have started to melt away your cares. There's not a bad cut on the CD. Rouse and Thelonious Monk played hand-in-hand, so if you like Monk, you'll love Rouse.

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