February 2025 - Philips Minigroove

Almost all Philips albums and singles shown on this website are original issues or early reissues (and still legitimate Philips issues), but of course, some albums from the Philips catalogue were reissued by other companies in more recent years. This Barney Wilen album is a good example; it was reissued by Sam Records (France) in 2021. The original album was neatly replicated and remastered from the original tapes. Original French copies are hard to find, though the album has been re-released before (like in Japan, where more Philips Minigroove reissues can be found). Guess this Sam Records reissue is the best one to own, except for a mint original, and it looks and sounds wonderful.

From the Sam Records website:

“Tenor saxophonist Barney Wilen was not quite 21 years old at the time of this meeting with Milt Jackson, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke, three veterans of the Modern Jazz Quartet. But the young man is surprising mature and confident throughout the session, interpreting several of Django Reinhardt’s compositions, along with a few by his French contemporaries and a pair of his own works. What’s surprising about this session is the rare opportunity to hear Jackson exclusively as a pianist, as his playing is a bit more reserved than on vibes. The leader digs into his rhythm section’s element with his original “B.B.B. (Bag’s Barney Blues),” giving them a full chorus before making a convincing statement himself. The quartet’s fluid arrangement of Thelonious Monk’s “Epistrophy” swings. Percussionist Gana M’Bow is added for both “Swing 39” and “Minor Swing” to add an exotic touch. Barney Wilen easily holds his own on his first major meeting on a record date with major American jazz stars.”

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