Really standout material from
Lucky – an excellent set collecting small group sessions recorded for Paramount in the mid 50s, featuring Oscar Pettiford on bass! The format's a bit like the small combo mode that Americans from larger touring ensembles were recording in Europe – a bit more laidback, and with more solo focus for players who were sometimes eclipsed in larger groups. There are 2 sides with
Lucky playing in a quintet format, the first with Hank Jones, Pettiford, and Osie Johnson in the rhythm section – plus Jimmy Cleveland on trombone, and the second subbing Don Abney for Hank Jones. The real treat here though are the 2 sides of trio material, which feature
Lucky, Oscar, and the guitar of Skeeter Best – setting up a spare, drum-less sound that really lets
Lucky open up like we've never heard before. Titles include "Tricotism", "Bo Bi My Boy", "Op Meets It", "Tom Kattin", "Translation", "NR #2", "Once There Was", "Good Luck", "Mister Man", and "Little Tenderfoot".
(White label stereo promo. Cover has some ring and edge wear and a cut corner.)