Vinyl Vault — Illinois Jacquet, “The Blues; That’s Me!”

The next Vinyl Vault will feature the tenor saxophone power of Illinois Jacquet and his album “The Blues: That’s Me!”  Recorded in 1969 and released the following year on Prestige Records, the album is a swinging blues session.

Jacquet was joined on the date by four-string guitarist Tiny Grimes. Also on the date were Wynton Kelly on piano, Buster Williams on bass and Oliver Jackson on the drums. Despite his nickname, Jacquet was actually from Texas and fell into the Texas tenor tradition of bluesy, authoritative playing and that comes through on the entire album.

A highlight of the record is a cover of Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight” performed by Jacquet on the bassoon. A few people have tried bringing the bassoon to jazz over the years with mixed results, but this attempt is clearly one of the best. Williams applied his bow to his bass for additional atmospherics making this rendition one that should not be missed.

Check out Illinois Jacquet with host Geoff Anderson on the next Vinyl Vault, on Tuesday, February 20 at 8:30 p.m. on KUVO JAZZ.

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