Pete Jolly – Seasons

Perhaps the most significant thing about Seasons for Pete Jolly was that this album broke away from the more traditional approach that Jolly had been familiar with in regards to the recording process. Seasons was almost entirely improvised by Jolly in a four hour studio session with a cast of excellent players who took turns with various instruments including Jolly himself, who laid down parts on standard piano, Whurlitzer, accordion, musette, Sano Vox guitar and a Hammond organ. Produced by the legendary Herb Alpert, Seasons offers the kind of exploratory listening experience that one might have if they were at the studio witnessing it being worked out in real time. By the time Seasons was released in 1970, Pete Jolly was already a seasoned musician playing with a multitude of the best that the West Coast Jazz Scene had to offer. Jolly grew up in Phoenix, Arizona which had a thriving jazz scene in the 50’s and 60’s, earned a Grammy nomination for his composition of “Little Bird” in 1963, and would later contribute music to a variety of television’s most popular shows in the 70’s and early 80’s. Most of Pete Jolly’s catalog is how you might expect a top level jazz virtuoso and band leader’s music to sound. Full arrangements with precision playing along side the best of the best. With Seasons, there is seemingly more room for allowing the arrangements to be worked out in the room. One of those nights of masterful improvisation, caught on tape, to be enjoyed forever.

– Bryan Ling

Recommended – A5 Plummer Park, A6 Springs, B1 Seasons, Full Listen

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