Etta Jones & Houston Person - A Night In Roppungi - Absorb Music ABCJ338

I am SO glad this album was reissued (November 2004). It first appeared, in Japan only, on the All Art label and this incarnation (also only in Japan) is to be deleted in May 2005. This is Etta’s only live album. She sang on a couple of tracks on Houston’s album “The Real Thing”, at Watts Club Mozambique, Detroit, in 1973, and a couple more with Jug and Sonny at the Famous Ballroom, Baltimore, the same year. That is it for live Etta Jones recordings. So this is an important CD in her career.

It was recorded in March 1990. I saw the same band two months later, in New York. Then, Etta became one of only two musicians who have literally brought tears to my eyes, when she sang I’m Through With Love (the other was Prez). She sings it on this album, with almost the same effect. The other ace track on this is I’m In The Mood For Love which has a wonderful tenor solo which Houston, unlike most other saxophonists, doesn’t try to make into Moody’s Mood For Love.

In addition to Houston, one of the greatest sax players to back singers, there is the little known but inestimable Stan Hope on piano. Hope’s inspiration stems mainly from Garner, not Powell. Live, when he pulls off a particularly felicitous line, he leans back from the piano, a great big, surprised, smile on his face, as if to say, “My! Didn’t that work out nicely?” It’s impossible not to like a guy like that. And there are quite a few felicitous lines in this CD.

You can get it from Mundo, at $25; cheap at half the price -AM

Allan gets Editor's Dispensation on length for anything to do with Etta Jones, Etta James or Houston Person. My apologies for the late posting in view of the deletion date but you should still be able to buy it. I would if I were you.