Gene Ammons – Geru’s Blues (recorded March 19, 1974)
The only track written by the legendary tenor saxophonist for what would prove to be his final studio LP, this superb jam featured Kenny Drew and Nat Adderley.
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On March 19, 1974, exactly fifty years ago, Gene Ammons and a cast of jazz all-stars were in New York City at his last recording session before his death that August from bone cancer.
Eugene "Jug" Ammons was a brilliant tenor saxophonist who helped popularize soul-jazz with his early sixties recordings, by which time he had already been playing for two decades. His career kicked into high gear in 1944 when he joined Billy Eckstine’s legendary big band, where he played alongside greats like Charlie Parker and Dexter Gordon. When he formed his own group, it included Miles Davis and Sonny Stitt. He later played with legends including John Coltrane, Jackie McLean, Donald Byrd, Kenny Burrell, Art Farmer, and Mal Waldron.
His final recording session took place at CI Recording Studio in New York City. Ammons was joined that day by producer Orrin Keepnews and an all-star lineup of Nat Adderley on cornet, bassist Sam Jones, pianist Kenny Drew, Gary Bartz on alto sax, Louis Hayes on drums, and Ray Barretto on congas.
Released as Goodbye on the Prestige label after Ammons’ death from cancer a fee months later in August, 1974, the album’s highlight was the only track he wrote himself, the swinging jam “Geru’s Blues.”
Another highlight was the Duke Ellington standard “It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing).” The album’s title track closing cut was one final standard, “Goodbye,” an unintentionally fitting way to end Ammons’ recording career. Written by composer Gordon Jenkins after the death of his first wife during childbirth, it became the closing theme to radio broadcasts in the 1930s by the Benny Goodman Orchestra.
Tragically, Ammons’ brilliance and prolific recording output were cut short, not only by his untimely death at age 49 but by two unjust prison sentences he served for heroin possession. The first was from 1958-60, and the second stretched for seven years from 1962-69 at Joliet penitentiary in Illinois. To add insult to injury, he was subsequently arrested for violating his parole by playing in a club and forced to serve another five months.
Considering the substantial number of sessions he recorded during his time on the outside, there’s no telling how much great music the world missed out on by locking up such a genius for a decade instead of treating his addiction.
Further info:
“Eugene Ammons, Saxophonist Who Formed Group in '52, Dies,” obituary, The New York Times, August 8, 1974.
“For Gene Ammons 89th Birth Anniversary, a Liner Note for The Prestige Reissue ‘Fine And Mellow’,” by Ted Panken, April 14, 2014.
#jazz #soul #GeneAmmons