The Jazztet

The Jazztet is a jazz sextet formed in 1959 by trumpeter Art Farmer and tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, who met in Lionel Hampton's orchestra before reuniting for sessions on the former's Modern Art album. Its first incarnation included Curtis Fuller (trombone), who came up with the name, twin brother Addison Farmer (double bass), McCoy Tyner (piano), revealed on this occasion, and Dave Bailey (drums). After a first concert at Washington D.C.'s Village Note, followed by appearances at New York's Five Spot and Town Hall, on November 10, 1959, the group recorded the album Meet the Jazztet (1960) with new drummer Lex Humphries, including the iconic "Killer Joe". After Tyner's departure, The Jazztet performed at the Newport Festival with Duke Pearson, and further changes took place with a new line-up on Big City Sounds (1960), featuring Tom McIntosh (trombone), Cedar Walton (piano), Tommy Williams (double bass) and Albert Heath (drums). The same personnel played on The Jazztet and John Lewis (1961), composed entirely by the arranger, and The Jazztet at Birdhouse (1961). In 1962, the sextet signed with Mercury and recorded two albums, Here and Now and Another Git Together, featuring Grachan Moncur III, Harold Mabern, Herbie Lewis and Roy McCurdy, before splitting up due to the differing aims of the two leaders. Thirty years later, in 1982, the name was revived by Farmer and Golson, who reunited with Fuller, Heath and Walton and hired Buster Williams (double bass) for the album Voices All. Once again, the personnel evolved between tours and recordings of Moment to Moment (1983) and Nostalgia (1983), followed by Back to the City (1986) and Real Time (1988), from concerts recorded at New York's Sweet Basil. In 1995, the band was reborn for a European tour.

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