Clifford Brown And Max Roach - Study In Brown (Japanese EmArcy Vinyl LP)

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Clifford Brown And Max Roach - Study In Brown Vinyl LP - Japanese EmArcy Reissue

One of the most celebrated albums in the entire hard bop canon, Study In Brown captures the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet at their absolute peak across three days of recording in February 1955. This 1974 Japanese mono reissue on EmArcy, manufactured by Nippon Phonogram, preserves a landmark recording that demonstrated how modern jazz could be both sophisticated and swinging, complex and deeply accessible.

The quintet's lineup represents hard bop royalty: Clifford Brown's trumpet, already recognised as possessing flawless technique and a gloriously warm tone; Max Roach, the drummer who redefined what was possible on his instrument; Harold Land on tenor saxophone, contributing muscular solos and tight ensemble work; Richie Powell on piano, brother of Bud Powell and a talent in his own right; and George Morrow on bass, providing rock-solid foundation throughout.

The nine tracks showcase the band's remarkable range. Charlie Parker's "Cherokee" opens at breakneck tempo, with Brown and Land navigating the changes with breathtaking fluidity. Original compositions including Brown's "Swingin'" and "Sandu", Roach's "George's Dilemma", and Land's "Lands End" demonstrate the group's compositional strength alongside their improvisational prowess. The album balances uptempo burners with more lyrical material like "If I Love Again", where Brown's melodic gift and expressive warmth shine through. The quintet's take on Strayhorn's "Take The A Train" closes the album with both respect for tradition and fresh interpretation.

What made this group so special was the combination of virtuosity and emotional depth. Brown never used his technical facility as an end in itself but rather as a means to express genuine feeling. Roach's drumming was both intellectually sophisticated and viscerally exciting. Together with Powell, Land, and Morrow, they created music that was harmonically advanced, rhythmically inventive, and utterly compelling.

Tragically, both Clifford Brown and Richie Powell would die in a car accident just over a year after these sessions, making Study In Brown both a triumph and a heartbreaking reminder of what was lost. This Japanese pressing preserves their legacy with excellent mono sound that captures the warmth and presence of the original recordings.