Curtis Amy - Mosaic Select 7 [2003] (3 x CDs)

SUNDAY JAZZ

CURTIS AMY

Curtis Amy - Mosaic Select 7 [2003] (3 x CDs)

This three‑disc set gathers the core of Curtis Amy’s early‑sixties work for Pacific Jazz, presenting a body of music that shows how naturally he moved between hard bop, West Coast cool, and the blues‑rooted phrasing that shaped his sound. Mosaic arranges the sessions chronologically, allowing the development of his writing and ensemble approach to unfold without commentary. The recordings capture a period when Los Angeles studios were opening space for players who carried both regional influences and a strong sense of individual voice.

The first sessions reveal Amy’s tone at its most direct, with small‑group settings built around tight arrangements and clear melodic lines. The interplay with Carmell Jones, Frank Strazzeri, and Victor Gaskin gives the music a grounded feel, while the rhythm sections keep the pulse steady without softening the edges. Amy’s writing leans on blues forms and modal figures, giving the solos room to stretch while keeping the structure firm.

As the set progresses, the ensembles widen and the material becomes more ambitious. The Katanga! session stands out for its sharper themes and the way Amy and Dupree Bolton push each other into more urgent phrasing. The writing shows a stronger sense of contrast, with pieces that shift between open sections and tightly framed passages. The later tracks introduce a slightly brighter tone, shaped by changing line‑ups and the growing confidence of the leader.

Across the three discs, the set reveals a musician who balanced clarity with drive, and who understood how to shape a session around strong themes rather than extended displays. Mosaic’s presentation gives these recordings the space they deserve, showing the depth of a catalogue that often sat just outside the main currents of the era but carried its own distinct weight. (B)

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Track lists

CD1

01 Curtis Amy - Searchin' 8:46

02 Curtis Amy - Goin' Down, Catch Me A Woman 9:26

03 Curtis Amy - The Blues Message 8:41

04 Curtis Amy - Come Rain Or Come Shine 4:57

05 Curtis Amy - This is The Blues 8:25

06 Curtis Amy - Meetin' Here 7:08

07 Curtis Amy - Early in The Morning 6:46

08 Curtis Amy - If I Were A Ell 6:05

09 Curtis Amy - One More Hamhock Please 8:03

10 Curtis Amy - Angel Eyes 6:22

11 Curtis Amy - Just Friends 4:11

CD2

01 Curtis Amy - Gone Into It 6:15

02 Curtis Amy - Annsome 8:38

03 Curtis Amy - Bobbli' 5:19

04 Curtis Amy - Groovin' Blue 8:15

05 Curtis Amy - Beautiful You 7:40

06 Curtis Amy - Way Down 7:41

07 Curtis Amy - Liberia 6:45

08 Curtis Amy - 24 Hours Blues 5:23

09 Curtis Amy - Lisa 2:35

10 Curtis Amy - A Soulful Bee, A Soulful Rose 6:54

11 Curtis Amy - All My Life 7:20

12 Curtis Amy - Bells and Horns 5:36

CD3

01 Curtis Amy - Tippin' on Through 9:03

02 Curtis Amy - Funk in The Evening 9:53

03 Curtis Amy - For Ayers Only 7:00

04 Curtis Amy - In Your Own Sweet Way 6:42

05 Curtis Amy - Simmertime 6:55

06 Curtis Amy - Set Call 0:31

07 Curtis Amy - Katanga 3:05

08 Curtis Amy - Lonely Woman 3:48

09 Curtis Amy - Native Land 10:21

10 Curtis Amy - Amyable 6:13

11 Curtis Amy - You Don't Know What Love Is 6:00

12 Curtis Amy - A Shade of Brown 5:58

13 Curtis Amy - Very Frank 1:49

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Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

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