The Bill Crow Quartet - Jazz Anecdotes / 2LP Venus Records

Bassist Bill Crow became known through his work as a sideman for many well-known jazz personalities. His second recording for Venus Records proves how good he was as a leader as well. “Jazz Anecdotes” is the sister album to the hit album “Goodbye Birdland”

and is based on Crow's book, in which he had collected countless anecdotes about jazz musicians.

Together with tenor saxophonist Carmen Leggio, guitarist Joe Cohn and drummer David Jones, Crow leads his quartet through twelve pieces, including standards, classic jazz compositions and a few originals. The upbeat take on Oscar Pettiford's “Bohemia After Dark”

features great solos from each band member. Crow's arrangement of “Round Midnight” is played at a faster-than-usual tempo with a bossa nova rhythm, while Leggio's lithe tenor sax swings like crazy on Lester Young's “Tickletoe”.

Venus Records was founded in 1992 by Tetsuo Hara, who had previously worked as a producer for RCA Victor. The label uses a special mastering process called “Hyper Magnum Sound” – also for the strictly limited double LP of “Jazz Anectodes”, pressed on 180-gram vinyl

and cut at 45 RPM. This special mastering produces a very powerful, present sound and is highly valued by audiophiles worldwide. A small note: Venus LPs are only pressed once. When the first edition is out of print, the corresponding title is removed from the catalog and will

no longer be produced. Collectors should therefore not wait too long to order: all releases of the “Venus Masterpiece Collection” are extremely popular!

Venus LPs are pressed only once. After the first edition is sold out, the titles are removed from the catalog. Collectors should therefore consider a purchase in time.

Title

LP 1

Side A
1. Jazz Anectodes
2. ‘Round Midnight
3. Tarrytown

Side B
1. Mack The Knife
2. Street Of Dreams
3. In A Mellotone

LP 2

Side C
1. Speak Low
2. Lover, Come Back To Me
3. On The Alamo

Side D
1. Bohemia After Dark
2. Tickletoe
3. These Foolish Things