The Everest Years

The last prime period of trumpeter Charlie Shavers' career was during the period of time when he led four albums for Everest (1959-1961). Five selections from each of the records are on this sampler. On three occasions, Shavers is heard with the Ray Bryant Trio, playing in a format that Jonah Jones was having great commercial success with at the time. Shavers is a bit less uninhibited than Jones was during that period, and downright spectacular on some of the pieces. The final session, music from the forgotten play Milk and Honey, has the trumpet joined by organist Wild Bill Davis and guitarist Les Spann in a quintet. He seemed to have limitless technique, a warm sound, and a strong wit. The performances all clock in around three minutes or less, but Shavers says a lot in a brief period of time, making this an excellent overview of his work on Everest.