Jam Gems (Live At the Left Bank)

Recorded "live" at the famous Left Bank ballroom in Baltimore, MD, on June 13th, 1965, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath literally blow the roof off during this jam session. Available for the very first time on Label M, Jam Gems is the fifth installment of the "Live" at the Left Bank series released in conjunction with the Left Bank Jazz Society. The CD captures two giants of jazz in their element, in complete accord with their audience, stretching, unfolding, and pushing their chops to new heights. The five songs included are filled with the excitement, sustained intensity, and nuances of that June night — despite the fact that the concert was recorded on a home tape recorder! Joined by Gus Simms on piano, Wilbur Little on bass, and Bertell Knox on drums, Hubbard and Heath are at the height of their powers on the opener "All Members," "Bluesville," the Billie Holiday anthem "Lover Man," "What Is This Thing Called Love," and a 17-minute rendition of "Autumn Leaves." Heath takes a solo that is supposedly the longest on record and accordingly leaves the audience reeling in its wake. Jam Gems is jazz history documented at its finest and is a must-have for anyone interested in the energies and nuances of "live" jazz in the '60s.