Wizard of the Vibes – Milt Jackson

Album: Johnnie Ray

Artist: Milt Jackson

Year: 1952

Genre: Bebop

Grade: A

Vibraphones are such a cool-sounding instrument. Warm, soothing, mysterious, just out of reach. Milt Jackson, born 1923, is probably the greatest vibraphonist in jazz history. He wields a complete mastery over an instrument typically thought of as a background luxury. This appropriately titled 1952 LP from The Wizard of the Vibes himself is among his very best collections.

The music is thoroughly Thelonious Monk-like. No surprise, as Monk is the featured pianist on three of the album’s eight tracks, of which “Willow Weep for Me” and “Eronel” are the highlights. Even the numbers without Monk, like the cool, serene “What’s New,” are indebted to the Genius of Modern Music’s angular innovations. Nonetheless, the album belongs most of all to Jackson. He’s consistently the best musician in each session, and there’s some overlap with those legendary Genius recordings here. In other words, there’s a reason Jackson receives solo billing. Wizard of the Vibes is essential and original bebop, with some of the smoothest vibraphone playing you’ll ever hear.

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