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| Jazz Showcase Introducing the Mastersounds | 
| List Price: $21.98
Buy New: $15.22
You Save: $6.76 (31%)
Buy New/Used from $15.22
Avg. Customer Rating:  (based on 2 reviews)
Sales Rank: 222157
Category: Music
Artist: The Mastersounds
Publisher: Fresh Sounds Spain
Studio: Fresh Sounds Spain
Manufacturer: Fresh Sounds Spain
Label: Fresh Sounds Spain
Format: Import
Language: English (Unknown)
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
EAN: 8427328605007
ASIN: B0019DXIV0
Publication Date: 2008
Release Date: October 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Loco, Loco | | • | Wes' Tune | | • | Drum Tune | | • | Lower | | • | Dexter's Deck | | • | If I Should Lose You | | • | That Old Devil Moon | | • | Queen and I | | • | Spring Is Here | | • | Water's Edge |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
2008 release featuring early recordings by this Jazz combo. With almost the same instrumentation as the Modern Jazz Quartet, The Mastersounds burst on the late-'50s scene when the MJQ was already established as the pre-eminent small group in Jazz. But they were no imitators. Where the MJQ was all seriousness and sophisticated classical borrowings, the Mastersounds set out to get feet tapping, aided by the distinctive sound of Monk Montgomery's Fender bass. It worked. After securing a three-month booking at a club in Seattle during January 1957, the group went to play at San Francisco's Jazz Showcase, where producer Dick Bock discovered them. They were on their way, becoming the most successful quartet since the MJQ's advent. Popular (and once voted best new small combo in Down Beat's critics poll) they disbanded in 1961. 12 tracks. Fresh Sound.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Get it while you can September 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I can't believe some one has finally reissued The Mastersounds debut 1957 recording Water's Edge after decades of obscurity. Kudos to Fresh Sound!
The Mastersounds are fronted by Montgomery brothers Buddy (vibes) and Monk (electric bass). As the cover photo makes clear, Monk and his bass are in the fore front. (And that is a real speaker in the background, though it is not used in the recording)
The lineup, then as now, draws comparison to the Modern Jazz Quartet. Fair as far as it goes - classic jazz quartet with piano and vibes. But The Mastersounds have more swing, a more open feel. They're just less "serious".
The songs here are mostly standards with one or two by the group and brother Wes's Tune. The musicians are good and they are playing good jazz. I have not heard their later recordings, though I do have Groove Yard and by comparison, as good as this recording is, you know that the guys are still new and can do better.
The recording quality is very much of its time. You're not going to get the dramatic clarity and dynamics of digital and, frankly, not the best of analog either. But it does have a nice sense of space and "air" around the musicians.
About that bass. Monk was one of the very first jazz musicians to adopt Leo Fender's strange new instrument. Water's Edge in 1957, was one of the first jazz recordings to feature an electric bass. It is an early design, it has changed much since then, as has the ability to capture it clearly on record. The bass is noticeable but it does not stand out in the mix by todays standards. As, in fact, most upright basses did not stand out much in the recordings of the time. Also, Buddy played with his thumb, making the sound even softer. But it is clearly not an upright, it's a unique sound and Monk does it justice. That early single-coil electric makes a very nice sound when paired up with the vibes.
Though I could wish for a better recording it is by no means a poor recording. Monk started on upright but had been playing electric for about 5 yrs. His solos and comping are top notch and he gets quite a bit of space to show off.
I doubt this CD will be available very long (it was issued in May of 2008). It's important as a historical document of the electric bass, as well as a fine tribute to Monk Montgomery.
Nice packaging, with pictures and original liner notes by Ralph Gleason.
 The ORIGINAL Mastersounds June 20, 2008
It was the JAZZ WORKSHOP on Broadway in San Francisco - NOT the Jazz Showcase.
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