Blue Mitchell: 'Smooth as the Wind' (1961)

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Now, on to today’s post…

Two of the prettiest composer-arrangers of late 1950s and early ‘60 were Tadd Dameron and Benny Golson. In mid-1960, Riverside producer Orrin Keepnews asked Dameron and Golson to arrange an orchestra for an album that showcased the gorgeous trumpet of Blue Mitchell.

The LP was Smooth as the Wind and can be compared with Bird With Strings, featuring Charlie Parker; Clifford Brown with Strings, Chet Baker and Strings and many others, some of which you know well and others that haven’t received much visibility. More on these hidden gems down the road.

During three recording sessions—on Dec. 27, 1960 and on March 29 and 30, 1961—Mitchell’s solos were wrapped in smartly arranged strings and brass. The album I’d most liken it to is Billie Holiday’s Lady in Satin, arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis.

That’s because Mitchell’s trumpet sounds like it’s singing and the scores have a knowing tenderness and respect for the solo artist. The same was true for Ellis’s arrangements for Billie. Each track here is more precious than the last.

The tracks:

• Smooth as the Wind (arr. Tadd Dameron)

• But Beautiful (arr. Dameron) (B)

• The Best Things in Life Are Free (arr. Dameron) (B)

• Peace (arr. Benny Golson) (A)

• For Heaven’s Sake (arr. Dameron) (A)

• The Nearness of You (arr. Dameron) (A)

• A Blue Time (arr. Dameron) (B)

• Strollin’ (arr. Dameron) (A)

• For All We Know (arr. Golson) (B)

• I’m a Fool to Want You (arr. Golson) (B)

The orchestra on December 27, 1960 (A):

• Blue Mitchell, Clark Terry, Bernie Glow and Burt Collins (tp); Britt Woodman and Julian Priester (tb); Willie Ruff (fhr); Tommy Flanagan (p); Tommy Williams (b); Charlie Persip (d) and a string section led by Harry Lookofsky (vln).

The orchestra on March 29 and 30, 1961 (B):

• Blue Mitchell, Clark Terry, Bernie Glow and Burt Collins (tp); Jimmy Cleveland and Urbie Green (tb); Willie Ruff (fhr); Tommy Flanagan (p); Tommy Williams (b); Philly Joe Jones (d) and a string section led by Harry Lookofsky (vln).

Blue Mitchell played with heated sensitivity and romantic phrasing. His tone was warm, engaging and seductive. Mitchell also was one of Benny Golson’s favorite trumpeters. He died in 1979 of cancer at age 49.

Here’s the full Smooth as the Wind without ad interruptions…