music.wikisort.org - Composition

The Rat Race Blues is an album by American saxophonist Gigi Gryce recorded in 1960 for the New Jazz label.[1][2]

The Rat Race Blues
Studio album by Gigi Gryce
Released	1960
Recorded	June 7, 1960 (1960-06-07)
Studio	Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Genre	Jazz
Length	40:11
Label	New Jazz
Producer	Esmond Edwards
Gigi Gryce chronology
The Hap'nin's (1960) The Rat Race Blues (1960) Reminiscin' (1960)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Down Beat	[4]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide	[5]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings	[6]

Harvey Pekar, writing in his four star review in the August 10, 1962 issue of Down Beat stated: "Gryce's major contributions to jazz have been made as an outstanding composer-arranger. But his writing ability notwithstanding... this is primarily a blowing session."[4] AllMusic reviewer Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "The group swings its way through two of Gryce's lesser-known originals and three then-recent obscurities. Interesting and generally fresh straight-ahead jazz."[3]

Track listing

All compositions by Gigi Gryce except where noted

1. "The Rat Race Blues" – 6:35
2. "Strange Feelin'" (Sam Finch) – 7:45
3. "Boxer's Blues" – 6:58
4. "Blues in Bloom" (Norman Mapp) – 7:44
5. "Monday Through Sunday" (Mapp) – 11:09

Personnel

• Gigi Gryce – alto saxophone
• Richard Williams – trumpet
• Richard Wyands – piano
• Julian Euell – bass
• Mickey Roker – drums

References

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