Booker Ervin – Tex Book Tenor (LP, Blue Note Tone Poet Series)

Booker Ervin, who died of kidney failure in 1970 at the age of just 39, was a typical Texas tenor saxophonist with a powerful sound and phrasing influenced by blues and gospel. Shortly before his untimely death, he recorded his only two albums for Blue Note in 1968, which are among the best of his entire career. Tex Book Tenor is a prime example of Ervin’s thrilling tenor playing, which he can brilliantly showcase here in his own originals and pieces by his fellow musicians Kenny Barron and Woody Shaw. BLUE NOTE TONE POET EDITION: Stereo, produced by Joe Harley, completely analog mastered by Kevin Gray from the original tapes, RTI pressing (180g), sturdy tip-on single sleeve, padded inner sleeve.