Concert: Friday the 13th – Cook County Jail

1973 live album by Jimmy McGriff with George Freeman O'Donel Levy/Lucky Thompson

Concert: Friday the 13th – Cook County Jail is a live split album recorded at Cook County Jail in October 1972 featuring performances by jazz organist Jimmy McGriff's Quintet with guitarists George Freeman and O'Donel Levy, and saxophonist Lucky Thompson's Quartet which was released on the Groove Merchant label.^[1][2][3]

Reception

Allmusic's Scott Yanow said: "This album contains two separate sets that were both performed before inmates at the Cook County Jail one day in 1972. Organist Jimmy McGriff and his quintet performs his lengthy two-part "Freedom Suite," generating a great deal of heat. Lucky Thompson, mostly on soprano, jams on three standards ... Thompson's hot playing (particularly on "Cherokee") makes this album worth searching for".^[4]

Track listing

All compositions by Jimmy McGriff except where noted

1. "Freedom Suite (Part 1) – 8:58
2. "Freedom Suite (Part 2) – 15:45
3. "Green Dolphin Street" (Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington) – 5:51
4. "Everything Happens to Me" (Matt Dennis, Tom Adair) – 5:41
5. "Cherokee" (Ray Noble) – 4:29

Personnel

Tracks 1 & 2:

• Jimmy McGriff – organ
• George Freeman, O'Donel Levy – guitar
• Mickey Bass – bass
• Marion J. Booker – drums

Tracks 3–5:

• Lucky Thompson – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
• Cedar Walton – electric piano
• Sam Jones – bass
• Louis Hayes – drums

References

1. Payne, D. Jimmy McGriff Discography, accessed April 4, 2018
2. Jazzlists: Groove Merchant Records 500 Series, accessed April 4, 2018
3. Jazzlists: Album details, accessed April 4, 2018
4. Yanow, Scott. Friday the 13th at the Cook County Jail – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved April 4, 2018.