James Street (album)

James Street is an album by guitarist Jimmy Ponder that was released by HighNote in 1997.^[1][2][3]

James Street
Studio album by Jimmy Ponder
Released	1997
Recorded	June 16, 1997
Studio	Audiomation Studio, Pittsburgh, PA
Genre	Jazz
Length	57:00
Label	HighNote HCD 7017
Producer	Cecil Brooks III
Jimmy Ponder chronology
Something to Ponder (1994) James Street (1997) Ain't Misbehavin' (1998)

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]

In his review on AllMusic, Scott Yanow stated "Guitarist Jimmy Ponder is most closely associated with soul-jazz organ groups, so this quartet outing with pianist John Hicks, bassist Dwayne Dolphin, and drummer Cecil Brooks III is a happy surprise. During the bop-oriented set, Ponder takes a few numbers unaccompanied, works well with Hicks (with whom he had not performed previously), and shows that he can play bop as well as almost anyone".^[4] In JazzTimes, Willard Jenkins wrote "One of the legion of unsung and underrated jazz artists who are the backbone of the music, Ponder has been largely showcased in funky-butt organ settings. This time around drummer-producer Cecil Brooks III decided to make it lean and simple as Ponder wends his way through the 11 tracks".^[5]

Track listing

All compositions by Jimmy Ponder, Barney Fields and Cecil Brooks III except where noted

1. "J.P." – 3:29
2. "They Can't Take That Away from Me" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 4:38
3. "September Song" (Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson) – 5:11
4. "God Bless the Child" (Arthur Herzog, Jr., Billie Holiday) – 8:20
5. "James Street" – 5:05
6. "Love Theme from "Spartacus"" (Alex North) – 3:49
7. "My One and Only Love" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 3:21
8. "The End of a Beautiful Friendship" (Donald Kahn, Stanley Styne) – 4:03
9. "In a Sentimental Mood" (Duke Ellington) – 10:21
10. "Mister Magic" (Ralph MacDonald, William Salter) – 4:40
11. "N.Y.C." – 4:03

Personnel

• Jimmy Ponder – guitar
• John Hicks – piano (tracks 2-5, 8, 9 & 11)
• Dwayne Dolphin – bass, piccolo bass (tracks 2-5 & 8-11)
• Cecil Brooks III – drums (tracks 2-5, 8, 9 & 11)

References

1. "Jazz Depot Catalog". jazzdepot.com. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
2. "Jazzlists: album entry". jazzlists.com. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
3. Payne, Douglas. "Jimmy Ponder Discography". Sound Insights. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
4. Yanow, Scott. Jimmy Ponder: James Street – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved January 28, 2019.
5. Jenkins, W. JazzTimes Review, accessed January 30, 2019