Leapin' and Lopin'

Leapin' and Lopin' is an album by American jazz pianist Sonny Clark, recorded on November 13, 1961 and released on Blue Note in May 1962—Clark's final album as leader before his death the following year.^[1][2]

Leapin' and Lopin'
Studio album by Sonny Clark
Released	May 1962 (1962-05)[1][2]
Recorded	November 13, 1961
Studio	Van Gelder Studio Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Genre	Jazz
Length	41:35 55:31 (CD reissue)
Label	Blue Note BLP 4091 (mono) BST 84091 (stereo)
Producer	Alfred Lion
Sonny Clark chronology
Sonny Clark Trio (1960) Leapin' and Lopin' (1962)

Background

Leapin' and Lopin' features a guest appearance from sax player Ike Quebec, who was mounting a comeback after a decade of low visibility.^{[citation needed]} The rhythm section of Clark, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins would also appear on sessions with Dexter Gordon yielding his albums for Blue Note Go! and A Swingin' Affair.

Reception

Professional ratings

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

The AllMusic review by Michael Nastos calls Leapin' and Lopin' "a definitive recording for Clark, and really for all time in the mainstream jazz idiom."^[6]

All About Jazz stated, "Although pianist Sonny Clark had documented much fine music up to this point, one of his final recordings before an untimely death, everything seemed to solidify with this 1961 ringer."^[7]

Track listing

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Somethin' Special"		6:23
2.	"Deep in a Dream"	Jimmy Van Heusen Eddie DeLange	6:47
3.	"Melody for C"		7:50

All tracks are written by Sonny Clark, except as noted.

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Eric Walks"	Butch Warren	5:41
2.	"Voodooo"		7:39
3.	"Midnight Mambo"	Tommy Turrentine	7:15

2008 reissue bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
7.	"Zellmar's Delight"	5:43
8.	"Melody for C" (alternate take)	8:13

Personnel

• Sonny Clark – piano
• Tommy Turrentine – trumpet (except "Deep in a Dream")
• Charlie Rouse – tenor saxophone (except "Deep in a Dream")
• Ike Quebec – tenor saxophone ("Deep in a Dream")
• Butch Warren – bass
• Billy Higgins – drums

References

1. "Jazz LPs". Billboard Music Week. Cincinnati: The Billboard Publishing Co. April 28, 1962. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
2. "May Album Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. May 19, 1962. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
3. At Allmusic
4. Swenson, J. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide. Random House. p. 41. ISBN 0-394-72643-X.
5. Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 254. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
6. At Allmusic
7. At All About Jazz