Joe Albany - Portrait Of An Artist (1982)

During the pandemic, I've been watching more movies than usual and Netflix recommended that I watch the 2014 film Low Down. The movie was based on Albany's daughter's memoir of the same name. IMDb accurately describes the movie as "A look at the life of pianist Joe Albany from the perspective of his young daughter, as she watches him contend with his drug addiction during the 1970s jazz scene." The movie isn't pleasant stuff. But then I read the memoir and the movie is sunshine and rainbows compared to that book. So very dark and depressing, but moving and eye-opening.

In any case, I vaguely recognized the name of Joe Albany, but couldn't remember where, then it came to me that I was familiar with the name because he released this album on the short-lived Elektra/Musician label, with which I have an unusual obsession. (Speaking of labels, this 2008 CD reissue was released by Wounded Bird Records, a boutique label with little fanfare and very short production runs - buy 'em when you see 'em.)

After spending most of the '70s in Europe, this '82 release was a comeback of sorts and was his last release as a leader prior to his death in 1988. Here's liner notes from the pianist and the album's producer:

Mostly old standards, the album is an pleasant slice of traditional piano bop, more enjoyable when Albany plays by himself than with the quartet assembled for these sessions (tracks 2 & 7). It's not that their playing isn't fantastic, it's just that they don't seem to mesh as an ensemble, exposing some weaknesses that the producer probably should have taken care of. It's almost as if Albany isn't in the same room as the rhythm section on tracks like They Say It's Wonderful and Confirmation. Heroin will do that to a guy's sense of pulse, I guess.

The Rolling Stone Jazz & Blues Album guide states this album "shows that Albany was still a spectacular player whose conception, even into the '80s, was far from dated" (p. 12).

Musician, December 1982, p. 116

Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart

Tracks:

Of the quartet tracks, my favorite is Too Late Now, from the 1951 movie musical Royal Wedding, which was new to me. Having the last track as an artist interview was an occasional feature on Elektra/Musician releases. It was a good idea, not a great idea, as it makes the album difficult to take in as a whole. Needless to say, track 8 here has been heard a couple of times at most.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: Above.