Liner Notes

Recorded in August 1956 at Capitol Studios in Hollywood for the Jazz: West label, a boutique imprint allied with Pacific Jazz, the album presents assured versions of well-worn standards (“The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea,” “Easy Living,” “Willow Weep For Me,” “Lover Man”) with a trio of original compositions by Clark interspersed (“Minor Meeting,” “Three Fingers North,” “Marbles”).

A West Coast jazz date that blows with hard bop gusto, Tenorman by The Lawrence Marable Quartet featuring James Clay was a hard-swinging session led by the esteemed drummer (Marable) that served as an introduction of the young Texan tenor (Clay) with sturdy support from pianist Sonny Clark and bassist Jimmy Bond .