Dwain

• Sonny Clark’s Cool Struttin’ is often held up as one of the quintessential hard bop records, and for good reason—it captures the style at its peak with a perfect blend of groove, sophistication, and relaxed confidence. The album lives up to its title—there’s a swaggering, “walking down the street” coolness that pervades the session, bluesy and swinging yet polished and urbane. Clark is joined here by an all-star quintet—Jackie McLean on alto sax, Art Farmer on trumpet, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums—and their chemistry is what makes the record so enduring. Farmer’s warm, lyrical lines balance McLean’s sharper, more angular phrasing, while Chambers and Jones provide a rhythm section that is at once fluid, swinging, and propulsive. At the center is Clark himself, whose piano style is elegant yet grounded in the blues; his comping leaves space for others while always shaping the momentum, and his solos unfold with crisp phrasing and melodic clarity. Together, the group embodies the essence of hard bop, blending bebop’s harmonic sophistication with gospel and blues inflections, creating music that’s both accessible and full of depth. Though Clark never achieved the same fame as some of his contemporaries, this album became a touchstone for jazz collectors and is now considered a Blue Note classic. Its iconic Francis Wolff cover photo (a stylish woman strutting in heels) has only added to its mystique. In short, Cool Struttin’ is both stylish and substantial—a relaxed yet razor-sharp session that epitomizes late-’50s hard bop and remains one of Sonny Clark’s most enduring statements.

Overall score: 9.6/10

Max

• Cool Struttin’ is the epitome of hard bop cool. With extended solos, blues-drenched melodies, impeccable solo phrasing, and the presence of a beyond-solid rhythm section, Sonny Clark delivers a masterpiece. After 67 years, Cool Struttin’ is still one of those all-time essential albums every jazz musician needs to check out. In addition to terrific music, the album is complete with an iconic cover photo and exceedingly detailed liner notes. Every member delivers phenomenal solos complete with impeccable phrasing and killer ideas. It is so interesting to have this specific personnel too. Nice to see Art Farmer here with the up-and-comer master Jackie McLean. Sonny Clark stated Cool Struttin’ came out as intended and was beyond musically satisfying. I have to concur. From Philly Joe’s awesome accompaniment, to Sonny’s lines, to the blues-infused attitude, everything is on point.

• One disappointment is the lack of a trading section, as well as no ballad being present. Despite that, we do receive varying tempos along with a wide degree of musical colors painted throughout the tracks. “Blue Minor” contains a neat arrangement with that lead-in horn line and has been covered by others throughout jazz history. THe opening tune, the title track, is well-known for it’s coolness and stellar improvisations. Paul Chambers and Philly Joe work to deliver a solid foundation underneath the almost-perfect playing of Sonny and Jackie. Art’s bluesiness is not to be slept on either. “Sippin’ at Bells” is a nice shoutout to the bebop aspect of hard bop. Its melody is claimed to be written by Miles Davis, but Nat Hentoff’s liner notes beg to differ, saying it was composed by Bird. Either way, nice head and awesome bop galore takes hold. “Deep Night” has a terrific arrangement too, and is a superb cover to end on with this setlist.

• No record collection is truly complete without this hard bop masterpiece. Sonny Clark’s impact on jazz piano is undeniable, and listeners need only let his right-hand lines create a moving, cloud-like pillow to rest their listening ears on. It also marks the indelible presence of altoist Jackie McLean on the music. It is not only a must-listen, but a must-have. The liner notes are incredibly detailed and insightful as well. That album cover is one of those iconic examples of great photo art too. Don’t sleep on this magical album; you’ll regret it if you do.

Overall score: 9.4/10