Although this is the second installment in Dorough's studio date with the Davis
group, he does not participate. Davis gets off a terrific solo here, as does Shorter;
and there are some nicely-crafted three-horn unison passages in the opening and
closing choruses. Another little gem.
After the flurry of Columbia studio activity and live recording in the spring of
1961, Davis was relatively inactive during 1961-1962. He was evidently unhappy with
Hank Mobley, though he did not replace him until sometime the following year.
Davis added J.J. Johnson to the group in May-June 1961, and the Sextet was booked
for a week at Philadelphia's Show Boat Lounge (June 5-10) and for two weeks at
the Village Vanguard (June 27-July 9). They played at the Randall's Island Jazz
Festival (August 26), and returned to the Village Vanguard for two weeks
(September 12-24). Johnson performed with the group at The Birdhouse in
Chicago (September 27-October 8), as evidenced by wonderful photographs
taken by Laird Scott, and in Los Angeles at Club Renaissance
(October 12-19). The year closed out with engagements at the Minor Key Club,
Detroit (December 7-10) and the Jazz Gallery, New York
(December 21, 1961-January 3, 1962). Saxophonist Rocky Boyd is sometimes
said to have joined the group for some of these shows.
Touring continued in 1962: Howard Theatre, Washington (January 12-18 -- Philly Joe
Jones on drums, and Johnson apparently did not make this gig); Regal Theatre, Chicago
(February 23-March 1); and Sutherland Hotel Lounge, Chicago (March 7-18). A
two-week engagement at Club Renaissance in Los Angeles (March 20-April 3)
was canceled. On to Indiana University Auditorium (March 24 -- a benefit for the
Indiana NAACP for which Davis did not show!). The group was booked for two stretches
at the Village Vanguard (April 3-9 and April 17-29), between which they played a week
at the Minor Key Club, Detroit (April 12-15). A two-week engagement at the Sutherland
in Chicago (May 1-13) was canceled, but the group performed at Kansas City's Mardi Gras
Club (May 18-28). Davis' father died during this engagement, and Davis attended
the funeral in St. Louis. In June the group traveled west: Music Box Theatre, Los
Angeles (June 1-10); Blackhawk Supper Club, San Francisco (June 12-July 1); Penthouse
Theatre, Seattle (July 4-10); Minor Key, Detroit (August 16-19); La Comédie
Canadienne, Montréal (August 24-25; Davis filled in for an ailing Sonny Rollins
for the August 25 matinée); Showboat Club, Philadelphia (September 17-22);
Village Vanguard, New York (November 13-19); Old Brown Theatre, Louisville KY (December 1).
A four-night engagement at the Music Box Club, Cleveland (December 6-9) was canceled and
rescheduled for December 27-30. The group was booked for a week at the Uptown Theatre,
Philadelphia (December 25-January 1) -- Davis missed one of the shows on the 25th,
played until the 30th, and walked out on the 31st, leaving his trumpet behind and missing
the last two days of the gig. Mobley is still listed as the saxophonist at the end of 1962.
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