Quartette Tres Bien – Boss Tres Bien
Quartette Tres Bien
Listen/Download Quartette Tres Bien – Boss Tres Bien
Greetings all.
I hope all is well in your end of the universe.
The tune I bring you today is yet another example of why, when you’re out doing the DJ thing you need to keep your ears wide open.
Back in the olden days, when the mighty Asbury Park 45 Sessions crew still walked the earth my man DJ Prestige augmented the Avengers of funk and soul with a stellar slate of guest selectors.
It was in March of 2008 that we were joined by the mighty Dave Withers who came to the decks packing serious heat.
Withers was a formidable selector, not only in the rarity of his 45s but in the diversity and imagination of his selections. I was introduced to at least a half dozen incredibly good tracks during his set, one of which you see before you today.
I had never heard of the Quartette Tres Bien before, but once I heard ‘Boss Trest Bien’ my wig was good and truly flipped.
Quartette Tres Bien got their start playing and recording in their native St Louis, before being picked up for national distribution by Decca in 1964.
‘Boss Tres Bien’ appeared on their debut LP that year, and is a remarkable bit of soul jazz.
The group, led by pianist Jeter Thompson, bassist Richard Simmons, drummer Albert St James and percussionist Percy James (the real key to this particular record) went on to record several albums for Decca through the 60s.
The LP edit of ‘Boss Tres Bien’ (the in-demand 45 edit is about two minutes shorter) starts out with some brilliant interplay between St James and James (dig that crazy bass drum action) trading licks on the traps and the bongos, before the bass and piano join in.
Once things build up a full head of steam a hand-clapping audience pushes the group harder and faster. You have to hang in for when the drummer and bassist start passing the baton back and forth.
It is a thing of wonder, and ought to be much better known.
Now you know it.
Dig it, and I’ll be back later this week.
Keep the faith
Larry
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Themocracy
Fantastic track Larry. Nice to have an O.G.Have it on an old Giles Peterson comp…
Great track Larry! I have it too in the Gilles’ “Jazz Juice” compilation. Thank you for the info too!
Love,
Dob a.k.a Soulmate
Great stuff, thanks for posting! 🙂
a new one to me, thanks, now i want the 45!
Wow, what a delight. Never would have known of them but for you. Thanks for sharing — I too am going to look for more. Wish I had been there in St. Louis in the early 60s. Going to ask some friends who were there at the time if they knew this group.