Tommy Flanagan
Piano Solo on
Four Strings

About

Tommy Flanagan contributes four choruses on piano, the fourth of 5 solos on the recording. Taken at an up-tempo swing tempo of 215 BPM over the 12-bar Blues in B♭, the improvisation moves with confident, driving energy. The blues format proves ideal for showcasing each quintet member in succession: Clifford Jordan delivers five fiery tenor saxophone choruses, Donald Byrd contributes four solid trumpet choruses, Tommy Flanagan offers four refined piano choruses, and Elvin Jones closes with two explosive drum choruses. Recorded for the album Paul Chambers Quintet in 1957, the performance captures Tommy Flanagan at 26 to 27 years old.

Tommy Flanagan was 26 to 27 years old at the time.