Tommy Flanagan
Piano Solo on
What's New

About

Tommy Flanagan contributes a single chorus on piano, the third of 4 solos on the recording. Taken at a medium-up swing tempo of 148 BPM over the 32-bar AABA in C, the improvisation unfolds with comfortable, easygoing swing. Donald Byrd follows with a trumpet chorus of similar lyricism, and Tommy Flanagan contributes a characteristically elegant piano chorus. Recorded for the album Paul Chambers Quintet in 1957, the performance captures Tommy Flanagan at 26 to 27 years old. What's New is a ballad composed by Bob Haggart, with lyrics later added by Johnny Burke. "What's New?" is the Bob Haggart standard performed on Paul Chambers's 1957 self-titled Blue Note quintet album, featuring solos from all four melodic voices in the group.

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