LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

With his room-filling sound, unrelenting swing, and imposing personality, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis was for more than 40 years one of the most admired tenor saxophonists. Equally dominant in a combo or soloing with the Count Basie band, Davis worked steadily and recorded frequently. Rarely was he more entertaining than in this collection of pieces oriented to the Afro-Cuban tradition. Backed by a powerhouse trumpet section and full Latin percussion, Jaws generates powerful swing on seven numbers including Chano Pozo and Gil Fuller’s classic “Tin Tin Deo.” The ebullient trumpeter Clark Terry shares solo space with Davis.Wild Rice, Guanco Lament, Tin Tin Deo, Jazz-a-Samba, Alma Alegre (Happy Soul), Star Eyes, Afro-Jawswith Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Phil Sunkel, John Bello, Lloyd Mayers, Larry Gales, Ben Riley, Ray Barretto