King Curtis - His First Eight Classic Albums: 1959 - 1962 (2017)

Of all the musicians to have adopted the saxophone as instrument of choice, few players have been as diverse and adaptable as King Curtis. A virtuoso on tenor, alto and soprano, Curtis embraced jazz, soul, pop, R&B, rock & roll, funk and even country during his productive, albeit short, career. Variously a bandleader, band member, and session musician, he was also a musical director and record producer. Curtis played alongside a diverse range of other musicians and performers, including Wynton Kelly, Nat Adderley, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Andy Williams, Duane Allman, Champion Jack Dupree, Aretha Franklin and John Lennon, among numerous others. However, it is his early solo albums on which King Curtis's finest playing can be heard. Having produced such a broad catalogue over his 21 years in the music business, this collection brings together the finest of King Curtis's output from 1959 to 1962, including eight solo albums and a number of singles. Demonstrating his musical progress across five hours of faithfully remastered tracks, this collection will form the perfect starting point for those looking to discover this legendary musician, or as a welcome reminder to those already well-versed in the great man's work.