Bill Jennings was a very short man, but a giant on guitar — entirely self-taught, his attack and phrasing were astoundingly sax-like. As a jazz musician, he always insisted on soul as well as sound. That is not to say that he was not a perfectionist and a precisionist, for indeed he was. Although an ardent admirer of the great guitars in jazz, Jennings was always biased towards reeds and (admittedly a frustrated saxophonist) claimed that his style had been heavily influenced by Charlie Parker and Herschel Evans.
Between 1959 and 1960 Prestige engaged Jennings to record two albums : Enough Said ! and Glide On. He had the backing of organist Jack McDuff — who provides some neat and clean-cut support — bassist Wendell Marshall and drummer Alvin Johnson. For the second album they were joined by Jennings’ brother Al on vibes — the only exception being Billin’ and Bluin’, where Al traded his vibes for guitar, and McDuff his organ for piano.
Bill Jennings can hardly be called an innovator on guitar. He was an uncomplicated musician but interesting all the same, always swinging and relaxed. There is just enough fun and earthiness in his approach to dull any scholastic edge, bringing the beat where it belongs — right down front.
Source : https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/bill-jennings-albums/6797-the-complete-bill-jennings-on-prestige-1959-1960-2-lp-on-1-cd-bonus-track.html
Bill Jennings
On Prestige
(1959-1960)
Tracks
Tracks
1 Enough Said (Johnson) 6:38
2 Tough Gain (Jennings) 4:14
3 Volare [a.k.a Nel Blu, Dipinto Di Blu] (Modugno, Migliacci) 6:58
4 Dark Eyes (Salama, P.D.) 4:38
5 It Could Happen To You (Van Heusen, Burke) 6:22
6 Blue Jams (Jennings, McDuff, Marshall) 5:25
7 Dig Uncle Will (McDuff) 3:28
8 It’s Alvin Again (McDuff) 3:50
9 Glide On (Wilson) 5:30
10 Alexandria, Virginia (Clanton, Jennings) 3:52
11 Billin’ and Bluin’ (Jennings, Jennings) 4:42
12 There’ll Never Be Another You (Warren, Gordon) 3:49
13 Azure-Te (Paris Blues) (Davis, Wolf) 4:40
14 Fiddlin’ (Jennings, Jennings) 2:34
15 Cole Slaw (Stone) 8:06
16 Hey Mrs. Jones (Ragan, Miller) 4:19
*
Personnel
[# 1-7] from the album "Enough Said!" (Prestige PRLP 7164)
Bill Jennings - g
Jack McDuff - org
Albert Jennings - vb & g [# 11]
Wendell Marshall - b
Alvin Johnson - dr
Recorded at Van Gelder's studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey ; August 21, 1959
[# 8] taken from the album "Guitar Soul" (Status ST 8318)
Same personnel, place & date as above
[# 9-16] from the album "Glide On" (Prestige PRLP 7177)
Same personnel & place as above ; January 12, 1960