Born & raised in the heart of Memphis' gutbucket Blues scene, it is approriate that Calvin Newborn chose to record his latest album for Yellow Dog Records in the Sam Phillips studio, Memphis . . . he made his 1950 recording debut, backing BB King, in Sam Phillips' original Sun Studios, just around the corner. Calvin paid his dues & learned his craft on Beale Street when R&B was king. His subsequent immersion into the New York jazz scene of the '50s shaped his playing via numerous recording sessions & smoky after-hours joints in the company of such as Jimmy Forrest, Earl Hines & Charles Mingus. Of the 9 non-vocal pieces on "Newborn", 2 are undoubtably Blues whereas the other 7 are distinctly jazz . . . go on, park your Stratocaster-fetish for a short while & allow some sublime grooves to wash you clean & swing you 8-to-the-bar . . . Hey, did someone mention the bar ??