Cocktails For Two / Walkin' Home - Arnett Cobb (Okeh 6823)

Personnel: Willie Moore (trumpet); Dickie Harris (trombone); Arnett Cobb (tenor sax); Johnny Griffin (baritone sax); George Rhodes (piano); Walter Buchanan (bass); Al Walker (drums).
Recorded in New York, August 7th, 1951. Released in early October 1951.

Listen to "Cocktails For Two"

Listen to "Walkin' Home"

Billboard review from 6th October, 1951:

"Walkin' Home" - "Cobb's sharp combo drives fluidly through an easy riffer akin to "Smooth Sailing." The leader blows up a mess of tenor. There's as much jazz appeal here as there is danceability for juke players."

"Cocktails For Two" - "Group opens and closes with a pulsing Latin beat and swings out in between with Cobb's tenor pulsing all the way. A fine disking, well recorded, which could stimulate action."

Arnett Cobb belongs to the legion of legendary Texas tenormen. Born in Houston in 1918, Cobb started out in the local bands of Frank Davis and Chester Boone from where he was recruited in 1936 by Milt Larkin who led an aggregation which soon achieved a formidable reputation throughout the Southwest territory and beyond. Larkin's reed section featured Cobb and Tom Archia on tenor sax and Illinois Jacquet and Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson on alto. Jacquet left in 1939, moving to California where he eventually joined the new Lionel Hampton big band on tenor sax. Vinson left at the turn of 1941/42 to join the Cootie Williams Orchestra after Cootie had attempted to lure Arnett Cobb away from Larkin.

Count Basie also tried to sign Cobb who remained with the Larkin outfit until 1942 when he replaced Illinois Jacquet (who had joined the Cab Calloway Orchestra) in Lionel Hampton's band. Cobb's big, big toned tenor was heard to brilliant effect in Hamp's 1944 version of "Flying Home", known as "Flying Home No. 2." Other showcases for Cobb included "Cobb's Idea" and "Adam Blew His Hat."

In early 1947 Arnett Cobb left the Hampton orchestra, formed his own small combo and signed for Apollo Records. His best selling disc for that label was a two part version of "When I Grow Too Old To Dream," the first part being an affecting instrumental while the second part featured exaggeratedly hep vocals. Arnett's career came to a temporary halt in early 1948 due to a failed spinal operation. He didn't start recording again until September 1950 when he began a two year stint with Columbia and its Okeh subsidiary. His most successful release at this time was "Smooth Sailing" from his first Columbia session. In 1953 he moved to Mercury Records, in 1954 - 55 he had three releases on Atlantic and in early 1956 he cut "No Dues" / "Slats" for Vee-Jay.

Swingin' Cobb - William Gottlieb collection

His name misspelled in lights - William Gottlieb collection

Misfortune intervened again, this time in the shape of a crash while driving the band bus. Arnett's injuries kept him from recording for three years and forced him to use crutches for the rest of his life. However in 1959 he resumed his recording career with jazz label Prestige,  recording a series of albums (1959 - 60) which included a powerhouse set with Lockjaw Davis. He continued to record until the year before his death in 1988.

With thanks as ever to El Enmascarado for his sterling work in reviving this 78 rpm disc.

Recommended listening for Arnett's early small group sides - "A Proper Introduction To Arnett Cobb - The Wild Man From Texas" (Proper Intro CD 2070).