Phineas Newborn’s life story is as dizzying as his unique style of piano playing. He was born just outside of Memphis –– a city that birthed the careers of such household musical names as Elvis Presley, Otis Redding, Jerry Lee Lewis, Al Green, and countless others –– and was raised in a musical family that included his father, Phineas Newborn, Sr., a drummer in blues bands, and his equally talented jazz guitarist brother Calvin. By his early teenage years, Phineas was not only beginning to master the piano, but trumpet, tenor and baritone saxes, as well. Jazz critics have called him, “One of the three greatest jazz pianists of all time.”
Here are three tunes with his trio from 1962, that included Al McKibbon playing double bass and Kenny Dennis on drums. Upper most is a non-standard treatment of the Strayhorn standard Lush Life. Below that (left) New Blues, and (right) the familiar Oleo, written by Sonny Rollins … just to prove the critics right!
