Sonny Clark

Cool Struttin'

First released1958

Cool Struttin' was recorded on September 4, 1958, at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, with the legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder capturing the session. The album was produced by Alfred Lion for Blue Note Records as part of their continued commitment to capturing modern hard bop sounds. Sonny Clark led a quintet featuring Art Farmer on trumpet, Jackie McLean on alto saxophone, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Van Gelder's meticulous recording techniques preserved the intimate yet energetic interplay of the ensemble, which was characteristic of Blue Note's production aesthetic during this period. The session represented a peak moment in Clark's career and remains a landmark recording of 1950s hard bop.