Sonny Clark

Cool Struttin'

First released1958

Cool Struttin' was recorded on September 4, 1958, at Rudy Van Gelder's Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, one of the most respected jazz recording facilities of the era. The album was produced by Alfred Lion for Blue Note Records, with Rudy Van Gelder serving as engineer and overseeing the technical aspects of the session. The recording featured Sonny Clark's trio along with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and saxophonist Jackie McLean, capturing the hard bop style that defined Blue Note's output in the late 1950s. Van Gelder's meticulous engineering techniques, including his attention to microphone placement and acoustic balance, were instrumental in achieving the album's characteristic warm yet detailed sound that became a hallmark of Blue Note recordings from this period.