Another Opus

by Scott YanowVibraphonist Lem Winchester died on January 13, 1961, after an accident with a gun. Although he did not stick around long enough to carve out his own original voice (remaining influenced to a large degree by Milt Jackson), Winchester did record several worthy albums during his final couple of years. This set, which has been reissued on CD in the OJC series, was one of his last and best. Winchester -- in a quintet with flutist Frank Wess, pianist Hank Jones, bassist Eddie Jones, and drummer Gus Johnson -- is in swinging and creative form on three of his originals, Oliver Nelson's "The Meetin'," and the standard "Like Someone in Love." A bonus cut from October 14, 1960, finds Winchester playing "Lid Flippin'" with a quintet that features organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith. Overall this CD is one of Lem Winchester's definitive sets.