After the Riot at Newport


After the Riot at Newport is an album by the Nashville All-Stars, which was recorded live after the cancellation of their appearance at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival.

History

This group of Nashville session players played a mixture of pop and jazz standards. The all-star lineup featured guitar legends Hank Garland and Chet Atkins, saxophonist Boots Randolph, African-American pianist/violinist Brenton Banks, pianist Floyd Cramer, bassist Bob Moore, drummer Buddy Harman, and vibes prodigy Gary Burton, who was only 17 years old at the time.
Even though the players were playing country music day-in and day-out in Nashville sessions, they had a deep love of jazz and played often at the Carousel Club on Printer's Alley in Nashville, Tennessee. When their much-anticipated festival performance was canceled due to an unruly crowd, the group documented their performance anyway, recording on the lawn of a mansion RCA had rented during the festival.
Two of the songs, "Nashville to Newport" and "Riot-Chous" were composed for the occasion, the latter after the riot on the night prior to recording.
Other groups since have taken the name Nashville All-Stars.

Reception

AllMusic critic Thom Owens called the album "a surprisingly jazzy effort, highllighted by some excellent leads by Atkins, yet it is a bit too down-home for jazzbos, and a bit too polished for country fans. Nevertheless, fans of pure musicianship will find plenty to treasure on the album."

Reissues

Track listing

Side one

  1. "Relaxin – 11:11
  2. "Nashville to Newport" – 3:18
  3. "Opus de Funk" – 6:14

Side two

  1. "S Wonderful" – 4:35
  2. "'Round Midnight" – 4:39
  3. "Frankie and Johnny" – 3:37
  4. "Riot-Chous" – 8:57

Personnel

Production notes