Straight Ahead is an album by American jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln featuring performances recorded in 1961 for the Candid label.Booker Little discography, accessed March 15, 2011.
Reception
The editors of AllMusic awarded the album 5 stars, and reviewer Scott Yanow stated that "this is one of Abbey Lincoln's greatest recordings".Yanow, S. AllMusic review, accessed March 15, 2011.
The authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings singled out the track titled "Retribution" for praise, writing: "For the first time, Lincoln seems willing to confront her music rather than stand up-stage of it. 'Retribution' is raw, responsive and aware. It boded well for what was to come."
Track listing "Straight Ahead" (Abbey Lincoln, Earl Baker, Mal Waldron) — 5:24 "When Malindy Sings" (Oscar Brown, Paul Lawrence Dunbar) — 4:05 "In the Red" (Chips Bayen, Abbey Lincoln, Max Roach) — 8:32 "Blue Monk" (Abbey Lincoln, Thelonious Monk) — 6:39 "Left Alone" (Billie Holiday, Mal Waldron) — 6:48 "African Lady" (Langston Hughes, Randy Weston) — 3:46 "Retribution" (Abbey Lincoln, Julian Priester) — 3:50 Recorded at Nola Penthouse Studios in New York City on February 22, 1961
Personnel Abbey Lincoln — vocals Booker Little — trumpet Julian Priester — trombone Eric Dolphy — alto saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, piccolo Walter Benton — tenor saxophone Coleman Hawkins — tenor saxophone Mal Waldron — piano Art Davis — bass Max Roach — drums Roger Sanders, Robert Whitley — congas
References