Track Listing

1. Relaxin' At Camarillo
2. Chelsea Bridge
3. Eclypso
4. Beat's Up
5. Skal Brothers
6. Little Rock
7. Verdandi
8. Delarna
9. Willow Weep For Me
10. Delarna (Take 2)
11. Verdandi (Take 2)
12. Willow Weep For Me (Take 1)

Product Details

• Released on: 2000-04-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Album Description
Born in Detroit on March 16, 1930 (he died in New York on November 16, 2001), Tommy Flanagan made his professional debut in 1945 at 15-years old. He played clubs like the Blue Bird Inn with fellow Detroit musicians Milt Jackson, Kenny Burrell and the brothers Thad and Elvin Jones. The pianist arrived in New York in 1956 and had his first gig at Birdland as a substitution for Bud Powell. He later cited Powell as a major influence on his early development, along with Art Tatum and Nat "King" Cole. By the time Overseas was taped, Flanagan had already participated on more than 25 albums, an impressive number considering that his first studio appearance was in March 1956. Overseas was Flanagan's first recording as a leader and also his first recording in Europe. Although the LP release is the most widely known, the Overseas session was originally issued on three separate EPs on the Swedish Metronome label. Flanagan had travelled to Sweden as part of the J.J. Johnson Quintet (he had replaced Hank Jones in July 1956 and recorded prolifically with that group during 1957 and 1958). The quintet was enthusiastically received there, but it wasn't recorded. In fact, only the trio of Flanagan-Little-Jones was asked to enter the studios, allowing the pianist his first chance to be the main performer.