Opening Night (album)

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Opening Night is a big band jazz recording of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra playing at the Village Vanguard club in New York City in February 1966. This was the first performance of the group at this club although the recording was not released until 2000. A 50-year tradition for Monday nights at the Village Vanguard began from this first evening for the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra which later became the Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra and eventually the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

Track listing

1. Introduction (Mel Lewis & Alan Grant) – 1:50
2. "Big Dipper" – 5:10
3. "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (Van Heusen, Burke) – 3:47
4. "Once Around" – 12:37
5. "All My Yesterdays" – 4:08
6. "Morning Reverend" – 4:50
7. "Low Down" – 4:25
8. "Lover Man" (Davis, Ramirez, Sherman) – 5:08
9. "Mean What You Say" – 5:35
10. "Don't Ever Leave Me" – 4:15
11. "Willow Weep for Me" (Ronell) – 6:25
12. "The Little Pixie" – 13:45

All songs composed by Thad Jones except as noted.

Personnel

• Thad Jones – flugelhorn
• Mel Lewis – drums
• Hank Jones – piano
• Richard Davis – bass
• Sam Herman – guitar
• Jerome Richardson – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute
• Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone
• Joe Farrell – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
• Eddie Daniels – tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
• Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
• Snooky Young – trumpet
• Jimmy Owens – trumpet
• Bill Berry – trumpet
• Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet
• Bob Brookmeyer – trombone
• Jack Rains – trombone
• Garnett Brown – trombone
• Cliff Heather – trombone