What makes The Book Cooks by Booker Ervin notable?

The Book Cooks is notable for its critical acclaim within jazz circles, often praised for its innovative compositions and Ervin's distinctive voice on the tenor saxophone. The album has been influential in the hard bop genre, helping to solidify Ervin's reputation as a significant figure in jazz during the 1960s. Released in 1960, The Book Cooks was Booker Ervin's third album as a bandleader, following his earlier works that established him in the jazz scene. At this point, he was gaining recognition for his unique sound and improvisational style, particularly influenced by his work with Charles Mingus.

How many songs are on The Book Cooks?

The Book Cooks has 6 tracks, running approximately 42 minutes.

The Book Cooks

Booker Ervin · 1960

42 min · 6 tracks · jazz

A vibrant blend of hard bop and intricate melodies, showcasing Ervin's dynamic saxophone prowess and rich harmonic textures.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
The Blue Book — This track opens the album with a captivating melody that showcases Ervin's technical skill and expressive phrasing, setting the tone for the entire project.
→
Git It — With its infectious rhythm and upbeat tempo, this track highlights the ensemble's synergy and invites listeners into a lively conversation through improvisation.
→
The Book Cooks — The title track features complex arrangements and showcases Ervin's ability to navigate intricate changes while maintaining emotional depth, making it a centerpiece of the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

Ervin's dynamic saxophone work and strong compositions create a vibrant hard bop experience.

What we noticed

The first track opens with a fast-paced rhythm section that sets a lively tone, while the saxophone introduces intricate melodic lines.
Each of the six tracks features extended improvisation sections, allowing Ervin's saxophone to explore various harmonic textures.
The album closes with 'Poor Butterfly,' which contrasts the earlier tracks by incorporating a slower tempo and more reflective mood.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 The Blue Book 8:35
2 Git It 6:56
3 Little Jane 6:24
4 The Book Cooks 10:42
5 Largo 6:15
6 Poor Butterfly 3:46

What to play next

Listen next

That's It!

1961

Go back to

Cookin'

1960

Full Booker Ervin discography Artists like Booker Ervin

jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata