Concert: Friday the 13th – Cook County Jail is a live split album recorded at Cook County Jail in October 1972 featuring performances by jazz organist Jimmy McGriff's Quintet with guitarists George Freeman and O'Donel Levy, and saxophonist Lucky Thompson's Quartet which was released on the Groove Merchant label.Payne, D. Jimmy McGriff Discography, accessed April 4, 2018Jazzlists: Groove Merchant Records 500 Series, accessed April 4, 2018Jazzlists: Album details, accessed April 4, 2018
Reception
Allmusic's Scott Yanow said: "This album contains two separate sets that were both performed before inmates at the Cook County Jail one day in 1972. Organist Jimmy McGriff and his quintet performs his lengthy two-part "Freedom Suite," generating a great deal of heat. Lucky Thompson, mostly on soprano, jams on three standards ... Thompson's hot playing (particularly on "Cherokee") makes this album worth searching for".
Track listing All compositions by Jimmy McGriff except where noted "Freedom Suite (Part 1) – 8:58 "Freedom Suite (Part 2) – 15:45 "Green Dolphin Street" (Bronisław Kaper, Ned Washington) – 5:51 "Everything Happens to Me" (Matt Dennis, Tom Adair) – 5:41 "Cherokee" (Ray Noble) – 4:29
Personnel Tracks 1 & 2: Jimmy McGriff – organ George Freeman, O'Donel Levy – guitar Mickey Bass – bass Marion J. Booker – drums Tracks 3–5: Lucky Thompson – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone Cedar Walton – electric piano Sam Jones – bass Louis Hayes – drums
References