Blues in the Closet (Tommy Flanagan album)

Blues in the Closet is a studio album by jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan, released in 1958 on the Riverside Records label. It features Flanagan in a trio setting, accompanied by Wilbur Little on bass and Elvin Jones on drums.

The album showcases Flanagan's sophisticated and melodic approach to bebop and blues-based jazz. The repertoire consists of a mix of standards and original compositions. Notable tracks include the title track, "Blues in the Closet" (a blues composition often attributed to Bud Powell), as well as versions of "Verdandi", "Dalarna", "Willow Weep for Me", "Elnie", "Confirmation", and "Chelsea Bridge".

Blues in the Closet is considered a significant recording in Flanagan's discography and is highly regarded for its showcasing of his improvisational skills and the tight interplay between the trio members. It is valued by jazz enthusiasts as a prime example of Flanagan's understated elegance and mastery of the jazz piano trio format. The album has been reissued multiple times on various formats, including CD.