14 Ampersand October, 1977

Sonny Stitt: Hftnn i piPfflPflPl A Tribute to (Catalyst) oil Getz recorded an Many years ago, Stan immediately-classi- c album backed by a mim rw.iiifiiiifeUiJJjiytif string section arranged and conducted by bandleader Eddie Sauter. This year, saxist (Continued from page 7) Sonny Stitt recruited Sauter's long-tim- e poets: on a decent Elvis Presley imitation, guitarist partner, , for an album that's just mobeeit Jerry Sikorski turning a backflip onstage, and as timeless. Part of this is due to Stitt's fiery so on. The music on Born to Rock is, like that playing, part is due to Finegan's classy and on the other albums listed here, original and imaginative arranging, and part is due to a partially d oldies. "Red set of incomparable Duke Ellington-associate- d Cadillac and a Black Moustache" (and songs. Even when the material doesn't that paint up a picture) must be one of threatens to be a bit stale and all of these the cleverest, catchiest tunes ever written; it's tunes fall into the chestnut file Finegan i been recorded several times, and it's still and Stitt manage to turn them into some- ft never been a hit. Other tunes include Johnny thing fresh by discovering a new way to treat Cash's "Get Rhythm" and "Folsom Prison an old, old song. Here's a disc that's lovely, Blues," Johnny Horton's "Honky Tonk listenable, and exciting all at once. Man," and a bunch more. All of the band D.P. save Campi are youngsters, about the age that the originators were when they began to : take fire. Campi was once such an originator, The 40th Anniversary .J" though not much of a hitmaker, and he's Carnegie Hall Concert (RCA) taught them well. Recording was done in the When Don Ellis first rought his record company founder's living room; qual- big V halls T r I team bfisi.M jhrmrtrh-- IT ity is just good enough. Somehow, the idea of band to the rock dance Fillmores JOAN ARLIATRADING mixing rock and roll and polished studio East and West and such the sound came as technology sounds as contrary to nature as it a revelation to many members of the audi- Show Some Emotion ence. Now, most major colleges and a good Last year she was the most highly did twenty years ago, when songs were cut on one or two tracks, and in three or four takes. many secondary ones boast fine stage bands; acclaimed new artist of the year. Todd Everett this kind of music is hardly a novelty any Rolling Stone said "Her name is Joan more. Economics, though, make it so hard to Armatrading and what she does is send keep fifteen or more men, plus crew, on the shivers up your spine every time she road that there are relatively few such crews sings her songs!' On her fourth album, making the concert-danc- e circuit. Woody Herman has been doing so since the s, Joan continues her rise toward super-stardo- m with with a new collection of songs V. usually a large, young group. A number of Herman alumni join their that reaffirms her power with words leader and his current band for this exquisite and music. two-dis- c album, recorded at Carnegie Hall RICHIE HAVENS-Mira- ge last year. The personnel reads like a jazz hall You know him -- but not like this. offame: , Zoot Sims, Jimmy Giuflre "Mirage" is unlike anything Havens has and trumpeters Conte and Pete Condoli are few better-know- n Ar- ever done before. An astonishing just a of the names. ranger , heard on , went musical journey that breath- takes the from the Forties Herman band to work on " less listener from modern funk to elec- Broadway musicals and score films, includ- tric rock with all the skill and bravura ing Cabaret and New York, New York. you've come to love. "Mirage" firmly Included here are new readings of vintage cements Richie's reputation as one of Herman material including "Apple Honey," the most compelling poet stylists on "Four Brothers," "Bijou," and "Caldonia," the contemporary scene. plus new charts of Hall and Oates' "She's Gone," Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the hi-- Common Man," and Freddie Hubbard's ' iTnnmm nirnri iimurii inrii Ufi CHRIS DE BURGH -- At The Vmi ttnnti0rm "Crisis." This is fun, g, and as e accessible as jazz is ever to End Of A Perfect Day-H- Sammi Smith: going get. j g sings in the troubadour Mixed Emotions (Elektra) tradition PIP The Chieftains: spinning tales, painting word and sound Live i Among the most underrated of sin- (Island) pictures in a voice that ranges from country gers, Sammi Smith is one of the few to consis- fierce and forceful to expressively Saying that the Chieftains are Ireland's if tently demonstrate a sense of humor. She can foremost folk ensemble is a bit like tender. "At The End Of A Perfect Day" saying also interpret a heart song with the very best that Sven Asmussen is the best jazz fiddler in is Chris' third collection of original listen to Sammi's version of "Loving Sweden: you won't get any arguments, but songs a musical reminscence of loves Arms," "A Woman Left Lonely," and "I 1 v & A who cares, either? Mention that the members lost and gained in the present, past, and Can't Stop Loving You" and you'll hear new, are virtuosi on instruments like the uilleann definitive readings. faraway worlds. Lynne Manor pipes, bodhran, and tin whistle doesn't necessarily add much to the recommenda- SHAWN PHILLIPS The Tim Weisberg Band tion. Adding that the group sports a couple of Spaced (United Artists) fiddle players helps, though neither of them is any too anxious to saw out "Orange Blossom A compilation of some of finest the Evidently tired of being jazzy and intellec- Special." How about saying that this is the unreleased works from the prolific tual, flutist Tim Weisberg has gone ut kind of music that Fairport Convention and songwriter and man with the four octave commercial and hired Allman Bros, that lot took at least half their inspiration voice. His message to you? "In All producer Johnny Sandlin who promptly from, presented in & Friendship With All Love, May The turned the Tim Weisberg Band into some- live performance and with witty in- Music Never I- Stop!" thing resembling Sea Level. What he's done, formative introductions by leader Paddy J i chiefly, is tighten things up a bit, add a few Maloney? And that they do "Irish Washer- - musicians including Chuck Leavell and the woman," but hide it under another, more 4 AA Tow er of Power horn section, and persuade authentic, title? We're not. here to offer a AKOKUS Weisberg to play something familiar for the musical education course, but neither do we radio well-know- n is T 1977 ASM RECORDS, INC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED programmers. The tune mind turning our friends onto something that "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," the "Honky Tonk" might widen their horizons a bit if it's of the Sixties and a fine addition to anybody's entertaining as well. If you're a fan of album. The rest, all new stufl", holds up too, baroque and renaissance music, you'll likely making this a nice album to relax to. find this album especially enjoyable. Del Porter T.E.