THE RAG

ISSUE 132 SUMMER 2014 UK £3.25

LAURA MVULA AT BRECON JAZZ CONTENTS

BRECON JAZZ FESTIVAL (PAGE 14) ACCLAIMED SINGER/ IS ONLY ONE OF THE STARS OF THE FESTIVAL. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE TALKS ABOUT 30 YEARS OF BRECON.

4. NEWS

5. UPCOMING EVENTS

8. 10 OVERLOOKED JAZZ GREATS

10. RED HOT PEPPER

12. COMPETITIONS/LETTER

13. PROPAGANDA SWING

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THE JAZZ RAG PO BOX 944, Birmingham, B16 8UT, England UPFRONT Tel: 0121454 7020 30 YEARS OF BIRMINGHAM JAZZ FESTIVAL Fax: 0121 454 9996 This year is the 30th Birmingham International Jazz and Festival. That sounds an Email: [email protected] impressive enough number in terms of years, but how about 5498 performances? Web: www.jazzrag.com That’s the figure the statisticians at BIJBF have come up with for Birmingham 1985- 2013, so make that 5499 by adding in the inaugural M&B Jam Session (Humphrey Publisher / editor: Jim Simpson Lyttelton (right), et al.) in Cannon Hill Park in 1984. And, of course, News / features: Ron Simpson by the time Birmingham 2014 is over, that figure will be moving towards 5700! Reviews editor: Russell Fletcher The 30th festival has provoked International editor: Yue Yang some looking back. For instance, Commercial Director: Tim Jennings the line-up for 1985 contained four Subscriptions & accounts: Russell Fletcher musicians who are on the 2014 bill Designed by Nerys James and have been at Birmingham for Printed by Warwick Printing pretty much every festival in www.warwickprinting.co.uk between: Digby Fairweather, now the Festival Patron, Len Skeat, Roy © 2013 THE JAZZ RAG. All original material including advertising artwork remains the sole copyright of the Publisher and may not be Williams and John Patrick. reproduced without permission CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 THE JAZZ RAG 3 NEWS NEWS/UPCOMING EVENTS Chris Hodgkins SEPTEMBER IN ranging from Imogen Cooper Aspland, Andy Cleyndert and 30 YEARS OF BIRMINGHAM FESTIVAL SCARBOROUGH playing Schumann, Brahms and Matt Home (August 6) and the Schubert to Gigspanner, led by Quintet (13). CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 As usual the Scarborough Jazz ex-Steeleye Span guitarist Peter After this activities resume with Also of interest is to look at some of the names who played the Festival (September 26-28) fills Knight. The jazz element consists the Amy Roberts Quintet Festival when it was still just the International Jazz Festival: Jimmy the seafront Spa with a vivid of the Jason Rebello Quintet, (September 10). The Sunday McGriff/Hank Crawford, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy/Junior Wells, series of concerts linked by jazz’s with gypsy jazz band Swing from evening traditional jazz Albert King, the Blues Brothers Band....how did it take so long to drollest compere, , in support (July 27) and programme includes the add ‘and Blues’ to the title? who this year also revives his and his Jazz exotically named Original Rabbit Johnny Mandel programme Quintet (30). Foot Spasm Band (July 13) and This year’s Birmingham International Jazz and Blues Festival runs starring Anita Wardell. An www.guitingfestival.org ’s Potato Head Jazz Band from July 18 to 27, with an opening party the evening before the interesting choice of bill-toppers (20) as well as such established festival at the Blue Piano, with the New Orleans Jump Band from pairs and John BIRD LIVES! British bands as the Sussex Jazz the Costa del Sol – appropriate enough, as the European element is Etheridge and the main Kings (August 17) and Chris especially strong this year, with bands and musicians from Spain, the Photo by Merlin Daleman programme also includes (among Jazz Rag readers will be familiar Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary, Luxembourg, with Willard Manus’ occasional Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Jazz many others) the Band (31). and Italy. There are many returning favourites, but Birmingham before returning to Birmingham despatches from the West Coast CHRIS HODGKINS Quartet, Dennis Rollins’ Velocity Tel.: 023 8061 3989 audiences will have a first chance to hear Saxitude, a saxophone for gigs at the Brasshouse, the of America. Recently he informed RETIRES Trio, Gwilym Simcock and the www.theconcordeclub.com quartet from Luxembourg, and Pepper and the Jellies from Italy (see Soloman Cutler, St. Paul’s us that his play about Charlie pages 10-11). For the first time Birmingham ventures into electro- After 29 years at the helm of Jazz Little Radio – and REVOICE! Churchyard and Birmingham City Parker, Bird Lives!, was running at swing with the Electric Swing Circus at the Botanical Gardens on Services, Chris Hodgkins took his , plus fringe Georgia Mancio’s hugely JAZZING University (21/22). Then the final the Barbara Morrison Performing the final day, while at the other extreme, chronologically and retirement in June, playing two events and the Jim Birkett Trio in acclaimed international voice This year’s BBC Proms at the stage of their tour takes them Arts Center in Los Angeles. Now stylistically, StarCity hosts three concerts on the first weekend, full sets at his retirement party the bar with guests. festival, ReVoice!, celebrates its 5th contain a North to Risley Park Jazz Club, we hear that, with a change of with, in turn, the Potato Head Jazz Band from Granada, Spain, Val on June 3 with his band (Karen Tel.: 01723 821888 anniversary with 12 nights of distinct jazz-tinged element, Derbyshire (23) and the www.scarboroughjazzfestival.co.uk actor playing Bird in the one-man Wiseman’s Billie Holiday tribute, Lady Sings the Blues, and King Sharp, Julie Walkington, Sophie performances across four venues though mostly confined to the Atkinson, Southport (24) before play, it is due to open at the Attic Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys – festival favourites, all! Alloway and Max Brittan) and in and outside from late-night concerts. On August 8 a final day in Birmingham: Theater in LA in August for a six- Tel. 0121 454 7020 numerous guests such as Henry JAZZ WEEKENDS October 9 to 20. The series Colmore Square and Blackheath week run. Clare Teal presides over a Battle www.birminghamjazzfestival.com begins at Watermill Jazz in Lowther and Julian Siegel. Many Library (25). WITH DENISE AND of the Bands, to be broadcast live tributes have been paid to Chris’ Dorking, with Claire Martin and Tel. 0121 454 7020 TONY HERTS JAZZ on Radio 2 and 3 and recorded Following a lunch-time Festival, Derbyshire (3), Fishguard work on behalf of jazz and Joe Stilgoe performing their new for television (BBC Four). The appearance at Searcy’s at the Rep Jazz (22) and Twinwood Festival Even by the standards of Denise With a packed all-day programme musicians and Jazz Services are show, Paris – the City of Light, an bands in question are the rather on July 20, the Remi Harris Trio (25). JOHN CUMMING, OBE and Tony Lawrence, two Jazz through Saturday and Sunday in committed to try to build on his eclectic mix of songs from coyly named Count Pearson makes several more appearances Tel.: 0121 454 7020 Weekends in two weeks is pretty the Hawthorne Theatre and its achievements. The future In the Queen’s Birthday Honours Gershwin to Cole Porter, Proms Band (under James at the Birmingham International www.kingpleasureandthebiscuitboys.com good going, but that’s what foyer, Herts Jazz Festival trajectory of Jazz Services list John Cumming, one of the Charles Trenet to Maurice Pearson) and Duke Windsor Jazz and Blues Festival between they’re providing in September. (September 12-14) draws on the depends to some extent on the three directors of Serious, was Chevalier. Also on the Dorking Proms Band (Grant Windsor). July 22 and 25. Further July and The Midland Youth Jazz First up is the Mercure best in . The Friday Arts Council’s upcoming appointed OBE. John’s award, for bill are Georgia Mancio herself Female singers are, in fact, the August gigs for Remi include Orchestra presents special guest, Cheltenham Queen’s Hotel (12- night curtain-raiser features the spending plans and so no Services to Jazz, reflects a long and pianist Robin Aspland. order of the day: Laura Mvula Keighley Blues Club (July 18), the trumpeter Jon Faddis, at Sutton 15). The first two evenings are Big Chris Barber Band, followed permanent Director is yet in career in music promotion and The festival is co-promoted with with the Metropole Orchestra International Gypsy Guitar Coldfield Town Hall on the devoted to Richard Leach’s by after hours foyer jazz with the place. Communications Director jazz education. From the late the Pizza Express Jazz Club and (August 19) and Paloma Faith Festival near Gloucester (26), afternoon of July 13. Clubhouse 5 and Kevin Grenfell’s Trio. The main and Editor of Jazz UK John 1960s John worked primarily in nine of the performances take with the Orchestra Artrix, Bromsgrove (August 2), Tel.: 01675 442050 (enquiries) Jazz Giants with Matt Palmer, concerts in the theatre include Norbury-Lyons is the Interim theatre as director and lighting place there, with further detours (September 5). The main evening Brecon Guildhall (10), Cliffords respectively, with Denise and the Quartet, Jean Director, with Dominic designer, with the shift towards to the 606 Club and Hunter Club Prom on September 9 with the Mesne Village Hall, July gigs for Tipitina include Roa Tony providing interval jazz, then Toussaint’s Art Blakey Tribute, the McGonigal as Interim Chair. As music programming occurring in in Bury St Edmunds. A stellar list BBC Concert Orchestra includes Gloucestershire (15) and Island Jazz Club, Barrow (12), the Sunday evening brings out the Clark Tracey Quintet, Stickchops for Chris, his future plans the 1970s in Bracknell where he of singers is topped by Carmen the UK premieres of two pieces Bodenham Village Hall, Newport Jazz Weekend (19) and full Denise Lawrence Band with (Orphy Robinson, Anthony Kerr undoubtedly include more founded the Bracknell Jazz Lundy who has sung with a litany by Chris Brubeck, one of them an Herefordshire (29). Birmingham Central Library as Robin Reece. At the Lyndhurst and Clark Tracey) and the Alan trumpet playing, including (so Festival. As well as operating as of jazz greats, from the Thad arrangement of Blue Rondo a la Tel.: 0121 454 7020 part of the Birmingham Park Hotel, New Forest (26-29) Skidmore Quartet plus Georgie rumour has it) a new CD. promoter of many tours of Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra Turk. International Jazz and Blues Saturday evening sees a gala Fame. Free foyer events include onwards. A sample of the other www.jazzservices.org.uk internationally famous musicians www..co.uk/proms After the band’s appearance at Festival (27). and programming for several dinner (black tie optional) and Nigel Price solo, the Leon names on the bill comes up with StarCity in the Birmingham Jazz Tel. 0121 454 7020 SEAT SPONSORS venues elsewhere in the country, the music is provided by the Greening Trio and Alan such favourites as , and Blues Festival on July 20, Serious is best known for the Sunset Cafe Stompers (Friday), Barnes/Dave Newton. Rebecca Parris, Ian Shaw, UPCOMING July jazz dates at the Stables, SPANISH JAZZ August is festival month for King Camden Jazz Week which grew Colin Bryant’s Hot Rhythm Tel.: 01707 357117 Gabrielle Ducomble and EVENTS Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys, Wavendon, include Jacqui www.hertsjazzfestival.co.uk When the Granada-based Potato into the EFG London Jazz Festival Orchestra (Saturday) and the , plus many with ’s Silda Jazz Festival Dankworth and Charlie Wood Head Jazz Band arrives in the UK which celebrated its 21st Lawrence Band with Ron Drake appearances by Georgia Mancio Watermill Jazz in Dorking (7-10) sandwiched between a with In a Sentimental Mood (13 – for a busy 9-day tour, its birthday last year. John has also (Sunday). The pace doesn’t ease PERSHORE JAZZ with different accompanists. continues its weekly programme whole sequence of British Music in the Garden) and the members will be able to travel in been a member of a number of up in October, with the Mercure The Pershore Jazz Festival www.revoicefestival.com throughout the Summer, with festivals: the new Southport Jazz Bratislava Hot Serenaders (26). comfort thanks to the generosity Arts Council and Regional Arts Stratford-upon-Avon (August 15-17) offers more than Alec Dankworth’s Spanish Blues and Soul Festival (2), Y Not Tel.: 01908 280800 of Spanish car giant Seat. One of www.stables.org panels and a board member of Shakespeare Hotel (17-20) 30 sessions at 4 venues in one SUMMER AT Accents including Emily the hottest bands at last year’s Europe Jazz Network. followed by the Shanklin Hotel location – Pershore College. The Dankworth on vocals (July 17), Birmingham International Jazz This year’s EFG London Jazz (24-27). Bohem Ragtime Jazz Band from CONCORDE followed by the Nikki Iles Trio Festival, the Potato Head Jazz Festival (November 14-23) www.mercurehotelsdeals.com/jazzbreaks Hungary and American duo Jeff The Wednesday Night Jazz with special guest Josh Arcoleo Bratislava Hot Band returns to Birmingham already has an impressive roster (Cheltenham and Stratford) and Anne Barnhart are joined by programme at Eastleigh’s (24) and Tony Kofi and the Serenaders together with a series of gigs of artists appearing including, www.forestdalehotels.com/lyndhurst a top-flight selection of British Concorde Club continues Organisation (31). August at the from Southport to Eastleigh – among many others, Branford (New Forest) bands and musicians including through July with a special event Friends Life Social Club brings www.shanklinhotel.co.uk sponsored by Seat. After playing Marsalis, , Dan Alan Barnes, Amy Roberts, Enrico Remembering the Warren Vache/Alan Barnes at Nottingham Rhythm Club (July Berglund, Ian Shaw, Marcus Miller, Tomasso, Jamie Brownfield, Keith (16), featuring , Quintet (7), the Ollie Howell 17), the band moves to Regina Carter, Bill Frisell, John GUITING FESTIVAL Nichols’ Blue Devils, Andy Panayi, John Horler, Jim Quintet (14), the Sarah Gillespie Birmingham for a gig at StarCity Surman, , Jane The 44th Music Festival at Junior Jazzmen, Pete Allen, Roy Hart and Julian Jackson. Following Quintet with The Life of Bessie (18) before heading off to Boston Monheit, and the Guiting in the heart of the Williams, Slide by Slide and Tad on from that are the Bratislava Smith (21) and the Reuben James Spa Village Hall (19), the Bad Plus. Cotswolds (July 25-August 3) Newton’s Jazz Friends. Hot Serenaders (23), the Trio (28). Westwood Club, Coventry, and www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk presents ten outstanding Tel.: 01386 554235 Bateman Brothers Jazz Band (30), Tel.: 07415 815784 (both 20), concerts in many styles of music, www.pershorejazz.org.uk Warren Vache with Robin www.watermilljazz.co.uk 4 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 5 UPCOMING EVENTS

Jazz singer Tierney Sutton has features an international pairing The newly formed Jazz Following on from that, the embarked on a tour of the Joni of pianists, Stephanie Trick from Promotion Network holds its Serenaders play the Stables, Project, devoted to the songs of the United States and Italy’s first conference at the Midland Wavendon (20), the Electric Joni Mitchell, presented in Paulo Alderighi, with James Evans Hotel, Manchester, on July 23 and Cinema as part of the intimate concert settings, many and Nick Ward. As usual the 24, hosted by the Manchester Birmingham festival (21), the featuring Turtle Island Quartet venue is Hanley Castle High Jazz Festival. Keynote speakers, Brewhouse, Taunton (22), the cellist Mark Summer and Parisian School, one mile North of Upton. opening each day, are Soweto Concorde Club, Eastleigh (23) guitarist Serge Merlaud. July and The Autumn programme contains Kinch, and David and Exeter’s Barnfield Theatre August see her criss-crossing the two October dates: Martin King from the Bad Plus. (24) before finishing up in United States, from San Francisco Litton’s Ellingtonians (3) and the For details email Scotland for the Edinburgh to Ogonquit, Maine, but Basin Street Brawlers (31) – and [email protected] Festival’s Spiegeltent (26) and the European dates in the Autumn then it’s Christmas! The Friends’ Merchant City Festival in are promised soon. Christmas Party (December 13) The vintage orchestra from Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket (27). includes a two-course supper in Slovakia, the Bratislava Hot www.serenaders.sk The Wigan International Jazz addition to music from Richard Serenaders, has a nine-day tour Festival (July 11-14) is headlined Leach’s 7 Stars of Jazz. of the UK this summer, beginning by & his Rhythm & Tel.: 01684 593794 with a double-header on July 19: Blues Orchestra featuring Gilson www.uptonjazz.co.uk Marlborough Jazz Festival Lavis, Mel C, Marc Almond, Ruby (afternoon), the Boisdale at Turner and Louise Marshall. Also Canary Wharf (late evening). on the bill are Jon Faddis, Clare Teal and the Hollywood Orchestra, the Helen Sung Orchestra, AJ Brown and his Band, the Super C Big Band, MYJO and many more. Tel.: 01942 828271 www.wiganjazz.net

Guesting with the Sinatra Swingers on their regular date at Cheadle Hulme Conservative Club (first Thursday of every month) are Zoe Kyoti (September 4) and Debbie Wilson (October 2). Meanwhile Graham Brook’s regular Tuesday Jazz and Swing at Wilmslow Conservative Club continues to present attractively varied fare, with (September 2), Gilad Atzmon/Rosie Harrison (9) and the Janet Seidel Trio (16) kicking off the Autumn programme and Brian Dee (October 7) and Greg Abate/Brownfield Byrne Quintet (November 11) among the later attractions.

Reedman John Hallam is promoting two jazz weekends at the Burnside Hotel, Bowness-on- Windermere, both featuring himself and the Tom Kincaid Trio. September Song (Sept. 12-14) also stars singers Lee Gibson and Mellow Baku Avstreih and Jazz at the Burnside Hotel (November 14-16) adds brassmen Mark Nightingale and Jamie Brownfield. In each case the package includes two nights dinner, bed and breakfast and a Sunday buffet lunch. Tel.: 01942 811522/07801 844678 www.johnhallamjazz.co.uk

The final concert before the summer break (July 18) of the Friends of the Upton Jazz Festival

6 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 7 10 OVERLOOKED JAZZ GREATS 10 OVERLOOKED JAZZ GREATS

and making records was fine but (1911-71) was the second best returned to Raeburn in 1945, 10 OVERLOOKED JAZZ GREATS Hanshaw turned down baritone-saxophonist prior to Handy composed such unique opportunities to make films (she the era (only topped by numbers as Tonsillectomy, Rip Van was only in one short) and rarely Harry Carney) and virtually the Winkle, and Dalvatore Sally. He WHO YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT made public appearances. Instead only baritonist to play with Eddie also wrote a funny reworking of SCOTT YANOW reminds us of the forgotten men (and women) of jazz. of being a top singer during the Condon. Caceres, who also Over The Rainbow that seems to swing era, Annette Hanshaw played clarinet, worked with his change keys about a dozen times, made her last record in 1934 and brother violinist Emilio Caceres, and dissonant charts for Body And t happened virtually every jazz world, particularly in the Blues. Napoleon’s Memphis Five retired three years later when , Sidney Bechet, Soul and Temptation that had all time. Dorothy Donegan would 1940s and ‘50s. He was known as made a huge number of Jabbo Smith she was 36 and happily married. , Glenn Miller, kinds of distracting and abrasive Isit down at the piano bench, a Dixieland trumpeter who led a recordings in the 1920s counting Decades later when she was , Woody Herman effects going on behind the realizing that half of the audience spirited group that sometimes those made under such names as interviewed, she always put down and . He eventually band’s vocalists. But a personality did not know who she was. She featured Original Dixieland Jazz the Ambassadors, Bailey’s Lucky her own records, but in this case became a studio musician but conflict with Raeburn resulted in would launch into an over-the- Band drummer Tony Sbarbaro Seven, the Broadway record collectors know better. during 1944-45 he was a regular him leaving the band in mid-1946 top and overly emotional ballad, doubling on kazoo. But few Syncopators, the Cotton Pickers, on the Town Hall and George Handy’s career switch unexpectedly to some during that era or in the half- Jazzbo’s Carolina Serenaders, Teddy Grace (1905-92) was a concerts, showing that he was a never recovered. He worked as a classical music, launch into some century since probably realized Ladd’s Black Aces, the Savannah talented singer who was equally masterful Dixieland/swing soloist freelance arranger and pianist in Annette Hanshaw virtuosic striding, and finally play that Napoleon was the first Six, the Southland Six and the skilled at blues and swing who deserves much more obscurity for the next 40 years. looks on. Donegan some of the hottest boogie- swinging jazz trumpeter to be Tennessee Ten. Napoleon headed standards. She first sang in public recognition. woogie one could imagine. In her active in , a group usually consisting of Miff in 1931 when she was already 26. For reasons never quite verified, befriended Art Tatum who seventies at the time, she would preceding Mole or Charles Panelli on She was quickly discovered and Jazz has only had a handful of Beverly Kenney (1932-60) took encouraged her and admired her climax the song by standing up joining Fletcher Henderson’s trombone, clarinetist Jimmy worked with Mal Hallett’s big significant jazz harpists, starting her own life when she was just talent. But despite doing well in while she was playing and dancing orchestra by three years on Lytell, pianist Frank Signorelli and band. During 1937-40, Grace with the short-lived Casper 28, probably due to the breakup nightclubs during the 1950s and ‘60s, she only had a few while revealing her legs. It always records. If one listens to drummer Jack Roth, cutting over recorded 30 songs as a leader, Reardon in the 1930s and of a love affair. Up till then she opportunities to record and caused a riotous reaction from recordings coming out of New 100 songs during 1922-23 alone. holding her own with the likes of continuing later with Dorothy was one of the most promising stayed obscure. Perhaps it was the audience, many of whom York during 1921-22, most However, as the 1920s Bobby Hackett, Charlie Shavers, Ashby. Adele Girard (1913-93) jazz singers of the 1950s. She her crazy medleys of unrelated were undoubtedly asking trumpeters or cornetists are progressed and other more Jack Teagarden, was the best. She swung as hard loved Billie Holiday, Armstrong; Bix and King Oliver songs or her tendency to switch themselves why they had never heard using a staccato-oriented innovative and flashier and . She worked as a pianist, and smiled while and Mel Torme, started her were fading while Red Allen was styles during pieces which could heard of her before. phrasing and, like Johnny Dunn, trumpeters rose to prominence, with in 1939 but by playing runs that were thought of career in Miami, and in 1955 sang moving quickly on the way up. cover swing, stride, bop, bossa- were not too subtle in their the quiet was late 1940 she dropped out of the as impossible on her instrument. with the Dorsey Brothers Smith was just 20 but he had nova, classical and boogie-woogie While jazz history is filled with playing. Their lead and brief solos overshadowed. music business, burnt out and She originally played piano, Orchestra. Although there are already been a star soloist with all on the same tune. Maybe it celebrated greats (including the tended to be full of effects and gained some of the work, Louis tired of fighting with the Decca switched to harp at 14, and earlier radio transcriptions and Charlie Johnson’s Paradise Ten was sexism or her flamboyant recently deceased ), obvious ideas. In contrast, Armstrong became the label over the material she got to worked in the mid-1930s with demos, she made her first official and had subbed with Duke and assertive personality. there are also many major talents Napoleon was a melodic player pacesetter, and Bix Beiderbecke record. In 1943 Teddy Grace the Harry Sosnik Orchestra and in 1955. By then she had Ellington, recording Black And Tan Whatever it was, Dorothy who are now barely known, even with a warm tone and excellent ended up as the era’s legend. In returned and sang constantly at the Three T’s (featuring Frank her own sound, swung such Fantasy and foolishly turning Donegan did not start getting the to jazz collectors. It is not so technique, and one who was the fame department, Phil bond rallies and shows for the Trumbauer and Jack and Charlie songs as the delightful Destination down a chance to join Ellington’s attention she deserved until at much that they are underrated expert at placing his notes in a Napoleon never stood a chance. military, raising money for the Teagarden). Girard met clarinetist Moon and There Will Never Be band. In 1929 he recorded 19 least the late 1970s, and (an overrated word that can most effective way. He spent much of the 1930s as a Allied effort. She sang so much in 1937 and they had Another You as well as anyone, and selections with his Rhythm Aces audiences were still discovering apply to nearly every jazz artist) studio musician, led a short-lived that in 1944 she completely lost a long and happy marriage. The was clearly on her way up. In her that are full of dazzling if her brilliance and showmanship but that, due to various Napoleon actually made his first big band in 1938, was part of the her voice. While her speaking harpist recorded with Marsala on career she recorded with occasionally reckless trumpet in the late 1990s. circumstances that took place in recordings in 1916 when he was Dixieland revival, moved to voice gradually came back, Teddy several occasions in the 1940s, guitarist Johnny Smith, a big band solos (check out Jazz Battle) and their lives, they ended up outside 15 as a classical cornetist Florida in 1956, and stayed active Grace was never able to sing not as a background instrument arranged by Ralph Burns, with reveal him to be the The ten musicians covered in this of the spotlight. Most jazz fans although those records are long until the end of his life. But few but as a member of the frontline, Count Basie all-stars, pianist Ellis of his time. Smith even took an again, working as a secretary for piece all fell short of becoming can come up with their own list lost. In 1917 when he formed the that saw Phil Napoleon knew of taking solos that were inventive Larkins, and orchestras. Six excellent trombone solo on one decades. Look for her recordings stars. But fortunately their of overlooked jazz greats. Here first version of the Original his great importance to early and lively. Adele Girard settled were released during her song and his singing is quite and be very happily surprised. recordings live on, showing are ten that I highly recommend Memphis Five. none of whose jazz. with her husband in Denver in lifetime. Kenney was outspoken infectious and full of scatting. His today’s jazz fans that some of the discovering. musicians were actually from Don Stovall (1913-70) never led 1949 and, although she played in favor of jazz and against the potential seemed endless, but by greatest talents are not Memphis - it was named after In 1929, Jabbo Smith (1908-91) any record dates of his own but locally, she only recorded one new rock and roll music, 1931 he was a has-been. Smith’s necessarily the best known. Phil Napoleon (1901-90) had a both the Original Dixieland Jazz was arguably the #2 trumpeter in his alto playing with Henry 'Red' album in the 1950s and late in life performing a song she wrote, I drinking, the poor record sales, certain amount of fame in the Band and W.C. Handy’s Memphis jazz behind only Louis Allen’s band during 1943-50 was a CD with clarinetist Bobby Hate Rock And Roll, on the Steve the onset of the Depression, and Scott Yanow is the author of consistently exciting. He had Gordon. It is strange that no Allen Show in 1958. Her very last his eventual decision to settle in 11 books on jazz (including been a professional musician thought of having recording was taken from a Dorothy Donegan Milwaukee sealed his fate. Trumpet Kings and The Jazz since the early 1930s, working her lead a hot jazz band. television show and can be seen Although he made attempts to Singers) and more than 750 with territory bands, Sammy on Youtube. Among the songs she come back as late as the late liner notes. He can be Price, Pete Johnson and the big George Handy (1920-97) was performs is a version of Makin' 1970s (performing with European contacted at bands of Eddie Durham and one of the most adventurous trad bands and in the show One Whoopee that is taken as a vocal [email protected]. Cootie Williams. A superb arrangers of all time, and his Mo’ Time), it was way too late. But duet with Hugh Hefner, who musician whose playing was a charts for the Boyd Raeburn Jabbo was great in 1929. does not sound bad. But Beverly Please let us know your cross between Tab Smith and Orchestra during 1945-46 still Kenney ended it all a few weeks choice of forgotten greats - Annette Hanshaw (1901-85) was early Earl Bostic, Stovall held his sound futuristic and sometimes later with a combination of or even take issue with one of the top jazz singers of the own next to Red Allen and J.C. downright crazy. He attended alcohol and sleeping pills, robbing Scott's selection. For 1926-34 period, uplifting many Higginbotham in Allen’s Julliard, took lessons from Aaron the music world of a potentially instance, the feeling at the recordings, writing verses to rambunctious band, appearing on Copland, played piano in a few great talent. Jazz Rag office is that, on this some of the songs, and often records and short films with bands, and served in the military. side of the Atlantic, the being joined by top-notch jazz Allen. But in 1950 he decided to Handy wrote some advanced Dorothy Donegan (1922-98) wonderful Annette Hanshaw musicians. Billed as 'The retire from music, spending the swing arrangements for the Boyd should have been a household is not forgotten. One the Personality Girl', she had a remainder of his life working for Raeburn Orchestra in 1944, name throughout her life. She other hand some of the delightful voice and always swung, the phone company. recorded in a quartet with made a few records in 1942 and, names in Scott's Top Ten are but she hated performing in guitarist Arv Garrison, and spent in the film Sensations Of 1945 she total revelations to us. public. Appearing on the radio Although rarely mentioned in a brief time writing for is featured in a stunning piano jazz history books, Ernie Caceres Paramount Studios. When he duet with Bennie Payne while 8 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 9 RED HOT PEPPER RED HOT PEPPER RED HOT PEPPER Those among our readers who prospect Youtube to find examples of authentic and enjoyable jazz will probably have been delighted by a series of recent postings by the quaintly named PEPPER AND THE JELLIES, a four-piece (with guitar, bass and drums) fronted by a young singer who adds proficiency on washboard and kazoo to a remarkable ability to get inside the music of the great singers of the 1920s and 1930s - and over a wide range of styles, from Bessie Smith and Annette Hanshaw. This is ILENIA APPICCIAFUOCO and British festival audiences will have a first opportunity to enjoy her music first hand when she appears for four days (July 24-27) at the Birmingham International Jazz and Blues Festival. Since (for the time being, at least!) Ilenia is little known in this country, Jazz Rag asked her to introduce herself.

ou were born in a Francesco De Gregori, among last years the musical scene is grandma told me that I sang small village in others. The fascination with jazz going better. But I can say there is loudly! The old ladies in the YAbruzzo. What music and blues came when I was a great music scene in Teramo, church loved me. Maybe they did you hear as a girl? Were eighteen years old, by chance. I many punk, rock, pop and new thought I was a crazy baby and there concerts in Teramo? was studying for an exam and wave bands and most of them are surely they were right. Then, Did you collect records? one of the main topics was the very good. I’ve never been a great when I was 16, I tried to attend influence of Bessie Smith on the collector, I started to do it two the music school, studying the Yes, I was born in Teramo, and I African American population. The years ago and keep buying vinyl opera. But… I was lazy, I didn’t grew up in San Nicolò, which is a first song I listened to was Muddy even if I don’t already have a like It very much, I didn’t think it very small village placed near a Water and I fell in love deck! Shame on me… fit me very well, and I left. But river. I love music thanks to my immediately. After this, I started with the help of good teachers I to listen to Louis Armstrong, Fats You have a Master's degree didn’t stop studying singing mother. Since when I was child, Waller, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald in journalism. Why did you technique. she used to make me listen to and Billie Holiday, but I didn’t choose that course? Do you bands such as the Cure, the dare to sing their songs, I thought work as a journalist? You have led other bands Smiths, Cocteau Twins, Beatles, I wasn’t able enough to do it. before Pepper and the Jellies, wonderful 8 piece orchestra. I And please tell me about the I think you must have been Smashing Pumpkins and Genesis. Answering your question about I feel pretty sorry about the I think. How is this band had the honour to sing in their Cotton Club. It looks good asked this question many On my own I discovered Italian Teramo, when I was very young I choice I made about my studies. If different? Never forget ensemble and it was one of the on the website. Do you sing times. You sound so 'right' like Fabrizio De don’t remember a great number I could turn back time, I’d never most stimulating experiences of singing so many different that the blues is Andrè, Ivan Graziani, Rino of concerts in my town. In the go to university, but after upper When I was 20 I lived for 3 years there often? Gaetano, Lucio Dalla and school I’d take my luggage and go in Urbino and I sang in a rock my life. Now, I can say that styles of 1920s and 1930s communication around Europe and the world, band. I have many pleasing Pepper & the Jellies is a family. We The Cotton Club is one of the jazz and popular music. How trying to learn English, French, memories about that years. Then, are more focused on blues, and temples of Jazz in Rome. It is run do you do that? Long first of all German, Spanish languages and I moved to Rome and I became the time we ‘cover’, compared by the English singer Minnie practice and plenty of much more. But anyway… I think the singer of a wacky music with the other band in which I Minoprio and her husband Carlo listening, I guess. And which I started to appreciate journalism ensemble. It was very funny! But sang, is more broad-spectrum Mezzano, and I’ve played many singers and bands do you How would you describe the when I started to work as music was just an hobby for me. (our repertory goes from 1920 times there, with the Vaudeville admire most? music of Pepper and the journalist. I had the opportunity When I was 25 I met a pianist to the late 1940). One of the Stomp Revue mostly. I’ve had the Jellies? to work as trainee for Adnkronos named Paolo Fornara, in Rome. peculiarities of the Jellies (Andrea opportunity to listen to (and in Yes I do, I listen a lot. Really. After press agency, and nowadays I’m a He founded the Vaudeville Stomp Galiffa, Marco Galiffa and some occasions to sing with) the first track, it starts a sort of We want to make our own music ‘hypnosis’ which push me to keep freelance for La Repubblica Sera Revue band and I started to Emiliano Macrini), is the intention many great performers of Italian soon and write our own songs. on listening again and again. And I and the local newspaper La Città. I study washboard and 20s and 30s to start creating our own music. jazz there: Lino Patruno, Gianluca At the moment, I can say we study the music, yes, because if I persevere in performing and love writing, talking with people, singing style. Paolo gave me the It will happen very soon. But we Galvani, Guido Giacomini, the sing a pop song, for instance, my arrange the great African even if I feel insecure when I ask spark… but there were periods know we must still study, work young and extremely talented voice is completely different. American and American popular someone for an interview much in which I studied and listened to and practise very hard. pianist Luca Filastro, Engelbert Besides this, on stage, but more songs at our best. more than when I sing. In any records for 7 or 8 hours per day. Wrobel, and the 'Maestrino' Leo How do you balance singing often when we play in the street case, I can define journalism as I’m not overstating. At the same Sanfelice. my second ‘home’. time, after a gig in the famous and journalism? (I hate microphones), I think the What are your plans and attitude is the most important. ambitions now? Cotton Club in Rome, I had the Where have Pepper and the Did you move to Rome for chance to meet Lino Patruno, I try to do at my best both of my Even if you are not talented, Jellies performed outside Our main ambition, at the your degree? Do you now live one of the greatest jazz musicians jobs. Sometimes it’s difficult, but charismatic, sexy and full of Rome? moment, is doing a great show at in Rome? in Italy and abroad. He it gives me the opportunity to meaning like Bessie, Victoria sustain myself and to live the life Spivey, , Mamie Smith the Birmingham International Jazz introduced me to Gennaro We perform often in Abruzzo, in Yes, I lived in Rome for six years. that I love, doing what I want to and the great divas, when you and Blues Festival. After this D’Apote and his Hot Stompers, a a region near mine, named Now I’m back in Abruzzo (my do. sing this stuff you must believe ‘task’-- which is very important Marche. Individually, being region, which is not really far you can express to the audience for us, we will start making our experienced and professional from Rome) among mountains, Maybe they Please tell me about the the same strength. And never own stuff, refining the style, and, and I feel happy. strange name of the band. musicians, the Jellies have forget that the blues is mostly, trying to differentiate thought I was a performed many times all over communication first of all. My ourselves from the other bands Where and how did you start When I had to decide a name for the world. Marco Galiffa gigs and favourites are Bessie Smith, Billie which play this genre. singing? crazy baby and the band I wanted to put Jellies studies in New York for instance, Holiday, Annette Hanshaw and surely they somewhere because of its sexual Emiliano Macrini runs a classic Ethel Waters. Among bands, I love I started in the church when I innuendo. For Pepper I was orchestra which travels a lot, and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band went to Mass with my were right! inspired by Jelly Roll Morton’s Andrea Galiffa has performed of Nick La Rocca and Fats Waller grandmother. I was 2 or 3 and my Red Hot Peppers. several times in England. and his Rhythm. 10 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 11 COMPETITIONS/LETTER PROPAGANDA SWING SUPER PRIZES TO BE WON! PROPAGANDA SWING Just answer the questions correctly and send your answers to Jazz Rag Competitions, PO Box 944, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 8UT. Please write the name of the relevant competition in the top left hand WINNERS & In September the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, stages the world premiere of a play that focuses corner of your postcard, envelope or sheet of paper. If possible, add your telephone number or email as well ANSWERS NO. on the use of jazz for propaganda purposes in Second World War . RON SIMPSON as your address. found out more from PETER ARNOTT, writer of Propaganda Swing. Closing date: 16th August, 2014 131 JAKE LEG JUG BAND CD had long been vaguely aware but they shot down my planes....’) elsewhere are presented in the small jazz group, with members IN CONCERT Congratulations to: JOOP of the existence in Nazi form of a radio play. So far, so of the cast playing instruments (Closing date 2nd August) PEETERS of Breda, IGermany of Charlie and his Peter’s involvement in his subject fictional, but the presence of themselves. Lutz Templin, for is providing ONE pair of tickets for the performance of Gregory Porter at the Market ; BILL Orchestra, but talking to Peter led him into an enthusiastic singer Lala puts us in touch with instance, is to be played by Tomm Hall on August 10th – a certain sell-out and a great prize! CORNELL of Saffron Arnott – and resultant visits to canter through the Nazi policies the greatest World War II story Coles whose ability as a 1. Which famous jazz record label did Gregory Porter sign for last year? Walden and ALAN Wikipedia and Youtube – brought on degenerate music. Though of the power of popular music saxophonist was recently 2. His most recent CD won a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album – what is the title of the album? home the full monstrous essentially serious, his play has its and the failure of the powers that highlighted in the tour of Miss BRINKWORTH of comic side and his relish for the absurdity of the Third Reich’s be to control its impact. Nightingale, set, coincidentally, in Redditch. approach to ‘entartete Musik’ – absurdities of the situation shines NINA ON CD the same period. Walk Right In/Maria Muldaur degenerate music which firmly through. For instance, a register Lala is based on the Warner has generously provided THREE copies of the 5 CD set of in the Original Albums included anything by Jews or of musicians listed those who singer/songwriter Lale Andersen, series. Peter has used music copiously in ATLANTIC JAZZ black musicians. This pretty much were not suitable for though it’s not recorded whether 1. On one of the albums Nina sings three songs with lyrics by Oscar Brown Jr. Perhaps the most famous is the 40 or so plays he has written, LEGENDS did for jazz, music played by black employment or broadcasting, she ever romanced an American Work Song – who wrote the music? but this is the first about Congratulations to: MR.P. men (‘Negermusik’) marketed by including such eminent Jews as journalist! Andersen famously 2. Which 1959 recording by Nina Simone became a Number 5 hit in the UK in 1987? musicians. As for the music in Jews, as the Nazis saw it; they conductor Bruno Walter recorded just before DOYLE of Blandford Propaganda Swing, there will be Forum, Dorset, and GAIL could, of course, have thrown in (ironically, the prime Wagnerian the war, but, as it became popular FRESH SOUND CDS of his day). Somebody with German troops a long way some instrumental music KENNEDY of Houghton-le- the vast numbers of Jewish THREE lucky winners will receive a copy of ONE Fresh Sound reissue each, CDs by , musicians and songwriters! somewhere must have been a fan from home, the Government composed by Hilary Brooks Arnett Cobb and Howard McGhee. Please indicate which you would prefer. Spring, Co. Durham. of swing clarinettist Artie Shaw tried to suppress it – after all, (based on period songs), but 1. Arnett Cobb died in his hometown in 1989 – in which state, known for its tough uninhibited tenor Stritch and manzello/Giant Unfortunately, degenerate or not, (born Arthur Jacob Arshawsky) as what would the good Aryan boys lovers of pre-war jazz will find saxists, including Cobb? Steps this music was very popular! Not he was identified as Irish, the son at the front want with a song plenty of old favourites to enjoy: 2. The Jazz Couriers was basically a two-tenor sax group, but what two instruments apart from saxes did only did an underground jazz of George Bernard Shaw! about a prostitute? But it was from Big Noise from Winnetka to co-leader play to a high standard? CHRIS BARBER BOOK scene flourish in , but also a song about longing for Tiger Rag, apparently the epitome Congratulations to: ROY Propaganda Minister Joseph Most bizarre of all is a list of 10 home and the momentum was of everything the Nazis wished to DAVE GELLY BOOK YATES of Failsworth, Goebbels saw swing as a way to rules for dance bands signed by unstoppable. The song became a avoid. Equinox Publishing is offering THREE copies of Dave Gelly's excellent new book, An Unholy Row, which Manchester; MICHAEL spread the message of German Reichsmusicfuhrer Baldur von hit on Belgrade Soldiers Radio Blodheim and produced with (among other things) deals with the early careers of and John Dankworth. DAMMS of Rotherham and superiority to the Allies. Hence (Peter enjoys the Belgrade link), Peter sees Propaganda Swing as mischievous glee by Peter, so after the battle of Tobruk British MRS. MARGARET BARNES saxophonist/bandleader Lutz having a happy ending – the music 1. Two distinguished trombonists played regularly with both Lyttelton and Dankworth, though in Humph's Templin, singer Karl Schwedler gloriously absurd that one can troops found it among a pile of wins! – and sums up its theme of Whickham, Newcastle- only hope it’s genuine. The first case the man in question did more as pianist/arranger. Name either of the trombonists. (the eponymous ‘Charlie’) and records in Afrika Korps camps engagingly and with a sense of on-Tyne. might belong to the BBC of John and Andersen ended up 2. A Humphrey Lyttelton recording spent six weeks in the charts in 1956 and a John Dankworth recording others were taken on board to inter-war German history: ‘It’s Pat Halcox/Chris Barber Reith - ‘pieces in fox-trot rhythm recording it in 11 languages and reached Number 9 in the charts in 1961. Name either one. provide suitably doctored the story of the minor characters Jazz and Blues Band recordings and broadcasts. (so-called swing) are not to enjoying a singing career until the in Cabaret and what they did exceed 20%’ - but thereafter 1960s (including singing in the next.’ Peter Arnott first came across we’re in a nightmarishly alien 1961 Eurovision Song Contest!). Dear Jazz Rag, Nina Simone Charlie and his Orchestra when world. Lyrics should be joyful, not Though not jazz or swing, the Propaganda Swing plays the researching an article for the ‘Jewishly gloomy’. ‘Negroid strange story of Lili Marleen How lovely to see Ron Simpson's full-length portrait of a man I Glasgow Herald. A version of excesses in tempo (so-called hot rightly figures largely in Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, consider to be one of British jazz's national treasures, Chris Ellis Making Whoopee sounded pretty jazz)...or in solo performances Propaganda Swing. on September 13th-27th and (Jazz Rag, Spring 2014) good instrumentally – Lutz (so-called breaks)’ are totally Nottingham Playhouse from Templin and others had an banned, as are riffs which, Peter sees the actions of Lutz October 2nd-18th. However Chris's inbuilt sense of self-deprecation, well-noted by honourable musical background unsurprisingly, are ‘conducive to Templin and the others are a sort Ron, has (on this occasion) led him to a rare lapse of memory. Of dating back to the dance bands of dark instincts alien to the of Faustian pact: they made a the album called Vocal with Hot Accompaniment (just reissued on my 1920s Berlin – but a heavily- German people’. The opposition bargain in which they were Lutz Templin label Rose Cottage Records RCR 005) Chris is quoted as saying accented vocal reminded him to saxophones and scat singing is allowed to play the music they that 'the album was just supposed to be a private recording and if irresistibly of a Mel Brooks to be expected, but I hardly loved, but only in the service of he's known it would see the public light of day he would have movie! Then came the real shock, foresaw the condemnation of an evil paymaster. The musicians wanted to do retakes on three tracks'. lyrics that Gus Kahn would never ‘provocative rising to one’s feet themselves were probably have recognised: during solo performance’. Baldur politically neutral and many, In fact the album (complete with those three tracks) was released takes a scattergun approach to including Lutz Templin, continued with Chris' full knowledge and permission on Brian Hainsworth's ‘Thus we throw our Yiddish his targets: alongside the Negroid their careers successfully after Dormouse label (Dormouse DM15) back in l987 and only deleted names away, excesses we find that mutes are the war – it’s even rumoured after Brian's death. Two years ago my old friend gave me permission accused of turning ‘the noble that ‘Charlie’ himself ended up in to reissue the collection (with extra tracks included) and was only We are the Kikes of the USA.’ sound of brass-wind instruments the United States! dissatisfied with one of them (Everybody's crazy 'bout the doggone into a Jewish-Freemasonic yell.’ Prompted by Peter’s story, I later Charlie and his Orchestra was, of blues) which had to stay on due to production problems - and also checked out Youtube, to find a Peter built the story of course, a big band and the (to be honest) because my producer Dave Bennett liked it so much! smartly swinging version of You’re Propaganda Swing around a economics of modern theatre Driving Me Crazy which ended up fictional American journalist in mean that it’s impossible for the I feel sure you'll love the album too and thank you again Ron for as a monologue by a depressed Berlin and his romance with a Belgrade Theatre to afford that. your very kind review. Winston Churchill on the theme singer called Lala. The play is set However, in Hamish Glen’s of ‘The Germans are driving me within a radio station and those production, Musical Director Digby Fairweather crazy!’ (‘I thought I had brains, scenes which take place Hilary Brooks will be using a 12 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 13 THREE DECADES OF BRECON THREE DECADES OF BRECON THREE DECADES OF BRECON Burt Bacharach In August Brecon Jazz Festival celebrates its 30th birthday. RON SIMPSON talked to artist-in- residence HUW WARREN about some of the elements that make up the Brecon experience.

t’s good news to find Brecon thousands of projects in Wales, Jazz flourishing on its 30th and people approaching me to Huw Warren Ianniversary. A few years ago re-write ’s Under Milk this was by no means certain. In Wood. I love Under Milk Wood, but 2008, though the festival went that didn’t really appeal, so I’ve ahead, the festival company fell paid respect to Stan by writing victim to an accumulated deficit this.’ and went into liquidation. At this point Hay-on-Wye Festival Do Not Go Gentle will contain stepped in to run it, by no means some narration and some poetry: Loose Tubes, the astonishing 21- that, with such a compact festival unsuccessfully, but, as Huw points Huw is nerving himself to read piece that took London by storm full of quality gigs, there’s a good out, many people felt that having that! It relates to different things 30 years ago (a nice coincidence!) chance of spin-off from sold-out a major neighbouring festival in written by or connected with and played its first gig outside the concerts: apparently last year charge lost some of the Dylan Thomas: poems, yes, and capital at Brecon in 1985. audience members turned away distinctive qualities of Brecon. characters from Under Milk Wood, from Jools Holland’s concert For instance, fewer events took but also places. When I comment ‘Loose Tubes were a big influence were not lost to the festival, but place in the town centre as the that the literature-based suite is a on me. I heard them in London in found other performances to popular form in British jazz, Huw the 1980s and at the time never focus moved towards Christ some extent) to its roots. Huw is the Mike Harries Root Doctors! enjoy. explains that most of his projects thought that I’d end up playing College. Thus, when Pablo Janczur very frank about the headache Looking back 30 years to the first have used non-musical themes: with most of them in one band Brecon Jazz 2014 begins with a and the Cardiff-based Orchard caused in the past by fringe Brecon Jazz Festival, the photographs, maybe, or books. or another. And it will be great to solitary concert (Burt Bacharach) Media and Events Group took events and – more especially – organisers have included on this Appropriately, Do Not Go Gentle hear the Trio. He is on Thursday August 7th, followed over, there was a conscious effort fringe characters. He explains year’s bill two of the first line-up, one of my main influences, too, by six on Friday evening, then to make Brecon Brecon. Huw is follows A Tribute to Stan Tracey that, in the days of stricter appropriately enough one Welsh and – oddly enough -, though he’s really hits its stride on Saturday obviously proud to relate that in the Brecon programme, Clark licensing laws, Brecon Jazz’s all- institution (Mike Harries) and recognised as a great pianist, we and Sunday. Both days have some last year, the second under Tracey bringing a quintet to the day licence was an irresistible one international star, Warren don’t get to hear him so often.’ 20 events, from a Cathedral Orchard’s control, many punters Theatr Brycheiniog on the temptation to many people who Vache, playing the Theatr service to masterclasses at Christ commented that the old Saturday lunch-time to pay had little or no interest in jazz. Brycheiniog on the first evening After Huw has cited Polar Bear College. And, as for keeping atmosphere had returned to tribute to his father. The nuisance element of this is with his quintet featuring Alan and Penguin Cafe among his different audiences happy, the Brecon. obvious, but it also led to fringe Barnes. other favourites, I mention range of bands and musicians In many ways Huw Warren is the events in pubs which were often Gregory Porter who, we both spreads from the 60-odd year Huw was associated with the perfect artist-in-residence for the not jazz, but still contributed to Huw is confident that Brecon agree, is a current phenomenon. veteran Chris Barber to the festival in the Hay-on-Wye days, Brecon Jazz Festival. It is a festival the atmosphere of Brecon. While Jazz this year caters for its Recognised as a fine latest singing sensation Laura but has taken a much more with a dual identity. As the largest not advocating alcoholic excess various audiences, not forgetting jazz/blues/gospel singer for some Mvula, later to crown an amazing prominent role in the last three and most established jazz festival (as if jazz fans ever would drink the traditional Brecon audience years, he seems to have exploded year by an appearance at the years. He was involved in helping in Wales it is what Huw calls ‘the too much!), Orchard is looking to alongside the younger all over the media since signing BBC Promenade Concerts. to prepare the Orchard proposal cherry on the pie’ for Welsh not especially with the big-name collaboration highlighting the bring back the informal element. generation. Asked which concerts for Blue Note last year – so his when the Arts Council of Wales musicians; at the same time it has high-profile commercial events. music of – where else? – Brazil. Perhaps, Huw speculates, the he is particularly looking forward appearance at the Market Hall on Tickets available from asked the company to submit its to field a suitably impressive He sounded as intrigued as I am Fringe and the main Festival to, he – immediately and the final evening of the festival is www.breconjazz.com bid and is now in his third year as international bill. Huw, in fact, by the booking of Burt Bacharach One specifically Welsh element is could become more fully unsurprisingly – plumps for a certain sell-out. Huw points out artist-in-residence. claims that Brecon has three or as a sort of festival curtain-raiser the Guildhall Welsh Jazz Club integrated. four different audiences. And his on August 7th. Like mine his running from noon to mid- His most striking contribution career suggests the same mix of knowledge is confined to evening on the Sunday, with four Hence the publicity this year for Gregory Porter this year is his suite, Do Not Go native Welsh and international Bacharach as quality song-writer, concerts promoted by different the Captain’s Walk, an open-air Gentle: Wales Meets Dylan Thomas, that Brecon seeks. A quick flip though he has been assured that Welsh jazz clubs and featuring stage operating throughout to be performed on August 9 on through his CV comes up with, Bacharach puts on a superb show bands and musicians from Wales Saturday and Sunday, with the Chapter Stage of Brecon on the one hand, projects like with a fine band – Huw has every and the adjacent bits of England. admission each day by a single Cathedral (and then toured) with Closure, a 2012 study of a rural intention of being there to find Organic is a quartet led by saxist ticket. Huw describes the music three long-time associates of Welsh community with a out! Dominic Norcross and organist at the Captain’s Walk as ‘typical Huw: Iain Ballamy, Steve Watts photographer and a video artist, John-Paul Gard while Nadine open air music’ and I can see his and . Huw explains and the self-explanatory Welsh The artist-in-residence also has Gingell teams up with a Bristol- point. The evening sessions the background to it: Hymn Project, and, on the other an educational role, organising based band as Lady Nade and the feature the multi-award winning hand, collaborations with such the excellent series of Silhouettes. The star guitarist big band Beats and Pieces and the ‘I’ve always been fascinated by international performers as Maria masterclasses at Brecon, this year Remi Harris, from Herefordshire, samba percussion of Rhythms of Dylan Thomas, coming from the Pia de Vito and Theo Bleckmann. taken by Paula Gardiner (bass), brings his Gypsy Jazz Project and the City. During the day there are same part of the world as he did. Not surprisingly, one of his (saxophone), the quaintly named Jim Barker township jazz and the puzzlingly- I’ve been wanting to write intentions for Brecon is to get Gabriele Mirabassi (clarinet), Trio Meets Bluesy Susie seems to named, esoteric and undoubtedly something based on his work for more Welsh jazz onto the main Clark Tracey (drums), Kit involve a biggish band of quality entertaining Imperial Kikiristan; 25 years now, but I’ve found it stages, not just leave it as a sort Downes (composition) and Chris guests. The important selling Dennis Rollins and dynamic difficult because his poems are so of Cambrian Fringe. Batchelor (trumpet). The unique point of this is that one stroller drummer Ollie Howell are hardly musical in themselves. Now it’s element of Huw’s role at Brecon ticket covers all four concerts. shrinking violets; James Clark’s been triggered by two things: the Huw is often asked what it is his development of the World Lonely Hearts Rugby Clwb is Dylan Thomas centenary, of means to be an artist-in- Wide Wales theme, this year The concept of the Stroller apparently a raucous circus-style course, which is being residence. He has an input as a focussing of Mirabassi who joins Ticket or Day Ticket is crucial to 19-piece playing music from commemorated by hundreds and programming consultant, though Huw on Sunday in an Italo-Welsh Brecon’s desire to return (to to Brazil. Then there’s 14 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 15 SOUTHPORT WINTER JAZZ LITHUANIA’S SINGER OF THE YEAR SOUTHPORT WINTER JAZZ LITHUANIA’S SINGER OF THE YEAR t the 10th Southport August and a new series of expect things to carry on as Flower Show. The council gave it RON SIMPSON discusses her career and the Lithuanian music scene with GIEDRE Jazz on a Winter’s events at Southport Melodic Jazz before. If you take a radical line, away 20 years ago because they KILCIAUSKIENE, winner of the M.A.M.A. award as Lithuania’s Female Singer of the Year in AWeekend earlier this – and, most important of all, as Geoff did, the problem is couldn’t do it and gave the show year, Festival Director enthusing about the programme different: people believe you! He a very long lease on Victoria 2013, the same year as she made her first appearance at the Birmingham International Jazz GEOFF MATTHEWS made he has lined up for Jazz on a has gained expert assistance and Park. It’s a charity, but they run a and Blues Festival. the dramatic announcement Winter’s Weekend on February a more proactive approach from very good business. They that there would be no 2015 6th-8th, 2015. So what’s changed? the hotel, but what will the effect maximise their asset, the park, t one time the word independence, received a sound festival unless somebody else be on the audience? Jazz on a and encourage other groups to ‘international’ applied to a musical education. She started took it over. Now he’s still in To some extent Geoff Winter’s Weekend had use it. So they said to us, “We’ll British jazz festival was singing at the age of eight, went charge and the Southport acknowledges his ‘Alex Ferguson’ (hopefully, still has) a devoted give you the marquee. Why don’t A sometimes just a reminder to the to elementary music school and schedules are fuller than moment when he realised he following: how many of them will you put some music on? We’ll pay audience that a few American then studied pop and jazz vocal ever. RON SIMPSON asks wasn’t ready to retire, but the have booked a winter cruise in most of the fixed costs.”’ musicians were in attendance. at the J. Tallat-Kelpsos the questions. situation is subtly different now: their disappointment at his Conservatoire and the University announcement? As we spoke, it The result, tailored to the venue, Now it usually suggests a of Applied Sciences, both in In February at the end of Jazz on ‘We have two new helpers, both was just over a week before is Jazz Blues Soul in the Park fascinating mix of old favourites a Winter’s Weekend’s sixth very experienced. John Taylor was tickets went on sale – July 1st! (August 1st-3rd), an unusual sort and new talents from Europe Vilnius. ‘Pop and jazz vocal’ is the successive sell-out, Geoff Head of Leisure and Culture for of festival, a mixture of two grand across an ever-widening range of key. Though she began singing in Matthews launched into what he Sefton Council and was the man Where Geoff has no doubt is the events and some 12 hours of countries. For instance, Lithuania bands at the age of 16, it was not has taken to calling his who saw through the renovation quality of next February’s almost free music. For £2 as a nation displays an enthusiasm until 2011 that Giedre finally ‘Gettysburg Address’, though it of the Atkinson (Southport’s programme. He takes me through admission punters can listen to for spreading the message of its turned to jazz. After performing clocked in at a good deal longer new/old multi-purpose arts the whole programme, pointing eight bands on the Bandstand, jazz musicians abroad that puts with a few rock bands, she than Lincoln’s two minutes. centre) from scratch and he only out where he heard them, why camp out and picnic, then on the UK to shame. This year is the became part of the Pointing out that two of retired when it was finished. He’s he booked them, from old Friday and Saturday evenings, in second in succession that the pop/electronic music band Empti Southport Melodic Jazz’s board very experienced in business and favourites such as the Alan the vast Marquee, a hog roast or Lithuanian Embassy has (she carefully insists on the members, both rising 80, had management, but also stimulating Barnes-David Newton Sextet to a two-course dinner accompanies supported musicians at the spelling – not ‘Empty’!) and by decided to retire, that some of because he thinks outside the the exciting Russian altoist the music of A.J. Brown and the Birmingham festival. 2000 Empti was picking up many the other organisers were only a box. Dr. Tom Sykes is a college Dimitry Baevsky whom Geoff Swingshift Big Band (Friday) or music awards in Lithuania: best decade behind them, and that no lecturer, a musician, a really saw on a video from Marciac and King Pleasure and the Biscuit Who better to talk about the debut, best album, best dance support seemed to be capable guy in touch with the who has added Joe Magnarelli to Boys and Vernon Fuller’s Soul Lithuanian jazz scene and her music group. With Empti she forthcoming from either the local current media: his Ph. D. was on his quintet. I reckon the sax-and- Call (Saturday). It seems an own career than Giedre recorded three albums, the last in council or younger enthusiasts, Jazz in the Digital Age.’ tuba pairing of Marius Neset and ambitious idea, but Southport Kilciauskiene, voted Lithuanian’s 2010 when the band re-formed he declared that this was it – if Daniel Herskedal is particularly might just be the right place for top female singer last year, with a after a break. During that break someone else wished to take So Geoff can look forward to appetising! it. career that goes back to 1995 she had what she describes as ‘a over, the 2015 dates were greater help with administrative and has successfully encompassed great time’ with the booked at the Royal Clifton decisions and the use of social And what of the extras in Then, of course, there’s the many different styles? electro/punk/jazz band Milky Lasers who recorded for the Hotel, there was a loyal audience media to promote Southport Southport Melodic Jazz’s monthly SMJ programme at the Photo by Merlin Daleman and he was happy to advise. Jazz, but my memories of the programme? As a stylish Victorian Royal Clifton, resuming on Giedre has no doubt of the German label Phazz-a-delics. Winter Weekend include the resort still with much of its September 21st with Tommy popularity of jazz in her country: jealous of me! And I’m very As things stand, Giedre Yet, on June 22nd, shortly before board members doing plenty of elegance and a reasonable Smith and Brian Kellock, and the in a small country there are six During this time Giedre was happy to come back to the Kilciauskiene is in a good place: ‘I the urbane, almost classical physical labour in terms of chair amount of its prosperity, music programme SMJ books at or eight major festivals featuring teaching singing and Birmingham Jazz Festival where am teaching at my old university precision of Dave Newton, Andy shifting and suchlike. Two people Southport is a town of festivals Dobbie’s Tea Room, generally the famous names from all over the improvisation at the University of we will play new songs which we as well as singing. I joke to my Cleyndert and Colin Oxley aren’t going to make enough and galas – and jazz is no last Thursday of the month. And, world. Even under what she calls Applied Sciences which, of want to record in the near friends that I have no job, but I brought an end to Southport’s difference to that! exception. There is the council’s far from winding down, an extra the ‘occupation’, jazz was popular course, included jazz, but oddly future.’ have the good fortune to do Jazz on a Summer’s Day, Geoff own jazz festival in May. SMJ has a series of Sunday afternoon and there were a few festivals in she only began to sing jazz on what I want to do in my life and was telling me of a new festival in ‘We have pushed the hotel to liking for mini-festivals: Jazz on a concerts by the Swingshift Big the Soviet era, but she makes a stage three years ago. For that These new songs will feature on get money for it.’ give us some proper back-up. Summer’s Day (polished Band under Phil Shotton has telling point: she expresses her gratitude to Jazz Miniatures’ second album. Dmitry Baevsky They tend to let us get on with Liverpool-based singer SueYo been added, starting with the pianist Andrey Polevikov who, she Their first, eponymous album was Despite the success with Empti it. It’s one of the biggest with a fine quintet, nicely varied music of Count Basie on ‘Of course Lithuanian jazz never says, ‘treated me not like a pop released in 2013, plus Giedre’s and Milky Lasers, this is the weekends of the year for the songs with guitars from Willy September 7th. had traditional roots like in the singer’. first solo album – Giedre, Optine highpoint of her career so far, hotel, so they were horrified Fluss and Vernon Fuller over USA or Western Europe. The apgaule (which means ‘optical crowned by the M.A.M.A. award, when they heard we were going dinner, the superb Southport Melodic Jazz and, older generation did the best For Giedre’s visit to Birmingham illusion’). For this Giedre wrote but, in a quietly unselfish way, she to stop. The owner came to see Newton/Cleyndert/Oxley) is especially, Jazz on a Winter’s they could, but now everything last year, she was accompanied by the music and lyrics herself and has the ambition and confidence me and said, “What do we have matched by the Christmas Weekend seem like a total changes for the better. If the old Andrey. This year it’s slightly she describes it as ‘pop music to take things much further: to do?”. I said, “Not a lot, but you Special (December 14th) with success story – a jazz event that generation played most different: Andrey returns, but as a with jazz colours’. have to take a more hands-on Alan Barnes going all literary and sells out, makes a profit and still often, now we are more open for member of the quartet Jazz ‘This is not my last stop. Now I management role that weekend. Victorian again with A Christmas dares to experiment! – but the other styles. Jazz should become Miniatures. Giedre tells me about Giedre’s career has taken her want to bring my music All I want is one person who Carol followed by dinner shenanigans (Geoff’s word) of the more popular in the future the group: through many styles and now she worldwide. And I know how to reports to me who’s on your accompanied by accordionist last few months show that because now we have places to is confident across a wide range do it. I have to be honest to staff, with bags of overtime, to get Harry Hussey and an evening nothing’s simple and, to some study it. Of course classical ‘Jazz Miniatures started in 2011. of genres. She is amused by my myself and the others, work hard things done when we want (again) of David Newton in trio extent, he’s still waiting to see musicians still think that jazz is Andrey Polevikov has arranged question about how she would and be kind to the people who them.”’ mode, this time with Alan Barnes what happens next. not a serious thing, but I’m happy jazz standards and a few pop and describe her style of singing now: have helped me to become a and Simon Thorpe. that young open-minded people rock songs in jazz style. Double good musician.’ For all that, Geoff is still unsure For full details of the SMJ work in the Lithuanian bass player Vytis Nivinskas and ‘I’m trying to remember which whether it was the right thing to Then there is the Flower Show. programme and both government and they support drummer Darius Rudis are both style of music I don’t sing! I just Giedre Kilciauskiene Jazz give vent to his frustration. The Let Geoff explain: festivals, go to jazz music as much as they can.’ very good and well known jazz love to sing any style except Miniatures appear at problem is that, if you just say, www.jazzinsouthport.co.uk musicians in Lithuania. I’m very classical music, but only because I Birmingham International ‘We’re overworked, we need ‘The owner of this hotel is also Giedre, who was 11 when happy to sing with my dream haven’t studied the technique.’ Jazz and Blues Festival on help,’ people say, ‘Oh, yes!’ and the Chair of the Southport Lithuania declared its team – any singer would be July 21-23. 16 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 17 THE FRESH SOUND OF BARCELONA THE FRESH SOUND OF BARCELONA

1950s. Jordi does not dispute my expecting him to take credit for Chano Pozo THE FRESH SOUND OF BARCELONA assessment, but to him they the extraordinary 11-CD box-set remain a part of jazz history – of the Keynote Jazz Collection, Much of the current jazz output on CD, especially in the field of reissues, emanates from and he likes them! Similarly he for instance, he maintains the doesn’t lay claim to anything stance of a father who won’t Barcelona. RON SIMPSON asked JORDI PUJOL of Fresh Sound Records for the background special in the more remarkable of have a favourite among his to the situation. Fresh Sound’s releases: children:

n the UK we are always having read the same notes on ‘I try to select artists or projects ‘They are all my favourites while Jordi Pujol impressed, but quite often two CDs for different labels, Jordi that I think can be interesting and I’m working on them and, after Iconfused, by the situation in is initially horrified, before I I try to produce them in the best I’ve finished, my next project regard to the many labels in investigate and find the albums in possible way. After that everyone becomes my favourite. Barcelona reissuing on CD question were the EJC and is entitled to their own opinion Sometimes you dedicate a lot of albums from the 1950s and early Phoenix reissues of Jazz at about the CDs. When I first time, even years, to finishing a 1960s. So much good music Massey Hall: heard Bea Abbott singing, I liked project, but that doesn’t mean it emerges, yet there are oddities: her and I felt that a CD compiling will be a big seller. I have always two labels, for instance, issuing ‘On top of the original liner her recordings would be nice. It’s prioritised my own motivation the same album at the same time, notes, I usually add, where easy to take the risk that they over possible sales, although, as even on occasion with the same possible my own notes to each won’t sell – you just need enough you can imagine, sales are newly-written notes, odd claims project, some longer than others. motivation to go into a project important for us, too!’ for ‘Complete’ collections, etc. If you have seen a CD which is fully. There are similarities between not a Fresh Sound or Blue Moon How does Jordi view the future? the packaging of some of the release with the same notes as ‘Again I don’t try to make There are, it seems to me, two Photo by Juan Carlos Abelenda product, so we speculate on ours, it must have been the remarkable CDs. I just try to difficulties lying in the way of any whether these labels come from original liner notes – at least I Paich and many others. Then I The image of a jazzman make interesting products. company issuing CDs of music one company or whether the hope so!’ went to New York (Roulette, frustrated by his work releasing Obviously there are some that, that falls outside the 50-year companies are linked or indeed Jubilee, Roost, Bethlehem, Seeco, the music of other jazzmen is from my personal point of view, I copyright limit. One is the decline separate. The strongest So that’s half the mystery solved. etc.) and little by little FSR ironic or poignant depending on like more than others, but I of the CD as the main means of personality to emerge via the I remain perplexed by the started to gather a large your temperament, but not always enjoy doing all of them, listening to recorded music and CDs, producing some contrast between excellence of catalogue of reissues, over 400 strictly true. Now Jordi that’s the nicest thing in my daily the other is the change in the product and packaging and job. When I decide to make a copyright laws, at least in the UK. outstanding sets and writing his LPs in about four years, mostly concentrates on jazz recordings, jazz aficionados, and, even if I very well with the same graphic eccentricity of presentation (and project, it’s because it piques my With an extension of recorded own liner notes to go with the coming from major labels like but in earlier years he created would like to see better sales designer for many years. I have release policy) in the other interest enough to work on it.’ copyright to 70 years, it will be original sleeve notes, is Jordi Pujol EMI. RCA, CBS and MCA.’ many labels dedicated to other figures, our final balance is still always collected jazz pictures and Barcelona companies, but for 2035 before the recordings of of Fresh Sound Records, so it styles: Tumbao, Caney and positive. The copyright laws are magazines, even before FSR now we can forget that and Clearly our perception of Fresh He finds it difficult to recall the 1965 which record companies seemed appropriate to ask him Palladium for Cuban and the same in Spain and the new started. For the booklets I usually discover how Fresh Sound came Sound as a company that most successful CDs sales-wise would normally be eyeing at this the difficult questions. Caribbean music and Latin jazz, El law will affect us somewhat, but use my archives which all come about. The company has, in truth, operates (responsibly and totally and points out that some of the time can be issued copyright-free. Bandoneon for tango, Ubatuqui luckily not all our productions from very different sources: from I have noticed recently how many a longer history than I imagined: legally) on the edge of the best sellers were not on Fresh Jordi is realistic, but definitely for Brazilian jazz and bossa, Alma are affected by it. The Spanish the musicians themselves, original copyright deadline is far too Sound: a box-set of Chano Pozo positive: new recordings also emerge from Latina for boleros and rancheros, market is small compared to the negatives, collections, ‘Fresh Sound released its first limited a view, but where did on Tumbao, for instance, or Los Barcelona, some on Fresh Sound other lines for blues, flamenco, UK, France or Germany, but photographers, publications, album in August 1983. It was a Jordi Pujol come from to start 60 mejores canciones de Carlos ‘The market today is decreasing, and its subsidiaries, some on zarzuela and soundtracks. With similar to the rest of the catalogues, advertisements, etc. Billy May LP on Capitol, The Girls the company over 30 years ago? Gardel on Blue Moon. When I ask but we still survive, and I feel that other labels, so what about the such an output – and a jazz countries. Japan and the USA For FS New Talent the artists and Boys on Broadway, and it about his favourite releases, we have good support from the role of Barcelona in Spanish and output so large he can’t remain our biggest importers.’ usually supply us with their featured some good Hollywood ‘I was a draughtsman/designer for European jazz? remember how many albums he’s artwork or their ideas for the studio soloists. The first idea was a printing pattern textile issued – surely there’s a danger Marty Paich One reason why Jordi can say CD design, so, whether we design ‘Barcelona has been recognised to release West Coast jazz company. I worked at that job for of putting out too much that the new copyright law does the cover or they do, we always as the capital of jazz in Spain albums, something that only the 17 years, including the first four mediocre stuff. Jordi puts me not affect all FSR product is the work in collaboration with them. years of FSR. I spent four years in since 1920, as I related in my Japanese were doing back then. I firmly in my place, with regard to new recordings, many of which Lyon, France, in the early 1970s, book Jazz en Barcelona 1920- was – still am – a big fan of all jazz and the other musics: he works on as producer or ‘I also have good external drawing in a studio. At that time I 1965. But many other cities Californian arrangers: Marty associate producer: collaborators and friends that played trumpet as an amateur including Valencia and Madrid Paich, Bill Holman, , ‘The different brands include a help me in the production of just for fun. My boss, Raoul have been enjoying an interesting Johnny Mandel, Bob Florence, vast list of names particular to ‘The new productions are very some projects, and the work Bruckert, was not only a good local jazz scene. That said, for all Russell Garcia, and the rest. each genre, so obviously, if a label important to me. I like to hear done in the sound restoration of designer, but also a good its history, musicians and the That’s why I chose the name covers the history of early Cuban new jazz artists and projects. This each reissue is very important. In musician. He played tenor sax continuing activities relating to Fresh Sound when I was reading music, you are going to find all is the part of my job that really particular I would like to mention (Lester was his idol) with his own the genre, our city remains the an article about the new ‘fresh kinds of artists, from big names keeps me in permanent contact all the work done by my friend group, The Seven Brothers, at the most important when it comes sound’ coming out from the West to lesser known musicians, but with today’s scene and I dedicate Dick Bank since we met in 1994 amazing old Hot Club, rue de to jazz.’ Coast. “lesser known” doesn’t translate a lot of my time to.’ – he has produced several great l’Arbre Sec. I had some to “less interesting” and, although albums for FSR over the years.’ The Fresh Sound website ‘My first trip to Los Angeles was wonderful experiences there. in some cases it can be of less Finally I tried to get a picture of advertises for sale CDs by in the summer of 1984, during interest to someone, I don’t like the actual work-load of Jordi Jordi didn’t name any of them – ‘Then, when I returned to Essential Jazz Classics, Lone Hill the holidays from my work as a to use the adjective “mediocre”. Pujol, a remarkable man who in the Fresh Sound family it Barcelona at the end of 1975, I and the rest, but so do many designer. I went there to record All of them contributed to the claims he doesn’t make doesn’t do to play favourites! other sites and Jordi is emphatic the first FSR production, continued playing occasionally in growth of their chosen genre in remarkable albums: that he is not involved with these Octet Plays Again. This initial trip jam sessions at the Terrassa Jazz their own way.’ www.freshsoundrecords.com other labels: all the jazz that he allowed me to come back the Club until around 1984. After ‘I take care of every project from has produced has been on Fresh following year and Dave put me that I didn’t have time to do I mention recent releases which I the beginning and I like to do the For some 20 years Discovery Sound, Blue Moon or labels in contact with some musicians everything: my designer job and have reviewed by Bea Abbott and projects in my own way, Records have distributed related to them, such as FS New who would help me a lot during setting up FSR took all my time, Jim Timmens, to me decent, especially the reissues. I compile Fresh Sound in the UK: Talent, FS World Jazz, Swing Alley the next few years: Bob Keane, so I stopped playing, a decision I enjoyable, relatively unremarkable all the material and have worked www.discovery-records.com and Jazz City. When I mention , Roy Harte, Marty really regret.’ performances from the late 18 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 19 ON RECORD REVIEWS

Toots Thielemans tends to forget is just how Wassermann the standout. The three Cali/Vuust originals are ‘King’ Cole Trio. This is accessible the one standard, Autumn Leaves, I up heard on the album inside the advanced his ideas are and how Perhaps unsurprisingly given his of high quality, melodically and and unpretentious (yet skilful) welcome the flowing clarinet booklet? Regardless of these adaptable he is to any genre from association with the cool sounds lyrically. The 6/8 Sicilian Love Song music which should have a wide style of - the instrument cosmetic carps, go and buy this. It Shearing to Terence Blanchard of the Davis nonet, the overall and the 3/4 Evening have exotic appeal. on which he became a major might well be my album of the and to the South American effect is somewhat similar, with atmosphere provided by Mr Cali exponent. year. masters. clever contrapuntal writing and on accordion, with the latter TONY AUGARDE coherent interplay, aided by neat utilising the guitar artistry of LES TOMKINS Basically he is a bebop player. solo contributions from Carisi Jeppe Holst. The easy Latin mood / Usually he is the perpetual himself and his associates. of It's Happening Again introduces / BETTY BLAKE winner in a one horse race tasteful trumpet from Flemming topping the Miscellaneous There follow gem-laden individual Agerskov. / THE LOST 1950 SINGS IN A TENDER MOOD Sections of Jazz polls for years on tracks from 1956 sessions led by VIC ASH CONCERT that unfashionable instrument, , Tony Scott, Urbie Two other magical tracks are Fresh Sound FSR-CD 821: 41.25 the harmonica but he is proof Green, and a later version of singable standards. Cahn/Styne's THE JAZZ MAKERS AND Solar Records 4569946: 72.05 that, if you have genuine creative Israel by ’s Time After Time has singer and THE JAZZ FIVE It is saddening to hear a 1961 juices, then you can win over Concert Jazz Band, marked by a pianist giving their all This recording is an album by an excellent lady singer, anyone but the fundamentalists. typically wry solo by valve- magnificently, and Chaplin's Smile Fresh Sound FSR-CD 820: 79.10 extraordinary discovery, and is and to read that she vanished He is a prodigious improviser and trombonist as has likewise, plus some indisputably the most important into obscurity and died 40 years he revels in his invention on well as a reprise of the classic deliciously smoochy clarinet from Without doubt, Gerry Mulligan document of Hawkins to have later. Twelve tracks here display a these tracks. The solos are mainly reading, to round out the great Mr Gori. can be said to have enhanced the been unearthed since his 1949 strong personality and a warm, all his but Jack Barker’s a vibrant and compelling release. Recommended, especially to acceptability of the baritone JATP set with Fats Navarro was round sound, giving every lovers. empathetic arrangements, using Jordi Pujol, the album’s compiler, saxophone as a jazz solo released a decade or so ago. Not indication of a positive jazz the string section as a calls this music ‘well-schooled, instrument. But Britain's Ronnie only does it feature the master future. She is graced by five LES TOMKINS complementary background to classically informed, creative jazz’ Ross made a contribution too. In himself in his best, barrelling groupings of leading New York Toots harmonica, are very and writes of its overall concern fact, it was after hearing him in a form, it has the additional players, and is allowed to spread effective. for ‘a greater sense of structure’ TRICOTISM John Lewis orchestral work that I attraction of fellow US stars her talent to the full on quality and he’s right. songs, five of them by Alec ROMANE & the period: Opus de Clignancourt made him the subject of the first James Moody, and JOHN MARTIN FINGERBUSTIN’ of my thousand-plus recorded , with Moody’s oh- Wilder, without any interpolating and Pour Parler might well have PETER VACHER soloists - a justifiable plan. STOCHELO come from the pen of his interviews. The second was his so-hip boppisms acting as a nice JOHNNY CARISI Raymer Sound RSCD 948: co-leader on eight tracks here, counterweight to the leader’s ROSENBERG mentor, while Soir de Trottoir is a One wonders if the titles hold CLARA VUUST 72.11 the great drummer Allan Ganley. classic style. Add a clutch of waltz with the poignant drama of any clue to what went wrong. ISRAEL European proto-boppers, ELEGANCE pre-war Paris. Just Enough For Jazz The opening Let There Be Love has HERE'S TO LOVE Tricotism (named after a jazz Here are two prime samplings of including altoist Hubert Fol and and La Promenade by Rosenberg lots of life and a nice long note at Fresh Sound FSR-CD 817: 64.36 standard by late 20th century British jazz. bassist , and a Fremeaux & Associés seem to emanate from a decade the end. I'll Be Around also has a Storyville 1014288: 43.17 which is included on this album) Having formed their Jazz Makers nicely balanced programme FA 544: 47:07 later with their use of chromatic neat coda, as they all do. She is Perhaps the first question is, who is a trio comprising pianist Craig quintet in 1958, Ronnie and Allan showcasing Hawkins’ staples like harmonies and slight boppish more restrained in the ballad was Johnny Carisi? A composer, The female singing voice has Milverton, guitarist Nigel Price were able to record in New York Body and Soul, Rifftide and Stuffy evolved a flavor. Trouble Is A Man, although she arranger and trumpeter who was great variety, particularly in jazz. It and bassist Sandy Suchdolski. the following year while touring alongside recent compositions by musical language all his own. gains power. An upbeat contrast active in New York at the time of is the personal sound that either Craig Milverton is one of those the States. Utilising mainly Many guitarists have endeavoured Evocative yet ageless music Tadd Dameron, Thelonious Monk is her ultra-jazzy Love Is Just the Miles Davis Birth of the Cool gets to me or doesn't. Here is a jazzmen who has never quite originals by group members, they to learn it over the sixty-odd brilliantly played. and Sir Charles Thompson, and Around The Corner . At 5:12, Lilac recordings, is the answer. Carisi lady whose sound, for its warmth become a household name, make an ear-catching sound. The years since his death, with varying you have all the ingredients for Wine is the longest track, but it's contributed Israel, a ‘polyphonic’ and expressiveness, appeals to affinity between the saxes of degrees of success, but always HUGH LEDIGO perhaps because he lives way what transpires to be a classic all hers - sensuous and full- blues and his most celebrated me greatly. There is not a dud in the essential vocabulary has down in the wilds of Devon. Yet Ross and Art Ellefson (tenor) is session, big on atmosphere, voiced, at varying times. If I were composition, to that session, these ten songs, three of which remained unchanged. Romane he is a very talented pianist who potent, and their interplay at its excitement and, above all, swing. to name the most choice items, I and Stochelo Rosenberg both hence the title to this collection she co-wrote with her pianist has been heavily influenced by height on some spates of would have to cite her fine possess a fluent command of CONTRASTS of recordings devoted to his husband. . This is clear simultaneous improvisation. If any reader is waiting for the phrasing on While We're Young, her Django’s music, bringing to it a wide-ranging work as both player from the inclusion of four Pianist Stan Jones and bassist Stan caveat, then I’m pleased to report vigour and individualism on All Of 's Clara Vuust opens spontaneity and eloquence which Blue Moon Records and composer. Prior to the Davis Peterson compositions among Wasser aid Ganley in keeping there is none! Unusually for this You and her exciting Latin with a little-known Kander/Ebb goes well beyond mere imitation, BMCD 839: 68.15 assignment, he had already the 11 tracks on this CD. Indeed, things swinging. For the kind of release sound quality is treatment of Out Of This World. or the fond recreation of bygone worked for the innovative Claude waltz, I Don't Care Much, and her Craig sounds very Oscarish in information of Fresh Sound, the uniformly excellent, begging the virtues shine out. This is the first days. The music is their mother This is a re-issue on CD of two Thornhill orchestra, then famed Peterson’s Wheatland. He hasn’t standard on track five is titled It's question whether this was Four bonus tracks are singles she tongue and they speak it with albums, originally produced in for its contemporary repertoire, of five to feature a very fine quite got the whole of Peterson’s A Wonderful World (Adamson- originally a radio broadcast or a such surety that, on a couple of 1966 and ’67, Contrasts and Guitar much of written by and clarinettist, Nico Gori, who fits breathtaking technique but who Savitt-Watson). series of transcription discs. As Gerry Mulligan. In later years, he well with Clara, and is equally has? Nigel Price is another fine usual with Solar Records, the Coleman listenings, I’ve not been able to and Strings and Things, and is a Hawkins decide who is soloing and who is tribute to him on his retirement played less and composed more, enjoyable. Then she applies full player, who contributes some Six tracks are devoted to The booklet notes (step forward one playing rhythm at any given time. at the venerable age of 92 in providing pieces for a wide feeling to a supersong I associate shapely solos, as does bassist Jazz Five, with the same Arthur Morton) spend a lot of March this year. Four of the sets variety of small ensembles, and with Shirley Horn, Here's To Life, Sandy Suchdolski, although the instrumentation, recorded in time telling you how many times Their compositions do, however, are with an orchestral backing of for TV and radio. He resumed with the superb solo piano bass tends to be under-recorded 1960, co-led by Harry Klein on Musician X recorded betray differences of personality, strings and female voices, used more regular playing towards the backing of hubby Francesco Cali. in a disc that is otherwise OK for baritone and Vic Ash on tenor. Composition Y, and nothing at all and it is fascinating to hear how instrumentally. The remaining set end of his career and died in I've heard some good versions of sound. Brian Dee - still driving rhythm about how this remarkable the uniqueness of the language is with a quintet. What is 1992, aged 70. the Michel Legrand gem, Once sections today - is on piano. The recording from Munich’s embraces both viewpoints particularly interesting is that it Upon A Summertime, but nobody The trio works sympathetically bassist is Malcolm Cecil, who Deutsches Museum was made, without detriment to the mainly features the guitar skills of The opening seven tracks has done it more justice than Ms together, with several ingenious subsequently was a brilliant lost and rediscovered. Music as essential Django-ness of the the master harmonica virtuoso from1956 are headed by Carisi Vuust here. Her moving arrangements. Note, for instance, sound man on Stevie Wonder's important as this deserves to sound. and one tends to forget that the himself who proves to be a clean- exposition brings extra power to how the theme of Billy initial albums. The drumming role have its story told in full and – guitar was his first professional cut stylist in the then boppish her delivery, further clarinet Strayhorn’s Isfahan is played by is shared by and Tony sorry, I guess there’s a caveat Romane’s contributions reflect instrument, utilising it in the manner, the writing for these re- clarity, and a chance to mention the three instruments all Mann. Again, it's almost all lively after all – why stick a photo of the ’thirties/’forties era in melody Shearing group and the workings of familiar standards the bass playing of Daniel Franck, contributing phrases in turn. And originals. Klein, previously known Hawkins from the late 1950s on and underlying chord patterns. Goodman band. What one, also, like a breath of fresh air, with the there being no drums on the the up-tempo title-track arouses as an alto player, had his own the cover when there’s an Even his titles have a savour of Sims-like tenor of Eddie date. memories of the cheery Nat approach to the large horn. On excellent action shot of the line- 20 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 21 ON RECORD

Joe Harriott distinctions, not just in the extra Nonetheless, this compilation tonal qualities of the piano. Here, gives an interesting picture of jazz trumpeter Shaw is replaced by in Paris during the late thirties. , pianist South by Pat Many American musicians came Smythe and drummer Orr by Phil to Paris for the International Seaman. Free Form is notable for Exhibition of 1937, and Delaunay the almost complete made sure that he recorded abandonment of thematics and them while they were available. the fierce soli of Harriott, with This means that there are trumpeter Shake Keane acting as contributions from such a foil with his subtle musicians as Dicky Wells, Eddie improvisation. It's here that South, Herman Chittison, Teddy Harriott shows what a fine Weatherford and Bill Coleman. improviser he was. Coleman is well represented here, and it is good to hear his The third album, Abstract, took graceful solos and his scat-filled the concept even further, with vocals. Sadly, Eddie South only made in 1957, and clearly she had the Shearing manner though not, makes one appearance – on a advanced in four years. I'm sure perhaps, with quite the same the musicians picking up on 1938 version of Honeysuckle Rose she would, and should have gone élan. Harriott's themes and developing which includes a strange vocal on to greater glory. them individually. Once again, Highly accessible, audience Harriott and Keane's chorus supplied by ‘The Glee LES TOMKINS friendly and, for those of us who improvisations are a delight; the Club’. remember, downright nostalgic. problem is that they sound The visiting Americans don’t have JOHNNIE PATE TRIO distant, and that co-ordinated HUGH LEDIGO sound to be heard on Free Form it all their own way. As in several is under threat here; some of the other European countries COMPLETE RECORDINGS staccato themes irritate after (including Britain), much of 1955-1956 several plays. France’s jazz was quite derivative, both of styles and repertoire SOUTHERN Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD It's good to have this music from the USA. But these discs 814: 66.35 HORIZONS/FREE available once again, for Harriott remind us of France’s pioneering FORM/ABSTRACT was a ‘one-off’. spirit represented by such Pate: a pianist turned bass player; musicians as violinists Stéphane Ronnell Bright: something of a Fresh Sound FSR-CD 826: GREG MURPHY Grappelli and Michel Warlop, or child prodigy concert pianist 2 CDs, 65.06/68.12 brothers Django and Joseph turned jazzer, and Charles LE LABEL SWING Reinhardt, with their original Walton, a drummer with no Joe Harriott (1925-1973) arrived manouche style. France wasn’t just a pale imitation of the USA. discernible pedigree but in Britain in 1951 and quickly EARLY YEARS 1937-1939 undoubted ability, join forces in a made a name for himself with his series of originals and standards imaginative alto saxophone work, TONY AUGARDE Frémeaux & Associés FA 5424: of an agreeably high quality. This which had roots in Charlie 3 CDs, 65.05/66.02/62.25 is trio bebop as it was known in Parker but a great deal of Joe HORACE SILVER the mid to late ’fifties with neat Harriott, too. This double-cd QUARTET WITH LOU arrangements, neatly played, Pate reissues three albums all of which Charles Delaunay may be best seems to have confined his have been hard to find - Southern remembered now through John DONALDSON activities to the Chicago clubs Horizons dates from 1959~1960 Lewis’s tribute tune Delaunay’s and, probably for this reason, and features the regular quartet Dilemma, which has become a LIVE IN NEW YORK 1953 there is nothing abrasive about of trumpeter , pianist jazz standard. But Charles his music to frighten the patrons. , bassist Coleridge Delaunay deserves to be Solar Records 4569945: 78.45 Indeed, a couple of tightly Goode and drummer Bobby Orr remembered for many more phrased unison vocals from the on a programme of originals and achievements, such as promoting Once in a while those Spanish trio are clearly aimed at the jazz standards. All receive a Django Reinhardt and the Hot labels like to slide a little gold punters, while two further boppish treatment infused with Club of France, as well as writing nugget between all their numbers from an unknown but Harriott's Parker-inspired solo several important books about repacking and reissues. This is superior vocalist called Gwen work - there are some fine jazz, most notably the Hot one such instance. Allegedly Stevens are obviously intended to examples on Jumpin' With Joe, Still Discography. In 1937 he started a recorded at Birdland during the titillate. Goofin' and Tuesday Morning record label called Swing autumn of 1953 (my money’s on Swing, although You Go To My (possibly with Hugues Panassié), a much smaller venue, with very The bassist’s admiration for Head and Señor Blues are less and this triple CD contains some different acoustics), it features a Oscar Pettiford is apparent in his convincing. of its recordings from the late scratch band led by Silver which solo work especially when he is thirties. I say ‘some’, because the finds Donaldson picking up his responsible for the themes, but It is possible to detect Harriott's sleeve-notes make it clear that night’s wages alongside obscure when he drops back into support discontent in places, and this the compilers have omitted any bassist Jimmy Schenk and the mode he can generate a surging perhaps led to Free Form, an recordings that were included on even more mysterious Lloyd drive worthy of . unfortunate title as it led to previous reissue albums. This Turner on drums. All this might comparisons with the music of means that the collection make the album sound like one Ronnell Bright demonstrates a , a situation excludes tracks recorded for the of those awfully opportunistic two-handed facility not always Harriott described at the time as Swing label by the likes of ‘let’s issue this because no-one apparent in bop piano players. He ‘an error’, as with the benefit of Coleman Hawkins and Benny else has’ CDs and, during the moves from single note lines to hindsight, a comparison of the Carter, and there is only one opening bars of the first number chordal passages somewhat in two bands shows considerable track by Django Reinhardt. You Got To My Head, on which it 22 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 23 ON RECORD REVIEWS

Scott Hamilton head on hot numbers like Slipped , at the time still to Dave Amram has to work hard talents of the band; Ellis plays which there are four, seemed to mistake, this isn’t a Lincoln Disc and Air Mail Special while make his enormous mark, is the to keep up with Jaspar. some sinuous lines over promise something more Center-style recreation, in fact, pianist Philippe Duchemin finds perfect foil for the other two. Dankworth's liquid bass lines, challenging. After all, Ory was on the overall impression one gains interesting things to say on each Marsh is particularly impressive It’s clear that there was quite a while Dodoo and Baker combine the original Red Hot Peppers’ from Doug Ramsey’s hugely piece, Patricia Lebeugle’s on the ballad Crazy He Calls Me. coterie of French jazzmen to set up a rhythmic line. recordings but these, too, are insightful booklet essay is that for heartbeat bass and drummer He usually avoided ballads but intrigued by the cool style, and unadventurous and pedestrian. Perkins revisiting ’s Didier Dorise ensuring swing. displays a huge aptitude for this while it may seem derivative, Cyril Davies is a gentle, haunting Ory has always had good players music was somewhat like Hamilton takes his chances well, one and Pepper and he are much of CD1 is devoted to number inspired by memories of around him but, paradoxically, he catching up with an old friend. It’s notably on Cherokee, his purring outstandingly competitive on I them. The writing is intriguing, Davis, a prime mover in the seems never to allow them to that sort of record – warm, extemporisation a gem before he Can’t Believe that you’re in Love understated and often complex, British blues scene in the 'sixties stretch out. In this case he has affectionate and utterly natural exchanges choruses with Doriz with Me. the sonority in line with Davis who died at an early age in 1974. the exciting, if sometimes wild, sounding. A class act in every way. in joyful accord. So, engaging mid- and ’s examples, the Ellis and Dankworth are trumpeter Teddy Buckner reined period jazz with genuine Sixteen tracks of unhurried but lines interweaving cleverly. Gullin outstanding here, and Ellis in and Andy Blakeney, on trumpet SIMON SPILLETT creativity, and that should include impassioned music from the Cool evokes Gerry Mulligan in his finishes with a falsetto note. The on the second CD, is an the guest appearances by School. Someone must have many pieces on CD2 and pianist title track has an insidious theme, interesting player but plays a HART/GREEN/ Bengt Hallberg’s crisp piano is a vaguely reminiscent of Wade In guitarist Marc Fosset and Paris- advised not to give up cautious lead. Both pianists, RIDLEY/BROWN based US trumpeter Ronald the day job. Pity. standout as are the later tracks The Water but put across with Lionel Reason who played with Baker, all accomplished with a by John Dankworth, , great verve. King Oliver, and Bob Van Epps MJQ CELEBRATION kind of cheery ease. A latter-day JOHN MARTIN and contribute the best solos on the delight. (also heard earlier in Lester Overall, this is a memorable session. The drums are very basic King’s Gambit KGR 001: 66.30 VARIOUS Young-like duet with Jaspar). Ideal session, in which musicianship and overloud but don’t blame the PETER VACHER for those who prefer a cooler excels. drummers. That is the way that The late Mike Garrick first kind of heat! Ory instructed them to play as EUROPEAN GREG MURPHY conceived the idea of a tribute ART PEPPER AND deafness overtook him. 1951-1959 PETER VACHER group devoted to the music of TED BROWN KID ORY the , sounds as if someone had SCOTT HAMILTON – Frémeaux Associés FA 5428: If it is basic New Orleans you want, this is for you. Otherwise it enlisting vibist Jim Hart, bassist attached a mic to Turner’s bass DANY DORIZ THE COMPLETE FREE 2CDs 75.55 / 76.07 Matt Ridley and drummer Steve drum pedal, you could be STORYVILLE NIGHTS AND is all rather Ho Hum. WHEELING SESSIONS WHY? KID ORY PLAYS WC Brown to complete his quartet. I forgiven for thinking the worse. The understated title conceals a SCOTT HAMILTON PLAYS FEATURING WARNE JOHN MARTIN heard their debut appearance at However, things soon sort positive cornucopia of cool cuts HANDY PLUS DIXIELAND WITHTHE DANY DORIZ MARSH Motema 33846: 52.27 Swanage jazz festival and felt themselves out, and the leader from France, Belgium, Sweden, MARCHING SONGS CAVEAU DE LA HUCHETTE straightaway that they were on to and his sidemen sound like Germany, Austria, Italy, BILL PERKINS Phoenix Records 131599: 77.51 This session finds one-time something, especially given Mike’s they’re having a ball. ORCHESTRA Netherland and the UK. Forty-six Upbeat URCD 262D: 2 CDs, Cream drummer Baker in a own quirky touches and Hart’s tracks by such luminaries as 56.02/69.45 PERK PLAYS PREZ invariable creativity. Frémeaux & Associés CD FA Ted Brown is one of those many powerful quartet, with Pee Wee At this point in his career, talented musicians who chose Henri Renaud, , Don 599: 63.37 Ellis, a veteran of James Brown's With Kid Ory what you expect, Fresh Sound FSR-CD 5010: Donaldson was thoroughly security over the insecurity of Rendell, Lars Gullin, Jutta Hipp So no direct note-for-note band, on , Alec you get. Nothing more or less. smitten by ’s the music profession. He opted and Ronnie Scott among many 68.30 replications for this foursome, Vibist Doriz is a veteran of Dankworth on bass and Abass No complicated arrangements, example: Bird’s signature licks for a full time steady job in others. The sheer dedication to Dodoo on percussion on a rather a fresh look at a familiar French mainstream jazz [and no memorable solos just Jazz nostalgia isn’t what it used to come and go and, for minutes at commerce. In December 1958 he the cause involved in making programme of eight titles. repertoire, now with pianist incidentally, the artistic director straightforward New Orleans be. When in 1995 producer Dick a stretch, it’s almost like hearing a was recording an album under his these selections should not be Needless to say, Baker dominates Barry Green in for the departed of the Caveau de la Huchette tailgate trombone of which he is Bank suggested to Bill Perkins mythical encounter between leadership in the company of Art overlooked, this French label at times, reminiscent sometimes Garrick. Subsequent hearings club in Paris] while tenor-man a master. His bands tended to be that he recreate the music of his Parker and Silver. Indeed, if Pepper and and known for its major of Art Blakey; consider the intro have only confirmed my initial Hamilton is the long-established the same. These sessions are idol Lester Young, the tenor anyone regards Donaldson as a more than holding his own. Since compilations. Happily the notes to Ginger Spice, which sets the view and there has often been banner-carrier for the neo-swing from the period 1959 to 1961. saxophonist initially demurred. slightly lightweight jazz-funkster that time he has continued to are in English and properly tone perfectly, before Dankworth the added bonus of alternating movement. So, ideal playmates, On this CD he covers 13 Having got remarkably close to they’d do well to hear him here, play steadily but as a part timer referenced with rare enhances the rhythm and Ellis tenorists Alan Barnes and Dave you could say. The short English photographs included so a marching tunes, grist to his mill the powder-puff elegance of Prez O’Higgins for that part of the playing the part of heir apparent note – the main text is in French only. then enters, with a dark tone to prospect to savour, you might say and despatched summarily with during his 1950s stints with Stan back-story that brings in the just as well as Stitt, Woods or – calls them ‘living legends’ and his tenor. Ellis improvises over professional ease. These are all He studied under and impossible to fully assess in a Kenton and Woody Herman, MJQ’s collaborations on record McLean ever did. so they are. Happily, they live up the shuffle rhythm and is even very short pieces and fairly for seven years and became part short review. It deserves an essay. Perkins had since been swayed by with . Since those to that status in this entertaining more intriguing on his self- indistinguishable from each other. of that school which also Rollins, Coltrane and Shorter, and early days, the group has become Silver is, of course, Silver through release, recorded last year. penned Twelve And More Blues, included Warne Marsh, CD1 open with a terrific piece by turning back the clock seemed to a regular feature at club and and through and if it were taken out-of-tempo with The Handy tracks, nine of those, and the British pianist Renaud’s 11-piece All Stars him like a pointless idea. festival appearances up and down possible to single out just one Hamilton is a gun-for-hire these Dankworth before the three men are all blues and, again, highlighting US ex-pat Jimmy Thankfully Bank persisted and the the country and gathered the example of his witty, in-the- days and turns up increasingly although he has continued to progress the piece, which soon comfortably within the leader’s Gourley’s fluent guitar with a result is an album that serves a most fulsome of compliments. pocket soloing, I’d plump for Lou’s often on European releases. turn up from time to time in showcases the improvisational reach. The Morton tracks of kicking rhythm section and some genuine and unaffected tribute. Deservedly so. Blues, an incredible 18 minute Based in Italy now, he ranges over various groups led by Konitz and other Tristano believers. He was cool tenor. Belgian tenor-man Taking fourteen pieces associated performance during which the the continent, pausing regularly in Bobby Jaspar follows, more Bill Perkins with Young’s late 1930s heyday, For their debut recording on the UK and clearly enjoys the still active in 2011. pianist alludes to nursery rhymes, muscular than I’d remembered including Shoe Shine Boy, Taxi War Ridley’s own label, the quartet playing opportunities that come pop tunes and even his own Opus and confident, again with Renaud Dance and Dickie’s Dream, among adds O’Higgins as ‘special guest’ his way. From close personal There are sixteen tracks here De Funk. As with Solar’s Coleman at the piano, the overall sound others, Perkins and pianist Jan and it’s pleasing to report that observation, I can confirm that with Brown present on nine of Hawkins’ Munich concert, it reminiscent of early Getz and Lundgren’s trio deliver a master- the original concept hangs his brand of warm-toned tenor those. The line-up is Pepper, would have been nice to know a Zoot. Indeed, it’s the twin class in jazz continuity. Often the together really well. From the entrances listeners whenever and Brown and Marsh on horns with little about where this set has influences of Miles Davis’s Birth of leader will play Young’s original pristine opening to The Golden wherever they hear him so any Ronnie Ball (pno), Ben Tucker been hiding, but even without the the Cool sessions and the Lennie solo note for note before new opportunity to listen to him (bs), and Jeff Morton and Gary Striker with Ridley following the background information it makes is to be savoured. Frommer sharing the drum Tristano collective improvisations embarking on his own Percy Heath line perfectly right a hugely impressive addition to duties. This is cool cerebral stuff, that pervade the greater majority improvisation, an exercise that through to Green’s probing solo the discographies of all those The choice of material here is superbly intricate and Brown of these tracks. The music is works simply because of both his interjections and Hart’s involved. eclectic, to say the least, Doriz’s makes an impressive telepathic supple and relaxed, and often pedigree and sincerity. Indeed, ebullience, the group sounds Hampton-like vibes given their partner for Marsh’s dry, quite startlingly good, even if the sometimes it’s difficult to spot animated and involved. While this SIMON SPILLETT considered lines. (still-active) French horn player the join, so to speak. Make no music may seem simple at first 24 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 25 ON RECORD REVIEWS

hearing, the component parts memorable as those in the Great The first of the two CDs is and arranger. Ten tracks by the Lady, but one of the most performance, whilst Back Home he combines it with fluency, even stylist, yet the band as a whole is need to be well-judged and American Songbook, but many closer to straightforward jazz, Andy Kirk band demonstrate her accomplished and exciting female From The Gig has some interesting at the fastest tempos, which is tight, swinging and exciting. balanced, with no over-playing or jazz composers seem unable to with Garland using strong rhythm grasp of the swing idiom with artists in jazz. tenor work from Rockwell, breathtaking. He, also, swings Operatic soprano Margaret Tynes sudden departures from the write noteworthy melodies. This sections led by three skilful surprisingly modern harmonies perhaps remembering Booker mightily all the way through and, shows more than a passing script. Hart is a wonder of the means that it becomes a problem pianists (Jason Rebello, John and voicings. Two 1945 excerpts HUGH LEDIGO Ervin’s scorching contribution on if I was forced to name special understanding of the genre, and age, of course, with Green, to follow what the musicians are Turville and Geoffrey Keezer). from her orchestral Zodiac Suite the original. tracks, I would have to choose Joya Sherrill and Ozzie Bailey are Brown and Ridley not far behind. improvising upon. At the same Keezer is particularly adept at are full of modern dissonances the astonishingly blistering Get excellent band singers. I loved O’Higgins on the Rollins time, some composers have galvanizing the group into a and textures – surely pre-dating As a celebration of a jazzman Hot and Big Boy, two minutes of driver The Stopper, fast-moving strayed more and more into thrilling mood reminiscent of a the Third Stream school of Bill LOVE & PEACE: THE MUSIC who gave much enjoyment, it pure joy. Ellington employs his and fluent, with Hart and Green genres outside jazz, so that their speeding locomotive. Russo et al. The last few tracks OF . works well. instrumental voices to telling flying, and for me, it’s the best compositions lose the reference find her re-defining herself yet But his ballad playing is equally effect, creating atmosphere GREG MURPHY thing on the album, with Brown points of jazz and become almost TONY AUGARDE again in the company of Storyville 1014286: 72.17 impressive. He takes the route of rather than verisimilitude, and his at his best. Buy without indistinguishable from classical emergent bop exponents following the harmonies rather orchestration is by turns thick than the melodies in his solos and lush, strident and hesitation- even better, catch the music or film soundtracks. MARY LOU WILLIAMS including , Denzil Horace Parlan was active during BILL JENNINGS and this brings a rare freshness impassioned. It is, I think, a band live. Best and . the sixties in the USA, producing to some old standards making All this is an attempt to describe THE FIRST LADY IN JAZZ a string of albums for Blue Note ARCHITECT OF SOUL JAZZ theatrical masterpiece, despite its one wonder why some other literary shortcomings. The danger PETER VACHER what I think goes wrong with the 1927-1957 CDs 2 and 3 concentrate on her (none of which seem to be THE COMPLETE EARLY second of the two CDs that piano performances available now) and from 1973 RECORDINGS 1951-1957 players haven’t taken that route. of ostentation is avoided by the Baritone saxist Leo Parker, Duke’s philosophy that ‘Jazz must make up this album. Tim Garland Frémeaux & Associés FA 5449: predominantly in trio and quartet until recently in Denmark, where uses lush strings to accompany settings. The ‘thirties and ‘forties he produced a sequence of Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD another undervalued musician, have humour.’ Add to that his 3 CDs 71:46/73:58/72:08 joins him here for one engrossing consummate musicianship and SONGS TO THE NORTH his own saxophone musings, reveal Williams’ indebtedness to recordings for Steeplechase. He 816: 2CDs 69.07/73.13 set. So what happened? Why you have a thing of beauty. portraying aspects of north-east her early mentors: James P, Earl had a very personal style on SKY Mary Lou, by age fifteen, was haven’t we heard more of Bill England. Jazz-with-strings has Hines, and Fats. Her left hand is piano, with a gift for understated When a giant such as B.B. King fully professional. At seventeen Jennings? Well, heroin happened HUGH LEDIGO been done before (Charlie metronomic – a swinging emotion in his writing. quotes Bill Jennings as a major Edition EDN 1051: 2 CDs, she recorded the first track to be and destroyed the career of 49.58/53.04 Parker and come to heard on these CDs and had foundation that could support influence you have to pay A trio of musicians - Jesper someone who, I feel, might have ART BLAKEY & THE mind) but previous ventures have clearly mastered the art of stride even her first tentative essays attention especially if you have Lundgaard (bass), Doug Raney been the greatest guitarist of An unsettling tendency has been maintained a jazz feeling, whereas piano. Four years on, she was into bop. A penchant for boogie never heard of Bill Jennings. Well, JAZZ MESSENGERS (guitar) and Bob Rockwell (tenor them all. Jennings died at the age noticeable in jazz during the past Tim’s pieces seem semi-classical staff arranger and pianist with the figures stayed into her later I have now and I am greatly saxophone), played a concert for of 59, poor and forgotten. few years. Whereas musicians and remote from jazz. The strings Andy Kirk band, helping to work. By the ‘fifties, when these impressed. These 52 tracks are COMPLETE STUDIO Parlan at his home in Korsor used to improvise on well-known in several tracks remind me of establish the swing style that discs end, she had made the recovered gems and back up RECORDINGS during 2012. Parlan was pleased Fresh Sound are owed a great tunes, nowadays they more often Sibelius or Vaughan Williams would dominate the next two transition to bop with King’s admission and the with the results, and happily co- debt for excavating these classic write their own music, perhaps rather than Eddie Sauter. I am not decades. This 3-CD set follows considerable success but, to my acknowledgments of a new Jazz Dynamics 009: 5CDs. operated with the recording of tracks and bringing Bill Jennings feeling that the old songs are doubting Tim Garland’s expertise her career through till 1957. mind, her playing was at its freest generation of guitarists including this cd, with Henrik Gunde back to his rightful place in jazz 72:55/75:41/67:08/77:05/ hackneyed. This would be fine if for one moment – just asking in her first incarnation. Maybe Rusty Zinn and Junior Watson (piano) and Aage Tanggaard history. 79:31 the new compositions were as that familiar question: is it jazz? CD1 features her as composer not chronologically the First who have, also, discovered him. (drums) added for these 2013 JOHN MARTIN Before we begin, let's state the sessions. The resulting music He was one of only three obvious in that the title Complete reflects Parlan’s hey-day affection guitarists at the time who played Studio Recordings is not literal - for hard-bop and the blues, and in left handed which enabled him to what we have here is the the main, reflects his music from find notes which a right handed AND HIS complete studio sides by this the Blue Note period, although player might have found difficult ORCHESTRA third incarnation of the there is some reference to the or even impossible. He has the Messengers, a total of eight Steeplechase years. Up In most fully rounded tone I have A DRUM IS A WOMAN albums, seven for Blue Note and Cynthia’s Room is an energetic ever heard, thick and ringing, and one for Impulse. The time span is Cheese Cake Records 8241: between March 1960 and June 50.23 1961, and squeezed onto CD5 are four ‘live’ performances from A Drum Is A Woman is an Birdland during September, 1960. allegorical representation of Jazz In retrospect this was arguably history from its African the finest edition of the Jazz beginnings to the modernism of Messengers, with the talents of the mid-fifties. It is an extended trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor concert piece with narration by saxophonist Wayne Shorter and Ellington himself. The protagonist, pianist Bobby Timmons, Madam Zajj, personifies the supported by the firm bass of African drum which, in turn Jymie Merritt and the driving embodies the musical genre that percussion of Art Blakey, and the is jazz. Her journeyings take her composing skills of Morgan, via New Orleans eventually to Shorter, Timmons and Blakey. New York and even the moon and, at each point, the Duke’s The albums in question are The music illustrates the action with Big Beat, Like Someone In Love, A dramatic pizazz. Night In Tunisia, Pisces, Roots & Herbs, The Witch Doctor, The OK, the libretto is hardly high Freedom Rider and Jazz literature and the story is fanciful Messengers!!!!, the last of which and a tad incoherent, but the was recorded for Impulse. Not all music is masterful. This must have of this material was issued at been one of Ellington’s finest line- once by Blue Note, in fact it Mary Lou Williams ups. Each musician is an inimitable wasn't unusual for some of it to 26 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 27 ON RECORD REVIEWS

Lester Young cover the period from 1942 to range: of material, of vocal SIMON SPILLETT reviews the 20-CD set of ATLANTIC JAZZ LEGENDS Rhino 8122796024 1948, and not 1947, as stated on colouring, of style and approach the CD cover. to the listener. Her smoky-voiced Boasting the sub-title 20 Original of R& B hits from performers like Lennie Tristano or the Art authority on Blue Prelude gets Albums From The Iconic Atlantic Ruth Brown, Joe Morris and The Ensemble of Chicago, and whilst Young is accompanied by the things off to the perfect start and Label, this boxed set presents an Clovers, and although it didn’t some of the albums are truly likes of Nat ‘King’ Cole, Vic she refines down her delivery on instant quandary: what exactly take them long to catch up, it was timeless, others reek heavily of Dickenson and Joe Albany. There some fine ballad performances, makes a jazz legend? A cursory only with the recruitment of period fashions which have is also a rare set featuring especially It Might as Well Be glance at the roster of names Ahmed Ertegun’s brother Neshui travelled less well (Dave Pike’s vocalist Helen Humes. There are Spring. Stompin’ at the Savoy involved reveals some to the company in 1955 that they Jazz For The Jet Set is one, an eight bonus tracks from the Trio doesn’t take off as I’d hoped and indisputable contenders – really begin to take a serious record which hides behind a that he led with Nat ‘King’ Cole Bob Mersey’s arrangements are Coltrane, Coleman, Mingus, interest in the second wave of cover as pastiche-ridden anything and . The repertoire is conventional, sometimes Blakey – but who I wonder modern jazz. Neshui had been from an Austin Powers movie). a mixture of popular songs of the cluttered, but The Amazing... is would nominate Joe Mooney or living in Los Angeles and was The majority of the artists era, jazz staples and Young’s own more than good enough for Dave Pike or even – if we’re initially responsible for signing included recorded more than compositions. Much of the set is starters. splitting jazz purist hairs – Mel uber-West Coast jazzmen like one classic album for the label taken up with Young’s 1945-1948 Torme? Shorty Rogers and Jimmy Guiffre and so the listener will either be small group sessions, in all making The next two albums, one live, (neither of whom is represented pleased or agog at which of their for a varied listening experience. one studio, are the main reason All this might make Atlantic’s in this collection, oddly enough) favourites does or doesn’t make As with many re-issues on for buying this set. In Simone at selection of artists and albums but soon broadened the roster the grade. However, this mix and Phoenix, the CD booklet is Town Hall (mostly live, some for this set appear to have been to include the popular Modern match effect can actually be informative and detailed. tracks re-recorded) she chosen at random, and those Jazz Quartet – without doubt the rather refreshing, proving once educational, but ultimately that’s Recording quality is as one would announces herself with powerful who know the label’s history will label’s most prominent jazz again how eclectic was the label’s what it is – a historic overview of expect for the time. piano at the start of Black is the doubtless argue over why the success – and the unclassifiable policy during the twenty or so an incredibly vibrant period in be issued up to a decade later. American Songbook (as Alec Color of My True Love’s Hair, then box contains nothing from Duke maverick . With an years the set covers. I for one jazz history, seen through the The Big Beat (the first studio date Wilder referred to standards in Young said that ‘A musician launches into a swingingly direct Ellington’s brief tenure or why ear to the future, it was Neshui would probably have never eyes of a major label. And, as we for Wayne Shorter) is patchy but his book of the same name). should know the lyrics of the Exactly Like You. My dread at yet the seminal work of Ray Charles who also lured otherwise noticed - much less know, there’s plenty of scope for it does include Shorter's Sleeping Fuller also features on the four song he plays.’ Young was a another appearance of – as much a jazzman as anyone – from in 1959, heard – an album like Mongo further volumes. Dancer, Sleep On (alternativee titles recorded at Birdland in landmark figure in the evolution Summertime is dissipated by her is also excluded, but rather than thus effectively launching the Santamaria’s Mongo ’70 were it take on CD1, issued version on September 1960, but the of jazz saxophone with a musical paraphrase, though I have highlighting the demerits of a set saxophonist’s solo career. In fact, not included here. Listened to This writer’s stylistic preferences CD2) hard bop of a very high intensity of the studio sessions is deceptively simple style – laid to admit that a few more like this, let’s begin by looking at from 1960 to 1970 Atlantic’s jazz chronologically, the box also are certainly well catered for by order. Like Someone In Love is missing here. back, low key and relaxed and yet hearings will be necessary to its considerable plusses, perhaps catalogue was as good a reveals a solid sense of its contents: indeed, it was another roaring session with swinging, even on ballads. reconcile me to a similarly the most obvious of which is barometer of the shifts taking programming logic: the first wonderful to be reminded of how well it documents the labels Blakey playing loudly and heavily, a This set shows the truly glorious Ebullient joy to profound sadness iconoclastic Fine and Mellow, but place within the music as any: album is Chris Connor’s Johnny Griffin in his prime, talents of the musicians. Lee dedication to new music. A real driving force, but it seems – you can hear it all in his playing overall this is a striking starting the decade with a series eponymous set from 1956, a hip scrambling through Thelonious Morgan, with his lyrical, sparkling better strap-line may have been like a warm-up for A Night In here. performance. The studio album, of barrier breaking albums from slice of understated vocal magic, Monk’s compositions with the tone really hits the spot; Shorter, ‘Jazz Legends 1955-1970’, as the Ornette Coleman, they then the last is Billy Cobham’s fusion Tunisia. Apart from the joyously- Forbidden Fruit, is even better, one terrier-like friskiness, and of too, is outstanding, his dark tone set’s contents are concentrated went on to embrace the near- landmark Spectrum and in over-the-top treatment of the ALAN MUSSON main reason being the presence ’s cocky talent Gillespie standard, there are also on up-tempo pieces contrasting on the period in which Atlantic eastern mysticism of Yusef Lateef, between the music moves from of three songs by Oscar Brown just before the lure of fusion outstanding compositions by with a lighter tone on ballads, and went from being a something of a the nascent jazz-funk-meets-hard hard bop to free to funk and NINA SIMONE Jr. A terrific Rags and Old Iron blurred his musical vision. Then Shorter and Morgan, played with as for Bobby Timmons, this set jazz bystander to a major force in bop of Freddie Hubbard, the beyond, pretty much as the wider opens proceedings, the wickedly there’s Chick Corea’s Inner an intensity by the trimuverate of has encouraged this writer to the development of those it down home pastorals of Mose jazz world did in these years. The ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES entertaining title track closes Space, a set which offers a Shorter, Morgan and Timmons. reassess his reputation; his signed and recorded. It’s simply Allison, the wildman antics of fact that there are virtually no them and in the middle is a fine nostalgic glimpse of the leader Although recorded in 1961, it comping behind the horns cannot impossible to imagine the careers Roland Kirk and even Mel stylistic omissions is also Warner 2564628851: 5 CDs, version of the Adderley-Brown before it all got very weird and didn't see daylight until 1970. be faulted and his solo work is of The Modern Jazz Quartet or Torme’s Ivy League cool. They noteworthy. classic, Work Song. Also look out noisy during the 1970’s. There’s crisp and bright. Today, only 35.16/40.53/37.45/32.13/40.22 Ornette Coleman, to pick just also raised new stars into the for a trademark Simone number, also an album which I consider to The Witch Doctor maintained the Shorter, and Merritt are still two examples, without the firmament, Keith Jarrett, Chick The real issues with a set like this be one of the most criminally Wikipedia, in its matter-of-fact Gin House Blues, and the lovely standard, with Shorter's title active; Blakey died in 1990, endorsement of Atlantic. Indeed, Corea, Joe Zawinul and Roy aren’t so much musical as fiscal: overlooked of the 1960’s, Roy way, describes Nina Simone as Carmichael-Webster song, track and Lee Morgan's Afrique Morgan was shot dead in a the label’s history is full of A&R Ayers among them, each being who will buy it and more Ayers’ Virgo Vibes. For those singing blues, rhythm & blues, folk Memphis in June, done straight. outstanding, but the mysterious domestic argument in 1972 successes: teaming young groomed for the sort of jazz pointedly why? On the one hand, listeners who only know of and gospel as well as jazz – fair Those Who Sit And Wait just the whilst Timmons died of a liver producer Joel Dorn with Roland super-stardom that would come it would be all too easy to slam Ayers’ later semi-commercial enough, and don’t forget her After that Nine Simone Sings highlight here-but only just. The complaint in 1974 (at age 38). Kirk finally provided the latter to define much of the music in Rhino for making yet another output, the recording will be a classical piano training sometimes Ellington is a touch disappointing. Freedom Rider reflects the Civil This set shows the heights the with the sense of genuine the early 1970’s. salami slice from their back revelation, as the vibesman works showed through and now and One reason is the Rights movements in the Messengers achieved, with artist/producer collaboration catalogue, especially when all his way through a set of pure jazz again she had a pitch for the pop accompaniments: on the previous southern states (the original surprisingly few lows and is highly he’d always needed and in letting So with such a rich treasure these albums remain in the company of heavyweights market. The jazz element is pretty two albums it was simply her Freedom Riders were both black recommended. flautist Herbie Mann experiment trove to draw from, the simultaneously available as single like and Herbie piano and trio, here her and white who set out to test strong through most of the five with everything from bossa-nova compilers of this set must have CD issues, but at the same time, Hancock. Blue Note may have arrangements veer from the the Supreme Court decision that GREG MURPHY early albums packaged together to fusion the label eventually had the devil’s own job in available at budget price and got Bobby Hutcherson, but for a ingenious to the overblown and discrimination on inter-state by Warner. The only real garnered an unlikely late in the deciding who was in and who sturdily and attractively packaged moment there Ayers looked as if the Malcolm Dodds Singers are travel was illegal) and Blakey's LESTER YOUNG exception is Folksy Nina, the latest day jazz ‘hit’ with 1969’s Memphis was not. Coltrane’s manifesto the compilation actually makes a he was in the lead. fierce drum solo on the title of them (1964), taken from a an encumbrance. But once again Underground. statement Giant Steps, Ornette highly appealing purchase for track is a masterpiece of cross- THE COMPLETE ALADDIN Carnegie Hall concert, kicking off you have to admire her refusal to Coleman’s Change of The Century both dilettante and serious In summary, Atlantic Jazz Legends conform. There are some Ducal rhythms, but it's not all anger, RECORDINGS in gospel vein with Silver City There can be little doubt that the and Art Blakey’s one-shot listeners alike. And, such as it is, is exactly the kind of release that with several intriguing Bound and moving on to English, classics (an ethereal I Got it Bad 1960’s were Atlantic’s peak years. meeting with Thelonious Monk the selections included are a sort both charms and frustrates: its the best, It Don’t Mean a Thing – compositions by Shorter and Phoenix 131605: 2CDs, Dutch and Israeli folk songs. Unlike Blue Note and Savoy for are just three of the mandatory of aural equivalent of a chocolate grab-bag offerings will infuriate Morgan. The Impulse album, which ain’t got that swing – the instance, the label wasn’t in on inclusions that truly deserve the box, inviting the listener to 79.19//79.42 purists as much as they will Messengers!!!! lacks the impact of All the other albums date from letdown), but the choice is the ground floor with bebop. At legendary sub-title but alongside sample this or that artist’s work delight neophyte listeners. That its forebears, and signals the wind 1959-1961. The Amazing Nina eccentric, with a quasi-operatic the time when Parker, Gillespie such essential recordings the set simply because it’s included in a These recordings were made said, for anyone who wants a of change that was approaching- Simone, her debut album for Merry Mending so bizarre as to be and Monk were setting down the also includes its share of fluff: for nice, bright shiny context: ‘here’s after the saxophonist’s release handy all-in-one survey of trombonist Curtis Fuller joins the Colpix and only her second great fun. defining documents of the instance who would have one I know I like, and here’s one I’ve from prison and dishonourable Atlantic’s jazz activities during its group for six titles, and there's an overall, naturally covers as much movement Atlantic were busy plumped for the by-now all-but- not tried.’ It might seem a little discharge from the U.S. Army and golden era it’s hard to beat. over - reliance on The Great as possible of her astonishing RON SIMPSON clocking up an impressive series forgotten Joe Mooney over, say, too high brow to call this set 28 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 29 IN PRINT

BOOK REVIEWS BY movements in jazz: revivalism and many musicians. The most MARABI NIGHTS: RON SIMPSON bebop transmuting into ‘trad’ and refreshing feature of the book is JAZZ, RACE AND ‘modern’, mainstream (not so his awareness of Mann’s much a movement, just some limitations. Beginning as a tenor SOCIETY IN EARLY AN UNHOLY ROW: great jazz), skiffle, jazz suites, etc., saxist in the early 1950s, Herbie APARTHEID SOUTH JAZZ IN BRITAIN AND as well as the great individuals. Mann set out to become the AFRICA ITS AUDIENCE, 1945- Much of the story is reflected identifiable face (and sound) of through the careers of the flute in jazz, to be ‘as CHRISTOPHER 1960 Humphrey Lyttelton and John synonymous with the flute as BALLANTINE Dankworth, but he has Benny Goodman was with the DAVE GELLY interesting and pertinent things clarinet.’ Though less prominent University of KwaZulu-Natal to say about everyone from Ken in the years before his death in Press, paperback, 978 1 86914 Equinox Books, hardback, 978 1 Colyer to Joe Harriott, from Ray 2003, he achieved this, topping 84553 712 8, £25.00 Ellington to Tubby Hayes. the Down Beat Readers Poll for 237 7, 255 Rand, available on 13 successive years until 1970. Amazon at £22.01 (with CD of At first thought it’s difficult to I was reminded of a postcard I He was also, Cary Ginnell rare recordings) know what makes An Unholy Row received from a schoolfriend on explains, the first major jazzman such a satisfying read. At 148 holiday in the late 1950s, to be primarily a flute player. Marabi Nights, first published in pages, plus assorted notes and an explaining that he had met two Great jazzmen such as Bud Shank 1993 and updated with a light index that seems, on limited jazz fans, ‘one trad, one mod’, as and were saxists who touch, is supremely well testing, far from perfect, it was though they were two separate researched, with the author also played the flute. never going to be a particularly tribes. Dave Gelly, of course, will conducting well over 50 full account of the career of have nothing to do with such So you might expect the book to interviews in the 1980s and Humphrey Lyttelton, Chris nonsense, but he fits British jazz making excellent use of magazine concentrate on Mann’s Barber, John Dankworth or of the 1940s and 1950s into its and newspaper articles. It is full wonderful flute playing. Not Ronnie Scott. Secondary sources social context with uncommon of information of which I, for entirely so: the Foreword by the are well chosen, but there is little skill. And, when he shows his one, was largely ignorant and is younger flautist Hubert Laws original research, and it is neither hand in the final sentences with persuasively written from a praises his ‘acute business a polemic nor a comprehensive his most joyous memories of the liberal, never extreme position. acumen’ and concludes that he history. time, he ends with one I can deserves respect for ‘putting our share: the incomparable Jimmy Christopher Ballantine writes voice on the musical map’ – not a Yet it’s a book I greatly enjoyed Rushing singing with ‘the best (very knowledgeably) more word about his inspired reading and, even though most of Lyttelton band ever’. about the sociology of music the events and characters were musicianship! And Mann seemed than about the music itself, familiar to me, one I learned THE EVOLUTION OF to share that view. There’s a though much of this is fascinating. much from. Dave Gelly has a gift remarkable quotation reported I found especial interest in the for explanation and a breadth of MANN: HERBIE MANN by Sam Most who said to Mann racial balance in the 1920s and focus that enables him to chart AND THE FLUTE IN that he wished he could be as 1930s when there was certainly the class issues of post-war JAZZ successful and Herbie replied, prejudice, segregation and Britain as clearly as he does the ‘One of us has to be the artist random violence, but apartheid changing fashions in music. He and one of us has to be the had not been introduced as a CARY GINELL makes connections that seem businessman.’ Although Ginell structured system. Here we find obvious once he has made them, clearly finds much to admire in black musicians with white tutors Hal Leonard Books, paperback, but which had eluded me. For Mann’s playing, he is not averse and white and black bands playing instance, we can all work out that 9781458419811, £15.99 to pointing out his weaknesses, the same concerts, but the decline of the dance bands slamming some of his poppier humiliating restrictions placed on Cary Ginell is as efficient a jazz drove musicians into the fringes efforts and regularly reporting his blacks, sometimes of an almost biographer as he is prolific in his of rock’n’roll, but what about the lack of success with the critics. comic nature. For instance, for an effect on the next generation of contributions to the Hal Leonard African to get a pass as a Jazz Biography series – and he is ‘modern jazz’ musicians deprived So what emerges is a strange musician, he had to satisfy a white very prolific, Herbie Mann of the basic musical schooling of story in jazz terms, for its Afrikaner board of his ability – following hot on the heels of a professional band? Hence attention to ambition and image, and the safest way was to play Cannonball Adderley and Billy Ronnie Scott’s comment on the but also because Mann’s style Sarie Marais! Eckstine. He is firmly then rising generation, ‘Six changes were positively chronological in his approach – a Ballantine’s sociological approach months in a palais band would do bewildering. Partly because he little too much of the ‘And then tells us much, but – he is not them the world of good!’ wanted to chase or start the he recorded...’ for my taste, but writing much about jazz as we latest trend to get popular Equally, whilst Gelly doesn’t push always thorough, never over- know it. His main subject is success, partly because he had the personal narrative, the ‘I was detailed – and concentrates very marabi which depended on insatiable curiosity and rather there’ factor gives further much on Mann’s music and rhythmic attack and an endlessly less patience, he was liable to authority to his commentary. The ambitions until the later stages repeating chord sequence. title is derived from the when the 1980s and 1990s pass change tack every couple of Though he covers various styles comment of a friend’s father on fairly quickly (less to tell, I guess) years. Starting with bebop, Mann up till about 1960, oddly he the makeshift band of teenagers, and Mann’s third marriage to – a one-man World Music excludes totally the Jazz Epistles including the author, who were Janeal is foregrounded. programme – worked through from the late 1950s, the Blakey- indeed making an unholy row Afro-Cuban, bossa, percussion- inspired group that included sometime in the first half of the Ginell’s face-to-face interviews based African music, disco, a three international stars-to-be, 1950s. with Mann over several days in concerto grosso, blues and post- , Hugh Masakela 1999 are key to the book’s bossa Brazilian music, only at the and Jonas Gwanga, and the Dave Gelly writes fairly and success and he also makes good end of his life turning to his own superb, if ill-starred, alto saxist judiciously about all the use of interviews with Janeal and roots in Eastern Europe. Kippie Moeketsi. 30 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 31 BEGINNING TO CD LIGHT BEGINNING TO CD LIGHT

Acker Bilk exchanges between the tenors, stands out from other similar RON SIMPSON’S ROUND-UP OF RECENT CDS the material is mostly Basie- albums. Four bonus tracks from derived and Big Miller sings a three years earlier (1956) are a hatever we choose to challenging jazz solos. Central to sleeps’ album. French bassist and ukulele, Emily couple, his blues clearly school of bit cooler, less commercial, less call it – Hot Club the project are the precise and leads his Hope Campbell’s cool, clear vocals and Jimmy Rushing. familiar (all Paich originals), with Wjazz, gypsy jazz, expressive vocals of Andrea Quartet in AT – above all – Danny Blyth Paich taking the piano chair manouche – guitar-based jazz in Motis, but the quality solos are “L’IMPROVISTE” (Label Bleu covering the bases from guitar Many of the later Benny himself alongside regulars Joe the Django Reinhardt style is a not confined to the big names: I LBLC6713: 71.56), L’Improviste and mandolin to clarinet and bass Goodman recordings feature Mondragon and Mel Lewis. constant growth area in jazz. particularly enjoyed Victor being a club on a Paris barge clarinet via blues harmonica, the bands put together for special Among the usual suspects on With so many excellent groups I Correa’s trombone. From the where this live session was range of styles is enormous. So, occasions and BENNY IN MARK MURPHY SINGS sometimes find comparison same label recorded. Things kick off with too, is the knowledge of obscure BRUSSELS (Phoenix 131601: (Fresh Sound FSR-CD 823: 2 difficult. However, the Belgian INTERPRETA A SERRAT drummer Louis Moutin setting or unexpected songs alongside 78.45) finds him at the 1958 CDs, 70.10/59.50) are Conte group Daniel Willem Gypsy (DM5093-02: 53.48) records a the pace for O Elvin, a near-14 such favourites as On the Sunny World Fair: the CD, incidentally, Candoli, Joe Wilder, Ernie Royal, Jazz Band on SINTO SWING fusion of jazz and ‘nova canco’ minute hard bop piece composed Side of the Street: Putney combines two LPs and adds two and Jimmy (Home Records 4446104: 46.20) (Catalan ‘new song’). Pianist by Henri Texier – all the tracks Dandridge, Ukulele Ike, Ray bonus tracks. The orchestra was Cleveland on one or another of is a bit different. The title, plus a Montoliu, on the brink of an are by him or his son Sebastien. Davies! Even in Hot Club mode a pretty good one: only one old- the three albums here in few boisterous group vocals in international career in the 1960s, Bass and drums are inventive Spats decides to remind us of time Goodman sideman, Vernon arrangements by Bill Holman, Brown, but plenty of fine players, Romani, pitch us back towards met and briefly played with soloists throughout, Francois Django’s semi-forgotten rival and Al Cohn notably the tenor sax pairing of the root Manouche tradition, but singer/songwriter/Catalan Corneloup provides muscular Oscar Aleman. respectively. Aside from its high and Seldon Powell and the size of group, with accordion patriot/opponent of Franco Joan baritone sax and Sebastien Texier musical value, this is a fascinating pianist Sir Roland Hanna who figuring largely, hints more at Manel Serrat. This 1969 album is shows the influence of the BRITISH TRADITIONAL glimpse into how record makes the most of plentiful Paris cafes then caravans. Though his tribute to Serrat, dynamic and idiosyncratic JAZZ GOES TO THE companies had trouble in opportunities to shine. Jimmy marketing jazz singers half a Samson Schmitt is a fine guitarist, reinterpreting his songs. The clarinettist Louis Sclavis, a former MOVIES (Lake LACS 6: 76.05) is Rushing is a surprising addition to century ago. Capitol went for the emphasis is less on guitar mood is reflective, occasionally associate of his father, though always historically interesting the package: he only gets a popular success whilst trying to virtuosity than in some gypsy jazz reverential, the touch sensitive, occasionally his alto sax is (including Paul Adams’ detailed couple of numbers, but both he maintain Murphy’s jazz groups: apart from Willem’s the Tatum-esque runs part of gentler, more melodic. Some of liner note) and contains some articulates well at higher tempos underestimated talent – and and Goodman still sound on top credentials on Playing the Field fluent violin playing and Tchavo Montoliu’s armoury, but seldom the and excellent jazz in a curate’s egg of (skating through Mountain these CDs support his view. of their game, BG particularly (1960) and it doesn’t quite work, Berger’s accordion, there are brought out. Barcelona appears extended, barely accompanied a package. Nearly half the tracks come from It’s Trad Dad! which Greenery at speed) and has a Possibly she fell into the ‘too inventive in the small group despite half the tracks being guests on harmonica and to be the current capital of solos don’t really hold my featured all three Bs, the Bilk winning way with a torch song, if many notes’ category, unable to pieces, though overall there is a accompanied by a classy jazz trio: sax/clarinet to add to the sextet. recorded jazz, with a dynamic attention, but clearly this was an band in rousing form with a rather too consistently plaintive a resist a surprising quotation, a certain predictability about much Jimmy Rowles, Joe Mondragon, Some good original album from a subsidiary of exciting night in L’Improviste. powerful front-line of Colin tone. The Otis band (violin, thunderous climax or a sideslip of the proceedings. By the late . A singer whose compositions, too, including a reissue experts Fresh Sound: Back in the UK guitarist Nigel rumba and a bossa to vary the RACAN ROL (Swing Alley sa Smith and John Mortimer. It’s also accordion, guitar, bass, drums) is into a different time or tune, but 1950s, as in the Jim Timmens CD, prodigious technique and innate Price is frank about his mix even more. A decided 024: 55.27) by Sax Gordon and good to hear authoritative playing spry, musical and fairly her comparative neglect is hard many big bands full of outstanding musicality could be compromised influences – Charlie Christian, European ethnicity is also at play Lluis Coloma. Consisting from Dickie Hawdon with the conventional. Jim Timmens is to fathom. CD1 consists of a live jazz musicians were put together by affectation of delivery, Murphy Herb Ellis, Wes Montgomery – in NEW CAT (Discmedi Blau entirely of originals and Lightfoot band shortly before his an arranger about whom I found session in Copenhagen in 1980, under the command of arrangers, sometimes goes over the top in and they show to good effect on DM5106-02: 64.37), that being arrangements by the two departure for academia. I prefer precisely nothing on the web, with superb support from Mads both inspired and insipid. Marty his attempt to prove his jazz HIT THE ROAD (33JAZZ 241: the New Catalan Ensemble, principals (Gordon under his real Norrie Paramor’s arrangements except for references to this Vinding and Ed Thigpen, mostly Paich was one who understood chops. Over on Riverside, things 64.21). The title track, bluesy but playing the compositions of name Gordon Beadle), this is a and compositions for Mike release: PORGY AND BESS standards thrown together in the workings of (especially) a change for the better. With a melodic, probably the best of pianist Joan Diaz and featuring hard-driving album featuring a Cotton in The Wild and the Willing /SHOWBOAT/GILBERT & unexpected medleys, with the biggish band such as the 13-piece much jazzier set on Rah! (1961) four Price originals, kicks things the talents of singer/multi- powerful five-piece horn section. to the six short tracks he and SULLIVAN/HALLELUJAH – occasional eccentric vocal. CD2 on I GET A BOOT OUT OF Murphy rises superbly to the off and, by the time he’s followed instrumentalist Andrea Motis and Pianist Coloma has his subtle Acker put together for Band of SPIRITUALS (FSR-CD 822: comes from Antibes in 1975, with YOU (Cheesecake 8242: 49.10). challenge of Doodlin’ and Twisted up with Freddie Hubbard’s Up saxophonist Joan Chamarro. moments, but generally hits hard Thieves (nice clarinet, not a lot 2CDs, 65.50/67.18). Jordi Pujol’s another excellent rhythm pair of With his smart arrangements of and is prepared to keep it simple Jumped Spring and Billy Diaz’ music is a sort of with a percussive blues-and- else). The two most appealing note calls him a ‘prolific Arvell Shaw and Panama Francis, jazz standards, including four on Li’l Darlin’. It’s the same on Strayhorn’s Chelsea Bridge, it’s unconventional fusion: Catalan boogie-based attack and rarities come from Ken Colyer craftsman’ and he’s right: the four more bluesy originals and unusual Ellington favourites, and soloists That’s How I Love the Blues (1962), poems set to music, traditional Gordon’s honking tenor sax obvious that his Organ Trio (with from West Eleven and Pat Halcox original LPs were recorded in six choices (Stevie Wonder to headed by Art Pepper, Jack from sailing through the Catalan instruments and rhythms, betrays his blues background: Pete Whittaker and Matt Home) accompanying the lonely long- months of 1958-59 and the Beethoven). Donegan is equally Sheldon and , Lambert-Hendricks vocalese on sophisticated melodies, edgy Mallorcan guitarist Balta Bordoy operates at the thoughtful distance runner. Humph’s jam arrangements are ingenious exuberant and idiosyncratic in there is nothing not to like, Fiesta in Blue to stretching out on arrangements for brass, impresses too, on a real ‘nobody creative end of such outfits, session from It’s Great to Be Young enough, even the G&S which are both settings. In the case of Zoot though I’m not sure how much it Wee Baby Blues. though there’s no shortage of is better without the unnervingly the hardest to transfer to a jazz- Sims and Bob Brookmeyer high-speed solos, too. A very well bright teenagers miming badly, based big band. If the the musicians are anything but Tete Montoliu balanced album ends with the but there’s nothing to be done arrangements are not especially unknown, but the mystery is why bonus of Greek tenor saxist for In the Doghouse by Dick exciting, Timmens leaves plenty of such a fine album as Vasilis Xenopoulos joining the Charlesworth! No shortage of room for outstanding soloists. STRETCHING OUT trio for a romp through another rare material in Fresh Sound’s On Porgy and Bess and Showboat (DreamCovers 6083: 78.34) original, Hot Seat. Spats Langham delving into the jazz of the 1950s Timmens casts musicians as appears nowhere in their takes a rather different approach and 1960s: so many artists individual characters. Porgy was discographies. Recorded in 1958, to playing the guitar, as evidenced (singers, especially) who put in a originally released as by Stewart- with Al Cohn (often on baritone), on SMILE (Lake LACD 331: fleeting claim to fame, then Williams & Co, and Rex and and an all-star 69.21) by his group Hot disappeared into obscurity. Like Cootie appear as Sportin’ Life rhythm section, it is amiably Fingers. It’s easy to associate the majority Bea Abbott is well and Porgy. Timmens features retrospective in its choice of Hot Fingers with what Keith worth a hearing, could have had a trumpet solos extensively material, with Brookmeyer’s Nichols’ note calls ‘the full longer career with luck, but is throughout, Donald Byrd and Joe arrangements creating a big clarinet, banjo and sousaphone not so distinctive that we feel a Wilder the stars on the other sound for an eight-piece and treatment’ – with Spats’ great talent was lost. THE TOO albums. Pianist DOROTHY solos brimming with wit and nonchalant vocals – sort of TOO MARVELOUS BEA DONEGAN (Storyville invention. The bonus album, Temperance 3, with added ABBOTT (FSR-CD 825: 72.58) 1038437: 2 CDs, 59.12/36.55) is Kansas City Revisited, almost as virtuosity. But there’s far more to comprises 24 tracks from 1957 better remembered than Jim obscure, is even better. the CD than that. With Malcolm with the Hal Otis Quintet, 8 of Timmens, but in the liner notes Brookmeyer and Cohn are joined in the front line by Paul Sked switching to double bass, them instrumentals. Abbott has Scott Yanow makes a very good Mark Murphy Spats moving between guitar, an attractive vocal sweetness, case for her being a much Quinichette, resulting in bristling 32 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 33 LIVE REVIEWS By RON SIMPSON CLEETHORPES JAZZ with Love and skills in whistling Remi decided there had been number, Come on a My House, FESTIVAL and scatting to go with her way enough Django and delivered a delivered with a playful poise to with a lyric, the whole thing North African piece originally the accompaniment of Stephen topped with a lovely straight We’ll written for oud! One thing that Keogh’s hands-on drumming. It June 27th-29th be Together Again. was predictable, however, was wasn’t until the third number, that a line-up of Mark C’Est Si Bon, that her full trio Someone ought to do a thesis on As for Walkington and McCarthy, Nightingale, Dave Newton, Dave (bassist Arnie Somogyi and the the relationship between jazz and the following day they were Green and Steve Brown would fiercely percussive American seaside resorts. In its sixth year in together again with Alan Barnes be a bit special – and it was! In pianist Bruce Barth) joined her as its present form, run by Gillian on a range of instruments in the middle of a whole series of she gave the song a thorough Wilde and Grimsby Jazz, the some delicate super-civilised wonderful songs brilliantly played working over in English, French Cleethorpes Jazz Festival takes us Sunday lunch-time chamber jazz. Mark summed it all up, ‘It’s a and scat. deep into the world of candy- A highlight was Without a Song pleasure just to play tunes with floss and big dippers, moving for (Alan on baritone) which carried such great musicians.’ My only criticism of her 80- the first time to McCormacks echoes of the Trio minute set would be that four Family Showbar in Pleasure of long ago. Nothing could have RENE MARIE songs out of eight came from her Island, a mile or two from the been further in mood from Alan’s Eartha Kitt tribute, I Wanna be town centre. Sadly, prom-strolling previous concert, with Tony Kofi Howard Assembly Room, Evil, though it’s fair to say that the between sets is therefore out, in quintet format, billed as being live performances far surpassed but McCormacks offers a the alto equivalent of those two Grand Theatre, Leeds, the recorded ones, with Dave spacious, well equipped, well tenor battles – and living up to April 23rd Frishberg’s Peel Me a Grape staffed room with a capacity the billing. The contrasts between (glorious bass introduction and around 170, near enough full the two altos (Tony meatier in Rene Marie has had an solo from Somogyi) a particular throughout. tone, more direct) came through unconventional career, not singing highlight. The triumphant centre- in everything from extended professionally until her early 40s, piece of her performance was Cleethorpes is a packed Friday solos to two-bar exchanges, with so, by the time she won the her gospel and blues version of evening-Sunday evening festival, a remarkable Creole Love Call Down Beat Rising Star Award in My Country ‘tis of Thee, the with 15 single-set (usually 75 outstanding, Kofi’s blues- 2012, she had a deal of passionate vocal reminiscent of minutes) concerts and a generally drenched solo fired by Winston experience of life and music to Dinah Washington, with Barth rapid turn-round. The flavour of Clifford’s explosive drumming. draw on. Despite the award and winding up the tension with the music on offer is easily her appearance at last year’s wildly in-control piano. More of gauged by such bill-toppers as The Kofi/Barnes Quintet was London Jazz Festival, I think she is the same (or similar) would have Clare Teal, Enrico Tomasso and preceded by Dave Newton solo still something of an unknown been welcome, but at least Rene Roy Williams and Robert – contrasts again! The maverick quantity in this country. Her one- Marie’s emotional and dynamic Fowler’s Gerry Mulligan Big Band composer Percy Grainger liked off gig in Leeds, on the back of a range was well shown by her – it’s high-quality accessible jazz to use the term ‘ramble’ for his week at the Global Music sliding from that into a sensitive from top British players. That can re-creations of existing pieces – Foundation’s Jazz Workshop at reading of the verse of A Foggy be a case of the Usual Suspects, and it fits Dave Newton well, in Kings Place, was decently full, but Day. but Cleethorpes fulfils the two fact, the programme note far from a sell-out in a 300-seat main criteria for keeping it fresh: comments wisely, ‘Every tune is a venue. Rene Marie has often courted NEW RELEASE bringing in newcomers (from Phil journey’. Often moving from controversy and has been JAZZ ME BLUES – THE 70s Ware and Gabrielle Ducomble My previous acquaintance with rhapsodic fragments into hints of described as ‘iconoclastic’. I wish LACD332 on the first evening onwards) and the melody (or perhaps a Rene Marie was only via two of she had trusted the Leeds creating ad hoc groups with different one), he sounds always her albums – The Voice of My audience with more material with CHRIS BARBER’S JAZZ & Beautiful Country, stunning at intelligence and discernment. on the brink of a medley, dense a message, but this was a BLUES BAND There’s much pleasure in hearing harmonies appearing alongside times, and I Wanna Be Evil, good wonderfully entertaining the likes of Dave Newton, Dave jaunty two-handed attacks and fun, but lacking the heft of the programme, vocally assured and A DOUBLE CD FOR THE Green, Alan Barnes, Winston witty variations. And his finale earlier release – and so I was full of surprises, the mood PRICE OF ONE Clifford and Grimsby’s own Pat was indeed a medley: I’ll Take unprepared for such a superb live consistently upbeat and joyful: McCarthy in different settings. Romance and Where or When – performance. To start from she even admitted the musicians The 1970s saw the advent of the over the weekend the Great scratch with an a cappella medley were ‘not too slouchy’! Jazz & Blues band and, although still firmly rooted in the Jazz the For instance, on my Saturday American Songbook came to (When You’re Smiling the first of band had always played, ChrisBarber was pushing the boundaries afternoon arrival (I caught about McCormacks Bar! several ‘smile’ songs) was a and experimenting. This CD set of previously unreleased tracks half the concerts in all), there was triumph of confidence and also includes tracks with the band backing Blues singer Jimmy a pin-drop atmosphere for Matt Holborn and Remi Harris’ technique – and also an early sign Witherspoon and two bonus tracks of Chris Barber playing with Georgia Mancio’s ultra-cool Gypsy Jazz Quartet did exactly as of her power in putting over the the Muddy Waters’ Band. bossa, her singing expressive and billed, with some fine meaning of a song, the phrasing Follow us on FACEBOOK precise and the accompaniment performances, mostly of pieces broken up from time to time into of Julie Walkington and Pat associated with Django, including speech patterns, her pitching Visit our on-line shop at www.fellside.com McCarthy no less so, despite the a superbly poised version of sometimes unexpected, but Distributed by Proper Distribution Ltd. fact that Georgia and Pat had Grieg’s Norwegian Dance, always precise, audience met just half an hour before. delicately hesitant, irresistibly reactions plotted and controlled If you would like more information and be placed on our mailing Georgia was most impressive rhythmic. But very little was by gesture and facial expression. list please send a large SAE with two second class stamps to the throughout, with individual predictable at Cleethorpes. When address below. treatments of great songs from violinist Matt Holborn left the Things didn’t get any more LAKE RECORDS, PO Box 40, Workington, CA14 3GJ, UK No More Blues to Falling in Love stage to two guitars and a bass, conventional with the second Rene Marie 34 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 35