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THE RAG

ISSUE 141 SPRING/SUMMER 2016 JULIAN UK £3.25 MARC STRINGLE CONTENTS

JULIAN MARC STRINGLE, CAPTURED BY MERLIN DALEMAN AT THE LADY SINGS THE BLUES CONCERT AT LAST YEAR’S BIRMINGHAM JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL. A LONG-TIME STAR OF DIGBY FAIRWEATHER’S HALF DOZEN, JULIAN IS NOW ESTABLISHED AS ONE OF THE HEAVY HITTERS OF – AND A RETURN TO BIRMINGHAM IS PART OF HIS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE FOR 2016.

4 NEWS

6 UPCOMING EVENTS

8 JAZZ RAG CHARTS CDS AND BOOKS

9 SO WHO WAS GEORGE FRAZIER?

10 RECORD STORE DAY

12 WHISPER NOT PREVIEWS BENNY GOLSON'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

14 EPISTLES TO THE WORLD SUBSCRIBE TO THE JAZZ RAG A SLICE OF HISTORY

THE NEXT SIX EDITIONS MAILED 15 WATERMILL JAZZ TO MOVE AGAIN DIRECT TO YOUR DOOR FOR ONLY £17.50* 16 THE LEGACY OF THE ODJB SCOTT YANOW CELEBRATES A CENTENARY Simply send us your name. address and postcode along with your payment and we’ll commence the service from the next issue. 18 JAZZ FESTIVALS OTHER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: EU £20.50 USA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA £24.50 21 CD REVIEWS Cheques / Postal orders payable to BIG BEAR MUSIC 30 LIVE REVIEWS Please send to: JAZZ RAG SUBSCRIPTIONS GATESHEAD, DARLINGTON, THE BARBICAN PO BOX 944 | Birmingham | England 32 BEGINNING TO CD LIGHT * to any UK address

THE JAZZ RAG PO BOX 944, Birmingham, B16 8UT, England UPFRONT Tel: 0121454 7020 BACK TO THE FUTURE Fax: 0121 454 9996 Email: [email protected] A new name has started appearing on the schedules for festivals and clubs: Pete Long’s Tribute to Jazz at the Philharmonic. Pete is indefatigable in his re-creation of the jazz of Web: www.jazzrag.com the past: Echoes of Ellington, at Carnegie Hall, etc. Now – with the two 100 Years of Jazz shows and JATP – he is taking the repertory system into the Publisher / editor: Jim Simpson world of the swinging small group. News / features: Ron Simpson Reviews editor: Nick Hart It raises the question of whether there are any small swing bands regularly on the road International editor: Yue Yang that aren’t deliberate re-interpretations of the past. Lady Sings the Blues (see Julian Marc Commercial Director: Tim Jennings Stringle above) is, like JATP, not tied to one narrow era, but nevertheless takes us back Subscriptions & accounts: Nick Hart to the 1930s to 1950s. Research: Michael Fort Designed by Nerys James There is always Digby’s Half Dozen (JMS again!): though there is a retro element in Printed by Warwick Printing some of their music, it doesn’t have the precise tie-in of Lady Sings the Blues or the Pete www.warwickprinting.co.uk Long shows. So that’s one! If you know of (or are part of) a small swing group working regularly, not just formed for one festival or one tour, let Jazz Rag know and we’ll write © 2016 THE JAZZ RAG. All original material including advertising artwork remains the sole copyright of the Publisher and may not be about you. reproduced without permission THE JAZZ RAG 3 NEWS NEWS Geoff Cole’s Hot Five (29), the Wycliffe Gordon DJM 232 Celebration (16 – Cadogan Hall), its regular small groups with the Madeleine Peyroux In its 232rd edition the Martyn Brothers (June 5), Brian Bobby McFerrin Sings Gershwin appearance of the Stafford Netherlands’ Doctor Jazz Carrick’s Algiers Stompers (19) with the BBC Concert Orchestra Grammar School Big Band (15) magazine is as full of energy, and the Frog Island Jazz Band and the Bill Charlap Trio (16 – and they are followed by the erudition and the unexpected as (26). Barbican), (18 legendary Merseysippi Jazz Band Tel.: 020 8985 6455 ever. The occasional article in and 19 – Kings Place) and (22). English is a particular treat and in Madeleine Peyroux (20 – Royal Tel.: 01785 226950/07974 131797 DJM 232 Opal Louis Nations USHAW DURHAM Festival Hall). www.staffordjazz.org writes in English on the early JAZZ FESTIVAL www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk years of the Soul Stirrers, the The first Ushaw Durham Jazz JAZZ AT THE successful gospel quintet from Festival will be staged at Ushaw CONCORDE JAZZ HOWARD Houston, Texas. Despite a College on the outskirts of Though the main jazz night is Opera North’s programme at concentration on the traditional Durham on August 26-28. Ushaw Wednesday, there is plenty of jazz the Howard Assembly Room in end of jazz Doctor Jazz is a broad- College, a former seminary, is good quality, with Cory Henry of especially interesting, but GOOD NEWS FROM KING PLEASURE GIGS to enjoy on other nights at the Leeds Grand Theatre is nothing if minded publication, with articles being transformed into a key Snarky Puppy (May 14) and Hugh unfortunately the Ghetto ALBRIGHTON King Pleasure and the Biscuit Concorde Club in Eastleigh. A not enterprising. Lovers of world on Wycliffe Gordon and Frank cultural venue in the North East Thursday night special on June 2 Masakela and Larry Willis (28) Swingers are not included! A year after Jazz Club 90 was Boys have several Scandinavian music and folk are well looked Sinatra, together with a note on of England. Topping the bill for brings Courtney Pine and Zoe lined up. On June 8 a programme www.operanorth.co.uk forced to close at the Harp, dates in the summer diary: after in the current programme, the first performance of an opera the first jazz festival are Alan Rahman with Song, while every of the music of Terezin sounds Albrighton, the club is flourishing Denmark’s Riverboat Festival but jazz events are always of about . Obituaries Barnes and Bruce Adams, with Friday features the Dave Lewin at the Albrighton Sports Social (June 24-25), Bremanger in and CD reviews are as detailed the Paul Edis Trio. Other concerts Trio. Sunday evening is the time Club, though on a more limited (July 1) and Randers as ever and it’s good to see a feature the Nigel Price Trio, Zoe for traditional jazz for dancing, basis. Instead of meeting twice a Festival, back in Denmark lengthy review of Jazz Rag writer Gilby, the New Century Ragtime with a host of top British bands week, Jazz Club 90 now operates (August 12). Home gigs include Peter Vacher’s impressive new Orchestra and, leading a late and the occasional visitor such as only on Sunday lunch-times once Wirksworth Town Hall (May 13), book, Swingin’ on Central Avenue. night jam session, the Peter the Bratislava Hot Serenaders a fortnight. A one-off gathering to the Stephen Joseph Theatre, www.DoctorJazz.nl Gilligan Trio. (July 24). As for Wednesdays a celebrate 25 years since its Scarborough (14), Longfield Suite, www.ushaw.org trio of Rossano Sportiello, Dave foundation was held last October Manchester (20), Marine Theatre, SUNDAY JAZZ IN Green and Steve Brown (May 11) and its success led to monthly, Lyme Regis (28), Forest Arts is followed by Tony Jacobs and then fortnightly, sessions which Centre, New Milton (June 4), MORNING LANE MORE FOR LONDON the Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra (18). continue to be very well Greystones, Sheffield (11), The Globe in Morning Lane, East The EFG London Festival is many Other highlights include Clare attended. Next up is the Three Birchover Carnival (July 16), London, has regular Sunday months away (November 11-20), Teal and her Mini Big Band (June Spires Jazz Band on May 22. Solihull Arts Complex (20), lunch-time jazz from 12.30 to but the programme of top names 1), the Dime Notes (8), the Tel.: 01902 756158 Sugnall Jazz Festival (22) and the 3.30.The New Stompers (May continues to build. Among those Y Not Festival (31). 15/also June 12) are followed by recently announced are the Hippocampus Jass Gang (22), Tel.: 0121 454 7020 Bob Dwyer’s Bix and Pieces (22), Experiment (15 – Pete Long’s Jazz at the www.kingpleasureandthebiscuitboys.com KOKO), Norman Winstone – A Philharmonic tribute (July 6), the Craig Milverton Trio with Greg Abate (13) and Digby Fairweather’s Half Dozen (27). Tel.: 023 8061 3989 www.theconcordeclub.com

BLAYDON JAZZ CLUB A varied schedule includes the Noel Dennis-Paul Edis Quartet (May 15), the Alice Grace Quintet fronted by the former NYJO vocalist and Guildhall graduate (June 19) and the Reunion Band (July 10) featuring Hong Kong-based ex-pat trumpeter Colin Aitchison and Italian virtuoso Franco Valussi.

END OF SEASON SPECIAL AT STAFFORD Stafford Jazz Society’s final concert of the season at the White Eagle Club is a special extended event, starting at the regular Sunday time of 12.30. An international band presents a programme with the self- explanatory title of Ragtime, Swing, Blues and Beyond. Americans Jeff and Ann Barnhart are joined by ‘Spats’ Langham and drummer Graham Smith. Earlier in May the SJS has a change from

4 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 5 UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS

Enrico Tomasso Gilad Atzmon GREAT PRIZE AT BURTON AGNES!

Win a weekend family ticket worth £283 for Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival on July 1-3!

Just answer the following simple question and email your answer to [email protected] or post it to Burton Agnes Competition, Jazz Rag, P.O. Box 944, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 8UT, by June 17th:

One of the bill-toppers at Burton Agnes is star singer Elaine Delmar, but who was her father?

Ronnie Scott’s, London (7 – two Jazz & Swing in the Garden at Hot Sardines shows), National Concert Hall, Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire, Pete Lay’s next Jazz Festival for Nottingham Rhythm Club at the UPCOMING May and June at the Stables, Next up for Wakefield Jazz is the the first Thursday of every month Dublin (8) and the New Theatre, on May 27 features Susan Valliant Warner Leisure Hotels comes on Stadium Leisure Snooker Club Wavendon, brings Roy Ayers Lindsay Hannon Plus (May 13), at Cheadle Hulme Conservative Cardiff (9). Speer and her group, Digby EVENTS September 9-12 at Gunton Hall presents the Jeff Barnhart/ (May 11), Swinging at the Cotton the North East singer with her Club, with guest singers Roy Fairweather and Julian Marc Coastal Village, Suffolk, with Baby George Huxley Hot Five (May Club with the Jiving Lindy trio. The Weave follows on May Forbes (June 2) and Loretta Scott Stringle. The recent Breda Jazz Festival Jools and the Jazzoholics, the 19), Pedigree Jazz Band (June 9) Hot Club specialists Emma Fisk Hoppers and Harry Strutter’s 20, then Ian Shaw (27) (July 7). Tel.: 07570 016805 was the first of a series of festival Savannah Jazz Band, Brian and the Hot Antic Jazz Band (23). (violin) and James Birkett (guitar) Hot Rhythm Orchestra (15), accompanied by Jamie Safiruddin Tel.: 01625 528336 www.palladianevents.co.uk bookings for Tipitina. This play a duo gig at the Jazz Cafe on Phronesis (18), Pete Long’s and Miguel Gorodi. June 3 brings www.facebook.com/grahambrookjazz Carrick’s Algiers Stompers, New Tel.: 07973 882235 summer they can also be heard www.nrcjazz.co.uk Pink Lane, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on Echoes of Ellington (June 17) and the first of NorVol Jazz’s Arts The Talbot Hotel in Southport Orleans Heat, Gambit Jazzmen at the first Sugnall Jazz Festival July 8. The Nigel Price Trio the National Youth Jazz Council-backed series of Durham’s Gala Theatre presents has a series of three night jazz and John Maddocks’ Jazzmen. (July 24), the Aber Jazz Festival at Friends of the Upton Jazz appears at the venue on Orchestra (26). Sunday morning overseas artists touring northern jazz on a regular basis. The Gerry events, the next on June 3-6 with Tel.: 01737 822726 Fishguard (August 27) and the Festival’s next concerts at Hanley September 16. events include a Live Jazz Matters jazz clubs, in this case acclaimed Richardson Quartet plays a the Jazz Café Society Charleston Great British Blues Festival (28). The Spice of Life in Cambridge Castle High School feature the with Rossano Sportiello (May 15) Canadian trumpeter Ingrid lunch-time gig on July 15 and Band, Keith Nichols and his Back Tel: 0121 454 7020 Circus, London, features All Star Howard Alden Quartet (May 13) Sheffield Jazz rounds off its and Enrico Tomasso in Jensen. Over the summer evening concerts include visits to the 20s Band and the Lunchtime Jazz on Wednesdays. and the Tim Kliphuis Trio with current season with an conversation with Brian Peerless Wakefield Jazz is organising two from James Pearson and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, to be The latest of Saga’s jazz-themed On May 18 the Jack Honeyborne Tom Kincaid (June 3). appearance by the Allison Neale (22). Sadly, those of you who summer big band concerts on ’s All Stars (May 12), followed on September 2-5 by holidays takes in four nights in All Stars are joined by James Tel.: 01684 593794 Quintet at the Millennium Hall at were planning to go all 1930s at Sunday lunch-times, the first SK the Hot 8 Brass Band (July 8) and the High Society Jazz Band, Digby Jersey from October 9, with the Davidson and Graham Hughes, www.uptonjazz.co.uk the Polish Catholic Centre on Hedna’s Vintage Nightclub (June II, Dave Tyas’ Stan Kenton-style the Big Chris Barber Band Fairweather’s Half Dozen and music of the JB Jazz and Blues the on May 25 Pete Long’s Jazz at May 20. 25) can put away the vintage gear band, on July 17. (September 29). Georgina Jackson. Band under John Beckingham, the Philharmonic Tribute takes www.sheffieldjazz.org.uk – it’s cancelled! Tel.: 01977 680542 www.galadurham.co.uk Tel.: 01704 533975 plus two jazz talks and two over. Tel.: 01908 280800 www.wakefieldjazz.org www.stables.org excursions. Tel.: 0208 647 2114 The Buxton Festival, mainly www.saga.co.uk/jazz-jersey Tuesday Jazz and Swing at the opera-based, includes a fair Wilmslow Conservative Club measure of jazz among its late features the Tom Kincaid Trio evening concerts: Jazz at the liberally in the coming weeks: on Movies with Joanna Eden and its own (May 24), with Amy Mark Crooks (July 10), the Alex Roberts and John Hallam (June 7) Yellowlees Band (15) and Digby and with Gilad Atzmon (14). Fairweather’s Half Dozen (21). Among the other attractions are www.buxtonfestival.co.uk LAKE RECORDS Roy Williams with the Brownfield/Byrne Hot Six (May New York retro-jazz group, the NEW RELEASE 31) and Martin Speake with Hot Sardines, tour to Saffron singer/violinist Faith Brackenbury Hall, Saffron Walden (June 4 – LACD345 WHEN LOUIS and the Vinnie Parker Trio (June two shows), New Theatre, MET BIX – ANDY SCHUMM 28). Also promoted by Graham Oxford (5), Ageas Salisbury & ENRICO TOMASSO Brook, the Sinatra Swingers play International Arts Festival (6), With ALISTAIR ALLAN, NICHOLAS D. BALL, SPATS LANGHAM, MORTEN Emma Fisk GUNNAR LARSEN, MATTHIAS SEUFFERT, MALCOLM SKED This recording is based on a reported jam session held following a meeting of Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke in in 1928. We have tried to imagine that session using two of the finest exponents of the two trumpet/cornet styles. They are supported by a band of leading specialists in vintage Jazz. Hot Jazz at its finest! LAKE CDs are £13 inc P&P (worldwide!) direct from LAKE Records (details below). Follow us on FACEBOOK Visit our on-line shop at www.fellside.com Distributed by Proper Music Distribution Ltd. LAKE RECORDS, PO Box 40, Workington, CA14 3GJ, UK

6 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 7 THE JAZZ RAG TOP 20 SO WHO WAS GEORGE FRAZIER? CHARTS SO WHO WAS GEORGE FRAZIER? Jimmy Rushing sang Harvard Blues, the Basie band played it, Tab Smith wrote the tune, but UK JAZZ CD SALES CHART what about the words? RON SIMPSON checks out the writer, George Frazier. 1 COMPLETE LIVE AT THE Phono On the recent Solar release of all First impressions are that Frazier the extant material from Benny was a discriminating listener. He Jimmy Rushing CRESCENDO 1968 Goodman’s concerts in Brussels had a particular love of the photographed by in 1958, Jimmy Rushing, guesting playing of Bobby Hackett and was William Gottlieb 2 SCOTT HAMILTON & THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE Stunt with the band, is heard twice from the earliest days a booster in 1946 KARIN KROG delivering his masterly take on for the always underestimated Harvard Blues. 17 years after he Frankie Newton. He numbered recorded it with Count Basie, it Pee Wee Russell and Eddie 3 TREASURY VOL.20 Storyville was still a corner-stone of his Condon among his friends and repertoire, yet isn’t there a wrote a memorable obituary for 4 A MAN IN A HURRY Mono Media Films dislocation between the subject- another friend, Bunny Berigan. matter and the form? His iconoclasm could be akin to 5 WADADA LEO SMITH A COSMIC RHYTHM WITH ECM arrogance, but his response to Writing to the Harvard Magazine one of the new guys of the early & VIJAY IYER EACH STROKE in 2002, a self-professed jazz fan 1940s still sparks a nod of to have originated when an might refer to marijuana or (and, of course, Harvard alumnus) recognition and a chuckle at the undergraduate called up to John something. No, not to anything 6 CHARLES LLOYD I LONG TO SEE YOU Blue Note claimed that the words ‘must phrasing, unfair as it is: Bryce Gordon Rinehart (class of more toxic than Vincent’s Club in have been Greek to him 1900) with such vehemence that Boston. Frazier (or his student 7 LOUIS ARMSTRONG PLAYS WC HANDY Essential Jazz Classics (Rushing)’ and that he ‘didn’t get ‘My own reaction to Kenton’s it was taken up by others all alter ego) was obsessed with beyond the third verse.’ Do I music is that it is neither fish nor round the quadrangle. There are what club people belonged to. In detect the whiff of intellectual flesh, but pretty foul. It seems to 8 PAUL GONSALVES / COMPLETE RECORDINGS Phono many stories (possibly some of the verses Jimmy Rushing didn’t and social snobbery? Jimmy me pretentious, artistically phony, them true) about ‘Rinehart’, from sing, he lists his clubs, his father’s Rushing is thoroughly at home and without any attributes that a sob story about its origins told club and his mother’s. Maybe it’s with the quaintly nostalgic satire might even charitably be called by Frazier to Basie to the tale of as well Rushing stopped at three 9 THE COMET IS CHANNEL THE SPIRITS Leaf of Harvard Blues and he didn’t get jazz.’ a Harvard man captured by Arabs verses! COMING beyond the third verse because in Africa whose call of ‘Rinehart!’ that’s how many verses he, Basie But, when he described Benny brought rescue from another As for George Frazier, he and Tab Smith wanted – got to Goodman as a ‘charlatan, the Harvard man who happened to stopped writing about jazz 10 BILL FRISELL WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR Okeh leave room for Don Byas’ tenor worst sort of aesthetic phony’ be in the vicinity. And what about regularly soon after Harvard Blues solo! and Peggy Lee as ‘third-rate’, he that mysterious reference to ‘a was recorded. He became a 11 LARRY YOUNG LARRY YOUNG IN Resonance was surely more in love with his most indifferent guy’? I guess columnist on the Boston Globe, so However, it’s true that own opinions than anything else: I Frazier was referring to the famous and so highly regarded Oklahoma-born, Kansas City- have problems with anyone who 12 LUCKY THOMPSON / SOUL'S NITE OUT Disc Medi pressure to conform – whatever that, 37 years after his death, the based blues singers are supposed didn’t like the Andrews Sisters, else I am, I’m not different! Globe ran a celebratory column to move to the outskirts of too! to mark his 100th birthday. For town, not to the ivy-covered halls The Harvard stereotype of the all that, it is difficult to imagine his 13 DR LONNIE SMITH EVOLUTION Blue Note of Cambridge, Massachusetts. So So this is the man who showed lyric seems pretty keen on ‘arch wit’ and ‘erudite Olympian how did Harvard Blues come his satirical blues about a typical staying out of trouble (the pronouncements’ going down about? Harvard man to Count Basie and prohibition on dogs and women well with all. 14 DUKE ELLINGTON 1936 -1940 SMALL GROUP SESSIONS Mosaic Tab Smith around about 1940: I in the room comes from a George Frazier was at Harvard in would guess John Hammond, also pamphlet with the solemn title of Occasionally he would deign to 15 FOUR CLASSIC ALBUMS Avid Jazz the early 1930s, trying to play the Ivy League (Yale in his case) and Rules Relating to College Studies) write sleeve notes for a jazz clarinet and writing for obscure the man who brought the Basie but more concerned with being album, including a much praised European magazines. A Bostonian, 16 BOOK OF INTUITION Impulse! band east, had something to do in the right set and enjoying the essay on . But even he was, one suspects, among the with the introductions, though social life of the rich and idle. His here he divided opinion. Richard academic and social elite so whether any friendship between Brooks clothes and white shoes Vacca tells of sleeve notes for 17 RAY BRYANT PLAYS THE COMPLETE LITTLE SUSIE Lonehill Jazz cherished in that city at the time: Hammond and Frazier survived have always struck me as being Lee Wiley that were called how many undergraduates even the latter’s comments on BG is the epitome of smart, but, Rabelaisian and tasteless, 18 & MEL ALL MY YESTERDAYS Resonance know about obscure European debatable. according to the website Ivy Style ‘delivered,’ said Bill Coss in magazines? In 1936 he began LEWIS BIG BAND (which should know) the ‘white Metronome, ‘in a Madison Avenue, writing for Down Beat as the The words to Harvard Blues have shoe boys’ were known for the check-this-virile-guy manner, Boston correspondent. He was a certain resonance based on deliberate scruffiness that only more rightly expected from 19 BENNY GOODMAN HAPPY SESSION Essential Jazz Classics one of those outrageous and self- mystery as well as being very the truly rich can affect: dirty anxious teenagers than from a opinionated columnists who singable. Perhaps the most tatty black and white shoes with mature man.’ Well, he did call 20 MATTHEW HALSALL FLETCHER MOSS PARK Gondawa gather devotees and enemies in famous line is ‘Rinehart, Rinehart! the toes turned up! His attitude Wiley ‘one bitch of a singer’. equal numbers: ‘Boston Remains I’m a most indifferent guy!’ – then to work and money is neatly as Dull and Stupid as Ever’ was echoed in the famous repeated summed up: But, at least, he didn’t keep dogs This chart is compiled from sales in the following record stores one of his more extreme riff. What’s that all about? For a or women in his room. headlines from 1937, as Richard start, it is Rinehart, not ‘Got 3 Cs, a D, and think checks CRAZY JAZZ, Northampton www.crazyjazz.co.uk (0)1604 315287 Mail Order - www.crazyjazz.co.uk/main/orderform.pdf Vacca informs us in his excellent Reinhardt, with apologies to all from home sublime!’ *Richard Vacca, The Boston Jazz JUMBO RECORDS, Leeds www.jumborecords.co.uk 0113 245 5570 5-6 St Johns Centre, Leeds, LS2 8LQ and apparently encyclopaedic who thought it was Rush’s secret Chronicles: Faces, Places and MUSIC INN, Nottingham www.themusicinn.co.uk 0115 978 4403 38-42 West End Arcade Nottingham NG1 6JZ book.* Later he had a daily jazz tribute to a great gypsy guitarist! And who is his Vincent baby? Nightlife 1937-1962, Troy Street RAYS JAZZ AT FOYLES, London www.foyles.co.uk/rays-jazz-classical-music 020 7440 3205107 Charing Cross Rd, London WC2H 0EB column in the Boston Herald ‘Rinehart!’ has been described as One perplexed correspondent to Publishing, 2012. HONEST JONS, London www.honestjons.com 020 8969 9822 278 Portobello Rd, London W10 5TE entitled Sweet and Low-Down. ‘Harvard’s rebel yell’ and appears the Harvard Magazine opined it 8 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 9 RECORD STORE DAY RECORD STORE DAY

plus assorted compilations. sound of vinyl is really good, so a Ensemble of Chicago, and now in the shop on a Saturday when RECORD STORE DAY Various local groups – not jazz – lot of those guys have come back names Tubby Hayes as his it’s full of people, people who were lined up to play sets every to it.’ favourite British jazzman – and would never dream of saying they RON SIMPSON takes a look at the surprisingly thriving world of the independent record shop. hour next to the shop. even admits to an appreciation of liked jazz, and they say, “What’s Jumbo has a substantial jazz trad jazz. So, I ask him, how this?”. They buy it and suddenly Regular predictions in the music By mid-afternoon things had section, but obviously it’s not the important are jazz records – world are of the total quietened down somewhat, but central plank of their sales policy. CDs as well as vinyl – to Jumbo’s that door opens.’ disappearance of vinyl and the the long counter was still being Matthew himself is a jazz fan and year-round sales? demise of the independent manned by five busy sales staff his instant survey of the A busy Saturday in Leeds is not record store. If this year’s Record and next door a melodious, development of his taste from ‘We do a lot of jazz sales but it going to solve the problems of Store Day on April 16 is anything rather folky quartet had filled all schooldays to now is like a goes in waves, jazz goes round record labels and musicians to go by, both of these are the seats and drawn a two-deep history of jazz, but not always in and round in popularity. At the selling albums in penny numbers, grossly exaggerated. 230 record standing crowd. the right order. From what he moment a lot of the new British but the sight of a shop full of shops in the UK participated in calls ‘the funky organ stuff’ – guys – Matthew Halsall, Nat punters browsing and buying the event which saw the release Assistant manager Matthew Grant Green, – he Birchall, Go Go Penguin – have of special limited edition vinyl by Bradshaw took time out to talk moved on to doing his become massive, not only in the CDs and vinyl was at least a 250 labels and radio reports told to me about the growth of homework to , jazz world, but they’ve crossed partial antidote to tales of gloom of queues forming at 3 in the Record Store Day, then through and Miles over into the mainstream. I can and dire predictions for the morning at some shops – and responded to my question about Davis to the avant garde Arts put a Matthew Halsall album on record industry. this is for records, not the latest the apparent popularity of Sun Harry Potter book! Ra: ‘It’s been fantastic today. Over Facts and figures show a decided the last few years it’s just got upturn in vinyl sales in recent bigger and bigger, with a really years, though from a low base. both singles and albums charts, independent record stores – a arrived to queue pre-opening good selection of releases. This Sales broke through 2 million in with a total of 4 singles in the Top figure, incidentally, that per head time – clearly an early morning year has been a really good year the UK in 2015 and the January- Ten and 3 albums. of population is dwarfed by the rush was anticipated. Also on the for Sun Ra. A few years ago Gilles March figures show the UK’s 200-plus. website was an impressively long Peterson on the radio introduced improvement continuing this Undoubtedly Record Store Day, list of the limited edition records his listeners to Sun Ra and a lot year, with a rise of over 60 per which is now partnered with I decided to sample Record Store available on the day at Jumbo. Jazz of young people had never heard cent over the three month BBC Music, has played its part in Day at Jumbo Records in Leeds’ was very much in the minority, anything like it – but they did like period. Now official vinyl charts bringing about this sales St. John’s Shopping Centre. It but even so three Sun Ra albums it! His compilations of Sun Ra are worth publicising again – the improvement. Now in its ninth seemed wise to leave it till the were – remarkably – on the list, have been really influential.’ sales charts for the first three year, it was originally set up in the afternoon as the shop’s website together with the likes of Billy months of this year saw David to celebrate the gave instructions on where to Cobham, Henri Texier, John Though he is delighted at the Bowie, unsurprisingly, topping unique culture of some 700 shelter and get a coffee if you Coltrane and Go Go Penguin, benefits of Record Store Day, now fixed as the third Saturday of April each year, Matthew is at pains to point out that, so far as shops like Jumbo are concerned, vinyl never went away and it’s always been a part of their year- round sales:

‘This shop’s been going since 1971 and we’re one of the shops that didn’t stop selling vinyl. A lot of the chain stores got rid of vinyl not because it wasn’t good sound or anything, but because you could fit in more CDs per square unit of space. It’s cheaper to manufacture, cheaper to sell. But we maintained vinyl, we always have, so we’re in a great position now that everyone’s decided vinyl is fantastic again – but we never stopped selling it. HMV have got rid of vinyl maybe eight times and brought it back again, claiming, “HMV – keeping vinyl alive!”, but shops like us The Big Chris BarBer Band ConCerT of The Year!! have always sold it. We always did well with it, but sales are massively up over the last 10 Friday 9th September 7.30 PM years. Not only have you got young kids who like a tangible CADOGAN HALL, LONDON thing – they like the sound, they like the look – but you’ve also www.cadoganhall.com got older people who’ve spent a lot on hi-fi and now realise the 10 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 11 WHISPER NOT WHISPER NOT

Hollywood during the late 1960s where his best known creations aspiring musician; a guy who and the photo captions in my WHISPER NOT is a model lesson. Now in 'a came to life. Thus we learn all finds the best in situations and pre-publication copy are world of convincing illusions' and about the careful gestation of I people wherever he can (even sometimes incorrect; the picture SIMON SPILLETT previews Whisper Not: The Autobiography of Benny Golson, written with having been tagged with a 'jazz- Remember Clifford, the expedient when he's backing into of Coltrane backstage surely cat' label he is forced to pawn his birth of Stablemates and the a corner about the future of the dates from the early 1960s and Jim Merod, to be released in the UK on June 10th. instruments and wife’s clothes in novelty of Blues March. Golson Jazz Messengers, he comes across the on-stage shot of the Jazztet is order to get by, waiting what also shows he's not immune from less as a young upstart, more as a from The Five Spot, not Sweet Now in his ninth decade, Benny and refreshing in the extreme to barely a page going by without a bumpkin...his saxophone case in seems like an age to secure work the rituals and suspicions that concerned admirer). That said, he Basil) but these never detract Golson is one of the last find an autobiography by a observational vignette springing one hand and biting his thumbnail and respect. This achieved, there often bedevil writers, confessing can be as cutting as a blowtorch from what is, indisputably, one of surviving giants of the golden era musician that for once doesn't vividly to life. Along the way, we on the other. He looked like a are inevitably a sprinkling of that he's unable to throw out the when needs be, in one instance the most erudite and carefully of jazz, a performer and read like a list of poorly learn how good a mimic Lee little shy sheep') reveals the quick-fire anecdotes about TV bathrobe he wore during an delivering the ultimate, considered of all jazz composer whose 60-plus year constructed career highlights. Morgan could be ('his imitation of author’s gift for literary and movie names including, especially purple-patch of impervious, harangue against autobiographies. 'What stories career has embraced innovation, Make no mistake; this is a book John Wayne's swagger and portraiture. Indeed, there are among others, Marty Feldman, creativity. professional jazz critics ('for any will the future tell about Benny reinvention and rebirth in equal of quite a different stripe drawling speech was hilarious'); similarly quick studies of all Mickey Rooney, Alan Alda and paper or “critic” to simply Golson?' he muses in the final measures. As a member of the altogether. Golson's co-author how mercurial was Kenny manner of musical characters; James Coburn ('he compared His summing up, a simple, honest repeat, even in part, a previous lines of the book. One certainty big band and Art also has a flair for the written Dorham ('a fabulous musician encountering the young Bill [acting] to playing an and brief chapter titled A New writer's comments about an is that, along with a folio of Blakey's Jazz Messengers during word, although in Merod's and a confusing man') and how Evans, yet to realize his talent, instrument'). Even then Golson Way Of Life, saves perhaps the artist is the lowest form of memorably personal the 1950s, he rode the second contributions, loquaciousness Harry 'Sweets' Edison's digestive Golson is struck by the image of refuses to get too starry-eyed, greatest revelation of all, that critical effort'). compositions, future generations wave of modern jazz sometimes spills exuberantly issues could take out an entire 'a classic nerd', whose playing especially when recalling the time since the late 1960s Golson has will thank Golson for leaving one development that came crashing over into grandiloquent band bus. He's also unafraid to sounded 'corny and stiff'. (He also Orion Pictures used Killer Joe been a practising Jehovah's Whisper Not is not, however, a memorably personal book. down on America's cultural sycophancy. tell it like it is where his own remembers Evans initially without his permission. 'Was Witness, with his faith sustaining book that sets out to prove Insightful, moving, candid and well shores after the emergence of relationship to other musicians is complaining that bassist Scott La Hollywood everything I him through a life of 'family Golson's superiority to others; thought-out, this is a book that bebop. Then, after co-helming one The biggest hurdle for this concerned. He found Miles Davis Faro was 'driving him crazy' by imagined?' he asks at one point. values, law, and morality'. It is this rather it sets down a hugely deserves the widest possible of the most musicianly of all hard reviewer - and I suspect other (whom he called 'Doctor Davis' refusing to play walking bass lines, 'Maybe more and maybe less' fair-mindedness that prevents entertaining, historically priceless, appreciation. bop bands, The Jazztet, during the readers of this book - was getting on account of the initials MD) the very thing that was to mark comes the ambiguous answer. Golson from making too harsh a first-hand account of the times early 1960s, he relaunched past the preface, in which Merod 'not, as I knew him, a bad man or their collaboration as something judgement on others, and which through which one of the great Whisper Not: The himself as a Hollywood serves up what is to all intents an evil person', but someone who extraordinary). For those also seeking to gain an undoubtedly contributes to his jazz survivors has lived and Autobiography of Benny composer, scoring film and TV and purposes an hagiography, at ' behaved perversely just to insight into Golson's noble decision to write a book worked. Inevitably, given the Golson, published by Temple productions and eventually one point comparing the amuse himself.' Others he Gigs come to life too, never compositional methods, the book free from much of the tawdry length and intense cycle of University Press, distributed winding up on the other side of saxophonist’s account of his life encountered draw out more more so than in his jaw-dropping is a must-read. Not only does he reminiscence that often achievement of the author’s in the UK by Combined the lens in Steven Spielberg's The to the work of W.B. Yeats, surely a mixed feelings, such as Earl recollection of the night Louis discuss the inspirations, characterises accounts of jazz career, there are a few memories Academic Publishing: Terminal. first in jazz literature. Bostic, a showman who Armstrong sat in with Clifford influences and ideas that inform history. Consequently, Golson that are a little askew (Hank hardback, £29.99 alternatively delighted or Brown, an unrecorded summit his work (Tadd Dameron clearly emerges as a man of immense Mobley came after Coltrane in A saxophonist whose playing Golson's own introduction treads disenfranchised his young meeting in which the younger being the fountain-head), he gives dignity, with a work ethic that the lineage of the Miles Davis www.combinedacademic.co.uk career can be bisected into pre- a similar path of purple prose, sidemen. Perhaps the most man’s bravura performance a valuable insight into how and could serve as a template for any quintet, not before, for example, and post-Hollywood stages, each referencing Homer's Odyssey and amusing of these revelations stimulated Armstrong into with its distinct character, he's declaring earnestly that 'time will comes when Golson reveals how 'seriously searching for always been an individual voice as bear the truth of what I tell here.' Dinah Washington once mistook everything that had ever been an instrumentalist, channelling the Thankfully, after this things his friendliness for something available to his horn.' work of old school giants like become far more engaging with else, with his refusal to play ball Don Byas into the realms of the author charting his life not earning him the nickname But it's not all myth-making stuff; post-bop harmony. Above all, he's chronologically but in chapters 'Reverend Golson’. there are several first-hand among the select handful of truly devoted to individual musicians accounts of the kind of bill-paying great post-Ellington jazz (Coltrane, Quincy Jones, Hand-in-hand with these gigs even jazzmen of Golson's composers, like his ) or more personal reminiscences, he also stature once had to go through, contemporary Horace Silver a frequently with performers provides genuine nuggets of jazz such as the night when, bop-based tunesmith whose grouped in sometimes unlikely history, some of which this writer marooned in a club in Carnarsie, themes exist as complete musical lumps (Miles Davis and Geoffrey had never seen published he and a young Chick Corea find entities rather than functional Keezer, Peggy Lee and Diana anywhere before. For example, themselves forced at beer-point blowing vehicles. Think of I Ross and so on). However, rather when McCoy Tyner's car broke to jazz up the German National Remember Clifford, his elegy to a than jarring the reader’s sense of down on the day he moved to Anthem ('we milked it as if our fallen colleague, or Stablemates, pace, these often bite-sized in 1960, who was lives were at stake; maybe they an early composition so illogical chunks keep the book fast- the man that the non-driving were.'). and yet perfectly balanced that all moving and prevent it from Golson called to the rescue? at once it announced to the jazz getting bogged down in None other than Tyner's future The author, however, hasn't just world that here was talent of conventional sequential narrative. boss John Coltrane. And how assembled an intriguing catalogue rare proportions indeed. One about the true story behind the of jazz-related incidents. There is could go on listing Golson's Throughout, Golson remains theme Vierd Blues, a composition also a poignant human element contributions to the jazz modest about his own gifts but of Coltrane's that Miles Davis to his story; the endemic racism standard songbook – Are You proud of his achievements, and later hijacked, written for a and poverty of his childhood are Real?, Along Came Betty, Killer Joe, never wastes an opportunity to guitarist who couldn't stay in any explored with remarkable even- Blues March, Five Spot After Dark thank those who've guided him, given key. handedness, as is his only-child and so on – songs whose appeal most notably his wife Bobbie, the relationship with his mother, and has endured through over five subject of a chapter of touchingly Unsurprisingly, as they were there is never any danger of decades of jazz change, all of breathless romance and childhood friends in Philadelphia, failure to acknowledge what he which are checked in this new sentimentality. Coltrane figures heavily sees as his own personal failings. and fascinating autobiography. throughout the book, emerging In case of point, if anyone ever But it's Golson's fascinating as somebody Golson both doubts that hard times desert a Almost inevitably, Golson's words insider’s view of the characters reveres professionally and loves performer when they achieve flow with the same eloquence as who populated the Golden Age personally. The account of their fame, Golson's tale about his music. Indeed, it is both rare of Jazz that grip the most, with first meeting ('like a country attempting to establish himself in 12 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 13 EPISTLES TO THE WORLD WATERMILL JAZZ EPISTLES TO THE WORLD WATERMILL JAZZ TO MOVE AGAIN RON SIMPSON follows some of the stories in the afterlife of a historic album. Watermill Jazz has not actually ‘Whilst we will be sad to leave the club’s 20th anniversary in musicians named in this piece been at the Watermill since 2001, our current location, with our 2014 (Alan Broadbent and the don’t make it obvious, here’s the For Jazz Rag 140 I found myself to record their do with gorillas and the Empire why a repressive regime allowed but now the club has just moved strong membership base which Mark Nightingale Big Band). In official version: ‘the finest in jazz reviewing a highly significant album; on March 21st 1960 the State Building! it to go ahead when one number for a second time from its home numbers close to 340 and an 2001 the original venue also from top UK and overseas bands album, yet one that had pretty Sharpeville Massacre saw the clearly referenced the notorious for the last 15 years, the Aviva extensive mailing list, we hope featured in a rather unusual coupled with giving an much disappeared from view in deaths of 69 black South Africans Between the effect of Sharpeville Treason Trial of four giants of the Sports and Social Club. Founded that Watermill Jazz will go from broadcast on BBC television. opportunity to the best younger the years since it was recorded in protesting against the cruelly and the success of that ANC: Albert Luthuli, Walter in 1994 by pianist Ann Odell and strength to strength at the new Under the name Fragments in bands, the music ranging from wonderfully talented group of 1960. Even on Phono’s 2015 re- restrictive pass laws. Though with Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Nelson the late Steve Spurling, the club venue – especially with the Genius it featured musical savant mainstream to post-bop and South African jazzmen dispersed. release Jazz Epistle – Verse 1 was a long tradition of racial Mandela. In later years Jonas operated at the Watermill in strong varied programme of Derek Paravacini and included contemporary.’ segregation (Moeketsi, Gwangwa At the time of Verse 1 Gwangwa relegated to the position of Gwangwa’s Academy Award Reigate Road, Dorking, until a fire artists, already put together by filming at the club with Derek and Masakela, for instance, had was a teenager, Masakela not bonus album to Dollar Brand Plays nomination came for Cry closed the pub for a year or Kathryn Shackleton for the next performing alongside Matt Wates. Helping the Watermill to keep Sphere Jazz. Historically Verse 1 is been born and brought up in much older, and the promise was Freedom, Richard Attenborough’s more. Not sure whether the few months, also attracting some swinging at the golf club, the reputed to be the first jazz LP to black-only townships), South infinite. Masakela reacted to film about Steve Biko, and move would be temporary or of the golf club members to The musicians involved in Darius Brubeck Quartet (May be made by black musicians in Africa had only formalised Sharpeville by fleeing the country through the 1980s Gwangwa led 10) follows Jacqui Dankworth permanent and with the prospect attend our concerts.’ commercial recordings made at . Politically it – and its apartheid in 1948 and the and, by the time King Kong Amandla, the ANC’s big band. the club, both live and in studio and Charlie Wood, before what of returning from exile, the club aftermath – are inextricably tied protests at Sharpeville and reached London, he was already Masakela has always been heavily Jazz Rag also asked Paul to look conditions, suggest the quality of the Watermill calls a ‘Scandi still operated as Watermill Jazz, up with an appalling period in elsewhere could hardly have been into music courses at London’s involved with African musicians back at some of the highlights of jazz associated with the fortnight’: the Anglo-Scandinavian but in fact the Aviva club has South African life and decades of a surprise after a decade of Guildhall and the Manhattan and charities and, together with Watermill Jazz’s time at the Aviva Watermill: (Trio trio, Phronesis (17) and, from proved an outstanding venue as protest. In terms of the musicians increasing activity by the African School of Music. Gwangwa left Makeba (to whom he was Social Club. Several of the events Records), and Ken Norway, the Espen Eriksen Trio the club has developed and involved three have become National Congress. South Africa at a similar time and married for two years in the he singles out were the result Peplowski (Woodville), the Harry (24). The Quartet on prospered. notable figures internationally in Brand, having joined a European 1960s), appeared on Paul Simon’s not only of the quality of Allen Quartet (Trio Records), Art May 31 includes Steve Melling world music: Dollar Brand is now What was much more surprising tour of King Kong, settled in Graceland tours in the 1980s – performers the club attracts, but Themen and Steve Melling (to be who recently recorded the afore- This latest move is prompted by , revered pianist, was the emergence the previous . soon the next time, after King Kong, also the excellent acoustic at the released shortly). mentioned duo album with Art at the expected closure later this symbol of his nation and almost year of King Kong, an ‘All African became the first black South that popular culture in the West Aviva club and a key purchase in the Aviva Club. year of the Aviva Social Club. idolised on his visits to the UK, jazz opera’, composed by jazz African singer to make an impact woke up to South African music. 2005: a Yamaha C3 grand , Watermill Jazz has also Initially last year the insurance is now as famous pianist Todd Matshikiza, which on Western popular music, then Abdullah Ibrahim’s brief return to thankfully moving with the jazz commissioned suites to be The first gig in June (7), Kate for his award-winning film scores opened at the traditionally liberal found her passport had been apartheid South Africa in the company Aviva announced that club to the Betchworth Park performed at the club, an Williams Four plus Three, as for his robust University of the Witwatersrand revoked and she was unable to 1970s brought the composition they were to vacate the whole venue. As a result of these factors ambitious undertaking more involving the Guastalla String playing – and celebrated (Nelson Mandela an alumnus), return to South Africa. Only of , described as ‘a Pixham Lane site and, though the club has been involved in associated with festivals than a Quartet, unites classical and trumpeter Hugh Masakela is but was then permitted to tour Kippie Moeketsi, having played in beloved anthem of hope and they have gone back on that many recordings and broadcasts. once-a-week jazz club. In 2010 popular in a way that Kate’s feted by the great and good and, the country, playing to sell-out the band at the Princes Theatre, resistance for many South decision, a reduction in staff In fact the well received CD by Paul Busby was commissioned to father, the guitarist John Williams, as it happens, due this month for mixed race audiences. One of the went home, his active career Africans’ – and the recording that numbers will mean the closure of John Horler, The Key to it All, was write The Watermill Jazz Suite and would recognise. And the second a short UK tour with Larry stars was the jazz-influenced virtually over, limited by made the reputation of the club. recorded for Diving Duck four years later it was the turn of month in the new home has as Willis. The fourth star of the singer, Miriam Makeba (‘Mama government restrictions. It’s saxophonist Basil Coetzee. Records shortly after the Derek Nash whose Sax Appeal varied a programme as one could Epistles, the highly original alto Africa’), and the 14-piece band somehow appropriate that the So the club has had plenty of purchase of the grand piano. performed his Phoenix Suite for wish for: Cafe Society Swing (14), saxist Kippie Moeketsi, was included Masakela, Gwangwa and only biography of him, published Of all of them, the most warning to find new premises the club’s 20th anniversary. And the Arun Ghosh Quintet (21) and doomed to poverty, alcohol Moeketsi. Then, when the South in 1995 and sub-titled Sad Man of committed of activists was which are at Betchworth Park However, the first notable the club has branched out the Beats and Pieces Big Band abuse and obscurity. In contrast African government thought it Jazz, is ‘currently unavailable’ on Miriam Makeba – and not only in Golf Club in Reigate Road, not broadcast from the Watermill beyond the confines of Dorking, (28). to his three former colleagues, would be good for its image to Amazon. He is belatedly support of African causes. In 2008 far from the Watermill Inn. The pre-dates the Yamaha and the with annual concerts at the still active in their 70s and 80s, he export this highly successful commemorated at the Market she died of a heart attack after change of venue will mean an end Aviva club – in 1999, when it was Menuhin Hall in Cobham, www.watermilljazz.co.uk died in 1983 at the age of 58, still chunk of black culture at a time Theatre of Johannesburg in the performing at a concert in Italy in to the Sunday jam sessions and still at the Watermill, BBC Jazz beginning in 2006 with the Stan protesting that he taught Dollar of impending trade sanctions and name of the theatre’s jazz club: support of Roberto Saviano who also a shift of the main club night Notes broadcast a performance Tracey Quartet including Bobby Brand all he knew about jazz. The sports boycotts, King Kong ended Kippie’s. The connection between had bravely taken on the Mafia- from Thursday to Tuesday. Jacqui by the Quartet Wellins performing Under Milk seeds of his tragedy and of the up at the Princes Theatre, political activism and all the arts like Camorra. But still, over 50 Dankworth and Charlie Wood recorded at the club. More Wood. others’ success can be found in London. To my shame I never saw was one of the few bright spots years on, the music of two of the inaugurated the Tuesday regime recently concerts from the club aspects of South African political it, barely knew of its existence, of apartheid South Africa. The young jazzmen who were doubly on May 3. Paul Hobbs, one of a have featured on BBC Radio 3’s Ironically the move from the life in the 1950s and 1960s. certainly didn’t know that it was Market Theatre, for decades a revolutionary in the days of the voluntary committee of four, Jazz Line-up: celebrating the Aviva Social Club comes at a the story of a heavyweight boxer, hotbed of multi-racial creativity, is Jazz Epistles and King Kong is still summed up the mixture of programme’s 10th anniversary in time when the Watermill has just On January 22nd 1960 the Jazz though maybe I did go so far as best known for the work of such to be enjoyed on regular tours of regrets and optimism felt at the 2011 (with the Neil Cowley Trio been shortlisted as one of three Epistles went into the studio in to understand it had nothing to major figures as Athol Fugard and Europe and the UK. club: and the Finn Peters Quintet) and nominees in the Venue of the Year John Kani and, even as I write category of the All Party The Jazz Epistles this, is staging , about Jazz Rag would be delighted Derek Nash and Parliamentary Jazz Awards. A nice the township described on to hear from any of our ‘the end of an era’, tribute to the Watermill and a Wikipedia as ‘the epicentre of readers who saw King Kong by Jon Frost. charming farewell to the Aviva politics, blues and jazz during the at the Princes Theatre (or Club came from Derek Nash 1940s and 1950s’ and the site of even the University of the when Sax Appeal played the club the Epistles’ first performances Witwatersrand!). in March, one of the last gigs at together. the old venue. The band Hugh Masakela and Larry premiered a new composition by As the exiles carved out highly Willis are playing the Derek marking the club’s move successful careers in the United Howard Assembly Room, and entitled The End of an Era – States and elsewhere, by no Leeds (May 28), the Saffron hopefully to be included on the means always within the field of Hall, Saffron Walden (29), next Sax Appeal CD. jazz, the activism continued, an Warwick University Arts , photographed activism that was present at the Centre (June 6) and the New The end of an era, certainly, but by Brian O’Connor at the very start of their careers. King Theatre, Cardiff (7). also, one trusts, the beginning of original venue in 2001, a few Kong was a political hot potato one. The club’s policy remains and it’s difficult to understand unchanged and, just in case the months before the fire. 14 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 15 ODJB ODJB

taught himself the cornet, next major step in jazz, mixing persuaded Edwards, Shields, Wild Bill Davison or Bobby THE LEGACY OF THE ORIGINAL practising regularly to the together some solos with clean Robinson and Sbarbaro (who had Hackett in LaRocca’s place. Larry recording, learning how to play ensembles and fresh new changed his name to Tony Shields played with trumpeter jazz. melodies. In 1920 Mamie Smith’s Spargo) to give it another shot. as late as 1951. J. JAZZ BAND recording of Crazy Blues was such To hedge his bets, LaRocca also Russell Robinson, who recorded 1919 was the highpoint for the a hit that a blues craze inspired formed a big band but its two eight obscure piano solos in by Scott Yanow ODJB. They repeated their record labels to record every record dates are largely 1947, went back to composing. success in London where they black female blues and forgettable. The original group Tony Spargo stayed active and were featured for nine months at vaudevillian singer they could find came together for some radio Many in the jazz world will be had the opportunity to record numbers while the other five (Too ‘Yellow’ Nunez, trombonist Eddie doubled on kazoo, working with the Hammersmith Palais, in hopes of duplicating the hit. broadcasts, recorded six of their celebrating 2017 as the 100th rags. During that period in New Much Mustard, Down Home Rag, Edwards (1891-1963) and pianist Phil Napoleon and Pee Wee introducing jazz to Europe. The blues craze also resulted in earlier songs (including anniversary of the very first jazz Orleans, Bolden’s place as king You’re Here And I’m Here, Castle (1891-1919). For Erwin. During this time they made their labels realizing that there was a and ), and recording. On February 26, 1917 cornetist was taken by Freddie House Rag and Castle Walk) are three months the band excited finest recordings, 17 selections large untapped market for black appeared in a March of Time the Original Dixieland Jazz Band Keppard and Joe ‘King’ Oliver, loose and often quite boisterous audiences at Schiller’s Café Nick LaRocca, who gave up for Columbia that found the bands and singers. In 1923 King newsreel. Despite the passing of (ODJB) recorded Livery Stable and such musicians as clarinetists versions of ragged melodies. It is before a dispute over money playing in 1937, made group very well recorded, playing Oliver, Johnny Dodds, Louis 20 years since their birth, the Blues and Dixie Jass Band One Step Johnny Dodds, Jimmie Noone and not quite jazz but about as resulted in the group breaking up. exaggerated claims about the at more relaxed tempos than Armstrong, Sidney Bechet, Jelly ODJB played in an unchanged Sidney Bechet, trombonist- uninhibited as any recordings The sidemen, with ODJB in his later years. However (better known as Original they were heard earlier, and Roll Morton and Bessie Smith all style with the music being all bandleader Kid Ory, cornetist from that era. Other early (1897-1969) on drums was it was not necessary, for the Dixieland One Step). But if one harmonizing beautifully, made their recording debut. King ensembles and not including recordings of interest include renamed The Original Dixieland Original Dixieland Jazz Band’s wants to celebrate a year early, Oscar Celestin (who led the particularly on such numbers as Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band (with solos. The new venture, which Gene ‘The Ragtime King’ place in jazz history is secure and that is quite acceptable as the Tuxedo Band), and the teenaged Jazz Band. A personality conflict Mammy O’ Mine, I’ve Lost My Dodds and Armstrong), although gained some initial attention, Greene’s scat singing on King of ODJB was actually formed in Louis Armstrong began to make with LaRocca resulted in Nunez Heart In Dixieland and the waltz mostly ensemble-oriented, lasted last than a year before the one can still enjoy their music 99 The Bungaloos in 1911 (15 years 1916, having their initial success an impact on the local scene. The leaving the group in October and I’m Forever Blowin’ Bubbles. By contained so much talent that it ODJB passed into history. years later. before Louis Armstrong’s Heebie in Chicago. yet-unnamed jazz music began to (1893-1953) then pianist Harry Ragas had seemed light years ahead of the Jeebies), Sophie Tucker’s Some of spread across the United States, becoming the ODJB’s clarinetist. passed away, a victim of the flu ODJB. Sidney Bechet in 1923 was came back a few Scott Yanow has written 11 Despite their name and the later These Days (also from 1911), starting in 1909 when bassist Bill epidemic. He was succeeded by J. the first major horn soloist to be times to participate on ODJB books on jazz. He can be claims of its cornetist Nick Marion Harris’ vocal recordings After gaining a great deal of Johnson moved to California. He Russell Robinson (1892-1963), well showcased on records. And reunion recordings with either contacted on of 1916 on which she swings in a attention in Chicago, the ODJB LaRocca, the members of the led the Original Creole Band, a who was better known as a the rise of Louis Armstrong, who [email protected] relaxed fashion and clarinetist moved to New York in early Original Dixieland Jazz Band did group that included Keppard and songwriter. Eddie Edwards was became a solo star with Fletcher Wilbur Sweatman playing Down 1917, having a historic run at not invent jazz nor were they the toured the U.S. on the black serving in the Army so his place Henderson’s Orchestra in 1924- Home Rag in 1916. Most Reisenweber’s that launched the first jazz group. Unfortunately vaudeville circuit during 1914-18, was taken by the similar-sounding 25 and was soon recording fascinating is That Funny Jas Band jazz age. The ODJB played strictly much of pre-1917 jazz is introducing jazz to many cities. Emile Christian (1895-1973). classic gems with his Hot Five, shrouded in darkness and Other jazz From Dixieland, the first recorded ensembles with the only solos song to refer to jazz. Cut on brought jazz to a completely mystery due to the lack of musicians began to leave town in being very brief breaks. LaRocca When the ODJB returned to November 8, 1916, it features the different level. recordings and contemporary search of work and better mostly stated the melody on New York, the jazz world was comedy team of Collins & Harlan documentation. conditions. Most notable was every chorus, Shields played rapidly changing. Three musical After returning to the U.S., the singing and joking around. They pianist-composer Jelly Roll counter-melodies, and Edwards trends were working against the ODJB was pressured into adding are joined by a band that could What is known is that cornetist Morton who performed in added percussive runs and ODJB. Their success in 1917 altoist Bennie Krueger to their be considered to be playing jazz, Buddy Bolden, who formed his Chicago in 1914, San Francisco in harmonies. Ragas’ piano could resulted in many similar five- record dates as sweetener. They particularly the trombonist, first band in 1895, was the 1915 and Los Angeles by 1917. barely be heard due to the piece groups being formed that had a minor hit with their although chances are that their earliest jazz musician to gain fame primitive recording quality (which were noisier and less musical, all version of Robinson’s Margie, but two ensemble choruses were in New Orleans before mental Recordings before 1917 tended in 1917 sometimes made the seeking to take advantage of the that would be their last hurrah worked out in advance. illness forced him to retire in to be dominated by sentimental band sound like they were playing ‘jazz fad’. Among these were for quite some time. While they 1906. One can only speculate vocalists, straight dance music, in a wind tunnel) while Sbarbaro But it was up to the Original pianist Earl Fuller’s group introduced Royal Garden Blues and what he actually sounded like. military-type bands, vaudeville added colour and jagged rhythms. (featuring Ted Lewis on clarinet), Jazz Me Blues in 1921, the ODJB Ragtime, which was actually a performers, excerpts of classical Dixieland Jazz Band to really get Compared to what had been jazz on records. Nick LaRocca Ted Lewis’ own band, the only recorded eight songs that contemporary of early New pieces and opera, and novelties. It heard on records previously, the (1889-1961) led his first group in Five (Yellow Nunez’s year, two in 1922 and three in Orleans jazz rather than its can be both intriguing and ODJB sounded absolutely New Orleans in 1908. He trumpet-less band), the Original 1923. By the time they broke up predecessor, was very popular frustrating searching for hints of barbaric to many listeners of the worked regularly around town New Orleans Jazz Band which in 1923, personality conflicts had during 1900-15. Although its top jazz on pre-1917 recordings. The time. On their hit Livery Stable until March 1, 1916 when he had the then-unknown Jimmy resulted in turnover and their composers and pianists went African-American orchestra led Blues, the horns imitated moved to Chicago to join Durante on piano plus many music was considered out of unrecorded, a few virtuosic by James Reese Europe came barnyard animals while Dixie Jass drummer Johnny Stein’s band. groups that never recorded. By date. Their time had passed. banjoists (most notably Vess close at times. They recorded Band One Step was fast, excitable Stein’s Dixie Jass Band also 1920, the public was becoming a Ossman and Fred Van Eps) and four selections apiece in 1913 and happily noisy. Most of the included clarinetist Alcide bit bored by these LaRocca and Shields retired from some brass and military bands and 1914. Three are classical public loved it. unsophisticated bands. music, Edwards worked with the orchestras of Lou Gold and During 1917-18 in their A sweeter style of jazz emerged Johnny Sylvester during 1926-27 recordings for the Victor, as a very popular dance music but then also faded from the Columbia and Aeolian label, the that had quieter rhythms, an scene. Robinson, who ODJB introduced such future emphasis on melody and less accompanied Lucille Hegamin, Dixieland standards as The adventure. ’s Lizzie Miles, Annette Hanshaw Darktown Strutters’ Ball, Indiana, orchestra, which sought to mix and Al Bernard on records, Tiger Rag, , together aspects of classical mostly worked as a songwriter Fidgety Feet, Sensation, and Clarinet music with jazz and dance music, while Sbarbaro freelanced. Marmalade. Among the group’s was on its way to becoming the fans were a young Louis most popular band of the 1920s. In 1936, with the swing era in full Armstrong who always spoke force, there was a growing highly of the group, and Bix In addition, the evolution of jazz interest in the beginnings of jazz. Beiderbecke. When his older soon overshadowed the ODJB. Nick LaRocca sensed the brother brought home the During 1922-23, the New opportunity for the Original ODJB’s recording of Tiger Rag, Orleans Rhythm Kings (a white Dixieland Jazz Band to regain its Nick LaRocca Bix was so inspired that he band based in Chicago) was the place in jazz history and he 16 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 17 JAZZ FESTIVALS JAZZ FESTIVALS

THE BUDE TRADITION Amy COURTNEY JAZZ FESTIVALS Bude Jazz Festival (August Roberts HEADLINES 30-September 2) knows its strengths and, rightly, sees no NEWCASTLE FESTIVAL LISTINGS JULY need to change a formula that has Newcastle-under- made it one of the UK’s most Lyme Jazz and Blues BURTON AGNES JAZZ FROME FESTIVAL SEASIDE SHUFFLE BIRMINGHAM AND popular jazz festivals for many Festival (May 27-30) AND BLUES FESTIVAL (JULY 1-10) (JULY 8-10) SOLIHULL JAZZ AND years. The attractions of town and begins with a few (JULY 1-3) Nearly 200 events throughout The Ramsgate Small Boat BLUES FESTIVAL coast make it a good place to be events on Friday the town will see Frome Owners Club hosts the music of evening, then continues Burton Agnes is a particularly (JULY 15-24) in August anyway and the celebrating 400 years of eight bands including the Big Easy programming gives every chance with three days attractively sited festival: in the The newly created joint festival Shakespeare. Pee Wee Ellis is with Trefor Williams, the Sussex for the punters to explore the crammed with town Courtney grounds of an Elizabethan stately will be continuing the traditions among the star names featured, Jazz Kings and Annie Hawkins and town without getting the car out centre jazz and blues Pine home in the Yorkshire Wolds. of both festivals, with a vast along with Billy Bragg, the her Jazz Men. or even walking too far: venues over the Bank Holiday Headliners this year include programme of mostly free events Ukulele Orchestra of Great www.jazzandjazz.com from castle to dance hall to night club are well within range. Some weekend, the whole Elaine Delmar, Bugalu Foundation, throughout the centres of Britain and Bruce Foxton’s From festivals are successful because they embrace change; some such as thing preceded by a celebrity concert with Courtney Pine at the PP Arnold, Ben Beattie’s After Birmingham and Solihull and at the Jam. Bude are successful because they have found the formula that suits New Vic Theatre on May 25. The programme makes full use of Midnight Band and Simon LARMER TREE many venues in the surrounding www.fromefestival.co.uk them. Bude unashamedly appeals to traditionalists; the website Newcastle’s abundance of bars and cafes to fill the town with jazz Cunliffe-Lister. FESTIVAL areas. In addition to top British expresses the hope that ‘modernists’ will find something to enjoy. and blues from morning to late night sessions. Saturday’s www.burtonagnes.com/ (JULY 13-17) jazzers such as Simon Spillett and Jazz_Festival.html What is beyond doubt is that lovers of traditional jazz will have a programme, for instance, contains well over 20 performances, with WIGAN JAZZ FESTIVAL Bruce Adams and American blues See great competition, page 7 The five-day music and arts field day (or four field days) listening to the best of British bands. A an active Fringe in support. Those appearing (some more than once) (JULY 7-10) stars such as the Walter Trout festival at the Larmer Tree random sample of an enormous list of names comes up with Kevin include the Whiskey Brothers, Roy Forbes, Tipitina, Jake Leg Jug Wigan is justly celebrated for the Band, there is, as always, a strong Gardens on the Wiltshire-Dorset Grenfell’s Swing Thing, Amy Roberts and Richard Exall, George Band, Little Jo and the Misfits, Bucket of Blues, Alan McKown Band, 25TH DOVE quality of its big band programme European flavour, both border includes appearance by Huxley’s All Star Jazz Band, the Jake Leg Jug Band, Slide by Slide, and many more. INTERNATIONAL BEER and this year keeps up the established favourites such as Caro Emerald, Jamie Cullum and Roger Marks’ Brass Farthings, Sheila Fawkes and the Guys, the www.newcastlejazzandblues.co.uk tradition with and Pepper and the Jellies and AND JAZZ FESTIVAL Tom Odell. Great Western Jazz Company and the Bateman Brothers Jazz Band. the Big Band, the Big newcomers like the Busquitos (JULY 1-3) www.larmertreefestival.co.uk www.jazzfestivalbude.co.uk Chris Barber Band and Eric from Holland. Apart from jazz and more than Marienthal with the Wigan Youth www.birminghamjazzfestival.com 20 real ales, the festival at Dove Jazz Orchestra. MARLBOROUGH JAZZ Holes, near Buxton, offers www.wiganjazzclub.co.uk (JULY 15-17) 47 AND COUNTING excellent camping and two Headliners in the festival, spread SUGNALL JAZZ Sevenoaks Summer Festival (June 18-July 3) has a particularly church services. Bands playing the SWANAGE JAZZ across 19 venues in the town, FESTIVAL interesting and varied history, beginning with the inaugural event at festival include Baby Jools and his include Clare Teal, the Jive Aces (JULY 22-24) Sevenoaks School in 1970 under the grandiose name of Paean 70. Jazzaholics, Martin Bennett’s Jazz FESTIVAL and the Art Themen Quartet. This brand new festival in the Not surprisingly the name was dropped three years later, possibly Friends and Tom Langham’s Hot (JULY 8-10) www.marlboroughjazz.com intimate surroundings of a 17th because of pronunciation problems! Now, the 47th Sevenoaks Fingers. One of the great seaside events, century walled garden in Summer Festival draws on a list of venues including three theatres, www.dovejazzclub.co.uk Swanage spreads across four EDINBURGH JAZZ & Staffordshire features, among various pubs and parks - and the bus and railway stations! The stroller venues, two marquees BLUES FESTIVAL others, King Pleasure and the programme is similarly varied, from Shakespeare productions to LOVE SUPREME JAZZ and two indoor venues. A fine Biscuit Boys and Digby dance classes. Bill-topping in the jazz programme is Martin Taylor (also (JULY 15-24) FESTIVAL blend from all periods and styles Fairweather’s Half Dozen. leading a workshop), with other jazz events including a Miles Davis of jazz includes Alex Welsh Jazz’s contribution to Edinburgh’s www.sugnallwalledgarden.co.uk tribute with Simon Spillett and , Jazz and Blues with T.J. (JULY 1-3) Remembered, Tim Garland, the regular summer of festivals runs Johnson, Big Band Swing with the Jon Hamilton Big Band, Dixieland A three-day greenfield jazz Martin Kofi-Barnes Aggregation and Pete the gamut of styles from THE INTERNATIONAL with Don Steele’s Dixie Jazz Band and a jazz workshop with Kent festival in the beautiful grounds of Long’s Jazz at the Philharmonic Dixieland to cutting edge, with Taylor Youth Jazz Orchestra - not to mention the Lonnegans’ Skiffle Party! Glynde Place in the South Downs Tribute. such big names as Jools Holland GYPSY GUITAR www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk has an impressive and eclectic www.swanagejazz.org and his Rhythm & Blues FESTIVAL line-up of top names: Grace Orchestra, the Jan Garbarek (JULY 29-31) Jones, Burt Bacharach, Liane La Group featuringTrilok Gurtu, and Set in Dursley, Gloucestershire, Havas, Caro Emerald, Melody Curtis Stigers. the festival features the likes of ORGANISED IN A JAZZ OF Gardot, Kamasi Washington, and www.edinburghjazzfestival.com Digby the Remi Harris Trio, Brady more. BREWERY OUTSTANDING Fairweather Winterstein, Paulus Schafer and www.lovesupremefestival.com Jazz fans tempted by the joint NATURAL BEAUTY Olli Soikkeli. delights of good jazz and good Set between the Quantocks www.iggf.co.uk beer will be drawn to Burton and the sea, St. Audries Bay Real Ale and Jazz (July 15-16). is a holiday centre in a What better venue for such an designated ‘area of JAZZ FESTIVAL FOR WALES event than the National Brewery outstanding natural beauty’. While the future of has, understandably, Centre? The beer on offer In addition to its own attracted widespread notice, the comparatively unheralded, and includes Heritage beers brewed attractions and excellent certainly underfunded, Swansea Jazz Festival (June 17-19) goes on its on site and the inner man can facilities, St. Audries Holiday way assembling an outstanding programme in the city’s Maritime also be fortified by such delicacies Club runs themed holidays: Quarter. The Dylan Thomas Theatre hosts 10 concerts as the main as beer- and cider-infused bridge, folk music and the programme, beginning with the Alan Barnes Octet and ending with sausages with mashed potatoes rest. September 23-26 is 360, a 10-piece jazz funk outfit featuring Average White Band alumni, and onion gravy! Three sessions Remi the date for the St. Hamish Stuart and Malcolm Duncan. In between the concerts range (Friday evening, Saturday daytime Harris Audries Bay Jazz from Pee Wee Ellis’ Funk Assembly to the Keith Ball Band to Alec and evening) are full of the Weekend, three night Dankworth’s Spanish Accents. And there’s a packed fringe programme liveliest of jazz and jazz-related music from the Rumblestrutters, the residential with eight sessions of jazz from Digby Fairweather’s Half of free events, including Saturday afternoon’s Cottle Brothers, festival Remi Harris Trio, the Busquitos and many others, plus the chance to Dozen, John Shillito Band and Select 4, Sunset Café Stompers and director David joined by Richard and Laurence. explore the Brewery Museum. Original Rags. www.sjf.co.uk www.nationalbrewerycentre.co.uk www.staudriesbay.co.uk

18 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 19 JAZZ FESTIVALS REVIEWS

piano jazz, bass and drums right A THRILLER FROM Fred Val ROSSANO OSCAR PETTIFORD in the pocket, as they say, MANILA! Elizalde Wiseman SPORTIELLO/NICKI WHAT WAS SAID Parrott’s firm, swinging lines a COMPLETE BIG BAND In which British jazz festival PARROTT/ EDDIE reminder that she was once a would you find a tribute to STUDIO RECORDINGS ECM 2465 59:57 METZ pupil of the star bassist Rufus the former conductor of Reid. Duke’s quite exquisite the Manila Symphony Phono 870242 76:58 Gustavsen is a Norwegian jazz STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL Sunset and the Mockingbird (from Orchestra, also The Queen’s Suite) is in equally pianist of some repute - a This recording comprises the coincidentally the captain of safe hands as is John Hardy’s Wife, previous satisfying album The Well Arbors ARCD 1944 72.22 music Pettiford recorded in 1956 the Philippines shooting another Ducal rarity, with a neat seemed to sum up his almost and 1957 for the ABC label, being team? Mike Durham’s solo by Parrott, before Rossano abstract approach, taking to new Sportiello is one of the best The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi- Classic Jazz Party, the sets off at pace. Parrott sings in extremes the work of . things to have happened in Fi and The Oscar Pettiford Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, of her engaging Blossom Dearie Yet here, in the company of mainstream jazz in recent years. Orchestra in Hi-Fi Volume 2. The course! The fashion on What A Difference A drummer Jarle Vespestad and Classically trained, he came to Orchestra comprises some of conductor/sharp shooter Day Made and does well on vocalist Simin Tander (of jazz piano later than some but the best jazz soloists of the time, was Fred Elizalde whose CARRYING THE TORCH Hallelujah I Love Him So, Rossano German/Afghan parentage), the has more than made up for it including , Tommy rich and varied career Llandudno Jazz Festival, relocating this year to Bodafon Farm digging in. Sadly, even he cannot atmosphere is gloomy and since. Italian-born and now based Flanagan, Lucky Thompson and included a spell in the late Park on July 29-31, is proud of its antecedents: ‘still carrying the redeem Misty for me, its high somehow forbidding as Tander in New York, he tours Benny Golson. The original 1920s when his London- torch of the great Titley and Appleby Jazz Festivals’ in attracting sugar content deserving a explores Norwegian folk songs, internationally and records often, recordings are complemented based jazz-inclined dance ‘true modern jazz lovers from far and wide.’ Not that the government warning. Otherwise, most of which are translated into most frequently for the Arbors with three different versions of band included such programme is very restrictive in its use of the word ‘modern’: the it’s fifteen tracks, well fourteen Pashto, Tander's gentle, melodic label, this delightful collaboration tracks from the albums that American stars as Adrian Rollini and Fud Livingston. As for the jazz 15 concerts - afternoon till late on all three dates - cover a wide anyway, of joy personified - just vocals lending considerable with bassist-vocalist Nicki Parrott Pettiford recorded live at party, named after its late founder, also leader of the West Jesmond range of music performed by the best of British musicians. Arnie listen to the virtuosic stride on charm and haunting beauty. and drummer Eddie Metz dating Birdland in New York. It is Rhythm Kings, that takes place on November 4-6 at the Village Somogyi’s Sounds in the City pays tribute to the music of Charles Shoe Shine Boy or the pitter- Hotel, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with a line-up of some 30 classic jazz from last October. interesting to be able to compare Mingus before Pete Long’s Tribute to Jazz at the Philharmonic offers Nevertheless, Tander's vocals are patter swing of Shiny Stockings, musicians from all over the world: Whitley Bay is clearly firmly of the orchestra performing in a live a very different kind of challenge. A sample of others appearing a long way from jazz, and serve The album turns out to be an each with some neat footwork the Remain in Europe party and there is a good American situation with ‘the more precise includes the Steve Fishwick/Osian Roberts Quintet, the Steve only to subdue the talents of informal tribute to some of the from Metz, and expect to be representation, too! An enterprising set of tribute programmes elaboration achieved in the Waterman Trio, Alan Barnes/Dave Newton, Val Wiseman/Craig piano and bass. A rare piano/bass giants of keyboard jazz, opening entranced. Great presentation range from the neglected (Elizalde, Jack Hylton) to the celebrated studio’. Milverton, the Karen Sharp Quartet and /Alan Barnes. feature is Rull, where the beautiful with a note-perfect, limpid re- and sound, by the way. (Duke Ellington, Hot Club of France). And, of course, the recent arrival of Llandudno adds yet another to lyricism of Gustavsen is to the examination of Bud Powell’s title Pettiford made his name www.whitleybayjazzfest.org the glorious list of jazz festivals in beautiful seaside locations! fore, and simply underlines the piece. It’s the range of ideas that PETER VACHER performing in small groups on www.llandudnojazzfestival.com incompatabilities of the vocalist Rossano offers, their execution cello. The big band context does versus pianist and drums. and the sheer musicality of their of necessity mean that we development that explains my generally have less opportunity WIN A WEEKEND TICKET WORTH £132!! GREG MURPHY initial statement. This is superb to hear the bass as anything

Jazz Rag has a great prize to offer thanks to the generosity of Llandudno Jazz Festival. Send us a humorous caption for this photograph of Bruce Adams and Alan Barnes, taken by noted jazz photographer William Ellis at Llandudno in 2015, and win a weekend ticket for this year's festival, Entries by email to [email protected] or by post to Caption Competition, Jazz Rag, P.O. Box 944, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B16 8UT, by June 17th, 2016.

20 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 21 ON RECORD REVIEWS

other than a background 'Taken from gigs in Sweden, the remarkable dynamism of the mentors’ approaches, so it is the instrument. These recordings do, Germany, and band which roared and kicked intrinsic characteristics rather however, place the bass in a more France, each of the sets has its behind him. Honours must go to than the trade-mark licks that prominent position and there is merits, but it is perhaps the final Cat Anderson’s fiery, inform their performances. ample chance to hear his solo session, with Klook as the guest stratospheric contributions, Willy contributions. and recorded in an up-close, Cook’s expressive trumpet and Space does not allow for a almost party-like, atmosphere Sam Woodyard ‘s explosive proper description of the other Highlights for me include Perdido that registers strongest. drumming. Seldom has the band musicians. They are all established and Speculation, a Horace Silver Indispensible.' been in better form, re-acting to specialists in the performance theme new to me and arranged the crowd’s enthusiasm with practices of the period: Seuffert’s by Gigi Grice. Many other tunes As a 2016 post-script, it should fervent abandon. clarinet firmly entrenched in grab the attention including The be noted that these recordings New Orleans, though with Gentle Art of Love which is have now taken on even greater The fact that Gonsalves’ massive intriguing hints of Chicago’s Pee arranged by Lucky Thompson and significance since Rollins' recent outpouring was unplanned was Wee Russell; Allan’s trombone uses the bass and a harp together health-imposed retirement from even more extraordinary as the more akin to Bill Rank than Kid and Two French Fries written and live performance. For those big feature of the concert was to Ory; Larsen owing much to arranged by Gigi Grice and unlucky to have never heard him be the three part Festival Suite, Morton although, on the final featuring two French horns. do his thing live, this is as close as specially written by the Duke for track, he contributes a creditable you'll get to the real deal. the Newport Festival. Bixian piano accompaniment. The The informative liner notes from Langham, Sked, Ball rhythm the original recordings are SIMON SPILLETT The concert (and the solo) section is superb, the drummer also to the fore on a final '61 together with all known alternate heralded the resurgence of being remarkably inventive included. In short this album is an date made in Milan, in which he is takes. As a bonus we get seven Ellington’s career. He had been without stepping outside the unexpected delight from start to BUDDY COLLETTE joined by some Italian players and additional King Oliver or Oliver- struggling against the new bop idiom. finish. the superb Serbian trumpeter related tunes recorded by Louis movement which was making big FOUR CLASSIC ALBUMS Dusko Goykovich (as he says it during the mid-fifties, as well as, bands redundant. The repertoire is very carefully ALAN MUSSON should be spelt). His alto is heard in the few cases in which he had chosen, with jazz standards of the Avid AMSC 1186 2 CDs, in three of the eight, notably a previously recorded them, The record company has time, including Milenberg Joys and SONNY ROLLINS 79:56/77:35 wonderfully warm closing blues. Armstong’s original versions of boosted the package to contain Skit-Dat-De-Dat alongside tunes from the Audio Fidelity TRIO all 16 Newport tracks, adding contemporary popular sings like I'm grateful to be reminded here Buddy Collette looked after album, and his classic 1928 seven tracks from the New York Chloe and Whispering. All stuff of Buddy Collette. I first heard himself well enough to live to 89 versions of King Oliver’s Weather LIVE IN EUROPE 1959 – studio sessions , three tracks Louis and Bix would have played him as a member of the in 2010, continuing to shine in his Bird and West End Blues. COMPLETE RECORDINGS from a Chicago studio date and distinctive Chico Hamilton own albums and as a valued even if not on record. three tracks from a radio Quintet, which also introduced sideman with very many artists. The All-Stars are in fine form broadcast, all recorded in 1956. I heard this for the first time Essential Jazz Classics – EJC Jim Hall. In 1956, I enjoyed his throughout and the music is a joy driving home from a gig – I was 55693 3 CDs 178.30 debut album, Man Of Many Parts, LES TOMKINS to behold. As we have come to Several of the old favourites are still smiling when I finally got to titled because of his uniform expect from Essential Jazz covered, Black and Tan Fantasy, bed! This valuable set is a straight excellence on tenor, alto, clarinet Classics, original notes and LOUIS ARMSTRONG Sophisticated Lady, Prelude to a reissue of the Solar Records and flute, plus his composing/ photographs are included. Kiss, Caravan and a sumptuous HUGH LEDIGO edition I reviewed in Jazz Rag in arranging skills. These are four THE COMPLETE SATCHMO rendition of Jeep’s Blues by Johnny 2011, identical in content, cover sessions new to me, from 1957, ALAN MUSSON PLAYS KING OLIVER Hodges. art and booklet notes but now 1958 and 1961. All are further JOHN ABERCROMBIE housed in a more practical jewel great listening of that time. Essential Jazz Classics DUKE ELLINGTON case rather than the previous An exceptional record and a THE FIRST QUARTET. EJC55684 2CDs 140:09 monumental occasion. cardboard sleeve. As such I see On two quartet sets, Buddy THE COMPLETE NEWPORT no reason not to quote my own ECM 2478-80 3 CDs divides his time fairly evenly I venture to suggest that most 1956 CONCERT JOHN MARTIN words on the Solar version: between his four expressive Armstong devotees will be 45:43/39:38/45:47 sounds. Selecting highspots is familiar with much of the Essential Jazz Classics 'Rollins fans [have been done] a ANDY SCHUMM very hard, but clarinet clarity material here. Having said that, EJC 55687 2 CDs, 77.45/78.40 This is a significant issue, bringing huge favour in uniting these always gets to me, as per Moten however, close to half of the ENRICO TOMASSO together as it does three albums recordings, made in Europe Swing and other blues, and such tracks issued here are finding I guess you had to be there. Paul from 1978, 1979 and 1980 which during March 1959, the very last appealing originals as A Nice Day. their way to CD for the first Gonsalves epic solo of 27 straight WHEN LOUIS MET BIX have been unavailable for over a notes captured before his famed On alto, Undecided is one of his time. choruses, linking Diminuendo in decade. John Abercrombie has sabbatical and the legend of The decidedly swinging standards, and Blue with Crescendo in Blue, Lake Records LACD 345 66:24 credited this quartet as the time Bridge. If this edition isn’t quite as there's more of the grooviest Satchmo plays King Oliver was brought the Newport audience when he ‘found his voice’ and by complete as it seems (there’s a blues. His tenor sparkles specially recorded in 1959 by way of a to their feet and caused a near I would have given much to be contrasting these three discs version of Paul’s Pal missing from on two of his own compositions tribute to Armstong’s mentor riot. It, also, became a pivotal present at the fabled meeting of with his previous work for ECM, the Nalen session) it - a tender ballad, If She Had and first employer. Therefore, moment in jazz history. Before jazz history’s two seminal horn the newly-acquired sense of nevertheless restores much Stayed and the full-flowing Three Louis and his All- Stars had the his exhilarating marathon of players. This recording is, I authority becomes clear. music which has been out of And One. The flute is well- opportunity to revisit some tunes creative improvisation, no-one believe, as close as we will ever Abercrombie achieved this within print for some time, as well as featured, but read on. that he had never recorded had attempted such a spectacular come to realizing that ambition. the Quartet, which comprised adding some previously before together with others that feat. And creative it was; no The excitement and sheer joy of pianist Richie Beirach, bassist unreleased material. Seven of ten hot makeovers of he had not played in decades. The honking, no screaming, just pure the occasion fairly leaps off the George Mraz and drummer Peter show tunes, under the name of a album was recorded in the then inspiration. disc, with an immediacy which is Donald. 'Rollins is in barnstorming mode, rumbustious pianist, Dick Marx, new stereo technology and far from mere imitation. taking a core repertoire through have the Collette flute at its allows the chance to hear his But the tremendous success of Abercrombie started his career a series of dazzling reworkings, fleetest and finest, with a pure trumpet tone. the event was not only to do Trumpeter Enrico Tomasso and in fusion but ‘I realised that I with drum partners Pete La particularly strong tone. A with Gonsalves’ massive feat. The cornettist Andy Schumm have didn't want to play that..for the Roca, Joe Harris and Kenny favourite for me is a boogie All of the material recorded at tenorist was the first to praise made it their business to rest of my life; I really wanted to Clarke. treatment of All Of You. Flute is the time is assembled here assimilate their respective play jazz’ so, using a variety of 22 THE JAZZ RAG 23 ON RECORD REVIEWS

and will need little All the familiar classics are here, The opening track is Marchin’ between Mingus and Dolphy on persuading that this digital including Bourbon Street Parade, Along, a Grimes blues lasting , What Love, became offering is an essential purchase. Georgia Cakewalk and Sweet 17.37 minutes, with Grimes the stuff of legend. And there's Add John Bunch and Milt Hinton Georgia Brown plus some lesser impressive as he plays his blues more, including Original Faubus to the mix and you are on the known items. The pleasure to be licks for well over eight minutes Fables so called because when way to a five star recording. Miles derived from any Chris Barber without repetition, or hesitation originally recorded for Columbia, and Miles of Swing was Butch recording is in the variety of or deviation, for that matter, the record company would not Miles’ first studio date as a leader. material. Here we have tunes before Hawkins comes in, rough- allow the less-than-flattering A humble Miles confesses ‘I was from the classic jazz period, toned and strong. The presence vocal chants reflecting the racist so scared’. A bottle of scotch and ragtime, gospel, R ‘n’ B and more, of flutist Musa Kaleem (aka tendencies of Orville Faubus, the a few beers brought into the all making for a varied Orlando Wright) is a drag but then-Governor of Arkansas. studio with Miles saying programme. There is a clear otherwise this is solid gold. The ‘Gentlemen, anytime you’re rapport between the musicians as Richardson and Higginbotham The second release, Mingus, saw thirsty, help yourself!’ tells all. A would be expected given that the collaborations all benefit, as does Dolphy joined by bandleader in awe of his band band had been touring regularly Blues Groove from the presence of and Britt Woodman on mates, yet, getting down to for some time and developing the mighty Ray Bryant on piano, a , Booker Ervin on business, an equal partner in an their skills. It’s always a pleasure man never knowingly short of a tenor saxophone, Charles excellent recording. to hear the accomplished bluesy idea. Richardson, another McPherson on alto and trumpet playing of Pat Halcox largely overlooked figure trumpeters Ted Curson and A total of eleven tracks, including and Monty Sunshine’s playing has nowadays, was a formidable Lonnie Hillyer. There are two three and the a particular edge to it. player, burly on baritone or very different versions of the previously un-released I Surrender, Webster-ishly fluent on tenor, haunting Reincarnation Of A Love Dear, result in a balanced This is an enjoyable record of the this amply borne out on Ain’t Bird, a roaring blowing session on instruments, including a Fender to forge a successful career for programme of swingers and band’s return to . The Misbehavin’ where Grimes also MDM notable for trombone instrument that is a cross himself as one of relatively few ballads. The two tenors are joined booklet is informative and there solos rewardingly, and at length. dialogue between Woodman and between guitar and mandolin, be-bop clarinet players. by the rarely recorded Marky are photographs from the Much the same goes for the Knepper,followed by the intense responsible for the oh-so-gentle Markowitz (flugelhorn). A studio Barber-Purser Archives included remaining sessions, with Bryant Lock 'Em Up where Mingus recalls tones, along with both steel- The music here dates from 1954 musician, it is Markowitz who is a to. If you like Barber’s music this paramount on Blue Tiny as JC his thankfully brief stay in strung and nylon strung acoustic and finds De Franco in the revelation. His flugelhorn playing is one not to miss. comes in ribald and loud. The UA Bellevue Mental Institution. guitars, he went on to forge a company of , Ray is warm and, when called upon, a album is less worthy, with organ The third CD is one of contrasts, truly individual voice. Brown and match for the swift excursions of ALAN MUSSON dominant on a series of popular notably in the playing of alongside Peterson himself. The Hamilton and Cohn. Miles’ tunes, the drumming inimical to trumpeter and Eric In Beirach, Abercrombie found a set starts with a rather ‘polite’ playing is never less than a drum swing, sounding like an awkward TINY GRIMES Dolphy -the compatibility of the kindred spirit; all too often rendition of Sweet and Lovely. master class in tasteful, small compromise between swing and two is amazing, the near ten- Charles Mingus throughout these three However, the pace picks up group swing. I’m Getting r&b, but then again that was the THREE CLASSIC ALBUMS minute blowing session Me And recordings, there's an uncanny significantly for Love for Sale. The Sentimental Over You and a mode of the day. PLUS You is outstanding for Eldridge's We’ve all been to a gig or jam sense of telepathy as Beirach seven tracks are all familiar tunes medium tempo Take the ‘A’ Train MARIAN BRUCE / muted trumpet. A superb session when someone calls picks up on Abercrombie's and there are two lengthy are just two examples of the PETER VACHER JACY PARKER Avid AMSC 1188 78.15/79.24 compilation, it should be secured Cherokee, Sandu or Take the ‘A’ musical ideas and vice versa. A performances of around ten choice material on a most minutes plus and the final track; whilst still available. Train. Tired old warhorses they good example of this telepathy welcome release. Guitarist Grimes is something of CHARLES MINGUS HALFWAY TO DAWN / Lullaby in Rhythm is a colossal may be, but this ‘complete’ can be heard on Nightlake where a forgotten figure these days. A twenty-three minutes. This is a GREG MURPHY collection reminds us of a super SPOTLIGHT ON it seems that two minds really do RUSSELL CORBETT proponent of the four-string THE COMPLETE 1960 NAT bonus track not included on the group of the 1950s, the likes of think as one, whilst the guitar, he enjoyed a lengthy HENTOFF SESSIONS original release and benefits from CLIFFORD BROWN- which we would give anything to Fresh Sound FSR-CD 888 70:55 improvisation on Paramour really CHRIS BARBER’S JAZZ career, working with an array of the addition of Roy Eldridge, have heard live at the time. is something special. Bassist Mraz the greats including Charlie Essential Jazz Classics MAX ROACH Well, here's a conundrum - we're Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Harris and BAND WITH OTTILIE ’s fluency is more is nothing short of magnificent Parker and Art Tatum, before EJC55694 3 CDs QUINTET presented with one CD, . For me, the up- than a match for Brown’s and the now-retired Peter PATTERSON branching out into rhythm and containing 12 tracks apiece by tempo numbers are outstanding 68:57/74:13/62:46 proficiency on high tempo Donald is subtlety personified. blues, his kilt-clad band known as THE COMPLETE STUDY IN two young female singers, but I found the ballads to be numbers and the tenor BARBER BACK IN the Rocking Highlanders. In his Bassist, composer and occasional BROWN recorded in 1958 and 1962 The set has a fine essay by John somewhat pedestrian. saxophonist’s measured BERLIN 1960 later years (he died in 1989) he pianist Charles Mingus produced respectively. Their names are Kelman which adds to our contribution on the alternate The original sleeve-notes and returned to swing and began to some volcanic music but none Essential Jazz Classics little-known, I believe, and these understanding of this fine music. take Lands End has a restraining artwork are reproduced in the Lake Records LACD346 record for Swingville and then for more so than when briefly 55686 155:06 2 CDs were seemingly their only 2CDs 115: 32 Black and Blue in France. It’s his effect on his frontline partner. recorded public output. But they GREG MURPHY accompanying eight page booklet. contracted to critic Nat Hentoff's Prestige/Swingville material that Candid label during October- In his Down Beat review of Study clearly belong in the jazz field, Sonny Rollins filled the tenor ALAN MUSSON My research tells me that Chris is the main fare here, starting November 1960. This set in Brown Nat Hentoff wrote both sing first-rate established chair following Land’s departure BUDDY DE FRANCO Barber’s Barber in Berlin was one with Blues Groove with Coleman combines all the music recorded ‘When Brownie comes to learn songs, and nothing I can see and I’ll Remember April, recorded BUTCH MILES SEXTET of the most popular recordings in Hawkins, followed by selections during the only two sessions held the value of economy, he’ll be online suggests they are not still AND THE OSCAR his discography, being recorded in from Tiny in Swingville with on October 20 1960 and even more stimulating than he is in February 1956, perhaps led around. So what happened? Brown to the conclusion that PETERSON QUARTET MILES AND MILES OF Berlin in 1959 before an audience Jerome Richardson, Callin’ The November 1, 1960 on three CDs. now.’ Six decades on this of 12,000. The following year the Blues with J.C.Higginbotham and great tenor players grew on From the opening ballad Lucky To SWING observation appears somewhat Phoenix131615 67:46 band returned. No one can Lockjaw Davies, and finishing with Four selections feature the churlish given the tragic end soon trees! Max Roach’s Mildama is a Be Me, Marian Bruce shows remember the second concert Big Time Guitar from the United showcase for the co-leaders and confident jazziness, and clearly Progressive PCD-7163 60:17 piano-less quartet led by Mingus, to befall a true giant of the music. Clarinet player De Franco began being recorded and it wasn’t until Artist label. So, a mess of blues with Dannie Richmond on This two CD release on Essential no fewer than six alternate takes enjoys the backings of Jimmy his professional career at a time 2013 that the tapes surfaced and and a lot of guitar, this the usual drums, Ted Curson on trumpet can be found on the second disc. Jones on piano, Everett Barksdale A cursory glance at the line-up Jazz Classics comprises thirty when interest in swing and big the result is this 2 CD package. It Avid value for money package and Eric Dolphy on alto, bass- For those coming to the music on guitar and Al Hall on bass, plus listed in an album’s liner notes is one tracks encompassing all band music was starting to is clearly something to treasure. with the original notes intact, and clarinet and flute-these were for the first time this two CD the fine trumpet of Joe Wilder usually a reliable guide to the existing music relating to the decline. Many of these bands had It really is amazing what one can thus a belated chance to remind package with 16-page booklet is a 'noodling' behind her and soloing music contained therein. This originally released on Mingus' Brown-Roach Quintet’s EmArcy been led by the likes of Benny find on ebay and it was Chris more than worthwhile purchase. here and there. Her emphasis is reissue from 1977 is one such listeners just how effective an first Candid release Charles albums Study in Brown and More Goodman and Artie Shaw, both album. Fans of Scott Hamilton himself who eventually acquired improviser Grimes turned out to Mingus Presents Charles Mingus, of Study in Brown including all on soulful slow ones, but she gets clarinetists. De Franco was able the tapes. be. which the musical conversation surviving alternate takes. RUSSELL CORBETT nicely off in Things Are 24 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 25 ON RECORD REVIEWS

Marlene Ver Planck musicians: Pete Martin bass and successfully mixing the open- are interpreted by a good the session but Noel Langley’s Pete Staples drums. They had ended, capricious imagination of grouping that contains the talents haunting flugelhorn is an essential need of their wits, given the 1960s jazz with the established of Persson, Putte Wickman's part of the ambience and, pianist’s propensity for moving in traditions of the big band genre. clarinet and Bengt Hallberg's although it is a Chopin nocturne and out of tempo and from one Presented in a sturdy, piano. which he dedicates to his late style to another. aesthetically fetching, fold-out mother as her favourite opus, the sleeve and complete with a At track 3, though, things cascade mood, to me, is more Debussy- For me, the best track is Here’s booklet of no fewer than 89 sadly to earth. Someone had the ish. Chris Lawrence on bass and That Rainy Day. It opens with a pages, packed with insightful non-bright idea of placing Gullin's Martin France on drums both thinly disguised reference to interviews with several surviving baritone in front of a truly effective but unobtrusive, acutely Chopin before a rhapsodic first band members, this issue isn't terrible 16-piece choir, who sensitive to the mood, and chorus takes us into a fantasy just big on cosmetic impact; it sound even worse when lyricising Brigitte Beraha’s folksy-sounding episode where both melody and actually presents a rare instance on one track than when vocals fit perfectly in the harmonies are explored way of jazz history being captured on hideously ah-ing. It's a great ensembles. beyond the confines of the tape. The bands début night at shame, because on these five original 32 bar structure. The the Village Vanguard in February ballads, three by him, the leader's All the compositions are by the music eventually settles into a 4/4 1966 was recorded as a demo, playing is full of warmth and soul, pianist. Two stand out. Atonement ballad which in turn the aim being to secure a record and it's a complete treat when is a plaintive cry and the late metamorphoses into emulation deal (the second disc features a the choir shuts up. is given a nine of Erroll Garner. Truly masterful further set from a month later), minute tribute in Remembering improvisation. and right from the impromptu, CD is another example of this. between a jazz singer and a The remaining six tracks are all Kenny. The album is, also, a spirited introduction to the She takes on such rarities as cabaret singer. Don’t be misled. good stuff, and allow for more of dedication to the late pianist, The other tracks, if not quite so opening Back Bone, it's easy to Bobby Troup’s Free and Easy, the brilliant Berg guitar. Two EPs . Looking Up and My One And Only. Pedro Martinez on three other adventurous, are full of see why they set the jazz world Sammy Cahn’s Come on Strong She is the singer’s singer. were his tributes to Britain, after She is skilled in the use of time titles. The power of this band idiosyncratic touches: a bit of on its head. It's not only co- and Mack Gordon’s This Is Always he'd played here. This a beautiful, heartfelt and volume changes for brings to mind Art Blakey's Jazz Let’s hope that she will continue baroque, a brief march, leader Jones sui generis writing together with two unfamiliar concept, brilliantly executed. atmospheric effect. The only Messengers, helped no doubt by to grace us for many more years. unaccompanied stride, unusual that grips, there's a veritable Ellington songs, It Shouldn’t device that she might be said to the sheer disciplined power of LES TOMKINS chordal passages, Tatumesque queue of top New York soloists happen To A Dream and All Too A sublimely spiritual experience. overdo slightly is the slow-down Riley's drumming. JOHN MARTIN runs and always an underlying within the ranks too: Bob Soon. GEOFF EALES ending. Her closing Don't Like sense of humour. Stella By Starlight JOHN MARTIN Riley's group is strong on melody Brookmeyer, , Joe Goodbyes, with piano only, carries creeps into But Not For Me while A lot of hard work, as well as LARS GULLIN as well as improvisation, the Farrell, , , great conviction. Isn’t She Lovely benefits from artistry, has gone into her TRANSIENCE ensemble voicings being Bill Berry...the list goes on. CHARLIE PARKER Ponchielli’s Dance Of The Hours… approach to those songs. To her, COMPLETE 1951-1955 particularly pleasing particularly Jacy Parker, who may be the the words hold as much value as STUDIO RECORDINGS Fuzzy Moon FUZ008 61.04 on Shake Off The Dust and the Atmospheric, candid, COMPLETE SAVOY younger of the two ladies, has the I do feel that some numbers are the melodies. One can’t imagine intricate Herlin's Hurdle, where spontaneous and shot through SESSIONS most all-round background, in unnecessarily long – time flies her singing a song with a trite This is a very personal record following a percussive display by with a palpable feeling of musical Fresh Sound FSR-CD 884/1 that she accompanies herself when you’re enjoying yourself lyric. It is this meticulous inspired by the death of the Riley, there are solo camaraderie, it's hard not to fall and 884/2 4 CDs, Essential Jazz Classics EJC expertly on piano. The note and Thompson’s fertile mind has attention to detail which puts her pianist’s mother seven months contributions from Harris for the charms of this superb 71:30/71:06/70:29/71:24 suggests that trumpetman Ernie so much to say. For this same in the front rank of jazz singers. before. From the start it sets a 55685 4 CDs 309.25 followed by Louis, who both have release. In fact, I'll wager that it Royal is augmenting her trio, but reason, there are some untidy mood which is meditative and superb improvisatory talents ends up as a record of the year During his too-short life, Swedish he is actually only audible on moments, with too many fast and Like many of her previous reflective. One might say it is a From 1944 to 1948, Charlie backed up all the time by what somewhere. Oh, and in case baritone man Lars Gullin seems three tracks. Anyway, her not always cleanly executed runs. records this is a masterclass on point of closure. Parker recorded for Herman alignment of a happy or can only be called Riley's you're wondering if there's a to have recorded prolifically - in Lubinsky’s Savoy label – as well as But, all in all, this is a hugely catch, it's beautifully recorded too. how treat a superior song. Just the 'fifties, anyway. In issue 138, I meaningful jazz voice with her powerhouse drumming, which Geoff Eales has always gone his Ross Russell’s Dial Company. entertaining session. Thompson is listen to her on Me and The Blues; reviewed a 'complete' set from piano propulsion is ample in however never descends to own way. His style is immediately These recordings are rightly certainly a one-off, which is no SIMON SPILLETT subtle, seductive and glossy, or 1956-57. Now here are four CDs itself. One outstanding effort is showman tactics. recognisable and he , usually, numbered among Parker’s finest, bad thing in a world full of her inspired scatting on Come on representing a previous period, her vocal/keyboard storytelling offers something thought- and this four-CD set of 137 virtuoso pianists. Strong. 1951-55. The first two batches, on Guess Who I Saw Today - New Direction is full of melodic MARLENE VER provoking in his compositions. tracks captures all the Savoy largely from 78s and restricted areading quite different to the content, improvisational skills and PLANCK He sounds like no other recordings, plus alternate and HUGH LEDIGO She ticks all the boxes, superb timewise are often quartets, Vaughan version. Of the upward musicianship - who could ask for pianist.To say that he is under- incomplete cuts as well as some tone, perfect intonation, mostly uppish and rather run-of- offerings, I like her deft handling more? rated is to under-state his bonuses. Together with the Dial THAD JONES/MEL THE MOOD I’M IN marvellous diction. And, if you are the-mill, though the likes of Rolf of the tricky lyrics of I Like The position in jazz in this country. In sessions plus Parker with strings expecting the voice to have Ericson's trumpet and Ake Likes Of You. So it was all good; GREG MURPHY LEWIS ORCHESTRA and the Massey Hall Concert, Audiophile ACD-348 49.29 thinned over the years, then note Persson's trombone can be fact, he deserves to be known why no more? these masterpieces show why those joyous, impromptu leaps heard. CD3 is similarly further afield. Much of what is EDDIE THOMPSON ALL MY YESTERDAYS Parker was so highly regarded as For sixty years Marlene Ver into her upper register. constituted, including two sides contained in this CD bears LES TOMKINS someone who advanced jazz into TRIO Planck has been gracing us with uniting Gullin with six comparison with the best of Resonance Records HCD-2023 her superb interpretations of the The backing quartet are a Keith Jarrett. the bebop era. On the tracks HERLIN RILEY Americans,who are utilised only THE BOSENDORFER 2 CDs, 48.47/77.11 American Song Book and at the substantial asset, with John in ensembles, other than the where Miles Davis tried to keep CONCERT 1980 VOL 2 admirable age of 83 her special Pearce reminding us what a fine briefest flash of Zoot. The music here is a lovely up (despite sometimes NEW DIRECTION Sumptuous. That's really the only talent is still undimmed. accompanist he is, and Mark meander. There are 12 pieces, stumbling), you recognise that Hep Records HEPCD2103 word fit for purpose in describing Nightingale, on trombone ( the My interest enlivens at track 13, none too different from another Bird had no equal. Such classics Mack Avenue MAC1101 63:30 62:21 this new 2-CD set from the Songwriters have, over the years, only horn on the session) totally when we enter the EP medium in so the impression is of a tone as Ko-Ko are good examples of enterprising Resonance Records. been queuing up with requests in empathy with the singer. May '54, and escape that three- poem. Only the sprightly Quirk of Parker’s unprecedented dexterity Herlin Riley, born in New In 1990 The Palace Theatre, Having already unearthed for her to lend her sympathetic minute barrier. Here Lars' Fate departs from the overall and speed. A tune like Billie’s Orleans during 1957, here leads Mansfield, gave Thompson a – for previously unissued gems by John and intelligent performances to All the tracks have something quartet substitutes the nicely ethereal atmosphere Bounce displays Parker’s ability to an energetic quintet (Bruce a jazzer – rare chance to perform Coltrane, Wes Montgomery and their works. special to recommend them so I enterprising guitar of Rolf Berg fly high and lyrically. Harris, trumpet, Godwin Louis, on that prince of a , among others, they am just going to urge you to buy for piano on four worthy Don’t be misled by that saxophone, Emmet Cohen, piano Bosendorfer Imperial. He was now pay overdue homage to the She also possesses the singular the album. originals. Then we cut to a septet description. This is beautiful Yet neither Bird nor Dizzy and Russell Hall, bass) with guests supported by two extremely legendary Thad Jones/ art of being able to track down foursome that carries us over to music in whichever genre you Gillespie (nor any other single guitarist Mark Whitfield on the sensitive and quick-witted Orchestra, a band which perhaps many of the lesser- known works Marlene Ver Planck is, often, CD4. More Gullin ear-catchers choose to put it. It is largely person) was the sole progenitor title track and percussionist did more than any other in of the major composers and this described as somewhere Geoff’s piano which dominates of bebop. Drummers like Max 26 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 27 ON RECORD REVIEWS

Roach contributed rhythmic 1956, Byrd was for a few years Together with brother Tommy on CHRIS ALLARD thoughtful and melodic, fit the featuring the soulful vocals of habits which were new, and in arguably the finest hard-bop bass and the dependable Oliver tone of the album perfectly. Seven Charlie Wood: Loesser and Bird’s playing I can hear traces of trumpeter’ and this is readily Jackson on drums, Bryant sails INVISIBLE LANDSCAPE of ten tracks are Allard originals, McHugh’s Let’s Get Lost and Mose influence from his predecessors. apparent throughout the first through a juicy selection of titles such as Morphic Resonance Allison’s Was. Here the blues side These are particularly clear in the three of these albums before superior jazz numbers in a salute Perdido DOR 1601: 64.13 and Extended Mind suggesting the of Chris Allard’s musical bonus fourth CD, which contains Idrees Sulieman replaces him for to modern jazz composers which abstract quality of the music. personality puts in a brief some tracks originally recorded the final session. Take a piece like includes Doodlin, Blue Monk, Invisible Landscape is very much a Both the compositions and appearance. Overall, however, the for other labels. These prove that Frank Foster’s Foster Dulles with Delauney’s Dilemma and Whisper guitar album. Having recorded Allard’s improvisations are impression of this excellent Bird was comfortable playing its brazen theme, like a call to Not. the tracks live with Oli Hayhurst consistently melodic, the Spanish- album is of a distinctive melodic with swing-era musicians like Red arms, drummer Art Taylor and Nick Smalley, using his tinged Critter one of several tunes gift. Even on Distant Stormclouds, a Norvo, Slam Stewart and Teddy ruthless in his rhythm push, Byrd Like most established pianists he Gibson 335 electric guitar, Chris deserving a wider currency. touch bleaker than most of his Wilson. Parker even rubs triumphant. This is frequently paid his dues working with Allard added in extra parts on Though tempos are always compositions, the clouds gather shoulders with the eccentric Slim jubilant, always highly creative, groups of all kinds although his any number of other guitars: moderate and the heavily most melodiously! Gaillard on a glorious 1945 often virtuosic music and I for preferred formats are in trios or electric, acoustic, classical. The dramatic is strictly avoided, there session which included the hit in a solo setting in which he is a is plenty of variety of rhythm and RON SIMPSON one, am delighted to make its George Wallington result is an attractively varied song Flat Foot Floogie. Amid Slim’s acquaintance albeit belatedly. master.. guitar soundscape, with bass and texture. The non-originals are a comical anarchy there are some meditative reading of Wayne There have been other reissues superb on piano throughout. But drums mostly fairly unobtrusive, excellent solos by Parker as well Also featured here are two Shorter’s Fall and two songs PETER VACHER adding to that original double there's an underlying problem though Hayhurst’s few solos, as Dizzy Gillespie and tenorist versions of his hit single Little album, but this is said to be the throughout, which is that this Jack McVea. In Slim’s Jam, Gaillard Susie. BENNY GOODMAN first bringing together all the writer has some difficulty in introduces Bird as ‘Charlie available music. The arrangement identifying the harmonica as a Yardbird A-roonie’. AND HIS Wonderful, exuberant music. of CDs 2 and 3 is a mess – with jazz instrument, that is, one that ORCHESTRA songs recurring and fragments of TONY AUGARDE allows improvisation. I do not I’m still smiling. announcements in places – but wish to be rude to Snr Bertelli, THE COMPLETE BENNY IN there is some great music here. GEORGE who has great facility on the JOHN MARTIN BRUSSELS The big band roars into Bugle Call instrument, but its nature seems WALLINGTON Rag (twice) and Sing Sing Sing. alien to improvisation, which is GIL MELLE Solar Records 4569965 3 CDs, Goodman clearly has a great time the heart and soul of jazz. COMPLETE 1956-1957 77.44/77.37/71.43 accompanying Rushing who Perhaps a Star Trek-ism sums this THE BLUE NOTE YEARS shows he’s much more than just QUINTET SESSIONS up - ‘It's jazz Jim, but not as we 1952-1956 ‘Complete’ means many different a blues shouter on beautifully know it....’ things these days in jazz reissues. idiosyncratic versions of Fresh Sound FSR-CD 882 Fresh Sound FSR-CD 876 2 CDs 75.08/75.03 2 CDs In this case it doesn’t mean standards such as Sunny Side of GREG MURPHY everything that was recorded by the Street and produces two 155.53 the Goodman Orchestra in magisterial versions of Harvard Listening to this riveting music, in RAY BRYANT TRIO Gil Melle has been called a Brussels in 1958, but ‘all of the Blues. And Ethel Ennis gets a look my case for the first time, I gave ‘Renaissance man’ because he recordings that have surfaced as in: at the start of a long career, up a silent prayer of thanks to was a painter, sculptor, film and of this writing (2015).’ her bright versions of such songs PLAYS Fresh Sound. They continue to TV composer, computer geek Nevertheless, so far as I can tell, as ‘Deed I Do are undemandingly exhume these often forgotten LP and airplane pilot. But he was it marks quite an advance in our attractive. Phoenix 131616 50.53 sessions, accompanying them also a multi-instrumentalist, enjoyment of a top-class with good notes and what finds playing tenor and baritone saxes, Goodman band. RON SIMPSON The distinctive sound of Ray many of them turn out to be. This Bryant’s piano always gets me trombone and tuba. If all this latest release, a double CD, sounds confusing, it is just as Benny Goodman took a superb FEDERICO BERTELLI smiling. There is something reprises four vinyl albums bewildering as the music on this orchestra, plus singers Jimmy seductively effervescent in his featuring pioneer bopper QUARTET album, which is a strange mixture Rushing and Ethel Ennis, to the sunny playing. His style is undated Wallington’s very feisty quintet of of genres. You might call it a mix Brussels International Fair and and this re-release, recorded the day and is quite wonderful. LIVING of jazz with classical music and played a week at the American back in 1959, has him in sparkling That this group numbered various other influences. Parts Pavilion. The double LP issued of form. trumpeter Donald Byrd and Viva Veneto Jazz VVJ101 50:05 remind me of Lennie Tristano, altoist in the front- these performances received Basically, he is considered a although its eccentricities put it line simply underlines the value only moderate reviews and now Federico Bertelli was born in bebopper, but at the other end of several degrees below Tristano. of this music for these young it’s easy to see why. The selection Pisa, Italy, in November 1966, and the spectrum from Bud Powell men were in their first heyday, full was just too cautious. Now the grew up influenced by the work Gil Melle is not a particularly and his disciples. Bryant’s music is of spirit, drive and adventure, first 18 tracks of CD1 of this of Toots Thielmann and Stevie attractive tenorist, with a rather always totally accessible and he buoyed up by the fine rhythmic collection, it has some wonderful Wonder. Here he leads a quartet dull tone. His work on the can reach out to a much wider support they received. Goodman clarinet, especially in which includes Piergiorgio baritone sax is more interesting. audience without compromise. small group tracks where the Pirro(piano) Gabriele Evangalista But he can be a rather prosaic, He is the classic example of This is primary , young also shines, (bass) and StefanoTamborrino plodding improviser: not very Wallington nimble and spare at but BG features dominate, even (drums) with a roll -call of guests, depth in simplicity although that exciting. The album’s reputation is the piano, much in the manner of in big band numbers, and Rush’s notably Nicola Stilo (flute) who description might deny an retrieved by some of the other Bud Powell, Byrd sounding two tracks are predictable: one of contributes on five of the eight astonishing technique. He is, soloists, such as trombonists clarion-clear, with superb tonal those generic blues about being titles. probably, the most undervalued Eddie Bert and Urbie Green, and control, akin to Clifford Brown in glad to be here and then his pianist in jazz in the sense that he guitarists Tal Farlow and Lou the assurance of his playing, while trademark, Mr. Five by Five. What The repertoire has two Bertelli is comfortable in all areas, blues, Mecca. There is a bonus of eight Woods evokes Bird but with was the point, one wondered, of compositions and one each by boogie-woogie, soul and stride tracks from a 1957 Café Bohemia attitude, the complexity of his taking Taft Jordan, Emmett Berry, (Funk in Deep but that is not to say that he is ‘a broadcast. solos sometimes making me , Seldon Powell and the Freeze) Mal Waldron (Soul Eyes) master of all trades and a master think of local hero Alan Barnes. rest as accompanists? Track 17, an and Billy Strayhorn (Lotus of none’. Bryant is as authentic TONY AUGARDE Speaking of Byrd, Grove affirmed, exhilarating One O’Clock Jump, Blossom). The band and guests and convincing in all of these ‘after the death of Brown in whetted the appetite for more. acquit themselves well; Pirro is styles. 28 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 29 FESTIVALS IN THE NORTH EAST JALCO FESTIVALS IN THE NORTH EAST THE NEXT GENERATION OF JAZZ RUSSELL CORBETT reports on the Gateshead and Darlington Jazz Festivals. THE GEORGE GERSHWIN SONGBOOK The 2016 Gateshead experience something of the Leonard Cohen and Joni Courtney Pine and Zoe Rahman International Jazz Festival staged decadence of Barney Josephson’s Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi. The latter were one half of a double bill PETER VACHER reviews days 2 and 3 of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra’s residency at the over three days in April featured legendary New York club. number saw Carroll joined by Ian playing opposite Jazz Messengers’ musicians from around the globe. Vocalists Vimala Rowe and Ciyo Shaw. They shared several things alumnus . For Barbican Hall in London in February Americans Terence Blanchard and Brown shared the spotlight in common – an excellent voice, some time Pine has been playing Gregory Porter were two of the backed by an all star band. In a a jazz piano sensibility and a exclusively bass clarinet and this Days two and three of the sousaphone for a Crenshaw was heartening to observe the good, their sequence galvanised marquee names to attract the fast moving revue, the winning comedic talent. Young was the case at Gateshead. impressively-styled Fourth routine on Rialto Ripples from enthusiasm and vitality offered by by the presence of trumpeter crowds and British and European instrumentalists didn’t get too New Yorker Kris Bowers Pianist Rahman was for the most International Residency by 1917, this unleashing a Monkish the youth orchestras assembled a Marcus Printup. Here was musicians generated considerable many opportunities to show attracted those in the know and part relegated to the job of and the Jazz at stride sequence from pianist Dan day earlier under the Next trumpet playing of such startling interest. Sage Gateshead works in what they could do, yet, when the curious. The Monk accompanist to Pine’s long solo Lincoln Center Orchestra at Nimmer and a burst of searing Generation tag. First up was the strength, soaring creativity and partnership with Serious in called upon they were up to the competition prize winner excursions. Those hoping to hear London’s Barbican Hall and as trombone from the band’s only NYJO Academy Big Band under sheer class it seemed to make programming the concerts and mark: Sue Richardson, trumpet, presented an electronic rap and Blanchard playing ’50s ever, a case of contrasting British member, Elliott Mason Seb De Krom, followed by the the whole set fly. Duly enthused, there is a distinct contemporary Nat Facey, alto and Denys hip-hop set referencing indie pop Messengers-style were to be intentions and outcomes. Given that made the tune’s early origins Young Jazz East Big Band cued altoist Jim Gold scored on St flavour to the annual weekend Baptiste, tenor. The show- tunes. To placate the jazz police disappointed. This was an the ‘cliffhangingly loose’ aspects irrelevant. As if by magic, the and directed by Scott Stroman, Louis Blues, the band very much event. The jazz calendar has its stopping finale featured Rowe’s he first talked of his love of uncompromising, Apple Mac- (in John Fordham’s memorable slight figure of dancer Virgil the Guildhall Sextet and finally, on song for Mark Nightingale’s fair share of mainstream festivals impassioned rendition of Strange then played a powered, all electric gig. words) of the orchestra’s Gadson emerged, stage left, and Mark Armstrong’s mighty NYJO. chart on He’s Just My Bill and from the beginning Fruit. selection of the master’s collaboration with Wayne held us all enthralled with a De Krom set his young charges a (dedicated to NYJO founder Bill Gateshead adopted a strategy of compositions. For the record, This 2016 edition of the Shorter on its first day, its third whirlwind concoction of mime tough task with a pair of Mingus Ashton) with trombonist Tom broadening the audience base. BBC Radio recorded several Bowers can play! Gateshead International Jazz and final presentation had a play- gestures, body contortions and charts and some Ducal pieces, Dunnett prominent followed by performances on the Jazz Line-Up Festival catered for most tastes. It safe feel, the ground cleared for a dance callisthenics. Hard to the ensembles well driven by two elegant vocals from Clara For some the Simon Spillett stage for future broadcast on One of the joys of this annual would appear audience numbers demonstration of their versatility classify, certainly not a hoofer, drummer Luca Caruso, their Serra and ’s Genesis, Quartet was the pick of the Radio 3. Graham Hardy’s festival is the sheer amount of held up well in these difficult in an all-Gershwin programme. more likely an eccentric dancer, efforts complemented by the with Printup’s decisive concerts on offer. A screening of Tyneside based Northern music on offer. It is also a source times and for some a late night the band telling me later that presence of JALCO trombonist interjection. Tenor-saxophonist the recently released film Tubby Monkey Brass Band (right) of frustration with the scheduling jam session well into the early Wynton filled in the facts, the they knew him from the Alvin Elliot Mason. He traded riffs with Walter Blanding Jr chimed in on Hayes – A Man in a Hurry performed to a partisan crowd of some concerts making for hours was just what Dr Jazz orchestra did their stuff and the Ailey troupe in New York. his band counterparts on Haitian What Are You Doing with Clara’s preceded Spillett’s set which was delivering a supercharged take on tough choices. In Sage One, the ordered. soloists had a heyday – after all, Extraordinary. Next to appear Fight Song and then preached a sweet vocal, before tenorists Tom nothing short of sensational. As a New Orleans street bands. largest of the three spaces, who could go wrong on Don was Mark Kavuma, a man with powerful message on Goodbye Ridout and Davis Healey sparred tenor player in his own right Presenter Kevin Le Gendre Redman’s famous I Got Rhythm hat and a trumpet, whom Pork Pie Hat, the trumpets and engagingly on Chris Smith’s Spillett is top drawer. A Pint of introduced Yorkshire’s Pan Jumby, chart for openers? All clipped Wynton commended for his rhythm impressive in their bright Going Dutch composition Bitter and Cherokee were superb, piano playing singer Ian Shaw and trumpet interjections and blissful patience and who then played the commitment. Plenty to and we were done. the latter taken at breakneck the brilliant Roberto Fonseca saxes with an extended solo, slowest version of Embraceable encourage Wynton here, as there pace. Spillett’s band was more Trio. The Cuban pianist, a superb zigzagging here and there, from You I’ve ever heard, each note was with the recently assembled Not so, for the super-active than up to the mark; Steve technician, has gone from Buena WM himself before the cherished and pristine. Later this 20-piece Young East ensemble, Armstrong cued Mason, Printup, Melling, piano and Alec Vista Social Club sideman to star trombones stood and played tag graduate from the Dune academy culled from a variety of East Gardener and Blanding to join Dankworth, , were in billing world wide. with the tune. In contrast, long- joined Fox for Nice Work ahead of London boroughs, some the band to play an impromptu top form and drummer Miles time orchestra member Victor a Strayhorn re-write of Rhapsody members barely into their teens. Lady Be Good, Printup duetting Levin, son of Tubbs’ drummer Late night concerts proved to be Goines then recalled Sidney in Blue with more of Nimmer’s Here again there was onstage memorably with the fine guitarist Tony Levin, offered a tangential as popular as ever. Bechet’s tempestuous soprano explosive piano. Cue ovations, encouragement from a JALCO Nick Fitch, NYJO trombonist link to the man in question. sang and played piano ’til gone version of Summertime, a case of standing and heartfelt. But there pro, trombonist Vincent Gardner Rory Ingham then invited to midnight. Carroll’s impressive one New Orleans native was more, Wynton leading a sit- giving Jumpin’ at the Woodside stand between Mason and Pianist Alex Webb’s Café Society vocal range rang out across the celebrating another, his final long, down version of Jelly Roll’s Dead plenty of vim, with another Gardner in a trombone to-and- Swing proved to be a hit with a auditorium on a varied selection keening note prompting an Man Blues with Kavuma setting drummer, Kevan Lynch, handling fro that I suspect he’ll remember Photo by Ken Drew near full house keen to of tunes including All of Me, some ovation. out his stall in rather more every aspect of swing with for a very long time to come. upbeat fashion and that was it. aplomb. Note these youthful players for Thereafter we moved from a they represent the future of the The fifth Darlington Jazz Festival play an active part in the festival, Veteran multi instrumentalist Al set ranging from Cole Porter to Kentonesque version of It’s tempting to look at this They gave way to the Guildhall music, as do all those I haven’t followed hard on the heels of its first leading an inspirational Wood joined the Durham Tom Harrell. A more Fascinating Rhythm, orchestration exceptional outfit and reflect that six-piece for a couple of the space to list. The audience more prosperous high profile workshop, then the following County Alumni Big Band at a sold contemporary approach heard by Bill Russo, trumpeter Kenny it must be the best-paid, best- numbers, trumpeter Miguel loved every minute, rightly, pride festival neighbour forty miles up evening he led an outstanding out Central Hall to play classic vocalist Lindsay Hannon and her Rampton featured, to Sherman equipped, most proficient Gorodi and altoist Sam Brayshear mixed with awe at what they the standouts. As ever, the NYJO unfolded for us. No wonder the road. Bringing jazz to the town sextet playing the music of Nat big band charts in the company accomplished band close an Irby’s engaging arrangement of repertoire orchestra on the top cats looked and sounded Wynton stayed on to listen. centre was Darlington’s stated Adderley. A first floor room of Dennis Rollins. With a resumé enjoyable afternoon of top But Not For Me, in the manner of planet. One observer thought the aim and a number of concerts above the Voodoo Café on boasting NYJO and the Jazz quality jazz. , with piccolo lead. music sanitised and safe and so it and gigs at welcoming venues, all Skinnergate was full to Warriors, the genial trombonist’s In what is now an established was, but cheers to Wynton and Wynton Marsalis within walking distance of one overflowing to hear the engaging participation was a major success This year’s four day festival could routine, Wynton picked out a his men, many now entering a another, featuring regional and Roberts give a performance that and the County Durham Youth only be described as an young local player, tenorist Ruben slightly portly middle age, for national names proved to be a will live long in the memory. Big Band’s opening set benefitted Fox, who offers a soft-centred unqualified success. Concerts, continuing to celebrate this resounding success. Flanked by altoist George Grant from his presence out front and but broadly mainstream style, and music’s extraordinary history. workshops and a new venture – and tenor man Leo Richardson, in the juniors’ trombone section! duetted with him in a quintet And so on to Australia, their jazz in St Cuthbert’s Church Trumpeter Matt Roberts grew up this was 52nd Street reborn. look at Lady Be Good before The next-day destination for a down- showcasing the best of the in Darlington and discovered jazz Blistering solos and the dream The Quakerhouse featured the Man I Love by the full orchestra under tour. Who said life on the as a teenage member of the rhythm section of Sam Watts, Ruth Lambert Trio playing the region’s youth ensembles revealed trombonist Chris road was cushy? County Durham Youth Big Band. piano, Simon Read, double bass Great American Songbook and a working with Sebastiaan de Krom Crenshaw’s wa-wa expertise. A graduate of Leeds College of and drummer Dave Ingamells had few original compositions, – drew large attendances and Given Wynton’s crusade for Music, Roberts, now working in the audience cheering each and followed by the duo of pianist next year’s Darlington Jazz So far, so straight-ahead. Round student engagement with jazz London, made his annual every incendiary contribution to Dean Stockdale and Noel Dennis Festival promises to be bigger two opened with Vincent and the priceless showcase pilgrimage to his home town to the echo. (trumpet/flugelhorn) in a relaxed and better than ever. Gardner buckling on a accorded to Fox and Kavuma, it 30 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 31 BEGINNING TO CD LIGHT BEGINNING TO CD LIGHT

at full power. SATURDAY Basso’s tenor sax is frequently exciting. Roelofs himself is an (Stunt Records: 52.02) by Scott RON SIMPSON’S ROUND-UP OF RECENT CDS MORNING (Elemental Music compared to Stan Getz; to me his assured player who allows Hamilton and Karin Krog is a 906086: 39.21) is excellent late robust tone, melodic fluency and himself a fairly generous quota of delightful, accomplished and trumpeter Jesse Drakes. This rare deliberately turned his back on Sonny Criss, recorded in 1975, sense of swing call Zoot Sims to non-musical effects in between occasionally challenging album. complete version suffers from fame, but Phono’s THE two years before his early death. mind. However, both he and plenty of fluent legato playing. Krog, a famously experimental familiar problems with live LEGENDARY 1957-59 These attractive reissues of Don Oscar Valdambrini, a Roelofs’ material consists mainly singer, eases back with a coolly recordings: noisy patrons and STUDIO SESSIONS (870246: Schlitten’s Vertigo label preserve trumpeter of considerable of originals, but he brings a fine cheerful take on the title song sound quality that is pleasingly 2 CDs, 69.48/68.35) proves the the integrity of the original technique and great good taste, solemnity to a funereal piece by and some numbers upfront, but tends to make Jo truth of Scott Yanow’s albums, but, with limited bonus are nothing if not versatile. The Scriabin (clearly popular among where, without being imitative, Jones sound less subtle than usual description of him as ‘criminally tracks (in this case, one extra quintet album, Walking in the jazzers these days) and an extract she is not afraid to echo Lady and Kenny Drew almost obscure’. As a wonderfully from the same session), they are Night, consists mostly of from a mass by Guillaume de Day. She sits out several numbers disappear. SWAHILI (Phono talented and already mature short on time by reissue contemporary Italian numbers Machaut. Trumpeter Ralph and leaves Hamilton to display his 870236: 76.00) was Clark young trumpeter, he was one of standards. Sonny Criss’ direct and, despite a default position of Alessi’s latest CD, QUIVER skill with a ballad or have fun on Terry’s first album under his several hailed as ‘the new Clifford blues-based alto is heavily hard bop, contains a delightful (ECM 2438: 56.00) was recorded Erroll Garner’s Shake it, but don’t own name in 1955 and was Brown’. Blue Note provided all- influenced by Parker, but also West Coast tribute in saxist in Oslo in 2014 and it’s odd that break it. Her versatility surfaces originally simply titled Clark Terry. star quintet line-ups for his two harks back to an older tradition. Attilio Donadio’s Blues for Gerry. an album by an American quartet on two chunks of vocalese, An expert six or seven piece albums as leader, then he decided is the most With trombonist Dino Piana on with a German producer including an ambitious attempt to plays Quincy Jones’ arrangements that the University of Michigan complementary of pianists, but board, the group has a looser, less (Manfred Eicher) should have set words to a Slam Stewart solo of originals by him and Terry and offered better career prospects – also takes his share of the elegant, more forceful sound. Of such a Nordic feel, in its sense of on Sometimes I’m Happy – bassist the whole thing seems set up, when he next recorded 20 years spotlight with a fine version of two LPs featuring Piana, The Best space and underlying melancholy. Hans Backenroth in fine form. very successfully, to demonstrate later, his time had gone. But Here My Heart Stood Still, a re- Modern Jazz in Italy is deservedly All the tracks are Alessi originals Hamilton’s fills and solos on such the huge range of the Comes Louis Smith is a fine debut, harmonised first chorus giving famous. A bonus album, New and show little variety of mood songs as What a Little Moonlight and tempo. Technically Can Do are a delight and pianist trumpeter’s work – this was pre- joined by a pseudonymous way to Bud Powell-ish Sound from Italy, features an octet, immaculate, but to me rather Jan Lundgren and drummer flugelhorn. Swahili immediately Cannonball Adderley (‘Buckshot beboppery. The original liner including Lars Gullin who also notes re-printed in uninvolving, Alessi is supported Kristian Leth never put a foot features Terry in untypically La Funke’) in, mostly, a set of very contributes some ingenious COMPLETE LIVE AT THE by a fine rhythm section, notably wrong. dramatic mood against Art workable Smith originals. His arrangements alongside a couple CAFE MONTMARTRE (Solar the subtle and thoughtful pianist Blakey’s thundering drums, but clean articulation at whatever of swingers from George Gruntz. 4569969: 2 CDs, 77.14/76.05) by Gary Versace. The new release the swinging and the whimsical tempo, his flow of strong melodic Cecil Taylor make a telling point Though recorded as recently as with the most general appeal, have their place, culminating in a ideas, the lyricism he shows in his about first hearing his trio in club 2014, CHARLIE DEVORE THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE million miles an hour Chuckles, a treatment of Stardust – all make Recorded in 1959, ELLA 1955 and 1956. Taken together action: ‘three musicians....each of AND HIS NEW ORLEANS signature Terry title. Jimmy as good a claim as any to the FITZGERALD SINGS THE with the Ella, it leaves an them in the middle of an FAMILY BAND (GHB BCD Dorothy Donegan Cleveland’s trombone and Oscar Clifford succession. Then GEORGE AND IRA overwhelming impression of the unaccompanied solo, it would 553: 61.02) feels and sounds like Pettiford’s cello (periodically he Smithville is even better, with GERSHWIN SONG BOOK astonishing quality of the best of hands the bass to Wendell seem.’ Taylor and drummer Sunny a throwback; indeed the notes Charlie Rouse, Sonny Clark and (Essential Jazz Classics EJC American song between the Marshall and takes to its little Murray, in particular, pursue their refer to ‘a style of traditional jazz all making mighty 55689: 3 CDs, 78.48/ 1920s and 1950s. Of the 14 brother) both register strongly. own lines, the pianist as rarely heard these days.’ contributions. The 1959 session is 77.40/76.20) combines the tracks only one is by the On the bonus tracks Terry guests percussive as the drummer, while Pianist/cornetist Jamie Wright less distinguished, but definitely talents of three geniuses of Gershwins (But Not for Me), but with a quintet led by Jimmy locked in a complete assembled a collection of old worth a listen: Down Home popular music with two master- there are gems by Burke and van Hamilton and Barry Galbraith. understanding. Alto saxist Jimmy buddies, New Orleans-based or facilitators, producer Norman Heusen (Like Someone in Love), Reunion, by an eight-piece of Lyons sometimes takes a rest, regular festival visitors, for Memphis jazzmen, including Louis Granz and arranger Nelson Hoagy Carmichael (I Get Along It’s always interesting to re- sometimes changes the focus of informal sessions, not originally Riddle. Jazz content varies (for Without You Very Well), Rodgers discover the early work of Smith’s cousin Booker Little. the attack, sometimes introduces intended for general release. The instance, Ella’s celebrated scatting and Hart (My Funny Valentine) and musicians whose copious 1950s Another valuable CD, releasing an element of melody, especially music is as relaxed and surfaces only on I Got Rhythm) so many others. The album releases were followed by a long some exciting jazz for the first when given his head on What’s unsophisticated as that suggests. but this is glorious music. A few remains a very appealing listen, silence. FOUR CLASSIC time, is LIVE AT CARMELO’S New, the only track on the Personnel varies, with a basic line of the unknown songs deserve to with Chet’s restrained lyricism ALBUMS (Avid AMSC 1184: 2 (Fresh Sound FSR CD 883: 2CDs, Montmartre set not composed up of cornet (nearly always be unknown, but the overall both vocally and instrumentally CDs, 79.33/74.46) consists of 56.53/60.03) by the by Taylor. This double CD puts Charlie DeVore), trombone, quality of the material is superb, well matched by Russ Freeman’s two live (from the Embers) and Sextet. Half the tracks have together two LPs of the clarinet, piano, bass and drums with a special joy in hearing the accompaniment and his choice of two studio albums from appeared on the album Hip Copenhagen dates in 1962, many and the addition of second great semi-neglected songs (Soon, song: the Kern-DeSylva classic, Dorothy Donegan’s Pocket, but the remainder are numbers recurring in two cornet or clarinet (occasionally) I Was Doing All Right, My One and Look for the Silver Lining, fits considerable late 1950s output. making their first appearance. The different versions, plus bonus and guitar (frequently). Alongside Only) and enjoying so many of perfectly with Chet’s oddly After that she managed only one tracks come from a live date in tracks from in the New Orleans jazz favourites, the Ira’s wonderful verses via Ella’s melancholy optimism. Bonus album before 1975. The albums California in 1981, with a same month. Sometimes, 50 years choice of tunes takes in nice old- immaculate diction and phrasing tracks come from the same seem to have been for small-scale collection of mainly upstate New on, the avant garde sounds fashioned songs such as Over the – plus the moment of lift-off period, with the Freeman Trio on operations – almost no Yorkers playing the compositions mainstream, sometimes it just Waves and I’m Forever Blowing when verse turns into soaring its own or enlarged by Bud personnel details for her trio, of pianist Frank Strazzeri, plus the sounds silly, and sometimes (as Bubbles. The jazz world of Dutch chorus on songs such as Someone Shank’s flute and a string section. limited information on recording occasional bebop standard and a here) it still sounds like the avant bass clarinettist Joris Roelofs to Watch over Me. Comparison COMPLETE LIVE AT THE dates – that seemed to be trying ballad each for the front liners, garde. It’s powerful, demanding could not be more different. His with the 1998 4-CD set on Verve ARGYLE 1950 (Solar 4569968: to cash in on ‘America’s newest Menza’s alto standing out on Alec and (if you stay with it) hypnotic, current CD on Pirouet, means EJC loses the alternative 77.42) finds Lester Young still entertainment sensation’. In truth Wilder’s Winter of My Discontent. but not recommended to lovers AMATEUR DENTIST (PIT takes and mixes, but gains a fine the master despite his traumatic Donegan’s no-holds-barred, up- In a 2015 note Menza claims that of melody or coherent 3090: 52.21) is billed not as the album from 1950, with the alertly Army experience. Half the and-at-‘em piano style, plus her they were generally regarded as improvisation. A final reissue – Joel Roelofs Trio, but individually supportive piano of Ellis Larkins numbers are old favourites – One expansive on-stage personality, ‘cool’ players, but, while some of and once again of great interest as Matt Penman and Ted Poor – backing Ella on a set of the best O’Clock Jump, Lester Leaps in and made her a great ‘live’ act, but Strazzeri’s arrangements have both historically and musically – appropriately enough because, of the Gershwins. CHET the like – and he plays with his her playing can be a bit their cerebral moments, the BASSO VALDAMBRINI just like Cecil Taylor 50-odd years BAKER SINGS (Dream Covers customary understated authority, unrelenting on disc. However, it’s soloing is pretty incendiary, QUINTET/SEXTET (Phono ago, both the New Zealand-born 6100: 79.37) contains the first perhaps a little broader in style good to re-visit the music of a notably from Sal Nistico’s tenor 870243: 2 CDs, 72.30/77.39) is a bassist and the American album to feature Chet as a singer, than on studio recordings and pianist with a prodigious and Menza’s baritone. For the generous reminder of the music drummer often pursue their own released in 1954 as a 10 inch LP, with the merest hint of technique, ebullient style and antidote to cool listen to a 20- of the best known Italian jazz lines. The overall effect, though, is then amplified to full 12 inch beboppery, a trend more roots equally in classical and minute assault on Sonny Rollins’ small group of the late much gentler, more accessible, status with tracks recorded in noticeable in his incisive stride and boogie. Louis Smith , with Shelly Manne 1950s/early 1960s. Gianni more melodic and, inevitably, less 32 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 33 The Saxophone Specialist Yanagisawa Conn-Selmer Walstein Bauhaus Apollo plus Vintage & Classic Part Exchanges & Commission Sales considered Saxophones Flutes Trumpets Trombones Flugels MOUTHPIECE CONSULTANTS Link Lawton Larsen Meyer Runyon Selmer Vandoren Guardala Yanagisawa Bach Wick www.saxophoneheaven.com 01865 798165 www.brassheaven.co.uk 404 Marston Road Marston Oxford OX3 0JE

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