THE JAZZ RAG

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STEVE GADD (PAGES 18-20) THE STAR DRUMMER TALKS ABOUT HIS NEW CD/DVD ON BFM JAZZ

4 NEWS

7 UPCOMING EVENTS

9 CHOPS A NEW JAZZ QUIZ FROM SCOTT YANOW

10 TOP 50 ALBUMS RON SIMPSON AND DIGBY FAIRWEATHER COMMENT

12 NON-MUSICIANS IN JAZZ SCOTT YANOW ON KEY FIGURES

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THE JAZZ RAG PO BOX 944, Birmingham, B16 8UT, England UPFRONT Tel: 0121454 7020 In November Digby Fax: 0121 454 9996 Fairweather and the Trustees Email: [email protected] of Jazz Centre UK completed Web: www.jazzrag.com a 10-year agreement with Southend Borough Council to Publisher / editor: Jim Simpson create a jazz centre for the UK covering 4,000 square News / features: Ron Simpson feet and comprising a heritage Reviews editor: Nick Hart museum, an art gallery, a full International editor: Yue Yang research centre, a sound Commercial Director: Tim Jennings archive, a cinema running Subscriptions & accounts: Nick Hart seasons of jazz films and a replica of the 100 Club, all housed in an atrium at the Designed by Nerys James Beecroft Arts Gallery in Southend-on-Sea. Printed by Warwick Printing www.warwickprinting.co.uk On December 16 the Jazz Centre website will be launched, together with sites on © 2016 THE JAZZ RAG. All original material including advertising Facebook, Mixcloud and Soundcloud – and Jazz Rag 145 will carry a full interview with artwork remains the sole copyright of the Publisher and may not be Digby Fairweather about the formation and facilities of this important new resource. reproduced without permission

THE JAZZ RAG 3 NEWS NEWS

NEW DEALS FOR DISCOVERY Alexandra Ridout have entered into partnership Cleo Gregory Porter with Blue Note Records and Blue Laine Discovery Records, the UK’s prime distributor of jazz CDs, plus of Note Jazz Club to re-brand their course many other styles of music, has announced an exciting Contemporary Jazz Cruise Blue series of distribution deals. Founded in 1978, Devizes-based Note at Sea, with many Blue Note Discovery initially dealt with imports from France, but over the artists on the bill. The five-year years has enlarged that to cover CDs from all over Western partnership takes to the seas for Europe, plus Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and, the first time on February 4 to of course, the UK. At any one time Discovery has more than 11, 2017, sailing out of Fort 26,000 CDs in stock. Lauderdale to Nassau, San Juan, Samana and Labadee. Hosting the Now that number is enlarged by six new deals. The much- jazz will be Marcus Miller and a respected Ogun label presents Discovery with more contemporary mouth-watering list of musicians territory. Formed by Harry and Hazel Miller in 1974, Ogun has includes Pat Metheny, Gregory been home to such noted avant-garde musicians as Keith Tippett, Porter, Terence Blanchard, Robert Lol Coxhill and Harry Beckett, plus South African ex-patriates such Glasper, Dianne Reeves, Chucho as Chris McGregor and Dudu Pukwana. Emanem and PSI started RIBBLE VALLEY show a welcome commitment to Valdes, David Sanborn, Joshua out in the 1960s, also dedicated to the avant-garde and free INNOVATIONS youth, as anyone studying the Redman, the Bad Plus, Lalah improvisation with such artists as Evan Parker and Anthony Rising Star category of the British Ribble Valley Jazz Festival on an Hathaway, Ronnie Scott’s All Braxton. M.C. Records and Treasure Island Music take Discovery Jazz Awards will soon realise. Jam extended May Bank Holiday Stars, Wycliffe Gordon, Geoffrey further into blues and rock, respectively. Experiment with Alexander Bone Keezer, Greg Hutchinson and Weekend (April 27-May 1) boasts and Rory Ingham and the a whole range of new venues in Grace Kelly. Particularly exciting for jazz fans is the distribution agreement with Alexandra Ridout Quintet are addition to a street festival, a Inner City Records. Another long-established label, founded by Irv both featured on the Ribble blues stage and plenty of free ECP have also taken pity on their Kratka and Eric Kriss in New York City in 1978, Inner City is Valley bill, plus the Lancashire gigs. The venues are mostly in UK patrons by a most generous regarded with near-reverence by its fans, but oddly was previously Youth Jazz Orchestra. A strong Clitheroe town centre, notably gesture in terms of exchange unavailable on CD in the UK. Now an artist roster including Archie line-up is topped by Norma the Grand Theatre and the rates. With the pound having Shepp, Sun Ra, Eddie Jefferson, Abbey Lincoln and Jimmy Smith is Winstone and the Printmakers, Atrium Café Bar in the Castle, fallen drastically against the available through Discovery. The initial batch of CDs numbers 14, plus Jazz Jamaica, Yolanda Brown, but there are a dozen other dollar, ECP make their Bucking the including Chet Baker’s Broken Wing, Urszula Dudziak’s Future Talk, Get the Blessing, Soft Machine, venues including a church, a Pound offer, their own exchange Tal Farlow’s Trilogy and CDs by all the above. Riot Jazz, Gary Boyle, Jay Phelps, bandstand and any number of rate of 1.45 dollars to the pound! www.discovery-records.com Swing Commanders, Jeremy licensed premises, plus, of course, www.bluenoteatsea.com Sassoon’s Ray Charles Project the street! The headline acts and many more. And, just to put WATERMILL IN 2017 the Lancastrian public in the right mood, there’s a Pre-Fest Jazz The Watermill Jazz Club, now STAFFORD AT 35 Fringe event on March 31-April based at Betchworth Park Golf Club in Dorking, is closed for The Stafford Jazz Society was founded in 1981 and this year Publicity Officer Nick Balmforth has been 1: Preston Jam with Soweto December, but has announced a circulating an Unfinished History of the club which provides many insights into the changing jazz scene Kinch and Nerija. in the past 35 years. Clubs and festivals trying to persuade financial support from hard-pressed local www.rvjazzandblues.co.uk fine programme for councils may look back enviously to the early days of Stafford Jazz Society. In 1981 Stafford Borough Hall January/February next year. became the Gatehouse Theatre and the Council’s Entertainments Manager, Phil Brewin, actually called an STABLES JAZZ Derek Nash’s Picante (January 10) is followed by star US trio Open Meeting to raise support for its use as a jazz venue. The result was the founding of Stafford Jazz December 16 and 17 sees the Larry Goldings-Peter Bernstein- Society, with Roy Williams appearing with a local rhythm section on December 9, 1981. For the next 24 usual end-of-year spectacular at Bill Stewart (17), Back to Basie years the Stafford Jazz Society met at the Gatehouse, in the Cabin Studio Theatre and later the Globe the Stables, Wavendon, Cleo’s Big Band (24) and ex-Esbjorn Tavern, at some point changing its regular sessions to Sunday lunch-times. One key factor in the happy Christmas Show. Moving into the Svensson drummer Magnus relationship between the Gatehouse and the society was that the council supplied (free!) the venue, a New Year, the programme Ostrom with his band (31). The technician to work the sound-desk and deal with other technical issues, and a piano. includes Ronnie Scott’s All Stars February programme features with the Ronnie Scott Story Barry Green’s New York Trio (7), Then, in 2005, the council, needing to optimise its revenue, decided to charge for these services – (January 21), the Syd Lawrence Neale Meets Steele (14 – Allison understandably! Equally understandably the SJS couldn’t afford to pay them and moved to Stafford Orchestra (27), Charlie Parker Neale co-leading a quintet with Rangers Social Club. Finally in 2014, as Stafford Rangers slid down the leagues and the club’s future on Dial with singer Vimala Rowe looked uncertain, SJS took up a tempting offer from the White Eagle (Polish) Club and moved there. In vibes player Nathaniel Steele), the (February 5), Trichotomy (7), the Steve Waterman Quartet (21) 2016, in Stafford and everywhere else, the days of a council setting up and financing a jazz club seem far Tubby Hayes film, Man in a Hurry, distant! and the guitar-vocals duo of John introduced by Simon Spillett (18) Etheridge and Vimala Rowe (28). and the Darius Brubeck Quartet Equally Nick’s history of SJS offers a view on the social world of the local jazz scene. Over the years SJS Tel.: 07415 815784 (21). Sunday morning sessions www.watermilljazz.co.uk has been socially responsible, from staging a benefit for the victims of Katrina to organising a Youth Jazz feature Georgina Jackson with Festival for many years. Awards are made to Band of the Year and Musician of the Year, the latter in the Singin’ and Swingin’ (Feb. 12) and LINN RECORDS name of Ken Rattenbury, President of the society until his death in 2001. Ken, a distinguished Mark Crookes with Kings of the trumpet/composer, was also an authority on Duke Ellington and, as our older readers will remember, Clarinet (March 19). PARTNERSHIP one of the wisest and most generous commentators on jazz. SJS’ history has also overlapped with one Tel.:01908 280800 Linn Records, the established of the legends of British jazz, Nat Gonella, a Life Member of the society who, in his later years, would www.stables.org Scottish independent label with a come up from Gosport to charm the Stafford audience with his singing. track record including many key BLUE NOTE AT SEA – jazz releases and the award of 35 years and two days after the initial Roy Williams concert, the JB Jazz and Blues Band plays the White AND BUCKING THE Gramophone’s Label of the Year Eagle Club on December 11, with the Stafford Christmas gig the following week with the Firehose 1 in 2010, has entered into a Dixieland Jazz Band. POUND partnership with Outhere Music, www.staffordjazz.org Entertainment Cruise the major Belgium-based musical Productions, now on their 45th production and recording group. full ship charter featuring jazz, Outhere already has offices in 4 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 5 NEWS NEWS / UPCOMING EVENTS

will run until the summer of 2017 NO ISLE OF BUTE IN 2017 and will include one-to-one Sadly the Board of the Isle of Bute Jazz Festival has announced that the festival which has been running mentoring sessions and a over the May Day holiday every year from 1988, will not take place in 2017. At the moment the phrase is residential period. The musicians ‘taking a year off’, but obviously the financial climate will dictate whether there is a festival in 2018. The chosen for 2016-2017 are Olie Board has been very frank about the reasons for this and its Press statement gives a thorough account Brice (bass), Corrie Dick of its thinking. At the heart of the matter is a three-year Service Lease Agreement with Argyll & Bute (drums), Duncan Eagles (sax), Council which had become operative in 2015. This year the SLA was subject to a 20% cut in common Paul Edis (piano), Richard Foote with all such agreements in Argyll & Bute. The festival sought an assurance from the council that no (trombone), Kim Macari further cut would follow, but the Council, ‘faced with massive financial challenges of its own’, as the (trumpet), Rebecca Nash (piano) Festival Board readily acknowledges, was unable to provide this guarantee. and Shirley Tetteh (guitar). www.serious.org.uk The Board cites as further reasons for the cancellation year on year falls in ticketing revenue, the increasing age profile of its audience and a projected 15% increase in band accommodation costs. CELEBRATING IN EASTLEIGH Photo by Merlin Daleman Spats Langham Chick Corea However, Bute Jazz continues to operate, with Winter concerts including New Year Jazz at the Victoria The festive season reduces the Miss Daisy, small band swing venues. Artist-in-residence trio (January 24), with Gilad The New Century Ragtime Hotel, Rothesay, on January 2 and the prospect of re-introducing jazz at the Rothesay Pavilion when it normally high jazz content at the under the leadership of Simon trumpeter Matt Roberts will Atzmon (31) and with Alan Orchestra’s annual mid-winter re-opens late in 2018. Concorde Club, Eastleigh, with Thorpe (February 1) and the once again facilitate workshops Barnes and John Hallam concert (February 3) at www.butejazz.com Wednesdays in December being Chris Ingham Quartet with The and feature with his own band in (February 7). Rosie’s Jazz and Gateshead’s Caedmon Hall given over to Christmas Party Jazz of Dudley Moore (8). January what has become a much Swing at Cheadle Hulme features guests Keith Nichols and Brussels, Paris, Cologne, Milan BRISTOL JAZZ BIGGER TAKE FIVE EDITION XII Nights. The Sunday evening 25 is a jazz-free evening. The John anticipated, annual, high octane Conservative Club every third period percussion specialist Nick and, recently, London. For further AND BETTER The names have now been traditional jazz nights operate as Maddocks Jazzmen, having played session. Thursday also features BBQ with Ward. details check out usual on December 11 with the Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival next announced for Take Five Edition the final Sunday gig of 2016, play special guest Rosie Harrison for www.linnrecords.com when it is XII which is supported by the Solent City Jazzmen before it’s the first of 2017 on January 8, UPCOMING the December 15 Christmas John Hallam and Friends are re-launched early next year. year expands to four days (March Jerwood Charitable Foundation, Christmas Jazz Party Night on followed by the Cuff Billett New show. January 19 brings the providing the music for a 16-20) and offers an eclectic December 18 with the John EVENTS programme in Colston Hall with PRS for Music Foundation, Arts Europa Jazz Band (15), the Big Sueyo Carmel Quintet with Tony weekend at (April 21-23) the VENTURING AWAY Council England, Help Musicians Maddocks Jazzmen and guests. Bear Stompers (22) and the New Ormesher and the Great Burnside Hotel and Spa, no fewer than four commissions, Wednesday Jazz gets going again The Royal Albert Hall has FOR TRAD JAZZ UK and the Serious Trust. Take Orleans Jazz Bandits (29). Birmingham Trombone Company Bowness-on-Windermere. In with two major film-related on January 11 with the SYJO announced an all-star line-up for Five is designed to give talented Tel.: 023 8061 3989 with John Patrick on piano addition to some fine jazz from Venture Away Music Weekends projects. The festival opens with a Legacy Big Band (ex-members of its Big Band Christmas Concert jazz musicians the chance to take www.theconcordeclub.com follows on February 16. John Hallam, Julian Marc Stringle, regularly promote traditional jazz brand new score to the Southampton Youth Jazz on December 11, with Guy time out to develop their craft The full programme for both can Kevin Grenfell and the Tom weekends in comfortable hotels legendary silent film, Metropolis, Orchestra), followed by Spats Barker leading his big band and and their business. This edition FATS AND THE SHAKES be found on the new website Kincaid Trio, there is the pleasure in attractive resorts: commissioned from Bristolian Langham’s Hot Fingers (18), Jivin’ guests Clare Teal, Clarke Peters, below. of two nights dinner, bed and Scarborough, Torquay and Andy Sheppard. Later Charles AT ST. JAMES Kurt Elling and a cappella group Tel.: 01625 528336 breakfast in the heart of the Lake Bournemouth. First up in 2017 is Hazelwood leads Adrian Utley This Joint is Jumpin’ is due to Accent. Andy Sheppard www.grahambrookjazz.co.uk the Royal Bath Hotel, (Portishead) and Will Gregory settle into a two-week District. Tel.: 01942 811522 Bournemouth (March 3-6), (Goldfrapp), the Army of engagement at London’s St. James The Jazz of Dudley Moore is a The Friends of Upton Jazz www.johnhallamjazz.co.uk hosting the Dart Valley Stompers, Generals string orchestra and an Theatre in April. From Harlem timely reminder of what a superb Festival continue their excellent the Sussex Jazz Kings, New 18-piece big band in Sounds for comes the band The Shakes, jazz pianist the much loved series of monthly concerts in Alan Barnes makes a flying visit Orleans Heat, Bill Phelan’s Spies & Private Eyes, a journey together with three singers and actor/comedian was. The Chris 2017 with Robert Fowler’s Gerry to County Durham to play two Muskrat Ramblers and the Sunset through jazz in the cinema. Along two tap dancers, to celebrate the Ingham Quartet present a Mulligan Concert Jazz Band on concerts in one day with a Café Stompers. Christine Tyrrell with workshops and talks the music of Fats Waller. The show programme of his music at the January 20. Dave Moorwood’s Big lunchtime duo date with pianist headlines a weekend at main festival programme ranges involves Fats’ London Suite, Pizza Express in Dean Street on from Laura Jurd’s Dinosaur to Bear Stompers (February 24) Paul Edis at Durham’s Gala Scarborough’s Royal Hotel on together with 16 of his best- January 22, 2017. Alan Barnes/Gilad Atzmon’s come with the bonus of a fish Theatre (February 10), followed March 31-April 3, with the known songs and a story-line Tel.: 0207439 4962 Lowest Common Denominator, and chips supper and the Alan by an evening engagement with Savannah Jazz Band, John Shillito’s involving Al Capone and the jazz from Mud Morganfield to Remi Barnes Quartet follows on March Edis’ trio at the Traveller’s Rest, Select Six, Matt Palmer’s world of the 1920s and 1930s. New York resident Canadian Millennium Eagle Jazz Band, Dave Harris’ new group, the Electric saxophonist Seamus Blake tours 10. All the concerts are in Hanley Darlington. Bassist and vocalist Rae’s Levee Ramblers Jazz Band Beat Combo, before Macy Gray during February with a gig at Castle High School. Nicola Farnon can be heard at with special guest Ian Wynne, and brings proceedings to a close. STARS LINED UP FOR Newcastle Arts Centre in the Tel.: 01684 593794 the Gala Theatre, again with Edis, the Washington Whirligig Jazz Tel.: 0844 887 1500 CHELTENHAM company of Ross Stanley and on April 14. Band. www.bristoljazzandbluesfest.com Early announcements for next James Maddren (February 7). The Forge in Camden has a Tel.: 01305 750797 year’s Cheltenham Jazz Festival special Saturday lunch-time After seeing 2017 in at Earlsdon www.ventureawaymusicweekends.co.uk (April 26-May 1) include the Graham Brook’s Tuesday Jazz and concert on December 17 under Park Village, King Pleasure and appearance of the Chick Corea Swing at Wilmslow Conservative the name National Youth Jazz the Biscuit Boys play such familiar Steve Waterman Trio in the Big Top on April 30. Club continues regardless Orchestra Showcase. Two big venues as the Artrix, Bromsgrove Chick is joined by Eddie Gomez through the festive season, the bands, NYJO Academy and NYJO (January 7), Robin 2, Bilston (26) and Brian Blade in the only UK official Christmas party being in Jazz Ensemble, feature along with and the Met, Bury (February 2) date of the trio’s European tour. the company of Lucy Lockwood, their Vocal Ensemble and NYJO before the band’s first foreign Also lined up for Cheltenham are Liam Byrne and the Keith McGee London. date of the year: the Salle Andre Snarky Puppy and genre-defying Trio on December 20. Liam Tel.: 0207 383 7808 Waughier in Lille. They return to Meshell Ndegeocello. Byrne is prominent in the 2017 Northern France on April 1 for www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/jazz programme, too, appearing with Benslow Music’s annual Jazz Fest the Potatoes Blues Festival in Tony Ormesher, Andrzej Baranek (February 20-23), run by Joy Ellis Luneray, Normandy. and Frank Grime on January 3, and Adam Osmianski with special Tel.: 0121 454 7020 DARLINGTON JAZZ co-leading BBQ with Jamie guest Jeffery Wilson, consists of www.kingpleasureandthebiscuitboys.com The 2017 Darlington Jazz Festival Brownfield (17) and the Jamie workshops, masterclasses and (Apr 26-29) will retain its winning Brownfield/Liam Byrne Hot Six demonstrations for all levels of Opera North’s programme for formula of regional musicians (March 14). The Tom Kincaid Trio ability. the Howard Assembly Room in working with high profile national also figures largely, appearing as a Tel.: 01462 459446 the Grand Theatre at Leeds is names at several town centre www.benslowmusic.org sometimes astonishingly broad- 6 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 7 UPCOMING EVENTS CHOPS

based, with the New Year attractions including a showing of CHOPS – THE STORY BEHIND THE the classic silent film Nanook of the North, with accompaniment by an Inuit throat singer! Jazz is ULTIMATE JAZZ TRIVIA QUIZ always interestingly represented, with New Sanctuary on January SCOTT YANOW introduces his new quiz, available as a PDF file. 27 featuring trumpeter Dave Douglas, guitarist Marc Ribot and Years ago, I thought of the idea of creating an extensive jazz trivia quiz. Jazz history is filled with colourful figures, humour, and unlikely events. So Susie Ibarra on drums and much of jazz could be considered worthy of being included on a Believe It Or Not programme. After all, how many fans know that Miles Davis electronics. March and April will recorded with Louis Armstrong (as one of many background vocalists on Satch’s 1970 recording of Give Peace A Chance) or that a 16-year old bring performances by Roberto Dizzy Gillespie sat in with King Oliver’s band in 1933? Fonseca and Courtney Pine. Jazz trumpeter Arve Henriksen can After being on the backburner for a long time, the jazz trivia quiz has emerged as CHOPS, a set of 50 individual quizzes (20 questions apiece) be heard on March 8 exploring that total 1,000 questions on jazz, ranging from the significant to the esoteric. Norwegian and Icelandic music of the Middle Ages with Trio Rather than CHOPS featuring questions of a fill-in-the-blank nature, having multiple-choice and true/false questions increases the potential for Mediaeval. Opera North’s lunch- humour. For example, In 1969 Benny Goodman recorded Aquarius. That bit of odd information can be given several ways, but here is the most time series for Kirklees Council humorous question I could come up with: concludes on February 22 with a John Coltrane performance by jazz pianist Benny Goodman did not record this song in 1969: George King at Batley Town Hall. A) Spinning Wheel B) Aquarius Pre-New Year gig at the Comedy C) Up Up And Away Pub in Piccadilly, just three D) How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm? minutes from Piccadilly Underground, features Alan The answer is D since Goodman recorded that tune in 1967. Imagine Barnes at lunch-time on what these performances sound like! December 30. CHOPS is available as a PDF file for $25 by sending the money via Pay January gigs for Tipitina include Pal to [email protected]. I will email the file out within a day the Broadway Casino, and I guarantee many hours of enjoyment. Among the quizzes are ones Birmingham (8), Summerseat on Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Bix Beiderbecke, Art Blakey, John Garden Centre, Bury (14) and Coltrane, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Oscar Park Regis, Birmingham (16 – Peterson, Fats Waller, The Swing Era, Afro-Cuban Jazz, The Blue Note afternoon). Label and 21st Century Jazz plus 35 others. Obviously this is a gift that Tel.: 0121 454 7020 is perfect for one’s jazz-loving friends, and for Yourself. Serious has announced a seven- As an example, here are ten questions (half as long as each individual date tour for Snarky Puppy in quiz) that are not included in CHOPS but are in the format. The April and May next year, answers are included on page 29. beginning at Cheltenham Town Have fun! Hall on April 30. May dates are the O2 ABC, Glasgow (2), the Sage Gateshead (3), the O2 1. The Original Creole Band, a pioneering New Orleans- 6. Who played piano on the originally issued Miles Davis Apollo, Manchester (4), the O2 style band that played in black vaudeville shows during version of Seven Steps To Heaven? 1914-17, was led by: Academy, Brixton (5), the A) Victor Feldman C) Wynton Kelly Tramshed, Cardiff (6) and the A) Freddie Keppard C) Kid Ory B) Herbie Hancock D) Chick Corea Lighthouse, Poole (7). B) Bill Johnson D) Buddy Bolden www.serious.org.uk 7. Not a member of Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House in 2. Never a member of the Paul Whiteman Orchestra: the 1970s: The Frank Griffith/Charlie Wood Quartet is at the Bedford Arms, A) Bunny Berigan C) Tommy Dorsey A) Michael Brecker C) Alphonse Mouzon Bedford, with Memphis Soul B) Jack Teagarden D) Benny Goodman B) Randy Brecker D) Mike Mandel Swamp on December 19. In contrast Frank Griffith MDs 3. After Gene Krupa left the Benny Goodman big band in 8. Wynton Marsalis appears in this film: Kevin Fitzsimmons’ Sinatra and 1938, who was the first musician to record on drums with A) Mo’ Better Blues C) Tune In Tomorrow Sequins shows at the Corn the Goodman orchestra? Exchange Theatre, Stamford, on B) Round Midnight D) The Exorcist III. February 26. A) Dave Tough C) Lionel Hampton Tel.: 01234 214656 (Bedford) B) Sid Catlett D) Buddy Rich 9. Winner of the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz 01780 766455 (Stamford) Vocals Competition: www.stamfordroyalexchange.co.uk 4. Original pianist with the Louis Armstrong All-Stars A) Gretchen Parlato C) Roberta Gambarini in 1947: B) Cecile McLorin Salvant D) Cyrille Aimee A) Dick Cary C) Earl Hines B) Joe Sullivan D) Thelonious Monk 10. True or False: The up-and-coming trad trumpeter-singer Bria Skonberg was originally a child prodigy as a 5. True or False: John Coltrane recorded on alto rather classical violinist. than his usual tenor on a record date with Gene Ammons in 1958.

8 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 9 BBC TOP 50 BBC TOP 50

might call ‘committed jazz lovers’ exercise as this one deserves the week. We have four regular jazz although I will own to still BBC TOP 50 – a most discouraging response highest degree of ‘consultation’ strands on Radio 3, two on Radio missing Humphrey Lyttelton’s for those who have set up the within what (to be fair) is a quite 2 and then there’s the day-to-day Best of Jazz which (to my mind) RON SIMPSON wonders if he will ever be a member of the Jazz Community idea in the first place. small – and accessible – programming on Radio 6 Music, has never found an ideal Nonetheless, this would no community, which certainly (capitals essential). BBC Scotland and our TV replacement. I also search for – doubt explain why I alone have includes jazz journals (there are services such as BBC Two and and reasonably regularly tune received a long string of e-mails four excellent ones in the UK BBC Four. into - your Radio 3 presentations Which of these two lists seems Buck Clayton: The Hucklebuck/ As Charles Mingus would have Actually the first failing is one this morning asking – sometimes alone); many of our best and although I am unaware of the to you to contain albums worth Robbins Nest said, ‘Ah Um’. that goes deeper than proofing. in the strongest terms! – why most highly-qualified jazz critics - Polls, whilst entertaining, are day-to-day programming of jazz voting onto a list of the 50 Best What is an album? On my list of such acknowledged jazz giants as and of course the representatives always subjective and our Top 50 Lester Young: Jazz Greats ‘56 on Radio 6 Music. It would be Jazz Albums? Dropping this rather laboured albums I’ve taken it to be Billie Holiday, Count Basie, of the National Jazz Archive was never intended to be, nor good to know about this and I Lambert/Hendricks/Ross: ironic tone, I’ll get round to what something that was conceived as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, which has been in existence in was advertised as, a definitive shall enjoy making enquiries. LIST A Sing a Song of Basie I really think. The fact that there a unit, either as a live session or Clifford Brown, Lester Young, the UK since l988. guide. Instead, the programming ‘Fats’ Waller, Coleman Hawkins, Joseph Jarman: Song For was a well-publicised pop-up jazz as a product that deliberately was a way to engage different No poll, of course, can be a Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Johnny Hodges, Roy Eldridge, One other – admittedly small audiences in jazz, to elicit station has to be a good thing, placed the musical tracks in a ‘definitive guide’ (the listening Kemasi Washington: The Epic Corners even if the commercials on Radio Oscar Peterson, and Sarah technical detail amid the ‘four-day discussion and to bring them to certain pattern. The absence of public are far too fickle for that) Vaughan (for only a handful of programme’ – was its 2 were so The Fast Show – ‘nice!’ the pop-up station. In but I would nonetheless stick to Christian Scott: Yesterday You Cannonball Adderley: such seminal pre-album classic examples of founding accessibility. I am reasonably The 1-2-3 in the BBC list are not constructing the poll we my point that – while ‘eliciting Said Tomorrow Somethin’ Else recordings as, for instance, those fathers - and mothers - of our computer-literate but could my favourite three, but a totally contacted 300 members of the discussion’ is always a good idea of Bix Beiderbecke and Jelly Roll art-form) find no place in the neither locate a ‘listen-now’ recognised jazz community, John Zorn: News for Lulu If you chose List B, I’m afraid that defensible choice. Nobody is – such discussion should seriously going to object to Morton or nearly all 1930s and listings. button on the site nor find the presenters, artists, journalists, you’re not a member of the Jazz (perhaps) not be prompted by - Zara McFarlane: Until Tomorrow Davis, Coltrane (A Love Supreme) 1940s jazz led me to think the station on my DAB Radio under concert promoters. Polls always Community. BBC Music Jazz, the nor based on – claims (including and Mingus (Ah Um) on the BBC had adopted the same I don’t believe that this was BBC listings. To be fair: other create debate and it’s heartening Yusef Lateef: Three Faces of pop-up jazz station celebrating a ‘Top 50’) which are rostrum. policy, but Louis Armstrong and simply a matter of what we might people were able to listen (and to see so many people who care Yusef Lateef the EDF London Jazz Festival, has questionable or dubious. Perhaps Duke Ellington compilations, and call ‘numerological limitation’. enjoyed what they heard) which about jazz discussing their published a list of 50, including all Donald Trump might serve as a those in List A and none of those But then...lower down the list, Benny Goodman at Carnegie And it is (in my view) both hard is good news. But the (possible) favourite albums. I’m sorry you Robert Glasper: In My Element worthy example?! in List B, after researching mixed in with fine and deserving Hall, sneak in. It looks very much to justify this – and (reaching a limited accessibility of the station were unable to find a way to Abbey Lincoln: A Turtle’s Dream choices are ones that can only as though no one has actually little further into the issue) to could very well lead to the listen to the station, we will take ‘members of the Jazz I would also (politely) question Community’. List A is the choice mean that the Jazz Community decided whether compilations explain how, for example, the (deeply regrettable) conclusion that on board. But you can listen Billy Jenkins: True Love your – no doubt light-hearted – of the Jazz Community, List B is they consulted with consists of are acceptable. admittedly high-profile Jamie by the BBC that ‘there wasn’t to all the programmes again here Collection suggestion that ‘it’s heartening to simply a list of albums I think are so few people that being Cullum can find himself listed five much interest in the idea’ – and for up to 30 days. places above Louis Armstrong, the fact that the station was only see so many people who care Brian Blades: Season of Change rather good. nominated by your sister-in-law Typos are forgivable, but, when who is regarded universally as available for four days would of about jazz discussing their gives you half a chance of Miles Davis is your banner name http://www.bbc.co.uk/programme both the inventor of the jazz solo course have meant that this favourite albums’. In my view the LIST B And, faced with Helen Mayhew’s success. and occurs five times in the s/p033dmdy and (by such latter-day masters as admirable project could well have absence of so very many central Clifford Brown/Max Roach: power of argument, who can listing, it’s beyond incompetent to And the Press release proudly Wynton Marsalis) as – in his passed many of the jazz You’ll be heartened to hear that figures to the jazz culture in your At Basin Street disagree with the choice of Miles spell it every time in the list as Davis’ Kind of Blue as Number 1? announcing this is so shoddily words – ‘The Shakespeare of our community by in any case. the station received strong poll represents something rather ‘Miles Davies’ – that will be Duke Ellington: Piano in the done that it’s difficult to believe music’. Other listings – bearing in audience appreciation over the more significant than that. The Davies the Trumpet, I guess!And Background ‘Kind of Blue is the “Greatest that it went out proudly under mind (say) the omission of Before I close let me (once again) weekend and early indicators artists I have listed along with finally, if you’re going to Album” because it’s the greatest the name of the BBC. Here at Coleman Hawkins and Lester re-emphasize that this e-mail is show it was a successful second many others were (and are) set Count Basie: The Atomic album. It’s a landmark album and Jazz Rag we make mistakes – too embarrass Jamie Cullum by Young in favour of such as latter- sent with the best will; with the year. in stone in jazz’s culture and Mr Basie the best-selling album of all time often – with a staff that can be putting his excellent early album, day artists as Billy Jenkins or (deep) desire to watch the there really can be no discussion Pointless Nostalgic, at Number 8, Robert Glasper (however continuing re-acknowledgment of Thanks again for your kind words (light-hearted or otherwise) Quintet of the Year: Jazz at for a reason. It’s the album most counted on the fingers of one do get its title right – as it stands, admirable these artists may be) jazz music amongst both the and the constructive spirit of about their necessary presence Massey Hall people have in their music hand, but surely the BBC, even collection and, if you haven’t got with cutbacks, has someone who billing it as Pointless seems a would suggest a notable lack of media and new generations of your letter. in a properly devised and qualified judgment in the young people continue to grow – Billie Holiday: Lady in Satin it, then you have to get it because can check Press releases! rather appropriate comment! researched project such as yours. it’s the best.’ preparation of the lists. Perhaps – and hopefully to help deflect the Best regards, The BBC is a powerful voice in like the inadvertent mis-spelling negative reaction which this the UK - and a central opinion- of winner Miles Davis’ name (as project has prompted amongst James. former – and its statements ‘Davies’) in the winner- album For a more considered judgement we turned to DIGBY FAIRWEATHER who in his role as specialised jazz listeners. I would should be carefully considered. listings – such questionable be delighted to hear back from Pleasant enough but a little musician, broadcaster, writer, and founder of both the National Jazz Archive and Jazz Centre judgments might perhaps suggest bland perhaps? So I wrote you, and very much hope to do Yours cordially, UK is admirably qualified to be a member of the ‘jazz community’. Digby shared with Jazz Rag over-hasty exercise in its so. this one back: his correspondence with James Stirling , Editor, BBC Music. Minor cuts have been made to preparation. However it is, I And of course – after no think, important to re-emphasize Dear Mr Stirling , Digby's letters in the interests of saving space, but nothing that concerns his main arguments Well, having operated from reply – I’m still hoping. Just that these are – to a limited within the corridors of power as we all are. No-one wants has been removed. degree – ‘cosmetic of the BBC, I was well aware Many thanks for responding to to fall out with the BBC. Nor misjudgements' amid what is an that the chance of a my letter. It was nice to hear do we want to grumble extremely promising project - response was reasonably from you. Dear Mr. Stirling , I very much hope that this fine been in the UK since circa l875 about promising initiatives. and that very few such initiatives minimal. But then I received initiative to raise the profile of and has survived triumphantly But we also need to take get everything right first time! this from Mr. Stirling : As an ex-presenter of jazz As a professional jazz trumpeter jazz will be repeated, and there the waves of popular fashion extra-special care of our have been thoughts from including – most centrally – the programmes on the BBC (Best of of forty years in the UK I was precious heritage. ‘Tread members of ‘the jazz community’ rock generations of the past 50 I do feel however that the Dear Mr Fairthweather,(sic!) Jazz, Jazz Notes and Jazz Parade, intrigued to view the BBC’s softly, because you tread on (however that term is defined!) or more years. business of consultation with ‘the l988-98) I am very aware of the listing of the ‘Top 50’ jazz albums our dreams’ comes to mind. that this might be a marketing jazz community’ brings up the Thank you for your email and the regular demands for more of all time, amid their – very And in a world where jazz is exercise for a fulltime BBC jazz I think it is most important to questions of (a) the nature and time you have taken to relay your exposure from what we might admirable – attempt to heighten station. If this were to be the make this point before past (including Jazz FM which scope of the ‘consultation’ (when thoughts and the encouragement call ‘specialized areas’ of music – regularly subjected to the profile of jazz with their pop- case it would be a massive proceeding on to more specific suffered problems early on in its and where?) and (b) how the you have given. As you know, BBC jazz, folk et al. I am a regular careless re-definition and up station which has just closed cultural advance for our (most issues regarding the project. To years) have regularly met with ‘jazz community’ was defined Music is committed to jazz listener to Clare Teal and Jamie over-swift adoption of after four days on-air. durable!) art form which has begin with: jazz initiatives in the howls of protest from what we with regard to this project. Such programming with around 25 on Radio 2 and enjoy the balance dubious claims we all need to a valuable and high-profile hours of radio content every of their stylistic output – be very much on our guard. 10 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 11 NON-MUSICIANS IN JAZZ NON-MUSICIANS IN JAZZ

Norman Granz Gitler, Gary Giddins and Francis of other festivals but he will THE GREATEST NON-MUSICIANS Davis. Rudi Blesh was a major always be best known for supporter of New Orleans jazz Newport. Jimmy Lyons, a disc and the host of the important jockey, thought that Monterey IN JAZZ HISTORY This Is Jazz radio series in 1947. would be the ideal place for a His greatest contribution was co- West Coast festival in 1958. The By Scott Yanow writing 1950’s They All Played Monterey Jazz Festival, now Ragtime with Harriet Janis. directed by Tim Jackson, will be While the finest jazz musicians. He originated and ran who on GHB, Jazzology and everything from Dixieland and Joachim Berendt, the top celebrating its 60th edition in instrumentalists and singers Jazz At The Philharmonic, paid his other companies that he Chicago blues to groundbreaking European jazz critic for decades, 2017 at the same location. produced concerts and always deserve our endless musicians some of the best acquired, documented more than free jazz on Delmark. Creed recordings and was the author of This piece concludes by compliments for creating and money they ever received, a thousand New Orleans jazz, Taylor, who worked with Verve in The Jazz Book, one of the great mentioning Willis Conover, the constantly revitalizing jazz, most managed Ella Fitzgerald and trad and swing sessions for over the 1960s, came up with a jazz history books. John Chilton’s disc jockey who on his Voice of could not have done it alone. Oscar Peterson, and founded a half-century. perfect mixture of the creative Who’s Who Of Jazz filled in many America broadcasts, introduced Throughout jazz history, there Norgran, Clef and Verve. In the and the accessible on his classic gaps for jazz artists born before jazz to millions of listeners have been many individuals who, 1970s he returned with the Pablo Innovative avant-garde albums CTI recordings of the 1970s. behind the Iron Curtain in while not professional musicians label, showing that there was were recorded by Bernard 1920 as did his biographies on Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins Eastern Europe and the Soviet themselves (pianist George Wein more to jazz of that era than Stollman for E.S.P. in the 1960s In addition to those who founded and Billie Holiday. Bill Russell, Union for decades. being a major exception), have fusion. and Chuck Nessa for his Nessa and ran record companies, the who helped discover Bunk made major contributions to the label. The ‘comeback’ of straight recorded history of jazz was Johnson in 1942 and had the What would jazz have been like music. These include those There would never have been ahead acoustic jazz in the 1970s influenced by a few major record American Music label, was a without these tireless non- individuals who had the vision to Blue Note if Alfred Lion along might not have happened on the producers who frequently made major figure in the revival of New musicians? extensively document the music with his business partner and level that it did were it not for a huge impact with larger labels near the top. His UHCA (United In 1950, Irv Kratka came up with photographer Francis Wolff had Hot Clubs of America) label in the idea of Music Minus One, Orleans jazz and his research that they loved (often by starting Norman Granz, Carl Jefferson before departing. Steve Backer Tireless non-musician Scott not immigrated to the United the mid-1930s was the very first releasing play-along recordings helped to rewrite jazz history. their own record labels), record (Concord), Don Schlitten was responsible for superb jazz Yanow is the author of 11 producers, club owners, States. Many other key labels to put out reissues and the first for up-and-coming musicians that (Xanadu) and Joe Fields (Muse programmes at four major The art of discography, which lets jazz books and countless influential jazz journalists, were originally the vision of one to credit all of the musicians on gave them opportunities to fill in and later on High Note). companies. He revived Impulse one know who recorded what liner notes and reviews. promoters, and the many who jazz fan. Think of Richard Bock (1972-74). While with Arista the actual record. He ran the the missing parts. Jamey Commodore Music Shop (a Aebersold later became famous when, was pioneered by Charles operated behind the scenes to who gave us West Coast cool One should definitely not (1974-80), he reissued Savoy sets, www.scottyanow.com major jazz record store) and his for releasing hundreds of Play-A- Delaunay with his Hot Discography help jazz. There are far too many jazz on his Pacific Jazz label, Orrin overlook the great European recorded new music for Novus, Commodore label during 1938- Long recordings that have in 1936. Brian Rust’s series of jazz to mention in one article, but Keepnews who founded impresarios who recorded so and leased avant-garde music for 46 recorded tons of hot jazz and benefitted a countless number of discographies (which are certainly all of the ones in this Riverside and Milestone, Lester much rewarding American and Arista/Freedom. Backer was swing. Gabler also produced a students. Both Kratka (Inner City indispensable) brought the piece deserve our praise and Koenig who was responsible for European jazz. The jazz world responsible for Magenta at Even Scott Yanow cannot call wide variety of music for Decca, and Classic Jazz) and Aebersold science to a very high level. Tom recognition. both Contemporary and the would have been much poorer Windham Hill (1981-86) and, to mind every influential from Louis Jordan to Bill Haley. (Double Time) have also Lord’s massive online The Jazz Dixieland-oriented Good Time without the accomplishments of while with RCA in the 1990s, he non-musician in jazz. Any produced many ‘complete’ Discography is utilized by this One cannot imagine what jazz Jazz, Bob Weinstock’s hundreds Giovanni Bonandrini (Black Saint released swing packages for further suggestions George Avakian was a jazz critic recordings too. writer nearly every day. history would have been like of Prestige albums, or Ross and Soul Note), Hans Georg welcomed at Bluebird and revived the Novus as early as 1937. In the 1950s without John Hammond. Record Russell who documented Charlie Brunner-Schwer (MPS), Nils [email protected]. I name for recordings of new when he was with Columbia, Jazz recordings and performances There have been a countless producer, discoverer of Billie Parker and others of the bebop Winter (Steeplechase), Gerry would make a case for music. But each time he left a Avakian (who is still with us at have since the 1930s been number of club owners through Holiday, Charlie Christian and generation for Dial. In more Teekins (Criss Cross), Matthias Barney Josephson, Lew Leslie label, his projects went out-of- the age of 97) worked on classic analyzed and criticized by the years with Max Gordon Count Basie (who he heard by recent times, Bob Rusch (on Wincklemann (Enja), Manfred and Joe Glaser - or is the last print! new recordings by Louis hundreds of jazz journalists, (succeeded by his wife Lorraine accident on the radio Cadence and CIMP) championed Eicher (ECM), Alastair Robertson named just too notorious Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Duke authors, historians and critics of Gordon) founding and running broadcasting from Kansas City), creative improvised music in with his mobster (Hep), Karl Emil Knudsen and his Bruce Lundvall brought back jazz Ellington and Miles Davis. varying quality. Leonard Feather the most famous and prestigious not to mention Aretha Franklin Cadence Magazine. connections? And, while successor Mona Grainger to Columbia in the 1970s, had was considered the most venue, the Village Vanguard. The and Bob Dylan, fighter against (Storyville) and Leo Feigin (Leo). the Elektra Musician label for two we're on mobsters, why not In addition to Koenig’s Good Nesuhi Ertegun, after producing important jazz critic by many for first jazz festival was in Paris in racism, and brother-in-law and Jordi Pujol compiled a glorious years in the 1980s, and Owney Madden of the Time Jazz, the trad jazz world has New Orleans jazz at Jazz Man a half-century. His Encyclopedia Of 1949 but it was George Wein adviser to Benny Goodman, remarkable number of rewarding oversaw the comeback of Blue Cotton Club? Or maybe not. been blessed by the work of Matt and Good Time Jazz, ran the jazz Jazz from 1960 expertly summed with the Newport Jazz Festival Hammond was a dominant force reissues for Fresh Sound while Note after a decade of the once- Domber who gave us Arbors, department at Atlantic (co- up jazz up to that time and, in (starting in 1954) who really in Swing for decades. his Fresh Sound New Talent label mighty company being inactive. R.S. Bob Erdos with his extensive founded by his brother Ahmet addition to his columns and made the annual jazz festival a has included early and often His good friend Michael Cuscuna, Norman Granz was also a Stomp Off label, and Hank Ertegun), producing John books, he produced important major part of the music. Wein has debut recordings of many of in addition to producing many powerhouse throughout his O’Neal who ran Chiaroscuro. Coltrane, Charles Mingus, bop-oriented record dates since been involved with scores today’s greats including Ambrose sessions and helping organize career, fighting against racism and However it would be difficult to Ornette Coleman and many (notably for RCA in the 1940s), Akinmusire, Brad Mehldau and Blue Note, founded the premiere for a large assortment of major equal the output of George Buck other greats in the 1950s and persuaded George Shearing to Ahmet (centre) and Nesuhi Ertegun (right) the Bad Plus. jazz reissue label Mosaic with ‘60s. Other important jazz record form his famous quintet, and Charlie Lourie in 1983. John producers and organizers of wrote hit songs for Dinah Bob Thiele was always a hustler Snyder created the Horizon sessions include Ozzie Cadena Washington. who fought to get great jazz on series for A&M (the only time (notably with Savoy and Prestige), records. He had his record that A&M has extensively Teddy Reig (Savoy, Roost and Other major jazz critics through company (Signature) during featured jazz) and his own Artists Roulette) and three musicians: the years include Hugues 1943-48, ran Coral Records for House label. Gene Norman was a Dave Grusin (GRP), Quincy Jones Panassie (a champion of New the Decca label in the 1950s, was very talented promoter for the (Mercury, A&M) and Teo Macero Orleans jazz), George T. Simon, the head of Impulse during the music he loved. In the 1950s he (his work with Miles Davis). Ralph Gleason (who produced 1960s (recording everyone from was a jazz disc jockey, produced the Jazz Casual TV shows in the Coltrane to Ellington), and in his concerts, had his own Crescendo No survey of recorded jazz is 1960s), Whitney Balliett (arguably later years headed the Dr. Jazz night club and recorded many of complete without mentioning the the finest of all jazz writers), Nat label. Harry Lim recorded a the same artists for his GNP most famous and influential Hentoff (who had the short-lived remarkable number of classic (Gene Norman Presents) engineer of all, Rudy Van Gelder, Candid label in 1961), Stanley small-group swing sessions for Crescendo label. who helped define how jazz Dance, Dan Morgenstern (his Keynote during 1943-46 and in sounded on records during the historical liner notes are difficult John Hammond the 1970s had the Famous Door When it comes to jazz record LP era. to top), Martin Williams, Ira label. Bob Koester recorded producers, Milt Gabler ranks 12 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 13 THE MYSTERIES OF GLENN MILLER THE JAZZ RAG TOP 20 UK THE MYSTERIES OF GLENN MILLER THE JAZZ RAG TOP 20 UK Conspiracy theories, friendly fire - and decidedly unfriendly fire from the jazz world…. RON SIMPSON looks at the Glenn Miller phenomenon. UK JAZZ CD SALES CHART

In early November 2016 Tommy the more convincing of the was killed three months (Hawkins, Krupa, Pee Wee 1 TUBBY HAYES CHANGE OF SETTING Harkit Records Steele completed a two-year stint theories: death by friendly fire or, previously and his death hushed Russell, etc.) and the hottesr pit on the road in The Glenn Miller rather, jettisoned bombs. At the up! band ever, assembled by Red 2 THE COOKERS THE CALL OF THE WILD AND Smoke Sessions Story. Difficult as it is to imagine end of 2001 another television Nichols for Girl Crazy, with Krupa PEACEFUL HEART Records Tommy Steele as James Stewart documentary examined aircraft The other Glenn Miller mystery, again and Benny Goodman (who, to most of us, was the real historian Roy Nesbit’s theory of course, is how good his music among others. 3 CHARLIE HADEN & THE TIME/LIFE Impulse! Glenn Miller), the show was that a squadron of Lancaster was/is. Few bandleaders have LIBERATION apparently a great success with bombers, returning from an been dismissed so airily and So, if Miller was nothing ORCHESTRA audiences. Interviewed on Radio aborted mission to Germany, got contemptuously by their peers. remarkable as a trombonist, what 2, Tommy Steele enthused over rid of their bomb-loads over the Artie Shaw summed it up by do we remember of his sidemen? 4 JOHNNY HODGES/BEN COMPLETE 1954-1961 SMALL GROUPS Phono Records the fact that the truth about Channel. One of the navigators saying, ‘All I can say is Glenn The one undeniable jazz great to WEBSTER Miller should have lived and Glenn Miller’s disappearance had apparently saw a small low-flying play with the band, Bobby 5 VARIOUS ARTISTS PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM Ena Records been discovered while the tour aircraft, doubtless hugging the Chattanooga Choo Choo died.’ Hackett, had a strange career was running. Somewhat blurred Channel because of the fog, Louis Armstrong, he of the with Miller. Joining the band at a 6 JACK TEAGARDEN & IN CONCERT, MANCHESTER 1957 Upbeat on detail (on the lines of ‘These which he recognised as a famously eclectic taste, enjoyed time when his own band had EARL HINES ALL STARS guys have found out…’), his Norseman. Oddly enough, he and admired Miller’s music and collapsed in financial disarray and account had to do with the cold kept his counsel on this for over Buddy de Franco, one of the when dental work made it 7 MARY LOU WILLIAMS PLAYS IN LONDON Sony Jazz Connoisseur weather, pilot unawareness of the a decade, but, as theories go, it finest of jazz clarinettists, led the difficult for him to play trumpet aeroplane’s tendency to stall, was a good one, though Miller ‘ghost band’ in the 1960s or cornet, he switched to his 8 BRIAN AUGER BACK TO THE BEGINNING…AGAIN Freestyle Records trying unsuccessfully to gain apparently exploded by the and 1970s, but that doesn’t stop second instrument, guitar, and height and engine failure. discovery of a plane-spotter’s Miller’s music attracting jibes took up the trumpet only diary on The Antiques Roadshow in from many quarters of the jazz 9 ROBERT GLASPER ARTSCIENCE Blue Note Records occasionally, as on the famous EXPERIMENT The Glenn Miller Orchestra had 2012 which proved that the world in a way that most jazz- solo on String of Pearls. Later unprecedented popular success fringe dance bands don’t. Norseman was on a different another major figure in 1930s 10 HARRY ALLEN’S ALL THE CANDY MEN Arbors over a comparatively short course. and 1940s jazz, the fine guitarist STAR NEW YORK period of time: 1938 to 1942. Yet the Miller sound continues to Carmen Mastren, one of Muggsy SAXOPHONE BAND Then, after he broke up the band The ‘found dead in a Paris pull the crowds like no other. Spanier’s Big Four, also played and joined the forces, Glenn brothel’ story was one of the After Miller’s death with Miller, but only in the Army 11 TUBBY HAYES INVITATION Acrobat Music Miller led the Army Air Force longest running Miller myths, but saxophonist/singer Tex Beneke band. Band which by December 1944 a story on a website called carried on the band with the 12 SIDNEY BECHET & TOGETHER Essential Jazz Classics was based in the UK, playing for militarycorruption.com backing of the Miller estate until MARTIAL SOLAL However, looking at the line-up the forces and broadcasting developed that and linked it in parting company acrimoniously in for Artie Shaw’s least favourite widely. With a Paris concert for with one of the numerous 1950 after converting it to Tex 13 STAN GETZ PRESENTS THE PEACOCKS Koch Jazz track, Chattanooga Choo Choo, you the liberating Allied troops lined conspiracy theories. A certain Lt. Beneke’s Orchestra. But the JIMMY ROWLES can’t help thinking that a band up, Major Miller took off in a Col. Hunton Downs (surely an Miller sound refused to go away, with Billy May and Ray Anthony in 14 ERROLL GARNER READY TAKE ONE Sony Music CMG single-engined Norseman, with invention) told the ‘true’ story in with orchestras such as Ray the trumpets, Wilber Schwartz, Al two companions, from Twinwood his book The Glenn Miller Anthony’s selling plenty of 78s, Klink and Ernie Caceres on 15 HANK MOBLEY THREE CLASSIC ALBUMS PLUS Avid Jazz Airfield near Bedford on Conspiracy: The Never-Before-Told so, after the success of the film reeds, Trigger Alpert on bass and December 15th to fly to France - True Story of his Life and Death. The Glenn Miller Story, the estate 16 SHABAKA AND THE WISDOM OF THE ELDERS Brownswood and never arrived. No wreckage Major Miller was on a secret asked drummer Ray McKinlay to the under-estimated drummer ANCESTORS Recordings was found and controversy and mission from General lead a new ‘ghost band’. That Maurice Purtill had something speculation began. Eisenhower to the German High formed in 1956 and 60 years going for it. 17 STAN GETZ IN BOSTON, LIVE AT THE HI-HAT Fresh Sound Command bearing peace terms later still has a remarkably full The revelations Tommy Steele for an end to the war. A light date sheet. Two other officially Appropriately enough, in view of 18 COUNT BASIE & CLASSIC 1936-47 STUDIO SESSIONS Mosaic Records was referring to were probably a aircraft stood ready at Versailles sanctioned Glenn Miller the number of myths around LESTER YOUNG 2014 programme in the History to take him to German Orchestras operate outside the Miller, the musician that many of Detectives series which focussed headquarters at Fichtenheim. A USA, with Ray McVay in charge of us most associate with his band 19 LAMBERT, HENDRICKS HOTTEST NEW GROUP IN JAZZ Sony Jazz Connoisseur & ROSS on the Norseman’s history with group of hard-line Nazis, the successful UK version. was a mediocre pianist given to dragging the tempo whose main a faulty carburettor which was committed to fighting to the 20 CHARLIE PARKER UNHEARD BIRD Decca prone to icing. It’s difficult to see death, got wind of this, killed him With the great jazz big bands recommendation was his loyalty how this could be proved at 70 and dropped the battered body (which Miller’s was not) we and whose career in music came years distance, but at least it in a whorehouse frequented by remember the superb soloists, to a halt with his leader’s death. sounds much more likely, and German officers in Paris before whether Lester Young, Dickie J.C. ‘Chummy’ McGregor owes much less interesting, than some the Liberation. Joseph Goebbels Wells and the rest or Johnny his fame to two things: Harry of the other theories that have then used the discovery for Hodges, Cootie Williams, etc., or Morgan’s winning performance in been advanced over the years. It propaganda purposes. Benny Goodman himself with the The Glenn Miller Story and the fact This chart is compiled from sales in the following record stores utilises the one known fact about likes of Gene Krupa and Harry that Chummy himself was a the disappearance: the weather. The writer on James. Miller himself was a script adviser, no doubt helping CRAZY JAZZ, Northampton www.crazyjazz.co.uk 01604 315287 Mail Order - www.crazyjazz.co.uk/main/orderform.pdf Whatever happened to Glenn militarycorruption.com then modestly talented trombonist, to develop his role in the film as JUMBO RECORDS, Leeds www.jumborecords.co.uk 0113 245 5570 5-6 St Johns Centre, LS2 8LQ Miller, surely fog and ice had proved his ability to recognise an though in the early 1930s he had Miller’s long-time musical soul- MUSIC INN, Nottingham www.musicinn.co.uk 0115 9470754 7-11 West End Arcade, NG1 6JP something to do with it. unlikely tale when he heard one been part of two legendary line- mate and sympathetic lieutenant. by being totally unconvinced by ups: The Mound City Blue RAYS JAZZ AT FOYLES, London www.foyles.co.uk/rays-jazz-classical-music 020 7440 3205 107 Charing Cross Rd, WC2H 0EB Poor visibility had a role in one of another book suggesting Miller Blowers’ Hello Lola session SOUND KNOWLEDGE, Marlborough Facebook: Sound Knowledge 01672 511106 High St, Marlborough SN8 1LT

14 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 15 2016 BRITISH JAZZ AWARDS SIMON SPILLETT – SERVICES TO BRITISH JAZZ 2016 BRITISH JAZZ AWARDS SIMON SPILLETT – SERVICES TO BRITISH JAZZ Voting for the 2016 British Jazz Awards closed on November 30. After a total of over 38,000 In his early 40s Simon might be been at the forefront of the Simon Spillett votes had been counted, the final placings were as follows: considered a touch on the young many products and tributes that side to receive the award for have followed on what would Services to Jazz, but throughout have been Tubby’s 80th birthday Trumpet Alto Sax Guitar Vocals his professional career of more last year. Most notably he 1. Enrico Tomasso 1. Soweto Kinch 1. Nigel Price 1. Liane Carroll than 20 years Simon’s produced an acclaimed 2. Jamie Brownfield 2. Alan Barnes 2. Mike Walker 2. Claire Martin involvement in jazz has always biography, The Long Shadow of the 3. Laura Jurd 3. Nigel Hitchcock 3. Jim Mullen 3. Val Wiseman gone way beyond his own Little Giant, the result of 4. Ryan Quigley 4. Derek Nash 4. Martin Taylor 4. Tina May playing. With a father who, as a meticulous and detailed research 5. Bruce Adams 5. Alexander Bone 5. Remi Harris 5. Clare Teal semi-pro musician, played with and incomparable appreciation of the likes of Tony Coe, Jimmy the man and his music. Simon’s Skidmore and Lol Coxhill, he was qualities as a writer, well known Trombone Tenor Sax Double Bass Miscellaneous Instrument exposed to the best of jazz to Jazz Rag readers, first became 1. Mark Nightingale 1. Alex Garnett 1. Alec Dankworth 1. Ross Stanley saxophone from an early age. He apparent in his contribution to 2. Dennis Rollins 2. Karen Sharp 2. Dave Green (Organ) studied with the great his mentor Vic Ash’s 3. Ian Bateman 3. Robert Fowler 3. Jeremy Brown 2. Jim Hart (Vibraphone) clarinettist/tenor saxist Vic Ash autobiography, I Blew it My Way. 4. Adrian Fry 4. Art Themen 4. Simon Thorpe 3. Alan Barnes (Baritone before turning professional and 5. Rory Ingham 5. Brandon Allen 5. Len Skeat Saxophone) since then has worked with such Simon’s part in what has seemed 4. Karen Sharp (Baritone units as the Ronnie Scott’s Big to be the Year of Tubby Hayes is Saxophone) Band and Pete Long’s Jazz at the limitless, from his key 5. Amy Roberts (Flute) Phil as well as leading his own participation in the film outstanding quartet, currently documentary, A Man in a Hurry, made up of John Critchinson, to many live presentations, to Clarinet Piano Drums Rising Star Alec Dankworth and Clark innumerable definitive liner notes 1. Alan Barnes 1. Jason Rebello 1. Clark Tracey 1. Alexander Bone Tracey. – including, of course, Split Kick. It 2. Pete Long 2. Dave Newton 2. Winston Clifford (Saxophones) is no doubt in part because of 3. Julian Marc Stringle 3. Zoe Rahman 3. Steve Brown 2. Alexandra Ridout It is perhaps surprising that such his role as an authority on the 4. Mark Crooks 4. Gareth Williams 4. Matt Home (Trumpet) an exciting and technically man who is considered by some 5. Iain Dixon 5. Craig Milverton 5. Ed Richardson 3. Rory Ingham (Trombone) accomplished player didn’t figure as the greatest British jazzman 4. Ed Richardson (Drums) in this year’s Tenor Sax listings, that Simon was honoured two 5. Jack Cotterill (Drums) but that can be explained by the months ago by being appointed quality of the field – Simon is far one of a distinguished list of Small Group Big Band Best New CD from the only wonderful Patrons of Jazz Centre UK. 1. Digby Fairweather's 1. Echoes of Ellington 1. Edition Records: 'Held' - Jason Rebello saxophonist to miss out! Half Dozen 2. Back to Basie 2. Trio Records: 'A New Start' - Pete Hurt Jazz Orchestra However, Simon has a part in 3. Beats & Pieces 3. Manushi Records: 'Dreamland' - Zoe Rahman one of the poll winners: the 2. Tipitina Tubby Hayes CD, Split Kick. 3. Brandon Allen Six 4. Jim Rattigan’s Pavillon 4. ASC Records: 'Paris' - Mike Westbrook 5. Gareth Lockrane Big Band 5. Jazzizit Records: 'You've Got To Dig It To Dig It, You Dig? - Simon’s playing has often been 4. Brownfield-Byrne Quintet compared to Tubby’s and he has Photo by Merlin Daleman 5. Nigel Price Organ Trio Derek Nash

Best Re-Issue CD 1. Savage Solweig Records: 'Split Kick - Live In Sweden 1972' - Tubby Hayes Soweto Kinch 2. Lake Records: 'Barber Back In Berlin' - Chris Barber's Jazz Band with Ottilie Patterson NOMINATION PANEL 3. Lake Records: 'Remembering Pat Halcox' - Chris Barber, Alex Welsh and full supporting cast 4. Gearbox Records: ‘Tippin' - The Jazz Couriers Live In Morecambe 1959' Bill Trythall Beaconville Music 5. Acrobat Records: 'The Tempo Anthology' - Various Artists Chris Hodgkins Jazz London Radio Cole Mathieson The Concorde Club Services to British Jazz Simon Spillett David Nathan National Jazz Archive Denny Ilett Bristol International One of the major strengths of listings with Mark Nightingale, category is, over the years, how few tight contests, the Alto Sax Jazz & Blues Festival the British Jazz Awards is that Laura Jurd placing 3rd behind few male singers get nominated category was the tightest. Fred Lindop Swanage Jazz Festival they reward the consistently Enrico Tomasso in the Trumpet or voted for – Jamie Cullum, However, it’s a pleasure to excellent rather than the merely ratings and Alexander Bone and anyone? welcome some first-time winners Geoff Matthews Southport Melodic Jazz fashionable. The nomination panel Alan Barnes figuring together in such as Ross Stanley (breaking John Billett JBGB Events is made up of people who have a the Alto Sax ratings. Now and There are some predictable the monopoly of baritone sax Mike Gordon Scarborough Jazz real involvement in the music and again a category is dominated by victories. Mark Nightingale seems and vibes in the Miscellaneous the votes cast express established stars. The Vocals to have claimed as his the section) and Nigel Price, Peter Vacher Jazz Writer enthusiasm for a wide range of listings could have been the same territory that Roy Williams ruled obviously owing their position to Roger Cotterrell Jazz Writer jazz styles – all without 10 years ago, but, given the for years and the only problem the high profile of Nigel’s Organ Ron Simpson Jazz Rag generational bias in either continuing quality of the five with Alan Barnes is working out Trio. And special congratulations direction. It’s good to find Rory singers, that seems fair enough. which of three categories he will to Jason Rebello for his double Tim Saul Bute Jazz Festival Ingham sharing the Trombone The real mystery of the Vocals win and which he will just miss success in Piano and New CD. Tony Augarde Jazz Writer out on. Incidentally, among quite a

16 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 17 70 PLUS! 70 PLUS!

Buddy Rich. With Rick Marotta In recent years Steve has been themselves. It’s very much a band STEVE GADD’S 70 PLUS! he also cited Louie Bellson who touring with James Taylor who where all know and trust each DRUMMING 1st XI had a brief, but spectacular, adds horns and percussion as other. RON SIMPSON talks to STEVE GADD about Way Back Home, the CD/DVD of the concert in career with Duke Ellington required, plus four backing Art Blakey before becoming a notably subtle singers, but the band is anchored The Steve Gadd Band has now Rochester, NY, to celebrate his 70th birthday. member of the Oscar Peterson by a rhythm section of Larry taken to the road with a Buddy Rich Trio. Then he lists Max Roach, Art Goldings (keyboards), Jimmy vengeance. In London for the Though the actual title is taken ‘It was a really special day for me, Franklin, from Joe Cocker to freelancing in the New York Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Elvin Johnson (bass), Michael Landau 2015 EFG London Jazz Festival, Elvin Jones from a tune by Jazz Crusader to go back and play in the Barbra Streisand. Yet, if you look studios and he just tells you how Jones, Jimmy Cobb and – clearly a (guitar) and Steve Gadd (drums). they returned to play Ronnie Wilton Felder, Steve Gadd’s live Eastman Concert Hall. I went to for recordings under his own great it has been to work with later influence – his Walt Fowler is another regular Scott’s in October this year, with Gene Krupa album on BFM Jazz just had to be school there, so I played a lot of name, they’re few enough: a Paul Simon, James Taylor and Eric contemporary Tony Williams. The with James Taylor and his wife got Kevin Hays taking over from Jack DeJohnette called Way Back Home. A different concerts in that hall, handful by the Gadd Gang in the Clapton. Famously Paul Simon’s Marotta interview came up with together with Carol Gadd to Larry Goldings. It was, says Steve, celebration of his 70th birthday maybe once a month when I was 1980s and now this new band 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover another contemporary, Jack suggest that the five should do a ‘a lot of fun’ – we might have guessed! At the end of Jimmy Cobb some two months previously, the a student. Over the years it has a over the last three years. The contains some of his most DeJohnette. Perhaps ‘influence’ is project on their own. Two CDs problem with asking Steve Gadd distinctive drum work outside the wrong word to use for the followed: Gadditude (2013) and November they were taking off concert at the Xerox Rochester lot of history for me, doing big Jo Jones effect these drummers had on 70 Strong (2015), with the for a tour of Japan and Australia – International Jazz Festival in June shows there. It’s where Chuck about it is that he describes the jazz field. Steely Dan’s Aja is Steve Gadd’s playing. As he Rochester live CD/DVD using ‘and some other places’, adds 2015 was very much a Mangione recorded Friends in everything as ‘fun’, says he loves another recording that bears the Louie Bellson doing it – probably the reason unmistakeable Gadd imprint. explains, he liked – and still likes material from both. Steve insouciantly. He’s looking homecoming. Born just outside Love andTogether live. I did why his music still sounds so – to study different drummers to forward to returning to London Rochester in upstate New York, concerts there with David Max Roach fresh in his 70s – but it leaves me Steve Gadd cites Chick Corea as figure out what they’re doing! A Steve clearly values the – he hopes next year – and also Gadd returned as a young man Sanborn and Bob James and an guessing at his career path: another musician he loves direct influence is much harder independent personalities of has plans for another studio CD, after two years at the Manhattan orchestral thing with James Philly Joe Jones Taylor. But this was the first time working with. He has just to find. these four experienced and with fresh original material. School of Music to study at the I’d ever played there with a band ‘Most of my career I’ve worked completed a week with him at versatile musicians. The band Tony Williams city’s renowned Eastman School It’s good to find Steve Gadd of my own, so it was a very as a sideman and I’ve loved having the Blue Note in New York, part Having spent much of his career plays plenty of originals, but not of Music. in the recording studio working Steve Gadd originals. The 12 headlining and selling out special thing, a very personal the opportunity to work with of a two-month Corea season at his magic on other people’s tracks on the Rochester DVD concerts under his own name thing.’ great performers in different the club, featuring different As he says, ‘Rochester was good styles. I’ve always liked different groups and revisiting landmarks recordings, what brings Steve include two each by Michael rather than being the unnamed to me’, the place where his father star of so many recordings, the Bands of his own have, in fact, kinds of music – they help me in Corea’s life in jazz. Steve had Gadd to playing concerts with his Landau and Larry Goldings, one took him to the local jazz clubs guy of whom more figured less in the career of Steve grow as a musician. I had a 20- joined Chick and Eddie Gomez in own jazz/funk quintet? His key each by Walt Fowler and Jimmy which in the 1950s meant the phrase is, ‘There were Johnson, one cooked up by the knowledgeable radio presenters Gadd than one might have year freelance recording career a return to their 1980s opportunities, I gradually eased whole band in the studio on the say, with a modicum of awe in chance to hear the likes of Dizzy expected. This is the drummer in New York City and it was great collaboration. into leading’, again suggesting no Gadditude session, but none by their voices, ‘That’s Steve Gadd!’ Gillespie and Art Blakey at close whose originality and to play with people I had grown master plan was in operation. In the leader. In performance, range and, even, reputedly, sit in perfectionism prompted Phil up listening to. I would get called When he looks back to his early fact Steve gives the credit for the though the drummer clearly sets with Dizzy at the age of 11. Collins’ variant on an old gag: in to play with all sorts of people influences, the broad-mindedness original idea to his wife and the the tone, all have extended Though the DVD of the concert ‘How many drummers does it and that was very exciting. I of Steve Gadd’s approach to treated everything as being wife of trumpeter Walt Fowler. opportunities to express concentrates on the onstage take to change a light bulb?’ ‘Ten. music is already apparent. An special; whether I knew the guy performers, the warmth of the And another ten to talk about uncle who was a drummer gave or it was someone I’d never him drum-sticks with which he audience reception is evident, as how Steve Gadd would have heard of, I would give it all I had.’ used to play along to recordings is Gadd’s emotional response to done it.’ His CV is full of top jazz of John Philip Sousa marches. In what he calls ‘the best night of names – Paul Desmond, Chet Quite possibly Steve Gadd is one teenage years, he was highly my life’. When I spoke with him Baker, Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, of Nature’s diplomats – I rather involved in playing with a drum on November 9th, Steve took a Michel Petrucciani – as well as suspect his enthusiasm is genuine corps. As he explained to friend break from worrying about the everyone else you could think of – but ask him about his years and fellow-drummer Rick Presidential election to tell me: from Frank Sinatra to Aretha Marotta in an interview included with Way Back Home, they were so serious about drumming that they wrote out their parts themselves, never went anywhere without drum-sticks in their pockets and practised rhythms on the soles of their shoes while watching television. Predictably, Steve’s response to my question about the drum corps was to tell me what fun it was! Listeners who savour a kind of military precision in some of Steve’s mature drumming (as on 50 Ways or his solo on the Rochester encore, Them Changes) can thank John Philip Sousa and the drum corps for that!

But the main influences on him in his youth were the great jazz drummers. Again his enthusiasm cuts across styles. The big band drummers come first – ‘I loved Gene Krupa!’ were his first words, followed by Jo Jones and

18 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 19 REVIEWS VINYL REVIEW

STEVE GADD BAND Gadd has surrounded himself with seasoned musicians who can RAY CHARLES WAY BACK HOME turn their hands to most things and the result is full of mature THE ATLANTIC YEARS – Ray, piano-player and band leader, assurance, always accessible, but BFM Jazz 302 062 435 2: IN MONO performing a set of instrumentals never predictable. Green Foam (an arranged by his close Seattle pal 68.00 + 2 DVDs original by the whole band, Rhino Records: box set of 7 vinyl Quincy Jones, Ernie Wilkins and apparently) settles into a funk himself. Ray, sightless from the Way Back Home records the 70th long playing records groove with Larry Goldings on age of 7, used a Braille system of birthday concert of the Steve organ to the fore before musical notation to compose and Gadd Band at the great This extremely impressive box suddenly changing gear and arrange. The band was by and drummer’s alma mater, the set of seven 12 inch vinyl long- tempo with Michael Landau’s large his regular outfit with David Eastman College of Music, during players is a reminder, should we bluesy guitar. Goldings’ own ‘Fathead’ Newman contributing the 2015 Rochester Jazz Festival. need one, of the enigma that was composition Cavaliero starts out fine solos on alto and tenor in a Most of the material has already Ray Charles. That he was a as a guitar-led ballad, but rises to classic small band swing style, appeared on the band’s most formidable jazz piano player, alto a powerful climax, Goldings again with a nod to Count Basie who recent CDs, 70 Strong and saxophonist and arranger can so prominent. The only standard, Bye was admired by both Ray and Gadditude, but the warmth of the easily slip the mind when faced Bye Blackbird, begins with Gadd’s Quincy. Also included are both homecoming inspires the with the blues-soaked singing brushes and Goldings’ wittily sides of a 45 rpm extended play performance and there is a style that trade-marked the sparse hints at the melody before release featuring Horace Silver’s double bonus of two DVDs with countless magnificent recordings Jimmy Johnson’s bass, Landau’s Doodlin’ and Ray’s Sweet Sixteen the CD. The DVD of the concert that propelled him to worldwide guitar and Walt Fowler’s muted Bars, reminiscent of Henry runs to four extra tracks, 12 as fame. But Ray Charles was a jazz trumpet take the lead in turn. piano-player long before he Glover’s Drown In My Own Tears. against eight, and is filmed Gadd’s precise, incisive drumming straightforwardly, concentrating signed to Ahmet Ertegun and devoted to ballads backed by musicians, and therein lies its is at the core of the It’s more familiar territory with on the stage rather than Jerry Wexler’s Atlantic Records strings. Magnificent stuff. charm. performance, though he doesn’t Ray Charles [LP2] which features atmosphere shots, and bringing a where he recorded classic sides hog the solo spotlight, though the singles released between 1952 range of angles to bear on Gadd’s that changed the face of popular What’d I Say is LP5. In 1959 Ray’s The last LP of this tremendous rousing encore, Them Changes, and 1959. Ray was in full Charles drumming. The other DVD music. career hit a peak with the single set, The Genius Sings The Blues culminates in a trademark Gadd Brown mode on Funny (But I Still features a relaxed, amiably What’d I Say, reputedly his career [LP7], the result of another raid solo, all dynamic control and Love You), there’s a tough version rambling interview with Gadd by The Atlantic Years comes with a 30 best-seller, though he always on the Atlantic vaults, is a military precision. of Lowell Fulson’s Sinner’s Prayer Rick Marotta, plus shorter page informative art book and claimed that he had thrown it collection of 12 unreleased blues and heart-stopping Drown In My interviews with friends and each LP has its original sleeve and together in 15 minutes to fill out sides which is just spectacular. RON SIMPSON Own Tears, Ray’s first two major family. the appropriate original label. It is an incomplete live set. The same Charles Brown, Ray’s early worth noting that the 2016 crossover hits, I Got A Woman and year, Atlantic recorded and guiding light, is seemingly with version is pressed on superior Hallelujah I Love Her So as well as released this album in order to him every step of the way on vinyl and the sleeves are printed Mess Around, Greenbacks and cash in on the success of the these uncluttered, pared down on heavier card. other tremendous Brother Ray single. The repertoire is classic recordings that leave that classics. Ray Charles, with everyone magnificent voice and piano The first long-player is The Great clearly having a ball, just about as playing totally exposed. In some Yes Indeed [LP3] presents the 45 Ray Charles, issued in the summer good as it gets. Raylette Mary ways, this is the most durable rpm releases which went a long of 1957. Ray had signed to Ann Fisher gets an interesting long-player of the set. Standouts way to consolidating Ray’s AWARD FOR Atlantic as a 21 year old in 1952, solo vocal outing on Ray’s What are The Right Time with (probably) reputation as the most soulful, fresh off the Seattle and Los Kind of Man Are You – not a Mary Ann Fisher sounding for all most strikingly original singer of Angeles club circuits where he regular occurrence in a Ray the world like Sugar Pie deSanto his generation. The 14 tracks PETER VACHER had been plying his trade as a Charles show. and Ray’s favourite of all the feature Ray, his band, The We are delighted to report Charles Brown soundalike. His blues he cut for Atlantic, I Believe Raylettes and Fathead Newman that Peter Vacher, whose breakthrough was not immediate, The Genius After hours [LP6] was to My Soul. But when the dust has in a joyous romp through familiar many contributions to the he was to spend the next few released in 1961 when Ray settled, it’s Ray on his own, territory that clearly jazz scene include reviewing years recording a series of 45s in Charles was enjoying singing and playing a demonstrates that this must have for Jazz Rag, has been Atlantic’s mid-Manhattan considerable success on ABC straightforward blues – Some Day been one of the most exciting honoured in the USA by somewhat primitive studio, Records, having switched Baby – that is most memorable. live bands of all time. A particular the Best History Award in fortunately with a recording allegiance from Atlantic. Keen to gem is Ray’s take on a song the Historical Research in engineer genius, Tom Dowd. keep attention focussed on their This is a tremendous production. usually associated with Jimmy Recorded Jazz category of Ray Charles catalogue and to Every one of these albums This first specific album featured Rushing, I Want A Little Girl, which the ARSC awards for his exploit earlier unreleased deserves a place on the shelf of Ray delivers as if it was his own. book, Swingin’ on Central recordings, Atlantic revisited their any serious lover of 20th Avenue, published by tape store and came up with Century popular music. To be The Genius of Ray Charles [LP4], some gems. The cuts are taken gathered together in such a Rowman and Littlefield, and considered by label boss Jerry described in Jazz Rag as a from the same sessions that tremendous and splendidly- Wexler as ‘unquestionably the produced The Great Ray Charles presented package makes them 'crusade to rescue a most magnificent record he made generation of West Coast album, making this the second well nigh irresistible. at Atlantic, finds Ray with a instrumental jazz collection. It’s a African Americans from previously unheard-of budget to obscurity’. Peter’s historical fine loosely swinging affair Blues singing, gospel influenced, hire jazz musicians, strings and defined by the delicious opener jazz pianist Ray Charles. study of (often little the best arrangers. Side one was known) black jazzmen on The Genius After Hours which the swinger with sidemen drawn perfectly captures that midnight The Genius? America’s West Coast has received praise from many quarters, the from the bands of Count Basie prestigious Downbeat magazine describing it as ‘as rich in personal mood, again with a distinct nod and Duke Ellington – Clark Terry, Undoubtedly. experience as it is broad in range.’ towards Basie. This was obviously Joe Newman, Snooky Young, Al not a difficult session to record, Grey, Paul Gonsalves, Zoot Sims given the presence of such JIM SIMPSON and more – while side two was 20 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 21 ON RECORD REVIEWS

Don Rendell The Twelve Days of Christmas but Jarrett has given no titles, merely KEN COLYER illustrate the difference four Wes Montgomery’s star was in she lives the stories and here they’re all here, nicely arranged labelling each performance Part 1 years can make to a young the ascendant at the time of the words are crystal clear. She has a and inmpeccably played. Give me and Part 2. I think Meditations PLAYS COLYER’S PLEASURE would-be jazz performer. In 1955 two recording sessions in April warm, pure and unaffected voice Bechet any day, with the ripe- would be a suitable appellation. when she was 28, Betty St.Claire 1958 and October 1959. For on the right side of longing. sounding trombonist Claude Lake Records LACD 350 69:54 evidently wanted to show how those of us not around at the Gousset and the clumsy-sounding HUGH LEDIGO jazzy she was by rephrasing her time it must have been a She treats Good Morning, Heartache, a song generally organist Jean-Claude Pelletier New Orleans music was for songs' lyrics, often quite revelatory experience to hear acknowledged as owned by Billie alongside on such as his own OMAR PUENTE parades, functions, dances. Yet ingeniously, but applying this to Montgomery working without a Holiday, with such tender Blues Du Papa Noel and yes, White some musicians achieved high every line was overdoing it. Also, pick, playing octaves, and attention that it stands as an Christmas yet again BEST FOOT FORWARD acclaim – even became legends. apart from this style tending to developing a sound of his own. acceptable alternative to Billie’s, Now history is repeating itself, if irritate, I find her vocal tones to Working with his brothers Buddy, piano and Monk, bass, and she has fun with Gershwin’s PETER VACHER OP Records OPCD200553 in a more parochial sense. Colyer be grating on the ear at times. presumably encouraged Wes to forgotten ode, Blah, Blah, Blah. was not the only, nor the first Her six ballads are the most 58:00 relax in the company of Land and KEITH JARRETT perpetrator of this early re- palatable, imbued with feeling as they are, with a lot of out-of- Poindexter. An album for fans of Fresh Sound have added a second playable - sampler showing how Best Foot Forward is Omar creation of an even earlier music VARIOUS ARTISTS tempo sequences. Her backing jazz guitar, Land’s tenor playing album recorded one year later modern jazz captured public A MULTITUDE OF ANGELS Puente’s second album and the but, for the fervent devotee, he septet and quartet contain some on Montgomeryland shouldn’t be with Marty Paich doing the attention before it embraced the first since the untimely death of has become something of a cult SOHO SCENE 62: JAZZ outstanding players, such as Hal overlooked nor the fine alto arranging honours for a six piece eight-beat then look no further. ECM 2500-03 570 2466 4 his wife Debbie Purdy. Recorded figure – a doyen of the diehards. GOES MOD McKusick on clarinet and alto, work of Poindexter. group which includes West Coast And hats off to compiler Nick CDs 70:39/77:13/73:59/75:20 with some of the best musicians trumpeter Stu Williamson, again The music on this disc is Billy Byers on trombone and Duckett for his fine track and educators on the Yorkshire Gerald Wilson’s later featuring some more lost songs Rhythm and Blues Records probably as near as you will get arranging, and guitarists Jimmy choices. Very recommended. A musician whose CV runs from jazz scene, with nine tracks, all involvement in dubbing horns and such as Noel Coward’s If Love RANDB035 2 CDs 74:20/79:49 to the misty turn-of-the-century Raney and Barry Galbraith. Miles Davis to Mozart, Art Blakey composed by Puente, the CD is strings will be of interest to the Were All and Cole Porter’sYou sounds of a hundred and fifty SIMON SPILLETT to Bach and Charles Lloyd to one of optimism and unalloyed jazz student and this Poll Imitate Me So. Tapping into the Mod/Jazz tryst years ago. It was the trumpeter’s By the time she recorded again, Shostakovich has to have joy in the making of the music. Winners’ CD is available for the flagged up in the recent Tubby avowed intention to capture ‘that at 32 in 1959, she had clearly VARIOUS ARTISTS something a bit special. These Puente refers to the multi- purpose of academic research, or, Audrey Morris represents an era Hayes documentary, A Man In A functional warmth, that New learned to economise with her four discs, recorded live in 1996, various rhythmic influences – quite simply, to be enjoyed. when good songs and good Hurry, this neat double-CD Orleans bounce’ and there is too-clever phrasing, and her 4 CLASSIC CHRISTMAS attest to Jarrett’s exceptional and Cuban, Latin, African, Caribbean singers were prized. The time compilation takes a two-sided certainly a cosy reassurance to overall sound had changed for ALBUMS PLUS unique improvisational talent as a and the ‘modern UK sound’. It RUSSELL CORBETT when the saloon singers such as look at the kind of records that these renditions: no blatant the better, with less intensity on pianist. He has a formidable Sinatra and Bennett were in the might have ignited both can be said that this is a fair dissonances or complexities to the up tracks, a contrasting Avid AMSC 1220 63.48/77.56 technique, drawing a clear, ascendant. Dansettes and dance-floors for summary of the music heard on disturb the ear, no dramatic softness for the ballads, and AUDREY MORRIS the hipper jazz fan in the days of beautiful tone from his the recording on Puente’s own dynamic excursions to trouble individual interpretations of some I’ve tended in the past to avoid A recent hearing of the singer on the Cuban Missile Crisis. instrument, sometimes gentle and label, OP Records. the emotions. Just a steady – strong standards. Using a THE VOICE OF BISTRO Christmas albums like the plague You Tube discloses that , after fifty caressing, at others sharp and almost hypnotic – rhythmic pulse swinging quartet throughout BALLADS The first disc collates well-known but hey, here’s a double Avid years of consistently excellent percussive. His musical approach Producer Al MacSween plays underlying the simple helps things along too. Pianist work by many of the leading special with a mess of tracks by work, she is now following in the is difficult to categorize. It is not piano, keyboards and organ, contrapuntal textures of an Stan Free is fine but unknown to Fresh Sound FSR-CD 901 64:53 British jazz stars of the day Ella, Peggy Lee, Charles Brown, musical steps of the legendary overtly jazz, although that Dennis Rollins, a high profile essentially free ensemble style me. Guitarist Mundell Lowe, (Scott, Deuchar, Hayes) with Stan Kenton and Sidney Bechet. Mabel Mercer as a teller of discipline is ever-present in his graduate of Doncaster’s applied to some (to the initiated) bassist George Duvivier and If you walked into any smart some genuine rarities which Perhaps it’s something in the stories. phrasing and chord voicings, and successful jazz education time-honoured tunes. drummer Ed Shaughnessy, Chicago club in the 1950’s, ten to haven't seen the light of day since American psyche, the inclination at times there’s a folky, down- conveyor belt appears, and it though, have been much-heard, one you would have encountered towards overt sentimentality that JOHN MARTIN being issued as 45's (among them home feel that reminds me of comes as no surprise that Puente There are rags such as That and are well-remembered by me the distinctive tones of Audrey Bill McGuffie 'doing a Brubeck' seems to imbue many of their Guiffre’s The Train And The River. has called upon several Teasin’ Rag, blues (Highway Blues), for giving me superb interviews. Morris. She was one of that city’s and Al Fairweather's take on celebrations or maybe it’s just CLARK TERRY – But there are so many other exponents of world rhythms popular songs (You Always Hurt Likewise the aforementioned favourite chanteuses and her Mingus). There are also three the chance to make a buck, but facets in these performances: including the percussionists The One You Love) and New Jimmy Raney. territory was the supper clubs BOB WILBER tracks lifted from broadcasts by there’s always been plenty of passages of near-minimalism are Oscar Martinez, Flavio Correa Orleans standard repertoire and bistros and cabaret rooms, the Don Rendell and Joe Harriott albums like these on the US juxtaposed with complex and Michel Castellanos to ensure including Mahogany Hall Stomp LES TOMKINS now, sadly and largely, long gone. BLOWIN’ THE BLUES AWAY quintets, the former showcasing a market. counterpoint, while hints of the sound is as required. Guest and Gettysburg March. – LEGENDARY SMALL pre-R&B Graham Bond in gospel and blues co-exist with musicians contribute to the WES MONTGOMERY Bistro Ballads was her first GROUP SESSIONS incendiary form. In fact, if you can distance introduction to recording in 1955 yourself from the cringe-making Indian and Oriental textures, and uplifting, collective sound, There is, of course, no profound there are shades of Delius, including the trumpeter Byron originality or message in Colyer’s and for this she elected for an Phono 870257 74:43 Disc Two offers 20 tracks aspects of many of the song MONTGOMERYLAND Wallen and Denys Baptiste music. How could there be? But intimate setting with just bass covering similar stylistic ground choices, Ella sings faultlessly. Even Bartok, even Messiaen. it is all delivered with happy and drums augmenting her own Any session involving Clark Terry taped across the pond. The if the material is trite, the playing baritone saxophone on Poll Winners Records PWR These performances are pure predictability and sincerity. Music piano. She chose a repertoire of is guaranteed to be a delight and emphasis is again on what might orchestral settings are often this session. 27357 76:39 extemporisation. Each piece lasts for dancing, surely. So, wind up fairly untarnished ballads. She is a this is no exception. The CD be called – with no quite lovely, with the cream of the gramophone and push back singer in love with the lyrics so notes tell us that this release condescension whatsoever – Hollywood session men on hand. in excess of 30 minutes and Puente’s electric violin is heard This re-release comes with the the furniture. party jazz; music as much for the Much the same goes for Peggy begins with a motif which loud and clear amidst the addition of six re-edited tracks Ken Colyer feet as the ears. Once again, there Lee and it’s interesting, for metamorphoses into a series of pulsating rhythms. The opening for horns and strings with HUGH LEDIGO are rare singles (Kenny Burrell's instance, to compare their stream-of-consciousness track - Danza De Los Spiritus - overdubbing supervised by Out of The World and Larry respective approaches to episodes running the gamut of his indicates the direction the CD Gerald Wilson at a later date. The Frazier's Impulse! coupling of something like White Christmas. technical and emotional will take stopping off along the BETTY ST. CLAIRE album therefore has three Before Six/After Six the stand outs) Blues man Charles Brown takes a vocabulary. However, there is no way to witness Morning in distinct elements: Montgomery and album tracks lifted from the slightly more jaundiced view, as formal shape to the music, which Morocco, and Yes Man Why Not COMPLETE JUBILEE & working with tenor saxophonist finest jazz imprints of the day on Christmas With No One To Love, rises and falls as the muse takes suggests Puente works as a SEECO RECORDINGS Harold Land, then with altoist (Riverside, Prestige, Blue Note, although an entire album devoted him. And, although the delivery is collaborator. Omar Puente has Pony Poindexter, and, as Pacific Jazz etc.). One highlight is to his mannered style can be often rhythmical, there is a produced a most enjoyable Fresh Sound FSR-CD909 74:39 indicated, arrangements for the Lee Morgan's Raggety Ann, a track wearing even if his backing mesmeric stillness heightened by album. larger ensemble. It is the two showing the trumpeter’s bent for combo swings nicely. It’s the pianist’s frequent use of pedal How many past American lady quintet sessions that are of infectious grooves didn't just fascinating to think of Kenton as notes, producing a drone effect, RUSSELL CORBETT singers did I not hear on record particular interest, in other start with The Sidewinder. Indeed, the interpreter of popular carols and all-pervading left-hand before? This is another one. The words, the original release of if you want a useful - and truly and such old-time favourites as ostinatos. two 12-track LPs presented here Montgomeryland. 22 THE JAZZ RAG 23 ON RECORD REVIEWS

Clark Terry Three 'bonus' end tracks seem to outstrips many a better-known Dixieland is your thing, you 1961). Thomas is a sprightly lead. Don Wilkerson and James Clay eminent saxists together and suffer slightly from the T.M. album. should hear this. The extensive In its time, 75 years ago, this on the closing Golson theme Ray backing them with such stars as replacement of Davis with pianist album notes are by Paul Watts music might have been regarded Minor Ray. Harry Edison, Emmett Berry, Les Hank Jones, although a calypso- SIMON SPILLETT and it should be noted that these by some as the Holy Grail but Spann, Jimmy Hamilton and Jo styled Ellington theme lifts broadcasts have not been now I can only think that it Charles himself is in top form, Jones ensures top-class playing proceedings very well. THE EARL HINES released anywhere else before, as would appeal only to all those tackling everything from the which doesn’t over-reach itself ALL STARS far as I can tell. Very worthwhile. doughty old timers who keep the sardonic I've Got News For You to but maintains complete good LES TOMKINS music alive and the beer flowing the almost tongue-in-cheek taste. Buy it. PETER VACHER on Sunday lunchtimes at the local Margie. The dead-slow feast he ‘LIVE’ AT CLUB THELONIOUS MONK pub. makes of Come Rain or Come TONY AUGARDE HANGOVER 1957 ALCIDE ‘SLOW Shine is nothing less than a vocal JOHN MARTIN masterclass. KID ORY LIVE IN PARIS 16 AVRIL 1961 Acrobat ADDCD3174 DRAG’ PAVAGEAU 70.23/69.51 With first-rate sound quality and Fremeaux & Associates FA 5653 RAY CHARLES THE KID ORY DRAG’S HALF FAST BAND beautifully packaged, this is an COLLECTION 1922-28 2 CDs 57:28/60:34 The critics have often been sniffy ORCHESTRA album that deserves a place in about Hines’ decision to cut back GHB Records BCD-54 31:15 the collection of anyone who brings together the most the likes of Smada, Pick Side and There were a couple of Riverside from his big band and small group ZURICH 1961 enjoys Charles or the big band Acrobat Music FADCD2060 important among the very few Oink. LPs taped on the same 1961 tour swing style and to commit I always find it difficult to review genre. 2 CDs 144:00 recordings Terry made with as this recording, Monk's first himself to playing Dixieland from this kind of record. There is Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series Vol. The original liner notes are reedman Bob Wilber. overseas visit since the early the mid-1950s through to the something so disarming about 41/TCB 02412 78:43 SIMON SPILLETT This two CD package from included together with additional 1950s, both of which got early 1960s, most notably at Club the honesty and enthusiasm of Acrobat of no fewer than forty I was aware of Wilber’s work background notes from Marcel themselves dismissed as 'contract Hangover in San Francisco. performances like this that it I've long maintained that Ray seven tracks focuses on the most with Kenny Davern in the 1970’s James. JOHNNY HODGES fillers' in The Penguin Guide to Jazz Various albums were issued almost seems churlish to apply Charles' albums actually contain productive period of Ory’s with Soprano Summit but & BEN WEBSTER Recordings. Happily, this beautiful during that time, often with the usual critiques. better jazz than a lot of 'pure' recording career. It reminds the alongside soprano saxophone ALAN MUSSON sounding – and artfully packaged interesting personnel, usually jazz sessions. Not everyone listener that from one recording and clarinet, I was surprised to I suppose what one can say is – double CD, recorded at the including the New Orleans agrees; a couple of years ago I COMPLETE 1954-1961 studio to another, from one day find that he also played tenor sax. that what you expect, you get. JOHNNY HODGES/ Olympia Theatre, is far more pioneer Pops Foster on bass and ended a record recital with a SMALL GROUP STUDIO to the next, Ory worked with an Terry will be familiar to readers There are no outstanding WILD BILL DAVIS engaging. Monk is captured on the veteran Morton sideman track from Charles' Modern SESSIONS array of the finest jazz musicians performances and the mix should but perhaps not so Wilber. the cusp of his period of greatest clarinettist Darnell Howard, as Sounds in Country and Western not only of the era but of all certainly have been improved but During the 1950’s and 1960’s he JOE'S BLUES commercial success (he signed to here on these five complete Music and very nearly got run out Phono 870255 4 CDs 297.23 time. King Oliver, Louis there is that ‘authenticity’ that worked with Bobby Hackett, Columbia the same year), and his radio broadcasts from April-May of town. This newly issued live Armstrong and Jelly Roll Morton committed New Orleans Benny Goodman and Sydney Phono 870262 73:11 quartet with regular sideman 1957. date from the year before is less The Duke could certainly pick are represented here on labels followers will enjoy. Probably the Bechet. He was also an original Charlie Rouse still sounds fresh likely to upset purists, simply them. Duke Ellington had a knack which themselves have become a most voluble player is Albert member of the modestly titled If you're looking for totally happy and committed. Indeed, there is The club atmosphere is lively, Earl because alongside the leaders for choosing musicians with collector’s sought after treasure Burbank, a fierce and strident World’s Greatest Jazz Band. jazz, you will find it in the many none of the torpor that does all the introductions and the individuality who nevertheless trove. clarinettist who leads the band feelingful vocals, the coo-ing of Although an American, Wilber small group sessions over the occasionally marred the band’s band is away with Who’s Sorry fitted perfectly into his orchestra. through sheer domination. the Raelettes and crowd-pleasing moved to Chipping Campden in years that featured the later work. Any of the seventeen Now, Muggsy Spanier’s punchy versions of hits like Georgia On Just think of Cootie Williams, The variable quality of the the Cotswolds. tracks on this hugely atmospheric trumpet lead to the fore, the Lawrence Brown Ray Nance and recordings is well documented sumptuous alto of Johnny The performances are mainly My Mind and Hit The Road Jack, it Hodges, away from his customary set could serve to illustrate this, rhythm handled by Foster and boasts arrangements by Quincy Clark Terry. But he seemed and of little concern. Indeed, Blowin’ The Blues Away was ensembles and solos are few and Duke Ellington band but to pick just one, listen to the fine drummer Earl Watkins. Jones, Ernie Wilkins and Benny cleverest at finding unique, skilful Acrobat’s liner notes rightly originally released under Wilber’s short. environment. These are 13 tracks Rhythm-A-Ning on which Rouse is Howard solos with verve, his Golson with jazz solos aplenty. reedmen: think Gonsalves, state: some imperfections are so name and was recorded in 1960. flung from the starting gate and inherent in the sound that they he recorded in 1965, teamed tone verging on the cheesy at There is an attempt to vary the Carney and Procope. Two of the The frontmen are supported by into a lengthy improvisation that cannot be removed. What matters with organ ace Wild Bill Davis. times, Spanier and trombonist material with the inclusion of In fact, the opening Jones chart of best were Johnny Hodges and Dick Wellstood on piano, George makes nonsense of his low here is the music as originally Another distinctive sound heard Jimmy Archey riffing in support. numbers such as Brahms’ Cradle Sonny Stitt's Happy Faces sets the Ben Webster, whose small-group Duvivier on bass and Panama ranking by certain critics! His recorded, with, or without here is the mellifluous trombone The ensemble push is admirable Song and Little Brown Jug but these tone for a record that should studio sessions are gathered Francis behind the drums. Here solo on Monk's Mood – a world audible noise, is available to a of Hodges' fellow-Ellingtonian with Hines steady at the helm, get the same informal treatment. bring a smile to all but the stone- together on this 4-CD set. we are offered nine facets of the Lawrence Brown. away from the composers earlier before Archey plays his bouncy hearted. For lovers of Hodges and Webster were close digital generation. blues. After Midnight is a relaxed version with Coltrane – may also variations and Hines then solos Slow Drag shows up again as part instrumental big band jazz there friends and their togetherness is Bob Wilber tune. Terry bursts It is interesting to note that Ory The material given vibrant life by make some think again. with all his customary intelligence of the Kid Thomas-George Lewis is much to savour, including a clear throughout this collection. turned down a job offer from the into life with a solo full of fire. two seven-pieces carries the and flash. There’s nothing too band which is an improvement soulful Marcus Belgrave reading ill-fated Buddy Bolden. Scarcely The clarinettist follows in a more Hodges name in six instances, Monk himself appears to delight routine or tired here, just great and has a more refined sound. of I Remember Clifford, an equally The main LPs which make up this having entered his teens Ory’s urbane fashion, as does two by him only, two with Wild in playing with his attentive players earning a crust and having Lewis drives the band well impassioned outing for altoist compilation are Blues-a-Plenty family insisted he was too young Wellstood. Terry sings on Soulful Bill, one with Duke and one with Parisian crowd, cheekily offering a a ball while doing it. The crowds through some old war horses. Hank Crawford on Misty and, (with Billy Strayhorn sounding to join the now legendary figure. Serenade. Mercer Ellington. The accent topical if brief April in Paris, and obviously loved it, too. Even if And his playing sounds better to perhaps best of all, a steaming remarkably like Ellington); The Idle speculation it may be, but essentially is on the blues, but returning to the stage at the end the tunes are mostly familiar and me than I remember (this is two-tenor carve-up between Smooth One (omitting some of A further nine tracks from 1965 there are other inspiring items. of the second house for a the performances short-ish, the the tracks from the double LP what if Ory had gone on the focus on the music of Billy All are performed with surprisingly hard-swinging Body tempos sometimes over-fast as Ray Charles version); Not So Dukish (Hodges road with a feted musician soon Strayhorn and feature him on marvellous communal spirit, with and Soul. on the dreaded Tiger Rag, it’s typically restrained and lyrical on to meet with a tragic end? The piano with Wendell Marshall, the Davis drive enhanced by the their treatment that counts and his feature The Last Time I Saw Kid Ory Collection would perhaps bass, and Dave Bailey drums. presence of the great Grant If, as Eric Dolphy once Hines, the born entertainer, in Paris); The Jazz Cellar Session (as I be an all together different Duke Ellington is featured on one Green guitar. The group cohesion maintained, you had to see Monk particular, never lets up, this have said elsewhere, note Wilfred proposition. What we do have is track, Ozzie Bailey sings on one is matched by the virility and to hear him, then I'm certain that epitomised by his exciting Middlebrooks’ sturdy bass- a collection of Hot Five, Oliver track and Willie Ruff plays French grace of the solos. My pleasure in those cheers that go up behind workout on Boogie Woogie on St playing); and Side by Side (a true and Red Hot Peppers’ sides with horn on five numbers. the joyful swinging is augmented Rouse during the opening Louis Blues. Great, as well, to hear classic which should be in the addition of Ruth Lee from by five examples of that lush Evidence must be for the famed Spanier reprising his Ragtimers everyone’s collection). There are 1922 and a Tiny Parham cut from The Strayhorn small group ballad playing our man was Thelonious on-stage dance. recording of Relaxing at the Touro. also eight ‘bonus tracks’ from 1927. material is wonderful. UMMG renowned for. Nobody has Whatever prompted them, they 1952. features Wilber on his more rhapsodised as eloquently as confirm that this is far from being The sound from the original RUSSELL CORBETT customary soprano. Along with Hodges. Lawrence Brown, was ‘just another live Monk date’. In tapes is fine and the music is How can you review perfection? the Strayhorn favourites we get also a giant in this department. fact, I'd argue that this release consistently rewarding. If Putting two of Duke’s pre- 24 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 25 ON RECORD REVIEWS

DAVE BRUBECK repackaging that is truly first-rate. Dave Brubeck mood for the entire album, included recordings on the tuba commendable originals and the Lorraine more than matches QUARTET No pseudonym, regurgitating Hodges dreaming up new riff and an appearance on a pop hit rest, flexible standards. Herb’s fluent bop influenced booklet notes, no irrelevant tunes seemingly at will, revisiting by B. Bumble and the Stingers! playing on these sides from 1954- bonus tracks, no anachronistic old favourites and favoured party Red stays in the background on The empathy between the two 55. TIME OUT – THE STEREO cover photos. Just the original pieces like Hodge Podge and most tracks, so it is hard to know horns is telepathic. Sometimes it AND MONO VERSION Time Out, plus it's follow-ups Time sounding fluent and relaxed. The who this album will appeal to is difficult to separate the The rhythm sections are a key Further Out and Countdown – Time affinity between Hodges’ alto and most, but it is a well-filled disc soloists. There are wonderful aspect of all four albums: Bassists Green Corner (Limited Edition) in Outer Space (well, this was WBD’s organ playing is evident incorporating some fine playing work-overs of Al Cohn’s Snake Leroy Vinegar and Red Mitchell 100892 2 CDs 76:23/78:33 1961!). throughout, Davis less like Jimmy from a variety of musicians. Eyes and Morning Fun and glossy work alongside Lorraine Geller Smith and more the conventional explorations of I Hear a Rhapsody and drummer Lawrence Marable Recently, I was discussing plans to The main feature is an album studio player, laying down lush TONY AUGARDE and Someone to Watch Over Me on the first two recordings; Lou reissue a vintage British jazz which everyone should own, of chords to bolster a Hodges solo but the entire disc reverberates Levy and Ray Brown come in on album with a certain independent course, but listening to its or interjecting sudden chunky ZOOT SIMS QUINTET with sounds which are joyful and Fire in the West and the ’59 New record producer. Why didn't we immediate successors with 21st bursts, never over-doing things FEATURING BOB direct. Whooeee is an unstoppable York session Herb Geller and His go the whole hog and release century ears, it’s hard to hear just allowing the great altoist to caper. All Stars - Plays Selections from both the stereo and mono why some critics got so worked flow. And how well he does, BROOKMEYER Gypsy makes use of twenty three and marvel at some truly classic tracks and they are in magnificent versions?, I suggested. ‘For God's up about Brubeck's alleged offering quick-silver phrasing with Although the performances are years old Scott La Faro, Billy music in a beautiful new guise. form making the album even sake, it's not The Beatles, you pretence. Tracks like Bru's Boogie that creamy tone on blues things, BURIED GOLD: THE grounded in swing there are, also, Taylor on piano and the Jones more attractive. know,’ came back the reply. Woogie and Eleven Four should and sounding elegant and poised COMPLETE 1956 QUINTET plenty of boppish references. In brothers – Thad, Hank and Elvin. have stopped them in their SIMON SPILLETT on the ballads; playing quite RECORDINGS spite of the obvious homogeneity Latterly, it's become something of tracks. And as for the claim that I would rate these performances of musical outlook there is, also, a Geller’s own compositions have as comparable to her legendary beautifully on Azure Te for a fashion to maintain that really the pianist’s music represented a BILLIE HOLIDAY example. With Spann on the first Acrobat Records ADDCD3173 2 powerful feeling of competition stood the test of time alongside the only way in which to get to 1937-39 sessions. wholly separate stream from the session and guitarist Mundell CDs 2:09:02 going on like a kind of musical the standards, including an up the essence of a classic 1950s day’s jazz fashions, well, at this BALLADS FOR LOVERS Lowe on the second, the solo gun fighting which often tempo take on Rockin’ Chair from jazz album is to hear it in mono. distance It's A Raggy Waltz sounds For anyone coming to her work strength is more than maintained, These sessions, excavated from embodies the most exciting the Sextette album and Waller’s Look at the recent Miles and very much like a reflection of the for the first time, I would, Lucky Star LS 70035 78:01 whereas the final four sides by three previous sessions, The encounters. Jitterbug Waltz from Fire in the Coltrane box sets. Whether or then current soul-jazz fad rather unconditionally, recommend this the augmented orchestra seem Modern Art of Jazz, Tonite’s Music West. This Avid release is a must. not this is all a bit of a purists’ than a reaction against it. album. Even for those with a I doubt if either of these two I must admit I approached this like a waste, as they attempt to Today and Whooeee are, indeed, put-on, there can be no argument complete Holiday collection, I stalwarts ever blew a dull note. record with a certain place Hodges in a more modish buried gold.. They are, also, RUSSELL CORBETT about the merits of this set Finally, there's Paul Desmond. He would urge them to buy this and insouciance. Another Billie setting, complete with rather accurately described as complete which lovingly presents Brubeck's too comes up fresh-minted – hear how the great lady really JOHN MARTIN Holiday disc? Surely there was dreary harmonica as they are the only records MIKE WESTBROOK barrier-breaking 1959 album in incisive and adventurous where sounded. nothing more to be heard from accompaniment, Hodges made by the pair. One wonders both formats. I say lovingly critics damned him as effete and the singer other than the endless sounding boxed in and bored. why? HERB GELLER PARIS because, for once, one of those over-intellectual. So, even if you JOHN MARTIN recycling of old material which Still the initial sixteen tracks are a many mysterious Andorran labels have the original Columbia's or has been going on for decades? joy. Don’t wait for the next This is the two masters of the FOUR CLASSIC ALBUMS ASC asccd 166: 67.14 have actually come up with a you don't ‘do’ Brubeck, buy this JOHNNY HODGES / reissue: buy now. ‘middle road’ flexing their fledging How wrong can you be? Yes, WILD BILL DAVIS wings. I prefer the description Avid Jazz AMSC 1221 2 CDs Mike Westbrook’s PARIS is as much of this product has been PETER VACHER ‘middle road’ to ‘mainstream’ as 152:17 personal an album as you can get released before but I have never BLUE HODGE mainstream always suggests to – and as such will, I imagine, heard Billie to such advantage as RED CALLENDER me a set period in jazz evolution Born and bred in Los Angeles, inspire devotion and apathy in on these brilliantly re-mastered Phono 870264 79.41 whereas Zoot and Bob’s shared Herb Geller worked on the west equal numbers of the listening tracks. We owe Lucky Star a huge conception is more of a ‘going coast for much of his life. In a few public. The second of two CDs to SEXTETTE & FOURTETTE debt for its superb almost three Caveat emptor! Blue Hodge was forward, looking backward’ short years from the mid fifties celebrate his 80th birthday this dimensional sound quality. one of the four Hodges and approach which discards nothing the altoist recorded several year, PARIS could not be more Davis albums reissued as a set in Fresh Sound FSR-CD 907 77.53 and encompasses all styles. Zoot albums which were to attain different from A Bigger Show for Most of the tracks are taken 2007 by the Andorra-based arrived at his credo by instinct ‘classic’ status. This Avid package 22-piece orchestra. His first solo Red Callender is best known to from the Fifties sessions Lady Lonehill Jazz label. This Phono and Bob by awareness of jazz lives up to its billing of Four album for nearly 40 years, it was me as a bassist playing as a Sings the Blues and All or Nothing version (Volume 4 in the series) history. Classic Albums. A Down Beat poll recorded in the most intimate sideman with all kinds of jazz at All, with two 40’s tracks with is presumably from the same winner, Geller employed several circumstances in Helene Aziza’s groups, rather than as a leader. pianist Bobby Tucker added. Also stable and identical in every way This is honest, uncompromising other poll winners during this art gallery/studio in Paris and But these recordings (from 1951 included are the best two tracks to the earlier release: art work, stuff, uncluttered by fads or period of fervent creativity. Three consists of an improvised tour of to 1954) present him as the salvaged from the heart breaking essay text, music, sequencing, so if fashions: classic tunes with of the albums were recorded in Westbrook’s life and music. The leader of a sextet or (on four Lady in Satin album of 1959 which you have the Lonehill set, look modern harmonies. Hard Los Angeles, a fourth on the east basic mood is meditative, the tracks) a quartet. The album is marked her final decline. away now. But for those who swinging and cool toned. coast in New York. Herb Geller touch delicate, the pace gently subtitled ‘The rhythm and blues don’t know this music, read on. Plays and The Herb Geller Sextette thoughtful. Naturally most of the All the tracks, including the last This final volume collects the years’ but there is a wide variety Here is all the energy, invention feature Mrs Lorraine Geller. A numbers are Westbrook two, are refreshed sound-wise to complete Blue Hodge album of styles, many of which have and honest-to-goodness swing fine pianist, her career cut short, compositions, many of them the point of near perfection. The recorded in August 1961 for little to do with rhythm and blues which has marked the efforts of tunes are well used standards, Verve, with add-ons from two as we know it now, although these musicians over sixty years Zoot Sims Willow Weep For Me, Ill Wind, These further Verve sessions teaming plenty of blues numbers are since these sessions were Foolish Things but there are also a Hodges and Davis. That’s six 1964 included. They are closer to the recorded. few I haven’t heard from her tracks from Blue Rabbit plus four ‘race’ discs aimed at black before, P.S. I Love You, and I Thought big band sides extracted from the listeners. They are aided by rhythm About You. 1966 Blue Notes. sections consisting of the elegant Featured artists include altoist Hank Jones and John Williams on She has the advantage of having And Then Some opens with Les Marshall Royal, guitarist Chuck piano, Bill Crow, Milt Hinton and the outstanding talents of Oscar Spann’s flute harmonising with Norris and pianist Eddie Beal. The Wyatt Ruther on bass and Gus Peterson, Harry Edison, Ben Davis, before Hodges cuts in, CD includes a generous booklet Johnson and Jo Jones on drums. Webster, Benny Carter, Charlie incisive and bluesy, over Louis which contains a biography of Shavers and Barney Kessel. Hayes’ imperious drums. The Red Callender, illustrating the The 35 tracks are a nice balance Edison and Webster are on most swing is exhilarating and sets the breadth of his playing, which of material of which 13 are

26 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 27 ON RECORD REVIEWS

originally with words by Kate In his informative note, Paul Mike Westbrook ANSWERS FOR The Evil One are intriguing, cornetist brother Nat sounding octet here would be a positive Westbrook and some form of apologises for 'technical CHOPS suggesting a superior Miles-ian, with Zawinul’s quite deterrent to such a venture - so I order is imposed by dividing the deficiencies', and indeed the first compositional talent. spare, boppish piano and the took in a bunch of the 80 tracks performance into four parts. The five tracks sound as if they're wonderfully supple bass playing of at a time, which is a pleasant 1. B) Bill Johnson Front Page begins with two actually from the original 20s/30s These two discs span from 1957 Sam Jones as the standouts, enough experience. numbers from A Bigger Show era, which might have been partly to 1965. Thereafter, his recording alongside Cannon’s joyful, 2. D) Benny Goodman before morphing into Bar-Room intentional. These have little output was not prolific. In his expressive alto work. He really Though he could blow up a appeal to me, as they have the later career, he had great success was a giant of the music and the Piano, not, as you might expect, 3. C) Lionel Hampton reasonable storm when required, rowdy two-handed stuff, but whole line-ups, mainly the in Japan and Korea and who band had gelled superbly at this I never heard the same fire and knows what goodies may still music in justification of Mike’s standard trumpet, trombone, 4. A) Dick Cary stage. Just to hear them tear drive that uplifted the alto charmingly odd view that he likes clarinet, piano, banjo, bass and lurk somewhere in Eastern through Nat’s Teaneck is a joy in approaches of his archives? to play behind people’s drums seemingly all playing standard line-up: 5 saxes, 8 brass Rod Mason. He also worked with 5. True itself. The Wilson session is contemporaries Art Pepper and conversations! Here gently re- relentlessly at once, without a and 3 rhythm, and is essentially Keith Smith’s Hefty Jazz, re- something else, as they say: the Bud Shank. Naturally he solos on Of his era, but good enough to harmonised versions of solo to be heard. jazz/rock fusion in style. The joining Barber in 1979. In addition 6. B) Herbie Hancock singer sounding perky and clearly be timeless. all tracks, but there are also Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady and performance is superb, with to clarinet, he played alto and although Victor Feldman relishing the context, hinting at entertaining spots of the likes of At track six, three by Mike Solitude grace the bar-room. Love precise section work and faultless soprano saxophone and was the song’s composer. Dinah Washington in her Bill Perkins on tenor, Hampton Peters' band are an improvement, HUGH LEDIGO Stories is at the centre of the intonation, and the solos are harmonica. He died on 27th June phrasing. Good to hear. Hawes on piano and Stu in that solos by clarinet and 7. A) Michael Brecker performance, notably the 10- uniformly good. Baptist’s scoring 2011. Williamson on trumpet and valve trombone are included, and the CANNONBALL The collaborations with minute View from the Drawbridge, is demanding, with very close trombone. It's the usual mix of tempos are more varied. The Westbrook at his most voicings, and she makes much use This release constitutes a major 8. C) Tune In Tomorrow ADDERLEY QUINTET Cleanhead also impress, dating Storyville Jazzmen continue this standards and originals, mostly at meditative, though unexpected of double bass/piano left-hand retrospective of his career with from the band’s Riverside period trend, with nice piano by Pete 9. B) Cecile McLorin Salvant. uppish tempos. The ten ballads tunes suddenly appear, a delicate unison figures which would the groups noted above plus The COMPLETE 1961-62 when Cannonball was Gresham. Two live tracks by Ken Gretchen Parlato won the encouraged to suggest artists to featured are proportionately A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley certainly expose any inaccuracies. Sims-Wheeler Vintage Jazz Band, STUDIO SESSIONS Colyer's Jazzmen begin to show 2004 competition. record, the success of these pleasurable. Square, for example. Part Four I was reminded particularly of Gil The Ian Wheeler-Sammy the kind of 'collective albums helping Vinson to re- The Blues is more rhythmic, with Evans’ pioneering work in the Rimington Band and The Lake Phono 870259 2 CDs improvisation' by two or three 10. False launch his career. Cannonball is LES TOMKINS Mike’s eclectic taste showing in ‘fifties and, at times, perhaps Records Jazz Band. The earliest 66.41/67.08 players that I have enjoyed in there to support Eddie when the the appearance of Bessie Smith’s Kenton. music dates from 1954 and the later, 'modern' jazz. delivery from this association. altoist sings with that LOUIS NELSON NEW Good Old Wagon among originals most recent from May 2000. All Phono’s collection purports to There are eight tone poems here Here, I think, the similarity ends – characteristic vocal break; when which reflect significant stories in the classics are here including present all the studio sessions ORLEANS ALL STARS Three by the Pete Dyer band are with evocative titles such as Red at least as far as these recordings the piece is all-instrumental he Mike Westbrook’s life. It is a Beale Street Blues, Perdido Street cut by the Adderleys for Capitol for me the liveliest yet. The Moon, Serenity, and B’dazzled Blue. are concerned. He has, to my sits out. Vinson more than holds minor irritation that there are no Blues and the like. Fittingly most and Riverside starting with a fine APRIL IN NEW ORLEANS leader delivers some expressive Each is meticulously crafted, ears, a greater affinity with Bud his own as an instrumentalist too, notes with the CD apart from time is given over to the Ian quintet session from August 1961 trombone, and Graham Patterson often beautiful, frequently robust Wheeler Band. Sadly, we only get Powell and maybe a familiarity taking the same boppish line as credits and thanks; to understand and moving on to the GHB Records BCD 541 76.12 plays pleasing piano. Keith Smith's and energetic. But here we move three tracks from the wonderful with the blues-inflected his more illustrious companion. the significance of this creative collaborations with singer Nancy couple are notable for his into the purely subjective. My Chris Barber Jazz and Blues ornamentation so prevalent in He’s exultant on his timeless stroll through his life and career Wilson and the altoist/vocalist At first glance, this seems to be a preaching trumpet and Mike personal reaction is that there is Band. It’s good to hear from the Oscar Peterson’s style (although Kidney Stew (with an added you have to visit Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson plus a CD by two different bands. But in Sherbourne's raunchy trombone. little variation in mood between this latter approach has its origin alternative take) and solos at somewhat under-rated Ray curiosity, a pair of tracks from a fact they have very similar www.westbrookjazz.co.uk. A performance by a 12-piece Ken each number. Also, the composer in earlier idioms). Higgins had length on his originals notably Foxley on piano in the 1993 Riverside 45 single by the personnel: both being led by Colyer Brass Band, with two uses chords that do not lead edition of the Wheeler Band. The worked across the board from Connonizing or the neat Bernice’s RON SIMPSON forgettable soul & gospel singer trumpeter Wendell Brunious, saxes present, wraps things up, in naturally from one to another, Hefty Jazz tracks feature Dick Dixieland onwards and is quoted Bounce with Nat fervent and Bessie Watson. Also interspersed who makes a reliable lead military band vein that evokes frequently holding on to one Wellstood on piano and Peter as stating that ‘Playing Dixie… is Zawinul similarly incisive. are three tracks from a TV show. trumpet. The rest of the front BRITISH those street parades we've seen chord for many bars. For me, this Ind on bass. part of a jazz education which… All in all, a whole lot of line consists of clarinettist Sammy TRADITIONAL JAZZ in films. sometimes gives the music a is valuable in understanding the PETER VACHER Cannonball. Rimington and trombonist Louis rather static feel. But it all Detailed notes are included in basis of all Jazz.’ So, on this AT A TANGENT, Nelson. Rimington plays superbly, LES TOMKINS depends on your taste (and the twelve page booklet together showing, Higgins is a highly gifted After leaving the Miles Davis LENNIE NIEHAUS and on the first album he injects VOLUME 8: maybe your age?). with evocative photographs. All pianist playing within the stylistic group in 1959, Adderley recorded MARIA BAPTIST recordings have been remastered mainstream of his era. in a number of contexts, these COMPLETE FIFTIES some pleasing echoes of Acker Bilk’s mellifluous tone into his THE NEW ORLEANS ORCHESTRA HUGH LEDIGO and sound quality is good. A albums representing a high point RECORDINGS STYLE BANDS valuable document of a man and His repertoire falls into the same in his quintet’s a discography just solos. Louis Nelson sounds rather unsure and sometimes has HERE AND NOW REMEMBERING IAN his music representing great category, although the only as the influential pianist Joe Phono 870253 4 CDs trouble staying in tune. Lake Records LACD348 78:02 WHEELER value for money. reference to the bebop school is Zawinul replaced Victor Feldman. 79:15/69:02/76:13/68:26 Maria Baptist Music 3031 Night in Tunisia. The majority of The first five tracks include an The repertoire consists primarily New Orleans jazz, to me these ALAN MUSSON the tunes are drawn from the imperious reading of I Can’t Get Nowadays Lennie Niehaus is 58:54 Lake LACD349 2 CDs 77/78 of New Orleans warhorses such days, tends to mean various American song book, plus a Started which fully reveals known as a film composer, Cannonball’s exceptional fluency, as Bugle Boy March and Mahogany vocal/piano entertainers. But, of Originally an academically trained Ian Wheeler may not be a familiar EDDIE HIGGINS couple of Ellingtons: Prelude To A particularly for Clint Eastwood his passion and urgency. Others Hall Stomp. Danny Barker course, there was the pianist, German born Ms Baptist name to all readers. He was born Kiss, Satin Doll, and a smattering of movies, including Bird, but back in epitomise great hard bop, supplies a vocal to Bill Bailey and 1950s/1960s Trad Jazz Boom in suffered a career crisis in her in Greenwich in 1931 but his GREAT TRIO SESSIONS blues. Tango Africaine and Zarac the mid-'fifties, during five years Wendell Brunious sings on My Britain, that for a while allowed early thirties, turning to family moved to Blackheath when as lead alto in the Stan Kenton Wendell Brunious Dreams Are Getting Better All the the general public to sample meditation and Buddhism for a he was four. He formed the River Phono 870269 2 CDs band, he made seven jazz albums some of that historical style. A while. Now she boasts a trio, City Jazz Band in 1952 playing 79:04/79:39 under his own name - they're all Time. If you close your eyes, you series of recordings from that orchestra and big band. Inevitably, clarinet. He later joined the band here, plus a couple where he's a can imagine yourself in one of time have been painstakingly hers is a cross genre approach of Mike Daniels. He was invited Higgins trained at a University sideman. those famous New Orleans assembled by Lake Records' Paul and, to quote the American to replace Acker Bilk in Ken Music School, which explains the haunts, where the good-time Adams, whose mastering of a composer/pianist Maria Colyer’s Jazz Men and worked evident discipline he brings to his Apparently, people do what they atmosphere excuses deficiencies number of my Ronnie's archive Schneider, it is ‘…infused with with them from 1954-1960. In keyboard technique. In the ‘fifties, call 'binge-watching' with box in technique. For devotees of the material CDs I appreciated in the creativity, power, emotion, 1960 he replaced Monty he became friendly with Bill sets of TV series. I could never do New Orleans style, this is a well- 'nineties. This is his current generosity and warmth…’ Sunshine in Chris Barber’s band Evans whom he regarded as one that, nor did I 'binge-listen' to this packed disc, with 18 tracks installment, involving 18 tracks by where he stayed until 1968. He of his greatest influences. No Niehaus box. The degree of totalling 76 minutes. nine different bands, recorded Here is her current big band in a ran his own band from 1970- doubt he inherited his light, sameness in the stylings, whether between 1951 and 1963. live performance. It sports a 1973 and was then in a band with crisply-defined touch and fluent for a quintet, sextet or, mainly, TONY AUGARDE 28 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 29 LIVE/BOOK

THE COOKERS The Cookers SAGE GATESHEAD The Sage, Gateshead Flight delays from Cologne into bIG bEAR MuSIC AGENCy London Heathrow and a connecting shuttle to Newcastle International Airport resulted in FOR THE HOTTEST JAZZ, SWING AND BLUES ATTRACTIONS the advertised eight o’clock start slipping to half past the hour. The Cookers arrived in Britain to play four concerts; Sage Gateshead LADY SINGS THE BLUES the first, with a final date at the “Lady Sings The Blues is a tribute to the memory of Billie Holiday in the best London Jazz Festival. A band boasting septuagenarians and a possible way – presenting the songs she sang in the style of her period. It is not a venerable octogenarian could play. Neither is it a documentary, nor a slavish recreation of Billie’s original have done without such recordings, but an evening with six of Europe’s finest jazz musicians and a most inconvenience, and the lack of a remarkable singer.” Dave Gelly, The Observer proper sound check didn’t help “Val Wiseman is one of the best ever British jazz singers.” Jazz - The Rough Guide matters. Photo by Lance Liddle “This lady really can sing the blues.” Crescendo International The Cookers were making a return visit to Gateshead and Eddie Henderson), Billy playing the Steinway in Sage Two’s and Slippin’ and Slidin’ (Weiss following a sensational Harper, tenor sax, and Craig three-tiered auditorium. To his describing the latter as ‘a kind of appearance at the 2015 Handy playing alto on this tour, left, two of the legendary figures a blues’), Croquet Ballet elicited Gateshead International Jazz hit the ground running. New York of the music – bassist Cecil cries of delight from sections of KING PLEASURE & THE BISCUIT BOYS Festival. Two enforced changes in has produced many hard bop McBee and drummer Billy Hart – the on-side audience, and The 2017 see the irrepressible Kings of Swing celebrating 30 years non-stop years on personnel did not diminish the heroes down the years and this guided him along the way. Cecil Core (Freddie Hubbard) could be the road dispensing their own brand of Jump, Jive, Rock and Roll, and good old McBee these days perching on a quality on the stand: pianist present day septet is on a described as ‘cooking’! The Kansas City Rhythm & Blues. “The hardest act to follow since the parting of the mission to ensure the flame high stool, played with the energy Cookers are, perhaps, the last Danny Grissett depping for the Red Sea” said Paul Jones, BBC Radio 2 and The Manfreds. recuperating George Cables, and keeps on burning brightly in the of a man fifty years his junior and working link with the bop era altoist Craig Handy making a twenty first century. Billy Hart summoned reserves and this Gateshead concert welcome return to the line-up reminiscent of Art Blakey in reaffirmed the belief that the replacing Jaleel Shaw. Bandleader The Cookers opted to play one delivering a powerhouse display. legacy survives as a relevant, vital David Weiss apologised to an long set, looking to make up for The set list featured numbers force in today’s multi-faceted TIPITINA expectant but patient audience lost time. Danny Grissett, the written by members of the band world of jazz. Tipitina have well and truly put their own take on the blues, barrelhouse, boogie for the unavoidable delay. The young man of the outfit, clearly together with hard bop and gospel of New Orleans, following firmly in the footsteps of Dr John, frontline of two trumpets (Weiss knew his stuff and revelled in standards: McBee’s Peacemaker RUSSELL CORBETT Professor Longhair, James Booker, Fats Domino and Allen Toussaint. It’s a showstopper of a performance that features the stunning vocals of Debbie Jones and the outstanding playing of pianist Justin Randall. BLUES, BOOGIE AND Richards, increasing in difficulty the book progresses more speaking. I don't think there is “A wonderful CD, it superbly captures how this incredible band sound au GOSPEL through 15 pieces, which can also contemporary chords, scales, any substitute to listening to the naturelle...phenomenal 10/10” Blues In Britain be heard on the accompanying rhythms and arrangements are past masters and professors of COLLECTION CD. There is not much in the way introduced to show that the the blues/boogie/gospel piano of theory/tuition, apart from a blues is not just limited to the tradition such as Roosevelt THE WHISKEY BROTHERS TIM RICHARDS few co-ordination/rhythm three chord, twelve bar format. Sykes, Memphis Slim, Otis Spann, exercises and a short explanation There's even a piece entitled Big The Whiskey Brothers deliver the blues of the Juke Joints of the 1940’s Southern Meade Lux Lewis, Dr John, Ray Schott Publishing of the general chords and scales Bear Blues and, as the readers will states of America. The musicianship is exceptional. Richard Heath plays mandolin Charles and James Booker, and used at the end of the book, but know, Big Bear know all about just trying to use your ear to and possesses one of the finest blues voices you can hear today. Gerry Smith on Tim Richards' first book, there are annotations at the end that! piano is his perfect partner. The performance is simple, authentic, entertaining and Improvising Blues Piano, possibly imitate anything that you like, of each piece referring the reader utterly irresistible. contains more knowledge of to the pages of his first book Reading the blues from a written eventually synthesising your own blues piano styles than any other which further explain each style score is fraught with danger. It's style. Having said that, for those I've encountered. It's about 300 used. impossible to transcribe great without good ears, this book pages long and is very good as playing and, if played as written, used with Richard's first book, RICKY COOL AND both an introduction to, and an The book is not written the music will sound wooden, can be a very useful aid for THE IN CROWD encyclopaedia of, the blues piano chronologically, but the pieces too straight and have little real getting a grasp on blues concepts tradition. If you are a fan of this cover early blues practitioners blues feeling. I guess a lot of the and learning the notes of some of Red hot Rhythm & Blues and early Jamaican style and are not sure where to such as Jelly Roll Morton's people buying this book will be the famous licks passed down Rocksteady and Ska - seemingly direct from start, you won't get much better ragtime style and the barrelhouse good sight readers at other through the ages. Alongside some Wardour Street’s legendary Flamingo Club. than this to point you in the right boogie of Jimmy Yancey. The styles, perhaps looking to expand studied listening, hopefully this Ricky has worked with Robert Plant and basics of the Latin-influenced their repertoire into blues. The direction. great tradition will then long New Orleans blues piano of accompanying CD will be very George Harrison, toured with Billy continue as pianists first read the This Blues, Boogie and Gospel Professor Longhair are here too, helpful here to aid playing with Connolly, and this band is the Business. Collection, published by Schott, is and the blues/gospel genre is also the good dynamics and notes, then use their ears to get aimed at intermediate pianists touched upon. A little more expression needed, although it is between the notes and find the and is intended to be used authentic boogie woogie a la Pete still a little too 'white' sounding elusive essence of the blues. To book any of the above artists, please contact Tim Jennings on alongside his first book. Here, Johnson/Albert Ammons would for my personal taste – I would there are fully transcribed solos have been nice though, as it is have preferred the playing to be a JUSTIN RANDALL [email protected] or 0121 454 7020 followed by improvisations by integral to the whole genre. As little bit looser, rhythmically (TIPITINA) 30 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 31 BEGINNING TO CD LIGHT BEGINNING TO CD LIGHT

Sonny Rollins prime period for Ella, 1956-60, underlying tension. Great ballads RON SIMPSON’S ROUND-UP OF RECENT CDS include some extracts from such as Everytime We Say Goodbye Songbooks (Porter, Ellington, and For All We Know get WADE LEGGE TRIO (FSR though another is always albums, interestingly style piano-less quartet made up Rodgers and Hart), accompanied sympathetic treatment, but, with CD 894: 78.05) is a fine example welcome, but of the three LPs on programmed. The 1959 Oscar of Coleman sidemen, it even by orchestras, great soloists producer Gus Statiras favouring of one of the things Fresh Sound this double CD only one is Peterson Trio Jerome Kern contained three Coleman tunes (Getz, Ben Webster, Stuff Smith) the propulsive bass of George Records do best, in terms of familiar: his excellent 1957 debut collection is, rightly, highly rated, out of five tracks. Whatever and piano both solo and in a Mraz and Hart himself always a rarity, background story and album, Jazz Guitar, standards and but THE COMPLETE Nesuhi Ertegun’s thinking, he quartet – Peterson and the powerful presence on drums, the musical quality. In 1952 at the age swing era classics played with JEROME KERN thought better of it by not issuing excellent, now rather neglected percussive post-bop piano of of 18 Wade Legge joined Dizzy swinging urbanity by Hall, pianist SONGBOOKS (EJC 55701: the album for six years! In fact, it Paul Smith. Most of the material Walter Bishop Jr. tops off some Gillespie’s band on piano (or Carl Perkins and bassist Red 79.01) pairs it with the 1953 may not be Trane at his most is very familiar, though there are cogent trio performances. Again maybe first on bass). Having Mitchell. And that is the other recording of exactly the same assured, but there are many a few nice cases of more obscure the original album is pushed toured Europe with Diz and rarity factor here. The title album material, both albums Norman compensations such as Don songs, such as Ellington’s towards normal CD length by stayed with him for some time and Good Friday Blues both come Granz projects. Famously Kern Cherry’s distinctive trumpet and charming I Didn’t Know about You, two alternative takes, plus, in this afterwards, Legge then freelanced from 1960 and feature Mitchell in hated jazzed up versions of his fine work by the alternating accompanied rather stodgily by case, an unissued title from the in New York City and played on a different role each time. His songs, but then he shouldn’t have bassists, Percy Heath and Charlie Duke’s orchestra, with a fine solo session, Antonio Carlos Jobim’s over 50 recordings, many with big economically melodic piano written such wonderfully inviting Haden, plus Trane’s first recorded from Johnny Hodges. Once I Loved. A very different names such as Milt Jackson and graces the Modest Jazz Trio on material. Here he might have soprano solo on The Blessing. And release from the Jazzology group Progressive Records have Charles Mingus, but went into Good Friday Blues and Rejoice! is taken issue with the rapid flow of EJC’s bonus tracks are brilliantly is CLASSIC RAGS NEW reissued two fine albums from semi-retirement in 1959, dying at something else again: an informal Ol’ Man River, but Peterson’s chosen – the original Ornette ORLEANS STYLE (Solo Art 1978. CHOICE N.Y.C. BONE the age of 29 in 1963. These, his and slightly messily recorded live respect for songs such as Long Coleman versions of the same SACD 171: 54.54) by New (PCD 7176: 45.41) headlines only recordings under his own session with Hall and Mitchell (on Ago and Far Away is beyond songs, all with Cherry on board, Jersey-raised, New Orleans-based trombonist George Masso in Kris Tokarski. At the prompting name, were made in Europe on cello!) joining the Frank Butler reproach. His dazzling technique though ironically most of them his recording debut as leader of producer Hal Smith, also the Dizzy’s tour and some of them Trio at The Renaissance. This has is heard to best advantage on include a piano in a format with a compatible group of four drummer in Tokarski’s trio, he have appeared previously only on a much more bluesy feel than the such tracks as the 1959 Pick Coltrane would have found more seasoned professionals: ex-Glenn reinterprets 14 classic rags (8 by 78. Legge emerges as a fine other albums, with Mitchell’s Yourself Up, breakneck speed, familiar. Miller saxist Al Klink and a stylish Scott Joplin, with a few gems by mature player, occasionally given cello – always plucked – precise articulation. There’s rhythm section of John Bunch, the likes of James Scott and to over-elaboration, with a bebop developing the sort of solo lines plenty of contrast between the Phono’s big project at the moment is the four CD Milt Hinton and Butch Miles. Joseph Lamb) in the style of Jelly style underpinned by a swing you look for from a horn. On two albums, not least the collection of all the 1960s Most of the tracks are standards Roll Morton. It’s kind of turning sensibility which shows in more familiar ground STAN interplay with Barney Kessel’s recordings (previously available (a couple of them recurring as the tables on Jelly who, in the attractive versions of standards GETZ QUARTET 1960 (FSR guitar in 1953. In 1959 Ed on Lone Hill) of JOHNNY alternative takes) and the default Library of Congress sessions, such as These Foolish Things. There CD 897: 79.05) finds the great Thigpen’s drums took over; other tracks, so we’re left with TAYLOR PLAYS THE BAD are plenty of Legge originals, too, tenor saxist in supreme form on HODGES/WILD BILL position is a sort of laid-back played Maple Leaf Rag in varied master-bassist Ray Brown is one album, Mess of Blues. AND THE BEAUTIFUL and they work well: the seven three dates (mostly Amsterdam, DAVIS, minus some tracks of a swing heard at its best on I’m styles. Maple Leaf isn’t here, but there throughout, also on two Admittedly Burrell combines (870260: 78.09) has not bonus tracks – from New York two tracks each from Dusseldorf Claus Ogerman album, dismissed Beginning to See the Light. Masso is plenty of Joplin favourites are: The bonus duo tracks. COMPLETE perfectly with Hodges and Davis previously been available on CD, sessions for Joe Roland and Will and Zurich) on a Jazz at the Phil as ‘pop’. The combination of the assured and relaxed and it’s Easy Winners, Heliotrope Bouquet, 1957-62 STUDIO and it’s a delight to hear Hines but I can’t imagine a rush to buy Bradley, Jr. – are all his tunes, tour, accompanied by Jan great alto saxist, he of the singing particularly interesting to hear Elite Syncopations. Tokarski’s easy- RECORDINGS (EJC 55704: revisiting classic numbers such as it. The tenor saxist leads a quintet though he was nominally a Johansson and two loanees from tone and the unique blend of Klink’s warm melodic tenor at paced treatments bring out the 2CDs, 76.22/78.18) by the Rosetta in the company of through some attractive film sideman. The lack of New York Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and urbanity and the blues, and the length; in a long and successful sweetness of many of melodies Sonny Rollins Trio (note it’s Hodges. So it’s full of fine jazz, ballads concerning leading ladies, sessions under his own name is Ed Thigpen. Shortly before his organist, stabbing, smearing, career he was so often in the and the balance of the various only complete Trio recordings) but not too much of a David Raskin’s Laura the best as much a mystery as his early bossa revolution, Getz tends to probing, but always in touch with section and/or the studio. Much strains, and fully justify the title of combines two classic early contribution to the complete known – perfectly pleasant, but a retirement and death. Perhaps favour standards, showing all his the melody, is a constant of Billy Hart’s THE TRIO Michael Steinman’s liner notes: Rollins albums, Way Out West Johnny Hodges and Wild Bill bit bland. The slightly earlier Legge was too good at adapting famed technical fluency on such pleasure. The arrangement of the (PCD 7044: 54.33) is fuelled by a ‘Soft, Sweet, Plenty Rhythm’. (plus copious alternative takes) Davis. Jimmy Smith Trio with bonus LP, Jazz for to others’ styles (listen to two tracks as Lover Come Back to Me CDs is a trifle odd, but Volume sense of excitement and an and Freedom Suite/Shadow Waltz Kenny Burrell’s COMPLETE Commuters/Salute to the Saxes, has excellent tracks with Lars Gullin); – headlong tempo, perfect logic – 1 (870265: 2 CDs, 70.22/73.53) is 1957-59 SESSIONS (870267: 2 much more impact – Taylor maybe he needed to be more and savouring such challenging with a half dozen trio tracks from a sure-fire winner. The only CDs, 71.43/72.33) has to be heading up various 7-9 piece Kenny Burrell distinctive. Also pretty ballad choices as Spring Can Really different dates. Rollins, all double album in the series has organ trio jazz of high quality – bands with the likes of Charlie remarkable is REJOICE! (FSR Hang You Up the Most. muscular authority and melodic three full LPs, plus parts of two invention, seems liberated by the and it is, a series of Blue Note Shavers, Budd Johnson and CD 908: 2 CDs, 62.49/ 69.12). more, a Davis-less Hodges Georgie Auld – but the Fresh There’s no shortage of chances Three CDs from Essential Jazz absence of a chordal instrument, session and that Ogerman album. albums with very few alternative improvising freely, in particular takes, the classy organ-guitar Sound CD backing that with to hear Jim Hall’s guitar artistry, Classics feature well-known Con-Soul and Jazz and In Atlantic assorted bonus tracks might be a (appropriately enough) on the City show the duo at their best in pairing supported by one of a 20-minute continuous Freedom superb trio of drummers, Art better bet. Incidentally the Phono a heavily Ellingtonian programme, booklet gets into some confusion Jim Hall Suite. He does take the Blakey, Philly Joe Jones or Donald with Hodges reprising two of his about who plays on which tracks. precaution of hiring top-class Bailey. The only drawback of an swinging 1940s gems, Good Queen Also from the Spanish arm of the bass and drums – Ray Brown and excellent double-album is that Bess and The Jeep is Jumpin’. The reissue industry ELLA Shelly Manne on Way Out West, the programming is rather Atlantic City album is a live FITZGERALD SINGS Oscar Pettiford and Max Roach lopsided, with several tracks recording, with Hodges and the BALLADS FOR LOVERS on Freedom Suite – and giving being the only trio numbers on mellifluous Lawrence Brown (Lucky Stars LS 70037: 76/27) them plenty of solo space. His albums with horns. Two takes of joining Davis’ quartet. Blue contains some superb vocal taste for unusual material is also Motorin’ Along show what Smith Pyramid, the third LP, lacks some performances (no surprise there) unerring, from Shelly Manne and Burrell can make of the of the joie de vivre of the others and is full of fine accompanying clopping along the trail on I’m an blues, but the balance is very in its Jimmy Jones arrangements musicians, but in a way it’s Old Cow Hand to following much towards standards and of, mostly, ballads. Volume 3 difficult to recommend it Freedom Suite with a touch of ballads – very nice, too, but the (870263: 74.26) is more generally. It all depends on how excitement level is a little lower Noel Coward – Someday I’ll Find problematic. Supposedly bringing you like your Ella performances You. John Coltrane and Don together all the tracks with than I expected. Two very packaged: chromatically, Cherry’s THE AVANT- Hodges, Davis and guitarist different versions of Buddy thematically, by accompanists, by GARDE (EJC 55700: 61.49) is Kenny Burrell, it includes a Johnson’s great blues ballad Since composers, comprehensively, more controversial. Recorded in Hodges-Earl Hines album, Stride I Fell For You give us the best of bittily. These all come from a 1960 with an Ornette Coleman- Right, and Davis is absent on both worlds. SAM ‘THE MAN’ 32 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 33 ThE bIG ChRIS bARbER bAND TRIbuTE TO "A CENTuRy OF JAzz" "Chris and the band are better than ever!!" "We never ever had such a great concert" (some of the comments during the October -November 2016 tour of the band) 2017 concerts in the UK (more to be announced...) website www.chrisbarber.net February 2 Andover The Lights March 3 Redditch, Palace Theatre www.thelights.co.uk www.redditchpalacetheatre.co.uk February 3 Epsom Playhouse March 5 Southport Talbot Hotel www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk www.thetalbothotelsouthport.co.uk February 4 Worthing Pavillion Theatre April 18 Watford Colosseum www.worthingtheatres.co.uk www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk February 5 Christchurch Regent Centre April 20 Grimsby Auditorium www.regentcentre.co.uk www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk February 9 Langholm The Buccleuch Centre April 21 Morecambe The Platform www.buccleuchcentre.com www.lancaster.gov.uk/platform February 10 Fife Jazz Festival April 22 South Shields Customs House www.fifejazzfestival.com www.customshouse.co.uk February 11 Musselburgh The Brunton May 4 Poole The Lighthouse www.thebrunton.co.uk www.lighthousepoole.co.uk February 12 Berwick The Maltings May 10 Keswick Theatre By The Lake www.maltingsberwick.co.uk www.theatrebythelake.com February 14 Norwich Playhouse May 19 Lichfield Garrick www.norwichplayhouse.co.uk www.lichfieldgarrick.com February 17 Dunstable, Grove Theatre May 28 Hever Castle www.grovetheatre.co.uk www.hevercastle.co.uk March 2 Yeovil Octagon Theatre July 1 Bromsgrove The Artrix www.octagon-theatre.co.uk www.artrix.co.uk

LAKE RECORDS NEW RELEASES

NEW ORLEANS • TRADITIONAL JAZZ • SWING • BLUES REMEMBERING IAN WHEELER (LACD349)* Under new management One of our finest reed players in a variety of bands in the company of Buy your tickets early to support the festival Chris Barber, Ken Colyer, Sammy Three and four day passes: £90 and £120 Rimington, Rod Mason, Ken Sims, Box Office now open: 01729 825 493 Fessor Lindgreen and Dick Wellstood. Check the website for more information and up to date line up: Many previously unissued tracks. www.keswickjazz&bluesfestival.co.uk *Double CD for the price of one. THE NEW ORLEANS STYLE BANDS ARTISTS BOOKED SO FAR – AT A TANGENT Vol.8 (LACD348) Continuing the series with a look at the development of • JEFF BARNHART • ROB HERON AND THE the N.O. bands on the UK scene. • ENRICO TOMASSO TEAPAD ORCHESTRA • KEITH NICHOLS • JOAN VISKANT COLYER’S PLEASURE (LACD350) • JOHN HALLAM • CRAIG MILVERTON Regarded by many as the best all round album that Colyer • JAMIE BROWNFIELD • BABY JOOLS AND THE ever made. • REMI HARRIS JAZZAHOLICS • TOM KINCAID • MAT WALKLATE LAKE CDs are £11 + P&P direct from LAKE Records • T J JOHNSON • DALE STORR Visit our on-line shop at www.fellside.com • OLD HAT JAZZ BAND AND MANY MORE Follow us on FACEBOOK • JAKE LEG JUG BAND LAKE RECORDS, PO Box 40, Workington, CA14 3GJ, UK

34 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 35