Larry Kart Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Picked up one of those European bootlegs (shame on me), this one ( on Phoenix) of mostly ‘50s Hank Jones trio recordings, the core of the album being the 1955 Savoy album he did with Wendell Marshall and Kenny Clarke, preceeded by a 1953 track with Mingus and Max Roach and a four-tune Granz date with Johnny Smith and Ray Brown and followed by two tracks from Elvin Jones' “Elvin!” and one from a Charlie Smith Dawn album. I’m surprised by how different Jones sounded back then than he did for the most part later on — very two-handed and almost lushly chordal, with a lot of shifty, shimmering, near far-out harmonic inventiveness (that’s what makes the lushness “almost”), seldom boppish rhythmically or otherwise, more like a cross between Teddy Wilson and Nat Cole but more dense, with Tatum lurking in the background, though Jones' touch is not at all Tatum-like. The thinking involved in a good deal of Jones' work here is quite something — so many moving parts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 the tracks with Smith/Brown were on this disc (part of the "Verve Elite Edition"): Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Nice butt but the music never engaged me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 I feel similar about those particular recordings, but the trio with Wendell Marshall and Kenny Clarke always did move me some, and Larry's post surely makes me want to check out some of their recordings again (not sure I've ever heard the actual trio album in question, I have definitely have some recordings either with them backing someone or with varying line-ups). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 That Savoy trio recording was recorded on the day I was born, I'm fond of it. I actually prefer Jones' work as a sideman on Savoy, some great comping and soloing on those records, he really was a support for Byrd et al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) Larry - I think I mentioned this to you once before - but both Hank and Tommy Flanagan have some early recordings which are way more under the influence of Nat Cole in terms of touch; like you (I think) I tend to prefer this side of their playing; it mighta been some weird Detroit transition, but you also hear it on the Verve where Hank plays with Bird. To me, however, the most magnificent thing is Hank's Savoy solo album which is only, AFIK, available on vinyl. (there is also a Hank Jones Capitol from around 1960 I think).also, it was interesting but when I saw Jones in NYC play solo in the '70s he did a lot of Fats Waller. Edited July 3, 2015 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milestones Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 I have a lot of Hank Jones, though not much from the early years. To me his first impressive recordings are as a sideman: The Hawk Flies High (Hawkins) and Somethin' Else (Adderley). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunky Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Nice butt but the music never engaged me.I'd tend to agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Nice butt but the music never engaged me.I'd tend to agree I was surprised when I heard it, because it didn't sound like the Hank Jones I knew. I haven't listened to it in many years; should pull it out. (As an aside, I also remember really bad surface noise on the transfers - more like a Yazoo reissue.) As for other '50's Hank Jones, I found some Savoy LP reissues not long ago, and really enjoyed them. The Trio + Bobby Jaspar date is rewarding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted July 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) Larry - I think I mentioned this to you once before - but both Hank and Tommy Flanagan have some early recordings which are way more under the influence of Nat Cole in terms of touch; like you (I think) I tend to prefer this side of their playing; it mighta been some weird Detroit transition, but you also hear it on the Verve where Hank plays with Bird. To me, however, the most magnificent thing is Hank's Savoy solo album which is only, AFIK, available on vinyl. (there is also a Hank Jones Capitol from around 1960 I think).also, it was interesting but when I saw Jones in NYC play solo in the '70s he did a lot of Fats Waller. When I sent my friend Bill Kirchner a version of my post above about the Jones Trio dates, he mentioned a '47 Jones solo date (is that the same as the Savoy, Allen?***) that "is astounding in a Tatum-like way, but with Jones' own harmonic vocabulary. Should be required listening for any pianist -- or anyone interested in harmony." *** Nope, it's a Granz date for Clef, a 10 inch. Hank Jones SoloHank Jones (piano)probably NYC, September-October, 1947601 | 236 | 1965-1The Night We Called It A DayMercury 1131; Clef 112; Mercury MG 25022; Clef MGC 707602 | 237 | 1964-1YesterdaysMercury 1130; Clef 113; Mercury MG 25022; Clef MGC 707603 | 238 | 1966-1You're BlaseMercury 1131; Clef 113; Mercury MG 25022; Clef MGC 707604 | 239 | 1963-1Tea For TwoMercury 1130; Clef 112; Mercury MG 25022; Clef MGC 707605 | 240 | 1967-1Blues For Lady DayMercury 1132; Clef 114; Mercury MG 25022; Clef MGC 707606 | 241 | 1968-1Blue Room- Edited July 3, 2015 by Larry Kart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Those titles are on the Verve cd Flurin pictured above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 larry, if I can find it (most of my LPs etc are packed up right now) I'll send you a CDR copy of the Hank Jones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted July 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) Those titles are on the Verve cd Flurin pictured above.Thanks -- I'll try to find a copy. Edited July 3, 2015 by Larry Kart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Beat Steve Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) To me, however, the most magnificent thing is Hank's Savoy solo album which is only, AFIK, available on vinyl. Are you referring to Savoy 12084 recorded on July 9, Aug 8 and Aug.20, 1956? Edited July 3, 2015 by Big Beat Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 Also available from Jordi and his Fresh Sound label:http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/hank_jones_piano_solo-cd-4923.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stryker Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) The 1956 solo LP is truly extraordinary -- Hank's greatest recording and one of the greatest solo piano recordings ever. It's that perfect. The 47 material is terrific too, but the shadow of Tatum is more present, while the 56 stuff has more swingers and has more bebop assimilated into the mix so the stylistic breadth is really beyond category -- ever modern. I think the Fresh Sound CD referenced by Jazzbo is the only time the '56 material has been issue on CD. The LP version that you most often see is a 1979 reissue called "Solo Piano" with an ugly cover. http://cdn.discogs.com/OiKQ5b9SIjnaJJ6Fn_vq6F8l68s=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb()/discogs-images/R-4517599-1367304007-3908.jpeg.jpgI think the original title was "Have You Met Hank Jones" Edited July 3, 2015 by Mark Stryker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 just ordered the Verve and the savoy solo cd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Weiss Posted July 3, 2015 Report Share Posted July 3, 2015 (edited) The 1956 solo LP is truly extraordinary -- Hank's greatest recording and one of the greatest solo piano recordings ever. It's that perfect.That's always been my "go to" recording (along with Bud's solo piano on Verve) for students to learn how to play solo at any tempo without a stride left hand. Edited July 3, 2015 by Michael Weiss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Beat Steve Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) The LP version that you most often see is a 1979 reissue called "Solo Piano" with an ugly cover. http://cdn.discogs.com/OiKQ5b9SIjnaJJ6Fn_vq6F8l68s=/fit-in/300x300/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb()/discogs-images/R-4517599-1367304007-3908.jpeg.jpgExactly. That's the one. But that series - desite its awkward covers - was just great. I cannot recall having ever been disappointed with the ones I bought from that series untried, untested. Edited July 4, 2015 by Big Beat Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Friedman Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 I tend to agree with Chuck that the Urbanity album did not engage me. The Savoy trio with wendell marshall and Kenny Clarke was far more to my taste.But by and large, it was Hank's later recordings with more of a bop sensibility that I enjoyed the most.Just read an interview from Jazz Journal with Kenny Barron. He said that Hank jones and Tommy Flanagan were his major piano influences.Back some decades ago I was at Bradley's in NYC to hear Tommy Flanagan. Had an opportunity to sit down with Tommy between sets. In our conversation, I asked him to what extent Teddy Wilson, Hank Jones and or Al Haig might have influenced his playing. He responded that yes Teddy Wilson and Hank Jones were influences, but not Al Haig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 that's weird because he told me just the opposite about Haig; said that Haig was the one who first presented an alternative to Bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted July 6, 2015 Report Share Posted July 6, 2015 (edited) Very fond memories of seeing Hank Jones in a trio along with George Mraz at Catalina Bar & Grill in LA in the late 1990s. Hank was kindness personified and got his best gold pen out in the dressing room to sign my flyer (he was also wearing this very 'Monkian' paisley-patterned smoking jacket). Remember thinking at the time that the Teddy Wilson influence seemed pretty strong and that he took such care and pride in his performance and seemed to really enjoy entertaining the audience. Pretty sure I went back the next night as well.Pretty sure that the first Hank I heard was the Verve material with Parker. Have that Savoy trio set on a UK London LP. Edited July 6, 2015 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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