mikeweil

Chiming in late, but better than never - here's my two cents on BFT 97: # 1 - Very nice waltz - 1960's? I probably know these players, but never heard that track before. More, please ... # 2 - Organ and clarinet? Wow ... I like the clarinettist's sound in the lower register, but not his squeaky sound in the upper ranges. Is this a German band? Nice organ chorus. Again: more, please ... #3 - 'Nother Waltz ... and again, no idea who they are. Wait for my revenge next February ... but to know that there is still so much good music to explore is a nice sideof this experience of vast gaps in my knowledge of the music. 1960's track again? They lose a bit of tempo through the track. Funny, as my initial thought when the track started was that they take it a tad too fast. # 4 - starts as a nice big band track, but the alto soloist's intonation and tone is awful. I shudder ... but the trombonist is nice. Another trombonist? If so, nice contrast. Baritone with similar but less obstrusive intonation problems, playing too forceful, like the alto. Those trombonist were more fluent, too. I wonder who they are ... The trumpet solo convinces me that the brass in that band are more competent than the reeds. Drummer 's nice, too. # 5 - Do I know this ballad? That player sounds a bit fragile ... or as if he is hampered by too much of some substance. Not as sure of himself as he should be. Nice ideas, but the execution does not quite convince me. # 6 - Oh yeah, nice drummer! Band of swing veterans? Would have to hear more to guess any of them. # 7 - Caravan! Do I hear two bass players? Sounds like a fusion of the Africa/Brass approach with a more standard repertoire. Nice, but would have to hear more to really give a judgement. Saxist playing the theme sounds a bit too careless for me stating that melody, like the flutist much more. # 8 - Again I find the brass more competent than the reeds, whose intonation is a bit sloppy and not together in the section. Overall, good ballad performance. # 9 - Sounds like an aged veteran trombone player with slight .... oh, my critical ear for sloppy intonation is terrible today. But I get the message. Judging from the bass sound, a 1970's recording. # 10 - More balladistic trombone, this time like a softened Coltrane follower. Just when I thought they started losing the tension they pick up the pace. Saxist doesn't do much for me. But this leaves me untouched, somehow. To be continued ...

DL for me, too, please ... just listening to # 97. I'm really curious about what you're going to select. Go ahead, thed ...

Interesting what pianist Stephen Hough has to say about them ... Yes there are some great ca. 100 year old New York Steinways. Too bad their sound dominates the modern scene. In the 19th century there was an incredible variety which made it hard for touring pianists but much more interesting, sound-wise. I talked to German Tobias Koch, who now plays on historical pianos exclusively, and the thinks it is a challenge and some of the music certainly sounds a lot more convincing on the proper piano used by the composer at the time he wrote the music. Problem is, it is hard to do in concert, as transport, maintenenance and insurance of the older instruments cost a lot, and you need proper, smaller concert halls. I know that Hardy Rittner, who received rave reviews for his recent Brahms recordings on historical pianos, played his Spring tour on Steinways for that reason ...

Most likely he was - he joined the band early in 1963 and stayed until 1969 - he is on all of Mongos's Columbia albums of the time.

Only today I read the news about his passing on April12, 2012, at the age of 77. More info here and here. Most jazz fans will know him from his long engagement in Mongo Santamaria's band - he was on Mongo's first recording of Watermelon Man (the site I linked first reports the funny story about how he ended up playing that session). He wrote several fine pieces for Mongo's band, and with saxist Pat Patrick he wrote Yeh Yeh, to which Jon Hendricks added lyrics - Georgie Fame made it a top hit. He was a fine pianist, rather under-represented on recordings - besides 1960's sessions of Mongo and Hubert Laws there is a bit of him on Laws' In The Beginning. He was real great at playing guajeos - the Cuban style ostinatos.

R.I.P. - I have several organ combo LPs that he plays on, very solid and engaged. I'm afraid the hard bop generation will have passed soon .....

Thanks for mentioning this - I knew Saudades do Brazil, but the other two cycles, La muse menagere, and L'album de Madame Bovary, are rarely played. Milhaud is one of my favourite composers, and the samples sound good. I will get me a copy ...

Listened to the three sessions with Mingus earlier this evening - Teddy Charles was the greatest ballad vibist of all - few notes, sparingly spread with perfect timing, almost no vibrato - no cover, no hiding place, just great music. Did you know he had a duo with Mingus in the latter's California days? Must have been something!

Gruezi, & herzlichen Glückwunsch!!!

Not yet ... I saw the Future2Future band live, and it was great, Herbie really making a statement beyond music as well, like offering himself to be a leading figure in jazz after MIles' passing. He wouldn't be a bad choice for that position, IMHO ...

JLH's resissues will be the only only exeptions to my current buying hiatus - the Clare Fischer first, although I have the Discovery LP reissue. I, too, consider this a true gem.

Oh no - what sad news! Great vibist, great writer (those tentet recordings are priceless) ... and an uncompromosing soul. I second the recommendation of Noal Cohen's great disco work. The three sessions he did with Mingus are great - I highly recommend burning them onto one disc. They are scattered over three labels.

The "other" source is a needle drop treated more sensitively, a few ticks, but much more depth - I should have looked for that one first!

That amazon download sounds a bit strange, as if the transfer to MP3 corrupted the lower end of the dynamic spectrum ... maybe I can find the "other" source, too ... Musically, it is nice, but not as spectacular as I thought it would be. That band would have needed more playing time to really stretch out. Lucky solos only on the first two tracks.

Thanks!

Thanks to sonnymax for pointing out the download - I prefer a hard copy, but in this case .... while we're at it: I always wondered what else was released on that Manhattan label. Any knowledge on this board?

I won't - I have my limits, but judging from what else he offers he's no jazz specialist, anyway.

Thanks for posting that youtube video from the 1974 Bremen performance - brings back memories - it was that German tour during which I saw that band live and watching Bill Summers was the key experience that made me want to become a serious percussionist. But I must admit I learned more form Herbie as far as rhythmic improvisation is concerned than from any drummer or percussionist ... Secrets seemed bland to me after the Headhunters band - especially James Levi seemed leadfooted after Harvey Mason and Mike Clark. What made the Headhunters band so great was jazz improvisation on a high level and rhythmic sophistication combined with the funk - I was missing the improvisation on the following efforts. But apart from that, I can follow JSngry's thoughts ...

ebay link 7" SINGLE EP - GERMANY - 1959 - Bertelsmann Schallplattenring 66126 ( ARIOLA ) mono Lucky Thompson soprano sax, Jack Sels tenor sax, Ado Broodboom trumpet, Fats Sadi vibes, Jean Fanis piano, Benoit Quersin bass, Rudi Frankel drums, Gwana M'Blow bongo I wish I had the money, although this is a crazy amount for a single - but this is very rare ... I'm not the seller, btw.

A sound virtually everybody has heard! R.I.P.

There was an additional track without Rollins recorded at that session, feat. Jimmy Cleveland - maybe Rollins was late to the session? Never saw a reissue including this track .... and never saw a reissue with all Thad Jones Period tracks on one disc, although they would easily fit on one disc.

R.I.P. - such a good player. I can't think of those many great experimental sessions of George Russell and others without thinking of him.

Here are some more releases from earlier this year from Prestige, Riverside etc.: FSRCD 691_2 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : Quartet, Quintet & Sextet (4 Lps On 2 Cds) Sonny Red Featuring: Sonny Red (as), Blue Mitchell (tp), Yusef Lateef, Clifford Jordan (ts), Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, Ronnie Matthews, Cedar Walton (p), Grant Green (g), Bob Cranshaw, Art Davis, George Tucker (b), Albert 'Tootie' Heath, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Cobb (d) € 15.95 (USD 18.96) FSRCD 690_2 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : Griff & Lock - Complete Studio Recordings 1960-1961 (3 Lps On 2 Cds) Eddie Lockjaw Davis & Johnny Griffin Featuring: Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis, Johnny Griffin (ts), Junior Mance (p), Larry Gales (b), Ben Riley (d) € 15.95 (USD 18.96) FSRCD 688 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : Inverted Image + My Romance (2 Lps On 1 Cd) Chris Anderson Featuring: Chris Anderson (p), Bill Lee (b), Art Taylor, Walter Perkins, Philly Joe Jones (d) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) FSRCD 687 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : And The Jazz Statesmen + Pleasure Bent (2 Lps On 1 Cd) Charles Persip Featuring: Freddie Hubbard, Marcus Belgrave (tp), Roland Alexander (ts), Ronnie Mathews (p), Ron Carter, Gene Taylor (b), Charles Persip, Clarence Stroman (d) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) FSRCD 686 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : Early Sessions 1954-1955 Bethlehem / Savoy / Abc Paramount Bobby Scott Featuring: Bobby Scott (p, vib), Whitey Mitchell, Jim Corbett, Nabil 'Knobby' Totah (b), Will Bradley Jr., Al Levitt (d) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) FSRCD 685 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : More Soul & The Soul Clinic (2 Lps On 1 Cd) Hank Crawford Featuring: Hank Crawford (as, p, arr), Phil Guilbeau, John Hunt (tp), David 'Fathead' Newman (ts), Leroy 'Hog' Cooper (bs), Edgar Willis (b), Milt Turner, Bruno Carr (d), Ray Charles (arr) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) FSRCD 684_2 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : The Junior Mance Trio (3 Lps On 2 Cds) + Live Bonus Tracks Junior Mance Featuring: Junior Mance (p), Ben Tucker, Jimmy Rowser, Larry Gales (b), Bobby Thomas, Paul Gusman, Ben Riley (d) € 15.95 (USD 18.96) FSRCD 682 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : In San Francisco - Recorded Live At The Jazz Workshop (complete Recordings) Les McCann Featuring: Les McCann (p), Herbie Lewis (b), Ron Jefferson (d) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) FSRCD 680_2 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : Live At Minton's Playhouse In New York City - Complete Recordings (4 Lps On 2 Cds) Eddie Lockjaw Davis & Johnny Griffin Featuring: Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis & Johnny Griffin (ts), Junior Mance (p), Larry Gales (b), Ben Riley (d) € 15.95 (USD 18.96) FSRCD 679_2 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : Maggie's Back In Town!! + Together Again!!!! + Dusty Blue (3 Lps On 2 Cds) Howard McGhee Featuring: Howard McGhee (tp), Bennie Green (tb), Teddy Edwards, Roland Alexander, Pepper Adams (saxes), Tommy Flanagan, Phineas Newborn, Jr. (p), Leroy Vinnegar, Ray Brown, Ron Carter (b), Shelly Manne, Ed Thigpen, Walter Bolden (d) € 15.95 (USD 18.96) FSRCD 678 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : New Groove & Barefoot Adventure (2 Lps On 1 Cd) Feat. Carmell Jones & Bob Cooper Bud Shank Featuring: Carmell Jones (tp), Bud Shank (as, bs), Bob Cooper (ts), Dennis Budimir (g), Gary Peacock (b), Mel Lewis, Shelly Manne (d) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) FSRCD 675_2 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : The Jazz Brothers: Complete Sextet & Quintet Recordings (3 Lps On 2 Cds) Mangione Brothers Featuring: Chuck Mangione (tp), Larry Coombs (as), Sal Nistico (ts), Gap Mangione (p), Bill Saunders, Steve Davis (b), Roy McCurdy (d) € 15.95 (USD 18.96) FSRCD 674_2 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : The Slide Hampton Octet (2 Lps On 2 Cds) + Unreleased Live Recordings Slide Hampton Featuring: Freddie Hubbard, Ernie Royal, Richard Williams, Hobart Dotson (tp), Slide Hampton (tb, arr), Bill Barber (tuba), George Coleman, Walter Benton, Jay Cameron (saxes), Nabil 'Knobby' Totah, Larry Ridley (b), Pete La Roca (d) € 15.95 (USD 18.96) FSRCD 672_2 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : The Complete Swingville Sessions (3 Lps On 2 Cds) Joe Newman Featuring: Joe Newman (tp), Frank Wess, Frank Foster (saxes), Tommy Flanagan (p), Eddie Jones, Wendell Marshall (b), Oliver Jackson, Bill English (d) € 15.95 (USD 18.96) FSRCD 671 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : The Montgomery Brothers + Groove Yard (2 Lps On 1 Cd) Wes, Buddy & Monk Montgomery Featuring: Buddy Montgomery (p), Wes Montgomery (g), Monk Montgomery (b), Lawrence Marable, Bobby Thomas (d) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) FSRCD 670 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : Carmen For Cool Ones + Mad About The Man (2 Lps On 1 Cd) Carmen McRae Featuring: Carmen McRae (vcl), with Fred Katz & Jack Pleis Orchestras, feat. Pete Candoli, Charlie Shavers (tp), Milt Bernhart, Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Buddy Collette, Seldon Powell (saxes), Ray Bryant (p), Barry Galbraith (g), Ike Isaacs (b), Specs Wright (d) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) FSRCD 669 - FRESH SOUND RECORDS : The Chase Is On + Taylor's Tenors (2 Lps On 1 Cd) Paul Quinichette & Charlie Rouse Featuring: Charlie Rouse, Paul Quinichette, Frank Foster (ts), Wynton Kelly, Hank Jones, Walter Davis Jr. (p), Freddie Green (g), Wendell Marshall, Sam Jones (b), Ed Thigpen, Art Taylor (d) € 9.95 (USD 11.83) If I wasn't near broke at the time, they would get me there ... with the Montgomery Brothers they did some major name stuff from the Fantasy vaults. No idea how these sound - I hope I have the funds to buy some later this year. Finally some does reissue the Les McCann Pacific Jazz sessions: Plays The Shout - Complete Recordings Les McCann Featuring: Les McCann (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Ron Jefferson (d) REFERENCE: FSRCD 656 Plays The Truth - Complete Sessions Les McCann Featuring: Les McCann (p), Leroy Vinnegar, Herbie Lewis (b), Ron Jefferson (d). Guest: Bobby Hutcherson (vb), Curtis Amy (ts) REFERENCE: FSRCD 646

I remember looking for Jamal LPs back in the 1980's and never finding any here in Germany. Only in the Paris store Crocodisc I did find a whole batch - but these had been played, for sure ...

Sometimes Fantasy made strange decisions - I would have avoided omitting tracks in any case, and combine different albums instead. Not sure I wouldbuy the benton for the one track missing on the twofer CD, either - but Pujol is taking more care about his compilations. And he sure is avoiding the common stuff still kept available.