mmilovan

Any information what happened with that kid later? Anyway, I'm just like you, great admirer, and he is mine favourite as well...

It was good to be Nersushi Ertegun, son of the Turkish Ambassador. back there in those days in 1940. B-) Thanks Agustin for all these. BTW, speaking of Teddy, anyone saw some of those famous clips featuring Benny Goodman Trio/Quartet doing some uptemo numbers... It's amazing to those giants: Goodman, Krupa doing his famous showman figures on drums (his playing will fit well in than traditional styles of jazz druming), Hamp with big smile on his face... and Teddy, sitting there at that grand white piano, playing tecnicaly so involved music with such ease you'll never believe! So concetrated, no facial expression at all... just pure, pure music. Magical, that is!

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one more...

few photos...

Speaking of Wilson's big band it's always pleasure to see what giants and good musicians were involved in that effort: J.C. Heard on drums, Harold Baker, Doc Cheatham on trumpets, Pete Clark on alto and clarinet as well as Rudy Powell, then Ben Webster on tenor (it was right before his period with Duke), and Al Casey on guitar. All of them are, fortunately well recognized by jazz historians (there were also less known musicians). It would be fine to know when Teddy disbanded it, but, as I can only guess the band lasted from 1939 till 1940. or 1941. Arrangers were Buster Harding, Edgar Sampson and Wilson himself, and Thelma Carpenter or Jean Eldridge used to sung with band. And something I didn't recognize well, I'm afraid: in his liner notes to release by UK Naxos "TEDDY WILSON Vol.2, Blues in C Sharp minor, Original 1935-1937 Recordings" Peter Dempsey observed that... "in 1939, Teddy Wilson tried to launch a swing big-band, an ensemble which lasted only a year, failing not only because, like Wilson himself, it was perhaps a little too genteel but also because, unlike other contemporary big-bands, it failed to swing" What? Failed to swing? Is it some kind of expression I didn't understand clearly - because it was hell of a band!!! - for whole text by Dempsey go to: http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/default.asp?...ode=%27NKC%27))

It was Shaw who said he like that band, and that was pitty he never recorded it. He probably meant "regulary". Folks, we have it here... B-)

Nero 6 version has it enabled, but I don't know how this works, because of natire of audio CDs... A fake function?

EAC with Nero 6 is winning combination as far as CDRs are concerned. It was Feurio that works so well with audio media (used to have some callibration system), it's free, but, it wont recognize my new burner, and I've gave up - to hell with it. For burning DVDs most of the people claims Roxio works better.

I like Kenny Drew!

Bird, I think...

This is question for our friend Agustin!

Yes, and alternates, too! And, for example, Ben Webster on "C Jamm Blues", played the same role over and over again, on broadcasts, live concerts and studio dates... This is not to dismiss Frog, whom I like so much, just to notice one fact.

Got to check if I have that.

And Flurin, hearing Hawkins with Swiss ensamble was real something, you can almost hear transition from Fletcher to "Body and Soul". Oh, and they were recorded live, what atmosphere... It's pitty they are fading out - not in complete form?

I can't wait to hear who's on that last track... Listened again to that alto solo, it's really hot.

Well, are there some evidence in alternate takes to prove this - same solos, phrases or something? Of course, my imression was only, should I say, pejorative - but fluid musical thinking, fast triplets and logical structure was real something to hear on alto in 1929. BTW, listened today to Jefferson playing in Chick Webb orchestra (behind Ella). Not so impressive, but good, solid playing.

Hey Chuck, how does Hilton "sounds" to you, here? (it is interesting to know that Taft Jordan was in same, Chick Webb's band at the same time with Jefferson)

This man is hell, one of the most fascinating tracks on the first disc. It's pitty so little is known about him.

Pres: "... I think he was in Switzerland or Sweeden or something like that..."

About a week or so, I've had unusual experience discovering one fantastic alto player named Hilton Jefferson. I listened to some King Oliver's records and I was surprised by Jefferson's playing on Dec. 30, 1929. (the title "New Orleans Shout") so much. His solo on this recording is so well constructed, so cleverly executed, so brilliant - that it simply unbelievable! Only few players from that time can compare Jefferson, and those probably includes Johnny Hodges and Benny Carter. But Jefferson was so fluent and convincing in his playing - it's a pitty people don't recognize him as one of them pioneers on alto. Later (with so much help from you) I traced Jefferson career - he played with all of them greats: Fletcher Henderson in 1934., Cab Calloway (around 1942.), Dizzy, Chick Webb (in 1938-39) Got to hear more Jefferson!

Now, these are my answers for disc 2 1) It's "High Society" played by band unknown to me. A somewhat typical Dixie. 2) Voice? Don't know, but it's funny! 3) "On The Sunny Side". Everything suggest Johnny Hodges, probably some recording from his late career. Some of ad hoc ellingtonians sounded just like this. It is large ensemble, and the singer's voice sounds like Jimmie Witerspoon. It wouldn't miracle if its Hodges himself doing singing part Just kiddin'... 4) It's one of Duke's tunes, and his arrangements, played by some other band. Alto sounds like Carter, but it's only first-hand guessing; 5) Well, this is deep, colorful and mellow music I like so much! I think it belongs to some of Ellington's "pieces". Something suggest me Jimmy Hamilton, and the brass behind is masterpiece arranging; 6) "Basin Street Blues", Trummy Young doing singing? The rest of the band plays just like old N.O. - Dixie bands, and the singing is just like Armstrong did that tune. Trumpet is glorious, large, bright tone, yet sublime. Barney Bigard on clarinet maybe, Trummy again? And then it's another trumpet, different from the first, darker a bit. Nice, long take. 7) It's "Mood Indigo" taken in gloom, jungle feeling... Mingus maybe doin' Ellington? 8) Real nice tenor, I would like to hear a lot after hearing this. Very sensitive, quiet and it struggles great with chord progression of given tune. 9) Is it U(pper) M(edical) M (anhattan) G(roup) Blues - Ellington's (or Strayhorn) tune I have it on some old LP? It's the tune only Duke was capable to compose. 10) "Fly Me To The Moon" - it's not my type of song. But the organ player - his perfect sense for swing gives me good feeling throughout the piece. Who played guitar this way? 11) Another track and another tenor I like so much from this disc 2. Again, it's beautiful, again it's quiet, and I like it. He plays in short phrases, much dissonance low honking notes - he listen to Pres a lot - and the overall conception is "lestorian". This is probably the reason I like it so, but I like free spirit and unusual tone. Have no idea about the soloist, but surely will get more of this player. The ending suggest quotations from "Blues March", Messengers piece. 12) "Body And Soul" - can't recognize tenor player. 13) Well, who the hell is this? It's not Ellington. 14) You save real excitement for the end. Maybe it's Earl Hines at the piano. But - there is some more excitement in alto solo - and I can not think many people who has all that skill to play with such confidence way back than - Bud Johnson in early stages of his career, he played alto as well, right? So these are my thinking of this beautiful BFT. Thanks, man, it was real joy to listen to all that music you've sent to us!

Disc 01 Hello to all and many many thanks to Flurin, really enjoyed this one - it covers my tastes as well - now you can imagine how New Orleans can be side by side with free. Well, it's all music, no categories. I didn't peek at other's people answers, AMG discographies or anything similar, only played those CDs and try to recognize anyone. It's hard task to do. Well at least I can recognize: 1) It's Frog, of course, playing "Old Folks" (the title clicked in my mind early this morning) but in some unusual context. Maybe something from Denmark, but piano does not sounds like Kenny Drew to me. I can hear great loud pulse on bass drum, so it can suggest some of the old school drummers. I like the enthusiasm of the audience, and Ben is always nice choice for me; 2) Well, from what I can hear, this can be Hawk. Traditional jazz lines behind him can be from some of his European records, they are not perfect, and they are not certainly from Fletcher's band, a little chaos compared it to Fletcher. Hell, who knows? The tune is the flag-wavy oriented. Somewhat showcase for Bean, right? 3) Can it be the same ensemble as for previous one? 4) Well, this is somebody who can emulate Hawk until some limitations. It can be Chu Berry, but he is smoother than Chu. "I'm In a Mood For Love" is the standard here. I must say I like the execution, but can not recognize any particular tenor star, they sounded similar; 5) Now, that's the hard one. What band it could be? What soloist? Illinois Jacquett? The trumpet player copied phrases from Cootie Williams when he played with Benny Goodman. Now piano sounds more like Eroll Gardner, but never heard him played with big-band. And that percussive guitar... 6) That saxophone solo sounds like Jerome Richardson or early Trane, but, don't know, probably - it is someone else. 7) Great Helen, "What Is This Thing...". It is very nice to hear Helen Merrill in various contexts. She never get into things I dislike with Sarah - Merrill is always very straight forward oriented while improvising the tune, no timbre distortions, glissandos and other devices, just smooth and nice voice to enjoy to. Piano sounds silveresque... 8) Now, there is another take of the same standard on other disc, I know. I forgot the right name, first notes always sounds like "Speak Low", but it's not "Speak Low". Shame on me, I've heard it thousand times. This is very interesting harmonica playing, I can't wait to hear the right answer. Harmonica is not always best connected with swing and jazz tradition, so it's pleasure to hear someone who can really play it well. From this moment till the end, don't ask me. Only short clumsy words to describe what I've heard, and it was pleasure to listen to those. 9) Haven't got the clue, interesting tenor; 10) Some free oriented piano; 11) Well, the tune is form "Boogalloo" kind of tunes. I don't like the bass, so thin and electrical to my taste; 12) Don't know; 13) I must say I like this one very much. It has inner strength although it's free, but it's very unusual one - first it begins quiet, climax is where it should be, and then again quiet. Nice performers, two tenor men, but... 14) Don't have an idea for piano player 15) Can it be Trane? 16) Don't know; 17) - 18) Well, it's very tricky ending to hear Duke doing off announcement! Anyway, thanks Flurin, again, some of the tunes inspired me so well, especially from disc 2, and here that free number (13). You did great job, and tunes are very well programmed. I know for yours passion for saxophone, and surely it is included in your choice. It was pleasure.

Many thanks for bringing this to us Allen! Those liner notes, are they from Smithsonian bunch of LPs set, or something other individual LP?