What vinyl are you spinning right now??

[HutchFan]

The Chico Hamilton Special (Columbia, 1961)

 

[HutchFan]

Now spinning:

Fay Victor - Herbie Nichols Sung: Life Is Funny That Way (Tao Forms, 2024)
with Michaël Attias (as & bs), Anthony Coleman (p), Ratzo Harris (b), and Tom Rainey (d)

 

[mjazzg]

23 hours ago, HutchFan said:

The Chico Hamilton Special (Columbia, 1961)

 

Such a band. Chico's groups were just so consistently good in that period

[Kurt Anderson]

Some recent crate-digging yielded a British trad record I'd never heard of before -  LIve at Woodcray by Graeme Hewitt's High Society Jazz Band, recorded in 1983.   Graeme Hewitt is a talented clarinetist,  most definitely influenced by Acker Bilk,  and his band has that rock steady throb of the best New Orleans traditional jazz,  which for a hot minute in the late fifties/early sixties in Great Britain became dance music for teenagers before being supplanted by the Beatles,  the Stones and other British bands influenced by American blues.

The best British trad is the kind that adheres to the traditional (pre-Satchmo) New Orleans style (e.g., George Lewis).   This record scratches that itch,  and a bit of YouTube research revealed the happy news that, 40 years later,  Mr.  Hewitt is still leading his band and playing with even more authenticity that on this 1983 record. 

(My apologies - I'm new here and can't figure out how to attach a photo)

 

    

Edited May 1 by Kurt Anderson

[jazzcorner]

On 4/29/2025 at 7:08 PM, HutchFan said:

Now on my turntable:

Yes have and like that one very much!! 💗 👍

[Kurt Anderson]

On 4/27/2025 at 6:41 PM, HutchFan said:

It's funny how they misspelled "Chu" on the cover.  It's a French release; maybe the name's spelling got lost in translation.

 

There's a multi-volume series spotlighting rare Berry solos with various leaders entitled "Dentistry in Rhythm - Filling Chu Gaps".   

[Kevin Bresnahan]

19 hours ago, Kurt Anderson said:

Some recent crate-digging yielded a British trad record I'd never heard of before -  LIve at Woodcray by Graeme Hewitt's High Society Jazz Band, recorded in 1983.   Graeme Hewitt is a talented clarinetist,  most definitely influenced by Acker Bilk,  and his band has that rock steady throb of the best New Orleans traditional jazz,  which for a hot minute in the late fifties/early sixties in Great Britain became dance music for teenagers before being supplanted by the Beatles,  the Stones and other British bands influenced by American blues.

The best British trad is the kind that adheres to the traditional (pre-Satchmo) New Orleans style (e.g., George Lewis).   This record scratches that itch,  and a bit of YouTube research revealed the happy news that, 40 years later,  Mr.  Hewitt is still leading his band and playing with even more authenticity that on this 1983 record. 

(My apologies - I'm new here and can't figure out how to attach a photo)   

The easiest way I've found is to go to discogs.com and find the LP. I think this is the LP you're talking about: https://www.discogs.com/release/26848298-Graeme-Hewitts-High-Society-Jazz-Band-Live-At-Woodcray

Once there, click on the cover photo, which brings it to the front of your screen, hover the cursor over the picture & click the right mouse button. When the menu shows up, click Copy Image. Come back here to your post and then put the cursor where you want the photo and hit Ctrl+v (paste). Like this:

[HutchFan]

9 hours ago, Kurt Anderson said:

There's a multi-volume series spotlighting rare Berry solos with various leaders entitled "Dentistry in Rhythm - Filling Chu Gaps". 

 

 

[Kurt Anderson]

2 hours ago, Kevin Bresnahan said:

The easiest way I've found is to go to discogs.com and find the LP. I think this is the LP you're talking about: https://www.discogs.com/release/26848298-Graeme-Hewitts-High-Society-Jazz-Band-Live-At-Woodcray

Once there, click on the cover photo, which brings it to the front of your screen, hover the cursor over the picture & click the right mouse button. When the menu shows up, click Copy Image. Come back here to your post and then put the cursor where you want the photo and hit Ctrl+v (paste). Like this:

Why thank you sir!🙂

[Chuck Nessa]

[Rabshakeh]

On 5/1/2025 at 6:09 PM, Kurt Anderson said:

Some recent crate-digging yielded a British trad record I'd never heard of before -  LIve at Woodcray by Graeme Hewitt's High Society Jazz Band, recorded in 1983.   Graeme Hewitt is a talented clarinetist,  most definitely influenced by Acker Bilk,  and his band has that rock steady throb of the best New Orleans traditional jazz,  which for a hot minute in the late fifties/early sixties in Great Britain became dance music for teenagers before being supplanted by the Beatles,  the Stones and other British bands influenced by American blues.

The best British trad is the kind that adheres to the traditional (pre-Satchmo) New Orleans style (e.g., George Lewis).   This record scratches that itch,  and a bit of YouTube research revealed the happy news that, 40 years later,  Mr.  Hewitt is still leading his band and playing with even more authenticity that on this 1983 record. 

(My apologies - I'm new here and can't figure out how to attach a photo) 

Looks interesting. Acker Bilk isn't someone I necessarily associate with "authentic" New Orleans jazz. 

Having said that there is a vinyl collection of his earlier sides called My Early Days that I really rate. Not not not George Lewis stuff but it is spirited and energetic early trad.

Are you based in the UK? I'm always looking for shops with decent trad selections. 

[Rabshakeh]

Lester Bowie – The Great Pretender

[Kurt Anderson]

45 minutes ago, Rabshakeh said:

Looks interesting. Acker Bilk isn't someone I necessarily associate with "authentic" New Orleans jazz. 

Having said that there is a vinyl collection of his earlier sides called My Early Days that I really rate. Not not not George Lewis stuff but it is spirited and energetic early trad.

Are you based in the UK? I'm always looking for shops with decent trad selections. 

I'm from Pennsylvania,  just outside of Philly.   The history of New Orleans traditional jazz and its several revivals both in the Crescent City and other places such as San Francisco,  the U.S. midwest and northeast,   and the UK and Belgium,  is fascinating to me.    Contrapuntal New Orleans jazz was always rooted in dance music, and the British "trad boom" vindicates, to me, this original intent, especially as played by folks like Ken Colyer,  Sammy Rimington, Cuff Billet and Barry Martyn   

[Rabshakeh]

10 minutes ago, Kurt Anderson said:

I'm from Pennsylvania,  just outside of Philly.   The history of New Orleans traditional jazz and its several revivals both in the Crescent City and other places such as San Francisco,  the U.S. midwest and northeast,   and the UK and Belgium,  is fascinating to me.    Contrapuntal New Orleans jazz was always rooted in dance music, and the British "trad boom" vindicates, to me, this original intent, especially as played by folks like Ken Colyer,  Sammy Rimington, Cuff Billet and Barry Martyn   

My late father in law was a big trad fan. My wife has happy childhood memories of various former regional trad scenesters occasionally passing through her home in the 1980s, and having a knees up (no one substantial though). I inherited his record collection when he died, including lots by these older regional amateur bandleaders. 

That said, I am pretty ignorant about the stuff, and it is hard to find out information about the revivalist styles. Ken Colyer I obviously know, and also Rimington but I think only after he had moved to the US. Cuff Billet and Barry Martyn are new names to me, so any records that you'd recommend would be welcome. 

Edited May 2 by Rabshakeh

[Kurt Anderson]

12 minutes ago, Rabshakeh said:

My late father in law was a big trad fan. My wife has happy childhood memories of various regional scene leaders passing through the house, and having a knees up (no one substantial thorough). I inherited his record collection when he died. 

That said, I am pretty ignorant about the stuff, and it is hard to find out information about the revivalist styles. Ken Colyer I obviously know, and Rimington but I think only after he had moved to the US. Cuff Billet and Barry Martyn are new names to me, so any records that you'd recommend would be welcome. 

I didn't get into the trad stuff until years after I'd discovered the Art Blakeys and Lee Morgans.  A lot of general jazz histories give short shrift to the jazz that remained in NOLA after Armstrong had gone north.   James Collier's history is an exception that addresses the forties New Orleans revival in good detail. 

I'm not sure a proper history of the absorption of this pure New Orleans sound by Europeans players has ever been written.  The best trad bands have little in common with New York variants like the Condon mob,  which I think are closer to swing with stings of solos.   Barry Martyn,  who I believe is still with us,  remains true to the contrapuntal sound anchored by a steady banjo and NOLA-style drumming.   Like a steam locomotive rolling down the track,  just as Jerry sang.   

Look for examples of Barry Martyn's New Orleans Ragtime Band on Doug Dobell's 77 label and, if you get lucky,  any of Martyn's records on his own Dixie and Rhythm imprints.    Cuff Billet on trumpet is some of these records.   I'll recommend two:

Down in Honky Tonk Town,   77 LEU 12/4  with Graham Patterson on piano,  Cuff Billett on trumpet,  Pete Dyer on trombone,  the great Bill Greenow on clarinet, John Coles on piano,  Terry Knight on bass and Barry Martyn on drums

Kid Martyn New Orleans Ragtime Band,   GHB-9,  with the same lineup

There are many worthy others,  some with New Orleans musicians like Emmanual Paul and Sheik Cola.  

 

 

[Rabshakeh]

23 minutes ago, Kurt Anderson said:

I didn't get into the trad stuff until years after I'd discovered the Art Blakeys and Lee Morgans.  A lot of general jazz histories give short shrift to the jazz that remained in NOLA after Armstrong had gone north.   James Collier's history is an exception that addresses the forties New Orleans revival in good detail. 

I'm not sure a proper history of the absorption of this pure New Orleans sound by Europeans players has ever been written.  The best trad bands have little in common with New York variants like the Condon mob,  which I think are closer to swing with stings of solos.   Barry Martyn,  who I believe is still with us,  remains true to the contrapuntal sound anchored by a steady banjo and NOLA-style drumming.   Like a steam locomotive rolling down the track,  just as Jerry sang.   

Look for examples of Barry Martyn's New Orleans Ragtime Band on Doug Dobell's 77 label and, if you get lucky,  any of Martyn's records on his own Dixie and Rhythm imprints.    Cuff Billet on trumpet is some of these records.   I'll recommend two:

Down in Honky Tonk Town,   77 LEU 12/4  with Graham Patterson on piano,  Cuff Billett on trumpet,  Pete Dyer on trombone,  the great Bill Greenow on clarinet, John Coles on piano,  Terry Knight on bass and Barry Martyn on drums

Kid Martyn New Orleans Ragtime Band,   GHB-9,  with the same lineup

There are many worthy others,  some with New Orleans musicians like Emmanual Paul and Sheik Cola.  

Thank you!

[Rabshakeh]

54 minutes ago, Kurt Anderson said:

There are many worthy others,  some with New Orleans musicians like Emmanual Paul and Sheik Cola.  

Actually, I see that I have him on some Sheik Cola and Captain John Handy records, all of which I really like, so interested to follow up this thread. 

[Chuck Nessa]

[Pim]

[Pim]

[Pim]

 

[jazzcorner]

Vogue VJD 564 (2 LP set) - Louis Bellson " With Bells On! - rec. 1962 (A + B LA) / 1963 (C NYC) / 1965 (D Tokyo)

 

 

[mjazzg]

3 hours ago, Pim said:

Is that the Tone Port? How is it?

[Pim]

16 minutes ago, mjazzg said:

Is that the Tone Port? How is it?

Yes it is. It’s great, though not as outstanding as for instance Now He Sings Now he Snobs or Oblique. But still highly recommended

[Kevin Bresnahan]

33 minutes ago, Pim said:

Yes it is. It’s great, though not as outstanding as for instance Now He Sings Now he Snobs or Oblique. But still highly recommended

I've never been a fan of "Some Other Stuff", so a premium LP pressing isn't going to change that.