For fans of J.J.'s big band writing

[Daniel A]

I recently got the CD reissue of a title I've been searching for on LP for many years. It's re-release was a very welcome surprise.

Friedrich Gulda und sein Eurojazz-Orchester

Preiser Records PR90667

Recorded in the summer of 1966.

This album features the J.J. Johnson's composition "Eurosuite", which was comissioned by the Eurojazz-Orchester, headed by Friedrich Gulda. Two parts of the suite were included on J.J.'s RCA album 'The Total', recorded half a year later, and reissued on CD by BMG France in the 1990s. To my ears, the playing and soloing is rather better here, which is also the only complete recording of the composition. Johnson's big band arranging skills came to some use in the film studios in the 70s, but there were all too few opportunities for him to head big band dates of his own.

The composition mainly features J.J. himself as a soloist, but there are a few solo spots for other members as well, for example Tubby Hayes on flute. Though it appears to be a live recording, everything is played very convincingly by the band, practically consisting of an all-star cast. This won't disappoint anyone who has heard and liked any other of Johnson's big band dates - this is really his big band writing at its best!

The other large-scale composition on the album is Gulda's "Variations for Two Pianos and Band", which features Gulda and Joe Zawinul on piano. Not up to the Johnson composition, but a fine example of Gulda as a jazz writer it is.

The personnel:

Friedrich Gulda (p)

Jay Jay Johnson (tb)

Joe Zawinul (p)

Ernie Royal (tp)

Rolf Ericson (tp,flh)

Kenny Wheeler (tp, mellophone)

Ray Premru (bass tp)

Ralf Isakson (frh)

Erich Kleinschuster (tbn)

Rudolf Josel (bass tbn)

Alfie Reece (bass tuba, tenor tuba)

Herb Geller (as)

Tubby Hayes (ts, fl)

Hans Salomon (bcl)

Ronnie Ross (bs)

Pierre Cavalli (g)

Ron Carter (b)

Mel Lewis (ds)

When I ordered the album a month ago the only web resource I found was Bock's Music Shop in Vienna (good service - recommended), but now I see that it has been popping up at European Amazon as well. Preiser Record's not very user-friendly website gives scant information.

[ghost of miles]

Daniel, thanks for the nod on this one. I did a JJ big-band program a couple years back and used the "Eurosuite" material off THE TOTAL... will be keen to search this one out.