Herbie Brock

[Durium]

HERBIE BROCK

Listening to jazz records of rather unknown artists is like diggin' in an archeological site somewhere in the desert of Egypt; most of the times you push your spade on solid rock, or an empty grave. But now and then you find a little amulet, a silver fibula or maybe a golden death mask of some long forgotten farao.

Some days ago I spaded my collection and played myself the forgotten album titled Brock's Top's ( the second apostrophe is missing on the cover) by the Herbie Brock trio. Whow, I heard some great piano jazz, with a steady rhythm section, wire brushes, and a solid bass; high qualified music - jazz-as-jazz-should-be, made by a seldon heard musician Herbie Brock, as if I founded an unopened grave. What a great piano player!

Who can give me more info about Herbie Brock?

Brock's Top's

Keep swinging

Durium

[Big Beat Steve]

Down Beat reviewed this album like this in 1957:

An interesting excursion into the long-line theme development of Brock. His playing is functional and rhythmic, although somewhat florid on ballads such as Willow. Among his most effective devices is the repetition of a riff-like figure, as on Etude, which adds to his drive.

On Four Brothers, he captures the feel of four separate entities united rhythmically. Blues, despite the title, is melodic and moving. Caperton and Hanson** back admirably, with Caperton particularly good in solo spots.

Overall rating: 3 1/2 stars

**Brooks Caperton, bass, and Rick Hanson, drums

BTW, there is no need for the second apostrophe (Top's) on the cover at all. In this play on words Savoy simply meant to say he was "tops".

Edited January 16, 2008 by Big Beat Steve

[jazzbo]

I wish that his solo lp had come out in the Savoy/Denon series.

[Chas]

I wish that his solo lp had come out in the Savoy/Denon series.

As do I .

The only track on Brock's Tops that I would call 'functional' is the blues number , where Brock seems less comfortable , perhaps even a little stiff . On the rest he swings adroitly , and with particular grace on Sweet and Lovely . Unlike the Downbeat reviewer , I don't find his treatment of ballads florid ; on these his pacing and use of space are commendable . Rhythm support is fine throughout , especially Hanson on brushes . If this was recorded live at the Onyx Club in Miami as the liner notes state , it must have been after-hours .

The only Brock recording currently available is the live trio date he did in '57 for Miami-based Criteria , available as a V.S.O.P. CD . That CD cover reuses the photo from the Brock's Tops cover , whereas the Japanese Norma CD of the same session has the original cover :

Additional Brock sessions include this live solo one done in '66 for Miami-based Art Records:

And one not in the discographies , a trio date ( with a vocalist on two tracks ) done in 1963 and issued on a ten-inch lp on his own label , and available in a Norma facsimile :

And here's what that first Brock Savoy looks like :