Pepper Adams with the Tommy Banks Trio - Live at Room at the Top

[Kevin Bresnahan]

On Record Store Day (4/23/2022), Reel To Reel is releasing a live recording of Pepper Adams with the Tommy Banks Trio titled "Live at Room at the Top". Blurb here: https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/14738

Only 1000 copies being pressed and I am not standing in those asinine RSD lines so I guess I'll have to see if any are left TDARSD (the day after Record Store Day) or wait for the CD release. Does anyone know if the CD release will have more material?

Edited April 2, 2022 by bresna

[jazzbo]

Amazon shows the cd release as two cds with 100 minutes total so I would say the answer is "yes."

The two cd edition includes two additional performances: Time On My Hands and
Stella By Starlight.

Edited April 2, 2022 by jazzbo

[Rooster_Ties]

Like that cover. Kind of an atypical shot, angle, and cropping.  Really highlights the ‘pipe-work’ neck of the bari, which — absent the rest of the horn — is even more atypical than usual.

Not an instant purchase for me, but if the reports are good, I might spring for the CD’s.

[JSngry]

Tommy Banks? Who is that?

[bertrand]

1 hour ago, jazzbo said:

Amazon shows the cd release as two cds with 100 minutes total so I would say the answer is "yes."

The two cd edition includes two additional performances: Time On My Hands and
Stella By Starlight.

Interesting. There have reports in the past that record labels have all agreed from now on that CD versions and LP versions must match exactly.

[jazzbo]

Obviously nonsense.

1 hour ago, JSngry said:

Tommy Banks? Who is that?

Possibly https://www.discogs.com/artist/2682459-Tommy-Banks

[sidewinder]

2 hours ago, JSngry said:

Tommy Banks? Who is that?

Canadian pianist and arranger who was based in Alberta and very active in Canadian broadcasting.

1 hour ago, jazzbo said:

Obviously nonsense.

Possibly https://www.discogs.com/artist/2682459-Tommy-Banks

Yes, that’s him. I saw him a few times, at least once backing Judi Singh I think.

[Dan Gould]

"This is the first release from Vasey’s rich tape archive in Edmonton, Alberta."

Color me unimpressed.

I mean, I like Pepper Adams just fine but backed by an obscure piano trio, and 18+ minute tracks?  I hope the "rich tape archive" has more exciting recordings than this to come.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I am going to wait to hear a sound sample until I buy. If it's in good sound, I'm in. Bootleg quality - nah.

[T.D.]

Likely to pass. 

[mjzee]

3 hours ago, Dan Gould said:

I mean, I like Pepper Adams just fine but backed by an obscure piano trio, and 18+ minute tracks?  

Agreed.  I used to own "Live In Europe" on Impro.  Pepper's backed by piano (Georges Arvanitas), bass (Jacky Samson), and drums (Charles Saudrais).  Only 4 tracks, with timings 10:50, 14:29, 15:12 and 10:08.  It's a hard slog.  Pepper's a great improvisor, but it's hard to maintain interest over such lengths with just a baritone sax and piano as melodic instruments.

[JSngry]

This is a GREAT record. But look at the rhythm section, in terms of both individual quality and collective familiarity.

This is not a soloist with a pickup rhythm section. This is an ongoing partnership, It sounds like a real group.

I do miss an extra horn, but only on the heads, for ensemble color.

[jlhoots]

I still like Critics' Choice.

[sidewinder]

9 hours ago, bresna said:

I am going to wait to hear a sound sample until I buy. If it's in good sound, I'm in. Bootleg quality - nah.

Likely to be good sound. I think these were recorded for CBC broadcast at the time.

[HutchFan]

22 hours ago, JSngry said:

This is a GREAT record. But look at the rhythm section, in terms of both individual quality and collective familiarity.

This is not a soloist with a pickup rhythm section. This is an ongoing partnership, It sounds like a real group.

 

This LP -- with the same band, except for Jabali instead of Mel Lewis -- is similarly excellent, IMHO.

 

 

[mhatta]

On 2022/4/2 at 9:44 PM, bresna said:

On Record Store Day (4/23/2022), Reel To Reel is releasing a live recording of Pepper Adams with the Tommy Banks Trio titled "Live at Room at the Top". Blurb here: https://recordstoreday.com/SpecialRelease/14738

Only 1000 copies being pressed and I am not standing in those asinine RSD lines so I guess I'll have to see if any are left TDARSD (the day after Record Store Day) or wait for the CD release. Does anyone know if the CD release will have more material?

Now available on Spotify .I thought the one-horn baritone saxophone quartet might be monotonous, but this is very powerful, swingy, and enjoyable. The rhythm section is not so imaginative but solid.  Highly recommended.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6bjUgLGgIZKeCeWRogVFoM?si=avwIz2HHQlidS0T3BsARIQ

Edited May 16, 2022 by mhatta

[Ken Dryden]

I remember hearing Tommy Banks on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. She was great about seeking out pianists from Canada and England for her show, many of whom weren't all that well known to US jazz fans. I've got the show somewhere in the stacks of cassettes that I dubbed during that era.

Is is me, or does it seem like Pepper Adams is squeaking his reed a bit more than usual?

 

[John Tapscott]

4 minutes ago, Ken Dryden said:

I remember hearing Tommy Banks on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. She was great about seeking out pianists from Canada and England for her show, many of whom weren't all that well known to US jazz fans. I've got the show somewhere in the stacks of cassettes that I dubbed during that era.

Is is me, or does it seem like Pepper Adams is squeaking his reed a bit more than usual?

 

He does seem to squeak a little more often than expected (there's nothing like a baritone squeak), but I kind of enjoy it in that live setting. Sure keeps a listener alert, plus it indicates that Pepper was really going for broke and not just going through the motions. 

[Rooster_Ties]

2 hours ago, mhatta said:

Now available on Spotify.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6bjUgLGgIZKeCeWRogVFoM?si=avwIz2HHQlidS0T3BsARIQ

It’s all up on YouTube too…

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kCyTsWI2iLSk585jQptxshYMeBCjuurDQ