John Handy on Roulette

[Head Man]

Just seen this 'two-fer' listed at Amazon:

Anyone know what they're like?

Edited September 6, 2011 by Head Man

[jazzbo]

They're interesting. Not quite as adventurous as the Columbia material, but not mainstream material either. Worth a listen. One of these (No Coast Jazz) recently was reissued in Japan.

Edited September 6, 2011 by jazzbo

[J.A.W.]

I have the 1999 Japanese CD reissue of In the Ver•na’cu•lar (Roulette TOCJ-6305), but haven't listened to it in ages.

[felser]

I have the 1999 Japanese CD reissue of In the Ver•na’cu•lar (Roulette TOCJ-6305), but haven't listened to it in ages.

Well worth it if you like Handy's work with Mingus (I do). Not at all like the Columbia's but very very good turn of the 50's-60's decade inside/outside dates. And Don Friedman is a huge plus on anything. And there's not nearly enough Richard Williams from that era. And Lex Humphries was one underrated drummer. One that I definitely plan on picking up.

[sonnymax]

I like this material. Well worth having, imo.

01. I’ll Close My Eyes (Keyes-Reid) 3:21

02. First Time (Handy) 7:41

03. Suggested Line (Handy) 5:27

04. Problem Too (Handy) 4:24

05. Quote, Unquote (Handy) 3:06

06. Blues in the Vernacular (Handy) 5:06

07. Dance to the Lady (Handy) 5:13

08. I’ll Never Smile Again (Lowe) 3:36

09. To Randy (Handy) 6:16

10. Tales of Paradise (Handy) 4:53

11. Boo’s Ups and Downs (Handy) 8:15

12. Hi Number (Handy) 6:59

13. Pretty Side Avenue (Handy) 5:29

14. No Coast (Handy) 6:29

Tracks #1-8 from the original Roulette album "In the Ver·nac'u·lar" (S) R52042.

John Handy (as, ts on #1,2,4,6), Richard Williams (tp), Sir Roland Hanna (p),

George Tucker (b), Roy Haynes (d), Bobby Fuhlrodt (d, #2 only).

Recorded in New York City, late 1959.

Tracks #9-14 from the original Roulette album "No Coast Jazz" (S) R52058.

John Handy (as), Don Friedman (p), Bill Lee (b) and Lex Humphries (d).

Recorded in New York City, Summer 1960.

[JSngry]

Am I wrong, or did Handy do one other album for Roulette besides these two?

[king ubu]

In the Vernacular

No Coast Jazz

Jazz

The third was recorded in NYC in 1962 and featured Handy with Walter Bishop, Julian Euell and Edgar Bateman.

Is "New View" missing from the Mosaic Select, btw?

[Head Man]

Thanks folks. Looks another for my 'to buy' list.

I wonder whether Fresh Sound are waiting for "Jazz" to get issued in Japan so that they can then copy it because I bet that's where these two came from.

[J.A.W.]

Is "New View" missing from the Mosaic Select, btw?

Yep. The Select includes these Columbia albums:

• Recorded Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival

• The Second John Handy Album

• Projections

The common factor seems to be the violin, which is absent from New View

It'd be nice if Mosaic would reissue New View in their Single series. The now OOP CD reissue on Koch is very expensive these days.

Edited September 6, 2011 by J.A.W.

[king ubu]

Is "New View" missing from the Mosaic Select, btw?

Yep. The Select includes these Columbia albums:

• Recorded Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival

• The Second John Handy Album

• Projections

The common factor seems to be the inclusion of a violin

't was a weird Select from the git-go... the Roulette albums plus some bonus material would have been much more interesting to me... anyway, I'll eventually get it.

[sonnymax]

Am I wrong, or did Handy do one other album for Roulette besides these two?

a. From Bird - 5:50 (John Handy)

b. Blues For M.F. - 7:27 (John Handy)

c. East Of The Sun - 7:54 (Brooks Bowman)

d. No Smiles Please - 6:52 (John Handy)

e. Strugglin' - 6:23 (John Handy)

f. Afternoon Outing - 6:46 (John Handy)

John Handy (as), Walter Bishop, Jr. (p), Julian Euell (b), Edgar Bateman (d)

Recorded in New York City, 1962

All titles on Roulette LP 12": R 52121 — "Jazz"

Edited September 6, 2011 by sonnymax

[Ted O'Reilly]

Just seen this 'two-fer' listed at Amazon:

Anyone know what they're like?

Hmmm...another left-handed saxophone. Why, oh why do cover designers flip the image? (Whoops, have I just started another "Album Covers That Show..."?)

[Stereojack]

Am I wrong, or did Handy do one other album for Roulette besides these two?

a. From Bird - 5:50 (John Handy)

b. Blues For M.F. - 7:27 (John Handy)

c. East Of The Sun - 7:54 (Brooks Bowman)

d. No Smiles Please - 6:52 (John Handy)

e. Strugglin' - 6:23 (John Handy)

f. Afternoon Outing - 6:46 (John Handy)

John Handy (as), Walter Bishop, Jr. (p), Julian Euell (b), Edgar Bateman (d)

Recorded in New York City, 1962

All titles on Roulette LP 12": R 52121 — "Jazz"

The album was not released until around 1966 when Handy had hit big with the Monterey album. The cover shows a hat like the one he is wearing on the Monterey cover. All three of these, especially "No Coast", are nice sessions, well worth owning.

[clifford_thornton]

The bands make them look quite interesting.

[Leeway]

My copy of "No Coast Jazz" is from the French Mode /Vogue label. Rather cool cover:

[Chuck Nessa]

Late in the game cover.

[Leeway]

Late in the game cover.

Yeah, I know, but I dig the hat

[Chuck Nessa]

Looks like a giant cicada on his head.

[Ted O'Reilly]

Looks like a giant cicada on his head.

...AND it's a left-handed cicada. At least the one on the right is. Or maybe it's the right-handed one on left.

[jazzbo]

I put this one in today because it was mentioned in this thread. I'd forgotten how nice sounding an album this is.

[J.A.W.]

I put this one in today because it was mentioned in this thread. I'd forgotten how nice sounding an album this is.

Wish I could find a relatively cheap copy of the Koch CD reissue of that one - though I'd better keep my cash in my wallet at the moment...

[Chuck Nessa]

I remember when you put recordings on, not in.

[jazzbo]

I remember that too Chuck. Things ARE a little different now.

[Chuck Nessa]

U behind - don't even put in now.

[jazzbo]

Oh definitely, I know I'm behind, but it's by choice.