BFT 111: The Who And The What

[Joe]

Hi all.

Here we go. For now, I'll simply present discographical info, with comments to follow here and there / gradually.

Enjoy!

1) Nina Simone Trio. "African Mailman" (Simone). Simone (p), Jimmy Bond (b), Tootie Heath (d). Rec. 1957. Originally released on NINA SIMONE AND HER FRIENDS (Bethlehem); now available on expanded reissues (many of 'em) of LITTLE GIRL BLUE (Bethlehem).

2) Nathan Davis Sextet. "Now Let M' Tell Ya" (Davis). Davis (ts), Woody Shaw (tp), Jean-Louis Chautemps (bs), René Urtreger (p), Jimmy Woode (b), Kenny Clarke (d). Rec. 1965. From PEACE TREATY (SFP).

3) Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers. "Psychedelic Pucho" (Pucho Brown / Jimmy Phillips / Neal Creque). Pucho Brown (timbales), Eddie Pazant (bs), Neal Creque (p, org, arr), Jimmy Phillips (b), Norberto Appellaniz (bongos), Cecil Jackson (conga). Rec. 1968. Originally released on HEAT! (Prestige), now available on Pucho's volume of the Fantasy / Concord LEGENDS OF ACID JAZZ series.

4) Larry Williams & Johnny "Guitar" Watson with The Kaleidoscope. "Nobody" (Williams / Watson). Larry Williams (vo), Johnny "Guitar" Watson (vo), The Kaleidoscope [Chester Crill, John Vidican, David Lindley, Solomon Feldthouse, Chris Darrow… hard to know with these guys who played what, but Vidican is most likely on drums, Darrow on bass, Crill on organ, and either Feldthouse or Lindley takes the brief oud solo.] Rec. 1967. Originally released as the A side of a 7-inch (backed by "Find Yourself Someone To Love"), now available as part of the PULSATING DREAMS Kaleidoscope box set (sans B-side).

5) Leroy's Dallas Band / Leroy Williams Dallas Jug Band. "Going Away Blues" (unknown). Leroy Williams (cornet), Fred Millet (tb), Lawson Brooks or Roosevelt Harris (as), James Moore (p), Percy Darensbourg (banjo), Octave Gaspard (b), Percy Bragsby (d). Rec. 1928. Originally released on a Columbia 78 (Matrix: W147565=1), now available on the Timeless CD JAZZ IN TEXAS 1924 - 1930. According to the notes for the Timeless CD, this was, in fact, an African-American band.

Edited July 1, 2013 by Joe

[Joe]

6) Giorgio Gaslini. "Saturn" (Sun Ra.) Gaslini (p). Rec. 2003. From GASLINI PLAYS SUN RA (Soul Note).

7) Jutta Hipp Quintet. "Chloe-Patra" (Joki Freund). Hipp (p), Emil Mangelsdorff (as), Freund (ts), Hans Kresse (b), Karl Sanner (d). Rec. 1954. Available on COOL DOGS AND TWO ORANGES (L + R / Bellaphon). This track (under the title "Cleopatra") also appeared, alongside 7 others from these sessions, on the Blue Note NEW FACES - NEW SOUNDS FROM GERMANY 10-inch, BLP 5056.

8) Brian Lynch's Unsung Heroes Project. "It Could Be" (Tommy Turrentine). Lynch (tp), Vincent Herring (as), Alex Hoffman (ts), Rob Schneiderman (p), David Wong (b), Peter Van Nostrand (d). Rec. 2008 / 2009. From UNSUNG HEROES VOLUME 2, available directly from Lynch @ Bandcamp, http://brianlynch.bandcamp.com/.

9) Oscar Peterson Quartet. "Solar Winds" (Peterson). Peterson (el p), Joe Pass (g), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b), Louie Bellson (d). Rec. 1979. From NIGHT CHILD (Pablo / OJC).

10) Earl Harvin Trio. "Garanimals Rising" (Dave Palmer). Harvin (d), Fred Hamilton (b), Dave Palmer (el p). Rec. 1998/1999. From AT THE GYPSY TEA ROOM (Leaning House Jazz).

11) Tom Harrell Quintet. "Ridin'" (Harrell). Harrell (tp), Wayne Escoffery (ts), Danny Grissett (el p), Ugonna Okegwo (b), Johnathan Blake (d). Rec. 2010. From THE TIME OF THE SUN (High Note).

12) Amalgam. "Judy's Smille III" (Trevor Watts). Trevor Watts (as), Jeff Clyne (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. 1969. From PRAYER FOR PEACE (Transatlantic / FMR). Recently reissued by NoBusiness, http://nobusinessrecords.com/NBLP16.php.

13) Hafez Modirzadeh. "Facet Twenty-Four" (Modirzadeh). Modirzadeh (ts), Amir ElSaffar (ts), Vijay Iyer (p), Ken Filiano (b), Royal Hartigan (d). Rec 2011/2012. From POST-CHROMODAL OUT! (Pi). Read more about Modirzadeh's chromodal concept here: http://www.criticalimprov.com/article/view/943.

14) Jef Gilson & Hal Singer. "Mother Africa" (Gilson). Jef Gilson (p), Hal Singer (ts), Bernard Lubat (vibes), Jacky Samson (b), Frank Raholison (d), Del Rabenja & Gerard Rakotoarivony (perc). Rec. 1973/1974. From SOUL OF AFRICA (Le Chant Du Monde). Recently reissued by Kindred Spirits, http://www.kindred-spirits.nl/shop_detail.php?idxItem=42903. Also, a nice overview of Gilson's career can be found here: http://ehsankhoshbakht.blogspot.com/2012/02/remebreing-jef-gilson-1926-2012.html.

15) Jay Oliver. "Dance Of The Robot People" (Oliver). Oliver (b), Steve Lacy (ss), Glenn Ferris (tb), Oliver Jackson (d). Rec. 1981. From DANCE OF THE ROBOT PEOPLE (Akono / Konnex).

Edited July 5, 2013 by Joe

[Joe]

16) The Cannonball Adderley Quintet. "The Chocolate Nuisance" (Nat Adderley, Roy McCurdy). Cannonball (as), Nat Adderley (cornet), George Duke (keys), Mike Deasy (g), Walter Booker (b), Roy McCurdy (d), Airto Moreira & Buck Clarke (perc). Rec. 1970, live at The Troubadour in LA. From THE BLACK MESSIAH (Capitol).

17) John Ellis. "Let's Think Of Something To Do" (Fred [Mister] Rogers). John Ellis (ts), Aaron Goldberg (p), Mike Moreno (g), Matt Penman (b), Rodney Green (d). Rec. 2011. From IT'S YOU I LIKE (Criss Cross).

18) Jacky Terrasson. "Baby" (Justin Bieber, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Terius "The-Dream" Nash). Jacky Terrasson (keys), Burniss Earl Travis II (b), Justin Faulkner (d), Minino Garay (perc). Rec. 2012. From GOUACHE (Sunnyside).

19) Dave Pike. "The Drifter" (Pike). Pike (vibes), Eddie Daniels (ts), Don Friedman (p), Chuck Israels (el b), Arnie Wise (d), Herbie Mann (producer). Rec. 1966? (Released 1970). From THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION (Vortex / Atlantic / Wounded Bird).

20) Michael Marcus. "Sunwheels" (Marcus). Marcus (straight tenor [on this track, I believe], stritch, saxello), Rahn Burton (org), Nasheet Waits (d), Carlos "Patato" Valdes (conga). Rec. 2000. From SUNWHEELS (Justin Time).

21) Sonny Red. "Rodan" (red / credited as Sylvester Kyner). Red (as), Cedar Walton (p), Herbie Lewis (b), Billy Higgins (d). Rec. 1971. From SONNY RED (Mainstream).

22) Charles Earland. "Snake" (Earland). Earland (ss [featured], org, el p, Arp synth; also carries credits for Production, Engineering and Mixing), Dave Hubbard (fl, ts, ss), Wayne Andre (tb), Eddie Henderson, Jon Faddis, and either Danny Moore or Victor Paz (tp, flgh), Mark Elf and either Cornell Dupree or Keith Loving (g), Patrick Gleeson (synth), Mervin Bronson (el b), Billy Hart (d; left channel), Daryll Washington (d; right channel, timpani), Lawrence Killian (perc). Supervised by Duke Pearson. Additional mixing by Eddie Harris and Orrin Keepnews. Rec. 1973. From THE DYNAMITE BROTHERS OST (Prestige), reissued by BGP (UK).

23) $.99 Dreams. "Rockland Psych Ward" (Matt Crane / Adam Diller). Crane (d, p), Adam Diller (ts, synth, "production"). Rec. 2008 [?]. From WINNING ON ALL FRONTS (self-released). Available via Bandcamp: http://ninetyninecentdreams.bandcamp.com/album/winning-on-all-fronts.

24) Ira Sullivan. "E Flat Tuba G" (Sullivan). Sullivan (tp, ts), Lon Norman (tb), Dolphe Castellano (p), William Fry (b), Jose Cigno (d). Rec. 1967. From HORIZONS (Atlantic).

25) Ramsey Lewis Trio. "Uhuru" (Maurice White). Lewis (keys, production), Cleveland Eaton (el b), Maurice White (d, kalimba). Rec. 1969. From ANOTHER VOYAGE (Chess).

[webbcity]

Okay...wow. Some fantastic stuff here. I now need to go back through the recordings, and my comments, again and revisit everything. I'm especially surprised to see Oscar Peterson on there...I don't know that particular album but have seen it around.

This was a blast, and I expect I will now have a bunch of things to add to my ever-growing list. Thanks again for a fun BFT!

[Hot Ptah]

What a group of appealing music that I don't know! This BFT gives me much to explore. I have to go back now with Reveal in hand and listen again. Thanks for a memorable and fun BFT.

[felser]

Loved that Nathan Davis cut, bummed that the CD would cost me $45!

[JSngry]

David Palmer...that was a loss...

neighbors indeed!

[Joe]

Looks like Dave is living the life of a working pianist in Studio City, CA.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/davepalmer

I'd wondered what happened to him.

Now, about that Oscar Peterson LP... its not flawless, by any means. But I do have much respect for the fact that OP did not simply karaoake-out his established style on electric piano. I mean, he really explores the instrument, plays both with it and on it, and embraces the colors and tones of which the Fender Rhodes is capable in some surprising and delightful ways. I dare say he should have made more records out of his comfort zone.

Aren't almost all Nathan Davis CDs prohibitively priced? He sounds great on this date, but I included this track primarily because of what Woody Shaw does here. The way he states the theme and brings a real personality to the melody. Impressive, and a reminder that Woody was about a lot more than those quartal harmonies. Dude was a thorough trumpet player, you know?

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

21) Sonny Red. "Rodan" (red / credited as Sylvester Kyner). Red (as), Cedar Walton (p), Herbie Lewis (b), Billy Higgins (d). Rec. 1971. From SONNY RED (Mainstream).

22) Charles Earland. "Snake" (Earland). Earland (ss [featured], org, el p, Arp synth; also carries credits for Production, Engineering and Mixing), Dave Hubbard (fl, ts, ss), Wayne Andre (tb), Eddie Henderson, Jon Faddis, and either Danny Moore or Victor Paz (tp, flgh), Mark Elf and either Cornell Dupree or Keith Loving (g), Patrick Gleeson (synth), Mervin Bronson (el b), Billy Hart (d; left channel), Daryll Washington (d; right channel, timpani), Lawrence Killian (perc). Supervised by Duke Pearson. Additional mixing by Eddie Harris and Orrin Keepnews. Rec. 1973. From THE DYNAMITE BROTHERS OST (Prestige), reissued by BGP (UK).

Bleedin' 'ell! I should have got those two!

MG

[Joe]

The Sonny Red track closes that particular LP, and is slightly less modal / Coltrane-inspired than some on that other material of the date. I chose it for the manner in which it showcases the unique -- shall we say quirky? -- facets of Red' timbre and phrasing. It feels bluesy, but are those really blues changes? And Herbie Lewis. What a shame there's not more Herbie Lewis to hear.

The Earland... well, DYNAMITE BROTHERS is a terrible, terrible film... the only reason I know about it is courtesy the Cinematic Titanic crew (MST3K alumni; their take on this film is available here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/375254)... but CE's soundtrack is suitably melodramatic, atmospheric, cartoonish, etc. Basically, what you'd want / hope from an exploitation film soundtrack. I also happen to like and admire his soprano sax playing, which he trotted out every now and then on other dates. But here he and the band really do enter a GET UP WITH IT / SEXTANT trance-space, though I've no idea if those records really factored into his thinking. And just look at the odd all-star collection of talent put together for what was essentially product; a unit-shifter. "Additional mixing by Eddie Harris"! Really?

Edited July 5, 2013 by Joe

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Not THE Eddie Harris, AN Eddie Harris who worked for Fantasy Records.

MG

[NIS]

Please excuse the late "thank you", first time on the net in a week or so. On to googling two or three of these tracks.

Thanks for your efforts.

[Joe]

Not THE Eddie Harris, AN Eddie Harris who worked for Fantasy Records.

MG

Well, that makes a great deal more sense!

[Hot Ptah]

Looks like Dave is living the life of a working pianist in Studio City, CA.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/davepalmer

I'd wondered what happened to him.

Now, about that Oscar Peterson LP... its not flawless, by any means. But I do have much respect for the fact that OP did not simply karaoake-out his established style on electric piano. I mean, he really explores the instrument, plays both with it and on it, and embraces the colors and tones of which the Fender Rhodes is capable in some surprising and delightful ways. I dare say he should have made more records out of his comfort zone.

Aren't almost all Nathan Davis CDs prohibitively priced? He sounds great on this date, but I included this track primarily because of what Woody Shaw does here. The way he states the theme and brings a real personality to the melody. Impressive, and a reminder that Woody was about a lot more than those quartal harmonies. Dude was a thorough trumpet player, you know?

I agree with your comments about Oscar Peterson's electric piano playing on #9. I like how Pedersen and Louis Bellson fit in well with this kind of music, too. I wonder what Bellson thought about playing that way.

I am a little surprised that while Oscar was playing some relatively weird stuff (for him) on electric piano, Joe Pass just basically played what he usually played on a Pablo date. Joe played some rock sounding electric guitar on some 1960s sessions, with some distortion, before he became the "classy Joe Pass" on Pablo. This Oscar Peterson electric piano album could have been more interesting if Pass had returned to his more electric sound and style.