Playing Favorites: Reflections on Jazz of the Later 1940's

[gmonahan]

2 hours ago, Gheorghe said:

another one for @gmonahan

[Gheorghe]

I could not find a cover or Studio photos from the session, but I have it on "Cronological Fats Navarro": His last Studio session from late 1949 with Don Lanphere, and I think Al Haig on piano. Those tunes "Stop" "Go" Wailin´ Wall" and "Infatuation". 

[Brad]

This is a great disk from Spotlite with a couple of Navarro tunes (which appeared on the Mosaic Dial set). 

Edited May 22, 2020 by Brad

[BillF]

8 hours ago, Gheorghe said:

I could not find a cover or Studio photos from the session, but I have it on "Cronological Fats Navarro": His last Studio session from late 1949 with Don Lanphere, and I think Al Haig on piano. Those tunes "Stop" "Go" Wailin´ Wall" and "Infatuation". 

Ah, that beautiful last session!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2020 by BillF

[optatio]

Now spinning ...

CHUBBY JACKSON Sextet and Big Band. PRESTIGE/BELLAPHON BJS 40137 [s.d.]

[BillF]

21 minutes ago, optatio said:

Now spinning ...

CHUBBY JACKSON Sextet and Big Band. PRESTIGE/BELLAPHON BJS 40137 [s.d.]

I'm unfamiliar with the sextet, but the big band sides have often been teamed with Mulligan tracks from around 1950.

The star-studded big band is fiery - as you might expect from a Jackson outfit - but doesn't sound to have had much rehearsal time.

[optatio]

1 hour ago, BillF said:

I'm unfamiliar with the sextet, but the big band sides have often been teamed with Mulligan tracks from around 1950.

The star-studded big band is fiery - as you might expect from a Jackson outfit - but doesn't sound to have had much rehearsal time.

See AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow: https://www.allmusic.com/album/chubby-jackson-sextet-and-big-band-mw0000879274 

[Gheorghe]

Some classic Afro Cuban. I love this collection, the vocal stuff with the Machito band, and the instrumental features with Howard McGhee and Brew Moore. This was a wonderful thing happening in the late 40´s . 

[Quasimado]

  This is a wonderful thread. I was just looking at Stuart Varden’s great web site, Nostalgia: Honoring Fats Navarro http://csis.pace.edu/~varden/navarro/navarro.html

 

Engraved on Fats' tombstone is is well known quote- "I'd like to play a perfect melody of my own, all the chord progressions right, the melody original and fresh - my own." - which seems to me to sum up the swing-to-bop -- bop ethos.

 

And, speaking of Fats, let’s not forget the wonderful young Ernie Henry and Allen Eager– I don’t think they made any leader dates in the 40’s (maybe Eager did a couple of 78s for Savoy and Jade), but they were indispensable presences in the classic Tadd/ Fats bands.

[BillF]

Reminded of this one by the recent Johnny Mandel tributes. And what a band! Arrangements not just by Mandel, but also Dameron, Gene Roland and George Russell.

And in the ranks: Al, Zoot, Herbie Steward, Frank Socolow, Raney, Fagerquist, not to mention the wonderfully named Porky Cohen!

[BillF]

A nice selection.

[BillF]

Jazzwax's piece today on Earle Spencer brought a new one to my ears that's certainly worth hearing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earle_Spencer

https://www.jazzwax.com/

Edited August 4, 2020 by BillF

[EKE BBB]

32 minutes ago, BillF said:

Jazzwax's piece today on Earle Spencer brought a new one to my ears that's certainly worth hearing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earle_Spencer

https://www.jazzwax.com/

Thanks for the rec! I haven't purchased the FSR release (yet), but I am currently listening to the IAJRC LP on Spotify, including the same Black & White 1946-49 recordings. The live recordings from Casino Gardens (1946) on disc 2 of the FSR release are not included.

[Big Beat Steve]

Yes, Earle Spencer was an ear-opener to me too - absolutely on a level with other Progressive big bands of the 40s such as Boyd Raeburn, Tom Talbert etc. And Kentonites should find something attractive in his recordings too.

I became aware of him in the 90s when I picked up a secondhand LP of 1946 live recordings by the band on the (U.K.) First Heard label (FH-16). Though the price charged by Mole Jazz was a bit outrageous (for what these First Heard LPs actually are) it was worth it all. A little while later I found a copy of the "The Almost Forgotten Pioneer of Modern Big Band Jazz" LP (IAJRC 41) that included the bulk of his Black & White recordings. An ear-opener too and the kind of thoughtful compilation that fills a gap even in advanced collections.

In fact, the Fresh Sound 2-CD set has its merits (for a new generaiton of listeners) but in this case it really does not offer much that is new over those two IAJRC and First Heard vinyls that have been out there fore some 30+ years.

Edited August 4, 2020 by Big Beat Steve

[BillF]

 One word of warning about this guy. Careful when checking him on Google or Wikipedia. You're likely to end up with the British Royal Family!   

[Gheorghe]

On 28.6.2020 at 3:44 PM, Quasimado said:

  This is a wonderful thread. I was just looking at Stuart Varden’s great web site, Nostalgia: Honoring Fats Navarro http://csis.pace.edu/~varden/navarro/navarro.html

 

 

 

Engraved on Fats' tombstone is is well known quote- "I'd like to play a perfect melody of my own, all the chord progressions right, the melody original and fresh - my own." - which seems to me to sum up the swing-to-bop -- bop ethos.

 

 

 

And, speaking of Fats, let’s not forget the wonderful young Ernie Henry and Allen Eager– I don’t think they made any leader dates in the 40’s (maybe Eager did a couple of 78s for Savoy and Jade), but they were indispensable presences in the classic Tadd/ Fats bands.

Oh yes, I´m also a big fan of Fats Navarro, and the Tadd Dameron bands, especially the live broadcasts from Royal Roost.

[BillF]

Talking of which, there are other pitfalls!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Charles_Thompson,_1st_Baronet

[BillF]

On 25/05/2020 at 4:10 PM, Gheorghe said:

Some classic Afro Cuban. I love this collection, the vocal stuff with the Machito band, and the instrumental features with Howard McGhee and Brew Moore. This was a wonderful thing happening in the late 40´s . 

Reading this reminds me of this wonderful movie:

 

In the unlikely event you haven't seen it, watch it now!

I mean, how many movies star Chano Pozo?

[jazzcorner]

10 hours ago, BillF said:

Jazzwax's piece today on Earle Spencer brought a new one to my ears that's certainly worth hearing:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earle_Spencer

 

 

[optatio]

Charlie Parker: Bird´s Eyes. Last Unissued Vol.19. Philology W 849.2 

[Gheorghe]

Great 4 CDs of Bird live at his best, right now on Bird´s 100th Birthday

[BillF]

33 minutes ago, Gheorghe said:

Great 4 CDs of Bird live at his best, right now on Bird´s 100th Birthday

Yeah, lovely! 

[Gheorghe]

And here´s the twin album of "At St. Nick´s". 

Great live set of Bird at his peak, with the vintage quintet Miles, Duke Jordan, Tommy Potter, Max Roach. 1948.

"Charlie Parker again" ...... my wife asked when I announced that I´ll spin this one....

[BillF]

Although recorded in 1954, I think this album is in the right thread here as it's firmly in the spirit of the immediately previous years.

Recorded in Paris during a Basie band visit, it shows early Foster at his most Bird-like, adequately supported by a French rhythm section that features the wonderful Henri Renaud. Shades of Al Haig there!

Edited September 15, 2020 by BillF

[BillF]

20-track compilation of four sessions by Allen, Brew and Stan on Spotify. All prime material!