Jazz trombonist Joseph Bowie was 22 years young when this live album was recorded. It was his second album and he was establishing his own name, his brother Lester Bowie was already internationally renowned. Shortly after Joseph would form Defunkt. Co-leader Oliver Lake also heralded from BAG, the St. Louis music collective. The extraordinary flutist/saxophonist would co-found The World Saxophone Quartet the year following this Toronto concert. "What Bowie and Lake played was an impassioned and demanding music of the moment that responded as much to what was written on their lead sheets or to their spontaneous concepts as it did to the ambiance of the moment." - Coda Magazine, June 1976
Berger & Holland were two of the first Europeans to find musical homes for themselves deep in American free jazz, and these improvised duets from 1976 show just how comfortable they were. Berger plays piano, vibraphone & balafon, while Holland plays bass. The compositions are tonal, and as the title insists, it's all about time. It's roots go deep, all the way to Africa, and the overlapping of rhythms suggest the minimalism of Reich, Riley & Glass. Berger's forte is rhythmic dialogue, and the subtle time shifts that are often a music's undercurrent are fore-grounded here.
Known by friends as Humph, trumpeter Humphrey Littleton was an English jazz musician who formed his first band in 1936 at the age of 15. He was inspired by Louis Armstrong who subsequently referred to Littleton as "that cat in England who swings his ass off." in the 50's Littleton shifted from New Orleans style Jazz to Swing Jazz and recorded with Buck Clayton. He remained active throughout his long life as a musician, record producer, broadcaster and cartoonist. This session was recorded in 1983 and features Humph on trumpet and clarinet with a Canadian band featuring Jim Galloway, soprano & baritone sax, clarinet; Ed Bickert, guitar; Neil Swanson, bass; Terry Clarke, drums.
In 1976 George Lewis' association with Muhal Richard Abrams and the AACM led to recordings with Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton and a tour with Count Basie. Gradually his startling musicianship and the time-honored jazz virtues of a mellow tone and driving sense of rhythm, harnessed to a soaring imagination and technique became known to a growing number of listeners. Lewis came to play at A Space in Toronto his first solo concert and record this album. On "Toneburst (Piece for Three Trombones Simultaneously)", Lewis overdubbed all three trombone parts in the studio. The rest is solo.
This December 1977 recording features two of the most prominent AACM musicians, Roscoe Mitchell and Anthony Braxton. Mitchell's composition "run the gamut, beginning with the darkly gorgeous opener that features Braxton's contrabass clarinet nestling evocatively beneath the composer's earthy flute, Mitchell's other pieces investigate the sparer, more abstract realm, as the duo's wide variety of reeds populate the sonic environment with scattered moans, squeaks and pops. Overall, this is a fine meeting between two of the most forward-looking thinkers and players in the music. Recommended. " - Brian Olewnick, allmusic. Com Anthony Braxton also contributes three compositions.
The great Texas tenor delivers the goods on this 1978 quartet session featuring the same rhythm section of Wray Downes (piano), Dave Young (bass) and Pete Magadini (drums) that played with Don Menza on the reissue of Bones Blues (SAC 4004). Tate's first big break came in 1939 when at the age of 26 he joined the Count Basie band and took a killer solo on "Rock A Bye Basie". After ten years with Basie, Tate led his own band for a twenty-year stint at Harlem's Celebrity Club, toured Europe, made club appearances and numerous recordings. Remixed from the original analog tapes this is the first issue on CD of this album.
Jazz pianist Don Pullen was taken away from us way too soon. He passed at age 53 in 1995. He could play anything from blues to straight ahead to the outer regions of avant garde jazz. This is a re-issue of his 1975 Sackville album originally titled Solo Piano Album. The new title track is a dedication to Muhal Richard Abrams who made his recorded debut on Delmark. "Suite (Sweet) Malcolm (Part 1: Memories and Gunshots)" is for Malcolm X. "Big Alice" is a tour de force embedded with all of Pullen's gospel and soul roots. "Song Played backwards" is a song Pullen decided to play in reverse of the note sequence he had composed! Pullen's music is fierce and joyous and alive, and his presence abides in every note here.
Marty Grosz and Mike Peters recorded these duets informally over a seven year period. It is rare to hear Jazz guitarists performing duets on acoustic instruments and this collaboration is a tribute to Eddie Lang, Carl Kress and Dick McDonough. Such classics as Chicken a La Swing, Eddie's Twister, Danzon and Minuet in Miniature are given sensitive interpretations while the duo improvise on jazz material such as Jubilee, I've Found a New Baby, the Mooche and If Dreams Come True. 20 tracks total.
Formed in Seattle, in 1985, The Evergreen Classic Jazz Band plays lesser-known music of the '20s and '30s. For this album the band goes back even further in the teens, songs just about 100 years old. The ECJB has captured the style and essence of original performances, without rote replication. Reinterpretation of material originally done by larger groups is not easy, but the ECJB gets a big sound through fresh, distinctive voicings from the front line threesome, and tight, clear execution from the rhythm section. Leader Tom Jacobus plays some fine tuba and provides most of the musical arrangements.
In the spring of 1965 pianist Don Ewell began his four-week engagement in Toronto that lasted seven months. David Gillman, a jazz fan and one-time promoter, started hanging at the Golden Nugget and was reminded of another stride legend Willie "The Lion" Smith who he had presented in the '40s. Fast forward to '66, Gillman brings Ewell and Smith together for a Canadian TV filming. While in town the two jam together often at the Nugget and informal, live recordings are made (issued as Stride Piano Duets, DMK 249). The following year the two are brought together into a recording studio and this album is the astonishing result.
A Christmas album for all seasons! Ralph Sutton is one of the greatest stride and classic jazz pianists of all time. Milt Hinton became famous for "slapping" the bass and being the most recorded jazz musician appearing on well over 1,000 sessions. Gus Johnson also appeared on many sessions playing drums behind Coleman Hawkins, Count Basie, Jay McShann, Ralph Sutton and many more. Born in Scotland in 1936 soprano saxophonist Jim Galloway is the youngest of the band (by fourteen years!) and has been active on the Canadian jazz scene since the mid '60s. This 1986 recording is one of the best-selling and most popular jazz Christmas albums. And for good reason: these musicians are truly all stars!
A solo concert from December 2007 at the Old Mill Inn in Toronto by virtuoso pianist Dick Hyman. Hyman has played with legends Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker and Red Norvo, he has scored Woody Allen films and made in depth tributes to Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Beiderbecke and Duke Ellington. 12 tracks: Ain't Misbehavin', I Can't Get Started, Stompin' at the Savoy, Have a Heart, Honeysuckle Rose, All the Things You Are, Undecided, Blackbird, Christopher Columbus, Ocean Languor, Pass It Along, the Man I Love.
Born in Defiance, OH in 1906 Wild Bill Davison is one of jazz's most colorful cornet players of all time. Davison is best known for his association with Eddie Condon lasting from the mid - '40s into the 1960s. Recorded in 1968 this session was the result of a live engagement at Toronto's Colonial Tavern. The players were put together to play one gig billed as The Jazz Giants. The response was so tumultuous that return engagements were booked and arrangements were made for this recording. With Benny Morton, Herb Hall, Claude Hopkins, Arvell Shaw, Buzzy Drootin. Contains a previously unissued piano feature on "Three Little Words" and an alternate take of "Black And Blue."
Don Menza is a powerful tenor saxophonist, with a dynamic and distinctive sound and style. Born in Buffalo, NY in 1936, Menza was with Maynard Ferguson's Orchestra (1960-1962) as both a soloist and an arranger. A short tenure with Stan Kenton preceded joining Buddy Rich's 1968 big band in the "jazz tenor" chair, recording the famous solo cadenza on "Channel 1 Suite" (Recorded "live" at Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas) that utilized circular breathing and has become known as a classic. He settled in California and has worked with Elvin Jones, Louie Bellson and as a long time member of The Tonight Show Band, with Johnny Carson.
New York's Kelly's Stables on 52nd Street was a hotbed of innovative musical ideas in the early 1940s. The Coleman Hawkins Band was extending the harmonic boundaries of the music in association with younger musicians laying the seeds of the bebop revolution. Dan Block (a NY tenor saxophonist and clarinetist) and guitarist Chris Flory spent 5 years researching the period in an attempt to find the connection points and transition from Swing to Bop. This recording, Almost Modern, is the musical result of their work, including tunes by Dexter Gordon, Coleman Hawkins, Don Byas, Illinois Jacquet, Dizzy Gillespie, Gil Fuller, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk and Sir Charles Thompson.
This album was recorded in Toronto following a concert performance for the Classic Jazz Society. It showcases the brilliant piano work of David Boeddinghaus, along time resident of New Orleans, who works primarily as music director for Banu Gibson's Hot Jazz. His mastery of the classic piano styles (Morton, Waller and Wilson) are clearly evident here. Underpinning every selection is the classic New Orleans snare/bass drum centered percussion of Trevor Richards. Since studying with Zutty Singleton in the 1960s Trevor has led bands in New Orleans and other parts of the world. He often tours in Germany with trios stylistically similar to the music heard on this recording.
New Orleans, and it's music, has been in everyone's thoughts following the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina. This recording salutes the city and it's musical heritage with a program put together over 4 nights of performance at Toronto's Montreal Bistro. John Sheridan's elegant piano stylings laid down a harmonic carpet for the burnished brilliance of Barnard's cornet - deeply etched within the "hot" traditions of New Orleans. Everything is held together by the rhythmic sparkle of Don Vickery's drums. The program contains echoes of many facets of the city's musical traditions: The marching bands, the joyful exuberance of the city's good times as well as songs reflective of the city's more somber moments.
Andrew Scott's latest project for Sackville takes a fresh look at some of the classic bebop tunes of the 40s based upon the harmonies of popular songs. The quartet of Andrew Scott - guitar, Mark Eisenman - piano, Pat Collins - bass and Joel Haynes - drums are joined by Jon Erik-Kellso on trumpet and Don Block on tenor saxophone and clarinet. Tracks: Did You Call Her Today, Hot House, on a Misty Night, Vicky's Dream, Nostalgia, Junior's Soul, Quasimodo, Contrafact, Salute to the Bandbox. Recorded on June 5, 2008 at the Estonian Hall in Toronto.
This 10 track CD reissues recordings of solo piano performances made in the 1980s at Toronto's Cafe des Copains (Apr. 25th, 1984 and Jan. 9th, 1985), showcasing Harold Mabern's powerful style. Two selections, "Indian Summer" and "Manhattan," are issued here for the first time.
Rossano Sportiello command of the jazz language is complete, whether it's within the stride tradition or through the fluid harmonic concepts of beboppers and Bill Evans. Among those enthusiastic about his talents are Dan Barrett and Barry Harris. In the Dark was issued originally on Blue Swing Records in a limited edition with sales made at Rossano's performances. HIs musical profile continues to grow with appearances at major jazz events in Europe and the U.S.. His appearance at Blackpool's Swinging Jazz Party called upon him to match wits with both Dick Hymas and Houston Person.
One of jazz music's great comedians, Marty Grosz is a brilliant acoustic guitarist whose chordal solos bring back the sound of Carl Kress and Dick McDonough of the 1930s, while his vocals are very much in the Fats Waller tradition. The material on this 15 track CD was recorded in Germany on Nov. 19th, 2001 (one track was recorded Dec. 13th, 2000). Marty is joined by trumpeter Randy Reinhart, clarinet/saxophonist Frank Roberscheuten, bassist Nico Gastreich and drummer Moritz Gastreich.
The concept of this album was to get away from the contemporary stereotype where jazz is promoted as either "mood music" or "raw authenticity" - emphasis has been given to melody & a somewhat esoteric tune selection; Ingham's piano & celeste are accompanied by a loose, swinging rhythm section, plus trumpet & clarinet.
Cornet magician Bob Barnard and pianist Ralph Sutton present the music of Fats Waller on this 14 track album recorded at Paradise Studios in Sydney, Australia on April 21, 1999 (it was originally released in Australia on the La Brava label). The pair is joined by bassist Ed Gaston, drummer Len Barnard, and clarinetists Don Burrows and John McCarthy.
This 2-CD collection brings together three LPs from the 1970s which illustrate superbly the attributes of Jay McShann's piano stylings. "Tuxedo Junction," the title track, salutes Erskine Hawkins. Also recalled are Sir Charles Thompson and Illinois Jacquet ("Robbins Nest"), Mary Lou Williams ("Froggie Bottom"), Don Redman ("Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You") and Duke Ellington ("Do Nothing Until You Hear from Me"). This collection includes two previously unreleased vocal performances by Jay McShann of "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" and "Keep Your Hands Off Her."
