What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Ian Thumwood]

Hank Mobley with Lee Morgan, Andrew Hill, John Ore & Philly Joe Jones,
Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Butch Warren & Philly Joe Jones
‘No Room for Squares’
Blue Note (1963)

This is quite an interesting record as the sessions were released many years after they were first consigned to the Blue Note vault. I like the fact that Andrew Hill is on a more mainstream Mobley session and it is interesting to contrast the over-ripe tones of Donald Byrd and the more tart playing of Lee Morgan. The one thing that struck me was the fact that there are a few quotes in the trumpet solos - I can't remember who is guilty but "Blues in the night" and the Ziggy Elman feature "and the angels sing" both crop up. The latter's appearance is bizarre as it has almost the most kitsch trumpet feature produced during the swing era.

I think that the Achilles heel with the Mobley records can be Mobley's writing which is sometimes lazy. "You n' me" seems like a budget version of "The Sidewinder." It is odd that this record was initially shelved as Mobley is on form and helped to no small degree by the drumming of Jones who always brings out the best in his playing. The two sessions aren't an incongruous either. I wish that Mobley had made more records with Hill.

[burning dog]

Me n You is a Lee Morgan composition. Much as I love Philly Jones, I think Billy Higgins suited this kind of groove better.

I was working with a jazz fan (and Mobley fan) of mature years when No Room for Squares was released on CD and he rated it as one of Mobley's best.

[burning dog]

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

No Room For Squares....Its a wonderful record and the back story of Lee Morgan's involvent is fascinating. Mobley wanted him on the date but Morgan was in one of his "washed up/down and out" episodes and was only just getting back into playing. He had to borrow a horn (from Webster Young) to make the rehearsals, still rusty. Took the horn home to practice, played the following night with Elvin at Birdland and then turned up for the Squares recording like he'd never been away. Ahhhhhhhh, the romance of jazz! He also rehearsed and recorded Moncur's Evolution within a few days, a very different date, but he produced, even on his own estimation, some of his own favorite/best playing.

BN.

*Now listening to: A day tribute to the late Sharon Jones (RIP) of Dap Kings fame etc on WKCR New York, just glorious stuff, retro soul or not. "The woman's got soul, worth more money than gold".

[Tenor Freak]

NP: "Goodnight" - Philip Owusu.

[Old Grumpy]

Mrs G out tonight at a fashion show for Marie Curie - so time for a jazz fest!

As I take my repast I listen to the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra's In The Spirit of the Duke, featuring the inimitable Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock with the top rank musicians of the SNJO.

Whilst I take my post prandial coffee I shall be watching the Additional Features to Robert Trujillo's homage to Jaco Pastorius. As a lifelong (well, jazzlifelong) devotee of Weather Report, I was pleased when I was able to add this film to my wishlist. I was not disappointed!

OG

[Stanfordian]

Dexter Gordon with Donald Byrd, Kenny Drew, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen & Art Taylor
'One Flight Up'
Blue Note (1964

[Ian Thumwood]

Picking up on the Leo Parker records, this article has just emerged about him on line. I had no idea that he was on that Coleman Hawkins record and the belated release of the record was news to me. This "Blue Note Obsession" column is really amusing because the author is not shy regarding his lack of appreciation for anything to outside but fulsome in his praise of more approachable records. I don't always agree with his conclusions but it makes an interesting read. Shame there are no further details about the band members:-

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/leo-parker-rollin-with-leo--1961-by-marc-davis.php

[elmo]

I know Kenny Dorham is much admired on this Bored so I can pass on some good news that has just come out from the Uptown label..

A new album of sessions recorded in NYC in 1966 and 1962.has The 1966 is probably the Half Note session with Sonny Red which has been issued previously but the new release apparently has a much improved sound.
The 1962 session is I think previously unissued - recorded from a gig at the Flamboyan club with KD, Joe Farrell, Walter Bishop jnr, Larry Ridley and Stu Martin - don't know which compositions were played yet.

It will be a must for me it's called "KD is here" Live in NYC" 1966 and 1962 Uptown, released in the States Nov 25th.

elmo

[Stanfordian]

Lester Young & Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison with Oscar Peterson
‘Going for Myself’
Verve (1957)

[Beef Oven!]

It’s not just the big names that are good - this CD that I discovered recently (and cheap on Naxos Jazz) is IMV, excellent. Really getting off on the drumming, right now.

[Ian Thumwood]

Beef Oven

Wish I had bought more of these Naxos jazz albums as they were interesting. What is curious to that there were 2unknown" players like Donny McCaslin on these discs who have since gone on to bigger if not always better things. Shame the plug was pulled by Naxos.

Been playing Captain Black Big Band debut album which is a really curious offering in that the solos dominate far more than the writing so that it feels like a small group. Orrin Evans is a really over-looked musician and I think only Bluesnik has ever commented favourably on his output. I think the music is pretty fill on contemporary jazz even of the charts really form a framework for some pretty blistering solos. I believe that the band was assembled because of the lack of opportunity for young players to perform in a big band but anyone coming from the Hard Bop / Strata East style of jazz is going to be curious about this music.

[Beef Oven!]

Ian

I wish I’d bought more, too. I had high hopes for Naxos jazz. I think it came out when Naxos classical was in full-flow. It seemed to disappear no sooner than it arrived!

[Stanfordian]

Ike Quebec with Grant Green, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones
'Blue & Sentimental'
Blue Note (1961)

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Ian

I wish I’d bought more, too. I had high hopes for Naxos jazz. I think it came out when Naxos classical was in full-flow. It seemed to disappear no sooner than it arrived!

I've got the two Ron McClure CDs, the two Los Angeles Jazz Qrt dates with Chuck Manning, and the "Bill plays Bud (Powell) " by Bill Cunliffe which is a great little record. I had the Donny McCaskin, loads of early promise, but I lent it out and it........ disappeared.

It was an interesting label, A&Rd by Mike Nock?

BN.