What Jazz are you listening to now?

[Jazzrook]

Humphrey Lyttelton's 30th anniversary edition of Radio 2's 'The Best Of Jazz':

https://m.mixcloud.com/andy-walmsley2/humphrey-lyttelton-the-best-of-jazz-261098

JR

[Joseph K]

I can't remember where exactly I left off listening to John Coltrane's European Tour 1962 for it was some time ago, but I've started listening to disk 4. The first track is Impressions and Coltrane is on FIRE. Awesome stuff. I wonder if Jazzrook ended up buying this set... it's fantastic.

[Serial_Apologist]

I can't remember where exactly I left off listening to John Coltrane's European Tour 1962 for it was some time ago, but I've started listening to disk 4. The first track is Impressions and Coltrane is on FIRE. Awesome stuff. I wonder if Jazzrook ended up buying this set... it's fantastic.

If it's the same tour as "Mister PC" recorded in Paris, with earth-shattering intensity from everyone on the stand, Eric Dolphy included, I found that on one of those I Grandi di Jazz bootlegs that came out in the early 1980s: the other two tracks being one of Mingus's many "Better Git Hit In Your Soul"s and one of Monk's "Bright Blues"s. It was in the wrong sleeve - I took it back to the shop and "bitterly" complained (joke), having taped the tracks in question. I'm going to have a lot of explaining to do when or if I reach the pearly gates!

[Serial_Apologist]

Stumbled onto some old KPM library music dates. Here's an example by David Lindup (father of Mike Lindup of Level 42). He'd clearly been listening to a lot of Gil Evans arrangements when he did this. Listen out for a solo by a musician who needs no intro on this Bored, at 1:52. His style is unmistakeable.

The kinds of sounds that might waft one through the lobby of a 5-star hotel before they stopped you!

Actually, I think that trumpet solo is Henry Lowther - too smooth to be Kenny.

[Joseph K]

If it's the same tour as "Mister PC" recorded in Paris, with earth-shattering intensity from everyone on the stand, Eric Dolphy included, I found that on one of those I Grandi di Jazz bootlegs that came out in the early 1980s: the other two tracks being one of Mingus's many "Better Git Hit In Your Soul"s and one of Monk's "Bright Blues"s. It was in the wrong sleeve - I took it back to the shop and "bitterly" complained (joke), having taped the tracks in question. I'm going to have a lot of explaining to do when or if I reach the pearly gates!

Good anecdote, but: the one you're talking about must be from 1961 - this tour in 1962 is just the great quartet.

[Serial_Apologist]

Good anecdote, but: the one you're talking about must be from 1961 - this tour in 1962 is just the great quartet.

Yes, you're right, of course. Alan Skidmore held that Dolphy never recorded Mister PC; who was I to disagree?

There's a story that Gato Barbieri and his mates decided that the PC stood for Partida Communista.

[Ian Thumwood]

Stumbled onto some old KPM library music dates. Here's an example by David Lindup (father of Mike Lindup of Level 42). He'd clearly been listening to a lot of Gil Evans arrangements when he did this. Listen out for a solo by a musician who needs no intro on this Bored, at 1:52. His style is unmistakeable.

Bruce

One of the best writers about jazz in my opinion was Gene Lees and the last book I have by him concerned arrangers and it included a chapter about Kenny Wheeler. The rest of the books discussed a range of people as diverse as Gil Evans and Bill Challis, the latter being the arranger for Paul Whiteman and responsible for things such as "Singing the blues" which was recorded by Bix. The chapter that stuck in my mind was the one about Bob Farnon who I had always associated with "easy listening" and had never really considered. In may ways Lees was a traditionalist although I think he also had very high standards.

The comment about the influence of Gil Evans is intriguing because I think that the assumption stems from the fact that his music is the closest in jazz that the David Lindup track resembles. It is ages since I read the book yet the conclusion seemed to be that great orchestration is not necessary limited to jazz and classical music. Lees obviously rated Farnon as a significant and major player in arranging even though his music had nothing to do with jazz. I must admit that i have never heard of David Lindup although listening to this did make me think of contemporary arrangers likes Jules Buckley who are following in similar footsteps. I wonder if you have heard the orchestral record he did with Laura Mvula which is very impressive ? Again, it is difficult to place Laura Mvula in any particular style as there are elements of pop, jazz and classical music in her music. Now that she has been dropped by Sony, you wonder if she will pursue a less commercial approach. I rarely listen to pop music but, for my money, Laura Mvula and Michael Kawinuka are just about the best that there is around.

[Joseph K]

[Tenor Freak]

The kinds of sounds that might waft one through the lobby of a 5-star hotel before they stopped you!

Actually, I think that trumpet solo is Henry Lowther - too smooth to be Kenny.

I think it's Kenny because of the pattern in the double-time passages in his solo.

You would be surprised who did KPM sessions to pay the rent - Stan Tracey seems to have done some too, obviously the likes of Duncan Lamont did loads.

This is the track that started my search through the KPM archives - it's used as background music in one of my favourite films, "Dark Star", and took me years to find out what it actually was. Shake Keane is playing the trumpet on this one.

Normal TF service to be resumed shortly. <thanks>

[Serial_Apologist]

I think it's Kenny because of the pattern in the double-time passages in his solo.

Yes... on second thoughts. I'd been fixing my estimation on a little phrase near the start that Henry often slips into.

Here's Alcyona Mick in a trio session with the clarinettist (here) Robin Finker and Paul Clarvis, playing one of her Monkish tunes at Wakefield Jazz back in 2009. Paul plays on the spoons at the start and finish of this number. I once saw him do this in a duo with Liam Noble. I was sat next to the drummer Stu Butterfield - and I said to him, "To be a proper cockney jazz drummer, Stu, you've gotta learn to play the spoons".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfMPtXACbTo

[Joseph K]

I can't remember where exactly I left off listening to John Coltrane's European Tour 1962 for it was some time ago, but I've started listening to disk 4. The first track is Impressions and Coltrane is on FIRE. Awesome stuff. I wonder if Jazzrook ended up buying this set... it's fantastic.

The remainder of this disk - My Favorite Things (23 min) and Bye Bye Blackbird (20 min).

[Jazzrook]

Lennie Tristano playing 'Descent Into The Maelstrom' from 1953:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=99UTNVHLgEk

JR

[Joseph K]

Lennie Tristano playing 'Descent Into The Maelstrom' from 1953:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=99UTNVHLgEk

JR

A fine Poe story too...

[Joseph K]

Just started listening where I'd left off - round the 30 minute mark - and it's INCREDIBLE. Of particular exquisiteness is the ebullient roller coaster texture on top of which Wayne Shorter, at this moment, is profound.

[Stanfordian]

'Workout' – Hank Mobley
with Grant Green, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers & Philly Joe Jones
Blue Note (1961)