What Jazz are you listening to now?

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

The man himself Ernie Henry 👍 With Kenny Dorham, both very compatible. And no piano, wasn't there a story that the pianist just didn't show up?

Kenny's "Lotus Blossom" 1957, much recorded and this version is equally great. The piano is definitely not missed, it really sounds modern for it's time.

http://youtu.be/Xv2inD_P8Fk?si=ekaSGum_NPlB4p4X

[Ian Thumwood]

I have the lead sheets for this album. There are some interesting compositions. There is also a disc of Spring themed compositions that I have never heard but which seems like a suite.

[Ian Thumwood]

Thanks for the best wishes, Bluesnik and Elmo.

The wedding went all too quickly. Kept it small scale with family and friends although Lovem's friends travelled half way around the globe in some instances.

The cricket is getting quite interesting here in Southampton Australia wobbling ?

[Mario]

E Henderson

After you’ve gone (from Be cool)

Jazz Radio – Coffee Jazz

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

France cool. The Sacha Distel Sextet, "On Serait des Chats" 1956. Yes that Sacha, beau of Brigette Bardot, composer the Good Life et al. He was also a pretty useful guitarist in the 50s idiom and this is from a very listenable CD collection called "Sachs's Guitar", his first love. Other tracks have John Lewis and Barney Wilen adding much value. Open the wine ...

http://youtu.be/xdbiB6IQlE0?si=JFmXgLt0P77tMlUB

[Ian Thumwood]

There is a set by Lionel Hampton that was recorded in Paris in mid 1950s with Sach Distel on guitar that is brilliant. Some of the tracks are small group blowing sessions which include a French horn. The music is very much in thr Cool.Jazz vein that was popular at the time. A really surprising and musical record which I think is one of the best things he did even if out of character. I would recommend to Bluesnik and maybe even Elmo.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

There's one track on this compilation... Lionel Hampton Paris All Stars -"All the things you are" which is indeed surprisingly good. Rene Urtreger ("Scaffold") on piano.

[Jazzrook]

John Lewis & Sacha Distel with Barney Wilen, Percy Heath & Kenny Clarke playing Milt Jackson’s ‘Bags’ Groove’ in Paris, December, 1956:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=9yufrYCYJNc

JR

[Serial_Apologist]

John Lewis & Sacha Distel with Barney Wilen, Percy Heath & Kenny Clarke playing Milt Jackson’s ‘Bags’ Groove’ in Paris, December, 1956:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=9yufrYCYJNc

JR

If I'd been with the record company, I'd have wanted to call that album Distelled Spirit... I'd have never got the job!

[Ian Thumwood]

The Lionel Hampton record is in 2nr volumes. I have one which has the definitive version of Crazy Rhythm on it. The band is a mixture of Hamp's big band with Benny Bailey on trumpet and local Parisian musicians including a drummer called Mac Kak or something similar. Very much mid fifties Cool albeit it was a late night, ad hoc session. For my money this is a brilliant record and on a par with his earlier work with Goodman. I love the feel of French jazz at that time. There are 4nr 10 min long tracks on the cd I have.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

The drummer was Jean Bapiste Reilles, stage name Mac Kac. He played with most names on the French jazz scene in a long career. . It's weird because his LP of "French Rock & Roll" in 1957 was recorded for Atlantic of all labels. It's actually appalling and also very funny in a way. Atlantic, who were at the time cutting Ray Charles, Joe Turner, The Drifters etc! There must be a story behind it.

[Jazzrook]

Don Byas with Idrees Sulieman, Bud Powell, Jimmy Woode & Joe Harris playing ‘All The Things You Are’ live in Koblenz, Germany, 1963 from the album ‘Americans in Europe’(Impulse!):

https://m.YouTube.com/watch?v=VKJuKryyHI4

JR

[Ian Thumwood]

I have just finished the book ' see that my grave is kept clean' which is about the world and music of Blind Lemon Jefferson , the blues musician and first Black superstar musician.

The first 3rd of the book concerns the rural region of Texas where he grew up but the book becomes fascinating when it moves on to look at the music business and how Lemon fitted in that context. I never knew that he was part of a duo with Leadbelly in the 1910s but this book is full of revelations about that time. I was interested that black music mogals like Mayo Williams disliked country blues and how the audience differed in rural regions where this music resonated.

The book becomes really compelling in the second chapter. There is a paucity of biographical information as not a lot is known about him and some of the myths about him are debunked in the book. The lyrics of his blues are explained although the free form nature of his guitar work is not really explored by proper musical analysis. However, there are some elements in this book regarding marketing techniques and advertising which was all née to me.

The book ends with a photographic essay from 2020 and 2022 which seems to underscore the social deprivation discussed in the text. I think that Bluesnik and jazzrook will love this book but I woukd also recommend to SA as the social element of Lemons life and his musical world is very nuanced. By all accounts, Jefferson became rich through his recording work and reputation as a live performed. His death is a snow storm in Chicago was tragic and a consequence of trying to find his way around an unfamiliar snowbound landscape in a blizzard.

Quite odd to think about the freedom of Lemons improvised lines in the light of Ornette Coleman 30 years later. Maybe not as big a gap as it seems ?

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

A curiousity or perhaps not, the first single by the white blues etc guitarist Nick Gravenites (Bloomfield, Electric Flag, Big Brother etc), "Whole lotta soul" from 1963. Gravenites himself has just died. It's interesting in that the horn section is Lester Bowie, Roscoe Mitchell and Julian Priester. Scotty Holt, bass (ex Jackie McLean), Steve Mcall drums.(Air etc). Cool sax break.

http://youtu.be/5gS1YDPqjU0?si=CtPjvWj9Qz7gnKR0

[Jazzrook]

I have just finished the book ' see that my grave is kept clean' which is about the world and music of Blind Lemon Jefferson , the blues musician and first Black superstar musician.

The first 3rd of the book concerns the rural region of Texas where he grew up but the book becomes fascinating when it moves on to look at the music business and how Lemon fitted in that context. I never knew that he was part of a duo with Leadbelly in the 1910s but this book is full of revelations about that time. I was interested that black music mogals like Mayo Williams disliked country blues and how the audience differed in rural regions where this music resonated.

The book becomes really compelling in the second chapter. There is a paucity of biographical information as not a lot is known about him and some of the myths about him are debunked in the book. The lyrics of his blues are explained although the free form nature of his guitar work is not really explored by proper musical analysis. However, there are some elements in this book regarding marketing techniques and advertising which was all née to me.

The book ends with a photographic essay from 2020 and 2022 which seems to underscore the social deprivation discussed in the text. I think that Bluesnik and jazzrook will love this book but I woukd also recommend to SA as the social element of Lemons life and his musical world is very nuanced. By all accounts, Jefferson became rich through his recording work and reputation as a live performed. His death is a snow storm in Chicago was tragic and a consequence of trying to find his way around an unfamiliar snowbound landscape in a blizzard.

Quite odd to think about the freedom of Lemons improvised lines in the light of Ornette Coleman 30 years later. Maybe not as big a gap as it seems ?

Thanks, Ian - will try to track down a copy of the book.
Meanwhile here’s Bob Dylan’s powerful version of ‘See That My Grave Is Kept Clean’ from his debut album which I bought back in the early 1960s:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=KhiTnjNx1OI

Also, Lightnin’ Hopkins’ version:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=e89fwZ_090w

Finally, Diamanda Galas:

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=uUUZQknGaNE

JR