Sclavish French jazz, not to bin, and a pew for Hugh

[Serial_Apologist]

Sat 24 Feb
4pm Jazz Record Requests
Alyn Shipton showcases listener requests, today with recordings by celebrated South African trumpeter, band leader and composer Hugh Masekela, who died in January aged 78.

http://www.alynshipton.co.uk/blog

5pm Jazz Line-Up
Julian Joseph introduces Irish vocalist Christine Tobin in a session recorded at the BBC's Maida Vale Studios. She performs her musical setting of the poems of Paul Muldoon. She's accompanied by cellist and vocalist Kate Shortt, violinist Richard Jones, flautist Gareth Lockrane, pianist Steve Hamilton, guitarists Phil Robson and Dave Whitford, and Simon Lea on drums.

My guessing is that Mr Whitford will be on bass, not guitar, Mr Tobin's (aka Robson)'s speciality, or specialty, as they say where Christine and Phil now reside . Nice cuddly picture there of Ms Tobin being dwarfed by the vast mass of Mr Joseph!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09sqqcz

12midnight Geoffrey Smith's Jazz
A godfather of modern jazz, drummer Art Blakey (1919-90), together with his Jazz Messengers, launched the careers of a galaxy of stars, from Horace Silver to Wynton Marsalis. Geoffrey Smith plays Blakey hits including the 1958 recordings Moanin' and Blues March.

This is a repeat.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039bd1n

Mon 26 Feb
Jazz Now
Soweto Kinch presents French jazz clarinettist Louis Sclavis in concert with his band - Dominique Pifarely on violin, Christophe Lavergne on drums, and Sarah Murcia on piano - recorded last June at Festival Jazzdor Berlin.

Some may remember Monsieur Pifarely on Mike Westbrook's "On Duke's Birthday" of 1984. Is Sclavis France's equivalent of John Surman? Answers on an EU passport.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09sqvc4

Get your copy of Coltrane's "Ascension" out - it could come in useful for those cold nights next week!

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

This weekend I will be playing "Russian Lullaby" by Coltrane and Red Garland (to assuage the freezing Russian winds), and next week, Archie Shepp's "Fire Music". I may play Sonny Boy Williamson's "Nine below zero" if it gets really bad then Ella's "Steam Heat" as the boiler bursts. But probably not.

BN.

Serious point, I see Quincy Jones is talking about launching a kind of jazz Netflix later this year with a mass of archive and current jazz material/footage from all over. Form a Q.

[greenilex]

Please avoid boiler jokes - far too serious a subject in my house. But I do have the option of a wood fire in an open fireplace.

[burning dog]

[Serial_Apologist]

Please avoid boiler jokes - far too serious a subject in my house. But I do have the option of a wood fire in an open fireplace.

I'm always getting into hot water these days!

[Serial_Apologist]

Ah, Julian has just announced Oli Hayhurst as on the bass in Ms Tobin's line-up - a very fine bass player, much in demand. She is not to everyone's taste here, but I must say I do find Ms Tobin's voice to be strongly affecting, and she has an interesting "take" on what kinds of lyrics a jazz singer should be working on.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

JRR, keep getting reminded what a great guitarist Teddy Bunn was, wonderful tone and fluidity. And the Tommy Whittle "You've Changed". I've got this on an old C90 (what else) and I've always assumed it's a track from a BBC radio broadcast. Was the album licenced from BBC sessions or is this a different studio remake?

BN.

[Serial_Apologist]

JRR, keep getting reminded what a great guitarist Teddy Bunn was, wonderful tone and fluidity. And the Tommy Whittle "You've Changed". I've got this on an old C90 (what else) and I've always assumed it's a track from a BBC radio broadcast. Was the album licenced from BBC sessions or is this a different studio remake?

BN.

I thought I could help, but my collection of papers only goes back as far to 1978!

They could probably find out for you at the National Jazz Archive, but they'd need some time to trawl through their very comprehensive records.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

I've deliberately kept that track, and also Danny Moss playing "Weaver of Dreams" on a tape for a very long time, in Whittle's case since 1977. Both as really good examples of British tenor players, "mainstream or not", of that era operating a class level. I'd assumed they were BBC recordings but as I made a habit of chopping all presenter introductions (no idea now why, "hipness"? ) I've no idea.

But a fine track.

And as Alyn said, Rolf Ericson on the Kenton "Willow" was also choice.

BN

[burning dog]

Great to hear the Tommy Whittle track, my Dad, who's in hospital, mentioned it when I visited. He remembers him from way back and "much later on" (!) heard him play in a tenor battle with Tubby Hayes, not the recorded gig - early days of the Hopbine.

I attended the Hopbine but after Tubby's time

[Alyn_Shipton]

As far as I can tell the Tommy Whittle track was a commercial recording, on the Alamo label and done at Morgan Studios, produced by Monty Babson. I'm not aware of it being a BBC recording, and the details are thus:
Artist Tommy Whittle
Title You’ve Changed
Composer Carey / Fischer
Album Jigsaw
Label Alamo
Number AJ 4501
Duration 6.46
Performers: Tommy Whittle, ts; John Horler, p; Lennie Bush, b; Bobby Orr, d. 1977


I presented the Jazz Notes session with Tommy in November 1999. Lovely bloke to chat to.

[Quarky]

Lots to treasure in JRR and JLU yesterday. Christine Tobin absolutely brilliant. I prefer Hugh Masekela in African mode, I don't find his NY jazz so interesting. Wayne and Sam Rivers...

Not wishing to take issue with the Boss, Jazz for me to be of interest must have currency, and relevance in the present day. Some jazz, particularly at the pop end, quickly becomes very dated and best regarded as of historical interest only - Geraldo being the prime example last night.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Thanks Alyn re Tommy Whittle. I think my confusion must stem from the fact there was a BBC based recording in 1977, although not with "You've Changed".

JAM RECORDS LP "Why Not"

Artists:

Tommy Whittle (ts) Tony Lee (p) Martin Drew (d) Tony Archer (b) recorded at BBC Studios, London, England, 1977, engineer Robin Sedgeley.

The London Jazz Record Collector site refers to this (amusingly?) as the LP with a cover shot of the "worst dressed British saxophone player". But as Tommy's only crime that I can see is wearing a rather loudly patterned big collar shirt of 70s style, I find him innocent. I can recall others losing the shirt plot a la Stan Getz.

There's also wonderful film of YouTube of Freddie Hubbard almost getting lost in his huge shirt collar which was about to take off and cause a hazard to local airlines. Whatever happened to button down cool.

BN.

[burning dog]

.

The London Jazz Record Collector site refers to this (amusingly?) as the LP with a cover shot of the "worst dressed British saxophone player". But as Tommy's only crime that I can see is wearing a rather loudly patterned big collar shirt of 70s style, I find him innocent. I can recall others losing the shirt plot a la Stan Getz.


BN.

The Hayes Big Band of 69' showed that some British Jazzers were ahead of their time in dodgy fashion. Peter King looks suitably hipster-ish (see "Johnny Butts") but the others not so "cool".

Joe Henderson influence from Hayes in this era? - think he confirmed it in a interview.**

PS

** it was actually Spike Wells who confirmed the Henderson influence

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Yes, I think Alun (Alan?) Morgan said there was a time when you would always bump into Tubby clutching the latest Joe Henderson Bluenote import LP, and shouting "You've gotta hear this!" A huge fan.

As was Ronnie Scott who I think used some of Joe's tunes and arrangements for his "advanced" band with Surman, Oxley etc. Which also backed Scott Walker.

BN.