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Jazz Journey - the selection
posted Monday, 6 December 2004
Jazz Journey - Key Recordings
THE classic boogie-woogie record from the 30s (make allowances for the recording quality). The train figures heavily in early jazz and blues, being the major 'free' transport across the USA for itinerant workers and those escaping from the southern states as they bummed rides in the freight wagons. The pulse of this record echoes the train perfectly. And of course it is played brilliantly. The stuff we tried to copy on our front room pianos.
This is very early raw Dave Brubeck on piano with Paul Desmond's alto before the popular acclaim of such things as Take Five. First heard on AFN's Hot House and purchased in Germany during those National Service years. A very exciting sound in its day which still brings shivers to the spine.
A revolution. Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax and Chet Baker playing trumpet in almost classical counterpoint. They formed this pianoless quartet and produced a series of LPs which are 'tasteful' yet still swing like mad. The piano was (and still is) the anchor of jazz, feeding the chords for the soloists to improvise around. Removing this shackle released these musicians, who were sufficiently brilliant to soar free.
Classic modern jazz. Bebop. The sound so startling and innovative in its time but quickly absorbed into mainstream popular musical arrangement. Incidentally, in addition to Miles on trumpet, Gerry Mulligan takes a solo here also.
A great drummer leading a swinging band with élan. This arrangement typifies the 'transatlantic' sound reaching my East Ham bedroom through the static from AFN.
6 Peanut Vendor - Stan Kenton
The Central Park bandstand favourite. Stan Kenton was the "progressive jazz" trail blazer with a zeal for full blooded arrangements for his band of five trumpets, five trombones and five saxes; plus numerous percussionists. This was the one which made the grown-ups wince, so we enjoyed it all the more.
West Coast jazz. Shorty was a trumpet player and arranger for the Stan Kenton band. His Giants were a group consisting almost exclusively of Kenton sidemen, brought together for this studio session. The LP - Cool and Crazy - is jam packed with this swinging music which owes more than a passing debt to Count Basie, an idol of Rogers.
A composition/arrangement by Ralph Burns which contrasts with some of the more raucous big band numbers heard so far. Woody Herman's Herds (as his various bands were known) were swingers of the first order, but this piece emphasises the versatility of these top bands and arrangers. Visualise the colleges and dance halls of the forties and fifties and the shift of mood that this music would bring to the fans. Listen for the sweet sax solo from Stan Getz.
9 Four Brothers - Woody Herman
My favourite big band arrangement of all time. The same Herman band swinging with phenomenal ensemble and solo work by the saxophonists - the four brothers of the title. I have listened to this dozens of times and never cease to marvel at the virtuosity and invention distilled into the three minute time scale dictated by the 78 rpm format of the era.
Two for the price of one. The greatest jazz man (and trumpet) teamed with the greatest female jazz singer.
An off-beat choice. Included because it resonates with the atmosphere of the fifties (which is revealing itself to be my favourite musical era!) Vocalised jazz - as used by Ella on the previous choice - went with the bebop style. Singers would 'scat'. That is wordlessly improvise using the voice as an instrument. These three singers took it a stage further by putting words to famous jazzmen's solos. Here, using multi-tracking, they vocalise the complete arrangement of one of Count Basie's big band recordings. I concede that this is an acquired taste.
12 These Foolish Things - Thelonious Monk
An outrageous musical style and technique which at the time was dismissed as clumsy and inept (back in the fifties again!) but don't be fooled. Monk was an innovator; now accepted, acclaimed and imitated. Even by Harry Connick Jr!
Well, that's twelve records and still so much more to include. Perhaps I'll come back with part two - one of these days!
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