Requisites

Stablemates ~ Jon Eardley and Al Haig | By Eddie Carter

You really know your godchildren truly care and love you when they surprise you for your birthday with an album by two artists whose music you’re aware of, yet whose records have never found a place in your library. This morning’s spotlight shines on flugelhorn and trumpet player Jon Eardley, who was passing through London on a brief 1977 tour and pianist Al Haig, who was in town to visit friends. The two musicians seized the moment to head into the studio to record their only album together, Stablemates (Spotlite Records SPJ LP11). It was released two years later, and rounding out the ensemble are Art Themen on tenor sax, Daryl Runswick on bass, and Alan Ganley on drums. My copy of this album is the 1979 U.K. stereo release.

The first side opener, Tangerine by Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger, begins with Al’s upbeat piano intro to Jon’s lively melody. Art kicks off the opening solo briskly, then Al flows smoothly into the following reading. Jon entersnext with a strong, assertive tone. Art and Jon share a final conversation leading back to the theme’s reprise and close. Speak Low by Ogden Nash and Kurt Weill raises the temperature with the quintet’s swinging melody. Themen opens the solos with an inspired improvisation that sets the tone. Eardley follows with plenty of bounce and effervescence on the second statement. Themen is off to the races next with impeccable precision, then Runswick and Ganley engage in a spirited exchange until the theme’s restatement fades out.

‘Round Midnight by Bernie Hanighen, Thelonious Monk and Cootie Williams is a quartet showcase that opens with Al and Daryl’s pensive introduction ahead of Jon’s tender melody. Al begins the opening solo with dreamlike softness, then the pace moves upward slightly for Jon’s elegant interpretation before the ensemble’s gentle ending. The second side gets underway with the pianist’s soothing introduction to Embraceable You by George and Ira Gershwin. Eardley states the gentle melody with Themen. In the first solo, Haig offers a tender, thoughtful statement with a soft touch of elegant beauty. Eardley truly shines in the closing reading with notes so deeply heartfelt that it’s bound to move you to tears, leading to Themen’s closing chorus and a gentle climax.

Don’t Blame Me by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh receives a gorgeous treatment by the quintet, beginning with Jon’s slow-paced theme that radiates inviting warmth, and Art’s perfectly placed inserts. Al leads off, skillfully blending composure and gentleness, before Art continues this lovely standard with a solo that truly touches the spirit. Jon delivers an exquisitely soft, poignant horn passage preceding the theme’s return. The beat moves upward on final time for Eardley’s theme to Love Walked In by George and Ira Gershwin. Themen opens the solos with an energetic drive, then Haig contributes a robust interpretation. Eardley matches the intensity with swift execution, and Ganley and Runswick meet on common ground in the closer, leading to the theme’s reprise and climax.

Tony Williams produced the album, and Steve Waldman served as the recording engineer. It delivers an exceptional soundstage, as though the ensemble is performing live in your listening room. The mix is impressively balanced, offering remarkable clarity and fidelity from your speakers. Stablemates is one of six albums Jon Eardley led as a leader, and he contributed as a sideman on ten additional records. Al Haig, meanwhile, led twenty-five albums and played as a sideman on eight more. If you haven’t yet experienced the artistry of Jon Eardley or Al Haig, I highly encourage you to seek out Stablemates on your next search for great jazz records. This outstanding album invites fresh appreciation with each play and remains as relevant today as it was over forty years ago!

~ Don’t Blame Me, Embraceable You, Love Walked In, ‘Round Midnight, Speak Low, Tangerine – Source: JazzStandards.com

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