Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Karin Plato was born on March 31, 1960 in Alsask, Saskatchewan, Canada. As a small child she studied piano and later attended the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, where she received a Bachelor Of Music Degree in Piano and Voice.

Moving to Vancouver, Canada in 1985 she studied vocal jazz and arranging at Capilano College, and has made the city her base ever since. In the late 90s, she studied with Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton at the Banff Centre For The Arts. In 2000, her album There’s Beauty In The Rain was nominated for a Juno Award.

She has performed at numerous festivals and in 2000, she became a member of DIVAS For Life, which came about when the Vancouver-based magazine, Lifestyles, profiled six female vocalists: Plato, Laura Crema, Dee Daniels, Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Stevie Vallance and Tammy Weis. Established to help raise money for people living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Their debut concert was a huge success and the singers appeared collectively and individually at a series of SOR engagements,

Vocalist Karin Plato continues to use her contralto to deliver elegant performances of standards and original material.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Jørgen Emborg was born in Copenhagen, Denmark on March 29, 1953 and was influenced by Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and Keith Jarrett.

He has played at international festivals since 1975, releasing his first album, Sargasso in 1979 on the Kong Pære label. In the following years he belonged to Six Winds with Marilyn Mazur, Uffe Markussen and Alex Riel and formed with Palle Mikkelborg, Bjarne Roupé, Bo Stief and Ole Theill the ensemble Alpha Centauri.

By1986 he recorded with Bjarne Rostvold and through the Nineties he performed and/or recorded with Thomas Hass and Tomas Franck. Emborg teamed up with Alex Riel again and recorded Over The Rainbow on the Storyville label, with the saxophonist Fredrik Lundin, the bassist Steve Swallow. He played in the Tolvan Big Band and the Per Carsten Quintet.

Jørgen has also composed music for children, rhythmic choir music, big band, a cappella work, ironworks and piano quizzes. He taught piano, theory and composition at the Rytmisk Conservatory of Music from 1988 to 2016.

In 1981, his LP en 20:33 with Alpha Centauri received an award from Statens Kunstfond, the State Art Foundation. He received the Ben Webster Prize with the Frontline Fusion Group as well as others.

Pianist and composer Jørgen Emborg, who ensures there is a Nordic feel to his compositions, continues to perform and compose.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Gerry Hemingway was born March 23, 1955 in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from Foote School in New Haven and studied under Alan Dawson. In 2000 he received a Guggenheim Fellowship for his work in music composition.

He was a member of the Anthony Braxton quartet from 1983 to 1994. He has also performed with Ernst Reijseger, Anthony Davis, Earl Howard, Leo Smith, George E. Lewis, Ray Anderson, Mark Helias, Reggie Workman, Michael Moore, Oliver Lake, Marilyn Crispell, Christy Doran, John Wolf Brennan, Don Byron, Cecil Taylor, and Cuong Vu.

He has recorded on over one hundred albums for the labels Clean Feed, Enja, hatArt, Palmetto, Random Acoustics, and Tzadik. Avant~garde drummer and composer Gerry Hemingway, who  owns his own record label Auricle,continues to pursue his musical endeavors.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Christopher Brubeck was born on March 19, 1952 in Los Angeles, California to pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. By the age of twenty he was joining his father and brothers Darius and Daniel in The New Brubeck Quartet.

Having toured for about 30 years in a group called Triple Play, he joined with guitarist Joel Brown and singer and harmonica virtuoso Peter Madcat Ruth, and swung jazz Louisiana style. He was a member of New Heavenly Blue, Chris also participated and recorded as a keyboardist/trombonist/guitarist in 1970’s Educated Homegrown.

In 1999, Chris and his brother Daniel joined with other musicians to form The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, having previously partnered with Andy LaVerne and released a 1972 album, The Brubeck-LaVerne Trio. He has performed with Mike DeMicco and Chuck Lamb.

In 2003, Chris played his first Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra with the Czech national Symphony Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic. A year later, he composed his own concerto titled, The Prague Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra. Many of his classical compositions still contain strong hints of the jazz influence of his father.

Grammy nominated electric bassist, bass trombonist and pianist Chris Brubeck continues to pursue his musical explorations.

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Requisites

The Happy Blues ~ Gene Ammons | By Eddie Carter

A few nights ago, I was in the mood to hear something bluesy while reading and that’s what prompted this morning’s discussion. I looked through the library and came across one of my favorite albums by tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons. It was originally released as Hi-Fidelity Jam Session (1956) but was reissued a few years later as The Happy Blues (Prestige PR 7039). Ammons is supported on this date by an all-star sextet, Art Farmer on trumpet, Jackie McLean on alto sax, Duke Jordan on piano, Addison Farmer (Art’s twin brother) on bass, Arthur Taylor on drums, and Candido on conga. My copy used in this report is the 1982 US Original Jazz Classics Mono reissue (Prestige OJC-013 – P-7039).

Side One starts with a perfect song for the weekend, The Happy Blues by Art Farmer. Duke opens with a friendly introduction preceding the ensemble’s strut through the melody collectively. Jackie sets the stage with a carefree walk on the opening solo. Art continues making some beautiful music on the second statement, followed by Gene’s stellar contribution aided by Farmer and McLean. Duke provides a good deal of inspiration next, then all three horns engage in a three-way conversation ahead of the ending. The Great Lie by Cab Calloway and Andy Gibson takes the beat to a lively pace on the septet’s swinging melody. Art takes the lead this time and delivers a brisk performance. Jackie and Gene set off some fireworks on the next two solos, then Jordan swings into view on a short statement and Candido takes an impressive reading before the close.

Side Two opens with a show tune from the musical revue, The Little Show (1929) by Paul James and Kay Swift, Can’t We Be Friends? Duke and the rhythm section begin the introduction, then Gene takes the first of two relaxing strolls on the opening chorus and first solo. Art delivers an impeccable laid-back muted performance next. Jackie comes in next with a cleverly executed statement. Duke drives the next interpretation with considerable warmth, then Gene returns for some tuneful blowing. Addison adds a concise comment during the out-chorus. The septet closes with a ferocious trip to Jackie McLean’s Madhouse, flying out of the gate on the fiery theme. The front line chases each other at breathtaking speed on the first of two exchanges. Jackie, Art, Gene, and Duke take one chorus each, then the horns end this vigorous exercise in quick succession ahead of a robust climax.

The Happy Blues was supervised by Bob Weinstock, and Rudy Van Gelder was the man behind the dials. This Prestige Original Jazz Classics reissue has quiet vinyl without any clicks or pops, and an excellent soundstage placing your sweet spot with the musicians surrounding you in your listening room. The Happy Blues is one of the superb albums in Gene Ammons’ extensive discography. If you’re a fan of Hard-Bop, I hope you’ll seek it out on your next vinyl hunt. It’s forty minutes of great music and performances that I not only recommend but is sure to be a welcome addition in your library and on your turntable!

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