Requisites

At The Renaissance is one of the live recordings that captured Ben webster’s remarkable empathy during a time when the jazz flame was flickering in this country. The period was the late 1950s and early Sixties, the place – Los Angeles. Jobs were scarce and the jazz scene held a lack of recognition and appreciation for this giant of the tenor saxophone. With the help of a few sympathetic and inspirational colleagues, they delivered a project that has become a necessity to every collection.

Personnel: Ben Webster – tenor saxophone, Jimmy Rowles – piano, Jim Hall – guitar, Red Mitchell – bass, Frank Butler – drums

Record Date: Live at the Renaissance, Hollywood, CA – October 14, 1960

Producer: Lester Koenig

Songs: Gone With The Wind; Stardust; Caravan; Georgia On My Mind; Ole Miss Blues; Mop Mop; What Is This Thing Called Love; Renaissance Blues

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Jazz In Film

Pete Kelly’s Blues: This 1955 film was directed by and starred Jack Webb with co-stars Janet Leigh, Edmond O’Brien and Lee Marvin. In 1927 Kansas City Pete Kelly and his jazz band play nightly at a speakeasy. A local gangster starts to move in on them and when their drummer is killed Kelly gives in, even though this also means taking the thug’s alcoholic girl as a singer. Kelly soon realizes he has made a big mistake selling out in this way and that rich girl Ivy is now the only decent thing in his life.

The film included roles portrayed by jazz legends Peggy Lee as Rose Hopkins, Ella Fitzgerald as Maggie Jackson and Herb Ellis as Bedido. Pianist Don Abney, bassist Joe Mondragon and drummer Larry Bunker back the vocalists.

Matty Matlock who also sits in the clarinet chair also did the jazz arrangements. The band was comprised of Teddy Buckner on cornet, George Van Epps and Moe Schneider on trombone, Eddie Miller on tenor saxophone, Ray Sherman, piano; Jud de Naut, bass; Nick Fatool on drums, and trumpeters Joe Venuti, Thomas Jefferson, Harper Goff, Perry Bodkin and Dick Cathcart, with the latter dubbing the for Jack Webb.

Musical Numbers: Pete Kelly’s Blues, Sing Me A Rainbow, He Needs ME, Oh Didn’t He Ramble, I Never Knew, Hard-Hearted Hannah, Sugar, Bye Bye Blackbird and Somebody Loves Me.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Dave Wecklwas born January 8, 1960 in St. Charles, Missouri and attended Francis Howell High School playing drums and majored in jazz studies at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. After graduating he hit New York City’s fusion scene and soon found himself working with artists such as Paul Simon, Madonna, George Benson, Michel Camilo, Robert Plant and Anthony Jackson.

Weckl’s popularity rose when he spent a total of seven years with Corea from 1985 to ’91 as a member of his Elektric Band and his Akoustic Band. During this period he worked as a session player, appeared with the GRP All-Star Big Band, recorded four albums with the Manhattan Jazz Quintet.

After leaving Corea’s band, Weckl recorded and toured with guitarist Mike Stern and under his own name, he has been the leader of ten recordings since 1990, seven of which as the Dave Weckl Band. Dave has also released a series of instructional videotapes, but around 1996, his style and setup radically changed, in large part because of his studies with Freddie Gruber. He continues to perform, record and tour.

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Requisites

Kenny Drew Trio was his first recording as a leader in 1956. What should have launched him to stardom left him traveling far to find acceptance from America. Fittingly the excellence of the record was recognized in Japan after its release in the early Seventies, winning critical acclaim and becoming a best seller.

Personnel: Kenny Drew – piano, Paul Chambers – bass, Philly Joe Jones – drums

Record Date: New York City – September 20 & 26, 1956

Producers: Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer

Cover Photo: Roy De Carava

Songs: Caravan; Come Rain Or Come Shine; Ruby, My Dear; Weird-O; Taking A Chance On Love; When You Wish Upon A Star; Blues For Nica; It’s Only A Paper Moon

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