The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

It is up to you to protect yourself, your family, your friends against the Covid variants.

This week’s selection is taking us Up the Street, ‘Round the Corner, Down the Block to listen to a 1974 album by guitarist Kenny Burrell. He recorded tracks 2 & 4 in January 1974 at the Village Recorders in Los Angeles, California and tracks 1, 3, 5 & 6 at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California in February. It was released later that same year on the Fantasy Records label.

There were two recording supervisors: Orrin Keepnews on tracks 2, 4, and Sam Russell on tracks 1, 3, 5, 6. The recording engineer was Bob Brown on tracks 2, 4, and Eddie Harris on tracks 1, 3, 5, 6. The remix engineer duties were also performed by Eddie Harris. The lacquer cut was by David Turner. The photography and design was done by Tony Lane,

Track List | 37:44 All compositions by Kenny Burrell except as indicated

1. Up the Street, ‘Round the Corner, Down the Block (Onaje Allan Gumbs) ~ 7:18
2. Afro Blue (Mongo Santamaría) ~ 5:40
3. Sausalito Nights ~ 7:15
4. Juice (Gumbs) ~ 5:40
5. A Little Walking Music ~ 3:18
6. Soulero (Richard Evans) ~ 9:13

• Kenny Burrell ~ guitar, whistling (track 5)
• Jerome Richardson ~ flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
• Richard Wyands ~ piano, electric piano
• Andy Simpkins ~ bass
• Lenny McBrowne ~ drums
• Mayuto Correa ~ percussion

More Posts: adventure,album,club,festival,genius,guitar,jazz,museum,music,preserving,restaurant,travel

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Adam Shulman was born on August 1, 1979 in San Francisco, California. Taking what he learned studying piano during his formative years, he headed to Santa Cruz he matriculated through the University of California with a degree in classical performance. While at UCSC he studied jazz piano with Smith Dobson.

Returning home he became a staple on the city’s jazz scene, leaning towards and playing in the bop genre. Adam has been seen working with countless bay area musicians and vocalists such as Marcus Shelby, Anton Schwartz, Ed Reed and Kellye Gray among many others. Beyond the locals he has played and/or recorded with Stefon Harrism Willie Jones III, Dayna Stephens, Mark Murphy, Alan Harris, Luciana Souza, Sean Jones, Grant Stewart and John Clayton to name a few.

A consummate sideman, Adam is a composer and arranger. He has done much of the arranging for the jazz and cabaret singer Paula West and has released four albums of original music as a leader and continues to perform, arrange and compose.

More Posts: arranger,bandleader,composer,history,instrumental,jazz,music,piano

The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Closing out the final week of the month is The Swing Machine. It’s another offering from the continent that this Jazz Voyager has discovered not in his collection but one that requires sharing.The title really says it all so aptly named by tenor saxophonist Gérard Badini in preparation for a good time!

The album was recorded May 30, 1975 at the Hoche Studio in Paris, France and was produced by Jacques Lubin. The recording engineer was Gerhard Lehner, the liner notes were written by Alexandre Rado, and the photography by Christian Rose.

1. It Don’t Mean A Thing (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) ~
2. Let’s Do It (Cole Porter) ~
3. Sam Woodyard Is Back In Town (Gérard Badini) ~
4. Cute (Neal Hefti)
5. Asphodèle (Raymon Fol) ~
6. Stomp, Lok And Listen ( Duke Ellington) ~

• Michel Gaudry ~ Double Bass
• Drums – Sam Woodyard ~ Drums
• Raymond Fol ~ Piano, Celesta
• Gérard Badini ~ Tenor Saxophone

More Posts: adventure,album,club,genius,jazz,museum,music,preserving,restaurant,saxophone,travel

Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Julia Feldman was born on June 22, 1979 in Samara, Soviet Union to Israeli parents and into a family with a large musical background; her father wa ajeweler who played jazz piano, and a grandfather who was an accomplished conductor and a leader of the city philharmonic orchestra. Classically trained by studying the piano from the age of 5 until the family’s immigration to Israel in 1990 where she continued her piano studies along with jazz improvisation at the High School Of Arts in Jerusalem.

Becoming interested in jazz singing in the last year of her high school studies Feldman began studying voice technique and jazz improvisation along with intensive studies of jazz with the saxophonist Arnie Lawrence at the International Music Center of Jerusalem. While there she studied and performed with known American jazz musicians, such as Evelyn Blakey, Larry Goldings, Armen Donelian, Bob Meyer, Sheila Jordan, Judi Silvano and composer Allen Gershwin, performing the latter’s Walk In The Wilderness.

The late Nineties had her continuing her education and performing with a host of musicians. She has put together her self-titled ensemble and quartet with the former releasing a tribute album in 2006 Words Are Worlds inspired and featuring many standards by Billie Holiday. Other projects she has worked on as a vocalist have delved her into progressive rock Musicca Ficta,  vocalist in Radical Shlomo, as pianist, vocalist, co-composer and co-lyricist in Ayulyul and collaboration with ethno-core Jerusalem band Shoom.

Vocalist, composer and educator Julia Feldman, whose singing combines elements of multiple jazz genres, free improvisation and modern classical music, continues to explore, perform and record.

More Posts: bandleader,composer,educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music,vocal

Requisites

Eastern Rebellion ~ Cedar Walton, George Coleman, Sam Jones, Billy Higgins | By Eddie Carter

This morning’s subject submitted for your examination was released in 1976 by a quartet who had been playing together for a year before recording their first collaborative album. Eastern Rebellion (Timeless Records SJP 101) is the record that launched the Netherlands label, and also marked the first-time pianist Cedar Walton doubled as a producer. The group is a first-rate ensemble featuring George Coleman on tenor sax, Sam Jones on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. 2021 marked the 45^th Anniversary of its debut, so to commemorate this event, Music on Vinyl launched the Timeless Jazz 45^th Anniversary Series. My copy used in this report is their 2022 European Stereo Audiophile reissue (Music on Vinyl MOVLP2950).

The album opener, Bolivia by Cedar Walton begins with the trio’s infectious introduction that gets the listener’s foot moving immediately, setting up the quartet’s spirited theme with Coleman leading the charge. George is up first, taking no prisoners with a heated performance. Cedar tackles the second interpretation exuberantly. Sam keeps it going with a joyful finale preceding the quartet’s conclusion. Naima by John Coltrane starts with a sparkling example of sensitivity and delicacy by Walton that shifts upward for Coleman’s melody. The saxophonist leads off with a radiantly beautiful presentation, followed by Walton who answers with a tenderly passionate interpretation leading to the group’s gorgeous finale.

5/4 Thing by George Coleman starts Side Two with the tenor’s warm introduction that softly evolves to the quartet’s collective melody. George takes the lead and dazzles on the opening statement, then Cedar excels with meticulous strokes on the second solo. Billy wraps up everything in splendid style before Coleman takes the group gently out. Bittersweet by Sam Jones offers everyone solo space and is anything but. Jones begins this cheery, uptempo tune with an enthusiastic exercise. Coleman keeps the tension up with an energetic reading that bounces off the rhythm section effectively. Walton gets a good thing going in the next performance and Higgins provides a perfect summation culminating with the theme’s reprise and an abrupt stop.

Cedar Walton’s Mode For Joe is dedicated to Joe Henderson and was the title tune of the saxophonist’s 1966 album which Cedar played on as well. The quartet begins the melody, then Cedar shines like a beacon on the opening statement. Billy gives a delightful solo next, followed by George who moves with agility. Jones’ bass is the exclamation point before the quartet’s lively exit. Elvin Campbell was the recording engineer for Eastern Rebellion. This audiophile reissue was pressed on 180-gram silver vinyl and is incredibly quiet until the music begins. It’s also an excellent-sounding album that fills your listening room with superb definition. If you’re in the mood for swinging jazz and tight musicianship, I invite you to check out Eastern Rebellion, the next time you go vinyl shopping. It’s an engaging set by Cedar Walton, George Coleman, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins that’s worth every penny for a spot in your library!

~ Mode For Joe (Blue Note BLP 4227/BST 84227) – Source: Discogs.com © 2022 by Edward Thomas Carter

More Posts: choice,classic,collectible,collector,history,instrumental,jazz,music,piano