The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

It’s a new year and it’s been ten months since the quarantine and social distancing has been instituted. Some of us, unfortunately, are still not fully adapting to life with the virus, desiring their comfort zone to be as it was before the pandemic. For those of us who have taken this life interruption to no longer be an inconvenience, we relax and find new engagements for our senses.

With that in mind, this week I’ve selected the classic studio album Time Out by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. Recorded at Columbia’s 30th Street Studio in New York City on June 25, July 1, and August 18, 1959, it was released on December 14, 1959 on Columbia Records. It is based upon the use of time signatures that were unusual for jazz and is a subtle blend of cool and West Coast jazz.

The producer on the album was Teo Macero, and Fred Plaut engineered the sessions. S. Neil Fujita had the responsibility for creating the cover artwork, and Seth Rothstein was the project director.

The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard pop albums chart, and was the first jazz album to sell a million copies. The single Take Five off the album was also the first jazz single to sell one million copies. By 1963, the record had sold 500,000 units, and in 2011 it was certified double platinum by the RIAA, signifying over two million records sold. The album was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009.

Columbia president Goddard Lieberson took a chance to underwrite and release the album. Although it received negative reviews from critics upon its release, it became a popular recording by fans globally. In 2005, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry. It was also listed in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. In 2009 the album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Track List | 38:30

All pieces composed by Dave Brubeck, except Take Five by Paul Desmond.

1. Blue Rondo à la Turk ~ 6:44
2. Strange Meadow Lark ~ 7:22
3. Take Five ~ 5:24

1. Three to Get Ready ~ 5:24
2. Kathy’s Waltz ~ 4:48
3. Everybody’s Jumpin’ ~ 4:23
4. Pick Up Sticks ~ 4:16

• Dave Brubeck – piano
• Paul Desmond – alto saxophone
• Eugene Wright – bass
• Joe Morello – drums

As you all know, the moment the world becomes safe and opens back up for Americans to travel, I will be back jet setting around the globe. In the meantime, stay vigilant, wear masks and remain healthy.

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Ella and Louis is a 1956 studio album by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, accompanied by the Oscar Peterson Quartet, This was the first of three albums that they were to record together for Verve Records, later followed by 1957’s Ella and Louis Again and 1959’s Porgy and Bess. All three were released as The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong on Verve.

Norman Granz, the founder of the Verve label, selected eleven ballads for the duo, mainly played in a slow or moderate tempo. Recording began August 16, 1956, at the new, and now iconic, Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California. Though Granz produced the album, Armstrong was given final say over songs and keys. Val Valentin was the session engineer and the photography was taken by Phil Stern.

Tracklist

Side One

1. Can’t We Be Friends? (Paul James, Kay Swift) ~ 3:47
2. Isn’t This A Lovely Day? (Irving Berlin) ~ 6:16
3. Moonlight In Vermont (John Blackburn/Karl Suessdorf) ~ 3:42
4. They Can’t Take That Away From Me (George & Ira Gerrshwin) ! 4:39
5. Under A Blanket Of Blue (Jerry Livingston/Al J. Neiburg/Marty Symes) ~ 4:18
6. Tenderly(Walter Gross/Jack Lawrence) ~ 5:10

1. A Foggy Day (George & Ira Gershwin) ~ 4:32
2. Stars Fell On Alabama (Mitchelll Parish/Frank Perkins) ~ 3:34
3. Cheek To Cheek (Irving Berlin) ~ 5:53
4. The Nearness Of You (Hoagy Carmichael/Ned Washington) ~ 5:42
5. April In Paris (Vernon Duke/Yip Harburg) ~ 6:33

• Ella Fitzgerald – vocals
• Louis Armstrong – vocals, trumpet
• Oscar Peterson – piano
• Herb Ellis – guitar
• Ray Brown – bass
• Buddy Rich – drums

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

October 6, 1992 was the Fantasy reissued compact disc release date of the original Prestige/Moodsville Records is my next exploration into one of the world’s great bop, cool jazz, and soul-jazz tenor saxophonists to keep me company during this pandemic. The Gene Ammons Story: Gentle Jug is a compilation reissue of sixteen songs recorded on two separate dates. A master at interpreting ballads, Gene Ammons presents lyrical music that is quite enjoyable.

The album was produced and original photography taken by Esmond Edwards, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, and the art direction was contributed by Phil Carroll. The reissue producer and writer of the liner notes was Bob Porter and the album was remastered by Phil De Lancie.

A compilation of two previously released albums, 1961’s Nice an’ Cool” (1 to 8) recorded on January 26, 1961, and 1962’s The Soulful Mood of Gene Ammons (9 to 16) recorded April 14, 1962. Tracks 1 to 8, originally issued on Prestige / Moodsville 18 as Gene Ammons – Nice An’ Cool Tracks 9 to 16, originally issued on Prestige / Moodsville 28 as Gene Ammons – The Soulful Moods Of Gene Ammons.

Tracklist

Nice An’ Cool

1. Till There Was You (Meredith Wilson ~ 7:08
2. Answer Me, My Love (Rauch, Winkler) ~ 4:35
3. Willow Weep For Me (Ann Ronell) ~ 4:00
4. Little Girl Blue (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart) ~ 4:55
5. Something I Dreamed Last Night (Magidson, Yellen, Fain) ~ 7:41
6. Something Wonderful (Riodgers, Hammerstein) ~ 3:03
7. I Remember You (Mercer, Schertzinger) ~ 4:21
8. Someone To Watch Over Me (Gershwin, Gershwin) ~ 3:48

1. Two Different Worlds (Frisch, Wayne) ~ 4:53
2. But Beautiful (Burke, Van Heusen) ~ 4:27
3. Skylark (Carmichael, Mercer) ~ 6:19
4. Three Little Words (Kalmar, Ruby) ~ 3:49
5. On The Street Of Dreams (Lewis, Young) ~ 3:09
6. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home (Cole Porter) ~ 4:17
7. Under A Blanket Of Blue (Neiburg, Livington, Symes) ~ 5:12
8. I’m Glad There’s You (Dorsey, Mertz) ~ 6:02

• Gene Ammons ~ Tenor Saxophone
• Patti Bown (tracks: 9 to 16) | Richard Wyands (tracks: 1 to 8) ~ Piano
• Doug Watkins (tracks: 1 to 8) | George Duvivier (tracks: 9 to 16) ~ Bass
• Ed Shaughnessy (tracks: 9 to 16) | J.C. Heard (tracks: 1 to 8) ~ Drums

When the curtain goes up and the pandemic is controlled I will return to flying around the globe discovering the best of jazz. Until that time arrives stay safe and healthy.

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

The continual disregard of the health and safety of others during this medical state of our country by certain factions who want the recently removed days of old by contributing new surges in Covid cases, gives me added incentive to remain sequestered and listening to great music. This week I am turning to a resident of Cannes, France and pulling from the shelves the March 12, 1991 released album Rooms In My Fatha’s House by Vinx.

To claim him as a vocalist would be an injustice, Vinx owns the songs on this debut release, where up is the only way he can go. His unique, interpretive phrasing and melodic presentation expresses so much more that I was taken from the first note of his voice, which is why I have enjoyed this over the years and recommend it for your listening pleasure.

The session was produced by Greg Poree, John Eden, Sting, and by Vinx on track 2. It was released on the Pangea record label and distributed by Capitol Records-EMI Of Canada.

1. Tell My Feet ~ 4:44
2. I Should Have Told Her ~ 3:41
3. My TV ~ 4:19
4. While The City Sleeps ~ 4:46
5. I’ll Give My All To You ~ 4:23
6. Captain’s Song ~ 4:32
7. Somehow Did You Know ~ 4:44
8. Little Queen ~ 3:44
9. Temporary Love ~ 4:07
10. Porch Light ~ 6:02
11. Don’t Got to Be That Way ~ 5:16
12. A Little Bit More ~ 6:24

• Sting ~ Bass, Backing Vocals
• Herbie Hancock ~  Piano
• Sheryl Crow ~ Vocal, Guitar
• Taj Mahal ~  Guitar, Vocal
• Branford Marsalis ~ Saxophone

When the curtain goes up and the pandemic is controlled I will return to flying around the globe discovering the best of jazz. Until that time arrives, stay safe and healthy.

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Maintaining my social distancing, wearing my mask when I have to go grocery shopping or to my doctor’s office, I remain in quarantine. Pulling down off the shelves is an August 30, 1960 recording titled South Side Soul. It is the debut album by jazz pianist John Wright which was released in 1960 on the Prestige label. The supervising producer on this swinging soulful hard bop date was Esmond Edwards and engineering the session recorded at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey was Rudy Van Gelder.

TRACKS | 36:06

1. South Side Soul (Esmond Edwards) ~ 5:02
2. 47th and Calumet (John Wright) ~ 3:57
3. La Salle St After Hours (Armond Jackson) ~ 5:21
4. 63rd and Cottage Grove (Wright) ~ 4:06
5. 35th St Blues (Wendell Roberts) ~ 7:00
6. Sin Corner (Jackson) ~ 5:30
7. Amen Corner (Roberts) ~ 5:30

• John Wright – piano
• Wendell Roberts – bass
• Walter McCants – drums

During this sabbatical from flying and investigating jazz around the globe, this Quarantined Jazz Voyager wants you to know that live music in clubs and I will be back.

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