Daily Dose Of Jazz…

John Maxwell Collie was born on February 21, 1931 in Melbourne, Australia. In 1946 he first heard professional jazz listening to Graham Bell’s lunchtime concerts at The New Theatre Melbourne. By 17 he was playing with a local band and shortly after leading it.

When he received the invitation by cable to take the trombone chair in the Melbourne New Orleans Jazz Band that was on tour in Europe, Max accepted and in 1962 arrived in England. He toured Europe until the band went back to Australia a year later, however, he decided to stay and joined the London City Stompers, becoming leader after a year. In 1966 he formed Max Collie’s Rhythm Aces and that band, notwithstanding the collapse of the UK jazz scene flourished.

The group released their first record in 1971 and in 1975 they won the World Championship of Jazz in traditional jazz against fourteen competing North American jazz bands in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He would go on to tour Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Japan and create a theater show. This show, Max Collie’s New Orleans Mardi Gras, which included Ken Colyer and Cy Laurie, turned out to be the most successful jazz show in British jazz history. Trombonist Max Collie died on January 6, 2018, at the age of 86.

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Jazz Poems

THE BLUES OF THIS DAY The blues of this day are as elegant and as sad as the minor thirds and we all try to sing it. What we want is to be brass The horn-scratched voice blown through. Valves as golden as his. Lord as crazy sex or first real heartbreak. It was always his back slightly bent away from all of us who adored him, gazing across his shoulders as the band jumped into the party one solo at a ti Or they could be rocking way off-ke going as far away from the melody as Venus to Mars. Funk can be as easy as t getting together in the dark. And as hard as the breaking light that catches the throat of sated lovers, the morning after. The talk the night before by the last of his men who knew the way of the world and then some, about Miles and his two steps ahead of the century like the first Black man to leave the Delta humming I gotta go, but I can’t take you. I gotta go, but I can’t take you. If you want to follow, then do what you want to do. Patricia Spears Jones

from Jazz Poems ~ Selected and Edited by Kevin Young

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Charles Kynard was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 20, 1933 and first played piano then switched to organ and led a trio in Kansas City. The trio included Tex Johnson on flute and saxophone, and Leroy Anderson on drums.

In 1963, he settled in Los Angeles, California and his band featured guitarists Cal Green and Ray Crawford, drummer Johnny Kirkwood. Between 1963 to 1973 Charles recorded ten albums as a leader, and ten albums as a sideman with Johnny Almond, Paul Jeffrey, Les McCann, Blue Mitchell, Howard Roberts, Clifford Scott, Sonny Stitt, and Tom Waits.

Organist Charles Kynard died on July 8, 1979.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Judy Lewis was born on February 19, 1958 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and from age seven she studied classical piano, subsequently winning competitions throughout the Midwest. Moving to New York City she continued with her studies at Columbia University, but gradually moved from music to study religion. At 20 she moved to Israel where she continued to perform while searching for spiritual meaning in her life.

Her success as a performer was overshadowed by her desire to concentrate on spiritual matters. In 1991 Lewis began playing the piano again and by 1995 she returned to a music career, in addition to teaching to support her family. Dissatisfied with the classical form, by the mid-90s she turned to jazz. The catalyst came in Los Angeles, California when she attended her first jazz concert and was soon practicing extensively the work of jazz pianists such as Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Tommy Flanagan, Red Garland and Keith Jarrett.

She began composing her own music, formed a group, the Back Alley Jazz Quintet, and made her jazz debut in 1996. By the following year, Judy had brought the group down to a trio. Her acclaim grew in Israel, then expanded to tours of Europe and the USA. In 2002 she released a solo set, Waiting On A New Day, and then in 2003 she formed the fusion band, Phoenix Over Manhattan which would evolve into an acoustic band, No Expectations that was greeted warmly by critics.

Energetic, enthusiastic and determined, her concept of jazz had a vibrancy that was welcomed by many for its contrast to the smooth jazz outpourings of the early century. Pianist Judy Lewis, who operates a recording company, Visionary Insomniac Records, continues to perform, compose and record.

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Requisites

Byrd in Paris, Volume 1 ~ The Donald Byrd Quintet Featuring Bobby Jaspar | By Eddie Carter

The Donald Byrd Quintet enters this morning’s spotlight with Byrd in Paris, Volume 1 (Brunswick 87 903), the first of two albums taken from the group’s 1958 appearance at The Olympia Theatre. Its companion release is Parisian Thoroughfare, and both were recorded at the conclusion of the quintet’s tour to Europe. Byrd in Paris was initially a French release in 1958 and would make its way to the U.S. two years later. The personnel is Donald Byrd (tracks: A1, A2, B3) on trumpet, Bobby Jaspar on flute (B1) and tenor sax (A1, A2, B3), Walter Davis Jr. on piano, Doug Watkins on double bass, and Art Taylor (A1, A2, B2, B3) on drums. My copy is the 2014 Sam Records French Mono audiophile reissue, sharing the original catalog number.

The set opens with Dear Old Stockholm, and as the song begins, Donald is off in the distance behind the quintet. He brings the horn into the forefront as he walks to the microphone, and the ensemble completes the melody. Bobby opens with a marvelous first solo. Donald is equally loose and free in the following reading. Doug offers one of the song’s best musical moments in the closing statement preceding the theme’s reprise and finale. Donald introduces Paul’s Pal by Sonny Rollins next and all the remaining tunes. The group begins with a mid-tempo melody. Bobby starts the solos with an easygoing statement. Donald follows with a neatly paced reading, and then Walter greets the finale like an old friend before the group takes it out.

Side Two gets underway with Bobby Jaspar on flute for his tune, Flute Blues. Bobby and Doug introduce the song’s first chorus with a two-instrument conversation before Walter joins them. Bobby dives into the opening statement with a consummate feeling. Doug finds a few new things to say in the second solo, and then Bobby and Doug are in complete agreement in the closing interpretation, leading back to the theme. The spotlight is on the rhythm section in Ray’s Idea by Ray Brown. Donald and Bobby sit this one out, and the trio works in perfect balance on the song’s speedy melody. Walter is the first to solo and puts the piano through a vigorous workout, then he and Art share an energetic exchange into the theme’s reprise, climax and audience’s approval.

The Blues Walk by Sonny Stitt is off and running from the ensemble’s theme. Donald opens at a blistering pace; then Bobby continues blowing up a storm. Walter communicates his ideas confidently next, and then Doug makes a few quick remarks. Art generates considerable heat in an aggressive conversation with Donald and Bobby, leading to the song’s climax and a huge ovation from the audience. Bruno Coquatrix produced the original session, and the reissue was remastered from the original tapes. This Sam Records audiophile reissue was also pressed at Pallas in Germany on 180 grams of audiophile vinyl, and the front and rear covers are sturdy. The album possesses an excellent soundstage, placing the listener in the audience. Also included is an additional insert with a photo of Donald Byrd.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Byrd in Paris, Volume 1. After hearing this Sam Records reissue, I’m going to revisit a few other titles I have in the library and feature them in future columns. If you’re in the mood for a live hard bop album with great tunes and tight musicianship. I invite you to consider Byrd in Paris, Volume 1 by The Donald Byrd Quintet Featuring Bobby Jaspar, on your next record treasure hunt. It’s a wonderful live album that still sounds great over six decades later and shouldn’t be missed for a spot in any jazz library!

~ Parisian Thoroughfare (Brunswick 87 904) – Source: Discogs.com ~ Dear Old Stockholm – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2024 by Edward Thomas Carter

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