Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Aubrey Frank was born on June 3, 1921 in London, England. He started playing alto saxophone at fourteen, then switched to tenor the following year. HIs first gig was with Jack Harris, then joined the RAF but continued playing with Ambrose, Johnny Claes, Geraldo, Lew Stone, and George Evans. He was in the first Ted Heath band and the RAF Fighter Command Band. During World War II he played with Sam Donahue and Glenn Miller.

Leaving the RAF, he continued to work with Ambrose until 1947, as well as the Skyrockets and the Squadronnaires. From 1949 to 1954 a member of Jack Nathan’s band alongside Ronnie Scott and Harry Klein. He freelanced and became a staple on early British bebop dates where his adaptability allowed him to play in any type of band, from Dixieland to modern jazz.

He recorded with the George Shearing Sextet, Harry Hayes, Alan Dean All-Star Sextet and had a long career regarded as a first-class session musician but was a jazzman at heart. With the advent of bop, his style changed little, leading the Aubrey Frank Modern Music Sextet consisting of Hank Shaw or Wyatt Forbes, Harry Klein, Andy Denits, Stan Wasser, and Douggie Cooper. Tenor saxophonist Aubrey Frank passed away on his seventy-second birthday in 1993.

THE WATCHFUL EYE

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Three Wishes

What Julius Watkins said to Pannnica when she inquired of him what his three wishes were was:

    1. “To be three nice young ladies.”

    2. “Three more.”

    3. “To put the six of them to work.”

*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter

GRIOTS GALLERY

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Pierre Favre was born June 2, 1937 in Le Locle, Switzerland and originally was a self-taught drummer. He went on to study classical composition and immersed himself in the diverse percussion music of the wider world, particularly those of India, Africa, and Brazil. Gradually he consolidated all of this new information in the “sound-color poems” he was writing for his Singing Drums group.

He recorded the album Singing Drums for ECM in 1984 with Paul Motian, Fredy Studer, and Nana Vasconcelos. Over the course of his career, Pierre has recorded twenty-nine as a sideman working with John Surman, Tamia, Michel Godard, Mal Waldron, Paul Giger, Jiří Stivín, Michel Portal, Samuel Blaser, the ARTE Quartett, Barre Phillips, Irene Schweizer, Philipp Schaufelberger, Manfred Schoof, Joe McPhee, Dino Saluzzi, London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Stefano Battaglia, Furio Di Castri, Paolo Fresu, Jon Balke, Denis Levaillant, Yang Jing, and Andrea Centazzo.

As a leader, drummer and percussionist Pierre Favre has recorded seven albums and continues to perform and record.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Rossano Sportiello was born in Vigevano, Italy on June 1, 1974 and began studying piano at the age of 9 under the tutelage of Italian classical pianist Carlo Villa and continued until his graduation in classical piano from the Conservatory in 1996. At 16, he was performing professionally at jazz venues in the Milan, Italy area, and in 1992, he joined one of Europe’s historic jazz bands, the Milano Jazz Gang. He toured with the group throughout Italy and West Europe until the end of 2000.

That same year, Sportiello met legendary jazz pianist and educator, Barry Harris, who became a mentor and good friend. Drawing international acclaim at the 2002 Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland while performing with the eight-piece, all-star American band led by Dan Barrett. In 2007, Rossano established himself in New York City and has performed with Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Kenny Davern, Bucky Pizzarelli, Bob Wilber, Warren Vache, Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker, Harry Allen, Howard Alden, Joe Wilder, Eddie Locke, Joe La Barbera, Scott Hamilton, Jake Hanna, Houston Person, Bill Charlap, Dick Hyman, and the list goes on.

As an educator, Rossano has given lectures on jazz and masterclasses on piano at institutions such as the University of Toronto Jazz Studies, University of Central Florida and Claremont College in California and has lectured as a professor in residence at the Master’s Lodge of St. John’s College, Cambridge, UK.

Stride piano player Rossano Sportiello lists his influences have been Harris along with Ralph Sutton, Dave McKenna and Barry Harris, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Earl Hines, Ellis Larkins, and Bill Evans, to name a few. He continues to perform, record, and tour.

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Requisites

Live In Tokyo~Barry Harris | By Eddie Carter

In April 1976, Xanadu Records recorded three live albums in Japan featuring an all-star quintet including alto saxophonist, Charles McPherson, and guitarist Jimmy Raney. The tapings resulted in Charles McPherson Live In Tokyo, Jimmy Raney Live In Tokyo, and this morning’s choice from the library that was the first performance by pianist Barry Harris. Live In Tokyo (Xanadu 130) documents concerts at two locations, Yubin Chokin Hall and Nakano Sun Plaza with the ensemble’s rhythm section featuring Sam Jones on bass and Leroy Williams on drums.  It was Harris’s second record for the label and my copy used in this report is the 1976 US Stereo release.

The set opener, A Soft Spot is a lively tune from Barry’s pen that leaves the ground and starts flying from the melody into a swinging solo of fire by the leader.  Leroy follows with a stunning interpretation that’s right on the mark leading to a spirited finale. The trio slows the pace for Round Midnight, the timeless jazz standard by Bernie Hanighen, Thelonious Monk, and Cootie Williams.  As the song’s only soloist, Harris gives a stylishly, sensuous reading that’s hauntingly moving, and stands up to other versions of Monk’s most recorded tune.

Tea For Two by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar was written in 1924 and introduced in the Broadway musical, No, No, Nanette, that year.  Barry gives a nearly minute solo introduction before taking off on a full-speed run through the opening melody and first reading.  Leroy engages in a vigorous exchange with Harris preceding the hard-hitting coda.

Bud Powell’s Dance of The Infidels is a midtempo swinger that closes the first side on an upbeat note and allows each member, solo space.  Powell composed the song in 1949, and first recorded it for Blue Note Records.  The trio takes a brisk approach to the tune with a splendid theme treatment.  Harris kicks off the solos with a feisty opening statement possessing a carefree zest.  Sam is up next with a short reading that hits its target like a sharpshooter.  Barry shares the final solo with Leroy who executes a passionate exchange before the closing chorus.

I’ll Remember April is a beautiful song by Gene De Paul, Patricia Johnston, and Don Raye that was composed in 1941, making its debut in the 1942 comedy, Ride ‘Em Cowboy.  The threesome brings a little sunshine to this treasured tune with an easy beat on the main theme.  Harris picks up the pace with a cheerful, effervescent first statement, then Jones swings softly on a passionately conceived presentation.  Barry and Williams make an indelible impression with a blissful resolution on the closing reading that arrives at a very gratifying conclusion.

Barry takes a moment to make a sincere and heartfelt Dedication In Japanese to the crowd.  He follows with a beautiful solo composition also devoted to the audience titled Fukai Aijoh which means Deep Love.  Harris expresses personal feelings in an elegant interpretation of tenderness and subtle finesse into a delicately gentle ending.  The final selection is the 1951 jazz standard, Un Poco Loco by Bud Powell beginning with a brisk theme treatment in unison leading to Barry’s aggressive opening solo of astonishing ferocity.  Leroy has the last word with a concise reading of compelling power before the pianist’s vivacious out-chorus preceding a thunderous ovation by the concert crowd.

This album and its two companions were produced by label founder Don Schlitten and recorded by Japanese sound engineer, Shinji Ohtsuka.  Live In Tokyo is a sonic treat with an exceptional soundstage of the piano, bass, and drums, and though the LP length is just short of forty-three minutes, the listener will feel they’ve received their money’s worth on the strength of the performances.  Now that I’ve got this album, I’ll be seeking the other two to add to my library, and if you’re a fan of piano jazz or trio jazz, I invite you to audition Live In Tokyo by pianist Barry Harris.  It’s a fun listen, and a title I’m sure you’ll enjoy in your library!

~ Dance of The Infidels (Blue Note 362-1); Charles McPherson Live In Tokyo (Xanadu 131); Jimmy Raney Live In Tokyo (Xanadu 132) – Source: Discogs.com ~ I’ll Remember April, Round Midnight, Tea For Two – Source: JazzStandards.com ~ Dance of The Infidels – Source: The Complete Bud Powell Blue Note Recordings (1949-1958) Mosaic Records MR5-116 ~Un Poco Loco – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2020 by Edward Thomas Carter

Synopsis

Live in Tokyo is a live album recorded on April 12 & 14, 1976 at Sun Plaza Hall in Tokyo, Japan by pianist Barry Harris and released on the Xanadu record label. The session was produced by Don Schlitten. Harris contributed two songs to this swinging, straight-ahead album, A Soft Spot and Fukai Aijoh in addition to his Dedication In Japanese.

Track Listing | 41:09
  1. A Soft Spot – 5:46
  2. Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk) – 5:58
  3. Tea for Two (Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar) – 4:45
  4. Dance of the Infidels (Bud Powell) – 5:43
  5. I’ll Remember April (Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye) – 8:39
  6. Dedication in Japanese – 1:15
  7. Fukai Aijoh – 4:09
  8. Un Poco Loco (Powell) – 6:14
Personnel
  • Barry Harris – piano
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Leroy Williams – drums

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