Three Wishes

When Pannonica queried Bob Brookmeyer as to his three wishes, his reply was:

1. “A thousand.”
2. “A million.”
3. “A trillion! And peace for the world. But that’s impossible.”

*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats – Complied and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter”

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Requisites

The Beat Of My Heart is a 1957 album by Tony Bennett recorded on the Columbia Records label. The photograph, taken by Ben Rose, shows an elated Bennett with a unique all-star line-up of guest drummers to include Art Blakey, Jo Jones, Billy Exiner, Chico Hamilton, Sabu and Candido.

Working with English jazz pianist Ralph Sharon and together they devised this percussion influenced treatment that added a distinctly Latin touch the crooner’s renditions of Broadway and popular hits. A lifelong jazz lover, this is his personal all-time favorite recording.

1957 LP Listing

1. Let’s Begin
2. Lullaby of Broadway
3. Let There Be Love
4. Love for Sale
5. Army Air Corps Song
6. Crazy Rhythm

1. The Beat of My Heart
2. So Beats My Heart for You
3. Blues in the Night
4. Lazy Afternoon
5. Let’s Face the Music and Dance
6. Just One of Those Things

1. It’s So Peaceful in the Country
2. In Sandy’s Eyes
3. I Get a Kick Out of You
4. You Go to My Head
5. I Only Have Eyes for You
6. Begin the Beguine

Recorded on June 27 (#12-13), October 14 (#14-15), October 21 (#17) and October 25 (#16), 1957. The length of the original LP recording was 29:34, however the CD reissue extended it to 44:34.

Joining Bennett and the drummers on the recording sessions were arranger, conductor and  pianist Ralph Sharon, Al Cohn on tenor saxophone, trumpeter Nat Adderley, trombonists Robert Alexander, Jim Dahl and Kai Winding, Herbie Mann, Spencer Sinatra and William Slapin on flute, vibraphonist Eddie Costa, guitarist John Pisano and bassists Milt Hinton and Eddie Safranski.

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Three Wishes

Arthur Taylor told Pannonica his three wishes were:

1. “That Charlie Parker was alive.”
2. “That Bud Powell was in town, playing like he used to. No, just playing any way!”
3. “Money.”

*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats – Complied and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter”

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Requisites

The Boss Is Back! is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label. Gene Ammons contributed the three originals The Jungle Boss, Tastin’ The Jug and Madame Queen to the six set session.

The compositions are tracked on the album in order:

1. 1. The Jungle Boss
   2. I Wonder
   3. Feeling Good
   4. Tastin’ the Jug
   5. Here’s That Rainy Day
   6. Madame Queen

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, tracks 1, 2 & 4-6 were laid down on November 10, 1969 and track 3 on November 11, 1969.

Tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons enlisted the talents of Prince James, Houston Person on tenor saxophone on track 1, Junior Mance on piano on tracks 1, 2 & 4-6, organist Sonny Phillips on track 3, Buster Williams on bass on tracks 1, 2 & 4-6, electric bassist Bob Bushnell on track 3, drummers Frankie Jones on tracks 1, 2 & 4-6 and Bernard Purdie on track 3 and Candido playing congas on tracks 1, 2 & 4-6.

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Review: Lenora Zenzalai Helm | For The Love Of Big Band

For those of you who aspire to greatness, who challenge your status quo, and who dare to create something majestic, one must dig deep inside for the temerity. Whether you question the audacity of the idea, it takes confidence to even dare the monumental task of bringing nearly four dozen men and women together, producing a unique and innovative big band sound.

Under the auspicious name of The Tribe Jazz Orchestra, vocalist and bandleader Lenora Zenzalai Helm joins the ranks of Lil Hardin Armstrong, Kit McClure, Blanche Calloway, Valaida Smith, Lovie Austin, Sherrie Maracle, and In Ray Hutton among others.

Helm’s debut orchestra project, For The Love Of Big Band, was recorded live in concert over a two day period on March 26~27, 2019 and released on her own label, Zenzalai Music. This album brings new arrangements showcasing legendary composers and big band leaders ~ Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln, Mal Waldron, Victor Young, John Coltrane, George & Ira Gershwin, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Clifford Brown, and Duke Ellington to name a few.

This twelve composition compendium of classics illuminates the musical genius of those who charted the big band course, laid the foundation and set the standard for this talented vocalist and bandleader to follow in their footsteps. Choosing Blues For Mama, Bebop, Chega de Saudade/No More Blues, It Could Happen To You, Soul Eyes, Everything But You, I Didn’t Know About You, Sandu, But Not For Me, A Conversation With God (Dear Lord), Mississippi Goddam, and Stella By Starlight, she spans several decades, from the Thirties to the Sixties. The music is a mix of jazz standards, brought swingingly to life at the live concert. Helm guided the band through the new arrangements by Stanley Cowell, Cecil Bridgewater, Maurice Myers and Brian Horton

Lenora’s Tribe Jazz Orchestra is composed of twenty-four musicians that include her voice, piano, guitar, bass,drums, reeds, trumpets,trombones and saxophone and orchestra conductor. Her Tribe Jazz Orchestra Septet, pulls three from the orchestra, adds conductor to her voice, along with cello, tenor saxophone, acoustic bass and the NCCU Vocal Jazz Ensemble as guest artists. Other special guests are pianist Joey Calderazzo, Acoustic bassist Ameen Saleem, and Maurice Myers ~ Vocal Soloist on A Conversation With God.

This is a well thought out and produced program of music that will introduce the novice to big band jazz and delight the aficionado who is seeking to expand his/her horizons and include one more big bandleader to their arsenal, who just so happens to be a vocalist, conductor, bandleader, and educator and all woman. I charge you to engage and listen carefully to the maturity of expression that Lenora Zenzalai Helm has put into and extracted from herself and the talented musicians under her purview. This is a wonderful and soulful performance by all accounts and something you will enjoy for years to come.

carl anthony | notorious jazz | february 15, 2020

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