The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

The Quarantined Jazz Voyager’s next selection for your listening pleasure comes from pianist Kenny Barron who released his Spirit Song. It is an album recorded in Brooklyn, New York at System Two between May 16–17, 1999 and released on the Verve Record label on February 8, 2000. Barron put together a stellar lineup of musicians on this date that was produced by Joanne Klein. All the compositions were composed by Kenny Barron except Billy Strayhorn’s Passion Flower and McCoy Tyner’s Passion Dance.

Track Listing | 64:56

1. The Pelican ~ 4:12 | 2. Spirit Song ~ 5:42 | 3. Um Beijo ~ 7:31 | 4. Passion Flower ~ 9:54 | 5. Passion Dance ~ 6:12 | 6. Sonja Braga ~ 6:25 | 7. The Question Is ~ 5:21 | 8. The Wizard ~ 7:59 | 9. Cook’s Bay ~ 7:05 | 10. And Then Again ~ 4:35 Personnel

• Kenny Barron – piano
• Eddie Henderson – trumpet (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• David Sánchez – tenor saxophone (tracks 1–9)
• Regina Carter – violin (tracks 3 & 4)
• Russell Malone – guitar (tracks 2, 8 & 10)
• Rufus Reid – bass (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• Billy Hart – drums (tracks 1–4 & 6–9)
• Michael Wall Grigsby – percussion (track 2)

Remain diligent my fellow voyagers in staying healthy, continue practicing social distancing, and don’t be so anxious to rush back to the new normal. It has been said that music soothes the savage beast, so listen to great music. I share that music to give you a little insight into the choices this voyager has made over the years during this sabbatical from jet setting investigations of jazz around the globe.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Robert Naughton was born on June 25, 1944 in Boston, Massachusetts. He studied piano from the age of seven through his teens, playing in rock bands and lounge bands.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Naughton started playing organ with a blues band. Following this period he studied painting in art school, then in the 1960s vibraphone became his instrument in the 1960s he was accompanying Sheila Jordan and Perry Robinson.

In 1969 Bobby recorded for the first time, releasing music on his label, Otic, and five more through 2002 as a leader. He composed the score for the silent film Everyday by German artist Hans Richter. In 1972 he played in the Jazz Composers Orchestra. Beginning a year later working with Wadada Leo Smith he recorded several albums through the 1980s. From 1978 to 1982 he toured and recorded with Anthony Braxton, Roscoe Mitchell, the Creative Music Orchestra, and the Creative Improvisers Orchestra.

Vibraphonist Bobby Naughton, who plays fluently with four sticks, exploits the instrument’s overtones and sometimes controls manually the instrument’s vanes continues to perform and record.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Jacques Pelzer was born in Liège, Belgium on June 24, 1924, and got his inspiration from Benny Carter, then Charlie Parker and Lee Koni. His first exposure to jazz was after World War II when he joined the Bob Shots, a legendary Belgian bop band that included at various time pioneers such as Bobby Jaspar, René Thomas, and Sadi. He also played with other historical figures of Belgian jazz such as pianist/arranger Francy Boland, guitar and harmonica player Toots Thielemans, bassist Benoît Quersin. His work with René Thomas continued for several years, leading to several recordings.

Pelzer’s evolution in the Sixties and Seventies included free jazz and fusion, recorded the soundtrack of the film “Le Départ” with Don Chery, Philip Catherine, and Gato Barbieri. He had three tours of the United States with Chet Baker, resulting in a lasting friendship and musical partnership and ultimately met  Dexter Gordon, Archie Shepp, Stan Getz, Lee Konitz, Philly Joe Jones and Bill Evans.

The next two decades saw Jacques returning to straight-ahead jazz, acoustic jazz, and bebop standards, modern compositions with an accent on lyricism and expression. Moving back to the studios in 1990 to record his CD Never Let Me Go with his band the Open Sky Unit along with Barney Wilen, Michel Graillier, Eric Legnini as guests. This recording received the Sax Prize for best jazz album of the year 1991.

Three magnificent Belgian jazz musicians, guitarist Philip Catherine, bassist Philippe Aerts, and drummer Bruno Castellucci joined for his final album Salute To The Bandbox. Alto and soprano saxophonist and flutist Jacques Pelzer passed away on August 6, 1994 in his hometown.

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Three Wishes

On the day that Percy Heath was questioned by Pannonica as to what his three wishes would be he said:

1. 1. “I would like to be able to travel to another planet.”

   2. “To find something to do when I get there.”

   3. “To know how to get back again.”

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

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Hank Shaw was born Henry Shalofsky on June 23, 1926 in London, England and played with Teddy Foster’s band during World War II at the age of 15. In the latter half of the decade, he played in London with Oscar Rabin, Frank Weir, and Tommy Sampson, then switched permanently to playing bebop music in 1946 after hearing Dizzy Gillespie.

A visit to the United States in 1947 with close friend and fellow pioneer bebopper alto saxophonist Freddy Syer, preceded their move to Canada after he was unable to secure a work permit. There they played with Oscar Peterson and Maynard Ferguson before returning to England in 1948. He was one of the early Club Eleven players, along with Ronnie Scott, John Dankworth, Lennie Bush, and others. He also played with many of these musicians on the recordings of Alan Dean’s Beboppers.

After Club Eleven shuttered, Shaw played with Vic Lewis and toured Europe with Cab Kaye, then joined Jack Parnell’s ensemble in 1953 and Ronnie Scott’s nonet in 1954. He went on to play regularly both live and as a session musician for many British jazz musicians over the course of the next twenty or so years, working with Joe Harriott, Tony Crombie, Don Rendell, Tony Kinsey, Stan Tracey, Bill Le Sage, and others.

In the Sixties, he led a quartet at the 100 Club and played in the Bebop Preservation Society and the John Burch Quartet for over two decades each. Retiring from music due to ill health in the late 1990s, trumpeter Hank Shaw passed away on October 26, 2006 in Kent, four months past his 80th birthday.

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