Requisites
2-3-4 is an album by drummer Shelly Manne features performances that were recorded in 1962 for the Impulse! Label. The name of the album is derived from its inclusion of a duet (“2”), two trio performances (“3”), and three tunes played by a quartet (“4”). Unusually, the standards “Take the “A” Train” and “Cherokee” were played in two tempos simultaneously, with Manne playing in double time consistently throughout “Cherokee”.
Not a typical album for the drummer, then primarily associated with West Coast jazz, he flew from Los Angeles to New York City on February 5, 1962, arranged by producer Bob Thiele. He was reunited with pioneering tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and pianist Hank Jones, both of whom he had recorded with at different times in the 1940s.
The recording sessions took place at the Fine Recording Ballroom Studio A recording tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 & 8 on February 5 and tracks 2, 4 & 7 on February 8, 1962. In an unusual session lasting through the wee hours of the morning, he ended by recording one tune as a duet with Hawkins, who for the first time in his career was recorded also playing the piano.
The album also includes a second recording session at the same studio a few days later. Bassist George Duvivier stayed on with Manne, and they were joined by rising star Eddie Costa for two trio tracks. “The Sicks of Us” has Costa on vibes for a largely spontaneous trio number; on “Lean on Me”, Costa switches to piano.
The tracks on the original release are: Take the “A” Train, The Sicks of Us, Slowly, Lean on Me, Cherokee, and Me and Some Drums.
A fourth tune recorded by the quartet at the first session, “Avalon“, was released at first only in the Impulse! collection The Definitive Jazz Scene, Volume 1. Some thirty years later, it was included along with an alternative version of Lean On Me on the first CD reissue of 2-3-4 as bonus tracks.
Personnel: tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins on tracks 1, 3, 5, 6 & 8, pianist Hank Jones on tracks 1, 3, 5 & 8, pianist and vibraphonist Eddie Costa on tracks 2, 4 & 7, bassist George Duvivier on tracks 1–5, 7 & 8 and drummer Shelly Manne.
The cover design was created by Robert Flynn and the photograph was taken by Bob Gomel.
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is off to the Motherland of Africa, specifically South Africa to 81 De Korte St, Braamfontein 53-Ir, Johannesburg, 2001 wherein resides a jazz club called The Orbit. The clubs concept finds its roots and spirit in a small Jazz Social Club established in the Troyeville section of the city in the early 2000’s by Aymeric Péguillan and 3 other partners. Peg’s Cosy Corner, as the venue was called, presented an intimate environment where musicians and jazz aficionados would hang around to drink and listen to occasional live music and recordings till late at night.
Twelve years later, the venue is reborn in Braamfontein, a booming and dynamic part of town, where Péguillan and his two partners, Dan Sermand & Kevin Naidoo, as the best possible creative expression platform for jazz musicians. After months of intense brainstorming, consultations with musicians and negotiations with stakeholders around the nature of the new venture, The Orbit, a live music venue and bistro opened.
This visit the club will present Mandisi Dyantyis with a cover charge of R140 or $10.00 US. Opening at 11:30am and closing at 2:00am, closed on Sunday and Monday, reservations can be made at theorbit.co.za or at +27 11 339 6645.
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Three Wishes
Replying to the Baroness’s inquiry of three wishes Hank Jones only had one:
- “To be the top, the greatest in the world on my instrument.”
*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats – Complied and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter”
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Requisites
Morning Star is an album by flautist Hubert Laws recorded at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey between September and November 1972. Produced by Creed Taylor, arranged and conducted by Don Sebesky, the album was released on Taylor’s CTI label, only thirty-five minutes and forty-six seconds long.
Laws contributes three originals on this album with one traditional tune and two borrowed where noted: Morning Star (Rodgers Grant), Let Her Go, Where Is The Love (Ralph MacDonald, William Salter), No More, Amazing Grace (Traditional) and What Do You Think of This World Now?
The players were substantial and included Hubert Laws – flute, alto flute, bass flute, piccolo; Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn; Garnett Brown – trombone; James Buffington – French horn, Phil Bodner – clarinet, flute, alto flute; Romeo Penque – flute, alto flute, bass flute, piccolo, English horn, Jack Knitzer – bassoon; Bob James – electric piano; John Tropea – guitar; Ron Carter – bass; Billy Cobham – drums; Dave Friedman – vibraphone, percussion; Ralph MacDonald – percussion; Harry Cykman, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien, Gene Orloff, Elliot Rosoff, Irving Spice – violin; George Koutzen, Charles McCracken, Lucien Schmit – cello; Gloria Agostini – harp; Lani Groves, Eloise Laws, Debra Laws, Tasha Thomas – vocal; and Don Sebesky – arranger, conductor.
The cover photograph was taken by Peter Turner and the cover design was by Bob Ciano.
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The Jazz Voyager
The Jazz Voyager is heading to Switzerland once again to Engestrasse 54 3012 Bern where Marians Jazzroom is located in the basement of the Innere Enge Hotel. One of the best jazz clubs in the world, it was founded in 1992, and became known for its phenomenal acoustics and accommodation of 130 seats. This intimate setting was designed purposely to be one of the premier listening rooms in the city, if not the world.
The hotel itself is dedicated to jazz with memorabilia everywhere. Jazz plays 24 hours over their house system and in every part of the hotel there are framed pictures and plaques of the greatest jazz players, legends and current trailblazers adorning the walls in the hallways and rooms. There are books, compact discs, magazines, classic albums and sculptures throughout the hotel.
From September to May, two concerts per evening are held from Tuesday to Saturday. This week the club features Frank Vignola and the John Di Martino Trio along with offering a full range of beverages and a petite dining menu of sandwiches and tapas. Cover charge ranges from $15.00 to $30.00 depending on day and set and reservations are recommended and can be made at 41 31 309 61 11
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