The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

As the Jazz Voyager continue to remain masked and socially distant, I have ventured out to a couple of events. I am, however, not surprised by the number of people who are unmasked and congregating as if the pandemic is over. This virus keeps mutating and though you may only get mildly ill, you will be ill and it will take a toll on your body, so protect yourself and others.

This week I am pulling out a classic album that shows this vocalist at her best delivering twelve compositions that were recorded on two separate occasions, December 5 & 16, 1957 in Los Angeles, California titled Carmen for Cool Ones. Released in 1958 by Carmen McRae on the Decca Records label, the sessions were arranged and directed by cellist Fred Katz.

The liner notes were scribed by Benny Golson and Burt Korall, and the photographs were taken by Wendy Hilty.

Track Listing | 36:15

1. All the Things You Are (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) ~ 2:26
2. A Shoulder to Cry On (Chuck Darwin, Paulette Girard) ~ 3:53
3. Any Old Time (Artie Shaw) ~ 3:10
4. Weak for the Man (Jeanne Burns) ~ 4:08
5. What’s New? (Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart) ~ 2:29
6. I Get a Kick Out of You (Cole Porter) ~ 2:15
7. What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry? (Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman) ~ 1:47
8. Without a Word of Warning (Mack Gordon, Harry Revel) ~ 3:20
9. You Are Mine (Ted Snyder, Sam Lewis, Joe Young) ~ 1:55
10. If I Were a Bell” (Frank Loesser) ~ 3:27
11. The Night We Called It a Day (Tom Adair, Matt Dennis) ~ 4:27
12. I Remember Clifford (Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks) ~ 2:58

• Carmen McRae ~ vocals
• Fred Katz ~ arranger, conductor, cello
• Ike Isaacs ~ double bass (except track 6)
• Specs Wright ~ drums (exc. track 6)

• Harry Klee ~ flute solo
• George W. Smith ~ clarinet
• Justin Gordon, Mahlon Clark ~ bass clarinet

• Buddy Collette ~ flute, alto saxophone
• George W. Smith ~ clarinet
• Justin Gordon ~ bass clarinet
• Warren Webb oboe
• Joe Marino ~ piano
• Joseph R. Gibbons ~ guitar
• Thirteen unknown string players

• Joe Marino, John T. Williams ~ piano, celeste
• Larry Bunker, Frank Flynn ~ vibraphone, marimba

• Pete Candoli, Ray Linn ~ trumpet
• Vincent DeRosa ~ French horn
• Bob Enevoldsen, Milt Bernhart ~ trombone
• Tommy Johnson ~ tuba
• Calvin Jackson ~ piano
• Billy Bean ~ guitar
• Red Mitchell ~ double bass
• Larry Bunker ~ drums

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Not belaboring the point, with all that is going on in the world, I am continuing to remain ever vigilant relative to the pandemic which is ever present in our lives. I can only hope you are doing the same.

My latest offering for those who enjoy good music comes from Moon Beams, a 1962 album by pianist Bill Evans. It is the first trio album recorded by Evans after the death of Scott LaFaro.

Bassist Chuck Israels replaced LaFaro and Evans recorded several songs on May 17, 1962 (#5,9), May 29, 1962 (#1, 8), June 2, 1962 (#2-4, 6-7) and June 5, 1962 (#10-11) at Sound Makers Studio, New York City. The album was released in December 1962 on the Riverside label and is a collection of ballads recorded during this period.

The recording sessions were produced by Orrin Keepnews, the woman on the album cover is Nico, who would later achieve recognition as a musical artist herself, the photographer was Peter Sahula and the cover design was by Ken Deardorff.

1. Re: Person I Knew (Bill Evans) ~ 5:44
2. Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen) ~ 5:01
3. I Fall in Love Too Easily (Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne) ~ 2:42
4. Stairway to the Stars (Matty Malneck, Mitchell Parish) ~ 4:53
5. If You Could See Me Now (Tadd Dameron) ~ 4:29
6. It Might as Well Be Spring (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) ~ 6:05
7. In Love in Vain (Leo Robin, Jerome Kern) ~ 5:00
8. Very Early (Bill Evans) ~ 5:06

• Bill Evans – piano
• Chuck Israels – bass
• Paul Motian – drums

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Reading the history of humanity, evidence proves that bad decisions are not relegated to bad people but are also made by good people. If taking off a face mask is your back to normal, in my opinion, you’re not reaching high enough and the brass ring has passed you by. Legislators and the media are confounding the public with different opinions, playing the he said she said game. The collusion is abomidable and most are buying into it. Remain vigilant, protect yourself, remain healthy.

This week I have chosen Total Response (subtitled The United States of Mind Phase 2) for our listening pleasure. It is an album by pianist Horace Silver that was recorded on two separate dates, November 15, 1970 (tracks 1,2,6,9) and January 29, 1971 (tracks 3,4,5,7,8). It was recorded at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, released in April 1972 on Blue Note Records, and produced by Francis Wolff and George Butler.

In 2004, it was included as the second of a trilogy of albums compiled on CD as The United States of Mind. Track List | 45:11 All compositions by Horace Silver

1. Acid, Pot or Pills ~ 4:26
2. What Kind of Animal Am I ~ 3:38
3. Won’t You Open up Your Senses ~ 3:56
4. I’ve Had a Little Talk ~ 3:46
5. Soul Searching ~ 4:15
6. Big Business ~ 5:22
7. I’m Aware of the Animals Within Me ~ 3:45
8. Old Mother Nature Calls ~ 6:17
9. Total Response ~ 5:22

• Horace Silver – electric piano
• Cecil Bridgewater – trumpet, flugelhorn
• Harold Vick – tenor saxophone
• Richie Resnicoff – guitar
• Bob Cranshaw – electric bass
• Mickey Roker – drums
• Salome Bey (1, 2, 5-7, 9), Andy Bey (3, 4, 8) – vocals

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

Remaining hesitant to be in crowds of people without a mask, more and more people are unmasking while we are still in the pandemic. Legislators are speaking unmask rhetoric and otherwise responsible people are listening. This Jazz Voyager is listening to my conscience and protecting myself and those around me.

This week I have chosen another quartet recording by the New York Jazz Quartet, founded by pianist Roland Hanna. The first iteration of the group consisted of flautist Hubert Laws, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Cobham. In 1974 the lineup changed to Frank Wess, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Ben Riley. Drummers Richie Pratt and Grady Tate also were enlisted to contribute their talents to the group at different times through the decade the band was together. The group recorded for the Inner City, Enja, Salvation and Sonet Records from 1972 to 1982

This album is the group’s fourth release, Blues For Sarka, recorded live on May 17, 1978 at The Domicile in Munich, West Germany. It was produced by Horst Weber and Matthias Winckelmann, recorded by Carlos Albrecht and released the same year on Enja Records. The cover photography was taken by Josef Werkmeister and the cover design was by Weber & Winckelmann

1. All Blues (Miles Davis) ~ 15:29
2. Rodney Round Robin ~ 5:44
3. I’ll Tell You Tonite (George Mraz) ~ 7:14
4. Blues for Sarka (George Mraz) ~ 7:11
5. Smelly Jelly Belly ~ 9:33

• Frank Wess ~ flute, tenor saxophone
• Roland Hanna ~ piano
• George Mraz ~ bass
• Grady Tate ~ drums

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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

It is amazing but not surprising how people want to get back to the same old routine they were in before the pandemic instead of inventing themselves anew. As I move around my city I see more and more people not wearing masks in enclosed spaces. I am not surprised by the robotic sense of normalcy by society.

This week I have selected an album by the underrated and often unappreciated vocalist  Irene Kral. The younger sister of pianist Roy Kral, I discovered her towards the end of her career in 1977 when I heard her album Where Is Love. I was enamored by her voice and the quiet understatement of her singing. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to hear her live as she transitioned the followin year in August.

The album I present today is her third studio session, Better Than Anything, recorded on June 17 & 18, 1963 at the World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles, California. It was produced by Joe Burnett, engineered by Richard Bock and released the same year on Äva Records and distributed by MGM. Making up the quartet with Irene is the Junior Mance Trio.

The cover design was by Richter & Mracky Design Associates, the photography by Fred Seligo and the liner notes were written by Tommy Wolf.

Track List | 29:24

1. Better Than Anything (David “Buck” Wheat, Bill Loughborough) ~ 2:21
2. The Touch Of Your Lips (Ray Noble) ~ 2:22
3. The Meaning of the Blues (Bobby Troup, Leah Worth) ~ 3:11
4. Rock Me To Sleep (Benny Carter, Paul Vandervoort II) ~ 2:20
5. No More (Tutti Camarata, Bob Russell) ~ 3:10
6. Passing By (Laurent Hess, Charles Trenet, Jack Lawrence) ~ 1:54
7. It’s a Wonderful World (Jan Savitt, Harold Adamson, Johnny Watson) ~ 2:34
8. This Is Always (Mack Gordon, Harry Warren) ~ 3:23
9. Just Friends (John Klenner, Sam M. Lewis) ~ 2:40
10. Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out to Dry (Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn) ~ 3:35
11. Nobody Else But Me (Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II) ~ 1:54

• Irene Kral ~ vocals
• Junior Mance ~ piano
• Bob Cranshaw ~ bass
• Mickey Roker ~ drums

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