Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Pete Johnson was born Kermit H. Johnson on March 25, 1904 in Kansas City, Missouri. Raised by his mother after the father deserted the family, financially distressed, he was placed in an orphanage at three. Homesick, he ran away and returned home. By the age of 12, finding work to ease the financial burden at home, he dropped out of school in the fifth grade as a result of his efforts.

Beginning his musical career in 1922 as a drummer in Kansas City, Missouri. He began piano about the same time he was learning the drums. His early piano practices took place in a church, where he was working as a water boy for a construction company. From 1926 to 1938, he worked as a pianist, often working with Big Joe Turner. with record producer John Hammond that led to an engagement at the Famous Door in New York City, and an in the From Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall. Working locally, touring and recording with Turner, Meade Lux Lewis, and Albert Ammons kept him busy during this period. He appeared in the film short Boogie-Woogie Dream in 1941.

The song Roll ‘Em Pete, composed with and featuring Turner on vocals and Johnson on piano, was one of the first rock and roll records. They went on to record Johnson and Turner Blues and Rocket 88 Boogie.

By 1946 Pete recorded a concept album, Pete Johnson’s Housewarmin’, with J. C. Higginbotham, J. C. Heard, Albert Nicholas, Hot Lips Page, Clyde Bernhardt. Budd Johnson, and a young singer, Etta Jones. It was later re-released as Pete’s Blues.

The Fifties saw Johnson moving to Buffalo, New York, where he suffered health and financial difficulties including being partially paralyzed by a stroke. He held a series of jobs over the next few years supplementing them with occasional gigs. He continued to record, and toured Europe in 1958 with the Jazz at the Philharmonic ensemble, despite the fact that wasn’t in thebest of health. Returning to the States, he accompanied Big Joe Turner, Chuck Berry and Big Maybelle at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Diagnosed with a heart condition, diabetes and plagued with several strokes, Pete lost the mobility in both hands. Four years ater he began losing his eyesight. Royalties were dribbling in from Blue Note and Victor until he was finally accepted into ASCAP, which ensured that some of the royalties would be received on a regular basis.

His final live appearance was the Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnegie Hall in January 1967, his eighth and final appearance at this event. Pianist Pete Johnson, who played jazz and boogie~woogie, transitioned two months later in Meyer Hospital in Buffalo, on March 23, 1967, at the age of 62, two days before his 63rd birthday.

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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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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Christopher Brubeck was born on March 19, 1952 in Los Angeles, California to pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. By the age of twenty he was joining his father and brothers Darius and Daniel in The New Brubeck Quartet.

Having toured for about 30 years in a group called Triple Play, he joined with guitarist Joel Brown and singer and harmonica virtuoso Peter Madcat Ruth, and swung jazz Louisiana style. He was a member of New Heavenly Blue, Chris also participated and recorded as a keyboardist/trombonist/guitarist in 1970’s Educated Homegrown.

In 1999, Chris and his brother Daniel joined with other musicians to form The Brubeck Brothers Quartet, having previously partnered with Andy LaVerne and released a 1972 album, The Brubeck-LaVerne Trio. He has performed with Mike DeMicco and Chuck Lamb.

In 2003, Chris played his first Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra with the Czech national Symphony Orchestra in Prague, Czech Republic. A year later, he composed his own concerto titled, The Prague Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra. Many of his classical compositions still contain strong hints of the jazz influence of his father.

Grammy nominated electric bassist, bass trombonist and pianist Chris Brubeck continues to pursue his musical explorations.

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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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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Leroy Lovett was born on March 17, 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and studied piano with Sophie Stokowski, the wife of Leopold Stokowski, from the age of four. He began composing early and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from Temple University and then continued his studies at the Schillinger House of Music.

He led his own band in Philadelphia before settling in New York City in 1945. The move saw him arranging for Tiny Bradshaw and Luis Russell, and working with Noble Sissle, Lucky Millinder, and Mercer Ellington. During his period away from Duke Ellington, Leroy was in the band of Johnny Hodges and recorded with him until 1955. At the end of the 1950s, he was in the Cootie Williams band and the Cat Anderson band.

During the 1950s he was a music publisher, a record producer, and had a dance orchestra in Philadelphia. From 1959, he worked for Wynne Records, and from 1968 to 1973 for Motown Records. He was still active as a musician and arranger with the Melodymakers Orchestra, he also appeared with the Uni-Bigband of Halle.

He recorded two albums under his own name and also recorded with Al Sears, Harry Carney, Al Hibbler, Lawrence Brown, Billie Holiday, Cootie Williams, Cat Anderson, and Johnny Hodges.

Pianist and arranger Leroy Lovett, who also wrote music for film, transitioned on  December 9, 2013 in Chatsworth, California.

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