Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Roberto Magris was born June 19, 1959 in Trieste, Italy. By the 1980s he was leading the jazz trio Gruppo Jazz Marca with whom he recorded three albums, Comunicazione Sonora, Aria di Città and Mitteleuropa. In 1987 he put together an Italian quartet that stayed together for nearly 20 years, touring Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America and recording two albums, Life in Israel and Maliblues.

In the 1990s he founded the acid-jazz groups DMA Urban Jazz Funk and Alfabeats Nu Jazz, performing in Europe and in America. In 1998 Magris formed the Europlane Orchestra that included several jazz musicians from various European countries. With the Europlane Orchestra he recorded three albums Live At Zooest, Plays Kurt Weill, and Current Views.

2005 saw Magris partnering with Hungarian saxophonist Tony Lakatos on the album Check-In in 2005 he went on to collaborate with bassist Art Davis and drummer Jimmy “Junebug” Jackson on the album Kansas City Outbound issued by JMood. That same year, he hooked up with alto saxophonist Herb Geller on the album Il Bello del Jazz and some years later, JMood released another album with Herb Geller titled An Evening with Herb Geller & The Roberto Magris Trio – Live in Europe 2009.

During his time in the United States, Magris has become the musical director of JMood and has also recorded two albums in tribute to the trumpeter Lee Morgan, two trio albums with Elisa Pruett and Albert “Tootie” Heath devoted to the music of pianist Elmo Hope, and another to the legacy of alto saxophonist Julian “Cannonball” Adderley.

While in Los Angeles, California he recorded with Idris Muhammad and saxmen Paul Carr and Michael O’Neill, one album with Sam Reed, a double CD set in tribute to the bebop era, three albums with his trio from Kansas City and performed with his sextet that included trumpeter Brian Lynch at the WDNA Jazz Gallery in Miami, Florida. In Chicago, Illinois he recorded with a group including trumpeter Eric Jacobson and tenor saxophonist Mark Colby.

His influences have been Wynton Kelly, Tommy Flanagan, Bill Evans, Kenny Drew, Jaki Byard, Randy Weston, McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Paul Bley, Don Pullen, and Steve Kuhn. He has recorded nearly three dozen albums as a leader or as a member of groups he has founded. Pianist, composer and arranger Roberto Magris continues to perform, record and tour.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Rossano Sportiello was born in Vigevano, Italy on June 1, 1974 and began studying piano at the age of 9 under the tutelage of Italian classical pianist Carlo Villa and continued until his graduation in classical piano from the Conservatory in 1996. At 16, he was performing professionally at jazz venues in the Milan, Italy area, and in 1992, he joined one of Europe’s historic jazz bands, the Milano Jazz Gang. He toured with the group throughout Italy and West Europe until the end of 2000.

That same year, Sportiello met legendary jazz pianist and educator, Barry Harris, who became a mentor and good friend. Drawing international acclaim at the 2002 Ascona Jazz Festival in Switzerland while performing with the eight-piece, all-star American band led by Dan Barrett. In 2007, Rossano established himself in New York City and has performed with Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Kenny Davern, Bucky Pizzarelli, Bob Wilber, Warren Vache, Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker, Harry Allen, Howard Alden, Joe Wilder, Eddie Locke, Joe La Barbera, Scott Hamilton, Jake Hanna, Houston Person, Bill Charlap, Dick Hyman, and the list goes on.

As an educator, Rossano has given lectures on jazz and masterclasses on piano at institutions such as the University of Toronto Jazz Studies, University of Central Florida and Claremont College in California and has lectured as a professor in residence at the Master’s Lodge of St. John’s College, Cambridge, UK.

Stride piano player Rossano Sportiello lists his influences have been Harris along with Ralph Sutton, Dave McKenna and Barry Harris, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, Count Basie, Earl Hines, Ellis Larkins, and Bill Evans, to name a few. He continues to perform, record, and tour.

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Requisites

Live In Tokyo~Barry Harris | By Eddie Carter

In April 1976, Xanadu Records recorded three live albums in Japan featuring an all-star quintet including alto saxophonist, Charles McPherson, and guitarist Jimmy Raney. The tapings resulted in Charles McPherson Live In Tokyo, Jimmy Raney Live In Tokyo, and this morning’s choice from the library that was the first performance by pianist Barry Harris. Live In Tokyo (Xanadu 130) documents concerts at two locations, Yubin Chokin Hall and Nakano Sun Plaza with the ensemble’s rhythm section featuring Sam Jones on bass and Leroy Williams on drums.  It was Harris’s second record for the label and my copy used in this report is the 1976 US Stereo release.

The set opener, A Soft Spot is a lively tune from Barry’s pen that leaves the ground and starts flying from the melody into a swinging solo of fire by the leader.  Leroy follows with a stunning interpretation that’s right on the mark leading to a spirited finale. The trio slows the pace for Round Midnight, the timeless jazz standard by Bernie Hanighen, Thelonious Monk, and Cootie Williams.  As the song’s only soloist, Harris gives a stylishly, sensuous reading that’s hauntingly moving, and stands up to other versions of Monk’s most recorded tune.

Tea For Two by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar was written in 1924 and introduced in the Broadway musical, No, No, Nanette, that year.  Barry gives a nearly minute solo introduction before taking off on a full-speed run through the opening melody and first reading.  Leroy engages in a vigorous exchange with Harris preceding the hard-hitting coda.

Bud Powell’s Dance of The Infidels is a midtempo swinger that closes the first side on an upbeat note and allows each member, solo space.  Powell composed the song in 1949, and first recorded it for Blue Note Records.  The trio takes a brisk approach to the tune with a splendid theme treatment.  Harris kicks off the solos with a feisty opening statement possessing a carefree zest.  Sam is up next with a short reading that hits its target like a sharpshooter.  Barry shares the final solo with Leroy who executes a passionate exchange before the closing chorus.

I’ll Remember April is a beautiful song by Gene De Paul, Patricia Johnston, and Don Raye that was composed in 1941, making its debut in the 1942 comedy, Ride ‘Em Cowboy.  The threesome brings a little sunshine to this treasured tune with an easy beat on the main theme.  Harris picks up the pace with a cheerful, effervescent first statement, then Jones swings softly on a passionately conceived presentation.  Barry and Williams make an indelible impression with a blissful resolution on the closing reading that arrives at a very gratifying conclusion.

Barry takes a moment to make a sincere and heartfelt Dedication In Japanese to the crowd.  He follows with a beautiful solo composition also devoted to the audience titled Fukai Aijoh which means Deep Love.  Harris expresses personal feelings in an elegant interpretation of tenderness and subtle finesse into a delicately gentle ending.  The final selection is the 1951 jazz standard, Un Poco Loco by Bud Powell beginning with a brisk theme treatment in unison leading to Barry’s aggressive opening solo of astonishing ferocity.  Leroy has the last word with a concise reading of compelling power before the pianist’s vivacious out-chorus preceding a thunderous ovation by the concert crowd.

This album and its two companions were produced by label founder Don Schlitten and recorded by Japanese sound engineer, Shinji Ohtsuka.  Live In Tokyo is a sonic treat with an exceptional soundstage of the piano, bass, and drums, and though the LP length is just short of forty-three minutes, the listener will feel they’ve received their money’s worth on the strength of the performances.  Now that I’ve got this album, I’ll be seeking the other two to add to my library, and if you’re a fan of piano jazz or trio jazz, I invite you to audition Live In Tokyo by pianist Barry Harris.  It’s a fun listen, and a title I’m sure you’ll enjoy in your library!

~ Dance of The Infidels (Blue Note 362-1); Charles McPherson Live In Tokyo (Xanadu 131); Jimmy Raney Live In Tokyo (Xanadu 132) – Source: Discogs.com ~ I’ll Remember April, Round Midnight, Tea For Two – Source: JazzStandards.com ~ Dance of The Infidels – Source: The Complete Bud Powell Blue Note Recordings (1949-1958) Mosaic Records MR5-116 ~Un Poco Loco – Source: Wikipedia.org © 2020 by Edward Thomas Carter

Synopsis

Live in Tokyo is a live album recorded on April 12 & 14, 1976 at Sun Plaza Hall in Tokyo, Japan by pianist Barry Harris and released on the Xanadu record label. The session was produced by Don Schlitten. Harris contributed two songs to this swinging, straight-ahead album, A Soft Spot and Fukai Aijoh in addition to his Dedication In Japanese.

Track Listing | 41:09

1. A Soft Spot – 5:46
2. Round Midnight (Thelonious Monk) – 5:58
3. Tea for Two (Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar) – 4:45
4. Dance of the Infidels (Bud Powell) – 5:43
5. I’ll Remember April (Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye) – 8:39
6. Dedication in Japanese – 1:15
7. Fukai Aijoh – 4:09
8. Un Poco Loco (Powell) – 6:14

Personnel

• Barry Harris – piano
• Sam Jones – bass
• Leroy Williams – drums

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Reginald Foresythe was born on May 28, 1907 in London, England. He played piano from age eight and by the second half of the 1920s was working as a pianist and accordionist in dance bands in Paris, Australia, Hawaii, and California. He wrote music for films by D.W. Griffith and played in Paul Howard’s Quality Serenaders.

In 1930 Foresythe moved to Chicago, Illinois, wrote arrangements for Earl Hines and music for Paul Whiteman. Hines made one of his songs, Deep Forest, a part of his repertory, while Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Adrian Rollini, and Hal Kemp recorded his compositions. He worked in New York City in 1934–35, arranging for Whiteman and recording with Benny Goodman, John Kirby, and Gene Krupa.

Returning to London, Reginald assembled a studio recording group called The New Music of Reginald Foresythe. Between 1933-1936 he recorded for British Columbia and British Decca, usually spotlighting his jazzy tone poems. Among the more well known were Serenade to a Wealthy Widow, Garden of Weed, Dodging a Divorcee, and Revolt of the Yes-Men. His recordings featured reeds and sax, but no horns.

1935 saw Foresythe assembling a one-off session in New York City which featured Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa recording four of his compositions. He also recorded a number of piano solos and piano duets with Arthur Young that included at least three medleys and four arrangements of St. Louis Blues, Tiger Rag, Solitude and Mood Indigo for H.M.V. in 1938.

After serving in the Royal Air Force during World War II, he accompanied vocalists and played solo piano in London in the 1950s. He collaborated with songwriters Andy Razaf and Ted Weems, composing Be Ready with both, Please Don’t Talk About My Man with Razaf, and He’s a Son of the South with Razaf and Paul Denniker. Pianist, arranger, composer, and bandleader Reginald Foresythe passed away in relative obscurity in London on December 28, 1958.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Giuseppi Logan was born on May 22, 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who taught himself to play piano and drums before switching to reeds at the age of 12. At the age of 15 he began playing with Earl Bostic and later studied at the New England Conservatory. In 1964 he relocated to New York and became active in the free jazz scene.

Giuseppi played alto and tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, piano and oboe. He collaborated with Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders and Bill Dixon before forming his own quartet made up of pianist Don Pullen, bassist Eddie Gómez and percussionist Milford Graves. After Pullen’s departure, pianist Dave Burrell joined the group. A member of Byard Lancaster’s band, he also toured with and appeared on recordings by Patty Waters. He recorded two albums for the ESP-Disk record label and later appeared on an album by Roswell Rudd on the Impulse! label.

Beset with personal problems, Logan vanished from the music scene in the early 1970s and for over three decades his whereabouts were unknown. In 2008 he was filmed by a Christian mission group just after he had returned to New York City after years in and out of institutions in the Carolinas. Around this same time filmmaker Suzannah Troy made the first of many short films of Logan practicing in his preferred hangout, Tompkins Square Park. Subsequently, he was the subject of a major piece by Pete Gershon in the spring 2009 edition of Signal to Noise Magazine, which detailed the events surrounding Logan’s “comeback” gig at the Bowery Poetry Club in 2009.

The same year he performed with a group in NYC as part of the RUCMA performance series. Later in the year he appeared in the short documentary film Water in the Boat by David Gutiérrez Camps, where his music improvisations formed the soundtrack of the film. In 2010 Giuseppi began recording again and released an album announcing his return to music on Tompkins Square Records with Matt Lavelle, Dave Burrell, Warren Smith and Francois Grillot. This group performed a concert in Philadelphia with Dave Miller playing for Warren Smith at the Ars Nova Workshop. He went on to record six songs with a group of younger experimental musicians.

Around 2011 he was shot and ended up in a home in Far Rockaway, Queens. Still living in New York and performing as a street musician, reedist Giuseppi Logan passed on April 17, 2020 at a nursing facility in Far Rockaway, Queens from COVID-19.

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