Requisites
Focus ~ Bill Hardman | By Eddie Carter
This morning’s discussion is a terrific album by Bill Hardman. Focus (Muse Records MR 5259) is his fourth release as a leader, and a hidden gem in his catalog. Bill was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where his jazz journey began playing with Tadd Dameron while in high school, and after graduating, with Tiny Bradshaw. His first recording with Jackie McLean in 1956 marked the beginning of a career that, although not widely known, earned deep respect in jazz circles for his exceptional trumpet and flugelhorn performances. On this album, Bill’s trumpet is joined by Slide Hampton on trombone (tracks: A2, A3, B1, B3), Junior Cook on tenor sax, Walter Bishop Jr. on piano, Mark Elf on guitar (B2), Stafford James on bass, and Leroy Williams on drums. My copy is the 1980 U.S. stereo release.
Side One is off to the races with Avila & Tequila by Hank Mobley. Leroy opens with a spirited introduction, accompanied by Walter and Stafford, setting the stage for the ensemble’s collective theme. Bill soars through the opening solo energetically. Junior’s following statement is brimming with dynamic energy. Walter maintains the vigorous momentum next, and Leroy charges the finale in a short workout, culminating in the theme’s reprise and fadeout. The sextet eases into the medium melody of Cubicle by Walter Bishop Jr. Bill gets into a good groove on the lead solo. Slide has an outstanding moment before Junior takes over to put his ideas into practice. Walter wraps it up before the restatement and exit.
Up next is Bill Lee’s Too Little, Too Late. The sextet’s medium-tempo introduction and melody start things off. Bill gets things going with a relaxing interpretation, then Slide moves with unhampered ease in the following solo. Junior jumps into a short, articulate statement next, and Walter wraps things up with a satisfying conclusion, preceding the closing chorus. The title tune, Focus by Tadd Dameron, changes the direction to begin the second side with the ensemble’s upbeat introduction and theme in unison. Slide steps up first to give a lively solo. Junior glides over the rhythm section with agility and skillful confidence next, then Bill attacks the following reading with virile lyricism. Walter continues conveying happy thoughts on the piano, and Stafford takes a short walk leading to the ending theme.
My One and Only Love by Robert Mellin and Guy Wood begins with Walter’s introduction, setting the mood for Bill’s tender melody with Junior shadowing him as it unfolds. Junior tells a touching story in the opening statement, then Mark delivers notes of great beauty in his only solo spotlight. Bill follows with a passionately haunting interpretation preceding his return to the gentle ending theme and soft climax. Minority by Basheer Qusim takes off like a race car with Leroy leading the sextet into a speedy melody. Bill goes to work first with a spirited solo, then Junior cooks at the right temperature. Slide infuses the following reading with riveting urgency. Walter builds the following statement exquisitely, and Leroy shines in a short workout before the melody’s restatement and finale.
Fred Seibert produced Focus, and the recording engineer was Fred Miller. The album is a joy to listen to, with a superb soundstage that brings the musicians to the sweet spot in your listening room with stunning fidelity. Bill Hardman recorded only five albums as a leader, but his discography as a sideman is extensive, including with Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Lou Donaldson, Charles Mingus, and Horace Silver. He also co-led a group with Junior Cook but ultimately remained little known to the general public. He died on December 6, 1990, from a brain hemorrhage at age fifty-seven. If you’re a hard bop fan, I invite you to check out Focus by Bill Hardman on your next vinyl hunt. It’ll reward you with many hours of listening pleasure, especially if you’re a fan of jazz trumpet!
~ Jackie’s Pal (Prestige PRLP 7068) – Source: Discogs.com
~My One and Only Love – Source: JazzStandards.com
© 2025 by Edward Thomas Carter
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Axel Dörner was born on April 26, 1964 in Cologne, Germany and studied piano in the Dutch town Arnhem, Netherlands and at the Music Academy in Cologne. From 1991 he studied trumpet with Malte Burba, and during his studies collaborated with trumpeter Bruno Light as the Street Fighters Duo.
The duo expanded to form the Street Fighters Quartet and the Street Fighters Double Quartet, with members including Matthias Schubert, Bruno Leicht, and Claudio Puntin. He formed the Axel Dörner Quartet with Frank Gratkowski, Hans Schneider, and Martin Blume, and played with saxophonist Matthias Petzold on the albums Lifelines and Psalmen Und Lobgesänge.
Living in Berlin, Germany since 1994 and is an integral part of the city’s scene of new improvisational and experimental music. Besides playing solo and in his trio TOOT with Phil Minton and Thomas Lehn, he has played with Otomo Yoshihide, and in the groups Die Anreicherung, Ig Henneman Sextet, Ken Vandermark’s Territory-Band, Hedros, and the London Jazz Composers’ Orchestra.
A versatile musician, he has worked in the idiom of bebop, playing on pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach’s album Monk’s Casino, featuring interpretations of the complete compositions of Thelonious Monk.
Trumpeter and pianist Axel Dörner continues to perform and record.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Matt Lavelle was born on April 11, 1970 in Paterson, New Jersey and began his music career with Hildred Humphries, a swing era veteran who played with Count Basie and Billie Holiday.
Playing in ensembles led by Sabir Mateen since 2002, three years later Matt began study with Ornette Coleman. He has been a member of the Bern Nix Quartet since 2010 and recorded with Giuseppi Logan the same year.
In 2011 he created the 12 Houses Orchestra. Lavelle is also a visual artist inspired by his Grandfather Fritz Kluber. He is author of the Substack No Sound Left Behind. Matt published a book titled New York City Subway Drama and Beyond, in 2011. In 2013 he published a short story titled The Jazz Musician’s Tarot Deck.
He has recorded nineteen albums as a leader, and another forty-five as a sideman with Nix and Logan as well as Sumari, Eye Contact, Daniel Carter, Bern Nix, Giuseppi Logan, Matana Roberts, William Hooker, Francois Grillot, Steve Swell, Sabir Mateen, Ras Moshe, Assif Tsahar, William Parker, Charles Waters, Barry Chabala, Earth People, Allen Lowe, D3, Julie Lyon, Tom Cabrera, The Cooperative Sound, Stars Like Fleas, Eric Plaks, and Pete Dennis.
Trumpeter Matt Lavelle, who also plays flugelhorn, alto and bass clarinet, continues to perform, record and tour.
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SEAN JONES, DAVE BALLOU & REX RICHARDSON
Trumpet Project
Music and spirituality have always been intertwined in the artistic vision of trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator, and activist Sean Jones. He has performed at and/or with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis ensemble, SFJAZZ Collective, Jimmy Heath, Frank Foster, Nancy Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Gerald Wilson, and Marcus Miller. He is president of the Jazz Education Network and holds the Richard and Elizabeth Case Chair in Jazz Studies at The John Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute in Baltimore. As well as artistic Director for the NYO JAZZ Program of Carnegie Hall.
Trumpeter/Composer Dave Ballou can be heard in a variety of settings; from solo trumpet improvisations to large ensembles performing notated compositions. Ballou has performed or recorded with ensembles led by Rabih Abou-Kahlil, Steely Dan, Michael Formanek, Woody Herman, Andrew Hill, John Hollenbeck’s Large Ensemble, Sheila Jordan, Oliver Lake, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Dewey Redman and Maria Schneider. Ballou is a Professor of Music at Towson University and member of the Jazz/Commercial music division and director of the Murray Jazz residency.
Renowned as champion of new, genre-busting music featuring the trumpet as a solo voice, Yamaha Performing Artist Rex Richardson was named the 2008 Brass Herald International Personality of the Year, has been called “One of the finest virtuosos of our time” (Brass Herald, 2018). A veteran of the acclaimed chamber ensemble Rhythm & Brass, jazz legend Joe Henderson’s Quintet and Sextet, William Russo’s Chicago Jazz Ensemble, and the world-renowned Brass Band of Battle Creek, his hundreds of soloist appearances include festivals and ensembles on six continents, such as the Phoenix Symphony and Thailand Philharmonic Orchestras, the U.S. Army Field Band and Tokyo Symphonic Winds, England’s Fodens Brass Band, and the U.S. Air Force’s Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble.
Tickets: $35 – $45 | $3.46 – $4.16 Fees
Sows: Thursday ~ 7:00pm | Friday ~ 6:00pm & 8:30pm
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SALUTE TO FREDDIE HUBBARD & CANNONBALL ADDERLEY
Among the giants of jazz’s hard-bop and post-bop eras, Freddie Hubbard and Cannonball Adderley were distinctive pacesetters who stretched their talents while still making exciting, accessible music.
Their profound influence on contemporary headliners trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and saxophonist Vincent Herring cannot be underestimated and this all-star quintet pays tribute to their massive contributions. Last year, Herring and Pelt collaborated with other top NY musicians forming the supergroup Something Else!, named after a classic Cannonball recording.
The Players: Jeremy Pelt ~ Trumpet | Vincent Herring ~ Saxophone | Rick Germanson ~ Piano | Richie Goods ~ Bass | Louis Hayes ~ Drums
Tickets: $35.00 +fee
Saturday 7:00pm Show Sold Out
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