Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Alphonse “Al” Goyens was born October 1, 1920 in Wetteren, Belgium. He took piano lessons as a child but abandoned them at the age of twelve. In 1936, he bought a trumpet and began playing music again, teaching himself and playing with amateur bands. Completing a degree in industrial engineering, he was interned in Germany at the outbreak of the war and had to stop playing. Starting again he played too intensely, which paralyzed his lips, but overcame this situation through careful practice.

His return from captivity saw him a member of orchestras led by Henri Van Bemst and Jean Omer, making his first recordings with the latter. He then joined the orchestra of Léo Souris who played for the American army in Germany. Returning to Belgium, Al joined other musicians to form the Orchestre régulier du Cosmopolite , which gave him the opportunity to perform with major names of the jazz scene who were guests in Brussels.

In 1949 he and his orchestra again toured for the US Army, performing in Germany, the Azores, and the USA. Goyens led his orchestra for nearly a decade from 1949 featuring Jacques Pelzer, Bobby Jaspar, Francy Boland, Jean Warland, Freddy Rottier, and occasionally Don Byas and Kenny Clarke.

Once again he went on to work for the US Armed Forces and later with an international orchestra in Spain and the United States. Al later  arranged and played in the Brussels Big Band. His favorite trumpeters were Clifford Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, and Clark Terry but his playing was more reminiscent of Harry Edison.

Trumpeter, arranger and orchestra leader Al Goyen played flugelhorn, and bugle, who never recorded as a leader, appreciated the sound of the muted trumpet, died on January 30/31, 2008 in Forest/Vorst, Belgium.

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PHILIP HARPER SEXTET

From first tasting fame as one of the ’80’s “Young Lions” and co-leader of the acclaimed Harper Brothers Quintet, trumpeter Philip Harper has always kept great company.

He apprenticed with organ master Jimmy McGriff, then spent two years with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Following the Harper Brothers, he played with giants Benny Golson and Cedar Walton and joined the Mingus Big Band. He’s made over 50 recordings and constantly tours both here and in Europe.

The Band: Philip Harper ~ trumpet & vocals | Rico Jones ~ tenor saxophone | Raphael Silverman ~ guitar | Maki Nientao ~ piano | Jason Maximo Clotter ~ bass | David Hawkins ~ drums

Tickets: $30.00 Student | $35.00 Adult +fee for both

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RONNIE SCOTT’S ALL STARS

It has been named jazz’s greatest year. There was definitely something in the air in 1959, and it wasn’t just NASA: Castro took over Cuba, Buddy Holly died in a plane crash, Pan Am started regular flights around the world, and NASA sent 7 astronauts into space.

Ronnie Scott’s, of course, was founded in 1959. The idea of opening a jazz club along the lines of the intimate and bustling venues of New York’s 52nd Street was hatched by two ardent jazz fans who happened to be very much part of a burgeoning modern jazz movement of the late fifties: tenor saxophonist Ronnie Scott who had since the late forties, wowed the bebop brigade in a series of bands commencing with the nine-piece which featured his business partner to be and fellow saxophonist Pete King.

Three greats of jazz died – Lester Young, Billie Holiday and Sidney Bechet but born out of so much world turmoil were a spate of jazz masterpieces.

In March, Miles Davis created the definitive jazz album in A Kind of Blue. In May, Charles Mingus released an album called Mingus Ah Um – possibly his definitive album. Also in May, Ornette Coleman’s album The Shape of Jazz To Come became ‘the genesis of avant-garde jazz’, and John Coltrane recorded Giant Steps from May to December.

What Miles did for harmonic shifts, The Dave Brubeck Quartet did for rhythmic innovations with Time Out, challenging the acceptable 4/4 and 3/4 time signatures and even creating the hit Take Five with their 5/4 time signature.

Having spent eight months in the Miles Davis Quintet, Bill Evans released Portrait in Jazz in December with Paul Motian and Scott LaFaro, often regarded as one of the greatest jazz trios.

In the show, you can expect to hear a sample of music from all of these genre-defining jazz classics performed by the unmatched Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.

Line-up

Freddie Gavita ~ trumpet
Alex Garnett ~ saxophone
James Pearson ~ piano
Sam Burgess ~ bass
Sebastian de Krom ~ drums

Tickets: £35 ~ £55 | $40.96 ~ $64.36

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THAD WILSON SEPTET

Experience the magic of big band jazz at the historic Whittemore House, a Dupont Circle landmark. The acclaimed Thad Wilson Septet will have you on your feet!

His career has taken him from DC’s Blues Alley to global stages where Wilson and his trumpet have shared the spotlight with jazz legends like James Moody, Wynton Marsalis and Roy Hargrove. A composer, bandleader and film score artist, he brings soul, swing and storytelling to each performance. Returning for an extraordinary performance is vocalist Steve Washington.

Tickets: $55.00

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Requisites

Stablemates ~ Jon Eardley and Al Haig | By Eddie Carter

You really know your godchildren truly care and love you when they surprise you for your birthday with an album by two artists whose music you’re aware of, yet whose records have never found a place in your library. This morning’s spotlight shines on flugelhorn and trumpet player Jon Eardley, who was passing through London on a brief 1977 tour and pianist Al Haig, who was in town to visit friends. The two musicians seized the moment to head into the studio to record their only album together, Stablemates (Spotlite Records SPJ LP11). It was released two years later, and rounding out the ensemble are Art Themen on tenor sax, Daryl Runswick on bass, and Alan Ganley on drums. My copy of this album is the 1979 U.K. stereo release.

The first side opener, Tangerine by Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger, begins with Al’s upbeat piano intro to Jon’s lively melody. Art kicks off the opening solo briskly, then Al flows smoothly into the following reading. Jon entersnext with a strong, assertive tone. Art and Jon share a final conversation leading back to the theme’s reprise and close. Speak Low by Ogden Nash and Kurt Weill raises the temperature with the quintet’s swinging melody. Themen opens the solos with an inspired improvisation that sets the tone. Eardley follows with plenty of bounce and effervescence on the second statement. Themen is off to the races next with impeccable precision, then Runswick and Ganley engage in a spirited exchange until the theme’s restatement fades out.

‘Round Midnight by Bernie Hanighen, Thelonious Monk and Cootie Williams is a quartet showcase that opens with Al and Daryl’s pensive introduction ahead of Jon’s tender melody. Al begins the opening solo with dreamlike softness, then the pace moves upward slightly for Jon’s elegant interpretation before the ensemble’s gentle ending. The second side gets underway with the pianist’s soothing introduction to Embraceable You by George and Ira Gershwin. Eardley states the gentle melody with Themen. In the first solo, Haig offers a tender, thoughtful statement with a soft touch of elegant beauty. Eardley truly shines in the closing reading with notes so deeply heartfelt that it’s bound to move you to tears, leading to Themen’s closing chorus and a gentle climax.

Don’t Blame Me by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh receives a gorgeous treatment by the quintet, beginning with Jon’s slow-paced theme that radiates inviting warmth, and Art’s perfectly placed inserts. Al leads off, skillfully blending composure and gentleness, before Art continues this lovely standard with a solo that truly touches the spirit. Jon delivers an exquisitely soft, poignant horn passage preceding the theme’s return. The beat moves upward on final time for Eardley’s theme to Love Walked In by George and Ira Gershwin. Themen opens the solos with an energetic drive, then Haig contributes a robust interpretation. Eardley matches the intensity with swift execution, and Ganley and Runswick meet on common ground in the closer, leading to the theme’s reprise and climax.

Tony Williams produced the album, and Steve Waldman served as the recording engineer. It delivers an exceptional soundstage, as though the ensemble is performing live in your listening room. The mix is impressively balanced, offering remarkable clarity and fidelity from your speakers. Stablemates is one of six albums Jon Eardley led as a leader, and he contributed as a sideman on ten additional records. Al Haig, meanwhile, led twenty-five albums and played as a sideman on eight more. If you haven’t yet experienced the artistry of Jon Eardley or Al Haig, I highly encourage you to seek out Stablemates on your next search for great jazz records. This outstanding album invites fresh appreciation with each play and remains as relevant today as it was over forty years ago!

~ Don’t Blame Me, Embraceable You, Love Walked In, ‘Round Midnight, Speak Low, Tangerine – Source: JazzStandards.com

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