Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Hazy Osterwald was born Rolf Osterwald on February 18, 1922 in Bern, Switzerland. He began his career as a pianist, arranged for Fred Böhler in the late 1930s and joined him as a trumpeter in 1941. Around this time he also worked with Edmond Cohanier, Philippe Brun, Bob Huber, Eddie Brunner and Teddy Stauffer.
Hazy led his own ensemble starting in 1944, recording through the 1970s, with sidemen including Ernst Höllerhagen and Werner Dies. In the late 1940s he recorded with Gil Cuppini and played at the Paris Jazz Fair with Sidney Bechet and Charlie Parker. Trumpeter, vibraphonist, vocalist and bandleader Hazy Osterwald passed away on February 26, 2012 in Lucerne Switzerland.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Bill Le Sage was born William A. Le Sage in London, England on January 20, 1927. His father and two uncles were musicians and he started playing the ukulele at the age of eight, drums at fifteen and taught himself to play the piano.
His career began in 1945 when he led his first sextet. He was then a member of army bands while serving with the Royal Signals. He played piano for the Johnny Dankworth Seven in 1950 but decided to switch to the vibraphone. Leaving in 1954 Bill joined the various small groups led by the drummer Tony Kinsey, until 1961 when he started playing with baritone saxophonist Ronnie Ross, with whom he co-led various line-ups until 1966. During this period, he also played with Kenny Baker’s Dozen and wrote music for television and films.
The 1960s gave Le Sage the opportunity to work with the Jack Parnell Orchestra, the Chris Barber Band, and led his group, Directions In Jazz. His composer credits included scores for the films The Tell-Tale Heart, Tarnished Heroes, The Silent Invasion, Strip Tease Murder and The Court Martial of Major Keller.
He accompanied numerous visiting American musicians, including guitarist Tal Farlow on an annual basis. In 1969, he formed the Bebop Preservation Society Quintet, which he continued for more than two decades and also worked with Barbara Thompson’s Jubiaba and others. Vibraphonist Bill Le Sage passed away in London on October 31, 2001.
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Requisites
Introducing The Afro Blues Quintet Plus One is a 1965 recording on the Mira label. The photograph and cover design was by George Whiteman, exemplifies a typical 1960s post-exotica style. Active as a photographer-designer during the Sixties, he produced covers for both jazz and blues artists, such as Jimmy Reed and B.B. King.
An obscure album from an obscure Los Angeles, California based jazz combo, the surprise is finding how much it swings. Possible reasons: the youthful exuberance of its then-22-year-old leader and vibraphonist Joe De Aguero, the clever arrangements of standards and pop tunes, and the live recording (though no date or location is given).
Some reasons why, on the other hand, it’s not as good as it could be: a sameness to the arrangements (similar chord changes and runs in both “Liberation” and “Together” really stand out), soloing that never stakes its claim, missed opportunities to really add the “Afro” (read: African percussion) that makes up half of its name. The main ingredient here is a gospel swing that infects “Jericho” as well as an inventive take on “Walk On By.”
Young compiles on this recording the following eight compositions: Moses, Liberation, The Monkey Time, Summertime, Jericho, Walk On By, Together, and The “In” Crowd. Long out of print, this album is worth hunting down. #jazz #classic #collectible #music
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Requisites
Blues On The Other Side is a 1962 album recorded by vibraphonist Mike Mainieri on the Argo label at the Van Gelder studios in New Jersey. He is joined by pianist Bruce Martin, bassist Julie Ruggiero and drummer Joseph Porcero, Jr. and this early album proves to be a lively mix of piano and vibes.
Six songs make up this 32 minute and 22 second post-bop album opening with the title track Blues On The Other Side, followed by, If I Were A Bell, Tenderly, B. R. Blues, When I Fall In Love and closing with Waltzin’ In and Out.
Walter Gross, Albert Selden and Frank Loesser composed the songs, Hiroshi Kawasaki mastered the project and the cover photograph was taken by Roy Decarava.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
George Masso was born November 17, 1926 in Cranston, Rhode Island. Most notable for his work from 1948 to 1950 as a member of the Jimmy Dorsey band, but finding the life of a professional jazz musician financially difficult, Masso quit performing following his work with Dorsey and began teaching.
Returning to music in 1973, George recorded and/or performed with Bobby Hackett and Benny Goodman. In 1975 he became member of the World’s Greatest Jazz Band and by the late 1980s and early 1990s, he had recorded with George Shearing, Barbara Lea, Ken Peplowski, Scott hamilton, Warren Vache, Bobby Rosengarden, Woody Herman, Spike Robinson, Bob Haggart, Totti Bergh, Harry Allen and Yank Lawson.
He recorded numerous albums leading sessions on the Sackville, Nagel-Heyer, Arbors, Famous Door, World Jazz and Dreamstreet labels over the course of his career. Trombonist, bandleader, vibraphonist, and composer George Masso, who specialized in swing and Dixieland, rarely performs at 90 years old.
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