Clark Terry - Clark Terry

Clark Terry is often seen as one of the "elder statesmen" of the bop movement. I can't argue with that. His records "In Orbit" and "Serenade To A Bus Seat" are untouchable. Perfect examples of their craft. But outside of that I have found very little Terry that has captured my attention. And lets face it, his signature tune "Mumbles" is little more than a novelty number.

Now lest you think I am bashing Mr. Terry let me tell you that he has appeared on many, many records that I dig immensely. When I had a chance to see him several years ago, in what basically amounted to a large meeting room at a local hotel, I jumped at the chance, and kick myself to this day for not sticking around after the show to meet the man personally.

I found this record while digging through the basement of an "antique shop" in Geneva, Il. many years ago. The list of records I found there would make many drool with envy, but I digress.

At the time I was snapping up anything that even sounded remotely African influenced. And so I came to own this awesome lp. Nothing like anything I had heard from Terry before. Much earlier and full of fire, this record still finds its way to the turntable far more than the "classics".

Of course the outstanding cast of characters supporting him on this lp doesn't hurt one bit. This is terry's first outing as a leader.

Clark Terry - self titled
1. Swahili
2. Double Play
3. Slow Boat
4. Co-op
5. Kitten
6. The Countess
7. Tuma
8. Chuckles

Clark Terry - trumpet
Horace Silver - piano
Oscar Pettiford - cello
Wendell Marshall - bass
Art Blakey - drums
Jimmy Cleveland - trombone
Cecil Payne - baritone sax

Recorded Jan 3-4, 1955

EmArcy MG- 36007

mono copy

Stanley Turrentine - Sugar

Last nights over-indulgence resulted in the posting of the fairly common lp A Chip Off The Old Block, but what you need to realize is that to post these lps, they have to be recorded. 99% of what is posted is from my vinyl lps.

So at the same time last night, I burned this as well. And I am sharing it with you. Again I doubt seriously if you would have any trouble seeking out a digital copy of this, but that is not the same as an analog burn is it?

I'd even bet there is a better copy of this over at the excellent CTI Never Sleeps blog.

But for better or worse here is my copy for all. I have been carrying this lp around for the better part of 30 years. This record was my impetus to see Turrentine, I believe on campus at a small hall in Champaign, Il, in the late 70's. I was a member of the minority as white dudes just did not dig this stuff. And I thought at the time that the version of Little Green Apples he did, rocked.

Without a doubt this has long been a favorite album cover of mine. Perfect in it's decadence.

Stanley Turrentine - Sugar

1. Sugar
2. Sunshine Alley
3. Impressions

Stanley Turrentine - tenor sax
Billy Kaye - drums
Butch Cornell - organ
Lonnie L. Smith, Jr - electric piano
George Benson - guitar
Freddie Hubbard - trumpet
Ron Carter - bass
Richard "Pablo" Landrum - conga

recorded at Van Gelder studios, November 1970

CTI 6005

Stanley Turrentine - A Chip Off The Old Block

Sometimes one of the best things about running this blog is just digging through the lps, trying to find something different, something obscure - and of course OOP. So many lps go in and out of print it is hard to keep track.

And sometimes, at 10 o'clock at night, you stumble across an lp that you haven't played in forever, probably not all that hard to come by, and just fucking flat out makes you grin.

Guinness in moderation was absent this evening, and I came home and played this. I am now compelled to share it with all you.

What can you say about this lp? Everything about radiates a good time. Even the grin on T's face as he cops a ridiculous pose.

Stanley Turrentine - A Chip Off The Old Block

1. One O'Clock Jump
2. Midnight Blue
3. Blues In Hoss' Flat
4. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
5. Cherry Point

Blue Mitchell - trumpet
Stanley Turrentine - tenor sax
Shirley Scott - organ
Earl May - bass
Al Harewood - drums


BLP-4150, from the Blue Note lp.

Gateway 2

You know sometimes dinner music does not have to be boring. This is a great record for a candlelit dinner - well at least I hope so because I intend to try it out this weekend.

It took me years to find the value in most ECM recordings.
I really like this recording despite my cringing attitude to jazz guitar.

Whatta ya think? I'm thinking curried corn and tomato soup, fresh spinach salad a light flaky white fish, some grilled asparagus and baby corn, and a small side of portabello cous-cous with oyster sauce. Candles and flowers. If that won't get me a little attention nothing will.

But back to the lp - once again taken from the vinyl copy...

John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette
Gateway 2

1. Opening
2. Reminiscence
3. Sing Song
4. Nexus
5. Blue

Dave Holland - bass
John Abercrombie - electric and acoustic guitars
Jack DeJohnette - drums, piano

recorded 07/77...Oslo, Norway

ECM-1-1105

John Graas - john graas!

Well here's a record that I damn sure couldn't find an image for. Lots of Graas' lps, but not even a photo of the man himself.
(Update - even though it is a small photo - thanks to a couple of folks who directed me to it. This is the cover of the lp I posted.) Thanks one and all for checking in.

This Mercury release is sorta self titled but carries the impressive subtitle "Engrossing Experimental Music From The Foremost French Hornist In Jazz" Lofty stuff!

The list of players is a veritable who's who of west coast cool. If you are a fan of that this lp is for you.

Be forewarned - this lp is the first in a series of what I will refer to as "dollar lps". I will not be fixing them up (I don't have the means at this time,) - they will be chock full of pops and crackle. It's just the way it is. I would never be unhappy if someone found one of these recordings and attempted a clean-up. Good luck to ya.

Unfortunately this first offering seems to be light on the credits, which are only referred to through the liner notes. I will set forth as much info as I can.

Although this record may seem dated - it is damn fun. Warts and all....

John Graas
john graas!

1. Van Nuys Indeed
2. Developement
3. Land Of The Broken Toys
4. Swing Nicely
5. Walkin' Shoes*
6. Blues Street
7. Rogeresque*
8. Blocksounds

John Graas - french horn
Conte Candoli - trumpet
Art Pepper - alto, tenor* sax
Bob Cooper - tenor sax, oboe
Buddy Collette - baritone sax, flute
Paul Moer - piano
Larry Bunker - drums, xylophone, tympani
Buddy Clark - bass
Red Callender - tuba
Pete Candoli - trumpet

Mercury SR 80200

Johnny Griffin - you leave me breathless

I seem to be on a bit of a Black Lion roll lately. Well maybe not from where you're standing but here around chez hook it's been relentless.
But, goddam, what a bunch of records! I grabbed them when I could and never found disappointment.

Here's another that completely rocks my little world.

Griffin was one of those guys that seems to leave the tune behind, working on chords and shit I don't even understand. Sure 'trane did the same thing but I seemed to have always been able to wrap my head around Trane. Perhaps it was because of the early exposure.

Negotiating chord changes - I have no idea what that means. I think Griffin rolled out some muscular versions of these songs and has kept my interest. I think these ex-patriots were having a blast relishing in the accolades showered on them in Europe at the time and the bonus has been these great recordings.

There are some fine romps here, but it is the 12 minute, subtlety menacing ballad "Old Folks" that has always captured my imagination.

Johnny Griffin
you leave me breathless

1. rhythm-a-ning
2. old folks
3. wee
4. you leave me breathless
5. leave me alone blues

johnny griffin - tenor sax
kenny drew - piano
nils henning orsted - bass
albert heath - drums

march 30/31 - 1967
monmatre jazzhuis, copenhagen

BL-304

Sonny Stitt and the Giants

A really cool record for several reasons. First it is up to Stitt's usual high standards.

As you probably know the comparisons between Stitt and Bird were the main reason Stitt switched to the tenor as his main instrument. On this outing he switched back to the alto.

Which is the second reason this record shines. Stitt's choice to pick up the alto for this session are his cohorts, The Giants, all veterans of Parker's bands.

The first two tracks are outstanding blues work outs by the whole band. Loverman sees the band with just Stitt on a song made infamous by Bird.

Satin Doll is the rhythm section's chance to shine, while they join McGhee on Don't Blame Me.

The blues reassert themselves as the entire band closes out on a clever choice, Hello.

Sonny Stitt & The Giants

1. Night Work
2. Matter Horns
3. Loverman
4. Satin Doll
5. Don't Blame Me
6. Hello

Sonny Stitt - alto sax
Howard McGhee - trumpet
Walter Bishop, Jr - piano
Tommy Potter - bass
Kenny Clarke - drums

Recorded at Turicop Studios, Zurich
18th October 1967

Black Lion records BL-307

And a big thanks to rviti for locating this cover for me!!!

Stan Levey w/ Dexter Gordon

As a bonus tonight I am also putting up this little gem - credited to Stan Levey but the star here is Dexter Gordon, who recorded rarely in the 50's due to his addiction.
I love the fact that this lp starts off with a short drum intro and finishes off with a long one. Not so long as to be uninteresting and of course, including that last flurry of activity from all the participants.

Now lets see how this works. The original 1955 lp is next to impossible to find. As far as I know it was not reissued again until 1978, 23 years after the original pressing, and the copy from which this was recorded. It is now 2009, making my copy 31 years old. One would think that if someone saw fit to reissue a record after 20+ years, that a copy of that record over 30 years later would have some value other than artistic. Sadly the digital revolution would make this point moot.

Or not. Because no one seems fit to keep this little gem in print. And it really is about the art, isn't it?

Stan Levey
Stanley The Steamer

1. Diggin' For Diz
2. Ruby, My Dear
3. Tune Up
4. La Chaloupee
5. Day In - Day Out
6. Stanley The Steamer
7. Max Is Makin' Wax

Stan Levey - drums
Conte Candoli - trumpet
Dexter Gordon - tenor sax
Frank Rosolino - trombone
Leroy Vinnegar - bass
Lou Levy - piano

Bethlehem BCP-6030

Don Patterson with Booker Ervin

Is this "soul jazz"? Is this "acid jazz"? Why does it have to be so complicated?

There is just something so beefy sounding about and organ/tenor trio, isn't there? I mean when I think trio I usually think of something light, with a lot of space. Well there is plenty of space here and they know how to use. Not much on the lightness though. Slow jams just meant for the late nightclub crowd.
Or better yet, never meant to be played in public. Perfect for when you bring that special friend home and serve up the nightcaps. Make hers strong, and by the time you get to side two make sure the music is turned up just enough that conversation is secondary and groovin' is mandatory.

The Exciting New Organ of Don Patterson with Booker Little

1. S'bout Time
2. Up In Betty's Room
3. Oleo
4. When Johnny Comes Marching Home
5. The Good Life

Don Patterson - organ
Billy James - drums
Booker Ervin - tenor sax



ripped from the original Prestige lp, 1964, PR 7331

Introducing Carl Perkins

Can there be anything more tragic that the opening lines of the liner notes for this lp? "Carl Perkins was born in Indianapolis on August 16, 1928 and died unglamourously in March 1958 aged 29."
A revered sideman for Curtis Counce, Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper and Harold Land, this is his only recording in the classic trio format.
You know lots of people overcome lots of difficulties but this dude was stricken by polio - a disease unheard of these days - and still played the piano even though he had to keep his left arm parallel to the keyboard. Rather than let this hinder him, he used his elbow to strike bass notes that no one else could even fathom reaching.

Carl Perkins
Introducing

1. Way Cross Town
2. You Don't Know What Love Is
3. The Lady Is A Tramp
4. Marblehead
5. Woody 'n You
6. Westside
7. Just friends
8. It Could Happen To You
9. Why Do I Care
10. Lilacs In The Rain
11. Carl's Blues

Boplicity 8

1984 reissue.
Credits in comments thanks to Mel

Eddie Costa Art Farmer - In Their Own Sweet Way

This is a pretty cool little record. Very short barely clocking in at 31 mins. The copy posted here is also the mono version.

I suspect that Premier, like TCB was licensing these records from other sources. Regardless we have once again a fine little bop session.

Since Costa died in 1962, I would put these sessions somewhere in the late '50s. The appearance of Phil Woods and a young Paul Motain are welcome additions.

I'm pretty sure this is another record that was aquired in the semi-famous trunkload.

Be forewarned, there is a small glitch about halfway through side two.

Eddie Costa & Art Farmer Together
In Their Own Sweet Way


1. Get Out Of The Road
2. In Your Own Sweet Way
3. Big Ben
4. Nature Boy
5. Blues Plus Eight
6. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

Eddie Costa - piano, vibes
Art Farmer - trumpet
Phil Woods - alto sax
Teddy Kotick - bass
Paul Motain - drums

Premier PM-2002

Chet Baker Trio - This Is Always

Sometimes I think I like Chet Baker's later records better than the earlier ones. Here is a man who has established himself and no longer feels the need to prove anything.

Baker's career parallels Art Pepper's in many ways. The excessive drug use should have snuffed the flame many years ago but they both kept putting out great lps right up to the end. The fire may have dimmed a bit but it was always enough to keep you warm and cozy.

This live trio session may be one of my favorite Baker recordings. He seems so comfortable with the group, the venue, the setlist and the audience.

I believe I read somewhere once that this was the second night of an engagement. I would like to hear the first night to see if he pulled that off as calmly or if this recording is more settled.

Chet Baker Trio
This Is Always

1. How Deep Is The Ocean
2. House Of Jade
3. Love For Sale
4. This Is Always

Chet Baker - trumpet, vocals
Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen - bass
Doug Raney - guitar

Recorded live at Montmartre, Copenhagen
10/4/79

SteepleChase SCS 1168