Squatty Roo / Five O’Clock Whistle – Ray Brown

by | Jun 28, 2019 | Solo/Duo, Trio

Squatty Roo was recorded in 2002 at the Bern Jazz Festival by the Ray Brown Trio.  It’s a kicky little tune written by Johnny Hodges, with Ray of course on bass, Larry Fuller at the piano and Karriem Riggins playing drums.

Five O’Clock Whistle is an exercise in “lyrical bassism” (My term, not theirs).  John Clayton joins Ray Brown in a duo setting that will have you wide-eyed and keen-eared from beginning to end.   This is something you just never hear … but here it is!

Tin Tin Deo – Tommy Flanagan Trio

by | Jun 21, 2019 | Trio

Tin Tin Deo was written by Gil Fuller and Chano Pozo … first recorded by James Moody and His Bop Men.  The song has become a jazz standard but I’ve often wondered, “What does it mean?”  It could be an eggcorn of “te entiendo” which is Spanish for “I understand you.”  Granted, that may be a bit of a stretch but lots of old jazz men named their songs based on what they heard rather than what may have been grammatically correct. It’s no farther out than Charles Mingus’ “Ecclusiastics” or Miles Davis’ “Solar” which many people pronounce so-LAR instead of soler.  This recording features Tommy Flanagan on piano, George Mraz on bass and Lewis Nash drums.

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Big Band

by | Jun 15, 2019 | Big Band

The Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Big Band was formed in New York City in 1965, but performed in countries all around the world for decades, including The Soviet Union during The Cold War years.  Come Sunday is a Duke Ellington composition written in 1942 as part of the first movement of a suite entitled Black, Brown and Beige.  The Groove Merchant is a Jerome Richardson original written for the band’s Central Park North album.

Both tunes performed here are from a September 1969 concert in Soburg, Denmark.  The personnel roster reads like a “Who’s Who” of jazz musicians, most of whom went on to individual greatness with their own bands.  Featured are Thad Jones (flhrn); Snooky Young, Al Porcino, Richard Williams, Danny Moore (tp); Jimmy Knepper, Eddie Bert, Astley Fennell (tb); Cliff Heather (b-tb); Jerry Dodgion, Jerome Richardson (as); Eddie Daniels, Joe Henderson (ts); Pepper Adams (bars); Sir Roland Hanna (p); Richard Davis (b); Mel Lewis (d).

An Earlier, Gentler Sarah

by | Jun 7, 2019 | Vocal

Just two words:  Sarah Vaughan.  That pretty much says it all.  Notice the slight nervousness of a young girl who wasn’t quite yet “Sassy” in this 1958 recording of Lover Man.

Eleven years later, Sarah shows greater polish and raises some goosebumps with Polka Dots And Moonbeams.  Her trio of Johnny Veith (p), Gus Mancuso (b) and Eddy Pucci (d) offer the perfect complement for The Divine One.