One day in 1957 Dizzy, Benny & Gigi walk into a studio in NYC...

jazz riches!

I am fortunate enough to be the proud owner of the Mosaic Records boxset "Verve/Philips Dizzy Gillespie Small Group Sessions." I have been listening to it a great deal lately (as you would too!) and one session (of the 15 included in this set!!) that has recently captured me was recorded in 1957 and released as "The Greatest Trumpet of Them All" (and the case that he is the greatest could certainly be made: listen to this or this and the list could go on!).

Like many of the greatest recordings in jazz, it's the band that makes all the difference. Dizzy was always a fine player and one of those players who rarely put out a weak record. For this one, he not only pulled in two of the finest young sax players of the era, but also got them to arrange the eight tracks. Benny Golson on tenor and Gigi Gryce on alto. These men not only play amazing horns, but have that octet playing masterfully.  The arrangements are stellar and show the talents that these two men would continue to display.

an underrated album

Even if you don't want to shell out the $119 for the complete set (or download it from iTunes for $70) , I encourage you to track down this album and enjoy!

Bud Shank and the Mamas & Papas

I have been listening to a lot of Bud Shank lately and why not? Summer is approaching, the sun is shining and surely that's a perfect time to listen to the cool sounds of Bud Shank on flute, alto sax, or occassionally tenor or baritone sax. Over the course of his career he played with many of the greats, especially those other west coast fellows including Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Art Pepper and Shorty Rogers.


What I didn't know, was that he did a lot of studio work in California during the 1960s. The bombshell is that he played that great flute line in 'California Dreaming'. I haven`t heard that song in years but I can still hum that wonderful solo.


I won`t post that song here since you can track that one down on your own.

Instead how about we listen to What'll I Do a great track he recorded with Bob Cooper. I mean, how often are you likely to hear the oboe in jazz? They were an amazing team and I highly recommend trackong down some of their recordings. In fact, Mosaic Records (are you getting tired of my talking about them yet?) put out a set of their recordings which has recently made the transition to a cheaper iTunes edition (called The Capitol Vault Series) and my friends, this music would make a fine soundtrack to your summer.

Albums That All Humans Should Own #6

I had a difficult time deciding on this one; not on the band, since the Art Farmer/Benny Golson Jazztet is one of my favourite bands ever, but the decision was whether I should recommend that you rush out to pick up a single album, or if you are an iTunes user (which has many cheap delights for us jazz aficionados) you can download the incredible Complete Argo Mercury recordings. Since the complete set is somewhat pricey (I see it as a steal at $49.99: it does have 95 tracks of which none are weak) I thought I would go with the single album:

'Meet the Jazztet' (1960) by Art Farmer and Benny Golson is my sixth pick of essential albums that all humans should own.

The band line-up says it all:
Art Farmer on trumpet. He is one of the finest players out there. I love his lyricism and his effortless playing.
Benny Golson on tenor sax. Not only is Benny a great player, he is also one of the best writers/arrangers in jazz. He wrote four of the eleven tracks including 'I Remember Clifford' and 'Killer Joe'.
You also go the wonderful Curtis Fuller on trombone, and for those of you who have been following along you know that I have a fondness for Curtis' playing.
And then you have McCoy Tyner on piano making his recording debut. He would of course go on to play in John Coltrane's wonderful quartet of the '60s as well as having a fine solo career which continues to this day.

The music is top-notch and even though it is a large group, it isn't unwieldy. I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Have a listen to 'Killer Joe'. Cool or what? It captures the group at its finest.

Still, if you want to treat yourself, I recommend dipping into your pocketbook and springing for the complete recordings. You won't regret it. It was formerly a Mosaic boxset which would have cost over $150, so you know that those fine folks have filled this set with riches.
I wish I had never heard this band and could spend a few weeks letting the 95 tracks of this set wash over me as they did when I first heard them. I am envious of those of you who have yet to discover this great band!

The Mysterious Gigi

that must be a hilarious arrangement

I have been thinking a lot about Gigi Gryce lately. One the finest writers, saxophonists and arrangers of the 1950s and '60s, he walked away from jazz to teach public school for reasons that remain mysterious. I love Gigi and could listen to him all day long. There is something extremely intriguing about his playing and I could listen for a week straight (why stop at a single day?) and I'm not sure I'd be any closer to explaining just what it is about his music that pulls me in.

His recordings with Donald Byrd are essential (you can get a good set from iTunes for next to nothing!), but then again, Gigi recorded so little that anything he was involved with is a worthwhile purchase. He also recorded with some of the other finest trumpet players of the era, Art Farmer (another one of my favourites), Lee Morgan (how can you not love Lee?) and Clifford Brown (who died to young, (25), as did Lee Morgan (33) for that matter, but we don't dwell on the negative here, do we? No, let's focus on the music instead of car accidents and murder.)

Not only did he prove that glasses and sweater-vests are extremely cool, (thanks for paving the way, Gigi!) but he left behind a scattering of wonderful music that is just screaming out for someone like Mosaic Records to pull together in some multi-disc retrospective that will help ensure Gigi's lasting legacy.

sweater vests are cool

As a songwriter he wrote a few songs that have become standards including 'Minority' that has been recorded by just about everybody.

Enjoy the music my friends and perhaps you too will become enthralled by Gigi who may or may not have had his house firebombed by gangsters, would have a public school named after him and would change his name to Basheer Qusim. Intrigued? I thought so. Since I miss you so much, I will offer another musical present: Gigi and Monk playing another of his standards, 'Nica's Dream'. I look forward to hearing how much you love it.

Modern Jazz vs. Labour Dispute

one of the greatest quartets of all time

Canada Post is on strike again.

Not only will this cause delays with Emmerson Street Press (I was going to send out promo copies this week!) but it will in all likelihood delay me receiving my long-anticipated Father's Day gift (ordered early in case the limited edition sells out) of Mosaic Records' Modern Jazz Quartet box set.

C'mon folks, settle your differences! There are Canadian jazz aficionados out there who need their mail!

How much MJQ is too much MJQ?

the modern jazz quartet

If I have one weakness it is Mosaic Records. Well... I also have a weakness for strong dark roast coffee.  I try to keep it at two cups a day but that 2:30 cup is often the best.

Mosaic Records puts out amazing jazz box sets full of rarities and unreleased material.  I could go on and on about some sets of the past but I will restrain myself.  Okay, I'll just mention that the Ahmad Jamal set is superb.  I will have to write about him soon.  His drummer Vernel Fournier! A revelation!

Coming soon from Mosaic is this:

The Complete Atlantic Studio Recordings of The Modern Jazz Quartet 1956-64 (7 CDs)

And here's what they say about the MJQ: "That sound. One group conceived it. Defined it. Perfected it. The Modern Jazz Quartet was certainly one of the most distinctive voices in the history of jazz, thanks to the unique qualities of personal expression and collective vision of its members."

And they are very good. They are one of the tightest bands in the history of jazz.  They preferred the concert hall over the nightclub.  These were skilled and serious men, serious about the music and about presenting it with class and dignity.  And the music is strong!  I admit, sometimes I miss a horn player... but Milt jackson sure can ring those bells.

So the question is this: is seven CDs of MJQ too much MJQ?  The set contains fourteen albums! MJQ is not in regular rotation in this house.  I listen to them for a few hours but then I drift away again.  I should admit that I already own MJQ: 40 which is a four CD greatest hits so there is bound to be some overlap...  Surely four discs is enough, right?

Ahhh, who am I kidding. I'm going to buy it.