Archive for the ‘Clark Terry’ Category
Jim Hall: Live – (1975 – Verve)
Jim Hall is our greatest living jazz guitarist, and probably one of our greatest jazz musicians, regardless of instrument, to boot. So why, despite being widely acclaimed by jazz aficionados, is he not exactly a household name? It probably has to do with his innately self-effacing demeanor, both on and off the bandstand. Beginning in the late 50’s and continuing on through the 60’s, Hall worked as a sideman, albeit one who was often essentially a “co-leader”, with Jimmy Giuffre, Paul Desmond, Art Farmer, and Sonny Rollins, among others. Even when he began making records more frequently under his own name, he tended to make quiet, intricate, and lovely music as an equal half of a duet: with Bill Evans, Ron Carter, and others. There are relatively few vintage records featuring Hall soloing at length as a leader of a group.
This is why another excellent reissue in the Verve Lp reproduction series, Jim Hall Live!, is so welcome. The music is taken from a series of 1975 club dates at Bourbon Street in Toronto, and features Hall in a trio with Canadians Don Thompson and Terry Clarke, with whom Desmond also made some great Bourbon Street recordings. The three obviously hit it off famously, and it is a pleasure to hear Hall let it rip on these five standards. The group is swinging and appealingly loose, going for broke so much that they get a little confused at the end of “Scrapple From the Apple” and humorously grasp for an ending to “The Way You Look Tonight”.
Although bassist Thompson (who also made the clear and lifelike recording—what did he do, push the faders with his toes?) takes some nice solos (check out the quote of “One Note Samba” in “Angel Eyes”), this is Hall’s show, and he doesn’t disappoint. He combines beautiful single-note phrases with his trademark chordal runs to weave a tapestry of continual invention on a long “Angel Eyes”, caresses the many harmonic possibilities of “‘Round Midnight”, and boppishly burns his way through “Scrapple”. “I Hear a Rhapsody”, taken at a sprightly pace, features some excellent counterpoint soloing by Hall and Thompson. Drummer Clarke provides tasteful, but unobtrusive contributions throughout.
For fans of Hall familiar only with his more mannered playing, this freewheeling live date will be a welcome revelation.
(All About Jazz)
1.Angel Eyes
2.’Round Midnight
3.Scrapple from the Apple
4.Way You Look Tonight, The
5.I Hear a Rhapsody
Personnel:
Don Thompson (acoustic bass);
Clark Terry (drums).
Recorded live at Bourbon Street, Toronto, Canada in June 1975. Originally released on Horizon Records (705). Includes liner notes by Doug Ramsey.
Original Release Date: 1975 – Label: Verve
Clark Terry: Color Changes (1960 – Candid Records)
This is one of flügelhornist Clark Terry’s finest albums. Terry had complete control over the music and, rather than have the usual jam session, he utilized an octet and arrangements by Yusef Lateef, Budd Johnson, and Al Cohn. The lineup of musicians (C.T., trombonist Jimmy Knepper, Julius Watkins on French horn, Yusef Lateef on tenor, flute, oboe, and English horn, Seldon Powell doubling on tenor and flute, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Joe Benjamin, and drummer Ed Shaughnessy) lives up to its potential, and the charts make good use of the sounds of these very individual stylists. The material, which consists of originals by Terry, Duke Jordan, Lateef, and Bob Wilber, is both rare and fresh, and the interpretations always swing.
Scott Yanow (All Music Guide)
Original Release Date: November 19, 1960 – Label: Candid Records
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Colorado Jazz Party "Live at Dick Gibson’s" (1971, Vinyl – BASF)
It is surprising that the music on this LP has not been reissued yet on CD for there are many exciting performances. Taken from Dick Gibson’s 1971 Colorado Jazz Party, there are mini-sets from four separate groups. Trumpeters Clark Terry and Harry “Sweets” Edison lead a six-horn nonet (which includes Zoot Sims’ tenor) for spirited versions of “On the Trail” and “The Hymn.” Terry gets a chance to stretch out with tenor-saxophonist Flip Phillips in a quintet while a similar-sized group showcases the underrated trombonist Carl Fontana and James Moody on tenor. Finally there is a four-trombone septet (with Fontana, Kai Winding, Urbie Green and an effective Trummy Young) performing long versions of “Undecided” and “Lover, Come Back to Me.” Fans of straightahead jazz who run across this two-fer will not need to be told twice to get it.
Scott Yanow
01. Just Squeeze Me
02. The Hymn
03. On the Trail
04. I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
05. Georgia On My Mind
06. Billie’s Bounce
Personnel:
Clark Terry, Harry Edison, Kai Winding, Urbie Green, Zoot Sims, Budd Johnson, Vicotr Feldman, Lyn Christie, Alan Dawson… play On the Trail; The Hymn;
Clark Terry, Flip Phillips, Victor Feldman, Lyn Christie & Cliff Leeman play Just Squeeze Me; I’m Getting Sentimental Over You / Georgia on My Mind / Billie’s Bounce.
(A live Concert recorded in 1971, but not on CD yet)
Across Rhythm 