RARITY #57

LUCKY THOMPSON AND JACK SELS TRIO & SEXTET
EP "BONGO JAZZ"  -  Germany, 1959

BERTELSMANN SCHALLPLATTENRING 66126 - 7" / MANHATTAN C 66126 # 7"

Another rarity thanks to onxidlib.  Actually, it is not the first occurrence of this record in the blog sphere, it was already posted on the Berlin Beatet Bestes blog in 2010.  By the way, it's an excellent blog that I recommend highly. And I’m very jealous of Andreas who manage to buy this EP for 2 €   (read his story, it’s great fun.  Aren’t we – collectors - all like him?).  Man, you’re lucky! These European Jazz EPs have become highly collectable and can fetch unreasonable prices in auction.  This one is no exception. 

What I did not know was that it had been reissued in the late sixties on a budget LP.  It’s our man onxidlib who found out and ripped it directly from the LP.  

You will find more info on the Berlin Beatet Bestes blog where you can also download the single “Bongo, Bongo, Bongo” by Sam& the Saxtones (aka Jack Sels).  Ils sont fous, ces Germains!

Credits

Lucky Thompson, tenor saxophone & soprano saxophone (2)

Jack Sels, tenor saxophone

Ado Broodboom, trumpet (3 + 4)

Fats Sadi, vibes

Jean Fanis, piano (3 + 4)

Benoit Quersin, bass

Rudy Frankel, drums (3 + 4)

Ghana M'Bow, bongos (1 - 3)

Tracks titles

1. One Cool Night (Lucky Thompson) 2:22

2. The World Awakes (Lucky Thompson) 3:50

3. Ginger (Jack Sels) 2:58

4. Minor Works (Jack Sels) 3:37

Recorded in Köln, Germany on February 7, 1959.

BERTELSMANN SCHALLPLATTENRING 66126 - 7"

MANHATTAN C 66126 # 7"

(vinyl rip from BACCAROLA 79325 ZT - 1969)

I love these sexy covers of budget LPs ! And the music's good too!

Those were the days ...

(with thanks to onxidlib for the rip and the pictures).

UPDATED LINK 19/07/2017

JUNK IN YOUR LIVING ROOM

GOLDEN JAM SESSION AT JUNK

JVC LP CD4B-5049E (4 channel stereo)– Japan 1973

Sleeve notes:

“JUNK” in Your Living Room

At JUNK on the Ginza in Tokyo, famous combos entertain jazz fans with programs stretching from old standard numbers to modern jazz.  Foreign jazz artists too drop in on swings through Japan for visits and off-the-cuff performance.  The club is always filled with Japan’s most fascinated and fascinating jazz fans.

JUNK is also the place where Japan’s leading jazz artists often gather to jam, and this LP is the result of a recording of one of those sessions using the breadth of CD-4 to capture the fans’ excitementas well as the players unbeatable performance.

The moment you put this record on, your living room will be filled with the sounds and excitement of jazz at JUNK.

Makoto Hasegawa

Producer

Musicians

Hidehiko Matsumoto : tenor sax

Eiji Kitamura : clarinet

Akio Mitsui : trumpet & vocals

Koichi Kawabe : trombone

Shuzo Kibo : guitar

Ryusei Matsuzaki : vibraphone

Yuzuru Sera : piano

Hachiro Kurita : bass

Isamu Harada : drums

Tracklist

A1       Love Is Here To Stay

A2       Rose Room

A3       Just A Gigolo

A4       Star Dust

B1        By The Time I Get To Phoenix

B2        I'll Remember April

B3        Stars Fell On Alabama

B4        Take The "A" Train

I did not separate the tracks because it is a jam session and there are spoken parts by the musicians between the songs.  In Japanese, of course!

You will get two files, one for each side.

Ripped in WAV from original japanese LP .

PARIS, 1957 - TWO FRENCH MAINSTREAM GIANTS

LAFITTE – PERSIANY

“LES CLASSIQUES DU JAZZ – VOL.2”
(LP Columbia, Jazz Stars Series, France, 1957)

Two Masters of Mainstream Jazz in Europe: saxophonist Guy Lafitte (1927-1998) and pianist André Persiany (1927-2004).  Both are jazz legends in their native France but are not especially well-known outside of France and neighboring countries.

GUY LAFITTE was a tenor in the school of Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins and Don Byas. At the beginning of his career he worked and recorded with Mezz Mezzrow (1951–1952) and toured with Big Bill Broonzy in 1951.

In 1954 Lafitte made Paris his home, and worked with Lionel Hampton and Emmett Berry. Lafitte had also been a collaborator on various other projects with musicians such as Wild Bill Davis and Bill Coleman.

ANDRE PERSIANY: Born André Paul Stephane Persiani in Paris on November 19, 1927, he was a versatile jazz accompanist who led his own groups from 1946 on. Influenced by Milt Buckner, Persiany played in the pianist/organist's familiar locked-hands style. He recorded in Paris with American expatriates like Sidney Bechet, Buck Clayton, Lionel Hampton, Bill Coleman and Mezz Mezzrow until 1956, when he came to America. Persiany spent most of the 1960s working in trumpeter Jonah Jones' quartet.

Persiany's career hit a peak in the 1970s after he returned to France. His expat collaborations continued with Buckner, Cat Anderson, Arnett Cobb, Buckner, Charlie Shavers and Budd Johnson. Among Persiany's own recordings were Swinging Here and There (1958, Pathé), The Real Me (1970, Black & Blue) and Every Night at Furstemburg (1977, Open).

Thanks to Onxidlib for the rip of this classic French LP.

Credits

Guy Lafitte, tenor saxophone

André Persiany, piano

Paul Rovere, bass

Christian Garros, drums

Tracks

Side A:

01. I'm Coming Virginia

02. St. James Infirmary

03. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

04. Dear Old Southland

05. When It's Sleepy Time Down South

06. I Ain't Got Nobody

07. Ain't Misbehavin

Side B:

08. I've Found A New Baby

09. Frankie And Johnny

10. Chicago

11. Sugar Blue

12. Baby Won't You Please Come Home

13. Rockin' Chair

14. Squeeze Me

Recorded in Paris on October 28 (tr.3, 4, 9, 13) & October 29 (all other tracks), 1957.

COLUMBIA FPX 145

Vol.ume 1 is already floating in the blogsphere.  See link in the comments (with thanks to cvllos)

MAINSTREAM JAZZ PIANO

16 SWINGIN’ STANDARDS

PLAYED BY JOHN EVANS AND REINHOLD SVENSSON

LP OMEGA SL-49  (rec. 1958, issued c. 1961)

When it comes to unearthing really obscure jazz records, few could beat our friend Paul D.  Today’s posting is a delightful album that should please all fans of Mainstream Jazz Piano.  

It is also very rare!

One side is devoted to Belgian pianist Jean Evans (aka John Evans for the English-speaking public), the other to a Swedish pianist: Reinhold Svensson.

There is no detail of the sessions on the record sleeve but Paul D. volunteered the following info, courtesy of W. Bruyninckx’s discography:

• Side A : John Evans (p) prob. Clement De Mayer (b) prob. Armand Van De Walle (d, perc) à Bruxelles en 1958.
  
• Side B : Reinhold Svensson (p) Pär Grip (b) Robert Edman (d) à Örebro en Suède en 1958.

The Brussels session was recorded around the same time as a series of Francis Bay Big Band albums on the OMEGA label.  Omega's Francis Bay series (recorded at the Brussels World's Fair) was the label's most ambitious original recording project. Omega travelled to Belgium to produce these spectacularly lifelike recordings. 

Jean ("John") Evans played piano in the Francis Bay Band.  His side (all from "Porgy and Bess") was intended to be OSL 36, but instead a second pianist was added (via Phonotapes, Omega's Swedish distributor) and the combination became OSL 49. 

Evans’ rhythm section was Francis Bay Big Band rhythm section.  They would later on become the nucleus of the BRT Jazz Orchestra and you may also recognize them as rhythm team of  The Clouds.

John Evans (Antwerp, 1927 – Brussels, 1984) was born Jean Evens but changed his name to John Evans as it sounded “more  jazz”.  He accompanied and married singer Martha Love, who recorded also with Francis Bay Big Band.  In addition to this session for OMEGA, he also recorded under his own name for Directional Sound (1958) and Palette (1983).  He recorded extensively with Francis Bay (source: Dictionnaire du Jazz en Wallonieet a Bruxellles).

Reinhold Svensson (Husum, 1919 – Sundbyberg,1968), blind from shortly after birth, trained as a piano tuner and ultimately became a jazz pianist.  He recorded from the early 40s until the early 60s. Some of the greatest names in Swedish Jazz played in his band (Putte Wikmans, Rolf Ericson, Lars Gullin to name a few.)..

SL-49 alternate cover

Putting my national pride aside (I 'm one of the last Anciens Belges), I feel that Reinhold is a more advanced pianist compared to Evans.  I really dig his reading of I’ll remember April (Am I the only one to hear a slight Tristano’s influence there?).

Reinhold Svensson

Tracks:

Evans: It Ain't Necessarily So / Summertime / I Love You Porgy / A Woman Is a Sometime Thing / There's a Boat Dat's Leaving For New York / My Man's Gone Now / Bess You Is My Woman Now / I Got Plenty o' Nothin'

Svensson: What Is This Thing Called Love? / Long Ago and Far Away / Too Late Now / All of Me / Love Walked In / Love Me or Leave Me / I'll Remember April / Tenderly

RARITY # 30

BENNY BAILEY ALL STARS / JOE SCHMID COMBO
ARIOLA 65 122 A (EP)  
Germany / Switzerland, c.1960?

 Considering (i) the nearnest of the end of the world (less than one month left!) and (ii) the fact that free file-sharing is becoming more and more difficult (see Rapidshare new regulations / limitation of free use), I guess I better post what I have while it lasts.

So here is another obscure 45 rpm from Onxidlib's box of surprises.  No need to introduce Benny Bailey and his mates but I'd never heard of the Joe Schmid Combo.  

The A-side is the interesting one. Can't go wrong with a straight blues. Everybody has a short solo (but the bass player, that's not fair!) then the coda and that's it. Short but enjoyable!

The B-side is more lightweight, 50's middle jazz with  vibes and a good flute solo.  Couldn't find any info on the musicians on the web.  

Side A:  Benny Bailey All Stars

Benny (Billy!) Bailey, trumpet
Rudi Flierl, baritone saxophone
Albert Mangelsdorff, trombone
Horst Jankowski, piano
Günther Leimstoll, guitar
Götz Wendlandt, bass
Joe Harris, drums

"Tootie's Blues" (Simon)  3:21

Recorded in Berlin on September 29, 1959.

Side B: Joe Schmid Combo (from Zürich, Switzerland)
(unknown vb, bs, fl, b, dr, as)

"Exactly Like You" (Mc. Hugh)  2:26

Recording date and place unknown.

ARIOLA 65 122 A (EP)

DANISH PASTRIES

Niels Jorgen Steen’s Beatkapel Plays Jazz
(Denmark, 1976)

An album of good time Jazz found last year in Brussels.  I must confess that I was totally unfamiliar with these musicians but the album looked OK the track list had a few hard swinging favorites (Gee and Hey Lock to name a couple). It was pretty cheap (found in a second-hand bookshop that had a few LPs, not a specialist shop), I decided to pick it up and was pleasantly surprised.  It is middle-jazz but of the very swinging variety. 

It seems that the Beatkapel was a very popular band in the 70s in Denmark. These guys are swinging like there was no tomorrow and the interplay between the musicians are quite enjoyable and something special.

I could not find much info on the Net  in any language I know.  I found some info on Niels Jorgen Steen on the Danish version of Wikipedia.  Here is what I could make out of it: 

Niels Jorgn Steen (born 1939) is a Danish pianist and band leader, active in Jazz since the late fifties.  He played regularly with the Arnvid Meyers Orchestra,  a dance / jazz band which had occasionally guests of the caliber of Ben Webster or Harry Edison.  During the Seventies, he led the Beatkapel and, for a while, the Danish Radio Big Band.  As from 1987 he became part of the A-Team,  an informal big band featuring the cream of the Danish Jazz musicians, such as Peter Thorup and Bobo Moreno.

Info in English on tenor sax Jesper Thilo can be found  here.

Niels Jørgen Steen's Beatkapel plays Jazz - RCA (S) YDLP1-716

Musicians
Jesper Thilo (ts) Niels Jørgen Steen (p) Torben Munk (g) Hugo Rasmussen (b) Ove Rex (d) Asger Rosenberg (vcl-1)
Copenhagen, August   1976







Tracks
• Cherokee 
• How high the moon-
• Gee
• Wait around 
• I cried for you (1)
• Lang Kedelig blues
• Hey Lock 
• Cotton tail 
• Ghost of a chance
• Flat foot floogie

It is very hard not to get in a damn good mood listening to the music on this album.

Note : the entire session was re-issued on CD with bonus tracks on Music Mecca (DK) CD1010-2. Get it if you can!

RARITY # 26

GUY LAFITTE, SON SAXO-TENOR, SON ORCHESTRE
arrangements d’ANDRE PERSIANNY
(25 cm – Pathé ST 1057, FRANCE – 1954)

As far as I know this French 10” has never been re-issued.  It’s a shame as it documents the great French tenor sax GUY LAFITTE (1927-1998) at the beginning of his “middle jazz” career.  He recorded earlier but in a “trad” style, with Mezz Mezzrow (1951-52) and Big Bill Broonzy (1951).  By the way, Mezz was probably one of jazz most over-rated musicians (at least in Europe) for a long time.  Luckily he’s almost forgotten now. Nevertheless reading his highly fictionalized “autobiography” - Really the Blues – is great fun, much more than listening to his dreadful records anyway).

GUY LAFITTE was France’s best exponent of the Coleman Hawkins school of tenor.
An added bonus of this album is the playing anmd arrangements of Andre Persiany (1927-2004), a French middle-jazz pianist very much influenced by Milt Buckner’s locked-hands style.

The rip posted here was sent by  occasionnal collaborator and fellow blogger “Moi meme”.  Bear in mind that this album is close to 60 years old and therefore far from mint.  There are a few clicks and skips but it is most probably the only chance you’ll have to listen to this album – unless you’re ready to spend a fair amount of dough if it ever pops up on a list or on e-bay.

CREDITS
Guy Lafitte ts
Guy Longnon tp
Benny Vasseur tb
Low Reed bs (“Low Reed” is actually an alias for French baryton bopper Michel de Villers)
William Boucay as
Al Buddy Banks b
André Persiany p
Jacques David dr

TRACKS
1. You can depend on me
2. Cynthia’s in love
3. Love me or leave me
4. Reminiscing mood
5. My ideal
6. My serenade#
7. Stay cool

TRIVIA
According top the discography, another track was recorded during the session - "Blues for Vidi" – which did not make it to the 10’’ Pathé ST1057 but could be found on an even rarer EP (Pathé EP34) containing three titles from the 10’’ plus "Blues for Vidi".  Considering that the 10’’ is already pretty rare, good luck to locate a copy of the EP!

Even if you do not know Lafitte you’ve probably heard him already.  In 1961, Martin Ritt directed the famous film PARIS BLUES featuring Sidney Poitier as a saxophone player.  In all the scenes where he is seen and heard playing saxophone, he was actually dubbed by Guy Lafitte.

With thanks to "moi même".

SWEDISH DELIGHT

BERT DAHLANDER

JAZZ WITH A SWEDISH ACCENT

(Everyday, 1976)

 Another very rare album from Paul D.'s mythical treasure vault. This time an LP recorded in 1971, in Sweden, by Swedish-born / US resident drummer Bert Dahlander.

The album was posted briefly on the FJD blog in non-downloadable format.  I copy its introduction to the album, I wouldn't write it better (I hope the FJD blog owner won’t mind): 

“Never judge a record by its cover. That's the lesson you'll learn if you ever get the chance to spin Swedish drummer Bert Dahlander's "Jazz With A Swedish Accent" (which you never will, because I'm the only one on earth who owns it). Despite looking straight out of the Fernwood Tonight show, this is is very swingin' jazz record with strong sax work, memorable compositions (by Dahlander himself) and, most suprising, a funky Hammond organ that wouldn't be out of place a the old Five Spot (…)

I wish to add just two comments

(i)                even more surprising than the funky Hammond, is Lill Magnus’ boppish accordion somewhat reminiscent of Matt Matthews or Art Van Damme.

(ii)             No mate, you're not the only one on earth owning this album, there are actually two people in the world owning a copy of this album : you and Paul D.

Tracks and credits: see sleeve. All composition by Bert Dahlander

Nils-Bertil Dahlander was born May 13, 1928 in Göteborg, Sweden to Nils and Engla Karlmark Dahlander.

As a young child he was given piano and violin lessons, but he loved rhythm and became an internationally acclaimed jazz drummer. When he was 14, his parents gave him a book on Picasso, which fueled his interest as an artist. In Sweden, he led a quartet and played in a radio band. After making some recordings with celebrated Swedish jazz musician Lars Gullin in 1951 and 1952, his interests turned to the United States. He came to New York in 1958, knowing no one and unable to speak English. He started playing at the Metropole, the “jazz center” of New York. As he built his reputation, he became friends with legendary jazz drummers Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. He also signed an endorsement with the drum maker Slingerland, supplying him with his drums. Bert eventually met and played with people such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Dave Brubeck. He was a member of Chet Baker group, and was in a trio with Teddy Wilson.

Bert also had a love for painting. His paintings were inspired by his music and he named several of them after songs. He often painted after playing until two or three in the morning to relax. He never did like to sell his paintings because “You can never replace a painting.”

Bert died at the age of 83, on Monday, June 6, 2011, in Mesquite, Nevada.

(Source: obituary).

OOP album. Link in comments (WAV).

By the way, I haven't received much  comments - if any - on the recently posted albums.  If you download the music, just say Thanks, it will be appreciated.  

RAW JAZZ

TOMMY BOYLE & THE RAW JAZZ QUARTET
(self-produced CD, THAILAND)

I've never been to Phuket. Tourists spots do not really appeal to me. Anyhow, yesterday night I was invited by a friend and colleague for dinner at her place here in Rabat.  While she was organising the food, I had a glance thru' a pile of CDs, leftover by her landlord.  I desperated to find anything listenable among the Pavarotti's, Carreras and other popular classics. Then I found this CD, obviously purchased during a holiday in Phuket.  I did not know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised.   A clever mix of tunes, standards but nothing too obvious.


So fix yourself a Margarita or any other drink, preferably with an olive and a little umbrella, play this album and relax in the couch dreaming of Thailand's most famous tourist beach.  Blue skies, emerald sea, silky sand, gentle breeze ... Enjoy!
By the way, the dinner was absolutely gorgeous!  Thanks Isabel!


Credits: 
Stephanie Haynes   vocals
Bolek Peplowski     tenor sax
Tommy Boyle         piano
Jay Farmer              bass
Peter Amaral          drums

Tracklist

1. Cedar's Blues 
2. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got no swing
3. Our love is here to stay
4. Lullaby of the leaves
5. Gentle Rain
6. In the wee small hours of the morning
7. Social call
8. Pent Up House
9. I Fall in Love too easily
10. Darn that dream
11. Pick Yourself Up
12. Agua De Beber

RARITY # 7

RARITY # 7 : Swingin’ with HELMUT BRANDT COMBO vol. 1
(EP, Metronome, Germany, 1958)

 Another obscure EP from the vault of Paul D.  I must confess that I was completely ignorant of Mr Helmut Brandt very existence in the realm of jazz and when I googled his name, the only info I got was about a German politician.  I tried again, googling “Helmut Brandt – jazz” and managed to get some sparse info

Helmut played tenor saxophone and clarinet as the leader of an amateur dixieland group, entertaining American troops after World War II. He won enormous popularity in the American jazz clubs, made many recordings, appeared as an honoured guest at jazz festivals and played with many international jazz stars, amongst them Miles Davis, Lester Young and Albert Mangelsdorff.

His Helmut Brandt-Combo was the leading source of jazz in Germany in the 1950s. Then he joined the RIAS Bigband as musician and chief arranger.

 In 1974 he started his Mainstream Orchestra, that eventually became an institution of the Berliner jazz scene. His compositions and arrangements —specifically Mainstream and Cool Jazz in character, and his unusual line-up of baritone saxophone, 2 flügelhorns, trombone, guitar, bass und drums made every appearance of this excellent jazz group a big attraction.

The high spot of Helmut's activities was his Symphonic Poem for Big Band and Symphony Orchestra, first performed in 1998. This large symphonic work blends classical music with popular music and represents a milestone in the German musical culture of this century.

One of the jazz legends of Germany, in 2000 he received the Bundesverdienstkreuz (German Service Medal) for his life's work.

Helmut Brandt died unexpectedly of a heart attack in Stuttgart on the 26th of July, 2001 aged 70.
(taken from the website jazzprofessional ).
Additional info on Mr Brandt can be found here and here. 

 Tracks:

01.  Honeysuckle rose

02.  Cherry

03.  Sie will nie blumen

04.  Manhattan

As the tracklist clearly indicates, the music is Swing / Mainstream.  I especially like the ballad “Manhattan” with Helmut on tenor.

  Credits: 

Helmut Brandt          clarinet, tenor sax

Gerd Mann               vibraphone, piano

Eric Gerosh               double bass

Heinrich Schroder    drums

 Very rare indeed. 

A copy of this EP is  currently on sale on e-bay for the very modest sum of US$ 129.99

RARITY # 6 : CARL-HENRIK NORINS ORKESTER (1958)

CARL-HENRIK NORINS ORKESTER
feat. ROLF BILLBERG - (EP HMV 7EGS89, Norway, 1958)

A rare treat again from the vault of Paul D. Scandinavian jazz this time. A pretty rare EP on HMV Norway dating from 1958 which, to the best of my knowledge, is not available on any CD.

Carl-Henrik Norin, 1920-67, jazz musician (tenor saxophonist and arranger). Norin emerged during his time with Thore Ehrling 1941-48 as one of Sweden's foremost saxophonists. He played in the radio band 1956-57. During the years 1948-62 Norin had his own big band at Nalen, after which he led a popular dance-oriented band. Norin wrote, inter alia, "Zero-Zero", theme song of the TV show "Hylands Corner".  For more details on Norin's life and career, Paul D. has added some interesting biographical notes in the file.

Track listing:

A1. Stella by Starlight (Carl-Henrik Norins Orkester – solist: Rolf Billberg)

A2. Mumin (Carl-Henrik Norins Orkester – solist: Rolf Billberg)

B.1. Blue and Sentimental (solist: Carl-Henrik Norin)

B.2. This can’t be love (Carl-Henrik Norins Orkester)

Credits:

Carl-Henrik Norin (leader, tn) Jan Allan (tp) Rolf Billberg (as) Torsten Wennberg (bar) Lars Bagge (p) Lars Pettersson (b) Sture Kallin (d)

Recorded in Stockholm in 1958.