CAPE JAZZ

CAPE JAZZ CLASSICS (South Africa, 1995.)

I love South African Jazz.  This is amother CD I picked up in Jo’Burg in the early 00’s.

Don’t dismiss it as some cheap Gallo compilation, this is a selection of live tracks by some of Cape Town Icons (Basil “Mannenberg” Coetzee, Robbie Jansen, Winston “Makunku” Ngosi, Hilton Schilder  …). There is no indication of the recording dates.  


I was lucky to see some of those guys “live” at a small festival at the University of Cape Town in 1988 and they sounded pretty much like what’s on this CD so I guess these are late 80s early 90s recordings.

Robbie Jansen

Anyhow, these versions are as good or even better than any studio version I’ve heard. 

1.  Robbie Jansen & Sons of Table Mountain

   Tsakwe / Royal Blue

Robbie Jansen              alto saxophone & vocals

Alex van Heerden        fluegelhorn

Hilton Schilder             piano

Steven Erasmus            bass

Jack Mompie                drums

Hilton Schilder

Sylvia Mdnunyelwa

         2.   Sylvia Mdnunyelwa with guest Winston “Makunku” Ngosi  
Bayeza

Sylvia Mdnunyelwa     vocal

Winston “Makunku” Ngosi          tenor sax

George Werner             piano

Spencer Mbadu            bass

Babes Ndamase            drums

Winston "Makunku" Ngosi

3.        Pat Matshikza with guest Basil “Mannenberg” Coetzee

          Stop & Start

Pat Matshiksa

Pat Matshikza               piano & vocals

Basil “Mannenberg” Coetzee        tenor sax

Spencer Mbadu            bass

Ivan Bell                      drums

4. Robbie Jansen & Sons of Table Mountain

  Kalahari Thirst

Same as (1)

5.     

5. Pat Matshikza
with guests Basil “Mannenberg” Coetzee & Robbie Jansen

Tshona

Same as (3) + Robbie Jansen : alto sax

6.      Ezra & Duke Ngcukana        You think you know me

Ezra Ngcukana

Ezra Ngcukana             tenor sax

Duke Ngcukana            fluegelhorn

George Werner             piano

Spencer Mbadu             bass

Babes Ndamase            drums

Duke Ngcukana

7.      Robbie Jansen & Sons of Table Mountain   Mannenberg

Same as (1) and (4)

To me the highlights are the Sons of Table Mountain tracks, the infectious “Stop & Start” and the Pat Matshikza track with both Coetzee and Jansen,  … If these tracks don’t get you shaking your booty, you’re either stone deaf or you ‘ve got a hole in your soul !  There’s so  much love and happiness in this music!

FRIENDS & LIVE MUSIC - Thursday 22 November - BRUSSELS

Ain't nothing like catching some good live music in a cozy bar !  So if you happen to be in BRUSSELS this Thursday night and wonder where to go for a couple of fine Belgian Beers and a dash of Blues,  try and catch this gig:

Mister Jay: chant, harmonicas, guitare, kazoo

Doc Robur: guitare, chant

Bompa Loos: contrebasse électrique, blagues tordues

Where ?  Flop Bar, rue du Bailli 78, 1050 IXELLES

When? Action starts at 9:00 p.m.

How much it gonna cost ? Nuthin' mate, it's FREE

Two classic tracks recorded Live a few months ago:

A/  HIDEAWAY

feat. Robur (lead gtr), Loos (double-bass), Jay (rhythm gtr)

B/  GOOD MORNING BLUES

feat. Robur (gtr), Loos (double-bass), Jay (harmonica & vocals)

Listen

CARNATIC JAZZ

Silk World Music Group – Pure Silk (India)

Live at The Barbican Centre, London, 14th July 2000

 The idea of blending Jazz and Indian Classical Music goes back a long way but it was often at the initiative of Western musicians although there were some notable exceptions, such as T. K. Ramamoorthy or John Mayer (an Anglo-Indian violinist) to name a couple. And the source of inspiration was more often Hindustani (“North Indian”) than Carnatic (“South Indian”). 

But here too there were notable exceptions such as the already mentioned T. K. Ramamoorthy or Charlie Mariano who studied Carnatic music. John Mc Laughlin has been playing with Carnatic instrumentists such as mandolin virtuoso U. Srinivas.

The two main traditions of classical music are Carnatic music, found predominantly in the peninsular regions, and Hindustani music, found in the northern and central regions. Both traditions claim Vedic origin, and history indicates that they diverged from a common musical root since about the 13th century.

I am not a musicologist so I won’t go into explaining the differences between North-Indian and South Indian (or Carnatic) Music, but if you are interested you’ll find ample information on the Web. Starting from here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_India).

It’s a Mauritian lady friend and colleague who brought this album to my attention several years ago. I can't tell you much on this band which is presented as India's premiere Jazz/Fusion Music Group.

The band is composed of Louis Banks on Piano & Keyboard, Shankar Mahadevan - Vocals, Sivamani - Percussion, Karl Peters - Bass Guitar. Guest Musicians: Satish Vyas - Santoor & Vijay Ghate – Tabla.

Louis Banks

Source : http://beretandboina.blogspot.com/2010/11/india-series-2-louis-banks.html

All these guys are among the best in their field,  You may be familiar with the name of Shankar Mahadevan who provided vocals for Remember Shakti (feat. John McLaughlin).  Louis Banks is an established jazz composer and pianist who also played with McLaughlin (on his Floating Point album). Karl Peters is India's Numba Wan Fonky Bass Playa! 

 Tracklist:

1.   The Encounter         20:57

2.   Colour of Love          10:51

3.   Shadows                  13:30

4.   Jugalbandi Duet      01:12

5.   Jugalbandi Duet      14:10

6.   Doors of Desire        13:44

This is superb music that will probably disconcert Jazz purists.  Forget all the crap that’s sold as “World Music”. THIS is the real thing!

Merci Francine de m'avoir fait decouvrir ce superbe album!  Love Eternal.

p.s.: just realised this CD is still available. I shall post the link for a limited period only.

RARITY #10: a rare French Treat from 1962!

JACQUES DENJEAN & SON GRAND ORCHESTRE DE JAZZ
Special Festival d’Antibes Juan Les Pins
(33T - 25 cm, Polydor 45585, FRANCE, 1962)

 A special treat to mark the tenth entry in the « Rarities » series.  Actually the Rarities are the most downloaded posts (although it is not always reflected in the number of comments …). Anyway, last week end, browsing through a pile of old dusty LPs in a Moroccan Souk, I found a copy of an old French LP by Jacques Denjean et son Orchestre: “Un Disque à Tout Casser … “ (1963)  on French Polydor (the LP was released in 1964 outside of France under the title “The Tough Touch”) a collection of typical French mid-sixties cheesy soul jazz / go go instrumentals.  Lotsa fun!  I was considering posting it but realized it’s already available on a couple of blogs.  As was customary at the time, the back cover displays small pictures of other records of a similar style or related artists that may interest the buyer. I was intrigued by the pictures of another album by Jacques Denjean et son Grand Orchestre de Jazz – Special Festival d’Antibes - Juan-Les-Pins. A 10” (25 cm) 33 rpm album with eight tracks.

 I contacted a few collectors friends and for sure, there it was, in Paul D’s collection.  “I have it” he said “but I haven’t played it for decades and it’s probably in poor condition, anyway I’ll see what I can do”. It took him a week of restoration work and caused the loss of his last remaining hair but the result is here: a pure gem of early sixties French big band jazz. 

I said it is very rare, just check on the web. You may find it occasionally but expect to pay three figures, whether you pay in USD, Euro or Pounds!

The tracklist was a bit confusing as the tracks were mixed up on side A.  For instance track four was not “Studio 1” but “Walkin’”, a theme easily recognizable.  We’ve solved that and now the tracks have the right title.

Tracklist :

A1          Flash                                       (J. Denjean)

A2          Tenor Contest                         (J. Denjean)

A3          Walking                                  (G. Ammons)

A4          Studio 1                                  (J. Denjean)

B1          The Champ                             (D. Gillespie)

B2          Saint Louis Blues                    (W. C. Handy)

B3          Honky Tonk Tonk                  (A. Combelle, J. Denjean)

B4          Halleluyah                              (Grey, Robin*, Youmans)

Credits:

Trumpet – Georges Bence, Louis Laboucarie, Michel Poli, Pierre Dutour

Trombone – François Guin, Michel Camicas, Michel Stekkar, Raymond Fonsèque

Alto Saxophone – Jacques Nouredine, Jean-Louis Chautemps

Tenor Saxophone – Dominique Chanson, Gérard Badini

Baritone Saxophone – Henri Jouot

Bass Clarinet – Pierre Sim

Guitar – Paul Piguillem (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B3)

Drums – Philippe Combelle (tracks: A1, A2, A4, B3), René Nan (tracks: A3, B1, B2, B4)

Arranged By, Trumpet – Ivan Jullien

Conductor – Jacques Denjean

Liner Notes – Aris Destombes

Photography By – J.P. Leloir

Don't forget to say a big Thank U to Paul for his fantastic restoration work and subsequent loss of hair. Gift of "lotion capillaire" (hair lotion) will be greatly appreciated.

  

KIWI JAZZ

NAIROBI TRIO

Live @ at the McDonald Winery (New Zealand, 1997)

I found this CD in the sales rack in Port Vila’s only record shop. It burned shortly after … At first I was intrigued by the name, especially when I realized (i) none of the musicians are from Kenya but they're all Kiwis and (ii) there are four members in the trio …

Then I was fortunate to hear them playing live at the Port Vila’s Four Days Jazz in Paradise Festival in 2005. Various bands from the Pacific region (Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand) were playing in hotels around town.  This event was supposed to be repeated the next year but I understand the organizers lost too much money the first year so it couldn’t be repeated.  Too bad as it was an occasion to see and hear some interesting performers such as Nairobi Trio, Aussie Jazz legend The Galopagos Ducks and New Caledonia’s B-3 Wizard Michel Benebig with his band, performing in beautiful settings.

The Nairobi Trio has been around for over twenty years and is now a bit of a New Zealand music  institution  These guys are everything but your standard "gypsy swing revival-i-play-faster-than-django" type of band.   They do have “hot club” style tunes (I’m coming home Virginia, All of Me) in their repertoire but they do not try to sound like a Django / Grappelli clone. They play these tunes in a typically kiwi, relaxed and easy, way.  There is something like a "west coast" feel in their music (i'm talking West Coast in rock term: remember David Laflamme / It's a Beautiful Day?).  At times they sound like a Kiwi version of Dan Hicks & his Hot Licks (“Swing is the Thing”).  The Grappelli influence is obvious in Richard Adams violin playing (just listen to All my tomorrow) but their overall sound and style are rather fusion oriented with some obvious folk / rock influences (“East of Eden”) verging sometimes toward smooth jazz (“Take Good Care of my Heart”).  An obvious reference is David Grisman country-jazz / dawg jazz.  If you like David Grisman’s albums (think of Quintet '80 or Hot Dawg for instance), you’ll probably enjoy this band.

CASCADE

CHARLIE MARIANO – CASCADE

(Keytone LP, NL, 1974)

Another Charlie Mariano LP from the Seventies thanks to JC.   

1974 was a busy year for Charlie Mariano, he appears on ten recording sessions, including two under his own name:  this one with Chris Hinze and Reflections with a group of Finnish all stars.

The LP was produced by Chris Hinze and released on his own private label, Keytone.

In addition to Chris Hinze himself, the musicians were all members or close associates of the Chris Hinze Combination, namely the rhythm pair of John Lee and Gerry Brown, the keyboards of Jasper van ‘t Hof and Rob van den Broek, Philip Catherine and Michael Samson on guitar.

Van ‘t Hof, Catherine and Mariano will form  Porkpie shortly after this recording, so it gives you an idea what to expect.

Tracklist

A1          Suite Of The Festival               Composed by  Chris Hinze                             5:01

A2          Harriet                                       Composed by  John Lee                                 6:28

A3          Quest                                          Composed by John Lee                                  4:08

A4          Electric Funk Jungle                Composed by Charlie Mariano                      5:46

B1          Cascade                                      Composed by Charlie Mariano                      5:31

B2          Piece For Banjo And Kazoo     Composed by – Charlie Mariano                   9:00

B3          Locus                                          Composed by John Lee                                  4:22

Credits

Charlie Mariano        Saxophone [Alto, Soprano], Flute [Wooden Indian Flutes], Reeds [Nagafvaram] –

Chris Hinze                          Flute

Philip Catherine                Spanish Guitar, Electric Guitar

Michaël Samson                Electric Guitar

Jasper Van 't Hof               Electric Piano [Fender Piano], Organ

Rob Van Den Broeck        Piano, Fender Rhodes

John Lee                               Bass [Acoustic, Electric]

Gerry Brown                       Drums, Percussion

Ripped from original LP (lossless, big file!)

For a comprehensive Mariano’s discography, please refer to the Charlie Mariano Tribute website.

If you like what you’ve heard, check this other Hinze / Mariano album (Blue Stone, 1973) here

CYCLADES

Jean Loup LONGNON – CYCLADES (France, 1992)

CYCLADES

Ou

Les Extraordinaires Aventures de Barnabé, le Petit Cochon Voyageur

DO NOT MISS THIS ONE !

The Greek Islands seem to have been a source of inspiration for Jazzmen (just of few hints: Neil Ardley’s Greek Variations, Graham Collier was a long-time resident, Slim Gaillard got stranded on one of them …).

It is difficult to describe the music which is basically bop-based but very diverse and varied. 

“Mikonos”, the first track, is the funkier with an Eastern feel, Fender Rhodes, strong horns  ...  Sounds like Peter Herbolzheimer meeting the Brecker Brothers in the Aegean Sea.  Strong soli from Robert Persi on Fender Rhodes, Chritstian Laborde on tenor, JL Longnon on trumpet.  

“Paros” introduces the string section and has Stephane Grappelli as guest solois.

“Naxos” is another string-drenched track with a beautiful solo by Jean-Loup Longnon.

“Santorin” starts like a Debussy piece with Jean-Michel Pilc wistling … then JLL on trumpet.  It has a very cinematographic atmosphere.

“Andros” opens with the string section and gradually build up with excellent soli by Lionel Belmondo (tenor sax), Hervé Sellin (piano), JL Longnon (Couesnon fluegelhorn).

“La Grece en Automne” is a symphonic piece.

“To Telephteo Blues”.  opens with bluesy harp chords reminiscent of Dorothy Ashby then goes into a boppish blues with again excellent soli (Hervé Sellin on piano, and others) and ends with JLL’s scatting.

“Encore du Bop” No string section in this one, a plain big band bop cooker with a succession of strong soli.

“La Marseillaise” This is the fun track, a bossa version of La Marseillaise with Brasilian lyrics.

This is one of the great under-rated French albums of the Nineties.

Currently OOP.  Grab it!  Full scan included.

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