BUDGET BRIT DJANGO STYLE

COOPER-WRIGHT QUINTET - TRIBUTE TO THE HOT CLUB 

Rediffusion LP – RIM ZS 26 (UK, 1969/70?)

A bit of an obscurity this one! No details on the sleeve and little information on the net.

Denys Justin Wright (6 May 1924 – 8 February 1992), better known as Denny Wright, was a jazz and skiffle guitarist who performed with Stephane Grappelli, Lonnie Donegan, Johnny Duncan (bluegrass musician), Digby Fairweather, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Fapy Lafertin and many other musicians, including young rising stars such as Bireli Lagrene and Nigel Kennedy (Wikipedia).

Denny Wright's free-flowing improvisational style came to the forefront through his work with Lonnie Donegan in the 1950s. Wright was a pioneer in establishing a fresh lead guitar style in the context of the folk and blues roots from which Donegan drew his song repertoire. Drawing upon and transcending the jazz blues elements in his own background, and the vital influence of Django Reinhardt, Wright produced constantly innovative lead breaks and solos for Donegan's live work and recordings on both acoustic archtop and electric guitar.

In the 1960s, in addition to a great deal of session work providing backing for many top artists including Mary Hopkin and Tom Jones, Denny was working with his friend Keith Cooper to keep the jazz flag flying; Tribute To The Hot Club by the Cooper-Wright Quintet [Rediffusion] is a wonderful example of their work together. (id.)

I guess the violinist is Johnny van Derrick.   That makes three names but who are the two remaining ones (a bass player and, I assume, a rhythm guitar?). 

In the comments, Zoot suggests,  Ike Isaacs as third guitar player and Len Skeat on double bass, by association.   I had suggested Diz Disley (gtr) and Coleridge Goode (bass) but it was just an educated guess.  Will we ever know?

The record had not been reviewd in Jazz Journal (Zoot) and is not even listed in Walter Bruyninckx extensive discography (Paul D.). 

I found my copy in a small shop in Schaerbeek (Brussels) some 15 years ago.  Not exactly a mint copy, it was in pretty bad shape.  It costed 50 FB (less than 1 £), I took a chance. Therefore don't expect CD quality.  It's in WAV so perhaps someone among you,with some time to spare and patient enough, may wish to give a try at cleaning it better. 

Denny Wright (source: http://lonniedonegan.webs.com/bandonwithlon.htm )

Tracks

A1.  After You've Gone

A2. Miss Annabelle Lee

A3. Just a Little Love a Little Kiss

A4. Daphne

A5. Nagazaki

A6. HCQ Strut

B1. Sweet Georgia Brown

B2. Shine

B3. Body & Soul

B4. Nuages

B5. Limehouse Blues

B6. Running Wild

Johnny van Derrick (source:web)

Excellent article on UK Jazz Guitar pioneers HERE

RARITY # 47

THE KEES KUYT COMBO –NL, 1957

EP 45 rpm FONTANA 463 110 TE      

Onxidlib was lucky to get a copy of this rather rare Dutch EP.  I have not  found much info on the web.  Basically nothing on guitarist Kees Kuyt, a couple of poor quality video featuring vibeman Leen Dijkkamp (with swing accordionist Peter Schoute),

Henk de Jong recorded with the Diamonds (Jazz from Holland, 1956).

They were among a handfull of local bands that played the first set in a Louis Armstrong concert in 1959, in Holland.   Read here (nice picture of Kees Kuyt Combo live).

Check here for a live video feat. Leen Dijkkamp and Peter Schoute (1994): http://www.yourepeat.com/watch/?v=ZbSbE45_xa4

THE KEES KUYT COMBO –NL, 1957

Musicians

Kees Kuyt, guitar

Leen Dijkkamp, vibes

Henk de Jong, bass

Jaap Kok, drums

Tracks

1. But Not For Me (Gershwin/Gershwin)  3:45

2. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (Romberg/Hammerstein)  4:55

3. Opus For Vibes And Guitar (Dijkkamp)  3:53

4. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers/Hart)  3:36

Recorded in Hilversum, Netherlands on June 21 and 28, 1957.

FONTANA 463 110 TE

(ep rip) The ep had been posted earlier  on the Dutch Jazz (private) blog.  This one is a different rip.

The only other trace of Kees Kuyt Combo I’ve found is another very rare EP with Gospel vocalist Donald Jones.

Donald Jones  with the Kees Kuyt Combo - This World He Loves

(Philips 422 497 PE, Holland, 1960).  If anyone had a copy, I’ll gladly post it with due acknowledgement of the source.

STROLLIN' THRU' THE SOUKS ...AGAIN

Going for a walk in the central souk is a favorite passtime when we feel a bit bored. 

It's probably not the place one would think of going cratedigging ... unless one knows where to look.  So while my wife looks at the clothes, shoes, bags and perfume shops, I take a stroll to the backstreets of the market and sometimes I get lucky.

Nothing rare this time but not a bad harvest either

- a Lightin' Hopkins album on the UK budget label  Boulevard. I've never been disappointed by Lightin'.

- Stan Getz at Storyville on the French Vogue Label (originally on the legendary Roost label).  A classic early getz recording, with Al Haig on piano.

- Lee Konitz Big Band in the Spanish budget series Los Grandes del Jazz, originally released in the US on Groove Merchant as Chicago 'n All that Jazz.  Featuring the likes of Dick Katz and Mike Longo, it can't be all bad.

- the first Wishbone Ash album, a somewhat unjustly forgotten british band. They were a great live band with twin guitars. I saw them in Brussels around 1970 (Woluwe Shopping Centre if I remenber well).

Then I dug a few EP and singles, some of them to swap with other collectors. I love those French 4-tracks EP. Los Bravos was a pioneer Spanish beat band, famous thru their song Black is Black, a #1 hit in many countries.  I'm not a great fan of Danyel Gerard but he was a pioneer of French Rock&Roll  (Memphis Tennessee), I'm pretty sure I'll be able to swap it easily for something more to my taste. 

The Matt Lucas EP (no, not the Little Britain guy!) features an excellent version of "I'm movin' on".  Will probably keep it. Same for Georgie Auld Sax in Satin. Schmalzy but nice.

I could not resist buying The Chakachas "Jungle Fever", an unexpected world hit for this aggregation of Belgian jazz and studio musicians.  A fun record for the juke box!

NORTH ATLANTIC JAZZ

Jazz I Føroyum 3

LP Tutl – HJF 9, Faroe Islands, 1982

This album is the third in a three LP series documenting the Faroese Jazz scene in the 80s.  It caught my attention because of its origin. The Faroe Islands is not a place usually associated with Jazz.  As a matter of fact I realize I know very little about the Faroe Islands, I’m much more familiar with islands in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific than with those in the Northern Atlantic.  The other thing that caught my interest was the presence of two better known musicians:  Eero Koivistoinen on two tracks and Karsten Vogel (Burning Red Ivanhoe / Secret Oyster) on one.

The Koivistoinen tracks are duos with guitarist Olavur Oster.

The track with Karsten Vogel is somewhat prog rock oriented and should be of interest to fans of Scandinavian fusion / prog.  The title “Grindadrap” refers to the traditional whaling practiced in the Faroes.

Pianist Kristian Blak (Yggdrasil) appears also on three tracks.

Tracklist

A1       Wolf    4:30

Guitar – Ólavur Øster

Soprano Saxophone – Eero Koivistoinen

A2       And Then        3:09

Guitar – Ólavur Øster

Tenor Saxophone – Eero Koivistoinen

A3       Bollabossa      3:02

Bass – Kolbein Simonsen

Drums – Jan Jacobsen

Guitar – Ólavur Øster

Piano – Kristian Blak

A4       Andvekur       2:45

Bass – Kolbein Simonsen

Drums – Jan Jacobsen

Guitar – Ólavur Øster

Piano – Kristian Blak

B1       Fotalag                       4:03

Bass – J. Á Rógvu Joensen*

Drums – Poul Strøm

Guitar – Hans Bøgh Andersen

Piano – Kjeld Køngerskov

Tenor Saxophone – Olaf Sørensen

B2       Pigen I 3d       5:17

Bass – J. Á Rógvu Joensen*

Drums – Poul Strøm

Guitar – Hans Bøgh Andersen

Piano – Torben Kjær

Tenor Saxophone – Olaf Sørensen

B3       Grindadrap    10:35

Alto Saxophone – Karsten Vogel

Bass – J. Á Rógvu Joensen*

Drums – Poul Strøm

Guitar – Ólavur Øster

Piano – Torben Kjær

Recorded between 1978 - 81, Tórshavns Jazz Club, Faroe Islands.

Jazz I Føroyum 3 is the third in a series of joint releases by Havnar Jazz-Felag and Platufelagid Tutl. The Jazz I Føroyum recordings provide the listener with a sampling of music played in Havnar Jazzfelag by both local artists and visiting musicians.

I have volumes 1 and 2 also which I may post later on when I get a chance to digitalize them.

BOOTLEG AGAIN

KENNY CLARKE - FRANCY BOLAND BIG BAND

"STUTTGART, 1968"

Francy Boland

IMHO they were simply the best big band around in those years. And believe me there was strong competition, the Duke was still around and so were Basie and Hamp.  But when it came to hardbop it was hard to find a finer contender than the KCFBBB.

Thanks again to onxidlib for these recordings. As far as I know they aren't or ever were commercially available. 

Credits

Benny Bailey, trumpet

Jimmy Deuchar, trumpet

Kenny Clarke

Sonny Grey, trumpet

Idrees Sulieman, trumpet

Ake Persson, trombone

Erik Van Lier, trombone

Nat Peck, trombone

Derek Humble, alto saxophone

Johnny Griffin, tenor saxophone

Ronnie Scott, tenor saxophone

Tony Coe, tenor saxophone

Sahib Shihab, baritone saxophone

Francy Boland, piano

Jimmy Woode, bass

Kenny Clarke, drums

Kenny Clare, drums

Dakota Staton, vocals (only track 3)

Kenny Clare

01. New Box 703 [Washington, D.C.?]  (Boland) 5:32

02. The Falcon (Clarke) 4:22

03. Cherokee (Noble) 2:53

04. Sweet And Lovely (Arnheim/Tobias/Lemar) 3:57

05. You Stepped Out Of A Dream (N.H. Brown/Kahn) 7:50

06. Sax No End (Boland)/The Wild Man (Clarke) 5:58

07. Griff's Groove (Boland)5:17

08. Gloria (B. Kaper/David) 4:57

09. Klook's Report 3:16

10. Mauve (Boland) 5:13

11. The Turk (trad./Boland) 7:41

Sonny Grey

Recorded at the Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany on May 16, 1968.

Note: According the announcer 'The Turk' is part of the Middle Eastern Suite.

Check on YouTube to see them Live on German telly.

JAZZ FASHION

THE BERBER SKULL CAPS

If you wish to impress your friends by looking like an authentic professionnal jazzman,  wear a Moroccan skull cap!

Mustache and facial hair in general do add a touch of authenticity.

Henri Texier (bass- France)

Joe Zawinul (keyboards-Austria/USA)

Chris Mc Gregor - piano - South Africa

Yusef Lateef - sax, reeds ... USA

Ronnie Earl - guitar - USA

Hugh Hopper - e.bass - UK

Eric Kleinschuster - trombone - Austria

Boogieman - I can whistle ...  - Belgium  / Morocco

SUNDANCE

GEORGE ROBERT / TOM HARRELL QUINTET

Sun Dance

(Contemporary Records , 1988, USA)

Time for something a bit more recent.  Here is the first album of the George Robert-Tom Harrell Quintet which is also George Robert's second album as a leader.

His first album – entitled First Encounter – was recorded in New York City in 1984 with Niels Lan Doky, Ron McClure & Klaus Suonsaari (CD re-issue on Polystar Records, 2005)

One of the finest jazz musicians born in Switzerland, altoist George Robert has long considered his main influences to be Charlie Parker and Phil Woods. He started on piano when he was eight, and clarinet at ten, playing with a family band that included his four brothers.

 Robert switched permanently to alto as a teenager. In 1980, he moved to the United States to study at Berklee, settling in New York in 1984. Robert recorded his first album that year and in 1987, formed a quintet that he co-led with trumpeter Tom Harrell on and off through 1992.

This album was recorded in Lausanne, Switzerland during their '87 European tour.  The quintet features George Robert (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone), Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Dado Moroni (piano), Reggie Johnson (bass), Bill Goodwin (drums)

On AMG Scott Yanow displays a typically American patronising attitude towards non-US players: George Robert who is credited as “the leader” “plays quite well” but it is because of Tom Harrell that the album becomes “most notable”.

Pure baloney, just forget about the “names”. Tom Harrell is excellent indeed but the album is most notable because the music cooks!  What strikes the listener is how cohesive and “tight” this combo sounded on this first date.

Then Yanow goes on “ Harrell is actually much more boppish than usual, probably due to Robert's inspiration; the leader being  most influenced by Phil Woods”.  Fact is that Harrell was a key member of the Phil Woods Quintet in the eighties.  Actually it may be interesting to compare this album with some of the works he did with Phil Woods during the same period.

.

Credits:

C 14037   George Robert/Tom Harrell - Sun Dance

Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn) George Robert (alto saxophone, soprano saxophone) Dado Moroni (piano) Reggie Johnson (bass) Bill Goodwin (drums)

Lausanne, Switzerland, March 29 & 30, 1987

Tracks

•           Solad

•           Moon Alley

•           Cancun

•           Sun Dance

•           Because I Love You

•           Viking's Theme

n.b. some discographies mention an Italian re-issue on CD in 1993 but it was probably a pirate edition.

RARITY #46

FESTIVAL SPECIAL - FRED BUNGE ENSEMBLE / VERA AUER COMBO / SOUND CAVE COMBO / HELMUT WEGLINSKI QUINTET

EP 45 rpm - Brunswick 10062   Germany, 1956

Fans of rare Eurojazz, rejoice! Our man Onxidlib has unearthed another rare EP on German Brunswick.  It is a compilation of four small combos recorded at the occasion of the 4th German Jazz Festival in 1956.  A few (vaguely) familiar names (at least to me): Jean-Louis Chautemps, and the Belgians (Christian Kellens, Marcel Peeters, Alex Scorier).  Helmut Weglinski, we’ve already encountered on the Modern Jazz Studio Nr 1 album.  Fred Bunge played with Kurt Edelhagen band in the 50s.  Vera Auer is a mysterious performer, one of the few females involved in the early days of the European jazz scene (read more here). Fritz Hartschub was a member of the Wolfgang Lauth Sextet posted last year (I was a bit hard on him but I really like his playing here).

A.1         FRED BUNGE ENSEMBLE          Basement party

Fred Bunge (tp) Christian Kellens (tb) Marcel Peeters (as) Alex Scorier (bar) Joe Klimm (p) Herbert Winter (b) Teddy Paris (d)

Concert, Frankfurt/Main, May 21, 1956

A.2.        VERA AUER COMBO       Dot's groovy

Jean-Louis Chautemps (ts) Vera Auer (vib) Klaus Sachs (p) Eddie de Haas (b) Shorty Langenbach (d)

Concert, Frankfurt/Main, May 21, 1956

B.1.        SOUND CAVE COMBO     Cool doodle

Egon Denue (ts) Fritz Hartschuh (vib) Wolfgang Wagner (b) Horst Seidelman (d)

Concert, Frankfurt/Main, May 19, 1956

B.2.        HELMUT WEGLINSKI QUINTET         Avalon

Helmuth Weglinski (vln) Flip Gehring (vib,g) Peter Grzescik (g) Jan Thomes (b) Heinz Hoitz (d)

Concert, Frankfurt/Main, May 21, 1956

Tracks 1,2 and 4 recorded on May 21, 1956 in Frankfurt/Main, Germany during the fourth German Jazz Festival.

Track 3 recorded on May 19, 1956 at the same location.

Note: Christian Kellens plays a tuba with five valves in e-flat - which in character and range resembles the bass-trombone.

Christian Kellens (centre) with Jorge Lopez Ruz (left) and Gustavo Bergalli (right) ( 1960s) (photo archive Christian Kellens (found : here )

Read an interview of Attila Zoller and how he met Vera Auer (here)

BACK TO THE BLUES!

SAM LAY IN BLUESLAND

Blue Thumb, USA, 1970

 Great rare blues LP

I haven’t posted a real blues album for a long while.  Blues music was my first musical love affair.  And close to fifty years later, I’m still in love with the Blues.  The blues paved the way for my discovery of rhythm & blues, soul, funk and jazz.

If it wasn't for the blues, I'd be nowhere, musically speaking.  And all that because of a few British white boys called The Stones, The Animals, The Yardbirds ...  They opened a door for me, they introduced me to Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Elmore  ...

Here is a long-forgotten, never re-issued album by great blues drummer SAM LAY (Howlin’ Wolf band, Muddy Waters, Butterfield Blues Band a.o.).

There is no mention of the musicians in the sleeve notes.  

Based on aural and historical evidences, the following line-up is usually suggested :

Sam Lay : Vocals & Drums

Mike Bloomfield : Guitar  (not credited)

Nick Gravenites : Vocals

Mark Naftalin : Piano, organ  

Jerome Arnold ??? : Bass (not credited)

Paul Butterfield ??? : Harmonica   (not credited)

Side 1

01. Maggie's Farm (5.20)

02. Mean Mistreater (4.32)

03. Sam Lay & Mississipi John (5.05)

04. Crying For My Baby (3.25)

Side 2

01. Sloopy Drunk (3.15)

02. My Fault (3.59)

03. Roll Over Beethoven (2.50)

04. Asked Her For Water (7.30) - Vocals by Nick Gravenites

05. I Got My Mojo Workin' (3.24)

Recorded in November 1969 in San Francisco.  Produced by Nick Gravenites & Mike Bloomfield.

UNRELEASED SESSION - 3

ERICH KLEINSCHUSTER SEXTET + KARIN KROG

Austria, 1968

Considering the interest generated by the Kleinschuster-Goykovich session posted at the beginning of the month and in response to a request from visitors, here is another bootleg featuring the Erik Kleinschuster Sextett, this time backing Norwegian singer Karin Krog on a session recorded in Vienna in 1968. 

With eternal gratitude to onxidlib for his musical generosity.

KLEINSCHUSTER SEXTET + KARIN KROG

There are actually seven members in this sextet, the seventh member is an the unknown guitarist … any suggestion as to whom he could be?

Karin Krog, vocals

Robert Politzer, trumpet, fluegelhorn

Erich Kleinschuster, trombone

Hans Salomon, alto & tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

Harald Neuwirth, piano

unknown, guitar

Rudolf Hansen, bass

Erich Bachträgl, drums

Tracks

1. Hi-Fly (R.Weston)                                      04:28

Solos: Neuwirth, Politzer

2. Corcovado (A.C.Jobim)                            02:25

Solos: Politzer/Kleinschuster/Salomon

3. Lazy Afternoon (J.LaTouche/J.Moross)     03:37

Solo: Neuwirth

4. Mercy, Mercy (J. Zawinul)                                 03:09

5. I've Got Your Number (C.Coleman/C.Leigh)       03:56

Solos: Kleinschuster, Salomon (ts)

6. Sing Me Softly Of The Blues (C.Bley)            06:19

Solos: Kleinschuster, Salomon (bcl)

7. Once Upon A Summertime (J.Mercer/M.Legrand/E.Marnay/E.Barclay)            05:01

Solos: Politzer, Salomon (ts)

 8. Please Send Me Someone To Love (P.Mayfield)  05:11

Solo: Salomon (ts)

Recorded at the Austrophon Studio, Vienna in February 1968.

There are more bootlegs in the pipeline, thanks to onxidlib who seems to have access to an inexhaustible source of Eurojazz.  

P.S. (July 14): check in the comments of "they were all there ..." for a surprise contribution from a visitor.  And say thanks to the gentleman.