SHUFFLUPHAGASS

CSULA JAZZ ENSEMBLE

DIRECTED BY ROBERT CURNOW

"CRUSADE"

LP CSULA 579      USA 1980  (Private pressing)

Superb contemporary big band LP recorded by the California State University Jazz Ensemble in 1979 (LP released in 1980).  The first track – Crusade – is an absolute killer full of congas and solid drumming.  Other favorites are Les Hooper’s Shuffluphagass, Jeff Holmes’ Manstae II and Bob Curnow’s Tenth Planet.  The spirit of Stan Kenton is never far, no surprise considering Curnow's closeness to Kenton.

Side A

A1.      Crusade          composed and arranged by Bill Holman.

            Soloists:         drums: Gregg Hall

                                   trombone: Eric Jorgensen

                                   congas: Andy Webster

A2.      Of Another Time       composed and arranged by Bob Curnow

            Soloists:         vibes: Andy Webster

                                   flugelhorn: Bob Taylor

A3.      Manstae II      composed and arranged by Jeff Holmes

            Soloists:         soprano sax: Gary Bias

                                   trumpet: Bob Taylor

Side B

B1.      Shuffluphagass          composed and arranged by Les Hooper

            Soloists:         trumpet: Larry Gillespie

                                   trombone: Rocky Robles

                                   flute: Howard Cespedes

                                   tenor sax: Jim Pollock

                                   piano: Sam Garcia

B2.      A Time For Love       composed by Jonny Mandel / arranged by Hank Levy

            Soloists:         flugelhorn: Tony Mack

B3.      The Tenth Planet        composed and arranged by Bob Curnow

            Soloists:         soprano sax: Gary Bias

                                   trumpet: Bob Taylor

                                   bass: Larry Muradian

                                   the trumpet section

                                   piano: Sam Garcia

Personnel

Woodwinds

Gary Bias: alto (lead)

Kennan Miller: alto

Howard Cespedes: tenor

Jim Pollock: tenor

Robin Taniguchi: baritone

Trumpets

Tony Mack (lead) / Bob Taylor / Larry Gillespie /Jan Kendrick / Tony Martinez

Trombone

Eric Jorgensen (lead) / Rocky Robles / Neal Finn / Blaine Herbert

Tuba

Jim Paoletti

Rhythm

Sam Garcia: piano

Larry Muradian: bass

Gregg Hall: drums

Andy Webster: percussion

Recorded May 12, 1979 at the United/Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA

UPDATED LINK 18/07/17

EUROJAZZ (2)

The European Community Jazz Orchestra

Musical Director: Rick Taylor

LP JAZZ CATS 6985 015               BELGIUM, 1986

This is the second “Eurojazz” LP.  This one was recorded in 1985, the composition of the orchestra is slightly different from the one on the fist LP, still a huge big band (26 players) and a typically European sound (I think).

Tracks :

Side 1 - 1: The wrong button

Composed and arranged by Bert Joris (Belgium)

Soloists: Peter Vandendriessche / Matthias Schubert / David Jones

Side 1 - 2: A girl from Trigwell's Planet

Composed and arranged by Django Bates (UK). 

Soloists: Julian Arguelles / Andrea Pazza / Tommy Smith / Riccardo Bianchi / Soren Christensen / Frank Michiels.

Feat. Django Bates: prepared piano in opening and closing sections and piano in drum / percussion solos.

Side 2 - 1: Song for Micheline

Composed and arranged by Michel Herr (Belgium)

Soloists: Fabio Morgera / Julian Arguelles

Side 2 – 2: Up country

Composed and arranged by Rick Taylor (UK)

Soloists: Mark Godfroid / Johan Vandendriessche

Musicians :

Peter Vandendriessche - alto sax, sop sax, fl

Julian Arguelles - alto sax, sop sax, fl

Matthias Schubert - tenor sax

Tommy Smith - tenor sax, fl

Johan Vandendriessche - baritone sax, fl

Simon Gardner - trumpet

Rüdiger Baldauf - trumpet, flugelhorn

Ingolf Burkhardt - trumpet, flugelhorn

Karl Farrent - trumpet, flugelhorn

Fabio Morgera - trumpet, flugelhorn

Marc Godfroid - trombone

Neil Sidwell - trombone

Jilt Kansma - trombone

Dick Bolt- bass trombone

Ingo Luis - bass trombone

Murray Hardie - tuba

Helena Spencer - French horn

Stanley Van Wel - French horn

Richard Few - French horn

Beatrice Driver- French horn

Gary Hamilton - French horn

Andrea Pazza - piano

Riccardo Bianchi - guitar

David Jones - bass guitar

Soren Christensen - drums

Frank Michiels - percussion     

Recorded at Swan Studio, Buizingen (B), August 15, 1985. Released in 1986 in Belgium. LP (Jazz Cats/René Gailly 6985 015)

NEW LINK (28/08/17)

EUROJAZZ

THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY JAZZ ORCHESTRA  - EUROJAZZ

Musical Director Bobby Lamb
Associate Musical Director Rick Taylor

LP Jazz Cats 6985 014 - Belgium, 1986

In these times of fashionable euro-skepticism, I remain a firm believer in the ideal of European unity.  Not in its current institutions, unfortunately.  I agree these institutions badly need reforms to be made more accountable and transparent but one should refrain from throwing the baby with the bathwater. 

I remember a time not so long ago when I had to keep at least five different currencies in my wallet if I wanted to venture 100 km out of Brussels, considering that driving about 100 km from Brussels brings you in Holland, in France or on the ferry to Dover.  I had to keep Belgian francs (which were also valid currency in Luxembourg), French Francs, Dutch Guilders, Deutsche Marks and British Pounds.  God bless the Euro and I hope we’ll never revert to that state!

That’s probably the most political statement I’ll ever make on this blog.  Let’s go back to music with this little know European project dating from 1986.  This is the first of two albums by this huge big band (between 26 and 30 musicians) composed of (then) young musicians from different European countries.  You will probably recognize some of the names as several of these players are now well established on their national musical / jazz scene or even internationally (Julian Arguelles …).

It must be pointd out that the idea of an European Youth Jazz Orchestra was first floated by UK in 1981 and it is UK that provided the initial funding.  

The repertoire is made exclusively of pieces by European composers, often written and arranged specifically for the orchestra.

Side 1 features a Suite in four parts, composed /arranged and directed by Rick Taylor. 

On side 2 are two shorter pieces, directed by Bobby Lamb:

-        I ask you : composed and arranged by Kenny Wheeler

-        No message: composed and arranged by Francis Boland

The ensemble playing is impressive (a big band of over 25 musicians can generate a lot of energy) and there are some great soli.

The two LPs were reissued on a single CD which is now OOP.

This original  LP seems  completely unknown to Google and Discogs, I can't even get a picture of the sleeve from the web.

NEW LINK (26/08/17)

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

JAZZ AND STICHERY

Rerootin' Henny Vonk ‎

Timeless Records (LP)‎– SJP 164           Netherlands, 1982

It’s Quimsy who draw my attention to the Dutch vocalist Henny Vonk when he posted on his blog, a few years ago, her (rare) first album  -simply titled Vonk First – dating from 1969.  Henny Vonk – who worked for several years as vocalist with the Chris Hinze Combination -  had to wait 12 years to record a second album.  But it was worth the wait, she’s working with a dream rhythm section: Clint Houston on bass and Billy Higgins on drums.  A mention too for the remarkable but most underrated Dutch pianist / arranger Rob Vandenbroeck, currently pianist of the European Jazz Ensemble.

In addition to singing, Mrs Vonk wrote the lyrics, played bass guitar on two tracks, wrote poems and liner notes and made the stitchery on the front cover photo.

Tracklist

A1       Frandance        (Miles Davis)    7:04

A2       Circle   (Miles Davis / arranged by Rob Van Den Broeck)         3:08

A3       Nefertiti           (Wayne Shorter)           5:35

A4       Dolphin Dance (Herbie Hancock)         4:05

A5       The Blessing - Jazz Version      (Ornette Coleman)       3:29

B1        A Tribute To Someone (Herbie Hancock / arrangt by R. Van Den Broeck)        5:23

            Bass Guitar – Henny Vonk

B2        Cloud Of Knowledge    (Henny "Vonk" Tjong Ayong II / arrangt by R. Van Den Broeck)            4:02

Bass Guitar – Henny Vonk

B3        Pompeii           (Bobby Hutcherson)     4:21

B4        The Blessing - Latin-Jazz Version        (Ornette Coleman) 6:50

Credits

Vocals, Lyrics – Henny "Vonk" Tjong Ayong II

Piano– Rob Van Den Broeck

Bass – Clint Houston

Drums – Billy Higgins

Recorded at "Studio 44", Max Bolleman, Monster, Holland.

Recording date: November 18th, 1981 (A1-A5, B3, B4) and January 4th, 1982 (B1 & B2)

Rip in WAV, from original LP.  Pictures found on Discogs.

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 .

MADE IN JAPAN

MANHATTAN JAZZ QUINTET – (selftitled)

LP  Paddle Wheel ‎– K28P 6313  (Japan, 1984)

The Manhattan Jazz Quintet was formed in 1983 at the suggestion of Japanese jazz magazine Swing Journal and the King record label.  It was an unusual group in that they very rarely performed as a unit in the United States (much less Manhattan) but were a major hit in Japan, both for their recordings and occasional tours.

To everyone's surprise, its first recording (simply called Manhattan Jazz Quintet) became such a big seller that it was awarded Swing Journal's annual 1984 Gold Disk Award as the #1 album in Japan.   The quintet consisted originally – and on this album - of David Matthews on piano, Lew Soloff on trumpet, George Young on tenor sax, Charnett Moffett on bass and Steve Gadd on drums.  There were subsequent changes on later albums.

Due to the group's extremely limited distribution in other countries, it is not well known outside of Japan.  However this album was obviously distributed in Europe as my copy was manufactured by Bellaphon in Germany.

Tracklist.

A1       Summertime

A2       Rosario

A3       Milestones

B1        My Favorite Things

B2        Airegin

B3        Summer Waltz

Credits.

Trumpet – Lew Soloff

Tenor Saxophone – George Young 

Piano – David Matthews

Bass – Charnett Moffett

Drums – Steve Gadd

(LP rip in WAV).

MACH II

RHODA SCOTT - MACH 2

LP Barclay       France, 1971

Rhoda Scott - sometimes referred to as the Barefoot Princess because she plays the pedals of her Hammond barefoot - is an American jazz organist who made a career playing in Europe.  She has lived in France since '68.

Her output is rather large and somewhat uneven.  Her LPs are often plagued by tepid covers of hits of the day.  However, when she gets to it, she can be pretty good.

This session recorded in France in 1974 with Joe Thomas (aka The Ebony Godfather), on flute and tenor sax, and Cees Kranenburg (drums) ranks among her better LPs.  JoeThomas deserves special credit for his often inspired and funky flute work.

My favorite tracks are the Joe Thomas' composition Fire & Brimstone, Jeremy (co-written by Rhoda Scott and Joe Thomas) and Blues at the Bilboquet which is really cooking!.

  

Tracklisting

1.         Splanky

2.         Mach II           

3.         Fire And Brimstone

4.         Jeremy

5.         Delilah

6.         Blues At The Bilboquet

(Album never re-issued on CD)