RARITY # 59

THE DIAMONDS  FIVE (NL)

45 rpm EP OMEGA (Dutch band, Belgium label, 1959)

Fellow blogger Peer57 who runs the Dutch Jazz (private) blog has shared some records with us.  If you are a visitor to his blog(s), you probably know these records already.  If not, enjoy them here while they last.  We’ll start with a fairly rare and collectible EP recorded in Brussels, in 1959, by one of the better-known groups of Dutch Boppers, the Diamond Five.  Great music!

Pianist Cees Slinger was the frontman of the famous Dutch harbop-quintet "Diamond Five". They used the Amsterdam jazzclub "Sheherazade" as their base, and played there night after night.

Tracks:

Side A :            Diamondate

Side B:             Alone together

Credits

Trumpet– Cees Smal

Tenor Saxophone– Harry Verbeke

Piano, leader– Cees Slinger

Bass– Jacques Schols

Drums– John Engels

Recorded in Brussels, sept. 1959

UPDATED LINK (18/07/17) 

P.S.: I have reposted the Guidelines 4tet feat Kaz Lux  (see post "Going Dutch" - March 9, 2013)

RARITY # 58

HACKE BJÖRKSTEN & ÅKE PERSSON  QUINTET

METRONOME MEP 353 (EP)   - Sweden, 1956

For some time now, Onxidlib has been the main purveyor of rare EP in the Rarity Series.  He still has a few surprises for us.  Here is his latest contribution, that will rejoice fans of Scandinavian jazz: a fairly rare EP by the HACKE BJÖRKSTEN / ÅKE PERSSON QUINTET, recorded in 1956.

I assume these tracks have been re-issued on LP and/or CD , I still have to check the discographies. 

Personel:

Gunnar "Hacke" Björksten, tenor saxophone

Åke Persson, trombone

Jan Johansson, piano

Bengt Carlsson, bass

Svante Thuresson, drums

Tracks

A1. Song Of The Volga Boatmen 2:36

A2. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 3:54

B1. Tubeless Tires 3:23

B2. Number Six 2:33

Recorded March 8 + 9, 1956 at Metronome Studio, Stockholm.

UPDATED LINK 18/07/17

RE-POST & CROSSBORDER COLLABORATION

BABS ROBERT & The LOVE PLANET (re-up)

Crossborder collaboration, that's what blogging is all about!  I made a new rip of Babs Robert & Love Planet and sent it to onxidlib who cleaned and declicked it (a time-consuming and laborius task).
It is a significant improvement on the previous rips posted here (the first one was especially dreadful, I was learning).
Eternal gratitude to you, Onxidlib!

See comments.

Over 3 years ago I wrote:  Will someone eventually take the initative to re-issuing this little gem?  Now is the right time as there is a growing demand among collectors ... and the price for an original puts it out of reach of the average collector.  I hope someone at Heavenly Sweetness (or any other specialized label) read this message.

Well , apparently, someone did hear the request.  The album is now available in CD format from JUNO records (UK):
http://www.juno.co.uk/artists/Babs+Robert+%2526+The+Love+Planet/

Since it is available, I won't repost the rip.  

AN AMERICAN IN GERMANY

JIGGS WHIGHAM - HOPE
LP Telefunken (Germany) / Pausa (USA)
Germany (1977)

Another forgotten piece of top-notch Eurojazz. Even if the leader is American - as is the drummer - the result has a definite European feel.   

American trombonist Jiggs Whigham had a long and fruitful career as a jazzman, arranger, band leader and educator in Europe since the mid-sixties. During the seventies he played regularly in Belgium, often appearing as guest soloist with the BRT radio orchestra and playing the local clubs (Pol's in Brussels) and festivals (Middelheim in Antwerp).

HOPE is one of my favortie Wigham's albums.   I do not think it has ever been re-issued on CD.

Just look at the caliber of the guys in the band ... need I say more?  La Creme de la creme!

Credits

Trombone, Percussion, Producer, Arranger – Jiggs Whigham

Saxophone, Flute – Ferdinand Povel

Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Rob Franken

Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen

Drums – Grady Tate

Tracklist

A1                   Bodge  3:36

A2                   The Healer       6:00

A3                   Hope    4:57

A4                   Absolutely Knot           5:50

B1                   Owa Tagu Siam (Oh What A Goose I Am)       4:46

B2                   Sunflower Chant          6:48

B3                   Chant   4:48

B4                   Going Home    2:35

Original LP rip.  WAV.

LINK UPDATED 18/07/17

RARE, GROOVY AND SO TYPICALLY EUROPEAN!

COLOURS IN JAZZ

FRANCIS COPPIETERS SELECTION

featuring: Rolf Roemer – tenor sax, flute / Klaus Osterloh – flugelhorn / Francis Coppieters: piano & percussion /  Jean Warland: bass / Klaus Weiss: drums / Koenraad Ellegiers: violin / Gustav Kedves: French Horn

LP Intersound                                  GERMANY, 1986

If you’re into the MPS / Eurojazz sound, the names of Francis Coppieters and Jean Warland should not be totally unknown to you.  Both are Belgians who made a career working in the German studios and big radio bands.  You’ve probably seen their names credited on several MPS / SABA albums.

Jean Warland is probably the better known of the two due to his participation in the Clarke-Boland Big Band and Peter Herbolzheimer Brass & Rhythm Combination, among many other sessions.

Francis Coppieters‘ career goes back to the mid-forties in Belgium.  In 1949 he became a member of the Hazy Osterwald Orchestra, then of the Kurt Edelhagen Big Band and finally became a studio musician for MPS.

Although they both recorded prolifically as sidemen, they did not record much as leaders which may explain why they remain largely unknown outside a small circle of collectors and aficionados. 

Francis Coppieters is highly regarded among Libray music collectors for his album “Piano Viberations” (1975) issued on the KPM Music Library label.  It features Claudio Szenkar (b),  Jean Warland (bass) and Charly Antolini (drs) - according to Pernet's discography. The names of Fats Sadi (vibes), Roger Vanhaverbeke (bass) and Freddy Rottier (drs) were mentioned also but it does not appear they took part in this session. 

According to the discographies there is another library album by Coppieters – KTS-5 (Koln, 1980)  with an astounding lineup: the van Rooyen brothers, Jon Eardley, Otto Bredl, Peter Herbolzheimer, Wilton Gaynar, Karlheinz Wiberny ... just to name a few – but I’ve never heard or even seen it.

Colours in Jazz recorded in 1986 is a jazz / library jazz /soul jazz album.

If you like the music of Charlie Antolini and Roland Kovac, you’ll like this album.  Groovy  with a typical European feel!  Don’t miss it. I don’t think it has ever been posted elsewhere in the blogworld.

Tracklist

A1                   Mobile            3:03

A2                   Blue Magic     5:22

A3                   Shuffle Bubble           4:52

A4                   Blue Greens    4:14

A5                   Aquarelle        4:40

B1                   Voyage           3:22

B2                   Aroma 3:36

B3                   Sir Francis Drums      3:28

B4                   Easy Going     4:25

B5                   Ritmo Pizzicato         4:45

Credits

Flugelhorn – Klaus Osterloh

Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Rolf Röhmer

Piano, Percussion, Composed By, Arranged By – Francis Coppieters

Bass – Jean Warland

Drums – Klaus Weiss

French Horn – Gustav Kedves

Violin – Koenraad Ellegiers

Francis Coppieters

Notes

Recorded March 1986 at Cornet Sudio, Cologne

(n.b.: scans of  sleeve sourced from Discogs).    

LINK UPDATED 18/07/17

PS: I have re-posted Fats Sadi Combo (Rarity #11)

CRATEDIGGING

It feels like Spring! Beautiful day for a little stroll to flea markets
Here 's what I 've found this week end:

Jazz auf Amiga vol.4 and 5
The Historic Donaueschingen Jazz Concert 1957 (MPS)
Dee Daniels with the Montry Alexander Trio (rare album on small Belgian label)
Max Greger Sunshine / Starshine (Polydor) ... for the funky track Soul House and a few other ones.  One of his better albums.
Monty Alexander Trio - Full Steam Ahead (with a version of the Stones' Satisfaction)
Jazz & Hot Dance in South Africa ... SA Jump Blues!
Chris Barber Jazz & Blues Band -Sideways : weird combination of trad, soul jazz and british prog/ jazz rock.  Great drumming by Pete York (ex-Spencer Davis Group / Hardin & York)
Memphis Slim - Clap Your Hands (1964) ... pure French Mod sound with Mickey Baker, Jacques Denjean on organ, french jazzers (Gerard Badini ...) 

Average price: € 5!  

CHICAGO HARD-CORE JAZZ

E. PARKER McDOUGAL
BLUES TOUR

LP GRITS GR2002         USA, 1981

Elmer Parker McDougal, (August 6, 1924- July 18, 1994), Chicago "tough tenor" jazz saxophonist, was the founder of Chicago Hard-Core Jazz Inc. and owner of Grits Records.  He played the blues with various groups (Sonny Thompson, a.o.) and performed with many outstanding Chicago tenorists, including Johnny Griffin, Von Freeman and Gene Ammons.

E. Parker McDougal recorded only two albums, both on his own GRITS label.  No nonsense, straight-ahead jazz in the purest Chicago tradition.  I haven’t heard the first one (Initial Visit – GR2001, recorded in 1975) but this one is a very satisfactory album featuring strong playing by pianist Willie Pickens (on side A) and guitarist George Freeman (on side B).  To the best of my knowledge, these albums were never re-issued on CD.

SIDE A

Tenor saxophone: E. Parker McDougal

Piano: Willie Pickens

Bass: Dan Shapera

Drums: Robert Shy

A1.      Blues Tour (E. Parker McDougal)

A2.      Irma’s Waltz (E. Parker McDougal)

A3.      All too soon (Ellington)

SIDE B

Tenor saxophone: E. Parker McDougal

Guitar : George T. Freeman

Bass: Eddie Calhoun

Drums: Jim Cottrell (B1 & B3) / Robert Shy (B2 & B4)

B1.      P’s Blues

B2.      For Cuz

B3.      Love Tap

B4.      Skokie Swift

(B1 to B4: composed by E. Parker McDougal)

UPDATED LINK 18/07/17

And I renew the request below:
If anyone has the album GR 2001 "Initial Visit", I'd love to hear it / post it.  Thanks.

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)