On this day in jazz (November 11)

On this day in 1968, Bobby Hutcherson, on of my favorite vibraphonists, recorded the studio album “Spiral”. Joining Bobby were the great Harold Land on saxophone, Stanley Cowell on piano, Reggie Johnson on bass and Joe Chambers on drums. All members of the group submitted compositions for the album, and what you get is a true group effort.

If you notice that the release date of the album was 1979, you might ask why this album wasn’t released for 11 years. Steve Huey’s (of allmusic.com) opinion is that its sound did not fit the late-’60s music spirit as it wasn’t fusion, nor “aggressively far-out”…however, the music is still really good with a modal post-bop sound. I agree…although, to me, it is non-aggressively far-out compared to the modal works of 1959.

Here’s Bobby with “Jasper“:

Track listing:

1. “Ruth” (Chambers) – 7:52
2. “The Wedding March” (Cowell) – 3:54
3. “Poor People’s March” (Land) – 6:18
4. “Spiral” (Chambers) – 6:15
5. “Visions” (Hutcherson) – 3:50

On this day in jazz (October 25)

On this day in 1960, alto saxophonist Art Pepper recorded the studio album Smack Up. Joining Art were Jack Sheldon on trumpet and a rhythm section of Pete Jolly at the piano, Jimmy Bond on bass and Frank Butler on the drums. It is a really fine album starting with the title song composed by Harold Land, followed by an original by Art, “Las Cuevas de Mario” which leads into a song by my favorite clarinetists, Buddy Collette, entitled “A Bit of Basie”; and there’s even an Ornette Coleman song on the album: “Tears Inside”.

If you are unfamiliar with the phrase “Smack Up”, it means to shoot up with heroin. Art would battle heroin addiction for several years. I cover this in a small amount of detail on the September 16 page.

Here’s Art with a great version of “Smack Up“:

Track listing:

1. “Smack Up” (Harold Land) –4:15
2. “Las Cuevas De Mario” (Art Pepper) –6:59
3. “A Bit of Basie” (Buddy Collette) –7:21
4. “How Can You Lose” (Benny Carter) –6:53
5. “Maybe Next Year” (Duane Tatro) –4:21
6. “Tears Inside” (Ornette Coleman) –7:43
7. “Solid Citizens” (Jack Monterose) -6:29
8. “Solid Citizens (alternate take)” -6:28

On this day in jazz (August 06)

On this day in 1954, Clifford Brown and Max Roach finished recording of the studio album, “Brown and Roach, Incorporated” at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. Along with Clifford and Max, George Morrow (bass), Harold Land (tenor sax) and Richie Powell(drums) also appear on this work. More on Clifford and the band can be found on the August 02 page on this site.

Here’s “Stompin’ at the Savoy“:

Track listing:

1. “Sweet Clifford” (Clifford Brown) – 6:41
2. “I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You” (Bing Crosby, Ned Washington, Victor Young) – 7:19
3. “Stompin’ at the Savoy” (Benny Goodman, Andy Razaf, Edgar Sampson Chick Webb) – 6:23
4. “I’ll String Along with You” (Al Dubin, Harry Warren) – 4:09
5. “Mildama” (Max Roach) – 4:30
6. “Darn That Dream” (Eddie DeLange, Jimmy Van Heusen) – 4:02
7. “I Get a Kick out of You” (Cole Porter) – 7:36

On this day in jazz (August 02)

On this day in 1954, Clifford Brown and Max Roach began recording “Clifford Brown & Max Roach”. The album was well received and includes several two tracks that have become jazz standards (“Daahoud” and “Joy Spring”).” Another track, “Delilah”, was selected by the Village Voice as the outstanding jazz track of 1954. The album is part the Grammy Hall of Fame and is #34 in “Jazz: A Critic’s Guide to the 100 Most Important Recordings”. Along with Clifford and Max, George Morrow (bass), Harold Land(tenor sax) and Richie Powell (drums) also appear on this work.

“Joy Spring”, mentioned above, was written by Clifford for his wife, whom he referred to as “Joy Spring”. An interesting story about the couple: she was introduced to Clifford (by Max) while she was working on a student thesis that “jazz was inferior to her field of classical music”. Clifford and her somehow got past this and were married.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Brown did not use drugs and was somewhat abstemious with alcohol. Other jazz musicians of the time found him a great influence during their drug recovery. It seems that many were under the belief that you had to use drugs to find that artistic breakthrough.

Clifford Brown died in a fatal automobile accident in 1956. Brown and Richie Powell were being driven to Chicago late one night when Powell’s wife lost control of the car during a torrential rainstorm on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and all three lost their lives. A very tragic story and a great loss for jazz music. In memory of Clifford, Benny Golson wrote “I Remember Clifford”, which has also become a jazz standard.

Brown’s influence lives on through the Clifford Brown Jazz Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization founded by his widow, LaRue Brown Watson. The mission of the foundation is to inspire a love for jazz among young people. The Foundation is currently directed by Brown’s grandson, Clifford Brown III, who is a respected Bay Area trumpeter and music producer.

Here’s Clifford with Max Roach with “Joy Spring“.

Track listing:

1. “Delilah” (Victor Young) – 8:06
2. “Parisian Thoroughfare” (Bud Powell) – 7:19
3. “Daahoud” – 4:05
4. “Joy Spring” – 6:50
5. “Jordu” (Duke Jordan) – 7:50
6. “The Blues Walk” (Chris Woods) – 6:47
7. “What Am I Here For?” (Duke Ellington, Frankie Laine) – 3:11