Jazz on the Beach 163 & Blues Beach 64
Art Blakey, Patricia Brennan, Bebopman & Andy Fairweather Low
On this week’s Jazz on the Beach radio show playlist is Cubano Chant from one of my favourite Art Blakey records. Drum Suite (Columbia 1957), was split into two sides with the three track suite of the title on side one credited to The Art Blakey Percussion Ensemble, and three tracks by The Jazz Messengers on the flip.
Pianist Ray Bryant’s incredibly catchy tune is at the centre of the Suite, and apart from his piano, Oscar Pettiford’s double bass and everyone’s chanting, it’s all percussion - drummers Blakey, Jo Jones and Charles ‘Specs’ Wright plus bongo players Cándido Camero and Sabú Martinez.
I like this description from Cal Lampley’s sleeve notes:
As preparations for a test run for the Drum Suite began, the air in Columbia’s studios was filled with excitement. Jo Jones and Art Blakey moved over to their respective drums, Cándido and Sabú picked up their bongos, Ray Bryant sat down at the piano and Oscar Pettiford got set with his bass and cello. Meanwhile Charles Wright sat down behind a set of drums with tympani on one side and a gong on the other. All of them had various smaller instruments near at hand. At the end of the test run, everyone sat down to listen to the playback, and that was it.
I’ve been enjoying Los Otros Yo (The Other Selves) by the New York based, Mexican born vibraphonist Patricia Brennan. It’s from her recent album Breaking Stretch (Pyroclastic Records, September), and features her ‘small percussion ensemble with bass’ of drummer Marcus Gilmore, percussionist Mauricio Herrera and double bassist Kim Cass. She’s added saxophonists Jon Irabagon (alto & soprano), Mark Shim (tenor) and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill. It has a great arrangement and terrific playing over a fierce latin groove.
Thanks to multi instrumentalist and producer Leo Sidran’s interview with his father Ben Sidran on The Third Story, I’m pleased to hear that Sidran Sr. is writing songs for a new album. Regular listeners probably realise by now that I’m a big fan and this week have gone back to I Might Be Wrong, his sad, but comforting paean to the passing years and what we’ve lost.
The song comes from Picture Him Happy (Unlimited Media, 2017). Ben sings and plays Wurlitzer electric piano and Leo plays drums with bassist Will Lee, guitarist Will Bernard, tenor saxophonist John Ellis, with percussion by Moses Patrou. It’s as good as his very best songs, and there are a great many of those. I only recently realised that Sidran wrote new lyrics for Neil Hefti and Bobby Troup’s classic Girl Talk, (better, and more appropriate), but does not get royalties. That’s the music business!
Last week’s freezing weather was followed by two storms - Bert and Conall. Thankfully the worst of it missed us in Deal, but some of the country suffered dreadful flooding. It was another reminder (if one was needed) of the power of nature, and I wanted to hear the calm beauty of Conservatory Gardens by trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith & pianist Amina Claudine Myers from last May’s remarkable Central Park's Mosaics of Reservoir, Lake, Paths and Gardens, (Red Hook Records). I’m not a particular fan of record of the year lists, but this would certainly be high up on mine.
I see that they’re performing together at Roulette in Brooklyn on Wednesday December 4th. Unfortunately that’s on the wrong side of the Atlantic for me, but the good news is there will be a free livestream at 8pm which will also be archived to watch later. So thanks to the five hour time difference, after I finish presenting JOTB at midnight I can tune in when I get home from the studio.
There’s another track from pianist Aaron Parks’ Little Big III (Blue Note, October 18th), with a beautiful new version of Ashé that first appeared on A Tale of God’s Will (A Requiem for Katrina). As well as Parks, Little Big are guitarist Greg Tuohey, double bassist David Ginyard Jr. and drummer Jongkuk Kim. Another album of the year contender (if I was actually doing that).
Also, there’s Triumphance, the terrific dubby closing track from tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia’s Odyssey (Concord Jazz, September). Trumpeter (and Kokoroko leader) Sheila Maurice-Gray and trombonist Rosie Turton join Garcia’s regulars, pianist Joe Armon-Jones, double bassist Daniel Casimir and drummer Sam Jones, while Zara McFarlane contributes some gorgeous backing vocals together with Kianja & Baby Sol.
Here’s the song live on Later…
Closing this week’s show is the fabulous Hammond organ driven version of Herbie Hancock’s Chameleon by Tony Lavorgna and the St Thomas Jazz Quartet. It’s from the album Chameleon that was privately pressed and locally released in the Cleveland, Ohio area in 1982, and reissued by Jazz Room two years ago.
The players with saxophonist Lavorgna are Hammond organist David Thomas, trumpeter Mark Parkinson and drummer Bill Hill. I was intrigued to hear that Tony Lavorgna’s life story was immortalised in comic book form by the American Splendour writer Harvey Pekar as Bebopman.
To listen to this week’s Jazz on The Beach on Mixcloud, just click below…
The latest biweekly Blues Beach show features a wonderful new version of Gin House Blues by Andy Fairweather Low from his upcoming album The Invisible Bluesman (Last Music Company, February, 2025). It’s a song he’s performed since the mid ‘60s when he was the vocalist with Amen Corner. However, this song is actually Me and My Gin and was probably written by pianist James C. Johnson, and it’s a different song entirely from the Fletcher Henderson composition Gin House Blues.
Just to make things confusing, Bessie Smith recorded both versions - Gin House Blues in 1926 and Me and My Gin two years later. And since then, the titles have gotten completely mixed up. But whatever it’s called, Fairwearther Low’s version is terrific, and his guitar playing spectacular.
Also on the playlist are Otis Rush’s Homework, Frankie Lee Simms’ She Likes to Boogie Real Low, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee’s Midnight Special and Chuck Berry’s Wee Wee Hours, as well as more contemporary tracks from Sue Foley, Duke Robillard, Rory Block and Chris Cain. I couldn't resist adding Jimmie Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton’s killer version of the ‘60s Dale and Grace hit I’m Leavin’ It Up to You, nowadays remembered as a ‘70s hit for Donny and Marie Osmond. If you don’t know it, wait ‘till you hear it!
To listen to this week’s Blues Beach on Mixcloud, just click below…
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Jazz On The Beach is broadcast live every Wednesday evening from 10.00pm - midnight and repeated the following Monday from 2.00am - 4.00am
Blues Beach is broadcast live every other Thursday from 6.00pm - 7.00pm