By Donald True Van Deusen
Philadelphia's part as a principal player in jazz history is not just a
matter of its past, but a story still being played out in various jazz clubs
all over town. One of the most exciting jazz instruments, the tenor sax, has
a host of principal players with major Philadelphia connections. Players such
as Charlie Ventura, Stan Getz, Jimmy Heath, Larry McKenna, Bootsie Barnes,
Wendell Hobbs and Jimmy Oliver. They wrote and/or are writing jazz history
every time they pick up their horn.
Ventura (Venturo) was born, reared, educated and played in Philadelphia.
He was born December 2, 1916, the fourth of 13 children, and worked in his
father's hat factory and the Navy Yard. He performed with such jazz greats as
Bill Harris, Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge as well as fronting his own big
band and trio that helped write jazz history. He was a key sideman with
the Gene Krupa Orchestra. His trio recordings of Stompin' at the Savoy, Body
and Soul and Dark Eyes send shivers down the backs of jazz lovers. He made
trail blazing use of bop singing first with Buddy Stewart, then with Jackie
Cain and Roy Kral. Their recordings of Euphoria and I'm Forever Blowing
Bubbles brought the bop vocal into pop art. Although not a bop musician, he
helped bring this style to prominence with his Bop for the People groups. He
was also a key player at history-making Jazz at the Philharmonic (JATP)
concerts.
Stan Getz and Jimmy Heath were both born and reared in Philadelphia. Getz
left as a teenager to work in New York. He worked with Jack Teagarden, Benny
Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey and Woody Herman as part of the now-famous Four
Brothers. He was considered one of the top men on ballads and in the cool
school of jazz and has dozens of recordings and awards.
Heath is a prominent composer and band leader as well as sax player.He
worked with everyone from Howard McGhee to Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.
Gillespie said, "If you know Jimmy Heath, you know bop." He has performed
on more than 100 recordings and worked as Professor of Music at the Aaron
Copland School of Music in Queens, N.Y. where he lives.
Jimmy Oliver and Wendell Hobbs are among the most exciting tenor sax men
working in Philadelphia today says jazz drummer-historian Bruce Klauber. They
are likely to be sitting in as sidemen with various groups at any of a dozen
clubs around town. Larry McKenna and Bootsie Barnes, both Philadelphia
products, are two of the very finest tenormen working anywhere as outlined in
recent issues of Metro. They sometimes play together at jam sessions that
are as exciting as anything ever recorded at JATP. Larry is working a
regular gig on Friday nights at Alex's Jazz Underground, 27 S. 21st Street
(215-988-9255). Bootsie has his trio working at Wednesday sessions at
Ortlieb's Jazz Haus, 847 N. 3rd Street (215-922-1035). Wherever they're
playing, jazz history is being made! --30--
An excitingly vivid demonstration of Philadelphia jazz, an on-going saga,
goes with the Feb. 23-24 shows featuring the Pat Martino Trio with Joey
DeFrancesco and Byron Landham at Chris' Jazz Cafe, 1421 Sansome Street (Call
215-568-3131). The cover will be $20 with two sets starting at 8:30 and 10 P.
M..
Martino, is a renowned guitarist descended almost directly from the first
world's first internationally known jazz guitarist, Eddie Lang, also, of
course, from Philadelphia. Born Pat Azzara in Philadelphia, Martino's
father studied briefly with Lang and took his son to see various top
guitarists such as Wes Montgomery. Pat came back from fame and oblivion in a
sense, recovering from a severe brain aneurysm and surgery that could have
been terminal. He had to, in a real sense, relearn everything. His 1994
recording of "The Maker" proved his return to greatness.
Joey DeFrancesco started on the jazz organ young--sitting in when he was
just ten with such stars as Jack McDuff and Groove Holmes. Philly jazz organ
greats seem to dominate the field including such as Trudy Pitts,
Shirley Scott, Holmes, McDuff. Even Joey's father, "Papa John," and his
grandfather played the organ. His brother, Johnny, plays a fine blues
guitar and was at Chris' earlier in the week. Joey went on to international
fame working at just 19 with Miles Davis. I once described "Papa John" and
his kids as the "DeFrancesco Dynasty," after hearing them groove together at
the then-swinging 23rd Street Cafe.
Rounding out the Martino Trio for the night will be the always dependable
Byron Landham on drums who has worked with just about everyone at every
club in town and is in the Tuesday house band sessions at Ortlieb's Jazzhaus.
Martino began playing guitar when he was just 12 years old. One of his
fellow students in those early Philly days was a tenor sax player named John
Coltrane. He also played with such stars as Bobby Darin and Chubby Checker.
His recording of "All Sides Now," released by Blue Note, was reported in the
August 31 Philadelphia Inquirer as "a high profile comeback...that represents
Martino's return to the front ranks." That CD featured guitarists such as
Charlie Hunter, Mike Stern, Michael Hedges, Tuck Andress and Kevin Eubanks
along with vocalist Cassandra Wilson.
DeFrancesco and Martino are both world renowned for their technique,
technical virtuosity and sheer musicianship that awes audience and fellow
musicians. They also have that essential ability to project the feeling, the
excitement, the swinging blues and joy of jazz that makes people at the bar
want to get up and dance even when there isn't a dance floor in sight.
Chris' Cafe has a great interior for dining and jazz listening comparable to
the famed 52nd Street clubs, but they have not put in a dance floor.
