Jazz From The Vinyl Junkyard
As an avid collector of vintage vinyl, it occured to me at some point that a large amount of great music has yet to make it to the reissue market and so Jazz From the Vinyl Junkyard each month features those obscure records that continue to elude all but the most astute jazz collectors.
Artie Butler: Have You Met Miss Jones?
by C. Andrew Hovan
Artie Butler Have You Met Miss Jones? A&M/CTI 1968Well, it has been some time since we last dipped into the vinyl crate for an installment. During the summer months, I had the good fortune of moving to a new house where I have more than enough space at last to accommodate all the vinyl, CDs, books, drums, stereo, and associated gear that comes with being a musician and music fanatic. On the ...
read moreMoacir Santos: Maestro
by C. Andrew Hovan
Moacir Santos Maestro Blue Note Records 1972 Among a sizable number of Brazilian composers who are better known in their homeland than abroad, few can lay claim to a more substantive and varied catalog of music as that written by the great Moacir Santos. A prodigy of sorts, Santos mastered many wind instruments while still in his teens and toured Brazil for many years, studying and playing with a wide variety of ...
read moreBobbi Humphrey: Flute-In
by C. Andrew Hovan
Bobbi Humphrey Flute-In Blue Note Records 1971 Last time out we looked at two particularly neglected Blue Note gems from keyboard man Ronnie Foster which actually got me to thinking about the present state of that iconic jazz catalog. While the Connoisseur and RVG series have brought to light many of the best items from the vaults, the fact remains that there are still a small number of releases that have yet ...
read moreRonnie Foster: On the Avenue & Cheshire Cat
by C. Andrew Hovan
While it's true that the declining years of the Blue Note label saw many releases of a lesser quality when compared with the golden gems of the label's heydays, sweeping generalizations lead to value judgments that might not always be applicable. Up through the mid '70s, artists like Horace Silver and Gene Harris continued to record viable albums even if they didn't quite reach the heights of earlier accomplishments. During this same era, a few uniquely talented young artists made ...
read moreJazzy Soundtracks 4: Kean
by C. Andrew Hovan
The Riverside Jazz Stars Jazzy Soundtracks 4: Kean Riverside 1961Last time out we focused on a jazz version of a 60's Broadway play and we continue in a similar vein this month with an unusual treatment of another long forgotten production. Kean opened in New York City at the Broadway Theater on November 2, 1961 and while its ultimate run was relatively short, it did receive some fine critical notices. Based on ...
read moreJazzy Soundtracks 3: Kwamina
by C. Andrew Hovan
Billy Taylor Orchestra Jazzy Soundtracks 3: Kwamina Mercury 1962Continuing our look into soundtrack albums of a jazz nature, we depart this month from film scores to take a look at a jazz interpretation of music from a Broadway production. Opening in October of 1961 and running for a mere 32 performances, Kwamina takes place in West Africa in a British colony where a young woman doctor runs into trouble when she falls ...
read moreJazzy Soundtracks 2: The Yellow Canary
by C. Andrew Hovan
Kenyon Hopkins Jazzy Soundtracks 2: The Yellow Canary Verve 1963We initiated our foray into the land of jazz-inflected soundtracks with a look at the score to the long forgotten Mr. Buddwing , a superb accomplishment of the venerable Kenyon Hopkins . As we continue our survey, it seemed logical to continue with yet another one of Hopkins' luminous accomplishments, this one possibly being his most celebrated. Released in 1963 with a screenplay ...
read moreDon Patterson/Bobby Timmons: Holiday Soul
by C. Andrew Hovan
With December ushering in the holiday season, it seemed logical to allow this month's column to address two items that fall under the category of jazzy Christmas fare. Although the repertoire in this area is really quite limited, some of the more memorable holiday jazz sides include works by Ella Fitzgerald and Jimmy Smith. For my money however, among the best sets is a pair of 1964 sides cut for Prestige by Bobby Timmons and Don Patterson. The idea for ...
read moreKenyon Hopkins: Verve/Esquire Sound Tour
by C. Andrew Hovan
Never before had there been such a rush of musical product as that which appeared during the '50s and '60s. In all areas of music, but especially for popular and jazz genres, the time was ripe for a myriad of experiments. As stereo took its place among the technical landscape, companies large and small rushed to take advantage of its possibilities, sometimes with disastrous results, but often with a sense of inspired ingenuity. While producer Creed Taylor had already skipped ...
read moreAirto: I'm Fine. How Are You?
by C. Andrew Hovan
Airto I'm Fine. How Are You? Warner Bros 1977
As we get ready to wind down the days of summer, it occurred to me that some of my favorite music of the season has always been Latin or Brazilian tinged. Something about that incendiary percussive mix always seems to speak of those warm and lazy afternoons under a shade tree with possibly a margarita on hand. Of those Brazilian artists most closely tied to ...
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