Dinah Washington - Sings Bessie Smith ● Sings Fats Waller

Dinah Washington - Sings Bessie Smith ● Sings Fats Waller -  American Jazz Classics

This is a public domain European reissue of two Dinah Washington albums from the late fifties that came out a few years back. I wonder if the inspiration of her tributes to Bessie Smith and Fats Waller might have come from Louis Armstrong's similar albums devoted to the music of W.C. Handy and Waller. In Armstrong's case, inspiration may have come from their compositions, while Ms. Washington focuses on recordings by these giants.

On the Bessie Smith album, she was backed by a band led by her then-husband Eddie Chamblee, while the Fats Waller album had her backed by a big band conducted by Ernie Wilkins. Chamblee was part of that band. Others present on various recordings include, but not limited to, Clark Terry, Johnny Coles, and Reunald Jones on trumpet; Quentin Jackson, Julian Priester, and Melba Liston on trombone; Chamblee, Charles Davis, Frank Wess, and Benny Golson on saxophone; Jack Wilson on piano; Freddie Greene on guitar; Richard Evans on bass; and Charlie Persip on drums.

There is a bit of a trad-swing feel to the Bessie Smith recordings with able renditions of "Backwater Blues," "Careless Love," and "You've Been a Good Old Wagon." There is a surprise in her choice of "Trombone Butter" (renamed Butter from Cholly) with gutbucket tailgating trombone from Quentin 'Butter' Jackson. Nice are renditions of "After You've Gone," "If I Could Be With You" (which Bessie did not record but apparently was close to her), and Dinah's own "Fine Fine Daddy," which is similar in spirit to many of Bessie's recordings. Dinah did not have as heavy a voice as Smith but was in her own way as gripping a performer. It should be noted that four bonus selections include three songs from the sessions that produced the Smith Tribute, including a marvelous "Trouble in Mind." Also, there is a big band recording of "Backwater Blues" that was recorded earlier. Throughout Dinah's musicality, her pitch intonation, diction, and phrasing shine.

The Fats Waller sessions are equally rewarding, backed by a big band. Washington's performances have a different quality from those by Waller. Both were extroverts, although Waller had a dash of outrageous fun in his handling of some lyrics. There are a couple of duets with husband Chamblee on "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Everybody Loves My Baby." She delivers a wonderful rendition of Chu Berry's "Christopher Columbus," which Andy Razaf added after Fletcher Henderson's recording.  She sings an equally marvelous performance of "Jitterbug Waltz," a song that she was first to record as a vocal. Then there is a take on "Black and Blue," which reflected some lyrical changes due to changes in social attitudes from the twenties. Like the Bessie Smith tribute, this was another superb display of Washington's soulful, expressive singing. 

The accompanying booklet includes the original liner notes to both albums, personnel information, and a biography appreciation from Arthur Morton. The CD contains nearly 80 minutes of the Queen singing the blues and so much more.

I purchased this. Here is a television appearance of Dinah singing "Lover, Come Back to Me / Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair."

Take 5 With Clark Terry

December 14, 2020, is the centennial of the birth of the late Clark Terry. Terry was one of the premier jazz trumpeters of the post bebop era who played and recorded with so many giants. how many folks had substantial stints with Count Basie and Duke Ellington? Also, he was with Thelonious Monk for a period, led a group with Bob Brookmeyer as well as led his own Big Bad Band. And he had an irrepressible personality. Today we have a short playlist of him.

First up, we feature him with Quincy Jones, who was a good friend of Clark. Clark is on fluegelhorn for "Moanin'."

Next up is Clark and his Big Band Live in 1974.

Here is Clark with Duke Ellington along with Ray Nance, Shorty Baker, and Cat Anderson.

Next up is "Stardust," from a Jazz at the Philharmonic concert.

Finally, we close with Clark's classic blues, "Mumbles."

The Late Clark Terry Kept On Keepin' On

"Keep On Keepin' On" is a remarkable documentary about the late Clark Terry and his relationship with a young blind pianist, Justin Kauflin. The documentary captures Terry, who was suffering severe health issues related to diabetes and young Kauflin, in several different episodes interspersed with clips of Terry from throughout his legendary musical career. Also caught are some moments with the late Quincy Jones, who Terry mentored when Jones was a teenager and who takes Justin on the road with him towards the film's end. Interspersed are clips of Terry playing with Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, and various big bands along with Justin performing at the Monk competition and later being featured with Quincy Jones in Europe where he performs his composition dedicated to Terry, "For Clark."

Ashley Kahn notes that the soundtrack is not simply an encapsulation of the film, but an overview of Terry's career interspersed with dialog by Terry, Kauflin and Quincy Jones, and some solo performances from young Kauflin. There are some excerpts of Terry's playing although there are full performances with Duke Ellington (a very fresh take on "Harlem Air Shaft"), Oscar Peterson (including "Mumbles"); a terrific "Stardust" with his Quintet as part of jazz at the Philharmonic; Count Basie (a blistering "Blee Blop Blues"); a marvelous orchestral rendition of "Misty;" and "I Remember Clifford" with Quincy Jones." Young Kauflin displays his wonderful touch and imagination on his solo piano that is heard under Terry's narration of "Letter to Justin #1," and the closing "For Clark" that closes this soundtrack.

Ashley Kahn notes that is the first collection of Terry's music although it  only provides a sample of his remarkable legacy It is a document of more than simply Clark Terry's music with the dialogue and advice presented here. One cannot recommend the movie "Keep On Keepin' On" highly enough as well as this soundtrack. While probably enjoyed most by those who have seen the movie, it certainly stands up well on its own. Recommended, and perhaps may we get a fuller career retrospective on CD of Clark Terry's music.

I received a download from a  publicist. Here is the movie trailer for "Keep On Keepin' On."

A Couple of Blue Notes

Carla Marciano

I believe it was a link to a free download on allaboutjazz.com that turned me on the Carla Marciano, an Italian saxophonist from Salerno, Italy. Listening to the download immediately led me to download on itunes (and its available elsewhere) her new recording Stream of Consciousness (AlfaMusic). She elads a quartet of her on saxophone; Alessandro La Corte on piano; Aldo Vigorito on bass and Gaetano Fasono on drums. I ahve seen her referred to as John Coltrane's daughter and listening to this recording it is immediately evident from the opening God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman, which certain will evoke Coltrane's rendering of Greensleeves, to the title three-part suite where she and her combo will make some wonder if this is a previously unissued Coltrane recording. What's interesting is that the suite is akin to some of Trane's freer recordings. Anyway this lady has certainly left a strong impression on me and this is well worth checking out.

Here website biography is at http://www.carlamarciano.it/bio.asp

Miles Davis - The Complete Illustrated History

Miles Davis - The Complete Illustrated History, published by Voyageur Press of Minneapolis, Minnesota is a marvelous graphic overview of one of the most important, influential and original artists of the Twentieth Century. This coffee-table sized volume provides an overview of Miles Davis’ life accompanied not simply by wondrous and classic photography, but also short essays by his musical colleagues, jazz critics and  historians and cultural historians. The who package is quite well done and the various comments from those of his contemporaries like Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Lenny White, Ron Carter and Clark Terry and such noted jazz writers as Francis Davis, Ashley Kahn and Robin D.G. Kelley, certainly help flesh out a bit of his personality as well as his musical history. This is the second such book on Miles (We Like Miles came out two years ago to accompany a Miles Museum exhibit in Paris and Montreal) and is certainly a must for those who don’t have the prior volume, but also stands on its own for those (like myself) who have the earlier book. 

If you go to Barnes & Noble’s website or to amazon, you can get the flavor of this volume from the preview that is available. 

I purchased both of these items.

Mingus' Complete Town Hall Concert

1994 saw Blue Note release Charles Mingus, The Complete Town Hall Concert. As long a fan of the late bassist, composer and leader, it certainly was a delight to listen to and here is a review from the November 1994 Jazz & Blues Report.

Blue Note’s CD reissue of Charles Mingus’ Town Hall concert provides a more complete view than the previous releases of this material. The posthumous performance of Epitaph created some interest in hearing more of this concert, which contained some of the big band scores that formed the basis for the latter suite. The concert has a reputation of being a low point in Mingus’ career, in part because of the prior, less complete releases of this material. While rough edges are obvious, the recovery and release for the first time of much of this is revelatory. This is Mingus at his more exploratory with the turbulent, almost explosive, ensembles, shifting tempos and flavors, and searching solos perhaps best exemplified by Epitaph Part 1 with its echoes of Mingus’ Pithecanthropus Erectus at the beginning, with suggestions of Ellington later, with Eric Dolphy, Clark Terry and Britt Woodland among those featured.The relatively melodic Peggy’s Blue Skylight provides a contrasting mood. Some of the others present include Ernie Royal, Jimmy Cleveland, Charles McPherson, Buddy Collette, Zoot Sims, Pepper Adams, Jaki Byard and Milt Hinton. It should be caveated that this is not an album for those new to Mingus who would be better served by the Rhino double compact disc set, or Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus on Candid.