Brian Nation
Dec 3, 2005, 10:04 AM
Monday nights at 9:00pm on CITR 101.9 FM (http://www.citr.ca/) and on the Internet (http://www.citr.ca/default.asp?id=19&mnu=19).
11:00 pm "jazz feature":
December 5: Tubby Hayes and his quartet. “Mexican Green”.
December 11: John Coltrane/Milt Jackson. “Bags and Trane”.
December 19: Miles Davis and his All-Starts. “Bag’s Groove”.
December 5: Edward Brian “Tubby” Hayes was born in London, England on January 30, 1935 and died at the age of 38 on June 8, 1973. Tubby was unquestionably the most important Jazz musician that the United Kingdom ever produced. Hayes played all the reeds but the tenor saxophone was his main voice. He was a skilled flutist and an adept vibraphonist and was also a composer and arranger. Somebody called Tubby “England’s Coltrane”: This statement might have referred to Tubby’s importance to the British Jazz scene but if the statement referred to Hayes’ playing style on the tenor it was wrong as Hayes was closer in concept to his idols: Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, and Johnny Griffin. Make no mistake however, Hayes was his own man with a flowing concept. Beautifully stated ideas, a huge sound and a natural swing in his rhythmic concept. Tubby paid two visits to the U. S. in 1961 and 1962 and recorded on both occasions but tonight’s feature from early 1967 with his best working band was Tubby’s finest album. “Mexican Green” is the title and Tubby’s band includes pianist Mike Pyne, Scottish bassist Ron Matthewson and the wonderful Tony Levin on drums. Tubby Hayes recorded scads of albums in his career but none better than this one. After this recording Tubby’s health took a turn for the worst. Heavy drug use was a factor but a weak heart was what led to an open heart operation in 1969. Tubby recovered enough to resume playing but a second open heart in 1973 led to his untimely death. Tonight’s feature will prove to you how great Tubby Hayes was and how his sound will live forever.
December 11: “Bag’s and Trane” basically says it all about tonight’s feature. Milt Jackson was the first great modern voice on the vibraphone and John Coltrane needs to introduction to most jazz fans. Coltrane had just signed a contract with Atlantic Records and Jackson had been with the label for years. Also, Jackson and Coltrane were friends and had played together many times since working with Dizzy Gillespie’s small group in 1951. Jackson picked Connie Kay with whom he had played with in the Modern Jazz Quartet on drums and Trane expressed a deep interest in recording with the great Hank Jones on piano. Both leaders agreed that bassist Paul Chambers was the best choice and the date was a go. Bag’s and Trane both loved the blues so repertoire was not a problem and three simple blues lines by Jackson were chosen plus an up tempo workout on a Gillespie piece that they both knew in Dizzy’s band called Bebop. A few standards were chosen and the rest is recorded history. Although this is not an earth shattering get-together it is the work of jazz masters and everyone is at their lyrical and swinging best.
December 19: As this is the final Jazz Show of the year and our annual Christmas show with all the trimmings; we present the legendary Christmas Eve summit meeting led by trumpeter Miles Davis. Much has been written about this recording known to most listeners as the “Bag’s Groove” session. Davis had in 1954 finally thrown off the heroin habit that had stunted his career and was reaching new levels of musical creativity and was on his way to becoming the leading voice of the trumpet. Milt Jackson was now the most important player of his instrument.....the vibraphone and if Thelonious Monk was not Miles’ favourite piano player they were able to overcome some musical differences that brought out the best in both of them. It is Monk’s presence that makes this date so special and a few of his solos are said to be some of his very best work (check out “Bag’s Groove” take #1). Percy Heath on bass and modern jazz pioneer Kenny Clarke on drums lay a carpet of easy swing and drive that move all the soloists to great heights. Jackson’s blues “Bag’s Groove” is here along with Davis’ “Swing Spring” and Monk’s “Bemsha Swing” and the Gershwin standard “The Man I Love” are taken to classic levels. The spirit of Christmas lives through the beautiful incandescent quality of this music that set the standard for Jazz right up until today.
All the very best for the holidays from Gavin Walker and “The Jazz Show”.
11:00 pm "jazz feature":
December 5: Tubby Hayes and his quartet. “Mexican Green”.
December 11: John Coltrane/Milt Jackson. “Bags and Trane”.
December 19: Miles Davis and his All-Starts. “Bag’s Groove”.
December 5: Edward Brian “Tubby” Hayes was born in London, England on January 30, 1935 and died at the age of 38 on June 8, 1973. Tubby was unquestionably the most important Jazz musician that the United Kingdom ever produced. Hayes played all the reeds but the tenor saxophone was his main voice. He was a skilled flutist and an adept vibraphonist and was also a composer and arranger. Somebody called Tubby “England’s Coltrane”: This statement might have referred to Tubby’s importance to the British Jazz scene but if the statement referred to Hayes’ playing style on the tenor it was wrong as Hayes was closer in concept to his idols: Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, and Johnny Griffin. Make no mistake however, Hayes was his own man with a flowing concept. Beautifully stated ideas, a huge sound and a natural swing in his rhythmic concept. Tubby paid two visits to the U. S. in 1961 and 1962 and recorded on both occasions but tonight’s feature from early 1967 with his best working band was Tubby’s finest album. “Mexican Green” is the title and Tubby’s band includes pianist Mike Pyne, Scottish bassist Ron Matthewson and the wonderful Tony Levin on drums. Tubby Hayes recorded scads of albums in his career but none better than this one. After this recording Tubby’s health took a turn for the worst. Heavy drug use was a factor but a weak heart was what led to an open heart operation in 1969. Tubby recovered enough to resume playing but a second open heart in 1973 led to his untimely death. Tonight’s feature will prove to you how great Tubby Hayes was and how his sound will live forever.
December 11: “Bag’s and Trane” basically says it all about tonight’s feature. Milt Jackson was the first great modern voice on the vibraphone and John Coltrane needs to introduction to most jazz fans. Coltrane had just signed a contract with Atlantic Records and Jackson had been with the label for years. Also, Jackson and Coltrane were friends and had played together many times since working with Dizzy Gillespie’s small group in 1951. Jackson picked Connie Kay with whom he had played with in the Modern Jazz Quartet on drums and Trane expressed a deep interest in recording with the great Hank Jones on piano. Both leaders agreed that bassist Paul Chambers was the best choice and the date was a go. Bag’s and Trane both loved the blues so repertoire was not a problem and three simple blues lines by Jackson were chosen plus an up tempo workout on a Gillespie piece that they both knew in Dizzy’s band called Bebop. A few standards were chosen and the rest is recorded history. Although this is not an earth shattering get-together it is the work of jazz masters and everyone is at their lyrical and swinging best.
December 19: As this is the final Jazz Show of the year and our annual Christmas show with all the trimmings; we present the legendary Christmas Eve summit meeting led by trumpeter Miles Davis. Much has been written about this recording known to most listeners as the “Bag’s Groove” session. Davis had in 1954 finally thrown off the heroin habit that had stunted his career and was reaching new levels of musical creativity and was on his way to becoming the leading voice of the trumpet. Milt Jackson was now the most important player of his instrument.....the vibraphone and if Thelonious Monk was not Miles’ favourite piano player they were able to overcome some musical differences that brought out the best in both of them. It is Monk’s presence that makes this date so special and a few of his solos are said to be some of his very best work (check out “Bag’s Groove” take #1). Percy Heath on bass and modern jazz pioneer Kenny Clarke on drums lay a carpet of easy swing and drive that move all the soloists to great heights. Jackson’s blues “Bag’s Groove” is here along with Davis’ “Swing Spring” and Monk’s “Bemsha Swing” and the Gershwin standard “The Man I Love” are taken to classic levels. The spirit of Christmas lives through the beautiful incandescent quality of this music that set the standard for Jazz right up until today.
All the very best for the holidays from Gavin Walker and “The Jazz Show”.