Brian Nation
Jul 3, 2006, 11:25 AM
Gavin Walker's "The Jazz Show" is heard Mondays 9PM to midnight on CITR (http://www.citr.ca/) 101.9 FM and online (http://www.citr.ca/default.asp?id=19&mnu=19). Each show features an entire album at 11PM.
The 11:00PM Jazz Features this month:
July 3: Johnny Coles “Little Johnny ‘C’:.
July 10: Lee Morgan “Lee Mogan at the Lighthouse”.
July 17: “The Modern Jazz Quartet with guest Paul Desmond”.
July 24: Charles McPherson “Today’s Man”.
July 31: Kenny Burrell “Guitar Forms”.
July 3: “Little Johnny ‘C’” is not only the title of tonight’s feature but the affectionate nickname of one of the most individual yet overlooked voices of the modern trumpet.....”Little Johnny ‘C’” is John Coles who was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 3, 1926 and died in his adopted home town of Philadelphia on December 21, 1997. Johnny was 71 when he died but his experience and history is enormous. Coles played with so many greats starting with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson’s R and B Band (1948-51), Bull Moose Jackson’s jump band in 1952. He joined alto saxophone master Earl Bostic’s dance band from 1955 to 1956. James Moody’s fine little jazz band welcomed Johnny for two years from 1956 to 1958. This led to dates and exposure in Gil Evans’ band, as it’s most expressive soloist. A tour with Mingus in 1964 then into tenor saxophonist George Coleman’s group leading to Herbie Hancock’s ground-breaking sextet in 1968-69. He joined Ray Charles’ fine band on an off and on basis from 1969 to the mid seventies. Johnny then went with Ellington’s band until his death in 1974. With Art Blakey’s Messengers in 1976 and then Basie’s band until the Count’s death in 1984. Johnny worked with “Philly Joe” Jones’ band called ‘Dameronia’ and the Mingus Dynasty. Coles recorded a few records under his own name but for a soloist of his stature not enough. Tonight we celebrate Johnny’s birthday.....he would have been 80 today with a well loved recording his only one for Blue Note called “Little Johnny ‘C’”. It was done in two sessions with only one change drummer - Walter Perkins was replaced on the second session by Pete LaRoca (Peter Sims). Johnny shares the front line with two great saxophonists altoist and flutist Leo Wright and tenorist Joe Henderson. Chicago born Bob Cranshaw is the bassist and pianist Duke Pearson should share co-star honours with Johnny as he wrote all of the arrangements and compositions. Pearson was a huge supporter of Johnny and was responsible for this date taking place. Johnny’s style and beautiful sound and concept gets a full airing here as we honour an unsung giant. Happy birthday Johnny C.
July 10: Tonight we celebrate the birthday of one of the leading trumpet stylists in modern jazz. Lee Morgan would have been 68 years old today and ore than likely still active in jazz. Morgan has been written about recently on this site but to recap: Lee was born in Philadelphia on July 10, 1938 and was shot to death by his estranged wife while on the bandstand at “Slug’s Saloon” in the lower east side of New York on February 19, 1972. Lee was already a legend and one of Jazzdom’s greatest trumpeters at the time of his death at 34. He had accomplished more in his short life than most musicians would in a lifetime. From his entrance on the jazz scene in a late 1956 recording with a who’s who of jazz players (not to forget his astounding playing on John Coltrane’s classic alum “Blue Train”) to his time in Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band and then on to Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from 1958 to 1961 and then again from 1964 to 1965 to leading his own bands and his huge hit “The Sidewinder” Lee had done it all. He conquered a ten year battle with heroin addiction and lived through many triumphs and hardships. Tonight we find Lee Morgan leading what was to be his last great band in a live performance recorded at the famous “Lighthouse” at Hermosa Beach in California on July 10, 1970.....Morgan’s 32nd birthday! With Lee is Detroiter Benny Maupin on tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet.....Beny said that this band represented a high point in his musical life. From Memphis on piano is Harold Mabern who also composed some of the band’s most effective pieces. Jymie Merritt from Lee’s home town is the bassist who a few years before switched from the acoustic (stand-up bass violin) to the electric bass and in the opinion of the host of the Jazz Show, Gavin Walker the best exponent of that often maligned instrument. The drummer is the amazing Granville “Mickey” Roker. Lee is in top form on these tunes and sounds proud to be leading a great band. Inspired music and a happy birthday to “Howdy Doody”.....Lee Morgan!
July 17: Tonight is an event that only happened once in jazz and it was recorded. The most easily identifiable voice of the alto saxophone was Paul Desmond famous mostly for his long association with Dave Brubeck. Paul was (except for his early days) not known to ‘sit in’ or jam and at the time of this recording on Christmas day 1971, Desmond was living in semi-retirement in Manhattan and enjoying the good life of a swinging bachelor and enjoying financial success due to huge royalties from his composition “Take Five”. The Modern Jazz Quartet (John Lewis (piano and musical director), Milt Jackson (vibes), Percy Heath (bass), Connie Kay (drums) was one of the premier and longest organized groups in jazz. Each year they gave a Christmas concert in New York’s Town Hall but Christmas 1971 was to be different. The MJQ and Paul Desmond were all very good friends and had toured together all over the world; the MJQ and Desmond with Brubeck’s Quartet. John Lewis had often spoke to Desmond about “sitting in” with the quartet or even doing a formal concert together.....it was hoped for but the dream never became a reality until Christmas 1971. Desmond was on intimate musical terms with Percy Heath and Connie Kay as they were always his first choice when he was recording in the 1960’s with guitarist Jim Hall for RCA Victor, and they appeared on many of Desmond’s dates when available.
John Lewis spoke to Desmond a month or so before this Town Hall concert and Paul agreed to play the second set with the MJQ. If ever the MJQ wanted another voice it would have been Desmond’s so perfect was their musical meshing. The concert was recorded well and after Desmond’s death in 1977 of lung cancer.....Lewis who owned the rights to the recording decided to release this once in a lifetime musical happening in Paul’s honour. We’ll hear it all tonight and recapture this once only event. It’s sad that the MJQ and Desmond are gone but this document will bring their beautiful sounds back to life.
July 24: Tonight we celebrate the birthday of a good friend of Gavin Walker’s and one of the world’s outstanding and living alto saxophonists.....Mr. Charles McPherson. “Mac” was born in Joplin, Missouri but raised in Detroit when he and his best friend, the late trumpeter Lonnie Hillyer began learning all the secrets about jazz from pianist/teacher Barry Harris all while in their teens. Lonnie and Charles went to New York in 1959 ready for anything. Lonnie went with Yusef Lateef for a short time and then fate intervened when Charles Mingus heard Lonnie and Charles at a jam sessions. Mingus was in need of replacing Ted Curson (trumpet) and Eric Dolphy who had given notice that they were leaving, and in Lonnie and Charles, Mingus heard two young men with a fresh sense of tradition. Lonnie’s mentor was Dizzy and Charles’ was obviously Charlie Parker. Lonnie and Charles became Mingus’ “favourite quartet” or when pianist Jaki Byard was part of the band his “favourite quintet”. Lonnie and Charles came to Vancouver twice in the sixties with Mingus; first to the original “Cellar” at 222 East Broadway (rear) and later at “The Blue Horn” (originally “The Flat Five”) at 3625 West Broadway. McPherson played off and on with Mingus for 15 years and was one of Mingus’ favourite players. Lonnie Hillyer incidentally died of cancer in 1985. Charles McPherson continued to work with Barry Harris and his own bands in New York and then did the same after moving to San Diego in the 1970’s. McPherson is a true keeper of the flame of the Charlie Parker tradition and continues to play with undiminished mastery and fire as witnessed by his recent gigs at the present day “Cellar” at 3611 West Broadway. Check out McPherson’s album “Live at the Cellar” on ‘Cellar Live’ for proof positive. Charles alto was featured on the soundtrack of the movie “Bird”. Tonight’s feature is twofold: three tunes were recorded with a quartet that features pianist and mentor Barry Harris, bassist Lawrence Evans and drum master Billy Higgins plus a brass and reed section with arrangements by Ernie Wilkins and the remaining three tunes with just the quartet. The album was recorded in the mid-seventies when McPherson was still living in New York. The album is called “Today’s Man” and is a wonderfully mature statement by one of the world’s leading alto saxophonists. Happy Birthday “Mac” and come back soon to Vancouver.
July 31: It seems like a month to celebrate birthdays and we’re not stopping now as today is the birthday of the man who Duke Ellington said that if he added a guitar to his band it would be this man: Kenny Burrell. Burrell, who was born in Detroit on this day in 1931 is still with us and lives now in Los Angeles and still performs on a limited basis. Our Jazz Festival tried a few years ago to bring Kenny to Vancouver but he only plays gigs in and around L. A. and he has an aversion to travel. Burrell arrived fully formed stylistically in 1956 to New York with a whole group of Detroit players like Pepper Adams, Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller, Tommy Flanagan etc. and shoot up the scene. Although Kenny never had the charisma of Wes Montogomery or Grant Green or even George Benson.....Burrell was around longer and had his own very individual style. He played and recorded with everybody and his discography is amazing. Kenny also played the commercial studios and appeared on hundreds of sessions and soundtracks.....but for all that Burrell is a major jazz player.
Tonight in honour of Kenny’s 75th birthday we are featuring one of his crowning recorded achievements called “Guitar Forms”. there are three fine small group performances with Kenny and Pianist Roger Kellaway (now there is an underrated player) and bass and drums and added percussion Burrell plays electric guitar on these but this in only a warm-up to introducing Burrell on acoustic guitar with the orchestra conducted and arranged by the one and only Gil Evans (who was born in Canada). Gil’s magic with the orchestra does what de did for Miles Davis for five selections. We finish with a solo performance of Gershwin’s “Prelude Number 2. This album was produced by Creed Taylor and stands as one of his greatest artistic efforts. However, the star is Kenny Burrell.....happy seventy-fifth Kenny – your music is forever.
The 11:00PM Jazz Features this month:
July 3: Johnny Coles “Little Johnny ‘C’:.
July 10: Lee Morgan “Lee Mogan at the Lighthouse”.
July 17: “The Modern Jazz Quartet with guest Paul Desmond”.
July 24: Charles McPherson “Today’s Man”.
July 31: Kenny Burrell “Guitar Forms”.
July 3: “Little Johnny ‘C’” is not only the title of tonight’s feature but the affectionate nickname of one of the most individual yet overlooked voices of the modern trumpet.....”Little Johnny ‘C’” is John Coles who was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 3, 1926 and died in his adopted home town of Philadelphia on December 21, 1997. Johnny was 71 when he died but his experience and history is enormous. Coles played with so many greats starting with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson’s R and B Band (1948-51), Bull Moose Jackson’s jump band in 1952. He joined alto saxophone master Earl Bostic’s dance band from 1955 to 1956. James Moody’s fine little jazz band welcomed Johnny for two years from 1956 to 1958. This led to dates and exposure in Gil Evans’ band, as it’s most expressive soloist. A tour with Mingus in 1964 then into tenor saxophonist George Coleman’s group leading to Herbie Hancock’s ground-breaking sextet in 1968-69. He joined Ray Charles’ fine band on an off and on basis from 1969 to the mid seventies. Johnny then went with Ellington’s band until his death in 1974. With Art Blakey’s Messengers in 1976 and then Basie’s band until the Count’s death in 1984. Johnny worked with “Philly Joe” Jones’ band called ‘Dameronia’ and the Mingus Dynasty. Coles recorded a few records under his own name but for a soloist of his stature not enough. Tonight we celebrate Johnny’s birthday.....he would have been 80 today with a well loved recording his only one for Blue Note called “Little Johnny ‘C’”. It was done in two sessions with only one change drummer - Walter Perkins was replaced on the second session by Pete LaRoca (Peter Sims). Johnny shares the front line with two great saxophonists altoist and flutist Leo Wright and tenorist Joe Henderson. Chicago born Bob Cranshaw is the bassist and pianist Duke Pearson should share co-star honours with Johnny as he wrote all of the arrangements and compositions. Pearson was a huge supporter of Johnny and was responsible for this date taking place. Johnny’s style and beautiful sound and concept gets a full airing here as we honour an unsung giant. Happy birthday Johnny C.
July 10: Tonight we celebrate the birthday of one of the leading trumpet stylists in modern jazz. Lee Morgan would have been 68 years old today and ore than likely still active in jazz. Morgan has been written about recently on this site but to recap: Lee was born in Philadelphia on July 10, 1938 and was shot to death by his estranged wife while on the bandstand at “Slug’s Saloon” in the lower east side of New York on February 19, 1972. Lee was already a legend and one of Jazzdom’s greatest trumpeters at the time of his death at 34. He had accomplished more in his short life than most musicians would in a lifetime. From his entrance on the jazz scene in a late 1956 recording with a who’s who of jazz players (not to forget his astounding playing on John Coltrane’s classic alum “Blue Train”) to his time in Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band and then on to Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers from 1958 to 1961 and then again from 1964 to 1965 to leading his own bands and his huge hit “The Sidewinder” Lee had done it all. He conquered a ten year battle with heroin addiction and lived through many triumphs and hardships. Tonight we find Lee Morgan leading what was to be his last great band in a live performance recorded at the famous “Lighthouse” at Hermosa Beach in California on July 10, 1970.....Morgan’s 32nd birthday! With Lee is Detroiter Benny Maupin on tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet.....Beny said that this band represented a high point in his musical life. From Memphis on piano is Harold Mabern who also composed some of the band’s most effective pieces. Jymie Merritt from Lee’s home town is the bassist who a few years before switched from the acoustic (stand-up bass violin) to the electric bass and in the opinion of the host of the Jazz Show, Gavin Walker the best exponent of that often maligned instrument. The drummer is the amazing Granville “Mickey” Roker. Lee is in top form on these tunes and sounds proud to be leading a great band. Inspired music and a happy birthday to “Howdy Doody”.....Lee Morgan!
July 17: Tonight is an event that only happened once in jazz and it was recorded. The most easily identifiable voice of the alto saxophone was Paul Desmond famous mostly for his long association with Dave Brubeck. Paul was (except for his early days) not known to ‘sit in’ or jam and at the time of this recording on Christmas day 1971, Desmond was living in semi-retirement in Manhattan and enjoying the good life of a swinging bachelor and enjoying financial success due to huge royalties from his composition “Take Five”. The Modern Jazz Quartet (John Lewis (piano and musical director), Milt Jackson (vibes), Percy Heath (bass), Connie Kay (drums) was one of the premier and longest organized groups in jazz. Each year they gave a Christmas concert in New York’s Town Hall but Christmas 1971 was to be different. The MJQ and Paul Desmond were all very good friends and had toured together all over the world; the MJQ and Desmond with Brubeck’s Quartet. John Lewis had often spoke to Desmond about “sitting in” with the quartet or even doing a formal concert together.....it was hoped for but the dream never became a reality until Christmas 1971. Desmond was on intimate musical terms with Percy Heath and Connie Kay as they were always his first choice when he was recording in the 1960’s with guitarist Jim Hall for RCA Victor, and they appeared on many of Desmond’s dates when available.
John Lewis spoke to Desmond a month or so before this Town Hall concert and Paul agreed to play the second set with the MJQ. If ever the MJQ wanted another voice it would have been Desmond’s so perfect was their musical meshing. The concert was recorded well and after Desmond’s death in 1977 of lung cancer.....Lewis who owned the rights to the recording decided to release this once in a lifetime musical happening in Paul’s honour. We’ll hear it all tonight and recapture this once only event. It’s sad that the MJQ and Desmond are gone but this document will bring their beautiful sounds back to life.
July 24: Tonight we celebrate the birthday of a good friend of Gavin Walker’s and one of the world’s outstanding and living alto saxophonists.....Mr. Charles McPherson. “Mac” was born in Joplin, Missouri but raised in Detroit when he and his best friend, the late trumpeter Lonnie Hillyer began learning all the secrets about jazz from pianist/teacher Barry Harris all while in their teens. Lonnie and Charles went to New York in 1959 ready for anything. Lonnie went with Yusef Lateef for a short time and then fate intervened when Charles Mingus heard Lonnie and Charles at a jam sessions. Mingus was in need of replacing Ted Curson (trumpet) and Eric Dolphy who had given notice that they were leaving, and in Lonnie and Charles, Mingus heard two young men with a fresh sense of tradition. Lonnie’s mentor was Dizzy and Charles’ was obviously Charlie Parker. Lonnie and Charles became Mingus’ “favourite quartet” or when pianist Jaki Byard was part of the band his “favourite quintet”. Lonnie and Charles came to Vancouver twice in the sixties with Mingus; first to the original “Cellar” at 222 East Broadway (rear) and later at “The Blue Horn” (originally “The Flat Five”) at 3625 West Broadway. McPherson played off and on with Mingus for 15 years and was one of Mingus’ favourite players. Lonnie Hillyer incidentally died of cancer in 1985. Charles McPherson continued to work with Barry Harris and his own bands in New York and then did the same after moving to San Diego in the 1970’s. McPherson is a true keeper of the flame of the Charlie Parker tradition and continues to play with undiminished mastery and fire as witnessed by his recent gigs at the present day “Cellar” at 3611 West Broadway. Check out McPherson’s album “Live at the Cellar” on ‘Cellar Live’ for proof positive. Charles alto was featured on the soundtrack of the movie “Bird”. Tonight’s feature is twofold: three tunes were recorded with a quartet that features pianist and mentor Barry Harris, bassist Lawrence Evans and drum master Billy Higgins plus a brass and reed section with arrangements by Ernie Wilkins and the remaining three tunes with just the quartet. The album was recorded in the mid-seventies when McPherson was still living in New York. The album is called “Today’s Man” and is a wonderfully mature statement by one of the world’s leading alto saxophonists. Happy Birthday “Mac” and come back soon to Vancouver.
July 31: It seems like a month to celebrate birthdays and we’re not stopping now as today is the birthday of the man who Duke Ellington said that if he added a guitar to his band it would be this man: Kenny Burrell. Burrell, who was born in Detroit on this day in 1931 is still with us and lives now in Los Angeles and still performs on a limited basis. Our Jazz Festival tried a few years ago to bring Kenny to Vancouver but he only plays gigs in and around L. A. and he has an aversion to travel. Burrell arrived fully formed stylistically in 1956 to New York with a whole group of Detroit players like Pepper Adams, Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller, Tommy Flanagan etc. and shoot up the scene. Although Kenny never had the charisma of Wes Montogomery or Grant Green or even George Benson.....Burrell was around longer and had his own very individual style. He played and recorded with everybody and his discography is amazing. Kenny also played the commercial studios and appeared on hundreds of sessions and soundtracks.....but for all that Burrell is a major jazz player.
Tonight in honour of Kenny’s 75th birthday we are featuring one of his crowning recorded achievements called “Guitar Forms”. there are three fine small group performances with Kenny and Pianist Roger Kellaway (now there is an underrated player) and bass and drums and added percussion Burrell plays electric guitar on these but this in only a warm-up to introducing Burrell on acoustic guitar with the orchestra conducted and arranged by the one and only Gil Evans (who was born in Canada). Gil’s magic with the orchestra does what de did for Miles Davis for five selections. We finish with a solo performance of Gershwin’s “Prelude Number 2. This album was produced by Creed Taylor and stands as one of his greatest artistic efforts. However, the star is Kenny Burrell.....happy seventy-fifth Kenny – your music is forever.