Gavin Walker
Dec 31, 2010, 02:43 AM
First of all I would like to wish each and everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR and may 2011 bring your hopes and desires to fruition. This is the first Jazz Show of 2011 and it will have a double Feature as we didn't broadcast on December 27 due to the Holiday. The planned Feature tonight is an album by a rather unsung alto saxophone player named John Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins was born in Chicago on January 3, 1931 and died in New York on July 12 1993 so this is also a birthday tribute. As many of you know, if a Monday falls on the birthday of a prominent Jazz player it's a perfect excuse to feature their music. John Jenkins was a very distinctive voice on the alto saxophone and when he arrived in New York in March of 1957, he worked briefly with Charles Mingus (unfortunately there are no recordings of Jenkins' work with Mingus). After leaving Mingus, Jenkins freelanced and began recording as a sideman with such people as Paul Quinichette, Teddy Charles, Hank Mobley, Sahib Shihab and others. He did an album with Jackie McLean (who was a favourite and an influence on Jenkins) called "Alto Madness" and it's a good example of their contrasting styles. Jenkins seemed everywhere in 1957 except he didn't join any bands. His confreres from Chicago like Johnny Griffin, John Gilmore and Clifford Jordan all joined bands...Griffin became a Jazz Messenger, Gilmore deepened his commitment to Sun Ra and Jordan joined Max Roach and then Horace Silver. The Feature album is John Jenkins' only date under his name for Blue Note and it's a good one.
It's a rare session and was only issued once on CD on the limited edition Blue Note Connoisseur Series. Alfred Lion, the owner of Blue Note had a lot of business smarts and realized that as talented as Jenkins was, he wasn't a huge name even among Jazz fans so he suggested to Jenkins that along with John's choice of sidemen that guitar master, Kenny Burrell, be added to the front line and in effect be the co-star. As Burrell had, even by this time (1957) gained fame and recognition, his appearance would help move the album. Jenkins agreed and found no problem with this. Jenkins' other choices were wise with the great Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Jenkins' buddy from his short stay with Mingus, the wonderful Dannie Richmond on drums. Three Jenkins' originals are heard and they reflect Mr. Jenkins' thoughtful approach to music. One original by Burrell and two standards: the uptempo Cole Porter opus "From This Moment On" and a great and rarely played ballad that was made famous by Billy Eckstine called "Everything I Have Is Yours" is heard. John Jenkins' rich, even sound coupled with darting Birdlike lines and an overall matter of fact approach to the music make easy listening. While not as dramatic as Jackie Mclean or as technically fluent as Phil Woods or Gene Quill, John Jenkins carved his own niche in the prevailing style of the day in New York and this album is of the high quality that Blue Note is famous for.
Jenkins recording days were over by 1958 and he dropped out of music altogether in the early 60's but not because of drugs of other self-abuses. He realized that he couldn't support a family playing Jazz music and although he had a good background and training (he studied and learned music under the legendary Captain Walter Dyett at Du Sable High in Chicago) he had no desire to become a studio player or work Broadway shows etc. He hung up his horn, put it in the closet and started his own messenging business and also sold real estate, that way he was able to raise his family. He began playing again in 1983 and busked on week-ends on various street corners for fun and in the early 90's joined his old buddy Clifford Jordan in Jordan's big band. Jenkins died on July 12,1993 after a short illness. The Feature disc will be heard shortly after 11pm and I know you will enjoy the sounds of John Jenkins and Kenny Burrell and company.
The other Feature had been planned for December 27 but because of the Holiday there was no Jazz Show so that Feature will be heard tonight at 10pm. It is the final album for Blue Note by the great trumpeter/composer Kenny Dorham with Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Richard Davis on bass and Albert (Tootie) Heath on drums. It was done in September 1964 and it's an overlooked gem. There are only four long tunes on this disc, three are originals by Mr. Dorham and one by Joe Henderson. Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson, who at the time was an emerging star, had a working group for about 3 years. Of course they used different people in the rhythm section depending on availability. This album is the last recorded document of their association.
I'm sure most people are aware of Kenny Dorham's stature as a musician for although he was overlooked in his time, (Art Blakey referred to Kenny as "the uncrowned king") his music has been re-evaluated and his influence is felt in young players like Ryan Kisor, Joe Magnarelli, Jeremy Pelt, Nicholas Payton, Sean Jones, Josh Evans and so many others. Kenny Dorham's health slowly declined because of kidney problems and he died in New York on December 5,1972 at age 48. This album is a worthy tribute to Kenny's greatness. The album is called "Trompetta Toccata" and this Dorham opus is the title track. The whole recording is a fine demonstration of the unique musical chemistry between Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson and the stellar rhythm section rises to the occasion on all four tunes.
To sum up......at 10pm: Kenny Dorham and company with "Trompetta Toccata" and shortly after 11pm: John Jenkins/Kenny Burrell and company. A double Feature. We'll fit in some surprises as well so I hope to see you at 9pm from the start...................see you then.....
It's a rare session and was only issued once on CD on the limited edition Blue Note Connoisseur Series. Alfred Lion, the owner of Blue Note had a lot of business smarts and realized that as talented as Jenkins was, he wasn't a huge name even among Jazz fans so he suggested to Jenkins that along with John's choice of sidemen that guitar master, Kenny Burrell, be added to the front line and in effect be the co-star. As Burrell had, even by this time (1957) gained fame and recognition, his appearance would help move the album. Jenkins agreed and found no problem with this. Jenkins' other choices were wise with the great Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Jenkins' buddy from his short stay with Mingus, the wonderful Dannie Richmond on drums. Three Jenkins' originals are heard and they reflect Mr. Jenkins' thoughtful approach to music. One original by Burrell and two standards: the uptempo Cole Porter opus "From This Moment On" and a great and rarely played ballad that was made famous by Billy Eckstine called "Everything I Have Is Yours" is heard. John Jenkins' rich, even sound coupled with darting Birdlike lines and an overall matter of fact approach to the music make easy listening. While not as dramatic as Jackie Mclean or as technically fluent as Phil Woods or Gene Quill, John Jenkins carved his own niche in the prevailing style of the day in New York and this album is of the high quality that Blue Note is famous for.
Jenkins recording days were over by 1958 and he dropped out of music altogether in the early 60's but not because of drugs of other self-abuses. He realized that he couldn't support a family playing Jazz music and although he had a good background and training (he studied and learned music under the legendary Captain Walter Dyett at Du Sable High in Chicago) he had no desire to become a studio player or work Broadway shows etc. He hung up his horn, put it in the closet and started his own messenging business and also sold real estate, that way he was able to raise his family. He began playing again in 1983 and busked on week-ends on various street corners for fun and in the early 90's joined his old buddy Clifford Jordan in Jordan's big band. Jenkins died on July 12,1993 after a short illness. The Feature disc will be heard shortly after 11pm and I know you will enjoy the sounds of John Jenkins and Kenny Burrell and company.
The other Feature had been planned for December 27 but because of the Holiday there was no Jazz Show so that Feature will be heard tonight at 10pm. It is the final album for Blue Note by the great trumpeter/composer Kenny Dorham with Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Richard Davis on bass and Albert (Tootie) Heath on drums. It was done in September 1964 and it's an overlooked gem. There are only four long tunes on this disc, three are originals by Mr. Dorham and one by Joe Henderson. Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson, who at the time was an emerging star, had a working group for about 3 years. Of course they used different people in the rhythm section depending on availability. This album is the last recorded document of their association.
I'm sure most people are aware of Kenny Dorham's stature as a musician for although he was overlooked in his time, (Art Blakey referred to Kenny as "the uncrowned king") his music has been re-evaluated and his influence is felt in young players like Ryan Kisor, Joe Magnarelli, Jeremy Pelt, Nicholas Payton, Sean Jones, Josh Evans and so many others. Kenny Dorham's health slowly declined because of kidney problems and he died in New York on December 5,1972 at age 48. This album is a worthy tribute to Kenny's greatness. The album is called "Trompetta Toccata" and this Dorham opus is the title track. The whole recording is a fine demonstration of the unique musical chemistry between Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson and the stellar rhythm section rises to the occasion on all four tunes.
To sum up......at 10pm: Kenny Dorham and company with "Trompetta Toccata" and shortly after 11pm: John Jenkins/Kenny Burrell and company. A double Feature. We'll fit in some surprises as well so I hope to see you at 9pm from the start...................see you then.....