New Jazz Releases – Historical Bonus
By Russell Perry
Emily Remler
In addition to recent releases, WTJU has been sent a slew of historical performances that are being issued for the first time.
Al Jarreau – Wow!: Live At the Childe Harold (Resonance Records, releases 12/06/2024). Al Jarreau – vocals, Tom Canning – piano, Ben Atkins – bass, Tom Drake – drums.
This previously unreleased live set from Washington, DC in August 1976 has singer Al Jarreau and a trio touring in support of his second album. His pop breakthrough would come in 1981, but at this point in his career he was singing jazz, jazz-inflected pop and R’n’B.
Emily Remler – Cookin’ At The Queens: Live in Las Vegas 1984 & 1988 (Resonance Records, releases 12/06/2024). Cocho Arbe – piano, Emily Remler – guitar, Carson Smith – bass & Emily Remler – guitar, Carson Smith – bass, John Pisci – drums.
Over a brief nine-year recording career, before her untimely death in 1990, guitarist Emily Remler recorded only seven discs, two with Charlottesville’s own John D’earth – Transitions (1983) and Catwalk (1985). She lived for a time in Charlottesville, which is memorialized in interviews with D’earth and drummer Robert “Jos” Jospe in the notes for the new release. Fortunately, we now have live recordings of her in a quartet in 1984 and in a trio in 1988. What an extraordinary player she was – relaxed, forceful and virtuosic. These recordings and the beautiful package they come with reinforce the tragic loss from her passing at 32 and, perhaps, will fuel a resurgence of interest in her brief, but compelling musical arc. Highly recommended.
Review: JazzWax, Paris Move
Sun Ra – Lights on a Satellite: Live at the Left Bank (Resonance Records, releases 12/06/2024). Walter Miller – trumpet, Michael Ray – trumpet / vocal, Craig Harris – trombone, Eloe Omoe – alto saxophone / bass clarinet, Marshall Allen – alto saxophone / flute / piccolo, Danny Davis – alto saxophone / flute, John Gilmore – tenor saxophone / clarinet, Danny Ray Thompson – baritone saxophone / flute, Sun Ra – keyboards, Damon Choice – vibraphone, Dale Williams – guitar, Richard Williams (Radu) – double bass / electric bass, Michael D Anderson – drums, Eddie Thomas – drums, Atakatune – congas, James Jackson – ancient infinity drum / bassoon, The Jingle Brothers – bells / percussion, June Tyson – vocals.
It must have been amazing to attend a Sun Ra concert in these halcyon days of the late 70s – costumes, dancing, props and the music. The band is fully capable of music of abandon, but, as heard here, both the leader and the band can swing, stride and play the blues. It’s almost schizophrenic. Give it a listen – you may be surprised by what you hear. In addition to Sun Ra’s unrelenting space jams, you’ll hear covers of Harold Arlen (Somewhere Over the Rainbow), Fletcher Henderson (in whose band Sonny Blount grew up musically), Tadd Dameron (Lady Bird), Miles (Half Nelson) and Monk (Round Midnight). With such a large musical ensemble, it’s hard to be sure who we are hearing at any given moment, but some of the beautiful alto and tenor work are likely Marshall Allen (still playing at 100) and John Gilmore (Round Midnight), respectively. Surprising and delightful.
Review: AllAboutJazz, Paris Move, UK Vibe
Bill Evans – Bill Evans In Norway, The Kongsberg Concert (Elemental Music, releases 12/06/2024). Bill Evans – piano, Eddie Gomez – bass, Mary Morell – drums.
Pianist Bill Evans recorded with George Russell in 1956 and by 1957 had embarked on a substantial solo career, mostly in a piano trio setting. While he was recorded often during his lifetime, since his death, in 1980, there has been a continuous flow of posthumous live releases with consistently high-quality playing and generally high recording standards. This 1970 live recording is the latest and it features the seamless trio with Eddie Gomez, who was his longest-tenured bassist (1966 -1977), and similarly long-tenured drummer Marty Morell (1968 – 1974). Despite the abundance of live releases, this one is a treat – beautiful playing, flawless recording and fine packaging. Recommended.
Review: Paris Move, Audiophile Audition, UK Vibe
McCoy Tyner, Joe Henderson, Henry Grimes & Jack DeJohnette – Forces of Nature: Live at Slugs’(Blue Note, releases 11/22/2024).
In 1966, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson was at his creative peak having released three of his strongest records – In ’n’ Out (1964), Inner Urge (1965), Mode For Joe (1966) – in quick succession. McCoy Tyner, having just left the John Coltrane Quartet, would record The Real McCoy, considered the highlight of his solo career, in 1967. Now, we have a live recording of these two giants with Henry Grimes on bass and a very young Jack DeJohnette on drums. DeJohnette would shortly record his debut with Charles Lloyd. The music is up to this propitious moment – scorching up tempo blasts followed by tender ballads. Important music.
Review: AllAboutJazz
Oscar Peterson – City Lights: The Oscar Peterson Quartet – Live in Munich, 1994 (Mack Avenue, releases 11/15/2024). Oscar Peterson – piano, Lorne Lofsky – guitar, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – bass.
This previously unreleased live concert by pianist Oscar Peterson in a piano – guitar – bass trio was recorded in 1994 at his fourth concert after coming back from a stroke 14 months prior. His powerful left hand is diminished, knocking his Olympian technique down to mere mortal. He plays courageously with emotion and deep swing but his power is reduced, resulting in more gentleness than is characteristic. He continued to play a reduced schedule up until his death in 2007. With so much amazing music available, I may prefer to get my Oscar Peterson thrills from other recordings. To be sure, at his peak he was a truly thrilling pianist.
Reviews: Glide Magazine, Jazz Views, The Big Takeover, JazzWax
Miles Davis Quintet – Live In France 1963 & 1964(Columbia, released 11/08/2024). Miles Davis – trumpet, George Coleman or Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone, Herbie Hancock – piano, Ron Carter – bass, Tony Williams – drums.
Miles Davis’s First Great Quintet with John Coltrane disbanded in 1960 after a five year run. The Second Great Quintet with Wayne Shorter on tenor was formed in 1964. These live recordings document the transition from the band with Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Tony Williams on drums plus George Coleman on tenor in 1963 to the lineup with Shorter the next year. While some of this music has appeared before (Miles in Europe, 1964), the current offering is a completist’s dream – four discs from 1963 with Coleman and two discs of never before heard recordings with Shorter four months before the landmark E.S.P. date that marked the coming out of the Second Quartet. Highly recommended.
Reviews: AllAboutJazz, Jazz Views, UK Jazz News
Russell Perry, Jazz at 100 Now!
