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74 DOWNBEAT April 2009
HISTORICAL
Random Mix
Over two discs, Ruby Braff’s live “historic
final performance” at the 2002 Nairn Jazz
Festival in Scotland, For The Last Time
(Arbors 19368; 59:31/55:45) AAAA, proves
how engaging and vibrant this sweet-toned
trumpeter could not only engage an audience
but keep the musical moods moving.
Featuring Scott Hamilton on tenor saxophone,
the rest of the rhythm section help
to keep things swinging (“Sometimes I’m
Happy,” “Just You, Just Me”) and tender
(“Yesterdays,” “Why Shouldn’t I?”). Braff is
on top of his game. The setting feels like a
club, which is fitting for someone who so
helped define intimate, small-group jazz.
Ordering info: arborsrecords.com
Another live set, this one from the
Concertgebouw in Amsterdam in 1956, carries
a similar vibe as the Braff set. Gerry
Mulligan’s Western Reunion (MCN 0801;
77:25) AAAA is a previously unreleased
recording (in mono) featuring Jeru’s longtime
colleagues Bob Brookmeyer and Zoot
Sims along with Dave Bailey, Bill Crow and
Jon Eardley. The program has lots of
Mulligan originals (the title track, “Nights At
The Turntable,” “Line For Lyons”) along
with some Duke Ellington (“I’m Beginning
To See The Light”), Count Basie (“Ain’t It
The Truth”), and standards like “My Funny
Valentine” and “Sweet And Lovely.”
Ordering info: muziekcentrumnederland.nl
Another traditionalist, clarinetist Bob
Wilber gives a novel treatment to a set of
jazz standards with New Clarinet In Town
(Classic Jazz 8; 38:30) AAA 1 /2. From 1960,
this date has a slightly rigged feel to it even
as the extended ensemble enlivens a smart
batch of tunes, ranging from swingers like
Dave Brubeck’s “The Duke” and Django
Reinhardt’s “Swing 39,” to more classicalsounding
fare like Oscar Levant’s “Blame It
On My Youth” and Leonard Bernstein’s
“Lonely Town.” Wilber’s sound can be
melodic and swinging—if somewhat measured—as
he’s also joined by pianist Dave
McKenna, bassist George Duvivier, drummer
Bobby Donaldson, a string quartet and
French horn.
Ordering info: musicminusone.com
Vince Guaraldi’s Live On The Air (D&D
1120; 37:12/43:00 ) AA 1 /2 gives us a taste of
the keyboardist away from his “Peanuts”
moorings. His trio with drummer Elliot
Zigman and bassist Seward McCain does
revisit his cartoon music via the pretty
“There’s No Time For Love, Charlie Brown”
(on Fender Rhodes) and in the rockin’ medley
“Eleanor Rigby/Linus And Lucy,” but
Gerry
Mulligan:
original
outing
by John Ephland
this live-in-the-studio date from 1974 found
the pianist also swinging with an uptempo
version of “Cabaret” along with a samba
take on the pop hit “If,” Fender Rhodes ballad
treatments of “Old Folks” and “Then
Came You,” and his classic “Cast Your Fate
To The Wind,” among others. Sloppy annotation
detracts.
Ordering info: vinceguaraldi.com
Another recording that sounds dated is
The Three Sounds’ Soul Symphony (Blue
Note 22384; 43:51) AAA from 1969. The
early parts of the 26-minute title track are
imaginative, combining tender piano lines
against subtle string accompaniment followed
by a slow funk groove with bass and
drums along with orchestra and backup
singers. Chunks of it, though, make the
soul-meets-the-symphony idea seem like a
soundtrack to an urban drama TV pilot, as
pianist Gene Harris, bassist Henry Franklin
and drummer Carl Burnett navigate composer
Monk Higgins’ subtle but ofttimes
camp orchestration.
Flutist/vocalist Bobbi Humphrey’s Fancy
Dancer (Blue Note 22376; 38:50) AAA is the
perfect barometer of where the label had
been when it was recorded in 1975.
Another period piece, it’s a funky, freewheeling
affair that reflected Blue Note’s
evolving approach to urban music. “Uno
Esta” is relaxed disco-funk, but with some
grease thanks to energetic drumming,
backing vocals, dance-floor orchestration
and Humphrey’s on-top-of-the-beat blowing.
The flutist feels at home adding soul
and whimsy alternating simple lines with
flair. It ends up being more pop than jazz,
despite the extended cast of players. DB
Ordering info: bluenote.com
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