Next up, a batch of classics, starting with Woody Herman and ending with Earl “Fatha” Hines.
Woody Herman
The Four Brothers at the Royal Roost – What can I say? This band is great! I would have loved to see this group, and anyone who got to was blessed. What a band! And so swinging, so innovative! Getz, Giuffre, Charloff and Sims are (obviously) on this record. Also, Shorty Rogers, who is fantastic – he plays, writes and arranges great (wrote for The Monkees) – and Chubby Jackson, who I think is one of the under-rated heroes of bass playing. Killer set! Oh, and no wonder they were the Thundering Herd!
Capitol Jazz Classics, Vol. 9; Early Autumn – I have a bunch of these records, and they are all great. Each collection was painstakingly created, and the result is a large collection of truly inspiring recordings. This collection is of, probably, the greatest of Herman’s bands, playing at the height of their powers. Adding to the great playing is George Wallington’s and Ralph Burns’ great writing.
The Thundering Herds (1945-1947) – Merely another great record! Swinging like crazy! A bit too much vibrato, especially in the trombone world, for my taste, but man, that’s a small gripe compared to how much greatness is on this record. Seems like there are some alternate changes (very hip, that is) on this version of “Woodchopper’s Ball.”
Andrew Hill
Spiral – Ok, I love Andrew Hill. Some records, I love more than others, as per usual. But this record is definitely worth a listen and has some really wonderful moments on it. I’m a huge fan of several of the cats on this record, ESPECIALLY Cecil McBee and Lee Konitz. Ted Curson is rarely anything other than fantastic, and it is always a pleasure to listen to Stafford James (what ever happened to that guy, anyway?).
Nefertiti – Even though this isn’t my favorite of Hill’s records, it sure is great, and it nicely demonstrates why he was so awesome. Obviously, he’s an amazing writer and arranger (hello, “Point of Departure” and “Dusk”), but on this trio record, you hear so clearly how dedicated he is to an idea and how curious he is about how to play around with the idea. Richard Davis sounds great, too! Roger Blank is the drummer and he’s fantastic, too, although I don’t currently know anything about him… The cover is a beautiful photograph of a Tibetan monk in robes holding flowers. Makes me wonder if Hill was a Buddhist, or if not, who involved in the project was?
Buck Hill
This is Buck Hill – This cat is fantastic! I have been a fan of his since I got this record about 15 years ago. It’s really, really awesome. The band helps, too, what with Buster Williams, Kenny Barron and Billy Hart all involved. Great, great, great record. There’s a blazing version of “Oleo” on this that is not to be missed…if you like blazing versions of tunes. He’s still around, it seems. I hope for a long time. I would love to play with him sometime…
Earl “Fatha” Hines
The Grand Terrace Band – This is precisely the reason I’m re-listening to my records. I somehow managed to blaze through this the first time without stopping to be blown away. The playing is FIRST RATE, as is the writing/arranging. Do I detect a drop of boogie-woogie on “St. Louis Blues?” Yes, indeedy. And man, did I mention the playing on this?
Earl “Fatha” Hines – A great collection of recordings from – I think – two dates. The liner notes don’t make much sense, at least if you compare the instrumentation on “The Web” – which is insanely cool – to the personnel listed. He plays a mean celeste on “If I Had You,” after playing a mean piano. If it was a boogie boogie groove, then he’d have been an early Prog Rock pianist! The arrangement of “Gone with the Wind” is super hip, and his take on Dvorak’s “Humoresque” is fantastic (although there is a video of Art Tatum playing this that has hipper reharms.)
Live at the Village Vanguard – Swinging, as one would expect! Super lively performance – he must have been an amazing showman.