Alyn Shipton’s New Orleans Friends: The Oxford Concert
In a musical landscape where virtually every new title promoted as ‘jazz’ would be unrecognizable to the musicians who actually created it, circa 1895, in New Orleans, it’s refreshing to encounter a new release that not only acknowledges those pioneers but also respects and honours them, and one in particular, George Lewis. I write this as someone who cites the big-band era, circa 1935-1955, at one end and the small combos that emerged in the 1950s – Dave Brubeck, MJQ, Lighthouse All-Stars – at the other as his jazz spectrum of choice.
In my salad days I actually saw George Lewis performing live. Lucky to be born into a town that boasted a flourishing jazz scene that catered to every palate from trad to modern, I also saw other pioneers such as Kid Ory, the Preservation Hall band, Louis Armstrong, Eddie Condon et al. That wasn’t yesterday or even the day before, and I haven’t really had much truck with trad since Farley’s rusks and Benger’s food formed an integral part of my diet. Yet I’m delighted to say that within two bars of the first track on this album I was totally captivated.
A jazz historian and Radio 3 broadcaster in his day job, Alyn Shipton is no slouch on bass, and he founded the New Orleans Friends seven years ago specifically to pay tribute to George Lewis. Having really enjoyed this album I googled Shipton and the friends in an endeavour to ascertain their range. Incredibly, it appears that their repertoire is confined to material associated with Lewis, which must make them somewhat unique. All six (two front-line, four-piece rhythm section) spent time in The Big Easy, where they sat at the feet of, and learned from, those pioneers; Tom Sancton, who plays clarinet, is actually native to the Crescent City and actually learned the instrument from Lewis himself. From fellow front-liner Alan Gresty (cornet) to Martin Litton (piano), Simon Picton (banjo) and Trevor Richards (drums) they contrive to form one of the tightest ensembles I’ve heard in recent years and as soon as I file this review, I’ll be back on the CD player for seconds. The best way to describe them is to say that had the concept of time-capsules existed in 1895, and one had been placed in Bourbon Street to soak up the authentic jass (as it was originally known) this – the New Orleans Friends – are what I would expect to hear when the capsule was unlocked.
Discography
Precious Lord; Streets Of The City; Just A Closer Walk; The Old Rugged Cross; Over The Waves; Jerusalem Blues; Algiers Strut (37.34)
Shipton (b); Tom Sancton (cl); Martin Litton (p); Simon Picton (bj); Alan Gresty (c); Trevor Richards (d). Recorded live at the Church of St. Giles, Oxford, UK, 11 May 2024.
BCLB003
Jack Wood: For Ev’ry Man There’s A Woman
Jack Wood is yet one more of the newer male vocalists who have contrived to establish a fan-base and release several albums – in this case 10 prior to this one – without creating a single blip on my radar. Clearly, I should get out more. Having now met Mr. Wood at one remove I’m pleased to say that he’s out of the right bottle, a decent set of pipes working their way through 15 well-crafted songs dating mainly from the first half of the 20th century, none of which has been over recorded or even recorded at all in this century.
Of special interest, certainly in my case, is the title song, written by Harold Arlen and Leo Robin for the 1948 film Casbah, popular for a mayfly moment and rarely heard since. A similar fate befell Ruby, the theme from the 1953 film Ruby Gentry. Despite best-selling instrumentals by Les Baxter and Richard Hayman, it was the vocal version by Ray Charles that people tended to remember. Both these songs are welcome revivals, as is Henry Mancini’s Two For The Road, and Harry Warren’s The More I See You. Mr. Wood is scrupulous about crediting the musicians, naming 28, most of whom appear on only one or two tracks, whilst bizarrely omitting to name-check the other two members of the Lenore Raphael Trio. This minor cavil aside this is a fine album and one to which I shall return for pleasure.
Discography
For Ev’ry Man There’s A Woman; Our Day Will Come; Falling In Love With Love;Two For The Road; Tristeza; Moonlight; Ruby; I Won’t Send Roses; Night Mood; The More I See You; I Only Have Eyes For You; One At A Time; Lover; Lonely Girl’ Pretty Woman (62.28)
Jack Wood (v); Lenore Raphael, Rob Mullins, George Gaffney, Bill Miller, Kurt Reeder, Steve Erickson (p); Doug MacDonald, Joe Lano, John Pisano, Rich Dixon (g): Pete Christlieb (s); Ray Smith (f, af, s); Luther Hughes, Matt Larson (b); Jay Lawrence (vib, d); Mike Shapiro (d); the Jerry Floor Salt Lake Jazz Orchestra. Probably California, c. 2026.
Jazz Hang Records JHR1012JW
