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215 articles

Gordon Jack

My first exposure to jazz was hearing Gerry Mulligan and Bob Brookmeyer at the Royal Festival Hall in 1957. In the sixties I played baritone in rehearsal bands and on one occasion while rehearsing at the BBC Harry Rabinowitz talked us through some of the charts which was quite an experience. I began working in R&B bands, one of which was fronted by the American Freddie Mack, a former world-ranked middleweight boxing champion. I also played with the Deakin Lewis Soul band opposite some of the stars of the day such as Long John Baldry, Rod Stewart, Jimi Hendrix, The Kinks, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Witherspoon, Stevie Winwood and Spencer Davis – all for very little money, as I recall. That band was also resident at the 100 Club and the Café des Artistes in Chelsea for quite a while. Later I spent over 30 years on the semi-pro gig scene in London and the home counties – everything from weddings in the Old Kent Road to Ladies Nights at the Waldorf Hotel. I no longer play the saxophone but I take it out of its case occasionally and gaze lovingly at it. I started contributing to Jazz Journal and Crescendo in 1994 and 30 of my interviews have been published by Scarecrow Press under the title Fifties Jazz Talk. In 2003 I provided a discography of Gerry Mulligan’s numerous unissued recordings for Raymond Horricks’ biography of the great man.

Karrin Allyson: A Kiss For Brazil

Singer who has covered Coltrane, Joni Mitchell and Rodgers & Hammerstein turns her full attention to the bossa nova

Donald Byrd & Gigi Gryce: Jazz Lab

Metronome hailed them as new stars and they were Newport Future Jazz Greats of 1957 but their creative hard-bop group was short-lived

Stan Getz Quintet: Interpretations #2

The saxophonist is joined by Bob Brookmeyer, John Williams, Teddy Kotick and Frank Isola in inventive variations on standards in the early 50s

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Jazz Goes To Junior College

The often reissued album, with high-quality Paul Desmond, exemplifies Brubeck's pioneering absorption of college halls into the jazz circuit
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Obituary: Bill Holman

André Previn said saxophonist Holman's true instrument was the orchestra, which he played with 'musicianship, honesty and brilliance'

Jay Jay Johnson: The Quintessence

The bebop trombone pioneer is heard between 1946 and 1961 with leading lights of the swing to modernist persuasion

Miles Davis Quintet with John Coltrane: Live In Copenhagen 1960

Vinyl reissue documents a 1960 session from a JATP tour that Coltrane almost didn't join because Miles wouldn't pay him $1000 a week

Chet Baker & Jack Sheldon: In Perfect Harmony: The Lost Album

Baker plays well on this first issue of one of his first dates after his 1966 beating, though overshadowed by Sheldon as trumpeter and singer
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Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers: Live In Zurich 1958

Concert date for perhaps the finest Messengers group, created in 1958 by Benny Golson via new personnel and new repertoire

Bob Florence Limited Edition: a big-band blast

The brilliant attack of Florence's modern-era big band, combined with subtle dynamics worthy of Basie, could pin you to the chair

Harry James & His Orchestra: The Complete Harry James In Hi-Fi

The distinctive trumpeter, much admired by Miles Davis, wasn't at his jazziest on the title album but here it's paired with Wild About Harry!

Sal Nistico: Empty Room

This 1988 Italian jam session features the 1960s Woody Herman tenor player whom the Road Father was always glad to have back with his band
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