Guarnieri Salutes the Duke

New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 942, 30 August 1957, Page 19

Guarnieri Salutes the Duke

Here’s the Johnny Guarnieri Quartet ERSONNEL: Guarnieri (piano), Barnes or Lowe (guitar), Marshall or Fishkind (bass); Lamond (drums). Pianist Guarnieri is in swinging form on this date. "Caravan" opens with the piano stating a figure which is then carried by bass and guitar. Barnes’s guitar is most definite, especially in his solo, and the rhythm lays down a great beat which offers plenty of room for typical Guarnieri style. The beautiful "Sophisticated Lady" is a change of mood with the accent on the piano and occasional melodic embellishments from Barnes. "Birmingham Breakdown," in medium tempo, is a simple theme stated above a rolling bass. Listen for the old Guarnieri right hand technique after the guitar solo spot. A purposeful statement of theme opens "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart," and Guarnieri’s big chords in the last chorus bear the Fats Waller stamp. "Scattin’ at the Kit Kat" opens with Basie-styled piano at which Guarnieri excels. As Guarnieri sticks mainly to the higher register of the piano in this track, Fishkind makes the most of his opportunities. . Guarnieri’s playing is simple and uncluttered, yet beautifully executed. It’s grand to have you back, John. First Playing: Station 2YA, September 2, 10.30 p.m. Max Albright Orchestra Personnel: Anderson (trumpet), Wells (bass trumpet, trombone), Collette (alto, tenor, clarinet, flute), Green (alto, tenor, bass clarinet, clarinet, flute), Gentry (baritone, bass clarinet, clarinet), Cipriano (oboe, English horn, baritone, bass clarinet), Wiggins (piano), Comfort (bass), Counce (bass), Albright (drums, vibes, bells). Drummer Albright puts himself on record as being unable to abide long drum solos. "Drummers should concentrate on playing time-that’s their function. Dave Tough was a great drummer for that reason and I try to model my playing after his." This is jazz in the subdued West Coast style, with pleasant contrast and blending of instruments. "Crow’s Nest" showcases Anderson’s precise trumpet, Green’s Parkerish alto, Collette’s swinging tenor and Weils’s moving bass trumpet. "Remember" features Wiggins and his Guarnierish left hand. "Sunset Drive" is a boppish creation with Collette on alto and Anderson taking an

excellent 16 bars. "You’re Devastating" is written around Comfort’s eloquent bass figures. "Mood for Max" features Cipriano’s oboe, below which Comfort maintains a bass figure. "Some Folks Like the Blues" gets a moving beat, due no little to Counce’s presence. This emerges a small band blues with Collette on flute and Green alto. Anderson’s muted trumpet leads the reeds into a straight statement of "Top Hat." Collette’s liquid clarinet and Albright’s bells are heard on "I Hear Bells." Anderson’s muted trumpet meanders across the theme of "Buzzin’ Cool." There’s also a spot for Collette’s’ low-keyed rhapsodic tenor. "One Morning in May" highlights Collette’s ability to improvise and precise piano from Wiggins. Wells’s bass trumpet, Albright’s vibes (influenced by the Milt Jackson style), and Green’s alto feature in "That’s All." "Heat Wave" is the flagwaver with Albright’s tom-toms, Anderson’s trumpet and Green’s fleet alto. First Playing: Station 2YA, September 9, 10.0 p.m. Jack Teagarden and his Jazz Band "King Porter Stomp" — Personnel: Teagarden (trombone), Greenleaf (trumpet), Davern (clarinet), Norma Teagarden (piano), Malone (bass), Bauduc (drums). Usually a big band item since the thirties, the sextet play this composition extremely well, Davern’s clarinet suits a group such as this and Greenleaf’s trumpet style is forthright and commanding. Bauduc’s sizzling drums inspire the group. "Eccentric" and "Dixieland One Step"’-Personnel: Teagarden (trombone), McPartland (trumpet), Hall (clarinet), Cary (piano), Page (bass), Jones (drums), "Eccentric" showcases Hall’s clarinet (I prefer Davern’s), while "Dixieland" gives us much more from Teagarden. The musicians are loving every moment of "Dixieland," and McPartland has seldom been heard to better advantage. There are no inhibitions in this group -it’s fine jazz. "Davenport Blues"-Personnel: Teagarden (trombone), Cary (trumpet), Hall (clarinet), Feather (piano), Page (bass), Bauduc (drums) and unidentified guitar, Teagarden blows some _ wonderful trombone in the opening and closing bars of Bix’s composition. Notice how much more solid the rhythm section is with the guitar added. Cary sounds a better trumpet player than a pianist, and those ‘of you who expect to hear some fancy pianistics from Leonard Feather are doomed to disappointment -he remains very much in the background throughout. This is the best track. First Playing: Station 2YA, September 9, 10.45 p.m. Repeat Playings Listener Station Date Programme Review 1YA Sept. 5 Jazz at Cal-Tech Aug. 16 Ray Bryant 3YA w 2 Dave Pell July 19 Jess Stacy May 10 Al Cohn Saxes’ ‘May 10 nw © Hampton-Tatum-Rich May 10 Session at Midnight May 10 w 9 Johnny Smith Aug. 2 w 13 Brubeck at Newport May Al Belletto 4YA> » 4 Les Elgart April 12 Red Norvo April 26 vw 9 Joe Burton July 5 Peanuts Hucko a 11 Julius Wechter (2) July 19

Ray

Harris