The Harry "Sweets" Edison Quartet

New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 946, 27 September 1957, Page 18

The Harry "Sweets" Edison Quartet

RSONNEL; Edison (trumpet), Webster (tenor), Kessel (guitar), Rowles (piano), Stoller (drums), Mondragon (bass). "Opus 711" opens with a lovely solid beat. After a brief statement of the rather haunting theme, Edison leads the group off into an up-tempo blues. Here is the spontaneous expression of emotion that is the life blood of jazz. Edison shows up as the wonderful virile trumpet man that he is, and it is pleasing to see him recording so much in recent months. Every member of the group has a solo spot on this ‘blues and perhaps I can sum up the whole track-indeed the whole session -by saying that none of the musicians has ever sounded more relaxed or more at ease than here. Barney Kessel opens "Love is Here to Stay," and is followed by Edison’s superb muted trumpet backed by rhythm. Listen to Kessel, who is so perfectly recorded in the ensemble pas--sages-but then. again, so is Jimmy Rowles. Webster takes a solo, one of his most moving on _ recent records. What a fine tenorman Webster is! This beautiful track closes with the Edison trumpet rising over the rhythm section and the occasional phrase from Webster. There is so much to hear in this item that all jazz fans should make a point of hearing the session three or four times,

"K.M. Blues" is a fast blues opened by sizzling drums before the ensemble takes over. Rowles’s Basie-ish piano shines through and then Edison takes his first solo. This is one of the most powerful and inspiring solos I’ve heard from a trumpet man in months, Then solos by Kessel, Rowles and Webster follow in that order before Edison enters again, blowing as forcefully as ever to take the composition out to the closing ensemble. Don’t mention Gillespie or Baker to me when there is a wonderful swinging trumpet player like Edison around. His notes are as clear as a bell and he leaves no doubt about the ones he intends to play. First Playing: Station 2YA, September 30, 10.45 p.m. Herman’s Las Vegas Herd Personnel: Collins, Coppola (trumpets), Touff (bass trumpet), Kamuca (tenor), Herman (clarinet), Pockrandt (piano), Budwig (bass), Flores (drums). "Junior" gives everyone a chance’ to blow. Listen particularly for Flores’s drums and the solos by Kamuca, Touff, Collins and Herman. Ralph Burns arranged "Basin Street Blues," which features Herman’s vocal and clarinet and Touff’s bass trumpet. "Wailing Wall" was written by and features Touff and_ listeners will be impressed with those low notes. "Bass

Face" features bassist Budwig, and his work is more than responsible for swinging the group. "Everyday I Get the Blues" contains a Herman shout vocal, a chorus from Kamuca and another from Touff. Note the Basie-ish trumpet shake, "Bag’s Other Groove" is Coppola’s arrangement of Milt Jackson’s "Bag’s Groove." Listen to Herman’s low «register and Budwig’s solo. "Broadway" lets Kamuca step out as the brass riffs behind him, and there are solos by Touff, Herman, Collins and Pockrandt. A real up-tempo version of "Jumpin’ at the Woodside" features solos by Kamuca, Touff, Collins and Herman. Budwig and Flores share the exciting breaks which wind up the session. Here is the Herman vitality and a swinging group that gives Woody the chance to play some really exciting clarinet. A worthwhile session. First Playing: Station 2YA, September 30, 10.0 p.m. Erroll Garner Trio Personnel: Garner (piano), Hall (bass), Powell (drums). The single item, "Man I Love," opens with a deceptive slow section, takes off at the tempo change and never lets up. All the Garner mannerisms are here and those listeners who have heard previous Garner renditions of this composition will recognise the favourite phrases he uses, However, everything is much more smoothly executed. The left hand does not play such a dominant tole in the slow tempos as formerly. The ideas towards the end of the low passage are beautifully executed and listen to the lovely beat which is set up when the trio breaks into uptempo. Tosti’s "Goodbye" (Tatum’s familiar quote) is used in the first few bars of the up-tempo passage. Garner is obviously enjoying this recording date and at no stage does he bore the listener with this eight-minute rendition. And that closing coda-how typical of the whimsical Garner! First Playing: Station 2YD, October 3, 9.50 p.m. , Brief Notes The Pete Jolly Trio: Jolly (piano), Bertaux (bass) and Neal (drums) play "Broadway," "My Old Flame," "Jordu," and "That Old Feeling." Jolly is a percussive pianist, loaded with technique but lacking in taste, e.g., "Feeling" with its boogie suggestions and thrashing beat. As for the drummer, I’ve yet to hear another playing on a major recording date as amateurish and as banal as Neal. First Playing: Station 2YA, September 30, 10.30 p.m. Tony Almerico’s All Stars: Originally reviewed in the issue dated August 16, this programme scheduled for 2YD on August 20 was at the last moment cancelled. It will now be heard from Station 2YD on October 3, at 9.0 p.m. Repeat Playings Station Date Programme Listener Review 1YA_ Sept. 30 Jack Teagarden Ase. 30 ea Oct. 3 Marvin Ash 13 iy Oct. 3 Metronome All Stars Soe . ae Oct. 10 Brubeck at Wilshire wy rt 1¥D at a4 Max Albright Aug. 30 3YA 4 Billy Usselton 7 a8 11 Johnny Guarnieri Aus. 30 4YA srt. 30 Johnny Smith Aug. 2 ie 2 Brubeck at Newport May 24 ié oa. 7 Jazz at Cal-Tech. Aug. 16 a Oct. 7 Ray Bryant Trio Aug. 16 -Ray Harris