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APRIL 1974 FREE , ~B - VOL 1 NO.2

Welcome to the second issue of the Jazz Report. We are very happy about the success of the first issue and are looking forward to the future as we grow with the Jazz community. In this issue you will notice more local ads, as well as an ad from Toronto. A recent trip to our sister city in Canada afforded me the opportunity to talk with the people at Coda Magazine. We will be communicating on a regular basis to keep you informed of what' s happen­ing in Toronto, and vice versa. They are fine people and were very interested in the Jazz Report. Buffalo is one of the only cities that has a publication of this sort. In additiom to our regular record reviews, we will be reviewing records not available here, such as Danish & Canadian releases, and will let you know how to obtain them. · Ben Webster recorded an album live at the Montmatre, for the Danish Steeplechase label, that is a must for anyone who followed him,

_ and there are many more. March was a rather lean month for jazz here,

but as you will read in What's Happening, April will be much better. We are getting an incredible amount of comments (good ones) about our paper. I can't stress enough that our success depends on adver­tising. For this reason, if you have a liJTP.ted budget for going to hear live music, think about the people whose ads you see in these pages first. They are the ones who make it possible, who are dedicated to the music enough to realize how important this publication is. The Edelweiss Hutte in Glenwood was with us in our first issue and is a fine place. It is not that far and the food and music are great. You'll usually find Max Thein (Bass) playing there with various local cats. When you visit our adver­tisers - let them know where you heard about them. Remember, if it wasn't for them, you wouldn't know half of what goes on around Buffalo with regards to Jazz music.

STAFF

Editor/Publisher - Bill Wahl

Contributing Editors Michael Barry Levon Cavanagh Malcolm Leigh Paula Wahl

Illustrations -Christine Eber Engla

Address Correspondence to: Buffalo Jazz Report 1335 Main Street Buffalo, New York 14209 (716) 883-3909

The Buffalo Jazz Report is distributed free at various locations in the Buffalo Area as a service to the jazz community. Please support our advertisers who make it all possible.

JUNIBOOTH

In continuing with our articles on native Buffalo musicians who have been succeeding so to speak, in the music world, we had already slated bassist Juni Booth to be featured this month, when we found him

·playing with Pharoah Sanders at the Revilot. This made our work much easier, as Chris sketched him while I took down the information.

Juni was born Arthur Edward Booth on February 12, 1948 in Buffalo. While attending various grammar and high schools here he became increasingly inter­ested in devoting most of his time to music. He began studying piano at the age of 8, and, while still living here, he studied at the Buffalo Community Music School. He said all major bass players influenced him, especially Scott LaFaro. He studied the bass .at East­man School of Music, in Rochester, where · he met Chuck Mangione, with whom he worked and learned a great deal. You might say his first major break came when Mangione went with Art Blakey's Jazz Messen­gers about '65 and took Jtmi along. Since then he has worked with countless musicians - Freddie Hubbard Tony Williams, Larry Young, Eddie Harris , Erroli Garner, Shelly Manne, etc.· He wrote a . ballad, For Bean, which is on the Shelly Manne album listed be­low. He played with McCoy Tyner' s Quartet last year and is on two of his albums, including Tyner's Mont­reaux concert album reviewed in this issue. In the Fall of '73 he toured South America with Elvin Jones an experience most enriching for him. Wetalkedforq~ite a long time, but this is about all we have room for. If you haven't heard him, you should check him out- es-.Pecially on Tyner's. new .release. . · DISCOGRAPHY: Shelly Manne • Outside - Contemporary 7624 Charles Brown & The Blazers - Legend Gary Bartz NTU · :rroupe - Harlem Bush Musi,e'

Taifa - Milestone 9031 Uhuru - Milestone 9032

Freddie Hubbard - Sing Me A Song of Songmy -Atlantic 1576

l,.;irry Young - Lawrence of Newa_rk - Perception 34 McCoy Tyner - Song of the New' World - Milestone •

90'49 . . · McCoy Tyner - Enlightenment - Milestone 55001

RECORDS THELONIOUS MONK & JOHN COLTRANE- MONK/

TRANE - MILESTONE 4.7011 . ·

About a year ago I was !trading some albums with a friend when he handed me one of Monk ' s old River­side Discs and said "if I could only have one record, it would be this." The record was Monk's Music -Riv. 242, and after listeririg to it for a matter of se­conds I .fOIJld see why he cherished it so. Recorded in June of 1957, the musicians on the album were, besides Monk & Coltrane, Ray Copeland (J pt), Gigi Gryce (as), Coleman Hawkins, Wilbur Ware and Art Blakey, and with a line-up like that, you can imagine the results. Well lo and beh()ld, the album was re­issued in this 2-record set along with selected cuts from 3 other Monk LP's, including Gryce's Blues For Tomorrow, recorded at the first session of the Monk's Music date, , but without Monk who was ill. This 13

. minute cut finds some very interesting blowing as well as a lesson in musical drums from Blakey. Side 1 of the set, bears 3 tunes recorded by the leader's fa­mous Five Spot quartet - Monk, Trane, Ware and Shadow Wilson. The first cut on side 4, Monk's Mood was recorded at a session for an otherwise solo album with only Monk, Trane and Ware . So you have the facts, I am in no position to' review the music of these two men, it speaks for itself. If you spend your money on this. one, you won't be dil)appointed.

KENNY BARRON - SUNSET TO DAWN - MUSE 5018

. An outstanding debut album for Mr. Barron, who really should have had one of his own long before this .

. Kenny , since leaving Yusef Lateef, has been recording with various artists under the direction of Don Schlitten and is always an asset to a record date.

Some of the tunes here are slightly reminiscent of the Jimmy Heath album Gap Sealer, especially Sunset, played on electric piano'. A Flower is a solo acoustic piano number while Barron alternates between both pianos for the remaining cuts. Bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Freddie Waits give fine support and .Richie Landrum and Warren Smith provide interesting percussion effects as well as the latter on vibes. Quite enjoyable especially that Latin-Funk.

McCOY TYNER - ENLIGHTENMENT - MILESTONE 55001

What we hav.e here is a 2-record set of McCoy • Tyners Quartet, live at the Montreux Jazz Festival :1973, complete and uncut. The recording quality is :•much better than many of the albums recorded at that .Swiss Festival, and Tyner himself says it was .one of his best performances anywhere, and who should know more than he. The four selections, the first of which is a suite in 3 parts, is much in the tradition of Tyners first two Milestone albums, and is a richand reward­ing experience, especially when you take in all four sides in one sitting. Youngtenor-man(ex-ElvinJones) Azar Lawrence is much improved since his days of sharing the front line duties with Steve Grossman (in Jones' Quartet). Buffalo born bassist Juni Booth (see article-front page) is a bitch, as is, of course, drum­mer Alphonze Mouzon. Tyner is his usual amazing self, scaring the pants off countless other pianists. If you happened to see the Montreux Fest on Channel 17, you got a taste of his album's contents.

TOOTS THIELMANS & SVEND ASMUSSEN - TOOTS & SVEND - A&M SP3613

Af!er ~icking up this record, I started anticipating · how fme It would be, and the first few bars told me I was in for an experience. Fine is hardly the fitting adjective to describe it; superb would be closer. Hav­ing always been an admirer of Toots ' passionate har­monica .playing - the first few seconds' of Sophisticated Lady brought chills to my spine. The rest of the album was far from a letdown. Recorded in Denmark this record "is a showcase for these two European arhsts. What is heard is a well engineered, well produced dynamic session. Overdubbing allows Toots to play both harmonica and guitar on some numbers. Asmu­ssen, a master violinist who is rarely seen in this country, compliments Toots with complete sensiti­vity. Ed Thigpen (ex-Ella Fitzgerald .& Oscar Peter­son), who just recently moved to Copenhagen is heard on drums, as well as being the compose'r of the Bossa Nova 'Denise. Two Danes, Kjell Ohman -organ and electric piano, and Stefan Brolund - bass as well as Red Mitchell (also bass) round out th~ group. The music draws from blues classical and some is downright funky. '

If you enjoy Thielmans with Quincy Jones check this out. One listening gives·you enough doses'of that sexy harp to keep you high long after it's over.

THE GREAT CONCERT OF ERIC DOLPHY - PRES­TIGE 34002

The great concert ~s a 3 rE;cord set, attractively boxed, with complete mformatwn, of Eric Dolphy's five spot session of July 1961. Originally released as 3 separate albums - Live at the Five Spot Vol. 1, Vol. 2, and The Eric Dolphy Memorial Album. This is the set to pick up for Dolphy fans who are without these sides . The late Booker Little is in great form here, as are Mal Waldron, Richard Davis and Ed Blackwell. The latter especially on , Number Eight (Lotsa Potsa). Dolphy plays all three of his axes flute, bass clarinet and alto throughout these si~ sides and 111:46 of rightous music. At this point Pres­tige has re-released all butfouroftheireleven Dolphy albums. It ' s a shame the man isn't alive to see it .

BEN WEBSTER - LIVE AT MONTMARTRE 1973 • MY MAN-STEEPLECHASE 1008 (DANISH)

This record, recorded live at the world famous Montmartre Jazzhus in Copenhagen, in January and April 1973, is a fitting memorial to this ·great tenor player. Ben is playing with his regular group, the Alex Riel Trio, consisting of Riel - drums, Ole Kock Hansen - piano, and Bo Stief - bass, three musicians he respected and loved to play with. Ben worked re-

. gularly at this club during his five years in Copen­hagen, a!ld this, his last recorded work, captured him in that atmosphere. The music, as all of his was, is both sexy and beautiful. Both Stief and Riel are gifted musicians who have greatly improved over the last few years. Hansen plays and solos well throughout. A highlight of the album is the almost 9 minute Willow Weep For Me and I Got Rhythym is played in true tradition . Also included are Sunday, ExactlyLikeYou, Set Call and a ballad (another highlight) Old Folks. This record is a must for Webster followers, and al­though not available in Buffalo, can be ordered from Coda Publications, Box 87, Station J, Toronto, Ontario M4J 4X8. $5.98 - Postpaid.

GARY BURTON/CHICK COREA- CRYSTAL SILENCE ECM 1024

CHICK COREA - PIANO IMPROVISATIONS VOL. 1 ECM 1014

As of this month, Polydor has released eight ECM recordings on these shores. These two stand out as A plus examples of two masters at work.

Crystal Silence, released in March, is a duet, and is as brilliant as one could expect. The nine songs find Burton and Corea communicating from their very essence, deep moods and rich melodies prevail. While the two men explore themselves and each other. The music is completely successful, the listener should have no desire for bass or drums. Some tunes are familiar from previous albums, some new. This is an album to get involv!)d in, to really listen to.

Many of the above descriptions hold true for Corea's Improvisations LP, but here he is all alone, Chick Corea is constantly changing. This is apparent in the vast differences between his last eight or so albums. The recordings on this solo LP are all very lyrical and honest displays of warmth and love. A strong de­sire to communicate these deep feelings has given us this work from one of the true musical genuises of our time. It is no wonder that this was hailed as one of the best records of 1971.

DEXTER GORDON -THE MONTMARTRE COLLEC­TION VOL. 1 - BLACK LION 108

This 1967 Danish recording, live from the Mont­martre Jazzhus, finds Gordon in fine form infront of a well oiled, sympathetic rythym section. The live atmosphere here may be as close as most will come to Dex, since he has been living in Europe for the last 12 years (most of them in Copenhagen). His support on this night consisted of fellow ex-patriate Kenny Drew on piano, Danish bassist Niels-Henniing Orsted Peder­son, and the consistently tasteful drummer, AI "Tootie" Heath, who had been Uving in Europeatthis time. The band burns on Ben Tuckers DeVilette, with under-rated Drew showing his talent, and a driving bass solo by Pederson, who has since gained international accept­ance. For All We Know, finds Gordon showing his ballad artistry with his huge resonant tone. Two Sonny Rollins numbers, Sonnymoon For Two and Doxy make up the second side. Since purchasing a British Press­ing of this album over a year ago, I've been waiting for Vol. 2. Shure hope there is one.

JOHN COLTRANE - BLACK PEARLS - PRESTIGE 24037

The two-fer is a re-packaging of two of Coltrane's Prestige albums - Black Pearls & The Belie1(er. These cuts, taken from three 1958 sessions, feature John with· Donald Byrd, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Art Taylor, except for one cut with Freddie Hubbard, and 2 with Louis Hayes. At this point, Col­trane was growing close (within 2 years) to his Giant Steps and My Favorite Things sessions, and that is evident here in listening to him blowing multitudes of notes in his solos. All six cuts are outstanding and I need not single any out. An interesting point may be that The Believer was written by McCoy Tyner, with Trane being only a short time away from forming his quartet of the 60's.

MILES DAVIS - WORKIN & STEAMIN - PRESTIGE 24034

First a word of thanks to Fantasy (Prestige) for re-issuing this incredible set, originally two separate albums, first issued in the mid '50's. The music-­well, I could write a book about these two records, but I will keep it short, for one listening will remove the need for words. These sides are classics, Miles at his burning best, every damn solo on these albums made jazz history. What can be said about Miles, ex­cept that Miles is Miles is. Miles. No man in history of the trumpet has put such feeling of love, hate, happi­ness, sadness. Every emotion known to man into his music. It all comes out with such restrained intensity.

Talking about the individual tunes is useless. This music is an ageless experience. This would be a good start for a collection of jazz recordings; As for the sidemen, who are never really on the side, such as the late John Coltrane, playing with a profound beauty of tone and lyrical richness (you probably wouldn't rec­ognize his playing had you only been exposed to his later recordings). As for Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe; they have got to be the greatest time machine known to jazz.

Five men speaking their experience of life to the world through their instruments, acutely aware of each other. There are no ego's in this music- this is jazz, a spontaneous happening. It cannot be planned, and cannot be repeated. So if you missed these sides the first time around (because of hassles of being too young, or notbornyet),don'tscrewupthis time. These records might very well change your listening habits.

Bassist needed for new jazz group. Phone Bill Wahl at 883-3909.

KARL BERGER - IN CONCERT

Karl Berger- Vibes & Piano

David Holland - Bass

Steve Haas - Percussion

lng Rid- Vocals & Percussion

Also

CLAUDE RANGER QUINTET

SUNDAY - MAY 5 - 8 P.M.

MASONIC TEMPLE Younge & Davenport

Toronto

TICKETS $5 AT DOOR

WORKSHOP 2 P.M. Public- $1

Musicians with Instruments -FREE

Limited amount of Tickets available thru Buffa I o Jazz Report - 883- 3909

WHf\T'S -Hf\PPENING ..... . RADIO WBFO -FM-88.7

-Monday - Noon - Spirits Known & Unknown with Francina Simmes.

Tuesday - Noon - Spirits with Peter !"~all. Midnight - Jazz Signal with Joe Marfogha.

Wednesday - Noon - Spirits with Tom Newhouse. 9 P .M. - Jazz Revisited with Hazen Schumacher.

Thursday - Noon - Spirits with. Bill Besecker. Friday - Noon - Spirits with Alyce Hudson, Saturday - 8 A.M. Morning Seran.ade with Charles

Smith. Midnight- Jazz By Requestw1thPrezFreeland (831-5393).

Sunday - Noon - Talking To The People with Myron Yancy. 11 P.M. Inside The Changes with Bill Savino.

WBLK-FM-93.7 Saturday - 10-12 P.M. Jazz with Bradley J. Cool.

WHAM-AM-1080 (Rochester) Jazz all night after 12 (except Saturday).

TV Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall - April 6 at 10

P.M. on Channel 7.

LIVE MUSIC- CLUBS

Black Drama Workshop - 1762 Main. Zimbabwe National Rythym Troupe (Quintet), Sundays 5-9 P.M. Admission - $1. refreshments available. STUART LITTLE'S 348 Oliver, N. Tonawanda- 694-2890. Joy (Jazz/Rock) every Saturday night 10-2:30. Cover charge (see ad). . ST. GEORGES TABLE North at Delaware. New Wave (w/vocalistY. Phone 884-1100. REViLOT - · 257 E. Ferry - Bookings not confirmed at presstime. Phone 886-8833. MUSICIANS' CLUB -- 145 Broadway - Jam sessions Sunday afternoons at 4. Jazz Sunday n_ights at 9 with various local groups. Band Rehearsalmghts: Monday­C.Q. Price, Tuesday-Elvin Shepherd, Wednesday­Willie Dorsey, Thursday- Jimmy Clark. All programs at 9 P.M., no cover, everyone welcome. ANCHOR BAR - 1047 Main - 886-8920. Johnny Gibson trio w/Geo. Holt on tpt. Friday and Saturday 10-2, Sunday 9-1. No Cover.

CONCERTS Herbie Hancock & Weather Report at Clark Gym­

U.B., April 27. Tickets, $3 students, $4 non-students and at door. Available at Norton Hall, Audrey & Dells and Buffalo Festival. ·

Chuck Mangione at Hamilton Place (Ont.) (416) 525-7710, April 6 & 7 - 8:30P.M.; orchestra, soloists and dancers.

Count Basie - Hamilton Place - with vocalist Jimmy Ricks Saturday, April 20, 8:30P.M. . ..

Tickets for Hamilton Concerts avallableatCncket Ticket, 3266 Main St;, (835-2828).

Anyone who may have the album by · Philly Joe Jones - Drums Around The World that they would be willing to sell or trade; please notify the Jazz Report office . .

King 3B slide trombone for sale_; excellent con­dition with carry-all case, $175 firm. Dave Wahl 883-3907, 941-6415.

.-----""1:""'0~-----~----f-

Bourbon Street

Street TORONTO 0:-

(416) 864-1020

Al GREY ( trom. ) & PH IllY JOE JONES- April 1-16

JOE VENUTI - Apri I 15-May 4

(Phone for Reservations)

WILD BILL DAVISON (cornet) May 6-18

Dine & Dance 9-1

No Cover

~TUAVT LITTL~~~ 348 01 iver St., N. Tonawanda

Phone: 694-2890

Fine Food- Friendly People

'~ov" Saturday Nights - 10 - 2:30

TORONTO .

BOURBON STREET - 180 Queen St. - Name Jazz Groups, see ad this i_ssue. Great Spaghetti, ·reason· able prices (food & drrnk). No cover. GEORGE'S SPAGHETTI HOUSE - 290 Dundas St Various local Jazz groups. MacKENZIE'S CORNER HOUSE - 620 Church St. (416) 922-6954 - Charles Mingus April 22-27. COLONIAL TAVERN - Younge at Queen - F'reddi Hubbard - April 1-6. Cover charge.

Bassist needed for new jazz group. Phone Bill Wah at 883-3909.