 Исполнитель: Jim Cullum, Jr Название альбома: Look Over Here ... happy jazz Год выпуска: 1976, Happy Jazz Records Формат файлов: Mp3, 192 Размер архива: 72 Mb Скачать с: rusfolder
After clarinetist Jim Cullum, Sr.'s death in the early '70s, his Happy Jazz Band was taken over by his son, cornetist Jim Cullum, Jr. There was quite a bit of turnover at first before the personnel stabilized, but the quality and basic style of the Dixieland-based group remained consistently high. On this 1976 LP, Cullum and pianist Cliff Gillette were the only holdovers from the 1973 band. Starring along with Cullum and Gillette are two musicians who would be with the group for quite awhile: trombonist Randy Reinhart and clarinetist Allan Vache. In addition to a few warhorses, such fresh tunes as Wilbur DeParis' "Wrought Iron Rag," Dick Cary's "The Albatross," Matty Matlock's "Dixieland Shuffle" and Lu Watters' "Sage Hen Strut" are among the highlights.
Scott Yanow
In October of 1976, being badly in need of a vacation, I decided to visit some old friends who had moved to Texas to join Jim Cullum's Happy Jazz Band. This seemingly innocent venture turned out to be a musical adventure beyond my wildest dreams. With all intentions of finding a relaxed reprieve from the banking business, I found myself thrust into a full-time musical program of club performances, concerts and dances that would put the test to the finest Goldkette units. When the band wasn't performing at the Landing, (Jim Cullum's nightclub on the River Walk of San Antonio), they piled into a GMC recreational vehicle and barreled to Houston to play a concert, leaving the next day for a performance in Port Lavaca for a concert series. After five more days back at the Landing, the Happy Jazz Band again commandeered the aforementioned RV and made a trek to Fort Worth for a debutante party which required that sets be played in both the grand ballroom and the jazz room. The difference between the Goldkette units and Jim's group became readily apparent to me as the Happy Jazz Band proceeded to pour out swinging arrangements of tunes that spanned the spectrum from "Mabel's Dream" to "Morning Glory." It is a band that has equal respect for Duke Ellington, Cole Porter and Jelly Roll Morton. The instrumentation would seem to favor the Turk Murphy school of music, but the program of songs, including such tunes as "Skylark," "What's New" and a few compositions by the band members, pushes the presentation beyond the ordinary repertoire of the tuba/banjo oriented jazz band.
The Happy Jazz Band has a proud history of presenting hot jazz for fourteen years. They have performed in about half the states of the union, toured Mexico several times, and have produced twenty-two records prior to this recording date. The infusion of three personal friends into this jazz unit has naturally aroused my musical curiosity. The result, apparent on this disc, is that the influence of "avant-garde" musicians such as Lou McGarrity, Bobby Hackett, Gene Schroeder and Pee Wee Russell is applied to such obscure tunes as "Dixieland Shuffle" and "Sage Hen Strut." However, it is not enough to judge the band by their tunes. Having traveled on two week-end tours with them, I was exposed to their personal foibles and their collective strengths. The Happy Jazz Band is a band with a purpose; they have musical integrity and professional polish. They entertain and they play jazz in their unique style which is flavored by each musician. Leader Jim Cullum uses an approach to jazz that sets the band apart from ordinary "Traditional" jazz units. The Happy Jazz Band takes great pleasure in presenting tunes with an ensemble style similar to the earliest jazz bands, making use of the banjo and tuba to anchor a rhythm section which is flavored by a lyrical pianist, Cliff Gillette, and a versatile drummer, Mike Masessa. Jim emphasizes this approach while being careful to capture the essence of all tunes that the HJB plays, yet he maintains their unique style by permitting each musician free expression in his ensemble and solo work. This is the musical philosophy which encourages innovation and thereby deviates from what might otherwise be a standard, ordinary, and predictable "Traditional" jazz band. This fact is evident in unusual departures from the ordinary such as a flugelhorn solo on Lu Watters's "Sage Hen Strut" and the selection of such unusual tunes as "Morning Glory" and "The Albatross."
"Wrought Iron Rag" is a Wilbur DeParis tune that Jim recalls having heard at the original Jimmy Ryan's in New York City. The flavor of the DeParis brothers' band is captured by the tight, bright Cliff Gillette arrangement that combines the drive of a four-piece rhythm section and the excitement of three young soloists who happily thrust their musical talents into the tune. "Aunt Hagar"s Blues" and "Mabel's Dream" show the HJB's reverence for classic New Orleans jazz, as well as ensemble techniques that were developed in later years. The next tune, "Kakapu Rag," was recently written by trombonist and friend Herb Gardner. Herb is a longtime friend of Jim Cullum. My three friends from New Jersey, Mike Masessa, Randy Reinhart and Allan Vache, are all admirers of Herb, so this selection was a natural. Side One concludes with Hoagy Carmichael's "Lazy Bones," which features sensitive solos by Cliff and Allan, as well as closely knit ensemble playing.
Side Two starts off with a straight-ahead "Rhythm King," consisting of driving free-lance ensembles followed by good solos by Allan, Jim and Randy, and finally a hot, happy finish a la Bix. Next, Duke Ellington's "Morning Glory" demonstrates Jim Cullum's sure lead cornet style as well as Cliff Gillette's skill as an arranger. "The Albatross," by Jimmy McPartland and Dick Cary, is a perfect vehicle for the exuberant ensemble playing of the band. The intensity of the performance never diminishes as the band dynamically and harmonically proceeds to collectively rise to an exciting level of free ensemble playing sparked by Mike Masessa's drum solo and persistent drive. "Dixieland Shuffle," a Matty Matlock arrangement, uses the classic New Orleans styling and features a duet by Allan Vache and Bobby Black.
The closing tune, "Sage Hen Strut," is opened by Mike Masessa's vibrant hen cackle. This two-beat composition by Lu Watters rocks through some relaxed ensemble choruses, followed by Allan Vache's solo and then Randy Reinhart with a fine flugelhorn solo. After Cliff Gillette's piano solo, Jim leads the HJB in a series of building choruses which climax with a driving finish.
As this record shows, the HJB plays in an uninhibited style which is also unrestricted in individual musical expression. After almost two weeks of living with and listening to the HJB, I have seen how the members work and play together with a style and flare that is reflected in their music. They are a young group that is very intense, fun-loving and professional. The pace of the music business is a bit brisker than the banking business, but the rewards are greater. The strength of the Happy Jazz Band lies in their love for jazz and their youthful approach to the business. In a nutshell, the band can be described as carving out its place in jazz history through dedication and hard work. We can continue to look for more great things from them.
Pete Ballance (jazz trombonist and a great enthusiast for and friend of traditional jazz music)
Upper Montclair, New Jersey
Side 1
1. Wrought Iron Rag 4:29
2. Aunt Hagar's Blues 3:30
3. Mabel's Dream 4:12
4. Kakapu Rag 4:02
5. Lazy Bones 5:29
Side 2
1. Rhythm King 4:58
2. Morning Glory 3:52
3. The Albatross 3:00
4. Dixieland Shuffle 4:40
5. Sage Hen Dtrut 6:24
Recorded September 19-20, 1976, at Institute of Texan Cultures, San Antonio, Texas
Jim Cullum, Jr. - Cornet
Allan Vache - Clarinet
Randy Reinhart - Trombone & Flugelhorn
Cliff Gillette - Piano
Mike Masessa - Drums
Bobby Black - Banjo
Buddy Apfel - Tuba
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