Another great big band album hit my desk a week or so ago: The Dave Robbins Big Band: Happy Faces (Reel to Real). At first I thought it was a new recording, since the cover design looked so contemporary. But the band and sound were so good, I figured it had to have been waxed decades ago. So I grabbed the CD cover and checked the back. I was right. The tracks were recorded in 1963 and 1965.
Who was Dave Robbins? Born in Greensburg, Ind., in 1923, Robbins studied music education at Sam Houston State University in Texas and at USC in Los Angeles. A trombonist, he joined the Marines in the mid-1940s and was stationed in San Diego. After his discharge in 1948, he played and recorded extensively with Harry James's band from 1948 to 1955. [Photo above of Dave Robbins]
Robbins (above) is on several remarkable James sessions, including the original Columbia Ultra recording in 1949 and the live broadcast of the U.S. Navy Presents show in Hollywood that same year, featuring spectacular arrangements by Neal Hefti and others. Robbins also recorded on James's soundtrack for Young Man With a Horn movie in 1949, and appears in a short film with James, Leave It to Harry (1954).
Leadership albums followed, including The Dave Robbins Group (1959), Dave Robbins Jazz Ensemble (1961) and others. Robbins moved to Vancouver in 1951, and became a Canadian citizen in 1965, working as a major force in jazz and classical symphonic groups. He also was an esteemed educator in western Canada.
Here are the album's 1963 tracks and band personnel:
March Winds Blow
Spring Is Here
Sixes & Sevens
Africa Lights
Jazz Workshop Theme (March Winds Blow)
Stew Barnett, Bobby Hales and Dick Forrest (tp); Dave Robbins (tb); Doug Kent (fhr); Dave Quarin (as); Fraser MacPherson (ts,fl); Wally Snider (bar,cl); Chris Gage (p); Paul Ruhland (b) and Al Johnson (d)
Atlantic Raes
Reflections
Canto de Oriole
Stew Barnett, Arnie Chycoski, Carse Sneddon and Don Clark (tp); Dave Robbins (tb); Doug Kent (fhr); Dave Quarin (as); Fraser MacPherson (ts,fl); Wally Snider (bar,cl); Chris Gage (p); Paul Ruhland (b) and Al Johnson (d)
Here are the 1965 tracks and band personnel:
Jazz Workshop Theme (March Winds Blow)
Happy Faces
Playa del Ray
Minority
Have Vine Will Swing
Westcoasting
Stew Barnett, Arnie Chycoski, Carse Sneddon and Don Clark (tp); Dave Robbins (tb); Doug Kent (fhr); Dave Quarin (as); Fraser MacPherson (ts,fl); Wally Snider (bar,cl); Chris Gage (p); Don Thompson (b) and Al Johnson (d)
Dave Robbins died in 2005, at age 82.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find The Dave Robbins Big Band: Happy Faces (Reel to Real) here or on streaming platforms.
Bonus:Here's the Harry James band in 1949 playing Neal Hefti's composition and arrangement of Except February Which Has 28 with Dave Robbins. The band: Harry James (tp); Nick Buono, Pinky Savitt, Ralph Osborn and Everett McDonald (tp); Ziggy Elmer, Dave Robbins and Lee O'Connor (tb); Juan Tizol (v-tb); Eddie Rosa (cl,as); Willie Smith (as); Corky Corcoran and Jimmy Cook (ts); Bob Poland (bar); Bruce MacDonald (p); Tony Rizzi (g); Joe Mondragon (b) / Artie Bernstein (b) and Don Lamond (d)...
And here's the nifty short film, Leave It to Harry (1954). The hip band number in the studio scene is Ultra. Looks like Dave Robbins is playing trombone with James in the last ensemble scene. A note from Bill Kirchner: “Ultra and Don’t Be That Way in the studio include trombonist Juan Tizol, alto saxophonist Willie Smith, drummer Louie Bellson and Dave Robbins on trombone. The Dixieland number is Jazz Me Blues”...
In The Wall Street Journal this week, I interviewed actor Jason Alexander for my House Call column in the Mansion section. Jason is best known for his roles in Pretty Woman and Seinfeld. He's currently in The Electric State (Netflix). [Photo above of Jason Alexander, courtesy of Boston University]
Also in the WSJ, my monthly Album@50 essay looked at Earth, Wind & Fire's That's the Way of the World, which turned 50 this month. Go here.
What I'm watching
My favorite streaming series, ranked...
Babylon Berlin
My Brilliant Friend
The Promised Life
Killing Eve
The Crown
Mad Men
The Americans
Younger
Fleabag
Band of Brothers
The Sopranos
Enlightened
Friday Night Lights
Justified
Feud: Bette and Joan
The Old Man
Downton Abbey
The Blacklist
Goliath
The Gentlemen
Turn: Washington's Spies
Unbelievable
Landman
Voiceless (Bella da morire (2020/MHz)
Black Doves
Web Therapy
Worthwhile future stuff that has started or will start soon...
Dark Winds S3 (now/AMC)
Long Bright River (now/Peacock)
Good American Family (now/Hulu)
Alto Knights (now/film)
The Better Sister (May 22/Prime)
Recommended series, films and documentaries...
TV series
TheAffair—(2014-2019/Hulu)
Alaska Daily—(2022/Prime)
The Americans—(2013-2018)/Prime)
Anatomy of a Scandal—(2022/Netflix)
Apples Never Fall—2024/Peacock)
Babylon Berlin (2017-2024/MHz via Prime Video)
Band of Brothers—(2001/Netflix)
The Bay (2019-current/BritBox)
Black Doves (2024/Netflix)
The Blacklist (2013-2023/Netflix)
Belgravia—(2020/Prime Video)
Blue Lights—(2023/BritBox)
Bosch—(2014-2021/Prime)
Bosch: Legacy—(2022-current/Prime)
The Crown—(2016-2023/Netflix)
Cherif—(2013-2019/Prime)
Dark Winds—(2022/AMC)
The Diplomat—(2023/Netflix)
Downton Abbey—(2020-2015/Prime)
The Dropout (2022/Hulu)
Elizabeth 1 (2005/Max)
Emily in Paris—(2020-present/Netflix)
Enlightend—(2011-2013/Max)
Feud (S1): Bette and Joan—(2017/Hulu)
Feud: Capote Vs. The Swans—(2024/FX, with streaming on Hulu)
Fisk—(2021/Netflix)
Friday Night Lights (2006-2011/Netflix)
The Gentlemen—(2024/Netflix)
Godless—(2017/Netflix)
Goliath—(2016-2021/Prime)
The Gilded Age—(current/Max)
High Water—(2022/Netflix)
Homeland—(2011-2020/Showtime)
Il Commissario Manara (Inspector Manara) (2009-2011/MHz)
Jane Eyre—(2006/Britbox)
Justified—(2010-2015/Hulu)
Killing Eve—(2018-2022/Netflix)
Life & Beth—(Seasons 1& 2, 2022-present/Hulu)
Lincoln Lawyer—(2022-present/Netflix)
Lioness—(2023-current/Paramount+)
Loudermilk—(2017-2020/Netflix)
MI-5, the Series—(2002-2011/BritBox)
Monsieur Spade—(2024/AMC)
Murdaugh Murders: The Movie, Parts 1 and 2—(2023/Lifetime)
My Brilliant Friend—(2018-current/Max)
The Night Agent—(2023-present/Netflix)
1923—(2022-present/Paramount+)
1883—(2021-2022/Prime)
The Old Man—(2022/Hulu)
On Call—2025/Amazon Prime)
Outlander—(2014-present/Netflix)
The Perfect Couple—(2024/Netflix)
Poldark—(2015-2019/Prime)
The Promised Life—(2018/MHz via Prime Video)
Reacher—(2016-present/Netflix)
Ripley—(2024/Netflix)
Scott & Bailey (2011-2016/Prime)
The Spy—(2019/Netflix)
Turn: Washington's Spies—(2014-2017/Prime)
Unbelievable—(2019/Netflix)
Under the Banner of Heave—(2022/Hulu)
Veronica Mars—(2004 to 2019/Hulu)
Voiceless (Bella da morire—(2020/MHz)
The Watcher—(2022/Netflix)
The Way Home—(2023-current/Peacock)
Who Is Erin Carter—(2023/Netflix)
The Woman in the Wall—(2024/Showtime)
The Veil—(2024/Hulu-FX)
Web Therapy—(2011-2015/Fandango)
Wilder—(2017-current)
WPC 56—(2013-2015/Britbox)
Yellowstone—(2018-present/Paramount Network)
Younger—(2015-2021K/Netflix)
Films
The Accountant—(2016/Hulu)
American Gangster—(2007/Max)
Armageddon Time—(2022/Prime)
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs—(2018/Netflix)
The Ballad of Lefty Brown—(2017/Netflix)
Blackout (2022/Netflix)
TheBricklayer—(2024/Netflix)
The Commuter (2018/Netflix)
The Dig—(2021/Netflix)
Eiffel—(2021/Prime)
Enola Holmes 1 and 2—(2022/Netflix)
Enrico Piaggio - Un Sogno Italiano (An Italian Dream) (2019/MHz)
The Equalizer 1, 2 and 3—(2014-2024/Prime)
The Great Lillian Hall—(2024/Max)
The Family Man—(2000/Netflix)
Fury—(2014/Netflix)
God's Country—(2022/Hulu
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant—(2023/Prime)
I Used to Be Funny (2023/Netflix)
Jack Reacher (the movie)—(2012/Paramount+)
Just My Luck (2006/Paramount+)
Kill Chain—(2019/Max)
Killers of the Flower Moon—(2023/Apple+)
La Palma (2024/Netflix)
Knight and Day—(2010/Roku)
Last Night in Soho—(2021/Prime)
Last Seen Alive—(2020/Netflix)
The Little Things—(2021/Netflix)
Lonely Planet—(2024)/Netflix)
Man on Fire—(2004/Max)
Manchester by the Sea—(2016/Prime Video)
MI-5—(2015/Max)
The Mule—(2018/Netflix)
The Night Agent—(2023/Netflix)
Nobody—(2021/Prime)
Nobody Wants This—(2024/Netflix)
Ordinary Angels—(2024/assorted platforms)
The Pledge—(2011/Peacock)
Purple Hearts—(2022/Netflix)
The Queen—(2006/Paramount+)
The Queen's Gambit—(2020/Netflix)
Queenpins—(2021/Pluto TV)
Reptile—(2023/Netflix)
Ruthless—(2023/Hulu)
The Secret: Dare to Dream—(2020/Netflix).
Sicario (2015/Netflix)
Self Reliance—(2023/Hulu)
Seraphim Falls—(2006/Netflix)
Some Girl(s)—(2013/Amazon Prime)
Somewhere in Queens—(2022/Hulu)
Spy(ies)—(2009/Prime)
The Stranger—(2022/Netflix)
Toscana—(2022/Netflix)
The Two Popes—(2019/Netflix)
Up in the Air—(2009/Max)
Woman in Gold—(2015/Max)
Wonder Wheel—(2017/Prime)
Documentaries
Aftershock: Everest and the Nepal Earthquake—(2022/Netflix)
The Beach Boys—(2024/Disney)
Carole King: Live in Central Park—(2023/PBS)
The Comeback—(2005 and 2014/Max)
Cunk on Earth—(2022/Netflix)
Cyndi Lauper: Let the Canary Sing—(2023/Paramount+)
Facing Nolan—(2022/Netflix)
Five Came Back—(2017/Netflix)
Jane Fonda in Five Acts—(2024/Max)
Kate Hepburn: Call Me Kate—(2023/Netflix)
The Only Girl in the Orchestra—(2023/Netflix)
Suzi Q: Suzi Quatro—(2019/Prime)
The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari—(2022/Netflix)
'Tis Autumn: The Search for Jackie Paris—(2007/go here)
Tsunami: Race Against Time—(2024/Hulu)
Lennie Tristano. Following my post on the Lennie Tristano Sextette's Wow, I heard from Carl Woideck [photo above of Lennie Tristano]:
"Marc, the studio version of Tristano’s Wow is indeed perfection. As you know, that’s in part because it was compact to fit on a 78. I’m sure you also know the low-fidelity, live version of Wow. Its expansive length (more than 8 minutes) is in stark contrast to the compression found in the studio version.
"The greatest contrast comes in the solos. Instead of musicians getting a partial chorus, each soloist gets multiple full choruses. Warne Marsh takes two, Billy Bauer gets two, Lee Konitz gets two and Tristano gets a lengthy four.
"Tristano takes full advantage of the added time, starting his solo with a full chorus of block-chords before launching into long single-note lines that sometimes cut across the eight-bar sectional divisions. Wow indeed."
Jazz in the movies.Here's the opening scene of I Want to Live (1958), featuring Johnny Mandel's Frisco Club, with (from left on the bandstand) Art Farmer on trumpet, Gerry Mulligan on baritone saxophone, Frank Rosolino on trombone and Bud Shank of alto saxophone, with Pete Jolly on piano, Red Mitchell on bass and Shelly Manne on drums...
Joe Pass. Following my post on guitarist Joe Pass, I heard from Mark Trank:
"Hi Marc, thanks for letting your fans know about the reissue of Joe Pass's album Virtuoso. I just placed my order. I have an original Pablo pressing, but I'm eagerly awaiting this one. Like you I really like his renditions of the Rolling Stones songs, several on a 12-string guitar.
"Are you also familiar with the record Pass made with Roy Clark doing Hank Williams songs (Joe Pass & Roy Clark Play Hank Williams)? That’s a great duet. Roy Clark was an accomplished player as well, and their disparate styles meshed well."
Here's a taste, playing Why Don't You Love Me, With Pass, Clark, John Pisano (rhythm guitar), Jim Hughart (bass) and Colin Bailey (drums)...
Horace Silver. Following my post on Horace Silver last week, I heard from Larry Daniels:
"Good morning, Marc. Re: pianist Horace Silver. He was from my home town, Norwalk, Ct., although I don’t recall him getting a lot of attention there. I met him once at a discount record store in lower Manhattan called J&R Music World. This was before CDs, when domestic albums cost $3.69 and Imports were $4.99. I was flipping through a record section when Mr. Silver popped up and faced me eye to eye as he was flipping through a record bin that faced mine. Mr. Silver was very pleasant to me that day. Oh, and J&R's records at that time were not top-quality discs. The domestic albums were often warped. The imports however were just fine."
Spring in Sicily. Last time Marti in Sicily wrote, it was summer of 2023 (go here and here). A week or so ago, a new robust email arrived [photo above of Serradifalco, Sicily]:
"Hi Marc. Finally putting virtual pen to virtual paper. Things are good in Sicily. Winter is over and we are moving into spring. The scirocco winds are bringing us a dose of dust, sand and warming temperatures. The vegetation is lush and the olive trees are wearing a fine crop of basal shoots. They cheer the arrival of spring, waving armloads of silvery foliage at each warming day. Most of the neighbor's almond trees have shed their white flowers. The pink blossoms of peach trees adorn some of the hills now.
"I found Enrico Piaggio - Un Sogno Italiano (An Italian Dream) (2019), the film you recommended about the founder of Vespa, online here. It prompted me to share a couple of local examples of Vespa's motorized products. Rosa Burgio, who owns the Antica Forneria Burgio in Serradifalco, Sicily, bought a Piaggio Ape six or more years ago and had it restored (above). She uses it for catering.
"Our other friend has a late 1970's Vespa (above) and also had it restored. It was among the first models that mixed the fuel and oil automatically.
"I was also struck by your post on the new Scott Lafaro box set (we bought a copy). In the post, you mentioned David Crosby losing his girlfriend, Christine Hinton, and the effect it had on his music and life. That triggered a memory for me.
"In the 1970s, I was living in Corvallis, Ore. There was a lot of folk music being played by friends. I remembered the music of Richard and Mimi Fariña and this song in particular: Reflections in a Crystal Wind. Richard had married Mimi Baez (Joan Baez's younger sister, who died in 2001). Sadly, he perished in a motorcycle accident in 1966 on the day of her 21st birthday. Go here...
"I only mention this because your post made me dig around for some memories that I hadn't thought about for a long time, so thanks for surfacing them. I imagine you are familiar with both of them and their music.
"Enjoy your spring in New York and I look forward to some pictures of that.
"PS: One more thing. I told Rosa that I had recalled her Ape, which made us think of this song, Vieni Via Con Me (Come Away With Me)."
Free live jazz. Last week I heard from Kim Paris of the FM Radio Archive, who put together links to live broadcasts by artists featured at JazzWax recently:
Joe Pass—is featured at the Blue Note Tokyo in a 1991 concert broadcast by NHK in Japan, Go here.
Ray Barretto & His Orchestra—appeared at the 1982 Chicago Jazz Festival in a WBEZ broadcast. Go here.
Gerry Mulligan—has three shows at the archive: a 1972 concert with Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond; Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz in 1987; and a 2008 Jazz Profiles episode with Nancy Wilson. Go here.
Roy Ayers—played with the Robert Glasper Experiment at the 2011 North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. Go here.
Wes Montgomery—has a 1965 European tour show and a 1966 broadcast on KING FM in Seattle. Go here. Who Elvis Idolized. On March 15, Chris Cowles at WRTC-FM in Hartford, Ct., hosted a show looking at the artists who inspired Elvis Presley. In addition to spinning records, Chris interviewed Preston Lauterbach, author of Before Elvis. You can listen to Chris's three-hour show in the archives by going here.
And finally,here are the French Barclay Stars playing Four Brothers in 1966...
Between bebop in the mid- and late-1940s and hard bop in the mid-1950s and beyond, an exciting but short-lived jazz style surfaced known as cool. The movement was a product of formally educated jazz musicians who, at the tail end of the '40s, integrated classical and jazz. The artists had started out in bop but chose to create a form that was independent of the blues. Cool-jazz saxophonists played without vibrato and in the upper register of their instruments for a drier sound.
In 1949, Miles Davis co-formed a cool-jazz nonet with songs arranged by Gil Evans, Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis and Johnny Carisi. This group would become known later as the Birth of the Cool band. That same year, pianist Lennie Tristano pioneered a cool approach with a sextet. The group consisted of Lee Konitz (as), Warne Marsh (ts), Lennie Tristano (p), Billy Bauer (g), Arnold Fishkin (b) and Harold Granowsky (d).
Interestingly, Konitz was a member of both the Davis nonet and the Tristano sextet, and led his own quintet.
Recorded in March 1949, Wow was written by Tristano, ostensibly for his sextet recording session for Capitol, produced by Pete Rugolo. Wow is a nifty piece that features Konitz and Marsh playing portions in unison, like fluttering birds. Konitz solos, then Marsh and Bauer, followed by an extended liquid solo by Tristano before Konitz, Marsh and Bauer solo again —all in 3:26, the duration of one side of a 78.
Here's the Lennie Tristano Sextette playing Wow in 1949...
Other Perfection tracks in this ongoing series...
Paul Desmond and Jim Hall: Any Other Time,go here.
Marc Myers writes regularly for The Wall Street Journal and is author of "Anatomy of 55 More Songs," "Anatomy of a Song," "Rock Concert: An Oral History" and "Why Jazz Happened." Founded in 2007, JazzWax has won three Jazz Journalists Association awards.
