A mysterious CD arrived a couple of weeks ago from a reader. The album's title is The Voice of the Saxophone, featuring the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw of the Netherlands, conducted by Henk Meutgeert and featuring solos by tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath. That's all the information that came with the CD, and the sender said that's about all he knows about it. So I had to roll up my sleeves and look around, since the album isn't detailed in most jazz discographies.
The live album was recorded on March 29, 2012 at Bimhuis in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. It was recorded for Dutch Broadcasting on NTR:Co Livez and broadcast later in the spring of that year.
The 18-member big band recorded eight songs, all of them Jimmy Heath originals except for Houston St. Beat, a John Marshall song arranged by Henk Meutgeert. All the others were arranged by Jimmy: Sleeves, Ellington's Strayhorn, Project "S," The Time and the Place, The Voice of the Saxophone, Gemini and Gingerbread Boy. According to Juan Martinez, the artistic director, "Later the recording was mastered for a promotional CD in the Dutch magazine Jazzism in collaboration with NTR. The orchestra received 100 copies, which we gave away as promotional gifts. As we speak we are out of copies so it became a collectors item.
The orchestra featured Jelle Schouten, Wim Both, Rini Swinkels, Ruud Breuls and Jan van Duikeren (trumpets), Jan Oosting, Bert Pfeiffer, Bert Boeren and Martin van den Berg (trombones); Joris Roelofs Jorg Kaaij Simon Rigter Sjoerd Dijkhuizen Juan Martinez (saxes); Rob van Bavel (piano); Martijn van Iterson (guitar); Frans van Geest (bass); Marcel Serierse (drums) and Henk Meutgeert (conductor) [Photo above of the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw in 2012]
Juan continues: "There have been some changes in the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw since then. Henk left the band in 2014 and his successor as chief conductor is Dennis Mackrel, with Rob Horsting serving as a chief arranger). The talented musicians who remain have a great love for jazz and a deep commitment to the music. At our website here, you can find the latest information about the band."
The music on this album is exceptional. As a composer, Jimmy has always been melodic, complex and graceful. As an orchestral soloist, Jimmy is strong, sensitive and engaging. And as a big-band arranger, he remains one of the unheralded giants. His originality and section work are tender and powerful. As with Thad Jones and Francy Boland, Jimmy has a modernist intricacy without losing his sense of swing or knack for knowing what tickles the listener's ear and moves feet. The album is uplifting on all fronts. Hopefully, a Dutch label or Heath himself will find a way to get this gem wide distribution. [Photo above of the Councertgebouw's exterior]
As for the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw, it remains one of the finest big bands worldwide. The Concertgebouw refers to the Royal Concertgebouw, a concert hall in Amsterdam built in the late 1880s with 1,974 seats in the main hall, including sizable tiered seating behind the musicians on stage. The jazz orchestra was founded in 1999 and features Holland's best of the best (more here). [Photo above of the Concertgebouw's interior, with stage seating]
To read my two-part 2009 interview with Jimmy Heath, go here.
JazzWax tracks: The Voice of the Saxophone, featuring the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw and Jimmy Heath is nearly impossible to find. I couldn't locate it anywhere online. If you find a source, please share with me and I'll alert readers.
JazzWax tracks: Several days before this live album was recorded, the Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw recorded with Jimmy Heath live at BIMhuis Amsterdam.
The personnel was Jelle Schouten, Ruud Breuls, Wim Both, Rini Swinkels and Jan van Duikeren (tp); Jan Oosting, Bert Boeren and Bert Pfeifer (tb); Martin van den Berg (bass tb); Jorg Kaaij and Joris Roelofs (as); Sjoerd Dijkhuizen (ts); Simon Rigter (ts); Juan Martinez (bs); Rob van Bavel (p); Martijn van Iterson (g); Frans van Geest (b); Marcel Serierse (d), Henk Meutgeert (conductor) and Jimmy Heath (solo ts,ss).
Here's Jimmy Heath's Ellington's Strayhorn at BIMhuis Amsterdam...
Here's Sleeves...
And here's The Voice of the Saxophone...
A special thanks to Malcolm Walker and Juan Martinez.
