If British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader Bill Le Sage had an American counterpart, that musician would probably be Mundell Lowe. Like Mundy, Le Sage (pronounced like massage) was exemplary on his instruments, and he arranged and composed for groups of all sizes and wrote for TV and the movies. [Photo above of Bill Le Sage]
Le Sage was so busy with projects that he didn't get around to recording as a leader until 1963, when he was 36. He directed a group called New Directions in Jazz, a fascinating ensemble akin to what cellist Fred Katz in the U.S. was doing at the time. The group's recordings are now on a terrific two-CD set called New Directions in Jazz (RnB Records). The music is absolutely fascinating and cool, with a feel in places reminiscent of Gerry Mulligan, early Gil Melle and Lyle Murphy.
The first CD consists of two live performances at NDR Funkhaus in Hamburg, Germany, in December 1963 and February 1964. The group featured Johnny Scott (fl,as,cl), Bob Burns (cl,as), Ronnie Ross (bar,as), Bill LeSage (p,vib,ldr), Spike Heatley (b), Tony Carr (d) and Maurice Westerby, Francis Gabarro, Freddie Alexander, William DeMont (cello). Many of the songs are Le Sage originals, and all have a sophisticated sass.
The second CD features the group on a BBC-TV jazz show in October 1964 presented by Humphrey Lyttelton. There are also are two tracks from the BBC's Jazz 625, presented by Steve Race, in June 1964. And finally, there are an additional three tracks from the February 1964 performance at NDR Funkhaus in Hamburg.
The music here is easily among the most inventive jazz being recorded in the U.K. at the time. Compositions and arrangements are breezy and complex, with gorgeous woodwind and cello textures. And all of the songs swing. This double album is a must own.
Bill Le Sage died in London in October 2001.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find New Directions in Jazz (RnB Records) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Wigmore Walk...
Here's Honky Tonk...
And here's So What...
Bonus: Here's the group on British television playing Night Talk...
And here's Times Two and a Half...
