Last week in The Wall Street Journal, I reviewed the new Eric Clapton box set—The Definitive 24 Nights—a fascinating listen (go here). In 1990 and 1991, Clapton performed residencies at London's circular Royal Albert Hall—8 concerts in January and February of 1990, and 24 shows in February and March of 1991. From these performances, a double album was culled from these shows and released in 1991 as 24 Nights. The new box set expands to almost six hours of listening with 35 previously unreleased tracks and three Blu-ray discs. The set was smartly organized into three sections—rock, blues and orchestral. Because Clapton loved the hall for its sound in the round and intimacy, each of these sections provide us with Clapton at his best.
Here's a short film on the new box...
Also in the WSJ, I interviewed actor Wendell Pierce for my "House Call" column in the Mansion section (go here). Wendell is in the final season of Prime Video's Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan. He had a fascinating childhood in New Orleans and was in the city as Hurricane Katrina approached. [Photo above of Wendell Pierce and John Krasinski in Jack Ryan, courtesy of Prime Video]
Here's the trailer for the final season of Jack Ryan...
And here's Wendell's pre-commencement remarks at Juilliard, his alma mater, earlier this month...
Frankie Laine. Following my Backgrounder post on Friday on Frankie Laine's Jazz Spectacular (1955), I mentioned his other fab jazz-pop album of the 1950s: Rockin' (1956). How good is it? It's spottier than Jazz Spectacular but the album does have its gems. Here's an updating of That's My Desire, with a knockout arrangement by Paul Weston. Dig what Weston does with reeds and strings on the build-up intro to Laine's vocal, not to mention the close out with those wonderfully voiced trombones. Signature '50s sound. Go here...
And Joe Lang last week reminded me there was a third Frankie Lane non-Western Columbia album, this one featuring ballads—Torchin' (1959), with an orchestra under the direction of Frank Comstock. Here's the title track...
George Russell. Last week, following my post on arranger-composer George Russell, legendary bassist Chuck Israels sent along the following:
Marc, George gave me my first job in New York in 1960 when he hired me to play in his sextet. I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to start my professional career, play for so many interested listeners at the Five Spot and Birdland with a fine band, and make some good recordings. And I’m still in touch with drummer Joe Hunt, who became a good friend and was an excellent rhythm section partner in that band and others in which we played together later.
For me, the most attractive and memorable music in that band’s repertoire were the pieces written by Carla Bley—including "Dance Class," "Beast Blues" and "Rhymes." And of course, George’s appreciation of and decision to feature Bill Evans’s playing was instrumental in bringing him to the attention of more people (including mine).
Editor's note: Russell's albums on which Chuck appears are Things New - Unissued Concerts 1960 & 1964, At the Five Spot, Stratusphunk and George Russell Sextet in Kansas City.
Here's Stratusphunk with Chuck's opening...
And here's a video that went up days ago featuring Chuck and guitarist Edin Karamazov playing J.S. Bach's Sarabande. Gorgeous!...
Blues break. Here are four great blues clips that I came across last week...
Here's Otis Rush...
Here's Jimmy Reed...
Here's Lightnin' Hopkins...
And here's Buddy Guy and an ensemble of greats at the White House during President Obama's administration...
Speaking of Frank Comstock. Last week, I heard from Greg Tomeoni on my Frank Comstock post back in February...
Hi Marc. I just came across your JazzWax post on Frank Comstock. I met him in the late 1960s along with George Morrow, a master bassist with Clifford Brown and Max Roach. They were hanging out in Venice Beach near Los Angeles. I was playing rock and blues on electric bass at the time. They convinced me to buy an old upright Kay they saw in the window of a Hollywood pawn shop and play jazz. Comstock and Morrow were kind and generous people. I heard them play a duet based on "Solar," with Frank on piano. They seemed to read each other's minds.
As for the upright Kay bass, I learned to play a little jazz and worked with some talented folks. At some point, I was fed up with L.A. and wanted to start fresh. So I put that Kay bass on the sidewalk and drove off from Venice Beach without looking back. Years later, in Denver, I returned to playing jazz bass. While working with a jazz group, I met my future wife, who saw me play and asked for a kiss. All thanks to Frank and George. Now my wife and I live in New York, near our two grandsons. Life and music are funny, and good.
Johnny Anz. Last week, I heard from John Anz, whose father, Johnny Anz, was a songwriter in the 1950s and '60s. He wanted me to hear songs his dad wrote after he moved to New York and changed careers. The songs are solid, so I thought I'd share with you. But first, here's John on his dad..
My father was Johnny Anz, a Los Angeles composer, pianist, bandleader and recording studio principal back in the 1950s. His songs were recorded by Dean Martin ("Pretty As a Picture" and "Susan"), the Mills Brothers ("Pretty As a Picture" and "Cottage With a Prayer"), Ernie Andrews ("Don't Lead Me On") and Ronnie Deauville ("King of Fools") among others. After my dad married my mom, they left the West Coast for New York, and he essentially retired from professional songwriting but continued composing on the side.
I've posted five of his songs at SoundCloud performed by a group of excellent musicians today. Except for "Cottage With a Prayer," all were written in the 1960s and heard only by friends and family. They were never performed before his death in 1971 ("Blues By Candlelight" was recorded and released on the LP "Charles Coleman Plays" on Jubilee records in 1969).
The following recordings are from the first session of "The Music of Johnny Anz," produced by me and arranged and performed by New York jazz singer-trumpeter Benny Benack III, with Miki Yamanaka (p), Mark Lewandowski (b) and Joe Peri (d), and special guest Anaïs Reno (v). Another session of my father's unreleased music from the 1960s is still to come. I'm hoping to put out a CD compilation of both sessions soon. I'll keep you posted.
Here's the Music of Johnny Anz...
Denny Zeitlin—Crazy Rhythm: Exploring George Gershwin (Sunnyside). Pianist Denny is one of the most exciting and adventurous jazz legends around today. The composer of Quiet Now knows a few things about songwriting, which makes his new solo album on the Gershwin songbook that much more compelling. Denny takes on songs such as S'Wonderful, I've Got a Crush on You and I Was Doing All Right. And since Denny always gives songs a personal spin, this album is no exception. Recorded in 2018, the album is luxurious and explorative as Denny goes off in different directions, making this not so much a songbook collection but a Denny-fied re-imagining that makes the listen especially rewarding. No same old, same old here. Pure Denny. You'll find the album here.
Here's Denny playing Gershwin's I Was Doing All Right...
Nicola Conte—Umoja (Far Out Recordings). Nicola Conte is a music collagist. The Italian DJ, producer, guitarist and leader has a way of dipping into all types of music and beats, from soul and bossa nova to new age and jazz, coming up with a fascinating original and eclectic concept. Starting with Jet Sounds in 2000, Conte has been on the cutting edge with albums that feature an electronic lushness and evoke an earlier era but remains blatantly contemporary and sophisticated. On Umoja, his new album, we go on a 10-track journey that feels more like a mood-altering vacation than a trek. Pour yourself an iced tea, sit back and let this album pour into your head. Umoja is the rhythmic equivalent of a lava la (I love lava lamps!). You'll find the album here.
Here's the full-album stream...
Louis Armstrong radio. On July 4, WKCR-FM in New York will host its annual Louis Armstrong Birthday Broadcast, playing Pops's records for 24 hours (ET). Listen from anywhere in the world by going here. [Photo above of Louis Armstrong by William P. Gottlieb]
And finally, here's Felix Cavaliere and the Rascals in 1968 performing A Beautiful Morning...
