Jazz Club in Boston(2)

January 31.2017

Photo above of the Hi-Hat Club by BostonDrinks.com

On broadcast Sadao Watanabe(渡辺貞夫)  choised two tunes,“Cool Blues and Laura” from “Bird in Boston by Charlie Parker.”

The performances were recorded at the Hi-Hat Club in Boston.

Sadao said that he didn’t know the Hi-Hat Club.

Because it closed in March of 1959 after a fire destroyed the building.

The Hi-Hat Club had been opened among the jazz clubs of Boston s South End district, at the corner of Columbus and Massachusetts Avenue.

Performers included Sammy Davis Jr, Duke Ellington, BB King, Sonny Stitt, Miles Davis, Billie Holliday, and many others.

It prospered from the mid 1940s until 1959.

In those days it was the only club featuring a consistent policy of presenting modern jazz.

Between 1953 and 1954 Charlie Parker made several visits to Boston.

He had played often with local musicians at the Hi-Hat.

Also the Savoy Club located at 410 Massachusetts Avenue.

When Roy Haynes was 15 years old, he started to play at the Savoy.

Because he was born in the Roxbury section of Boston, Massachusetts(March 13, 1925).

I refer to Richard Vacca’s “Troy Street”. Go Here

Here is Charlie Parker’s Radio broadcasts from the Hi Hat Club(1953)
Charlie Parker(as),Herbie Williams(tp),Rollins Griffith(p),Jimmy Woode(b),Marquis Foster(ds)

Here is Sonny Stitt plays “Tri-Horn Blooz” At The Hi-Hat In Boston“(1954)
Sonny Stitt (baritone,tenor,alto saxophones) Dean Earle (p) Bernie Griggs (b) Marquis Foster (ds)

Here is Miles Davis with The Hi-Hat All-Stars play “Hi-Hat Club”(February 1955).
Miles Davis (tp),Jay Migliori (ts),Al Walcott (p [out on -1]),Bob Freeman (p [on -1 only]),Jimmy Woode (b), Jimmy Zitano (ds)

Jazz Club in Boston(1)

January 30.2017

Last week I was listening to a radio program hosted by Sadao Watanabe(渡辺貞夫).

He was talking about some memories of Boston.

I heard an interesting story by his broadcast.

This week I want to post about “Sadao’s memories” and “Jazz Club” in Boston.

Photo above of Berklee College of Music

In 1962 he left Japan to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

He had been in Boston for about four years.

So he said “Boston became my second hometown”.

In those days he lived 905 Boylston St, Boston.

Fortunately Jazz club “Stable” was near his apartment.

Photo above of 1961 newspaper(at the Stable) by troystreet.com

Here is Sadao Watanabe and Modern Jazz All Stars play “Confirmation”.(1957)
渡辺貞夫 Sadao Watanabe (as), 宮沢昭 Akira Miyazawa (ts), 八木正生 Masao Yagi (p), 滝本達郎 Tatsuroh Takimoto (b), 原田寛治 Kanji Harada (ds)

Here is Sadao Watanabe with The Great Jazz Trio play “Confirmation”.(1976)
渡辺貞夫 (as) Hank Jones (p) Ron Carter (b) Tony Williams (ds).

Bobby Hackett(6)

January 28.2017

Photo by Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame Historical Archive

Recently I found the marvelous tribute documentary about Bobby Hackett on YouTube.

The YouTube documentary was created by Kathleen Murphy Griffin.

It included many photographs from the collection of Michelle who is Hackett’s granddaughter.

The soundtrack seems to be taken from a concert or concerts Hackett played with Benny Goodman in the 1970s.

In general Bobby Hackett is almost unfamiliar to jazz enthusiasts who prefer to hard bop recordings in Japan.

Especially they love Blue note label so much.

I recommend their to listen closely to Bobby Hackett solo.

I referred to “A PORTRAIT OF BOBBY HACKETT” by JAZZ LIVES(April 16,2009)

Here is  his tribute documentary “BOBBY HACKETT THE GREATEST CORNETIST”.

Bobby Hackett(5)

January 27.2017

During the 1950s and ’60s, Hackett toured a great deal with Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman and Tony Bennett.

It was noteworthy that Bobby made several “mood music” recordings in those days

He recorded his own name 10 albums for Capitol label during the period of 1953 to 1959.

Also He began to join Jackie Gleason’s Easy Listening albums for Capitol label.

As a result his mellow sound enhanced world-wide reputation.

In fact Bobby Hackett first met Jackie Gleason in 1942.

At the time Gleason told Hackett that he wanted to record his smooth cornet playing with a string section.

A decade later Gleason realized his dream with Bobby Hackett.

Eventually Bobby Hackett became the pioneer of Easy Listening.

His mellow sound would been brought some supermarket and department store shoppers, diners, elevator riders, doctors’ office visitors comfort.

Please refer to JazzWax for his recordings on Capitol label.Go here

Here is Bobby Hackett plays “Rendezvous” (full album)

Here is Jackie Gleason The Complete Sessions Bobby Hackett Vol.I.

Here is Jackie Gleason The Complete Sessions Bobby Hackett Vol. 2.

Bobby Hackett(4)

January 26.2017

Bobby Hackett and Jack Teagarden recorded some traditinal jazz standards in Capitol label.

Two Album was titled “Coast Concert” and “Jazz Ultimate”.

They had a really fluid swing together.

These were his representative works in 1950s.

Next I want to introduced my most favorite album in this era.

“Jazz Session” was combined with “Collier’s Dixieland Jazz by George Wettling” and “Jazz Session by Bobby Hackett” on CBSSONY in 1980.

It was supervised by Akira Yamato(大和明) who was Japanese jazz critic.

Here is Bobby Hackett and Joe Bushkin play “You Do Something To Me”(V-Disc 899・May 1949)

Here is Bobby Hackett and Jack Teagarden play ”Struttin with some barbecue”.

Here is Bobby Hackett and Vic Dickenson play “Meditation”.

Here is Bobby Hackett plays “What a difference a day made”(1950)

Bobby Hackett(3)

January 25.2017

Embed from Getty Images

Photo above of Bobby Hackett and Eddie Condon

Fortunately he met  Eddie Condon in New York.

Hackett soon became a crucial member in Condon’s band and made numerous recordings in his studio bands.

In late 1942, Bobby took a studio job with NBC and became active in organizing the Condon Town Hall Concerts.

Their performance was broadcasted and recorded by Milt Gabler (Commodore Records).

He also continued to play at Condon’s and other clubs in the New York area.

After a year at NBC, he joined Glen Gray’s Casa Loma Orchestra where he remained until 1946.

Then he participated in numerous recording sessions with such as Jack Teagarden, Teddy Wilson, Eddie Condon, Vic Dickenson, Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie.

As a remarkable achievement of this period,he played and directed for Louis Armstrong’s Town Hall Concert in May 1947.

During 1949-51 he played with Red Allen and Lee Wiley in New Jersey.

Bobby Hackett and Joe Bushkin joined Lee Wiley’s famous recording “Night in Manhattan” in Columbia label.

Here is Bobby Hackett and his Boys play “At The Jazz and Ball”(1938).

Here is Eddie Condon and his All Stars play “The Lady/China Boy” at the Town Hall(1944).
Eddie Condon(g), Bobby Hackett(cor), Pee Wee Russell(cl)Ernie Caceres(bs), Bennie Morton(tb), Gene Schroeder (p), Sid Weiss(b),Gene Krupa(ds)

Here is Bobby Hackett plays his theme song “Embraceable You”. (1938)
Bobby Hackett (cor), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Bud Freeman (ts), Jack Teagarden (tb), Eddie Condon (g), Jess Stacy (p), Artie Shapiro (b), George Wettling (d)

Here is Lee Wiley sings “Street Of Dreams”.

Bobby Hackett(2)

January 24.2017

Photo above of Bobby Hackett by Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame Historical Archive

Hackett’s first professional gig was at age sixteen with Cab Calloway’s Orchestra.

Despite he couldn’t read music in those days,Cab gave him twenty-five dollars for a week’s pay.

Photo above of Cab Calloway by AllMusic

Bobby continued to play locally for about four years until he went to Boston.

Then he settled in New York City via Boston in the mid-1930s.

Photo above of Andrews Sisters by Michael Ochs Archives/Corbis

His early recordings had been recorded “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen,” which featured the Andrews Sisters in 1937.

In 1939 Bobby Hackett formed a big band.

His orchestra got critical and commercial success, but his band broke up by poor management.

He had to pay down his debt.

So he sought his work with the other big bands.

Fortunately he was invited to appear as one of the few guest artists at the famed Carnegie Hall jazz concert led by Benny Goodman in 1939.

Then he joined the Glenn Miller band as guitarist and trumpet soloist in 1941.

There is a very interesting anecdote about his joining.

Photo above of Glenn Miller by Wikipedia

When Glenn Miller asked him to join Miller’s band, he couldn’t play his horns.

Because his lip was in bad shape after dental surgery, making it difficult for him to play the cornet.

Glenn took him on as guitarist because Glenn Miller came to Hackett’s rescue.

Here is Andrews Sisters sing “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen”(1938).

Here is Bobby Hackett & His Band play “Jazz Me Blues”.

Here is Glenn Miller with play Bobby Hackett cornet “A String Of Pearls”(1942).

Bobby Hackett(1)

January 23.2017

Photo above of Bobby Hackett

Last night I had heard a radio program in Japan.

Someone requested to broadcast “New Orleans” by Bobby Hackett.

I’m fond of Bobby Hackett from long ago.

This week I want to review his brilliant achievement and post his performances.

Bobby Hackett was born January 31, 1915 in Providence, Rhode Island as a family of Irish immigrants.

His father William Hackett was a blacksmith, but Bobby wanted nothing but music for his livelihood.

Photo by Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame Historical Archive

At the age of four, he played recognizable melodies on the piano.

When he was eight years old he studied violin for about eight months.

Professor Kirwin said “I would not teach Bobby any longer because there was nothing left to teach him!”.

Then he was given instruction on the ukulele, the banjo and the guitar by Mr. Joseph Petteruti.

Photo by Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame Historical Archive(Bobby Hackett on guitar and Jackie Gleason on bass)

When he was twelve years old, he bought his first horn at a pawnshop for five dollars.

Mr.Petteruti who was leader of a band called The Hawaiian Islanders allowed him to play the cornet on a gig.

Shortly thereafter, Bobby started performing regularly as a guitarist the Port Arthur Chinese Restaurant while he continued to practice the cornet.

Here is Bobby Hackett and Jack Teagarden play “New Orleans”(1955).

Here is Bobby Hackett plays “Struttin’ With Some Barbecue” live at Newport Jazz (Official).

The Great Compositions by Tadd Dameron(6)

January 21.2017

Photo by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress via Flickr

“Fontainebleau” was ambitious album and his culmination.

It was played by Dorham’s trumpeting, by Sahib Shihab’s alto and Cecil Payne’s baritone saxophone and Shadow Wilson’s drumming, in March 9, 1956.

This piece was relatively formal without improvising.

Then this tune was again recorded by a larger group in 1962 (American Riverside RLP419)

Someone called him the greatest romantic of jazz composition.

Photo above of Kenny Durham

Since 1953, he developed an addiction to narcotics toward the end of his career.

When Tadd Dameron recorded with Coltrane, he was apparently heavy user of cocaine

After this recordings,he served time (1959–61) in federal prison in Lexington, Kentucky.

Here is Tadd Dameron Octet play “Fontainebleau”.

Here is Tadd Dameron and His Orchestra play “Fontainebleau”

Here is Tadd Dameron Octet play “Delirium”.

Here is Tadd Dameron Octet play “The Scene Is Clean”.

Here is Tadd Dameron Octet play “Flossie Lou”.

Here is Tadd Dameron Octet play “Bula-Beige”.

The Great Compositions by Tadd Dameron(5)

January 20.2017

Nat Hentoff died on on Jan. 7 at his home in Manhattan. He was 91.Go here

I will post about “Mating Call” from the consideration of Nat Hentoff.

I referred to JazzWax[August 21, 2007].

Photo above of Nat Hentoff

He wrote a review about “Mating Call” in 1957.

“Why a trumpet wasn’t added remains a mystery”.

Hentoff wished there had been an extra horn on the date, and he mused “a gentler trumpet”.

This recording had been subject to discussion among critics as Ira Gitler points out in the liner notes.

After the death of Clifford Brown in June 1956, Blue Note label was recording more aggressive sound with joining young superior trumpeters such as Lee Morgan and Donald Byrd.

Also Bob Weinstock produced Miles Davis for a marathon recording session at the end of November 1956.

Photo of Miles Davis by Esmond Edwards/CTSImages.com

Producer Bob Weinstock had envisioned the date as a quintet session including trumpeter.

However Tadd Dameron had rejected Weinstock’s plan.

I guess Tadd wanted to record without trumpeter.

After all this session was recorded without a trumpet player.

Arranging with one horn alone was marvelous.

Here is Tadd Dameron With John Coltrane play “Mating Call”.

Here is Tadd Dameron With John Coltrane play “Soultrane”.

Here is Tadd Dameron With John Coltrane play “On A Misty Night”.

Here is Tadd Dameron and John Coltrane play “Gnid”.

Here is Tadd Dameron & John Coltrane play ”Super jet”.

Here is Tadd Dameron & John Coltrane play “Romas”.