With South East Kent now officially in drought, and with a fifth heat wave upon us, I compiled Wednesday night’s playlist with keeping cool a priority, both mentally and physically. What I hadn’t taken into account was the solar eclipse due earlier that evening, which turned out to be a breathtaking experience.
So the playlist was revised on the fly to include spiritual gems from quartets led by two remarkable musicians, tenor saxophonist Rudolph Johnson and pianist Nate Morgan. Johnson’s title track from Spring Rain (Black Jazz, 1971), remains a thing of wonder and beauty, featuring pianist John Barns, double bassist Reggie Johnson and drummer Ray Pounds. This is one of my favourite albums of the whole Black Jazz catalogue.
The second is Nate Morgan’s exhilarating Mrafu, which according to Kitten Jackson’s sleeves notes ‘surge us with strength and energy’. It’s from his debut album Journey Into Nigritia (Nimbus West, 1983), with alto saxophonist Dadisi Komolafe, double bassist Jeff Littleton and drummer Fritz Wise. He was an acolyte of Horace Tapscott and a cornerstone of his Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, and the album was released on the Nimbus West label founded by Tom Albach to document Tapscott and the Arkestra’s music. Incidentally, Pure Pleasure’s vinyl reissue remastered by my former Sony colleague Ray Staff at Air Mastering sounds magnificent.
Well suited to a sultry night is Miles Davis’ Green Haze from The Musings of Miles (Prestige, 1955), his first 12” LP with pianist Red Garland, double bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Philly Joe Jones. I dismissed it for many years, seeing it as a post heroin recovery album and before he formed the first great quintet. My mistake, it’s Miles after all, and I’ve found great joy in this track as well as A Night in Tunisia and I Didn’t, with a new melody over Thelonious Monk’s Well, You Needn't.
Among the excellent new releases this week is South African saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane’s second single from LINDA (Blue Note, 4th September). Here’s Indlela (The Path), featuring his soprano playing with pianist Cameron Campbell, double bassist Conway Campbell Jr. and drummer Kabelo Mokhatla.
I’m also enjoying Uruguayan trumpeter Alejandra Gala’s I Dare You, the first track from her Bajó del Arbol un Tambor EP (La Reserve, November). It’s based on the Afro-Uruguayan musical tradition of candombe, and pays homage to the pioneering female drummers.
There’s tenor saxophonist Akira Miyazawa’s Brown Trout from Bull Trout (Victor World Group, 1969), one of Japanese jazz’s defining albums, with pianist Masahiko Satoh, double bassist Yasuo Arakawa, drummer Togashi Masahiko and percussionist Yonosuke Segami. I first heard it on one of Tony Higgins & Mike Peden’s essential J Jazz compilations, a true labour of love for which I’m very grateful.
We’re hard boppin’ with the great alto saxophonist Jackie McLean and Dusty Foot from Vertigo (Blue Note, 1980), recorded in 1963 with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Herbie Hancock, double bassist Butch Warren and drummer Tony Williams. It’s just been released as a Tone Poet reissue which I’ve yet to hear, but I haven’t yet come across one I wouldn’t love to own.
There are cool post boppers featuring some of the above players, starting with trumpeter Charles Tolliver’s Earl’s World from Charles Tolliver & his All Stars (Black Lion, 1971), his first album as leader, recorded in 1968 with pianist Herbie Hancock, double bassist Ron Carter and drummer Joe Chambers.
Also Donald Byrd’s title track from Kofi (Blue Note, 1995), recorded in 1969 with trombonist William Campbell, tenor saxophonist Frank Foster, flautist Lew Tabackin, electric pianist Duke Pearson, double bassist Ron Carter and the great Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira playing drums.
A new discovery for me (the shame) is saxophonist Eric Kloss’ phenomenal title track from Sky Shadows (Prestige, 1968), where he plays tenor alongside pianist Jaki Byard, guitarist Pat Martino, double bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Jack DeJohnette. It’s a Martino composition, and his playing always knocks me out.
And finally, two jazz rock fusion monsters, with Weather Report’s Birdland from Heavy Weather (Columbia, 1977), and Herbie Hancock’s Watermelon Man from Head Hunters (Columbia, 1973). I’ve never played the first and only played the second once, assuming these tracks are so well known people don’t want to keep hearing them. But I asked, and they do.
One last thing… our third Jazz Kissa evening is coming up at Middle Street Coffee on Thursday 27th August from 6pm onwards. I’ll be bringing my Audio Note, Audio Lab and Audio-Technica system, along with a crate full of great vinyl. Lily and her wonderful staff will be mixing cocktails and serving wine, beer and coffee, while Nik and Hannah are bringing Japanese desserts they recently discovered in Kissas in Sapporo and Tokyo. Hope to see you there!
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Jackie McLean - Dusty Foot
Linda Sikhakhane - Indlela
Alejandra Gala - I Dare You
Nate Morgan - Mrafu
Donald Byrd - Kofi
Jamie Safir - Momentism
Weather Report - Birdland
Herbie Hancock - Watermelon Man
Charles Tolliver & his All Stars - Earl’s World
Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan - Deep River
Eric Kloss - Sky Shadows
Vanisha Gould - Borough Blues
Akira Miyazawa - Brown Trout
Rudolph Johnson - Spring Rain
Miles Davis - Green Haze
Ike Quebec - Me ‘N You
Jazz on the Beach broadcasts every Wednesday evening from 10:00 PM to midnight (UK time), repeating on Monday morning from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM (UK time).
Blues Beach broadcasts every other Thursday from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (UK time).
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