Tommy Banks, Big Miller - Legacy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:56
Size: 84.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[2:35] 1. Hey There
[3:30] 2. When Sunny Gets Blue
[4:30] 3. Bye Bye Blackbird
[5:35] 4. Without A Song
[5:21] 5. If I Ruled The World
[4:06] 6. But Beautiful
[2:36] 7. All Of Me
[5:17] 8. Since I Fell For You
[3:21] 9. We'll Be Together Again

The story starts in 1922 when Miller was born in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1949 he began singing with Lionel Hampton out of Kansas City and then moved to Jay McShann’s band. The same band Charlie Parker started in. Miller was big, almost 6’ 4”, and made his reputation as a Kansas City shouter. You had to be commanding to appear in front of the territory bands or you would get blown off the stage. He worked with Fletcher Henderson, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and many other well-known bands.

In 1967 he got stranded in Canada when he was appearing as part of Jon Hendricks’ review – The Evolution of the Blues – and they went broke. He started taking one off gigs to raise the money to go back to the US but after visiting Edmonton and appearing with Banks on several occasions he was persuaded to stay. High praise for Banks and great news for Alberta.

This CD is a duet recording with Miller on vocals and Banks on piano. It was recorded in an afternoon in August 1989 and is a program of nine jazz standards, originally intended as a demo for a band recording that was never realized. It is a warm intimate session that could only have been produced by two old friends and consummate professionals who could hear each other breathe. ~R. Doull

Legacy mc
Legacy zippy

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Jon Hendricks - Evolution Of The Blues Song

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:31
Size: 106.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1960/2018
Art: Front

[3:14] 1. Jon Hendricks - Introduction
[1:10] 2. Jon Hendricks & Chorus - Amo
[2:29] 3. Jon Hendricks - Some Stopped On De Way
[5:23] 4. Hannah Dean & Chorus - Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
[3:40] 5. Pony Poindexter - New Orleans
[4:33] 6. Big Miller - If I Had My Share
[3:21] 7. Jimmy Witherspoon - Please Send Me Someone To Love
[2:24] 8. Big Miller - Sufferin' Blues
[2:26] 9. Hannah Dean & Chorus - That's Enough
[1:49] 10. Jon Hendricks & Chorus - Aw, Gal
[3:51] 11. Jimmy Witherspoon - See See Rider
[2:47] 12. Jon Hendricks - Jumpin' With Symphony Sid
[2:08] 13. Jimmy Witherspoon - Sun Gonna Shine In My Door
[2:44] 14. Jon Hendricks - W.P.A. Blues
[4:26] 15. Big Miller & Chorus - Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

Of the many projects Hendricks has been involved in, this is his crowning glory. It toured the country as a stage production, depicting the history of African-American roots music, from spirituals and field hollers to blues, gospel, and jazz. Hendricks recites signposts of the musical progression in rhyme, and singing here and there. Pony Poindexter plays a little tenor sax and talks about New Orleans, while Ike Isaacs' trio backs the singers. An intro by Hendricks postulates that adults "have their minds made up, don't confuse 'em with facts" and refers to musicians as "metaphysicians." This is one of several pieces where the chorus hums while Hendricks tells his tale. African drums, serving as a call-and-response device, inform "Amo." A slave story told in a Harry Belafonte style by Hendricks accents "Some Stopped on De Way," while a spiritual rap precedes "Swing Low Sweet Chariot." Big Miller digs into a personalized gospel blues, "If I Had My Share," and Witherspoon belts "Please Send Me Someone to Love" like only he can. A highlight is Miller's "Sufferin' Blues," followed by Hendricks' field holler "Aw, Gal" and Witherspoon's groovin' "C.C. (Circuit) Rider." Poindexter returns on "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid," which includes references to jazz and Lester Young. The program ends with Witherspoon's brilliant rendition of Big Bill Broonzy's "Sun Gonna Shine," Hendricks' downtrodden take on "W.P.A. Blues," and Big Miller's turn on "Motherless Child." If you'd like to get your children -- or uninformed grown-ups -- a quick, painless, enjoyable lesson in the last 100+ years of our American classical heritage, this is a perfect primer. ~Michael G. Nastos

Evolution Of The Blues Song mc
Evolution Of The Blues Song zippy

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Big Miller & Tommy Banks - Legacy

Size: 99,9 MB
Time: 36:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Hey There (2:34)
02. When Sunny Gets Blue (3:30)
03. Bye Bye Blackbird (4:30)
04. Without A Song (5:35)
05. If I Ruled The World (5:14)
06. But Beautiful (4:07)
07. All Of Me (2:36)
08. Since I Fell For You (5:17)
09. We'll Be Together Again (3:21)

The Edmonton Jazz Society and the Yardbird Suite are pleased to host the official release of a new duet album featuring the late and legendary jazz singer, Clarence “Big” Miller and Canadian jazz icon, Tommy Banks on piano.

The new release, Legacy, was produced by Edmonton native George Blondheim. Blondheim is recognized internationally as a multi-award winning composer, producer and pianist.

The nine never-before heard songs were originally recorded in August 1989 at Edmonton’s Beta Sound Recorders. With Big’s untimely passing in 1992, the recordings remained stored away on a hard drive. Now, almost 30 years later , Legacy is being released by Chronograph Records in conjunction with the Yardbird Suite’s 60th Anniversary celebrations, with proceeds in support of the educational programs of the Edmonton Jazz Society and Yardbird Suite.

Those who remember Big will now be able to hear that terrific voice, warm personality and unique delivery once again. A new audience of jazz lovers will appreciate his beautiful tone and timeless style. Big and Tommy began working together in the 1970s and travelled across Canada performing in many musical settings including duo concerts and CBC broadcasts. This rare moment in studio was intended as a demo session working toward an album, but fate intervened and Big and Tommy were never able to make the final recording Blondheim envisioned.

About Big Miller (1922-1992):
Clarence “Big” Miller was a jazz musician, blues singer, trombonist, and educator born in Sioux City, Iowa. By 1960, Big Miller had sung with the Jay McShann and Duke Ellington orchestras and recorded with Bob Brookmeyer, Rex Stewart and Jon Hendricks. Miller made his Canadian debut in 1962 and took up residence in Vancouver in 1967 before settling in Edmonton by 1970 where he went on to make a significant impact on the musical and cultural scene. He subsequently led a variety of small jazz and blues bands in western Canada but also toured nationally with Phil Nimmons, and travelled abroad as a soloist. He taught at the Banff Centre and Grant MacEwan College, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by Athabasca University in 1985. The subject of the National Film Board documentary Big and the Blues (1980), Miller recorded several albums during his Canadian years, including the JUNO Award-winning Jazz Canada Montreux with the Tommy Banks Orchestra (1978), Live from Calgary (1982) and Live at Athabasca College (1989). Big Miller with Tommy Banks' Big Band was released posthumously in 1997. He touched many lives with his beautiful voice, his energy and most of all, his love and respect for his fellow human beings. He was an absolute original soul and talent.

Legacy

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