Silky Denims: Bill Barron

Showing posts with label Bill Barron. Show all posts

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Bill Barron - Essential Jazz Masters

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 139:34
Size: 323,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:06) 1. Groovin'
(3:05) 2. Billie's Bounce
(4:36) 3. A Cool One
(6:23) 4. Oriental Impressions
(4:49) 5. Jelly Roll
(6:17) 6. Nebulae
(6:49) 7. Bill's Boogie
(7:32) 8. Ode to an Earth Girl
(5:23) 9. Desolation
(4:31) 10. Self Portrait
(6:59) 11. Duality
(5:45) 12. Back Lash
(9:04) 13. Now's the Time
(5:04) 14. Work Song
(4:08) 15. Persian Street Scene
(5:52) 16. Noodlin'
(9:37) 17. Blast Off
(5:21) 18. Playhouse March
(7:07) 19. Fox Hunt
(6:43) 20. Modern Windows Suite: Men At Work
(7:40) 21. Modern Windows Suite: Tone Colors
(4:09) 22. Modern Windows Suite: Dedication to Wanda
(6:23) 23. Modern Windows Suite: Keystone

Bill Barron was an advanced and adventurous tenor saxophonist (doubling on soprano) who never compromised his music or received much recognition. He spent his formative years and beyond in Philadelphia, not moving to New York until 1958. Barron first came to the jazz world's attention through his participation on a Cecil Taylor date in 1959. After recording with Philly Joe Jones, Barron co-led a fine post-bop quartet with Ted Curson. However, Barron spent much of the remainder of his career as an educator, directing a jazz workshop at the Children's Museum in Brooklyn, teaching at City College of New York, and becoming the chairman of the music department at Wesleyan University. His "day job" made it possible for him to consistently record non-commercial music for Savoy (in 1972 he made that label's last jazz record), Dauntless, and Muse. Every one of Bill Barron's recordings as a leader uses brother Kenny Barron (16 years his junior) on piano. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-barron-mn0000059950/biography

Essential Jazz Masters

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Bill Barron Quartet - Live at Cobi's, Vol.1 (1987-1988), Vol.2 (1985)

Album: Live at Cobi's, Vol.1 (1987-1988)

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:44
Size: 159,9 MB
Art: Front

(13:01) 1. This One's for Monk
(12:15) 2. Easy Does It
(10:54) 3. Confirmation
( 9:44) 4. Row House
( 5:52) 5. Angel Eyes
( 8:40) 6. Voyage
( 9:18) 7. Until Further Notice

Live at Cobi's is a live album by saxophonist Bill Barron which was recorded in 1987 and 1988 and released posthumously on the SteepleChase label in 2005.

In JazzTimes Chris Kelsey wrote "Straightahead tenor players who regularly stretch themselves and break a sweat in the process are too few and far between these days. That’s what makes a record by someone like the late Bill Barron so attractive. Barron had no such problems cutting loose. He possessed an original voice-not revolutionary, but unique in its way."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_Cobi%27s.

Personnel: Bill Barron – tenor saxophone; Fred Simmons – piano; Santi Debriano – bass; Ben Riley – drums

Album: Live at Cobi's, Vol.2 (1985)

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:28
Size: 161,5 MB
Art: Front

(11:22) 1. September 1979
(15:37) 2. Spring Thing
( 8:50) 3. What's New
(14:57) 4. Interpretation
( 8:23) 5. Tragic Magic
(11:18) 6. Cherokee

Way more than just a part 2 to the first set of material from Bill Barron at Cobi's in New York because although this set, like that one, is previously unreleased it was recorded three years before the first volume, and also features a completely different lineup, a quartet with brother Kenny Barron on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, and Ben Riley on drums! With a lineup like that, the session has a tightness that's really great a sense of dynamic energy that matches Barron's studio sessions from the same later years of his life and which, like those sides, hangs beautifully in a space between angular modernism and straighter soulful expression!

The Bill Barron of these years is one who barely misses a step from the brilliance of his early 60s experiments with Ted Curson and there's still plenty of that young fire here in these recordings, possibly even deepened nicely with age. Bill is playing both tenor and soprano sax, and titles include "Spring Thing", "September 1979", "Interpretation", "Tragic Magic", and "What's New". © 1996-2024, Dusty Groove, Inc.
https://www.dustygroove.com/item/427806/Bill-Barron-Kenny-Barron:Bill-Barron-Live-At-Cobi%27s-Vol-2

Personnel: Bill Barron – tenor saxophone; Kenny Barron – piano; Cecil McBee – bass; Ben Riley – drums

Live at Cobi's, Vol.1, Vol.2

Monday, February 19, 2024

Bill Barron - Higher Ground

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:08
Size: 117,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:52) 1. Caravan
(7:19) 2. I Thought About You
(4:17) 3. More Blues
(5:28) 4. We'll Be Together Again
(6:40) 5. Emanation
(7:40) 6. Alone Together
(6:11) 7. Interpretation
(5:38) 8. Time, Motion, Space

Bill Barron's final recording as a leader (cut just 8½ months before his death at age 62) was released for the first time on this 1993 CD. Barron was still in his prime and this effort (a quintet date with trumpeter Eddie Henderson, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Ben Riley) is more straight-ahead than usual. Barron, who usually did not play standards much, performs four here (including "Caravan" and "Alone Together") and his three originals (plus one by younger brother Kenny) are also very much in the hard bop vein, less avant-garde than usual. The leader's solos, however, are as adventurous as ever, and the CD is easily recommended as an example of his excellent, underrated playing.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/higher-ground-mw0000121824

Personnel: Bill Barron (tenor saxophone); Eddie Henderson (trumpet); Kenny Barron (piano); Rufus Reid (bass); Ben Riley (drums).

Higher Ground

Wednesday, October 9, 2019

Bill Barron - Modern Windows Suite

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:10
Size: 169,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:43) 1. Men At Work
(7:40) 2. Tone Colors
(4:09) 3. Dedication To Wanda
(6:25) 4. Keystone
(9:37) 5. Blast Off
(7:33) 6. Ode To An Earth Girl
(7:07) 7. Fox Hunt
(6:24) 8. Oriental Impressions
(5:47) 9. Back Lash
(6:18) 10. Nebulae
(5:22) 11. Desolation (Previously Unissued Take)

When Bill Barron recorded "Modern Windows Suite," his first Savoy recording, he and Ted Curson both were fresh from the uncharted waters of working with Cecil Taylor. It shows. "Modern Windows Suite," the album of 1961 consisting of Barron's extended and interconnected works, joins the other 1961 Barron album, "The Tenor Stylings Of Bill Barron," to fill out the CD. Both conjoined albums exhibit a creative composer and saxophonist interested in challenging conventional approaches to the music by insisting upon dissonance in his themes, by tampering with tempos, by allowing soloists to improvise free in an extended fashion, by creating impressionistic musical descriptions of scenes or moods, and by interweaving various thoughts throughout the albums into a whole, dense fabric. In many respects, Barron's work reflects some of Mingus' approaches, but with a stripped-down, ironically conventional, instrumentation. While Curson went on to fame with Mingus, and especially his extraordinary work with Eric Dolphy on "Jazz Festival/Antibes July 13, 1960" for which he'll forever be remembered, Bill Barron continued in his modest way to explore the intricacies of the music with occasion recordings and teaching gigs, most notably and finally at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. The contrast between the two albums comprising this re-release is notable. "Modern Windows Suite," the vinyl album, is a challenging tone poem of four movements building upon shifting styles and unconventional intervals, most particularly major sevenths.

According to Kenny Barron, his brother chose the major sevenths so that the soloists "can't use their standard licks." The inclusion of Cameron on baritone sax creates a dense fabric of sometimes unison statements and sometimes free concomitant improvisation. Seventeen-year-old Kenny Barron for the most part vamps behind the soloists, surely a prodigy able to accompany the free-jazz masters but not giving a hint of his mastery to come. On the other hand, "The Tenor Stylings Of Bill Barron" somehow was engineered for sharper and more assertive sound reproduction, clarifying the roles of the instruments within each piece. Furthermore, the compositions on the album are based upon single themes for the most part, instead of thed inter-connectivity that prevails on the "Modern Windows Suite" album. "Oriental Impressions," as expected, is based upon Far East intervals and modes; "Fox Hunt" unblushingly starts with Curson's announcement of the hunt; "Blast Off," referring to the interest in space travel at the time, allows, at last, Barron and Curson to improvise over blues changes. A part of the creative Philadelphia jazz scene of his generation, along with many other better-known artists, Bill Barron for too long has been overlooked as an innovator and contributor to the music. The Savoy re-issues may allow a new generation to recognize Bill Barron as one of the quieter but nevertheless valued sounds from that pivotal time. ~ AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/modern-windows-suite-bill-barron-savoy-jazz-review-by-aaj-staff__14847.php

Personnel: Bill Barron, tenor saxophone; Ted Curson, trumpet; Jay Cameron, baritone saxophone; Kenny Barron, piano; Eddie Khan, Jimmy Garrison, bass; Pete (Sims) LaRoca, Frankie Dunlop, drums

Modern Windows Suite

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Ted Curson - Plenty Of Horn

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:18
Size: 91,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:52) 1. Caravan
(6:16) 2. Nosruc Waltz
(4:22) 3. The Things We Did Last Summer
(3:41) 4. Dem's Blues
(4:20) 5. Ahma ( See Ya )
(3:33) 6. Flatted Fifth
(3:55) 7. Bali - H'ai
(5:03) 8. Antibes
(5:12) 9. Mr Teddy

An excellent and flexible trumpeter, Ted Curson will always be best known for his work with Charles Mingus' 1960 quartet (which also included Eric Dolphy and Dannie Richmond). He studied at Granoff Musical Conservatory; moved to New York in 1956; played in New York with Mal Waldron, Red Garland, and Philly Joe Jones; and recorded with Cecil Taylor (1961). After the 1959-1960 Mingus association (which resulted in some classic recordings), Curson co-led a quintet with Bill Barron (1960-1965), played with Max Roach, and led his own groups. He spent time from the late '60s on in Europe (particularly Denmark) but had a lower profile than one would expect after returning to the U.S. in 1976.

He led sessions for Old Town (1961), Prestige, Fontana, Atlantic, Arista, Inner City, Interplay, Chiaroscuro, and several European labels. Curson died of a heart attack on November 4, 2012. He was 77 years old. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/plenty-of-horn-remastered/915587792

Personnel: Ted Curson (trumpet), Bill Barron (tenor sax on #5 & 6), Eric Dolphy (flute on #3 & 7), Kenny Drew (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass), Roy Haynes (drums on #5 & 6), Danny Richmond (drums on #3 & 7) and Pete La Roca (drums on #1,2,4,8 & 9).

Plenty Of Horn

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Ted Curson - The New Thing & The Blue Thing

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1965
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:27
Size: 81,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:34) 1. Straight Ice
(5:37) 2. Star Eyes
(5:16) 3. Ted's Tempo
(9:10) 4. Nublu
(4:16) 5. Reava's Waltz
(5:31) 6. Elephant Walk

Few musicians have gotten as much continued recognition from one sideman appearance as Curson has from his participation on the stupendous Mingus Presents Mingus record. Even as the weak link in that superhuman quartet, he played some great jazz. His post-Mingus career was on a more mortal level, but the recordings he made in groups featuring tenorman Bill Barron are well worth checking out. The New Thing and the Blue Thing is the best-known of these. Curson’s soaring lines and brilliant trumpet sound are well-matched by Barron, who was at the top of his form on this date. Neither was really an avantgardist by 1965 standards, but both were interesting modern voices whose best work came when they were pushing the limits. The sidemen don’t stand out particularly, but there is some good writing, like the slightly Ornettish “Reava’s Waltz” or the interesting “Nublu,” and the principal soloists are consistently engaging throughout. ~ Duck Baker https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/ted-curson-the-new-thing-and-the-blue-thing/

Personnel: Ted Curson - trumpet; Bill Barron - tenor saxophone; Georges Arvanitas - piano; Herb Bushler - bass; Dick Berk - drums

The New Thing & The Blue Thing

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Bill Barron - Motivation

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1972
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:24
Size: 90,3 MB
Art: Front

(10:26) 1. Motivation
( 3:29) 2. Land of Sunshine
( 6:20) 3. Blues for R.A.
( 9:53) 4. Cosmos
( 5:13) 5. Hold Back Tomorrow
( 4:02) 6. Mental Vibrations

Bill Barron was an advanced and adventurous tenor saxophonist (doubling on soprano) who never compromised his music or received much recognition. He spent his formative years and beyond in Philadelphia, not moving to New York until 1958. Barron first came to the jazz world's attention through his participation on a Cecil Taylor date in 1959. After recording with Philly Joe Jones, Barron co-led a fine post-bop quartet with Ted Curson. However, Barron spent much of the remainder of his career as an educator, directing a jazz workshop at the Children's Museum in Brooklyn, teaching at City College of New York, and becoming the chairman of the music department at Wesleyan University. His "day job" made it possible for him to consistently record non-commercial music for Savoy (in 1972 he made that label's last jazz record), Dauntless, and Muse. Every one of Bill Barron's recordings as a leader uses brother Kenny Barron (16 years his junior) on piano. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-barron-mn0000059950/biography

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone – Bill Barron; Bass – Chris White; Drums – Al Hicks; Piano – Kenny Barron

Motivation

Friday, May 12, 2017

Bill Barron - West Side Story Bossa Nova

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:05
Size: 56,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:15) 1. Something's Coming
(3:31) 2. One Hand, One Heart
(4:00) 3. Gee, Officer Krupke
(3:57) 4. Cool
(2:22) 5. Maria
(3:23) 6. Tonight
(3:35) 7. America
(3:44) 8. I Feel Pretty
(3:20) 9. Jet Song
(3:53) 10. Somewhere

Bill Barron spent a good deal of his music career as a jazz educator, though he made many valuable recordings in the early '60s and also near the end of his life. Unfortunately, few of them have been reissued during the CD era, so the return of this long-out-of-print studio date (for the long-defunct Dauntless label) is very welcome. The tenor saxophonist's orchestra is actually only a septet, but it's a potent group who puts out a big sound. They include trumpeter Willie Thomas, guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist Henry Grimes, drummer Charlie Persip, percussionist Jose Soares, and pianist Steve Kuhn, with the leader's now famous younger brother, Kenny Barron, subbing for Kuhn on the opening track, "Something's Coming." Barron's arrangements are brief (all under four minutes each), but very enjoyable, with snappy takes of "Cool" and "America" as well as a brief "Maria," featuring Thomas and Barron swapping solos, and wrapping with an unusually upbeat treatment of the normally low-key ballad "Somewhere." This 1963 session was finally made available once again by Fresh Sound in 2002. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/west-side-story-bossa-nova-mw0000231101

Personnel: Bill Barron (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Kenny Burrell (electric guitar); Willie Thomas (trumpet); Kenny Barron, Steve Kuhn (piano).

West Side Story Bossa Nova

Monday, May 2, 2016

Bill Barron - The Tenor Stylings of Bill Barron

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:46
Size: 98,2 MB
Art: Front

(9:36) 1. Blast Off
(7:32) 2. Ode to an Earth Girl
(7:08) 3. Fox Hunt
(6:23) 4. Oriental Impressions
(5:47) 5. Black Lash
(6:18) 6. Nebulae

Curson died of a heart attack on November 4, 2012. He was 77 years old.~Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/ted-curson/id2751266#fullText

Personnel: Bill Barron (tenor saxophone), Ted Curson (trumpet), Kenny Barron (piano), Jimmy Garrison (acoustic bass), Frankie Dunlop (drums)

The Tenor Stylings of Bill Bar

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Bill Barron & Ted Curson - Now, Hear This!

Styles: Trumpet and Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:46
Size: 93,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:41) 1. Around the World
(5:08) 2. Big Bill
(6:25) 3. The Leopard
(5:08) 4. Hurdy Gurdy
(4:05) 5. Dwackdi Mun Fudalick
(4:17) 6. Jes Swingin'
(5:33) 7. In a Monastery Garden
(6:26) 8. You Are Too Beautiful

Every one of Bill Barron's recordings as a leader uses brother Kenny Barron (16 years his junior) on piano.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-barron-mn0000059950/biography

Personnel: Ted Curson (tp), Bill Barron (ts), Kenny Barron (p), Ronnie Boykins (b), Dick Berk (d)

Now, Hear This!