Silky Denims: Buddy DeFranco

Showing posts with label Buddy DeFranco. Show all posts

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Dave McKenna & Buddy DeFranco - You Must Believe In Swing

Styles: Clarinet And Piano Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:15
Size: 131,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:08) 1. You Must Believe In Swing
(8:24) 2. Invitation
(6:31) 3. The Song Is You
(5:41) 4. If You Could See Me Now
(5:26) 5. Darn That Dream
(5:30) 6. Autumn Nocturne
(5:55) 7. Poor Butterfly
(5:01) 8. You Must Believe In Spring
(4:24) 9. Anthropolgy
(4:12) 10. Detour Ahead

Sing, Sing, Sing. Dave McKenna and Buddy DeFranco have been active musicians over approximately that same period. Both are recognized as expert in their respective musical areas. Dave McKenna is an acknowledged master of the swing piano school, specializing in songs of the 1930s. Buddy DeFranco is reputed to be the evolutionary link between Benny Goodman and Eddie Daniels. These two performers make for a splendid and interesting duo. The clarinet, because of Benny Goodman, will forever be heard in terms of the swing era. Buddy DeFranco, however, cultivated it for Be-bop. Both the splendid and interesting elements in this duo are manifest in the combination of a swing instrument (clarinet) played by a Be-bopper and a Be-bop instrument (piano) played by a swing specialist. A Fine Sauce of Flatted Fifths.

The synergistic performances on this record are of a very high order. It is fun to listen to McKenna?s full-chorded, two-handed swing approach sliding beneath the slippery, boppish DeFranco, and make no mistake about it, DeFranco is 100% Be-bop. It is not unlike a fine sauce. A sauce is actually nothing more than a well-blended emulsion, a mixture of oil and water. Well-blended, because McKenna and DeFranco respond well to one another, but still oil and water. Still different. And the listener never loses sight of that difference. Swing, Swing, Swing. The disc opens with a DeFranco original, "You Must Believe in Swing", a take off on the Bergman-Legrand composition, "You Must Believe in Spring", performed later on the disc. It is a medium tempo blues that is all Be-bop. The duo competently navigates through the ballads "Invitation" and "The Song is You" to arrive at the next Be-bop cornerstones, Tadd Dameron?s "If You Could See Me Now" and "Darn That Dream". Both are fun romps in the repertoire, but the real fun is in the Bop anthem "Anthropology".

DeFranco begins the head straight, but soon careens off in the same way Charlie Parker did on his famous and unrecognizable recording of "Embraceable You". I cannot help but compare this clarinet version of "Anthropology" with another, Art Pepper?s performance on The Complete Village Vanguard Sessions (Contemporary 9CCD-4417-2, 1995). The first portion of this performance is also a tight and exciting duet (with bassist George Mraz). Pepper?s version possesses a greater discipline and sheer musical tension than DeFranco, but DeFranco has merit in his risk-taking abandon. Where Pepper?s performance is dead serious, DeFranco?s is playful and has fun. Having Fun. That pretty well sums up this record. Both performers sound comfortable and friendly. It is hard to believe that anyone would not like the sound of a clarinet in a piano duet. Played happy or sad, they always have a sound of hope and good will. Kind of like what these two Jazz giants have. ~ C.Michael Bailey http://www.allaboutjazz.com/dave-mckenna-and-buddy-defranco-you-must-believe-in-swing-dave-mckenna-concord-music-group-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php#.VCy_1RawTP8

Personnel: Dave McKenna: piano; Buddy DeFranco: clarinet.

You Must Believe In Swing

Friday, July 15, 2022

Buddy DeFranco - I Hear Benny Goodman & Artie Shaw Disc 1 And Disc 2

Album: I Hear Benny Goodman & Artie Shaw Disc 1

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:39
Size: 126,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:16) 1. Don't Be That Way
(3:31) 2. After You've Gone
(4:51) 3. The Sheik Of Araby
(7:51) 4. Flying Home
(5:40) 5. Soft Winds
(5:59) 6. Medley: Sweet Lorraine / Body And Soul / Memories Of You
(4:53) 7. Limehouse Blues
(5:53) 8. Medley: Poor Butterfly / Where Or When / These Foolish Things
(3:58) 9. Rose Room
(7:44) 10. Oh, Lady Be Good

Album: I Hear Benny Goodman & Artie Shaw Disc 2

Time: 52:38

Size: 125,4 MB

(4:05) 1. 'S Wonderful

(4:09) 2. My Heart Stood Still

(2:32) 3. Temptation

(3:43) 4. Night And Day

(2:44) 5. Keepin' Myself For You

(5:38) 6. Medley: It Could Happen to You / I Cover the Waterfront / Someone to Watch Over Me

(7:00) 7. Concerto For Clarinet

(3:45) 8. All The Things You Are

(5:01) 9. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise

(3:24) 10. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

(3:27) 11. I Surrender Dear

(7:04) 12. Tin Reed Blues

Two CD set. Subtitled: The Complete 'Plays Benny Goodman And Artie Shaw' Sessions, Vol. Two. Second of two volumes from the Jazz clarinet player paying tribute to two influential Jazz greats.

Both volumes combined feature five complete albums originally released by DeFranco: I Hear Benny Goodman & Artie Shaw, Buddy DeFranco Plays Benny Goodman, Buddy DeFranco Plays Artie Shaw, Wholly Cats and Closed Session. This double disc volume features 22 tracks including ''S Wonderful, 'Flying Home', 'After You've Gone' and more. Lonehill Jazz. 2007. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Hear-Benny-Goodman-Artie-Shaw/dp/B000OLHFDK

Personnel: Buddy DeFranco (cl), Don Fagerquist (tp), Georgie Auld (ts), Victor Feldman (vib), Carl Perkins (p), Barney Kessel (g), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Stan Levey (d), Larry Bunker (vb), Bob Neal (d),Ray Linn (tp), Jimmy Rowles (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (d)

I Hear Benny Goodman & Artie Shaw Disc 1, Disc 2

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Buddy DeFranco - Garden of Dreams

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:08
Size: 126,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:34) 1. 73 Berkley Street
(5:19) 2. Sunshine State
(5:23) 3. I Remember Clifford
(4:42) 4. Mysteria
(5:15) 5. Blues for Breakfast
(5:28) 6. Holiday for Two
(6:13) 7. Garden of Dreams
(5:36) 8. Brazilian Dorian Dreams
(4:53) 9. Jena
(5:41) 10. Given Time

Buddy DeFranco is one of the great clarinetists of all time and, until the rise of Eddie Daniels, he was indisputably the top clarinetist to emerge since 1940. It was DeFranco's misfortune to be the best on an instrument that after the swing era dropped drastically in popularity and, unlike Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, he has never been a household name for the general public. When he was 14, DeFranco won an amateur swing contest sponsored by Tommy Dorsey. After working with the big bands of Gene Krupa (1941-1942) and Charlie Barnet (1943-1944), he was with TD on and off during 1944-1948. DeFranco, other than spending part of 1950 with Count Basie's septet, was mostly a bandleader from then on. Among the few clarinetists to transfer the language of Charlie Parker onto his instrument, DeFranco has won a countless number of polls and appeared with the Metronome All-Stars in the late '40s. He recorded frequently in the '50s (among his sidemen were Art Blakey, Kenny Drew, and Sonny Clark) and participated in some of Norman Granz's Verve jam session. During 1960-1963 DeFranco led a quartet that also featured the accordion of Tommy Gumina and he recorded an album with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers on which he played bass clarinet. Work, however, was difficult to find in the '60s, leading DeFranco to accept the assignment of leading the Glenn Miller ghost band (1966-1974). He has found more artistic success co-leading a quintet with Terry Gibbs off and on since the early'80s and has recorded throughout the decades for many labels.~Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buddy-defranco-mn0000638918/biography

Personnel: Clarinet – Buddy DeFranco; Bass – Alec Dankworth; Drums – Clark Tracy; Guitar – Martin Taylor; Piano, Synthesizer – David Newton

Garden of Dreams

Friday, July 16, 2021

Buddy DeFranco - Cooking The Blues & Sweet & Lovely

Album: Cooking The Blues & Sweet & Lovely Disc 1

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:26
Size: 86,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:36) 1. I can't get started
(6:57) 2. Cooking the blues
(6:06) 3. Stardust
(6:51) 4. How about you
(5:07) 5. Little girl blue
(6:47) 6. Indian summer

Album: Cooking The Blues & Sweet & Lovely Disc 2

Time: 41:27
Size: 96,1 MB

(9:02) 1. Getting a balance
(6:39) 2. Old black magic
(7:19) 3. They say it's wonderful
(4:35) 4. But beautiful
(4:54) 5. The nearness of you
(4:48) 6. What can I say dear [after I say I'm sorry?]
(4:07) 7. Moe

Buddy De Franco's two albums Cooking the Blues and Sweet & Lovely contain material from three different quintet sessions featuring the same personnel. In John A. Tynan's 1958 review for Down Beat magazine, he expressed the desire to have both of the aforementioned LPs compiled in their complete form on one sole edition. His wish has finally been granted 50 years later on this CD! Lonehill. 2009. https://www.amazon.ca/Cooking-Blues-Sweet-Buddy-Defranco/dp/B001O8C5SW

Personnel: Clarinet – Buddy DeFranco; Bass – Gene Wright; Drums – Bobby White; Guitar – Tal Farlow; Piano – Sonny Clark

Cooking The Blues & Sweet & Lovely

Monday, June 28, 2021

Lionel Hampton - Air Mail Special

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1954
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:54
Size: 73,2 MB
Art: Front

( 7:38) 1. Air Mail Special
( 6:13) 2. Soft Winds
( 6:51) 3. It's Only a Paper Moon
(11:11) 4. The Way You Look Tonight

This impossible-to-find LP from the 1950s contains two fine selections featuring a quartet comprised of Lionel Hampton, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich but is most memorable for the other two numbers which add the great clarinetist Buddy DeFranco to the band. Their version of "It's Only a Paper Moon" is remarkably uptempo and really swings hard; Hampton challenges his fellow legends to some spectacular playing.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/air-mail-special-mw0000277498

Personnel: Vibraphone, Leader – Lionel Hampton; Bass – Ray Brown; Clarinet – Buddy DeFranco; Drums – Buddy Rich

Air Mail Special

Monday, December 2, 2019

Buddy DeFranco - You Know I Know

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 124:42
Size: 288,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:23) 1. If I Should Lose You
(2:54) 2. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(3:08) 3. Samia Shuffle
(5:21) 4. Lover Man
(4:04) 5. Left Field
(6:11) 6. You Go to My Head
(3:10) 7. The Way You Look Tonight
(3:33) 8. Deep Purple
(3:16) 9. Show Eyes
(4:23) 10. It Could Happen to You
(8:02) 11. The Things We Did Last Summer
(6:27) 12. Mine
(2:49) 13. Sweet Georgia Brown
(4:42) 14. Tenderly
(7:03) 15. But Not for Me
(5:08) 16. Ferdinando
(3:15) 17. Sophisticated Lady
(2:42) 18. Street of Dreams
(7:52) 19. Bass on Balls
(2:52) 20. Gone with the Wind
(3:56) 21. Autumn in New York
(2:49) 22. Get Happy
(3:08) 23. Just One of Those Things
(3:00) 24. Carioca
(7:33) 25. Autumn Leaves
(6:36) 26. Gerry's Tune
(2:50) 27. Cairo
(3:22) 28. Lover Come Back to Me

Buddy DeFranco is one of the great clarinetists of all time and, until the rise of Eddie Daniels, he was indisputably the top clarinetist to emerge since 1940. It was DeFranco's misfortune to be the best on an instrument that after the swing era dropped drastically in popularity and, unlike Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, he has never been a household name for the general public. When he was 14, DeFranco won an amateur swing contest sponsored by Tommy Dorsey. After working with the big bands of Gene Krupa (1941-1942) and Charlie Barnet (1943-1944), he was with TD on and off during 1944-1948. DeFranco, other than spending part of 1950 with Count Basie's septet, was mostly a bandleader from then on. Among the few clarinetists to transfer the language of Charlie Parker onto his instrument, DeFranco has won a countless number of polls and appeared with the Metronome All-Stars in the late '40s. He recorded frequently in the '50s (among his sidemen were Art Blakey, Kenny Drew, and Sonny Clark) and participated in some of Norman Granz's Verve jam session. During 1960-1963 DeFranco led a quartet that also featured the accordion of Tommy Gumina and he recorded an album with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers on which he played bass clarinet. Work, however, was difficult to find in the '60s, leading DeFranco to accept the assignment of leading the Glenn Miller ghost band (1966-1974). He has found more artistic success co-leading a quintet with Terry Gibbs off and on since the early '80s and has recorded throughout the decades for many labels. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buddy-defranco-mn0000638918/biography

You Know I Know

Monday, November 25, 2019

The Terry Gibbs & Buddy DeFranco Quintet - Jazz at Dukes Place: Live in New Orleans

Styles: Vibraphone And Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:23
Size: 125,7 MB
Art: Front

( 8:31) 1. Yesterdays
(10:27) 2. Austin Mood
( 3:36) 3. Body and Soul
( 3:56) 4. Blues for Brodie
( 9:34) 5. Love for Sale
( 7:33) 6. We’ll Be Together Again
( 6:48) 7. Samba Wazoo
( 3:54) 8. Air Mail Special

Shot atop the Monteleone Hotel in New Orleans French Quarter in the early 1980's for the national television series "Live in New Orleans". Terry Gibbs & Buddy DeFranco teamed up and were joined by Lou Levy on piano, Bob Maize on bass and Ray Mosca on drums, to perform before a live audience in what was then known as Dukes Place. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/terrygibbsbuddydefranco/159264006

Jazz at Dukes Place: Live in New Orleans

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Buddy DeFranco - Wholly Cats: The Complete 'Plays Benny Goodman And Artie Shaw' Sessions, Vol. One

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:53
Size: 164,6 MB
Art: Front

( 5:55) 1. Benny's Bugle
( 6:39) 2. A Smooth One
( 4:37) 3. Air Mail Special
( 5:23) 4. More Than You Know
(11:49) 5. Wholly Cats
( 2:28) 6. Goodbye
( 4:45) 7. Seven Come Eleven
( 3:55) 8. My Blue Heaven
( 4:45) 9. Stardust
( 4:48) 10. Cross Your Heart
( 5:09) 11. Frenesi
( 3:31) 12. Medley: Dancing In The Dark / Moonglow / Time On My Hands
( 3:31) 13. Indian Love Call
( 4:31) 14. Summit Ridge Drive

5 complete LPs presented on 2 companion volumes! Featuring Carl Perkins, Jimmy Rowles, Barney Kessel and Don Fagerquist! Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw were among the most famous and beloved figures in swing music both as clarinet soloists and orchestra conductors. Th ey were still very active musically in 1957, when Buddy De Franco decided to record a series of sessions paying homage to them. Thirty-five performances were recorded (including four medleys containing three songs each) in four extended sessions made on four consecutive days and with two different groups (guitarist Barney Kessel, however, is present on most of the tracks).

The first two sessions included trumpeter Don Fagerquist, tenor saxophonist Georgie Auld and pianist Carl Perkins. The second group includes trumpeter Ray Linn and another modern jazz pianist: Jimmy Rowles. These two companion volumes include the complete LPs FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON CD!: "I Hear Benny Goodman & Artie Shaw", "Buddy De Franco plays Benny Goodman", "Buddy De Franco plays Artie Shaw", "Wholly Cats" and "Closed Session". https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/buddy-defranco-albums/4708-wholly-cats.html

Personnel: Buddy DeFranco (cl), Don Fagerquist (tp), Georgie Auld (ts), Victor Feldman (vib), Carl Perkins (p), Barney Kessel (g), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Stan Levey (d)

Wholly Cats

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Lionel Hampton - The Lionel Hampton Quintet

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1954
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:10
Size: 168,0 MB
Art: Front

(17:11) 1. Flying Home
( 6:33) 2. Je Ne Sais Pas
( 5:52) 3. On the Sunny Side of the Street
( 6:25) 4. April in Paris
( 9:28) 5. Don't Be That Way
( 8:36) 6. These Foolish Things
(11:14) 7. The Way You Look Tonight
( 6:48) 8. It's Only a Paper Moon

In 1954, producer Norman Granz held a couple of marathon recording sessions featuring vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, pianist Oscar Peterson, bassist Ray Brown, drummer Buddy Rich, and (on April 13) clarinetist Buddy DeFranco. This set has three selections from the DeFranco date (a 17-plus-minute "Flying Home," the original "Je Ne Sais Pas," and "On the Sunny Side of the Street") and one from the earlier session ("April in Paris"). Hampton is typically exuberant throughout (grunting rather loudly during a few later ensemble choruses on "Flying Home"), DeFranco and Peterson are as swinging as usual, and the overall music is quite joyous. Even if "Flying Home" does not reach Granz's claim of being the best-ever version of the song (one misses the honking tenor and screaming trumpet), this is an excellent and rather spontaneous outing. [The Verve Master Edition also features the tracks "Don't Be That Way," "These Foolish Things," "The Way You Look Tonight," and "It's Only a Paper Moon."] ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lionel-hampton-quintet-mw0000591293

Personnel: Lionel Hampton - vibraphone; Buddy DeFranco - clarinet; Oscar Peterson - piano; Ray Brown - double bass; Buddy Rich - drums

The Lionel Hampton Quintet

Friday, May 18, 2018

Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco - Chicago Fire

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:50
Size: 141.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Vibraphone jazz
Year: 1987/1997
Art: Front

[5:31] 1. Rockin In Rhythm
[6:40] 2. Please Send Me Someone To Love
[7:13] 3. Sister Sadie
[3:13] 4. This Is Always
[4:20] 5. Cherokee
[6:44] 6. Giant Steps
[6:31] 7. Bopstacle Course
[6:58] 8. Jitterbug Waltz
[6:16] 9. Stella By Starlight
[8:20] 10. 52nd Street Theme

Bass – Todd Coolman; Clarinet – Buddy DeFranco; Drums – Gerry Gibbs; Piano – John Campbell; Vibraphone – Terry Gibbs. Recorded live direct-to-digital two track at Joe Segal's JAZZ SHOWCASE in the Blackstone Hotel, Chicago on July 24 - 26, 1987.

This was the second meeting on record by vibraphonist Terry Gibbs and clarinetist Buddy DeFranco (an obscure set for Palo Alto from 1981 was the first), and it officially launched the quintet which would record several additional sets. With the powerful pianist John Campbell, bassist Todd Coolman and Terry's son Gerry Gibbs on drums, the two veterans play heated versions of such tunes as "Rockin' In Rhythm," "Cherokee," "Giant Steps" and "52nd Street Theme." Gibbs and DeFranco always inspire each other, making all of their recordings of strong interest to bop fans. ~Scott Yanow

Chicago Fire mc
Chicago Fire zippy

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Buddy DeFranco - Baby Steps

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:59
Size: 114.4 MB
Styles: Clarinet jazz
Year: 1995/2012
Art: Front

[7:13] 1. Stormy Weather
[7:00] 2. Flamingo
[7:28] 3. Baby Steps
[5:41] 4. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
[5:17] 5. Get Out Of Town
[6:09] 6. I Cover The Waterfront
[4:48] 7. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
[6:19] 8. Canadian Sunset

Smooth, lyrical, lucid, precise -– they almost do justice to the unmistakable sound of clarinetist Buddy Defranco. His technical expertise has been likened to that of Artie Shaw, his melodic capabilities rival Benny Goodman's, he's been dubbed "The Charlie Parker of the clarinet."

The bebop revolution of the 1940s enabled Buddy to break looses from the confines of swing and granted him "the freedom to float" he desired. The challenge was clear: from "king" of the swing instruments, the clarinet was not well suited to bebop, due to its temperamental nature. Buddy eventually got recording dates with many of the bebop legends plus a steady spot in the Count Basie septet. While the Basie gig was prestigious within the jazz community, trumpeter and fellow band member Clark Terry (left) recalled the interesting "reverse racism" Buddy encountered for being the only white member of the septet.

The 1950s were a prolific time for Buddy. He formed his own quartet with drummer Art Blakey, pianist Kenny Drew, and bassist Eugene Wright. In 1954, he embraced the opportunity to play a European tour with the spectacular Billie Holiday. Through producer Norman Granz, Buddy was paired with his boyhood idol, pianist Art Tatum, and was featured on the Jazz at the Philharmonic recordings. Despite his success, Buddy struggled with the only major criticism of his long career, a column by jazz writer Nat Hentoff.

When rock and roll began to steal the jazz's thunder towards the end of the 1950s, Buddy made ends meet with studio work for film and television until he was invited to lead the Glenn Miller Orchestra in 1966. During the subsequent period, Buddy met and married his wife Joyce, and joined forces musically with vibraphonist Terry Gibbs. Gibbs and Defranco formed a dynamic pair, complimenting each other musically and personally. Buddy Defranco continued to progress with time, influencing young clarinetists with his gentle, generous personality and his ceaseless energy for experimentation.

Baby Steps mc
Baby Steps zippy

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Lionel Hampton, Oscar Peterson - Jazz Masters 26

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:50
Size: 148.4 MB
Styles: Vibraphone jazz, Swing
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[ 4:42] 1. Jam Blues
[ 7:58] 2. Always
[ 6:10] 3. Soft Winds
[ 9:54] 4. Star Dust
[ 6:29] 5. Je Ne Sais Pas
[10:10] 6. Tenderly
[ 6:20] 7. Hallelujah!
[ 7:08] 8. Sweethearts On Parade
[ 5:56] 9. Date With Oscar

Vibraphonist Lionel Hampton and pianist Oscar Peterson are the stars of this delightful collection of jazz recordings supervised by producer Norman Granz over an almost exactly 12-month period extending from 1953 to 1954. Granz's marvelous knack for bringing together excellent musicians resulted in the combined presence of trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie, trombonist Bill Harris, clarinetist Buddy DeFranco, tenor saxophonists Ben Webster and Flip Phillips, guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Buddy Rich. The combination of musical minds is extraordinary, and Hamp's amazing wavelength is dependably positive and uplifting. ~arwulf arwulf

Jazz Masters 26 mc
Jazz Masters 26 zippy

Saturday, January 6, 2018

Buddy De Franco - Generalissimo/Live Date !

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:22
Size: 173,8 MB
Art: Front

( 5:45) 1. Sunday
( 9:21) 2. Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea
( 4:57) 3. Tea for Two
( 4:30) 4. Blue Lou
( 9:04) 5. Funky's Uncle
(11:24) 6. Ballad Medley - 'Round Midnght
( 4:06) 7. Oh, Lady Be Good !
( 6:11) 8. Satin Doll
( 3:05) 9. My Funny Valentine
( 4:49) 10. Blues for Space Travellers
( 5:27) 11. Crazy Rhythm
( 6:37) 12. Ballad Medley - I'm Glad there is You

In 2007, the Lone Hill Jazz label reissued two Verve albums by clarinetist Buddy DeFranco: Generalissimo and Live Date!, which despite the title was a studio recording. In a producer's note, Morton James verbally winces at the pun on the name of the notoriously genocidal Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco, and speculates that this grossly insensitive gimmick, thought up by some clueless A&R director or advertising agent, might actually have delayed the album's appearance on CD until 2007. Boniface Ferdinand Leonardo de Franco was born in Camden, NJ, in 1923. The son of a piano tuner, he excelled on several instruments before settling into his role as one of the premier clarinetists in early modern jazz. Recorded on Wednesday, April 2, 1958, Generalissimo turns out to be a solid little blowing session involving trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison and Milwaukee-born tenor saxophonist Bob Hardaway, with an awesome rhythm section in Jimmy Rowles, Curtis Counce, Barney Kessel, and Alvin Stoller. On Friday, April 4, 1958, DeFranco brought Kessel and Hardaway back to the studio, this time with drummer Stan Levey, bassist Scott LaFaro, pianist/accordionist Pete Jolly, vibraphonist Victor Feldman, and multi-instrumentalist Herbie Mann, who played flute, tenor sax, and (on "These Foolish Things") bass clarinet. This double reissue is composed mainly of jazz standards with a couple of originals and two sumptuous ballad medleys. Unfortunately, the combined running time for both albums exceeded the 80-minute mark by about 120 seconds. For this reason, "Tin Reed Blues" from the Live Date! album was omitted, but may be enjoyed on the equally excellent double CD I Hear Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw [Lone Hill Jazz 10281]. ~ arwulf arwulf https://www.allmusic.com/album/generalissmo-live-date%21-mw0001907306

Personnel: Buddy DeFranco (cl), Harry Edison (tp), Bob Hardaway (ts), Herbie Mann (fl), Jimmy Rowles, Pete Jolly (p), Victor Feldman (vib), Barney Kessel (g), Curtis Counce, Scott LaFaro (b), Alvin Stoller, Stan Levey (d)

Generalissimo/Live Date !

Friday, October 27, 2017

Buddy DeFranco & Oscar Peterson - Buddy DeFranco Meets The Oscar Peterson Quartet - Hark

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:46
Size: 115,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:00) 1. All Too Soon
( 5:04) 2. Summer Me, Winter Me
(11:09) 3. Llovisna (Light Rain)
( 5:13) 4. By Myself
( 5:23) 5. Joy Spring
( 5:08) 6. This Is All I Ask
( 6:31) 7. Hark
( 4:18) 8. Why Am I

This CD reissue of a Pablo date by clarinetist Buddy DeFranco teams him with pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Martin Drew. They perform a few obscure originals plus Duke Ellington's "All Too Soon," "By Myself" and Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring." DeFranco has been very consistent throughout his long recording career but the presence of Peterson and Pass clearly inspired him to play even better than usual. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/hark-mw0000201630

Personnel: Buddy DeFranco (clarinet); Oscar Peterson (piano); Joe Pass (guitar); Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass); Martin Drew (drums)

Buddy DeFranco Meets The Oscar Peterson Quartet - Hark

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Buddy DeFranco - The Buddy DeFranco Wailers

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:10
Size: 124,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:48) 1. Cheek To Cheek
(5:05) 2. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
(6:33) 3. Moonlight On The Ganges
(4:24) 4. Angel Eyes
(4:46) 5. A Fine Romance
(3:57) 6. Perfidia
(4:13) 7. How Long Has Been Going On?
(3:36) 8. I Won't Dance
(4:42) 9. Sweet's Blues
(3:01) 10. Fascinating Rythm
(2:49) 11. I Loves You Porgy
(3:10) 12. Now's The Time

Wailers continues to refine Buddy DeFranco's signature fusion of swing and bop -- boasting support from trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, guitarist Barney Kessel and pianist Jimmy Rowels -- it's arguably the most lissome and soulful of the clarinetist's Verve LPs. The majority of tracks expand past the three-minute mark, affording DeFranco the opportunity to stretch his solos in new forms and directions. Songs like "A Fine Romance" and "Perfidia" radiate with the energy of invention and collaboration. Definitive's 2006 reissue adds three cuts from a 1957 live date with Sonny Clark and Tal Farlow, including a luminous rendition of "I Loves You Porgy." ~ Jason Ankeny https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-buddy-defranco-wailers-mw0000452038

Personnel: Clarinet – Buddy DeFranco; Bass – Bob Stone; Drums – Bobby White; Guitar – Barney Kessel; Piano – Jimmy Rowles; Trumpet – Harry Edison

The Buddy DeFranco Wailers

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Buddy DeFranco - Charlie Cat 2

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:41
Size: 136.6 MB
Styles: Clarinet jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[7:50] 1. Charlie Cat II
[4:54] 2. All My Life
[5:36] 3. By Myself
[5:14] 4. Walk This Way
[8:07] 5. What Is This Thing Called Love'
[6:24] 6. Ill Wind
[4:46] 7. Joy Spring
[4:45] 8. Once More With Feeling
[6:47] 9. For Keeps
[5:13] 10. Anthropology

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging record by Buddy DeFranco and his well-selected and balanced ensemble. There is Buddy's fabulous clarinet playing, yes - lots of it - but the overall feel is one of a great ensemble running through some old standards and sounding at once fresh and yet, well, timeless. It would be impossible for me to say what year this was released if I did not follow Mr. DeFranco's work and have just downloaded this recording - it could easily be from the 1960's. For me, the highlights are All My Life, Joy Spring, For Keeps... Buddy's tone is amazing and his facility completely intact after all these years. As a clarinet player, it's hard not to give 5 stars (I wanted 4.5). It's not a groundbreaking record, or a "classic", but just a solid recording by jazz artists of very high caliber, enjoying their art and putting down some solid, beautiful music. If you like clarinet at all, or follow Buddy's music, you cannot go wrong with this gem of a recording. ~Michael H. Ricereto

Charlie Cat 2

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Lester Young - The Jazz Giants

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:31
Size: 100,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:35) 1. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan
(10:06) 2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
( 6:54) 3. Gigantic Blues
( 6:49) 4. This Year's Kisses
( 9:06) 5. You Can Depend On Me

Even critics who feel (against the recorded evidence to the contrary) that little of tenor saxophonist Lester Young's postwar playing is at the level of his earlier performances make an exception for this session. Young was clearly inspired by the other musicians (trumpeter Roy Eldridge, trombonist Vic Dickenson, pianist Teddy Wilson, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Gene Ramey, and drummer Jo Jones), who together made for a very potent band of swing all-stars. The five songs on this album include some memorable renditions of ballads and a fine version of "You Can Depend on Me," but it is the explosive joy of the fiery "Gigantic Blues" that takes honors. This set, a real gem, is highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-jazz-giants-56-mw0000192693

Personnel: Lester Young (tenor saxophone); Freddie Green, Herb Ellis (guitar); Buddy DeFranco (clarinet); Flip Phillips (tenor saxophone); Dizzy Gillespie, Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Vic Dickenson, Bill Harris (trombone); Oscar Peterson, Teddy Wilson (piano); Jo Jones All Stars , Jo Jones , Louie Bellson (drums).

The Jazz Giants

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Lionel Hampton - Just One Of Those Things

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:58
Size: 153.3 MB
Styles: Vibraphone jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[ 7:41] 1. Just One Of Those Things
[ 6:09] 2. Midnight Sun
[ 7:34] 3. This Can't Be Love
[17:07] 4. Flying Home
[ 2:58] 5. It's A Blue World
[ 7:20] 6. Indiana
[ 3:08] 7. Hamp's Boogie Woogie
[14:57] 8. Body And Soul

Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Oscar Peterson (piano); Buddy DeFranco (clarinet); Herb Ellis (guitar); Ray Brown (bass); Buddy Rich (drums).

Verve's Just One of Those Things contains a selection of eight highlights from Lionel Hampton's sessions with Oscar Peterson between 1953 and 1954. This may be just a sampler, but it's a highly enjoyable one, since Hampton and Peterson were at the top of their form during this era. The compilers have skillfully balanced familiar selections with slightly esoteric choices (including 78 rpm master takes of "It's a Blue World" and "Hamp's Boogie Woogie"), resulting in an informative, entertaining introduction to one of the great pairings of '50s jazz. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Just One Of Those Things

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco - Play Steve Allen

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:51
Size: 127.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Mainstream jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[3:07] 1. I Used To Think That I Was Crazy
[3:44] 2. Sleepy Old Moon
[5:05] 3. Until I Left Chicago (I Never Had The Blues)
[4:07] 4. Mister Moon
[4:35] 5. Lazy Days
[4:33] 6. Playing The Field
[4:54] 7. Alabama Baby
[6:11] 8. One Little Thing
[3:43] 9. South Dakota
[4:22] 10. Easy For You
[3:27] 11. Clarinet Lick
[3:25] 12. Nights In Madrid
[4:31] 13. In The Mornin' When The Sun Comes Up

Swing-to-boppers Gibbs (vibes) and DeFranco (clarinet) love playing unison melodies, and the sonorities of those two instruments coming together provides the springboard for this swinging music. It's all based on the witty compositions of Steve Allen, songs the general public have rarely heard. The combination fits all of the participants to a T.

This is mainstream jazz at its current best, but unless you're a hard core fan (or Steve Allen himself, ) you'd be hard pressed to say you know this material intimately. There are some familiar sounds, "Until I Left Chicago (I Never Had The Blues)" is similar to Louis Jordan's "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby," while "Alabama Baby" strikes a pose akin to "Comin' Home Baby." Up numbers "I Used To Think That I Was Crazy," "Mr. Moon," "Playing The Field" and "In The Morning When The Sun Comes Up" are nods to Benny Goodman and Charlie Parker for their classic head melodies. Ballads and blues are sprinkled in, the ethereal "Night In Madrid" is quite different from the rest of the program, and one wonders how Allen got the inspiration for the hard boppin' "Seven Come Eleven" variation "South Dakota."

All in all this is a delightful CD, a great idea laced with extraordinary playing from these masters. Gibbs and DeFranco have never beeen in better form, and having worked together for many years shows. No slight to Tom Ranier, who is an excellent jazz player when called upon, check out his extended piuonao intro on "One Little Thing." It just seems that using old Steverino at the 88's would have put the perfect cherry on top of this rich chocolate sundae, displaying his marvelous playing as well as his writing, of which this CD only scratches the surface. ~Michael G. Nastos

Play Steve Allen

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Buddy DeFranco Quartet - Mr. Clarinet

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:23
Size: 101.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Clarinet jazz
Year: 1953/2014
Art: Front

[9:00] 1. Buddy's Blues
[5:05] 2. Ferdinando
[4:21] 3. It Could Happen To You
[3:52] 4. Autumn In New York
[3:59] 5. Left Field
[3:09] 6. Show Eyes
[7:00] 7. But Not For Me
[7:52] 8. Bass On Balls

Bass – Milt Hinton; Clarinet – Buddy DeFranco; Drums – Art Blakey; Piano – Kenny Drew. Recorded July 1953 in New York.

Over the years, Buddy DeFranco's admirers have often wondered why the clarinet's popularity as a jazz instrument declined considerably after World War II and the swing era -- why haven't more improvisers applied Charlie Parker's ideas to the clarinet, and why is the clarinet usually stereotyped as a swing/Dixieland/classic jazz instrument rather than a bebop, post-bop, avant-garde, soul-jazz, or fusion instrument? Perhaps it has something to do with the demands of the clarinet -- it is a tough instrument to master, and it becomes even more demanding when you're dealing with the complexities of bop. But those challenges never stopped DeFranco, who was 30 when he recorded Mr. Clarinet for Verve in 1953. By that time, DeFranco was being hailed as "the Charlie Parker of the Clarinet," and he lives up to that title on this excellent album (which boasts Kenny Drew on piano, Milt Hinton on bass, and Art Blakey on drums). Throughout Mr. Clarinet, DeFranco makes the clarinet sound perfectly logical as a bop instrument -- which was certainly an innovative thing to do back in the late '40s and early '50s. Whether he is playing original material or standards (including "But Not for Me" and "It Could Happen to You"), DeFranco refuses to let the clarinet's evolution end with Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Sidney Bechet, and Barney Bigard; he has no problem making the clarinet sound relevant to the bebop scene of 1953. (It should be noted that Shaw was also exploring bop on the clarinet in the early '50s, but regrettably, he decided to retire from music in 1955.) Most of the bop-oriented recordings that DeFranco provided in the '50s are well worth owning; Mr. Clarinet (which Verve reissued on CD in 2002) is no exception. ~Alex Henderson

Mr. Clarinet