Pee Wee's Song - The Music Of Pee Wee Russell

Styles: Jazz, swing
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:46
Size: 151,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:40) 1. Oh No!
(4:44) 2. I Got 'Em Again
(4:13) 3. But Why
(3:56) 4. What's The Pitch
(3:33) 5. Midnight Bue
(4:45) 6. Twenth Eighth And Eight
(5:22) 7. Muskogee Blue
(4:13) 8. Are You Here'
(5:19) 9. Pee Wee' Song
(4:04) 10. Cutie Pie
(5:40) 11. Pee Wee's Blues
(5:50) 12. Charles Ellsworth Stomp
(4:51) 13. Missy
(5:30) 14. I'd Climb The Highest Mountain

This is a logical tribute since clarinetist Bobby Gordon's main influence is Pee Wee Russell. Although Gordon's solos are not as eccentric or death-defying as Russell's, his tone is similar and there are times when he sounds eerily close to his idol. Joined by trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso, trombonist Dan Barrett, tenor saxophonist Rick Fay, pianist Johnny Varro, rhythm guitarist Marty Grosz, bassist Bob Haggart, and drummer Gene Estes, Gordon explores a dozen songs composed by Russell. In addition, Gordon performs "Charles Ellsworth Stomp" (which he co-wrote) and one of Russell's favorite songs, "I'd Climb the Hightest Mountain." Since some of these numbers were co-written by Dick Cary and recorded by Russell in modern swing settings during the late '50s (rather than Dixieland dates with Eddie Condon), the music on this CD is often tightly arranged while leaving some room for spontaneous jamming. Pee Wee Russell himself would have enjoyed the results.~Scott Yanowhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/pee-wees-song-the-music-of-pee-wee-russell-mw0000026868

Musicians: Bobby Gordon: Clarinet; Jon-Erik Kellso: Trumpet; Dan Barrett: Trombone; Rick Fay: Tenor Sax, Clarinet; Johnny Varro: Piano; Marty Grosz: Guitar; Bob Haggart: Bass; Gene Estes: Drums

Pee Wee's Song: The Music Of Pee Wee Russell

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The Johnny Varro Quartet - All That Jazz

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:48
Size: 164,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:22)  1. The Lady's In Love With You
(4:10)  2. The Touch Of Your Lips
(3:46)  3. Mama's Gone, Goodbye
(4:19)  4. Stars Fell On Alabama
(3:50)  5. Swinging Down To New Orleans
(6:42)  6. A Porter's Love Song To A Chambermaid
(3:25)  7. Was I To Blame For Falling In Love With You'
(4:07)  8. Be Careful, It's My Heart
(4:14)  9. A Monday Date
(4:00) 10. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
(5:51) 11. Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
(5:18) 12. Darn That Dream
(4:22) 13. On A Slow Boat To China
(5:05) 14. How Deep Is The Ocean'
(6:09) 15. When Day Is Done

This fine swing-oriented set features the Teddy Wilson-influenced piano of Johnny Varro in a quartet with bassist Nicki Parrott, drummer Joe Ascione, and, most importantly, trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso (who is listed as playing a "puje," a hybrid of trumpet and cornet). Kellso often takes solo honors, with the highlights including such swing standards as "The Lady's in Love With You," "Stars Fell on Alabama," "A Porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid," "A Monday Date," and "On a Slow Boat to China." These melodic and swinging performances would be difficult not to enjoy. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-that-jazz-mw0000013354

Personnel: Piano – Johnny Varro;  Bass – Nicki Parrott; Drums – Joe Ascione; Trumpet – Jon-Erik Kellso

All That Jazz

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Chuck Hedges & Johnny Varro - Skylark

Styles: Clarinet And Piano Jazz 
Year: 1983
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:31
Size: 88,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. When You're Smiling
(4:03)  2. Here's That Rainy Day
(4:19)  3. Autumn Leaves
(3:38)  4. 'Round Midnight
(4:13)  5. Have You Met Miss Jones?
(4:02)  6. Jitterbug Waltz
(4:31)  7. There Will Never Be Another You
(4:12)  8. Skylark
(4:53)  9. I Found a New Baby

During a visit to Los Angeles in June 1983, clarinetist Chuck Hedges crossed paths with pianist extraordinaire Johnny Varro on two occasions. First, they played a gig at Gatsby's, a Brentwood club where Varro was a regular and after that, they entered a Hollywood studio with bassist Ray Leatherwood and drummer Gene Estes and recorded this excellent album, which was released as the Magna Graphic album The Square Roots of Jazz in 1983 before being reissued as the Delmark CD Skylark in 1995. The improvisers enjoy a strong rapport throughout the session, which generally recalls the small group swing of the '30s and '40s. Hedges and Varro are equally melodic, and their warm lyricism is something to savor on familiar standards that include "Autumn Leaves," "Skylark," and Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz." 

Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight," which Orrin Keepnews described as "the national anthem of jazz," is an interesting choice for Hedges  though it has been recorded by countless beboppers, hard boppers, and post-boppers, it isn't the first song that swing or Dixieland artists think of. But the song certainly works for Hedges and Varro. Swing fans will definitely want this album. ~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/skylark-mw0000646939

Personnel:  Clarinet – Chuck Hedges; Piano – Johnny Varro;  Bass – Ray Leatherwood; Drums – Gene Estes

Skylark

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George Masso Sextet - Still Burning!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:51
Size: 139.3 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[9:43] 1. Get Out Of Town
[8:46] 2. Dream Dancing
[4:51] 3. Night And Day
[4:25] 4. Easy To Love
[8:25] 5. C'est Magnifique
[7:16] 6. Just One Of Those Thimgs
[4:28] 7. Ballad For A Friend
[7:05] 8. What Is This Thing Called Love
[5:47] 9. I Love You, Samantha

George Masso - trombone; Lou Colombo – trumpet, flugelhorn; Harry Allen – tenor sax; Johnny Varro - piano; Phil Flanigan - bass; Jake Hanna - drums. Recorded live on March 6, 1999 at the Hanse Merkur Auditorium, Hamburg.

An excellent trombonist who records for Arbors, George Masso has had a long if somewhat underrated career. Other than some early gigs (including a 1948 association with Jimmy Dorsey), Masso made his living from teaching in schools up until 1973. However, he always played trombone on the side and, soon after becoming a full-time musician, he toured with the Benny Goodman Sextet (1973). Masso worked with Bobby Hackett, Bobby Rosengarden, and the World's Greatest Jazz Band (the latter starting in 1975) and recorded with Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, and Woody Herman. He led sessions for Famous Door, World Jazz, and Dreamstreet during 1978-1983, frequently sharing the front line with tenor saxophonist Al Klink and trumpeter Glenn Zottola. Since then, George Masso has recorded for Sackville and Arbors and become a reliable fixture at jazz parties and classic jazz festivals. ~ bio by Scott Yanow

Still Burning!

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Terry Myers - Smiles

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 65:13
Size: 122,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:33)  1. Them There Eyes
(6:51)  2. Blue Prelude
(6:01)  3. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
(6:58)  4. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
(4:27)  5. As Long as I Live
(5:55)  6. Blue Hodge
(4:26)  7. Someday Sweetheart
(4:14)  8. It's You or No One
(6:24)  9. Everything Happens To Me
(4:15) 10. Oh, Baby
(6:13) 11. When Day Is Done
(4:51) 12. Smiles

Tuneful, swinging and technically polished. Terry Myers isn't worried about anything else jazz is "supposed" to be. Smiles is a relaxed yet energetic romp through some standards, ballads and blues that the Florida-based saxophonist clearly loves to play. There's nothing complex or innovative here, just four musicians having a good time and looking to take the listener along. A jumping "Them There Eyes" introduces Myers's straightforward approach to contemporary swing. He crafts phrases with rhythm and reason that are fun to follow, even if they're rarely surprising. On other fast numbers such as "It's You Or No One" and the title track, Myers sparks solid grooves from neatly structured patterns. Medium tempos are effective but not as stirring. "Blue Hodge" sounds dutiful rather than heartfelt, disappointing in a tune written for the emotive Johnny Hodges.  A spare but spurring rhythm section gives Myers plenty of room: no modern jazz interjections, just steady propulsion. Pianist Johnny Varro occasionally wraps playful counterpoint around Myers's lines, and contributes coy, Teddy Wilson-inspired solos. Bassist Joel Forbes walks effectively behind the band, and drummer Ed Metz maintains an airy, dancing beat. His solos are hummable orchestrations of skins and cymbals, for example on "Don't Get Around Much Anymore."

Duke Ellington's beloved pop song is given a simmering 6/8 waltz treatment, one of the few breaks from pure swing on this album. While the generic Latin feel on "Blue Prelude" suggests a two-drink minimum at the corner lounge, the reflective pace of "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" presents Myers at his soul- searching best. His bright tone darkens slightly, but retains its flexibility. Here and on the other ballad "Everything Happens To Me," the saxophonist truly soars even as he sticks to his stylistic guns. In the liner notes Myers explains that if he had it his way, he'd mostly play ballads; the man could probably get by on those instincts. His soprano sax comes off as merely tepid during medium tempo strolls through "As Long As I Live" and "Someday Sweetheart." More chances to hear him open up on the larger horn would have been welcome. The title of this disc is a great example of honesty in advertising. It won't change the course of music, but it should raise the corners of your lips. You'll know how many more Smiles you need. ~ Andrew J.Sammut https://www.allaboutjazz.com/smiles-terry-myers-arbors-records-review-by-andrew-j-sammut.php
 

Personnel: Terry Myers: tenor and soprano saxophones; Johnny Varro: piano; Joel Forbes: bass; Ed Metz: drums.

Smiles

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Johnny Varro - Everything I Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:03
Size: 137.5 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:13] 1. You Turned The Tables On Me
[3:13] 2. Ev'rything I Love
[4:03] 3. Why Try To Change Me Now
[5:06] 4. I Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her (And I Think Of Her All The Time)
[4:01] 5. Some Other Time
[5:11] 6. One Morning In May
[4:10] 7. You'd Better Love Me
[5:05] 8. You're Sensational
[3:01] 9. Love Is A Simple Thing
[4:25] 10. Waltz For Debbie
[4:25] 11. All By Myself
[3:30] 12. You're A Sweetheart Joy Of Spring
[5:17] 13. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[4:15] 14. In The Still Of The Night

Johnny Varro is a talented pianist who recorded a handful of excellent recordings for various small labels before joining forces with Arbors to make a series of rewarding CDs, of which this is his first. Accompanied by bassist Dave Stone and drummer Gene Estes, it is easy to hear why he became a favorite at various jazz parties during the 1990s, as he swings effortlessly while never losing sight of the melody. Influenced by a number of top pianists from the swing era, Varro does not restrict himself to the usual standards or just one style of playing. His imaginative approaches to less frequently performed tunes like "Love Is a Simple Thing" and Cole Porter's "You're Sensational" merit attention alongside standards such as "All By Myself." His sauntering take of Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time," the lush treatment of Bill Evans' "Waltz for Debbie," and a crisp bossa nova arrangement of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" are ample evidence that he has a wide range of musical interests. Recommended. ~Ken Dryden

Everything I Love

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Allan Vaché's Florida Jazz Allstars - Allan Vache's Florida Jazz Allstars

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:00
Size: 160,9 MB
Art: Front

(8:39)  1. Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland
(5:00)  2. Spain
(7:12)  3. My Inspiration
(6:44)  4. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
(5:00)  5. Krazy Kapers
(4:47)  6. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
(6:33)  7. Breezin' Along With the Breeze
(6:09)  8. South Rampart Street Parade
(3:49)  9. What's New?
(5:18) 10. Jubilee
(5:36) 11. Poor Butterfly
(5:07) 12. Sleep

This interesting Dixieland-oriented set features a septet of fine players who at the time were based in Florida. Clarinetist Allan Vache, trombonist John Allred, pianist Johnny Varro and ageless bassist Bob Haggart are quite well-known in trad circles, while drummer Ed Metz, Jr. has a growing reputation. Guitarist Bob Leary (who takes two vocals) sounds fine, but it is the up-and-coming cornetist David Jones who is the main discovery of this CD. The musicians all have chances to shine, and among the many high points of the easily enjoyable set are "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland," "My Honey's Lovin' Arms" and "Jubilee." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/florida-jazz-allstars-mw0000046946

Personnel: Allan Vaché (clarinet); Bob Leary (guitar); David Jones (cornet); John Allred (trombone); Johnny Varro (piano); Ed Metz, Jr. (drums).

Allan Vache's Florida Jazz Allstars

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Johnny Varro - Johnny Varro Swing 7

Size: 152,6 MB
Time: 65:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1994/2006
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Disc Jockey Jump (4:37)
02. What Am I Here For (7:03)
03. Maxine (2:50)
04. Beal Street Blues (6:27)
05. If Dreams Come True (5:13)
06. Black & Tan Fantasy (6:38)
07. One Morning In May (5:02)
08. Coquette (3:21)
09. Shiny Stockings (7:07)
10. Then I'll Be Happy (3:02)
11. High On You (4:08)
12. Foolin' Around (2:40)
13. Earl (3:01)
14. Just Friends (4:09)

Personnel:
Johnny Varro: Piano and Arrangements
Randy Sandke: Trumpet
Dan Barrett: Trombone
Phil Bodner: Clarinet, Alto Sax
Harry Allen: Tenor Sax
Frank Tate: Bass
Joe Ascione: Drums

A personal note from Johnny Varro:

The Swing 7 was organized by me about two years ago in Los Angeles, fulfilling a lifelong ambition to have a band that would play and encompass all of the music I have loved and appreciated all my life.

The Swing 7 plays the music of John Kirby from the '30s and '40s, the music of Duke Ellington from the Cotton Club days on, the music of Count Basie during the '50s and the styles of Gerry Mulligan, Al Cohn and others of the '60s. Plus all of the music in between.

The band has played at every major jazz club in the L.A. area and has been featured twice at the L.A. Classic Jazz Festival. It was also featured in Midland/Odessa for the West Texas Jazz Society, at Van Wezel Concert Hall for the Sarasota Jazz Society, and in Fort Lauderdale for the Gold Coast Jazz Society. Last year the Swing 7 opened the festivities for the New Jersey Jazz Society at Waterloo Village as part of the JVC Jazz Festival. This is the same group that appears on this recording.

The music of John Kirby is represented on this CD by three selections, Maxine (or Maxixe as recorded earlier by Bob Crosby), Coquette and Then I'll Be Happy. Black and Tan Fantasy and What Am I Here For? are from the Ellington library and Shiny Stockings salutes Count Basie. The Earl acknowledges Earl Hines and, of course, Mel Powell who wrote the song. Disc Jockey Jump is a Gerry Mulligan tune originally written for Gene Krupa, High on You is by Al Cohn and One Morning in May is a Hoagy Carmichael tune.

One last personal note. The interpretation of these arrangements and the sensitivity of the soloists is something special. I couldn't ask for more and I thank each of them with all my heart. ~Johnny Varro, February, 1995

Johnny Varro Swing 7

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Bob Wilber - Horns A-Plenty

Styles: Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:54
Size: 144,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:42)  1. Walking Happy
(4:18)  2. Make Believe
(4:14)  3. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
(5:23)  4. Come Fly With Me
(5:31)  5. The Maids of Cadiz
(4:24)  6. Just a Rose in a Garden of Weeds
(4:09)  7. Its De-Lovely
(3:25)  8. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise
(4:02)  9. Was I to Blame for Falling in Love with You?
(3:08) 10. This Can´t Be Love
(4:46) 11. Puerto Penasco
(3:30) 12. Falling in Love with Love
(4:11) 13. Drifting Clouds
(4:12) 14. Valley of the Sun
(4:52) 15. All That I Ask of You Is Love

Throughout his long career, Bob Wilber has done a lot to keep classic jazz alive. A bit misplaced (most jazz players of his generation were much more interested in bop and hard bop), Wilber (along with Kenny Davern, Ralph Sutton, and Dick Wellstood) was one of the few in his age group to stick to pre-bop music. In high school he formed a band that included Wellstood, and as a teenager he sat in at Jimmy Ryan's club in New York. Early on he became Sidney Bechet's protégé and led his own young group, the Wildcats (with whom he made his recording debut). The close association with the dominant Bechet led to a bit of a personality crisis in the 1950s as Wilber sought to find his own voice. 

He studied with Lennie Tristano and formed the Six, a group that tried to modernize early jazz. When that ended, he played Dixieland with Eddie Condon, and in 1957 joined Bobby Hackett's band for a year. Wilber freelanced throughout the 1960s, in 1968 became a founding member of the World's Greatest Jazz Band, and in 1973 he formed Soprano Summit with Kenny Davern, one of the top swing-oriented groups of the decade. 

A few years later the band broke up and Wilber teamed up with his wife, singer Pug Horton, in Bechet Legacy (which also featured either Glenn Zottola or Randy Sandke on trumpet). In addition, Bob Wilber has worked with the New York Jazz Repertory Company, released music on his own Bodeswell label, wrote the authentic soundtrack to the movie The Cotton Club (1984), in 1988 led a band at Carnegie Hall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Benny Goodman's famous concert, and authored his frank memoirs, Music Was Not Enough. Influenced on soprano, clarinet, and alto by respectively Bechet, Goodman, and Johnny Hodges, Wilber has long had his own sound on each of his instruments. He recorded frequently through the years for many labels, including Arbors in the '90s and 2000s. ~ Scott Yanow  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bob-wilber/id70646967#fullText

Personnel:  Bob Wilber: Clarinet, tenor, alto, curved soprano and straight soprano saxes;  Johnny Varro: Piano;  Phil Flanigan: Bass;  Ed Metz, Jr.: Drums

Horns A-Plenty

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Johnny Varro Swing 7 - Afterglow

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:33
Size: 151,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:27)  1. It's a Wonderful World
(4:25)  2. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
(2:58)  3. Ida! Sweet As Apple Cider
(4:24)  4. Truckin'
(4:00)  5. Afterglow
(4:06)  6. In The Still Of The Night
(6:02)  7. Moten Swing
(4:24)  8. Pom Pom
(5:37)  9. Change Partners
(2:51) 10. Humoresque
(3:21) 11. One For Todd
(3:50) 12. Cross Your Heart
(3:28) 13. Front And Center
(4:36) 14. The Chase
(4:56) 15. Brandy N' Beer

Pianist Johnny Varro came closer that anyone in the '90s to play in the flawless swing style of Teddy Wilson. Varro's occasional combos (the one on this CD is called the "Swing 7") are very much in the idiom of late '30s prebop music. Varro, tenor saxophonist Tommy Newsom, Ken Peplowski (on clarinet and his rarely heard alto), trombonist Dan Barrett, trumpeter Randy Sandke, bassist Frank Tate and drummer Joe Ascione perform a variety of '30s and '40s material plus Varro's "Afterglow" and "One for Todd." Although some of the arrangements are reminiscent of John Kirby's Sextet (particularly "Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider," "Humoresque" and Charlie Shavers' "Front and Center"), other groups hinted at are Duke Ellington's small combos, Count Basie and the Dave Pell Octet. The 15 performances include quite a few gems and this is a highly enjoyable example of latter-day small-group swing. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/afterglow-mw0000047267

Personnel: Johnny Varro (piano); Ken Peplowski (clarinet, alto saxophone); Tommy Newsom (tenor saxophone); Randy Sandke (trumpet); Dan Barrett (trombone); Joe Ascione (drums).

Afterglow

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Johnny Varro Swing 7 - Ring Dem Bells

Size: 169,6 MB
Time: 72:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Corner Pocket (5:51)
02. Stompy Jones (6:57)
03. Yours Is My Heart Alone (3:37)
04. Sweet Substitute (4:11)
05. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (5:36)
06. Ring Dem Bells (4:16)
07. Only A Rose (4:01)
08. Come Sunday (4:06)
09. Suddenly It's Spring (3:41)
10. Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble (5:47)
11. You Stepped Out Of A Dream (5:25)
12. Minute Waltz (3:52)
13. One, Two Button Your Shoe (4:16)
14. Buddy Bolden's Blues (5:45)
15. Sonny Speaks (4:57)

In the ecclesiastics of swing, the Johnny Varro Swing 7 would be in the liberal camp. Pianist Varro, irrespective of his associations with neo-traditionalists, is no atavist trying to recreate the swing of yesteryear via musical Xeroxing; he’s more interested in invoking its spirit. So his charts here, while relying on tried-and-true strategies from the swing era—riffs, breaks, shout choruses, kickers—don’t hue close to earlier sources, even when he explicitly references earlier models. The charts and tempos are indubitably his own, with ballads often revved up and swingers like “Corner Pocket” pushed up a notch.

Varro’s liberality shows in his adventurous repertoire selections as well as his inventive charts. Franz Lehar’s “Yours Is My Heart Alone,” Rudolph Friml’s “Only a Rose” and even Jimmy Van Heusen’s “Suddenly It’s Spring,” are unusual jazz fodder, all turned into crisp, swinging vehicles. “You Stepped Out of a Dream” dares to dream a new, contrafact melody redolent of ’50s cool, while “Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble” is a grand tour of jazz from the two-beat ’20s to the suave ’40s.

Solos rarely exceed a chorus or two, and Varro has the increasingly rare talent of being able to tell a story in a compact space. A prime example: “Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise,” bookended by Ken Peplowski’s dancing clarinet, highlighted by Dan Barrett’s double-barreled (mute, plunger) trombone solo, Randy Sandke’s swing-to-bop trumpet and Scott Robinson’s Pres-idential tenor sax. And for delightful exuberance, hear how Varro, bassist Frank Tate and drummer Joe Ascione drive the incrementally building swing and solos of the title track.

Ring Dem Bells

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Bill Allred - Allred Hot & Blue I&II

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:27
Size: 154.4 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz, Dixieland
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[6:20] 1. Sugar
[6:47] 2. I'll Never Be The Same
[6:13] 3. On A Slow Boat To China
[3:48] 4. Seems Like Old Times
[3:34] 5. Some Of These Days
[4:22] 6. St. Louis Blues
[4:17] 7. Singing The Blues
[4:39] 8. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
[4:39] 9. Old Folks
[6:40] 10. Indian Summer
[5:53] 11. The Song Is You
[4:55] 12. Too Little Time
[5:14] 13. Dinah

1984: BILL ALLRED - leader, trombone; MILT HINTON bass; BUTCH MILES drums; EDDIE HIGGINS piano; DAVY JONES cornet; JACK MATESE clarinet.

1996: BILL ALLRED - leader, trombone; BUCKY PIZZARELLI guitar; JOHNNY VARRO piano; LOU MAURO – bass; WARREN SAUER – drums; TERRY MYERS – reeds; BOBBY PICKWOOD – trumpet; ALLAN VACHE clarinet; DAVY JONES cornet; JACK MATESE clarinet.

This recording spans a little over twelve years, with a compilation of two different sessions, one in 1984 and one in 1996. Bill Allred, one of the world's finest trombonists, has assembled two amazing bands of different musicians and instrumentation, and somehow, with his unique talents as a leader and musician, he makes it all fit together seamlessly. His swinging, authoritative trombone style is the gravy that makes this meal a feast for anybody's ears. Supported by such greats as Milt Hinton, Eddie Higgins, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Butch Miles, Bill plays some unique and exciting choruses on standards and swing tunes that will delight you. These timeless songs and wonderful musicians will make this album a "regular" in your listening library.

Allred Hot & Blue I & II

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Johnny Varro Swing 7 - Swingin' On West 57th Street

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:04
Size: 161,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. As Long As I Live
(3:15)  2. Caught
(4:10)  3. On the Sunny Side of the Stree
(4:17)  4. Old Fashioned Love
(5:00)  5. Mission to Moscow
(5:23)  6. Black Butterfly
(7:06)  7. You Need To Rock
(3:49)  8. Bounce Of The Sugar Plum Fairi
(4:30)  9. It's Been So Long
(4:00) 10. Avalon
(4:03) 11. Constantly
(5:01) 12. Complainin'
(4:08) 13. Doin' The New Low-Down
(2:55) 14. Polonaise
(5:11) 15. Hag's Blues
(3:18) 16. I'm Shooting High

The Johnny Varro Swing Seven: Swingin’ on West 57th Street is a bright, upbeat septet recording that presents a band with distinctive soloists and a superb rhythm section. Johnny Varro on piano, Michael Moore on bass, and Joe Ascione on drums, are about as good a rhythm section as there exists in traditional jazz, precise and agile with the power to push the music to another level. The lively arrangements are nearly all written by the leader/pianist Johnny Varro. The compositions include works by Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Jess Stacy, and James P. Johnson. There’s a Chopin "Polanaise," and an outrageous Charlie Shavers arrangement of a Tchaikovsky piece entitled "Bounce of the Sugar Plum Fairies." Highlights of the recording include Ellington’s "Black Butterfly," with enticing solo work by trumpeter Rande Sandke and pianist Varro.

This band can swing, indeed it can, just check out the old Benny Goodman classic "Mission to Moscow." The section work is a joy throughout. The Hodges number "You Need To Rock" features the extraordinary team of Ascione and Moore, and the unison work of the horns and reeds. Throughout the disc Ken Peplowski, on clarinet and alto sax, is an inspired presence. Swingin’ on West 57th Street does exactly that what it promises. Good stuff. ~ Mike Neely  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-johnny-varro-swing-seven-swingin-on-57th-street-johnny-varro-arbors-records-review-by-mike-neely.php
 

Personnel: Johnny Varro, piano, leader, arranger; Randy Sandke, trumpet; Dan Barrett, trombone; Ken Peplowski, clarinet, alto sax; Scott Robinson, tenor sax; Michael Moore, bass; Joe Ascione, drums.

Swingin' On West 57th Street

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Bill Allred & Roy Williams - Absolutely

Styles: Trombone Jazz

Year: 1995

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 70:20

Size: 161,4 MB

Art: Front

(4:21)  1. Constantly

(8:39)  2. Satin Doll

(4:41)  3. Isn't It A Pity

(5:23)  4. Gypsy In My Soul

(4:33)  5. Too Close For Comfort

(7:13)  6. Blues # 1

(4:17)  7. If There Is Someone Lovelier

(4:16)  8. Absolutely

(5:19)  9. Blue Bones

(4:54) 10. So Beats My Heart For You

(5:31) 11. It's Only A Paper Moon

(2:48) 12. Makin' Whoopee

(4:38) 13. Sometimes I'm Happy

(3:40) 14. You're Driving Me Crazy

Two trombones and rhythm is a tried and true formula first brought to prominence through the lilting sounds of J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding in the 1950s. Bill Allred and Roy Williams fall squarely in that tradition, with this full-length recording that focuses on popular tunes like "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "Too Close for Comfort." The two trombonists produce visceral excitement with their tight harmonies, upbeat tempos, and overall good fun. This is music that makes you want to stand up and dance. When Allred and Williams get hot as they do with great regularity they burn with enthusiasm. 

The trombonists don't take themselves too seriously; they focus on having a rollicking good time. Regardless of how sophisticated your tastes, if you ever wondered what attracted you to jazz in the first place, it very well might have been the kind of unadulterated joy manifested by this glorious quintet. Allred and Williams are pre-modern stylists: big toned, even raucous, but with great technique. They front a first-rate rhythm section, including powerful drummer Butch Miles, bassist (and otherwise sometime trombonist) Isla Eckinger, and pianist Johnny Varro. When they're hot as they are so often (just here 'em blow on "Blues #1") they are unstoppable. Simple, but never simplistic; tasteful, but never dull; professional, but not showy; and hot, but not corny what an act! Highly recommended for all those who love the sounds of the trombone, and those who just like a swinging good time. ~ Steve Loewy  http://www.allmusic.com/album/absolutely-mw0000231550

Personnel: Bill Allred (trombone); Roy Williams (trombone); Johnny Varro (piano); Butch Miles (drums).

Absolutely

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Johnny Varro Quintet - Speak Low

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:37
Size: 173,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:02)  1. Speak Low
(3:51)  2. I Wish I Knew
(6:49)  3. Once I Loved
(4:24)  4. Falling in Love With Love
(6:11)  5. It Could Happen to You
(4:09)  6. Tangerine
(3:32)  7. This Year's Kisses
(6:11)  8. My Heart Stood Still
(6:52)  9. All the Things You Are
(6:49) 10. Waltz for Debby
(5:12) 11. Four
(5:35) 12. Sweethearts on Parade
(3:50) 13. The Lamp Is Low
(6:05) 14. Summer Samba (So Nice)

Johnny Varro has been a solid mainstream pianist since the 1940s, equally at home playing swing, cool, and bop, along with standards. In his eighties and still going strong, he assembled a quintet for these 2010 sessions featuring cornetist Warren Vaché, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, bassist Nicki Parrott, and drummer Chuck Riggs, all seasoned musicians who know a wide range of songs. While there aren't any surprises among the 14 songs selected for the session, several of them have fallen out of favor for no apparent reason. One of the nice things about hearing skilled musicians who know their music is that things seem to fall naturally into place; they can play around the melody without resorting to clichés, while they also share the spotlight without egos clashing. Varro's light touch at the piano is reminiscent of Teddy Wilson, though he eschews predictable improvised passages and keeps his solos short. 

Over half of the CD is devoted to standards. "All the Things You Are" is one of the most recorded songs, though Varro skips Dizzy Gillespie's famous added introduction, instead launching a swinging, lighthearted treatment featuring Allen's robust tenor and Vaché's sparkling cornet bookending his masterful piano solo, followed by Parrott's intricate feature. Varro tackles both Rodgers & Hart selections at a brisk clip, with terrific interplay in "Falling in Love with Love" and offering an unusually peppy "My Heart Stood Still." There are lovely interpretations of Brazilian favorites ("Once I Loved" and "Summer Samba") and a loping, happy "Sweethearts on Parade" (a throwback to the Eddie Condon era of Chicago swing). This is a thoroughly satisfying release. ~ Ken Dryden   http://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-low-mw0002137584

Personnel:  Johnny Varro – piano;  Warren Vaché - cornet, trumpet; Harry Allen - tenor sax;  Nicki Parrott – bass;  Chuck Riggs - drums

Speak Low

Ralph Sutton & Johnny Varro - A Pair Of Kings

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:50
Size: 166,8 MB
Art: Front

( 4:23)  1. Swing That Music
( 4:19)  2. All By Myself
( 5:56)  3. What Am I Here For
( 4:43)  4. St. Louis Blues
( 5:24)  5. Crazy Rhythm
( 6:18)  6. Tea For Two
( 5:07)  7. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
( 4:58)  8. It's You Or No One
( 4:33)  9. Oh, Lady, Be Good!
( 5:45) 10. Farewell Blues
( 6:15) 11. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
(15:03) 12. Fats Waller Medley: Say Yes / Ain't Misbehaven / Keeping Out Of Mischief Now / Stealin' Apples

Well, Arbors Records has done it again: well recorded jazz from its glory years, played today by the people who played it then. This 2001 album documents two of the most reliable of these players, with all the sophistication, excitement, and spontaneity of a live performance.

The late Ralph Sutton was born in Hamburg, Missouri in 1922 and played the piano virtually his entire life. He joined the Jack Teagarden Orchestra at age 19, a several-year gig that was interrupted when the U.S. Army called. He played with Bob Crosby in New York in 1966 and with the World’s Greatest Jazz Band until 1974. In 1979, he and Jay McShann did a cross-country tour that resulted in the album The Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players, memorable if for no other reason than its title. Influenced by James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, Sutton nonetheless clearly developed a sound of his own, with a powerful left hand and an excellent sense of rhythm and harmonics.

Johnny Varro was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1930 and played at the Central Plaza in New York City from 1946. At jam sessions on the Lower East Side, the young Varro met players of the era such as Willie “The Lion” Smith, “Big Sid” Catlett, Joe Thomas, “Hot Lips” Page, Joe Sullivan, Pete Brown, and others. After a stint in the Service, he toured with Bobby Hackett and often appeared at Nick’s and Eddie Condon’s, where he succeeded Sutton as intermission pianist. He ultimately became Condon’s band pianist, playing with and learning from a host of legends. In 1953 he moved to Miami Beach to work on the Jackie Gleason Show, subsequently touring the country and spending 14 years in Los Angeles. Now a resident of Tampa Bay, he records with his own Swing 7 and is featured as sideman on many Arbors CDs, as are bassist Phil Flanigan and drummer Ed Metz, Jr.  

This album was recorded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; you’ll want to know that Sutton is on the left channel, and Varro is on the right, with good separation. Varro trios on Ellington’s “What Am I Here For?” and “It’s You or No One,” while Sutton returns the favor on “Tea for Two” and “Farewell Blues,” the latter as a solo. All tunes are standards, and if you can suppress the temptation to whistle or hum along, you have more self-control than myself. These two masters save the best till last; the “Fats Waller Medley” is more than 15 minutes of utter enjoyment. Sutton solos on “Say Yes,” the “other waltz,” while Varro solos on “Jitterbug”; both share choruses with each other and the rhythm section on the other selections. Both pianists segue smoothly and empathetically from tune to tune, and Flanigan and Metz trade tasty fours on the ninth chorus of “Stealin’ Apples.” This is the kind of CD that, as it begins to repeat, you think to yourself, “Well, I’ll be darned. How could 73 minutes of music have played that quickly and enjoyably?” ~ J.Robert Bragonier  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12486#.Uu6zKrS1QwA

Personnel: Ralph Sutton and Johnny Varro (piano), Phil Flanigan (bass), and Ed Metz, Jr. (drums)

A Pair Of Kings

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George Masso Sextet - C'est Magnifique!

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 73:04
Size: 167.3 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz, Dixieland
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[ 9:40] 1. It's De-Lovely
[10:46] 2. It's All Right With Me
[ 4:48] 3. Why Shouldn't I
[ 7:05] 4. What Is This Thing Called Love
[ 5:47] 5. I Love You, Samantha
[ 9:38] 6. Get Out Of Town
[ 8:40] 7. C'est Magnifique
[ 4:51] 8. Night And Day
[ 7:16] 9. Just One Of Those Things
[ 4:28] 10. Ballad For A Friend

Recorded live at the Hanse-Merkur Auditorium, Hamburg, Germany on March 6, 1999. The fine swing trombonist George Masso leads a top-notch sextet through seven Cole Porter songs on a spirited live date recorded in Hamburg, Germany. Masso has long been a valuable sideman but he also excels as a leader and is generous in allocating solo space. Trumpeter Lou Colombo (long a legend in the Northeast) is heard on one of his best showcases, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen (who sounds quite close to Stan Getz in spots) swings hard, and the rhythm section (pianist Johnny Varro, bassist Phil Flanigan, and drummer Jake Hanna) sounds as good as they look. Easily recommended to swing, trad, and classic jazz collectors. ~ Scott Yanow

George Masso (leader, trombone); Harry Allen (tenor saxophone); Lou Colombo (trumpet, flugelhorn); Johnny Varro (piano); Phil Flanigan (bass); Jake Hanna (drums).

Recording information: Hanse-Merkur Auditorium, Hamburg, Germany (03/06/1999).

C'est Magnifique!

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Johnny Varro (Feat. Ken Peplowski) - Two Legends Of Jazz

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 74:36
Size: 173.4 MB
Styles: Piano, Clarinet jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:18] 1. My Baby Just Cares For Me
[4:23] 2. The Touch Of Your Lips
[6:09] 3. Menina Flor
[4:12] 4. After I Say I'm Sorry (What Can I Say?)
[5:34] 5. It's Easy To Remember
[4:40] 6. A Smo O O Oth One
[4:51] 7. Bluesette
[3:00] 8. You're A Sweetheart
[6:21] 9. Secret Love
[5:13] 10. Out Of Nowhere
[3:58] 11. Love Locked Out
[5:54] 12. I Love You
[5:43] 13. Someday, You'll Be Sorry
[5:06] 14. Blues On 57th Street
[5:07] 15. The Way You Look Tonight

Veteran pianist Johnny Varro and clarinetist Ken Peplowski are certainly two veterans of vintage early-period jazz, and join together in complete agreement as to how it should be correctly played on this set of swinging music that showcases an unconventional twist. This is not strictly a quartet date, also featuring legends in their own right like bassist Frank Tate and drummer Joe Ascione. One and/or the other rhythm mate drops out on several selections, providing an always interesting component of pacing, from duet and trio to the full quartet. Peplowski in particular is as brilliant a clarinetist as there is in modern times, his unwavering tone and wealth of ideas shining through on every delicious track. Of course, the group collectively plays famous standard American popular songs the whole world knows and recognizes. It's not an energetic set, more laid-back and cool, but there's no reservation in playing this music faithfully, with the jazz tradition firmly in mind. The CD starts with two excellent trio tracks minus bass. "My Baby Just Cares for Me" was popularized by Nina Simone, and here is where Peplowski displays his total command of this uncomplicated melody, Varro dipping into stride on his solo, while "The Touch of Your Lips" seems almost too easy in the hands of these swing masters. Tate joins in for an unusual choice, Luiz Bonfá's quintessential but lesser known bossa nova "Menina Flor," while an interesting treatment of the quickened "Out of Nowhere" is the most energized and animated tune of the date, keeping the players and listeners on their toes. "Bluesette" is a tricky one, but the band interprets this most lyrical tune very well; Tate's strummed bass buoys the hardest swinger, "Secret Love"; the group dives headfirst into the wonderful Cole Porter hot jazz classic "I Love You" with full fervor; and improvisation is key during "Blues on 57th Street," a tune -- made up on the spot -- named after the street where the studio is located in New York City. A low-key piano/clarinet duo on "It's Easy to Remember" and Varro's solo version of "You're a Sweetheart" displays his love of stride piano, and the influence of his main man, Teddy Wilson. Varro stated that this session was "fun, comfortable, satisfying" and you'll wholeheartedly agree that it is from start to finish, a solid effort from four masters of classic mainstream jazz. ~ Michael G. Nastos

Recording information: Nola Studios, New York, NY (11/08/2007/11/09/2007).

Personnel: Johnny Varro (piano); Ken Peplowski (clarinet); Frank Tate (bass guitar); Joe Ascione (drums).

Two Legends Of Jazz

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