Bravura · Complete 1959 Septette Sessions (3 LP on 2 CD)
  • Verve MG V-8363
    Verve MG V-8363
  • Verve MG V-8383
    Verve MG V-8383
  • Verve MG V-8315
    Verve MG V-8315
  • Buddy DeFranco
    Buddy DeFranco

Buddy DeFranco

Bravura · Complete 1959 Septette Sessions (3 LP on 2 CD)

Fresh Sound Records

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

Reference: FSRCD 620

Bar code: 8427328606202

 THIS PRODUCT IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN THE U.S. 

The recordings in the present set are typically fluent, compelling De Franco music in a first-class small combo setting. I never abandoned the idea of being able to experience a somatic feeling in addition to the intellectual experience of modern music. Both are essential. You gotta have boththe cerebral and the feel, the funk.

Individually De Franco and Harry Sweets Edison blow with the confidence and assertiveness that have become their hallmarks. Kessel takes care of business, lying quietly in the background until it comes his turn to solo, then leaping out to have his say. Jimmy Rowles, Herbie Mann, Bob Hardaway, and the rest of the men playing here are deeply swinging in healthly, mainstream fashion.

One of the attractions is the delicacy of some of the ensemble textures and the way in which basic harmonies have been amended to fit the character of these 1959 De Franco Septette. Theres a lot of great listening here whatever your bias.

It will be just fine if it does help bring the clarinet back!



CD 1
01. Sunday (Conn-Miller-Krueger-Styne) 5:42
02. Between the Devil and the Blue Sea (Arlen-Koehler) 9:19
03. Tea for Two (Youmans-Caesar) 4:55
04. Ballad Medley (11:54)
- 'Round Midnight (Hanighen-Williams-Monk)
- You Don't Know What Love Is (Raye-DePaul)
- How Can We Be Wrong? (Schwartz-Stillman-Dietz)
- Lullaby of the Leaves (Petkere-Young)
- Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach)
05. Blue Lou (Sampson-Mills) 4:28
06. Funky's Oncle (DeFranco-Kessel) 9:02
07. Oh, Lady Be Good! (Gershwin-Gershwin) 4:02
08. Satin Doll (Duke Ellington) 6:06
09. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers-Hart) 3:02
10. Blues for Space Travelers (Barney Kessel) 4:46

CD 2
01. Tin Reed Blues (Buddy DeFranco) 7:01
02. Ballad Medley (6:36)
- I'm Glad There Is You (Madeira-Dorsey)
- There's No You (Durgtom-Adair-Hopper)
- These Foolish Things (Strachey-Link-Marvell)
03. Crazy Rhythm (Meyer-Kahn-Caesar) 5:23
04. Just Squeeze Me (Ellington-Gains) 8:44
05. Undecided (Shavers-Robin) 4:04
06. Ja-Da (Bob Carleton) 8:33
07. Ballad Medley (6:32)
- Now I Lay Me Down To Dream (Howard-Fiorito)
- Honey (Simons-Whiting-Gillespie)
- This Love of Mine (Sinatra-Sanacola)
- Darn That Dream (Van Heusen-DeLange)
08. Lulu's Back in Town (Warren-Dubin) 6:02
09. Ballad Medley (5:54)
- Old Folks (Hill-Robinson)
- How Long Has This Been Going On (Gershwin-Gershwin)
- Please (Rainger-Robin)
10. Witty (Buddy DeFranco) 4:22

Album details

Sources CD 1:
Tracks #1-6, from the album "Generalissimo" (Verve MG V-8363)
Tracks #7-10, from the album "Live Date!" (Verve MG V-8383)

Sources CD 2:
Tracks #1-3, from the album "Live Date!" (Verve MG V-8383)
Tracks #4-10, from the album "Bravura" (Verve MG V-8315)

Personnel on "Generalissimo":
Harry 'Sweets' Edison (trumpet), Buddy De Franco (clarinet), Bob Hardaway (tenor sax), Jimmy Rowles (piano), Barney Kessel (guitar), Curtis Counce (bass), Alvin Stoller (drums).
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, April 2, 1959

Personnel on "Live Date!":
Buddy De Franco (clarinet), Herbie Mann (flute), Victor Feldman (vibes), Pete Jolly (piano, accordion), Barney Kessel (guitar), Scott LaFaro (bass), Frank De Vito (drums).
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, April 4, 1959

Personnel on "Bravura":
Harry Edison (trumpet), Buddy De Franco (clarinet), Herbie Mann (flute, bass clarinet), Jimmy Rowles (piano), Barney Kessel (guitar), Joe Mondragon (bass), Mel Lewis (drums).
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, on April 5, 1959

Liner notes: Leonard Feather, Benny Green & Stephen Frostberg
Original recordings produced by Norman Granz
This CD compilation produced by Jordi Pujol
© 2011 by Fresh Sound Records

Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
Blue Moon Producciones Discograficas, S.L.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Note about "Live Date!":
In the original liner notes of this album, Bob Hardaway was credited as playing saxophone, while the name of the drummer was ommitted. Later discographies kept Hardaway in the personnel and added Stan Levey as the drummer. The truth of the matter, though, is that the actual drummer was Frank De Vito, and that Bob Hardaway did not play in the recording session of Live Date! at all.

This note is meant to shed some light on those inaccuracies. Furthermore, the stereo sound of Live Date! in this set has been considerably improved from the previous CD releases of this album.

Press reviews

"After the prominence it received during the 1930s from Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw, the clarinet suddenly became unfashionable with the arrival of bebop. Perhaps the instrument tended to sound thin when compared with the saxophone or trumpet, and only a few clarinettists were bold enough to tackle the new trends in jazz.

The outstanding clarinettist at this time was Buddy DeFranco, who had the facility to play complex sequences while keeping one foot in the mainstream camp. This double CD has the subtitle "Complete 1959 Septette Recordings" and comprises three whole LPs which put Buddy in a mainstream setting. DeFranco had paid his dues in the bands of Charlie Barnet and Tommy Dorsey, as well as being the first white man employed by Count Basie for his small group.

Buddy is quoted in the sleeve-note as saying that the idea of these sessions was "to get together with some of the swinging guys...who came up with the best days of the swing period, as opposed to fellows from the contemporary or out-and-out bop school". In other words, we have a typical set of sessions produced by Norman Granz, leaving the musicians free to play as they pleased. Like many Granz productions, there is a ballad medley, enabling most of the musicians the chance to show their paces at a gentle tempo. In fact this album contains three such medleys, with DeFranco stretching out on 'Round Midnight, I'm Glad There is You and the seldom-heard Now I Lay Me Down to Dream.

Other highlights include Oh, Lady Be Good! which is dressed in new chords; Just Squeeze Me, for which DeFranco devised neat harmonising by trumpet, clarinet and flute; and Buddy's composition Witty, a minor blues. DeFranco's tone might sound cool but these sessions show that he believed in putting soul as well as intellect into his playing. This is clear in the unusually fast version of Blue Lou, introduced with a storming drum solo by Alvin Stoller and including a really hot solo by Buddy. There are also many swinging contributions from Harry Edison. Indeed, all the musicians supporting Buddy DeFranco make worthwhile contributions, including British vibist Victor Feldman, guitarist Barney Kessel and bassist Scott LaFaro (just past his 22nd birthday). It is interesting to hear flautist Herbie Mann playing the bass clarinet - rather well.

The arrangements - presumably by Buddy - are ingenious but the recording quality is occasionally foggy. Listening to this album may convince you that the clarinet never really went away, as Buddy DeFranco kept alive the tradition of virtuoso clarinettists which continued with such musicians as Eddie Daniels and Paquito D'Rivera."

—Tony Augarde
MusicWeb International

Price:

14,95 €  (tax incl.)

Add to wishlist

Added to your wishlist.

You can manage your wishlist here.

You're not signed in

You must sign in to manage your wishlist.
Sign in
Delivery information:
Delivery in 5-7 days
Shipping rates Terms and conditions
Payment methods:
Share:

 

 

Customer reviews

Write a review

Bravura · Complete 1959 Septette Sessions (3 LP on 2 CD)
Rate this product:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Your review has been added and will be available once approved by a moderator.