A number of months ago, Mosaic Records released a cache of vintage recordings in a 7 cd boxed set. It featured a surfeit of vintage jazz sessions from the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Vic Dickenson and Jimmy Rushing, just to name a few. In order to prove that they didn’t simply skim off the crème, Mosaic comes back with a 6 cd set that focuses on some of the most sublimely swinging piano players in solo, duo and small group format. This is what a jazz piano is supposed to sound like.
Producer John Hammond was a devotee of what is now called “mainstream” jazz, so his selected artists were big on melody, lyricism and deep pockets of pulse. Collected here together for these recordings form 1953-58 are some big names as well as obscurities that make you wonder why they missed the radar the first time around
Once again, Kansas City flavored jazz is in the air, as Hammond was a big proponent of the style, this, pianist Ray Bryant is featured in Basie drummer Jo J ones’ trio, cozy on “Satin Doll” and graceful on “ Sweet Lorraine”. Likewise, piano man Sir Charles Thompson brings in Basie’s rhythm section of Freddie Green/g, Walter Page/b and Jones for a sensational “Swingtime In The Rockies” and a Meadlowlark Lemons flavored “Sweet Georgia Brown”. He changes partners with guitarist Skeeter Best and Ellingtonian Aaron Bell/b for a flavorful “Hey There” and “Mr. Sandman”.
Pianist Mel Powell, best known for his work with Benny Goodman (also a Hammond fav) is found with Basie-ites Buck Clayton/tp, Page, and Henderson Chambers/tb along with Steve Jordan/g and Edmond Hall/cl for a cleverly arranged “Sonatina For Piano” while also stripping down with Lester Young-inspired saxist Paul Quinichette and drummer Bobby Donaldson for a graceful “If Dreams Come True” and a coy “Makin’ Whoopee”. He also forms a septet and quintet that includes Peanuts Hucko/cl, Ruby Braff/tp and Oscar Pettiford/b for some straight shooting on “Gone With The Wind” and “Beale Street Blues”
Then, making the whole purchase worthwhile is a selection of solo pieces by the amazingly obscure pianist Bobby Henderson, whose timeless stride style still sounds fresh today, giving a tip of the hat to Fats Waller on “Handful o f Keys”, “Jitterbug Waltz” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, playing with an authority that no one living today can match.
Then, upping the ante are the duets between trumpeter Ruby Braff and pianist Ellis Larkins. Larkins is best known for his intimate duets with Ella Fitzgerald, but this pair of 1955 sessions is up on the same scale, if not better. The two glisten on “Blue Moon” and are verdant on “Mountain Greenery”, putting Chet Baker and Miles Davis to shame on their own version of “My Funny Valentine”. Braff is mellifluous on “Blues For Ruby” and the two are radiant on “Skylark”.
It was the freshness of the intimacy and lyricism of music like this that made jazz America’s classical music. This set also shames most of today’s musicians, who, in comparison imitate or regurgitate instead of create. This is Edenic creation.