The latest releases by UK’s Avid Records includes some music that is essential for understanding Western Civilization
In 1956, Miles Davis signed a lucrative contract with Columbia Records, which put the trumpet star on the map. In order to get out of his contract with the tiny company Prestige Records, Davis fulfilled his obligation of releasing four more records via two marathon sessions in May 11 and October 26, 1956 with his team of John Coltrane/ts, Red Garland/p, Paul Chambers/b and Philly Joe Jones/dr. In the process he created albums that labeled this band his “ First Classic Quintet” with music that is the sonic definition of the best that jazz has to offer.
His muted horn, pressed all the way to the microphone with a delicate and fragile tone, formulated the sound for ballads like “My Funny Valentine” and “It Never Entered My Mind” that literally defined the jazz genre. Red Garland’s ‘cocktail’ glassy tone was the perfect support, spotlighted in his trio “Ahmed’s Blues” and soloing with a bluesy swing that captures the essence of coolness on “Blues By Five”. Coltrane is still developing his ‘sheets of sound’ and sears through “Airegin” and “Trane’s Blues”. Meanwhile, Miles delivers his classic line “I’ll tell you the title after I play it before suavely laying into “If I Were A Bell” and shows textbook delivery on his “Four” solo. As a unit, the team plays perfect “peek-a-boo” on “Oleo” and snaps on ricocheting pieces like the assertive “Airegin” and “Salt Peanuts”. Put all together, if you look in the dictionary for “hard bop quintet” the picture is of these guys. Essential and life-affirming.
Before Rock and Roll became a venue for navel gazing or head banging, it swung, and swung hard in the form of rockabilly. This two disc set collects some of the best of the lot.
Johnny Burnette (brother of Dorsey) was an Elvis Presley peer. His 1955 debut includes a blistering “The Train Kept A-Rollin” and some exciting covers of black R&B hits like “Honey Hush”, “Chains Of Love” and “Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, Drinking Wine.” Dorsey plays guitar throughout, and even sings along a bit A heat seeking missile!
Buddy Knox is best known for writing and recording the mega hit “Party Doll” and being one of the progenitors of the rocking Texas sound that would eventually be labeled “Tex-Mex”. This album includes a take of Chuck Berry’s “Maybelline”, Bill Haley’s “Rock Around The Clock” and a fun read of “Mary Lou”. Guest sesion members include jazz guitarist George Barnes on this upbeat collection.
Ronnie Hawkins is best known as the small club singeror in Canada that put together a backup band that eventually became known as…”The Band”. His 1959 debut includes Levon Helm on drums, and includes a smoking read of Chuck Berry’s “Forty Days”, Larry Williams’ “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” and his own “Oh Sugar”, all worth dancing to.
Ray Smith originally recorded for Memphis’ Sun Records before moving to the Judd label and getting a couple of bona fide hits in “Rockin’ Little Angel” and “Put Your Arms Around Me Honey” some of the nimble guitar licks are provided by Chet Atkins, along with piano wok by Floyd Cramer, making this a cooking little sesson.
Singer and pianist Carl Mann had a couple of big hits in an upbeat and optimistic take of “Mona Lisa” as well as “Pretend”, with this debut album as his major contribution to the pre-rock days. He also had a smoking single with “The Kool Kats” in “Gonna Rock and Roll Tonight” before making a career of standards. This album was the major reason he is a member of the Rockabilly Hall Of Fame, and it even includes a young Charlie RIch on piano. Grab a partner