One of the more unique sounding musicians in jazz was John La Porta (1920-2004). Originally a clarinetist (and friend of Buddy DeFranco), he studied with Lennie Tristano and created a signature sound on the alto sax, a foundation of Charlie Parker, but with a strong mix of classical-cum Jackie McLean. These two albums (with an addition of another obscurity) spotlight the fingerprint signature of a jazz artist in some rich and creative settings.
The 1956 Message session has him in the hard bopping company of Horace Silver-Ronnie Ball/p, Wendell Marshall/b Kenny Clarke/dr and Donald Byrd/tp for a snapping take of the bop classic “Budo” as well as the lyrical and bel canto “I Married An Angel” and “I Hear A Rhapsody”. His tone gets dark and long shadowed on a foreboding read of “Yesterdays” while the whole team stretches out for “The Jazz Message”. This is a keeper!
La Porta has another session from 1956 that makes up half of the Presenting…disc. La Porta plays both clarinet and alto sax, going from septet to quartet all the way to duo with Louis Mucci/tp, Sonny Russo/tb, SolSchlinger/bs, Wally Cirillo/p, Clem DeRosa/dr and Wendell Marshall/b. La Porta is featured on the licorice stick on a richly textured septet piece “Concertina For Clarinet” while “Nightly Vigil”, “Little Fantasty” and “Triplets, You Say?” feature delicate conversations between La Porta and Mucci. The quartet swings well on the stretched out “Perdido” while the septet is relaxed for “Small Blue” Opus”. Creative and clever.
La Porta is a sideman altoist along with boppers Art Farmer/tp, Sonny Russo/tb, Adolph sandole-George Barrow/bs, Al Del Governatore/p, Dennis sandole/g, Wendell Marshall-Milt Hiinton/b, Clem DeRosa/dr and a rare cameo by famed producer Teo Macero on a 1955 session. Farmer glistens on the upbeat and optimistic “Istanbul” and “Carpet” with Barrow (best known for his work with Oliver Nelson) as rich as molasses on “Drums and Carpet”. Macero is a ringer on “Arabu” while La Porta stands out on “Wings” and “Pieces of Eight”.
The liner notes for these two discs give some light to La Porta’s brief modern jazz career, making this pair of albums a great “what if”. Had he kept on this path, where would he, and jazz, have gone? Fascinating rhythms.
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/john-la-porta-albums/54793-the-jazz-message-of-john-la-porta.html