In a day when most jazz artists play in clubs seating 40-150, it’s hard to believe that at one time hard bopping players performed before packed auditoriums without sacrificing any style or substance. Thanks to the vision of producer Norman Granz who put together the famed package tours of Jazz At The Philharmonic, legends of the swing and bebop era are captured on recordings as they were supposed to be recorded, blowing their brains out in ecstatic sounds. Here are a couple of boxed sets that show how “live” music can actually sound “ alive”.
The September 13, 1952 is one for the books, with an overflowing amount of superstars I would pay hundreds of dollars to see today. Roy Eldridge-Charlie Shavers/tp, Benny Carter-Willie Smith/as, Lester Young/Flip Phillips/ts, Hank Jones-Oscar Peterson/p, Barney Kessel-Irving Ashby/g, Ray Brown/b and Buddy Rich-Gene Krupa-Max Roach/dr all bless the stage. Oh, and did I mention that Billie Holday comes on for a glorious read of “Lover Man”? Just thought I’d bring it up, for the record.
The JATP All Star Jam include a “Jam Session Blues” that has everyone getting a chance at the mic, while a trumpet battle has Eldridge and Shavers chasing each other like a dog and his tail. A “Ballad Medley” includes Young fawning over “I Can’t Get Started” and Carter cooing on “Cocktails For Two” with Rich getting a spotlight on the jam of “Cottontail”. Oscar Peterson’s trio of Kessel and Brown swing the daylights out of “C Jam Blues” with Krupa’s team of Smith and Jones digging into a two stepping “Idaho”. An extra bonus is a collection of material from germany and France of the same year, with Krup and Rich going into a spark flying “Drum Battle” and Young swooning on “I Cover The Waterfront”, as well as Phillip’s patented pre-rock and roll rocking on the tenor during “Perdido”. “Essential” is an understatement.
Fast forward 4 years, and while a few of the names have changed, the heat has not let up. A Leap Year’s Day concert in Hamburg includes Dizzy Gillespie-Roy Eldgridge/tp, Flip Phillips-Illinois Jacquet/ts, Oscar Peterson/g, Ray Brown/b and Gene Krupa/dr as well as the Queen of JATP, Ella Fitzgerald in a bopping mood.
Dizzy is in his own atmosphere when featured on “My Man”, with the soloists digging into the jams of “Jam At JATP” (aka “Honeysuckle Rose”) and “The Modern Set” (“I Found A New Baby”). Then th tenors take charge with Phillips glowing on “These Foolish Things” and Jacquet blowing cigar rings during “A Ghost Of A Chance”. Krupa doesn’t miss Barbara Stanwyck as he cracks the whip on “Drum Boogie” and Eldridge bars no holds on “Rockin’ Chair”. Oscar Peterson’s trio with Herb Ellis/g and Ray Brown/dr glide through “Easy Does It” and bop through a torrid “How High The Moon” before being joined by Krupa in backing Ella Fitzgerald for a fun “Hard Hearted Hannah”, glistening “Lullaby of Birdland” and suave “I Love Paris” before tearing the house down with “Lady Be Good”.
If you want to know what’s missing in today’s music, play this a few times and your questions will all be answered. Many aspire, few attain.