Buddy Tate - Buddy And Soul: Live in Dublin (1976)

A wonderful recent release of an exhilarating concert that Buddy Tate and his band performed in Dublin in 1967. A big thanks to Nagel Heyer Records for publishing this lost gem. For the date Buddy is joined by pianist Tony Drennan, bassist Jimmy McKay and drummer Jack Daly. Together they explore and interpret a broad range of classic jazz standards and a couple of his own theme songs. He is equally proficient on clarinet and his main instrument of choice the tenor saxophone. Essentially, the program is a listener’s delight, whereby Buddy switches from haunting ballads to exciting jazz anthems, accompanied by some unique vocal discourses. A must have for any of his longtime fans. 

Recorded 17th November, 1976 Live in Dublin, Ireland 

Musicians:
Buddy Tate - Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Vocals
Tony Drennan - Piano
Jimmy McKay - Bass
Jack Daly - Drums

Tracks:
01. Chicago {Buddy Tate, Fred Fischer} (8:27)
02. In A Mellow Tone {Duke Ellington} (10:51)
03. There'll Never Be Another You {Harry Warren} (8:06)
04. I Can't Get Started {Vernon Duke} (4:12)
05. Theme Song I {Buddy Tate} (7:37)
06. All Of Me {Seymour Simons, Gerald Marks} (9:49)
07. [Back Home Again In] Indiana {Hanley, MacDonald} (6:42)
08. Body And Soul {Green, Heyman, Sour, Eyton} (5:03)
09. Theme Song II {Buddy Tate} (4:50)
10. Theme Song III {Buddy Tate} (3:00)
11. Polka Dots And Moonbeams {Van Heusen, Burke} (4:53) 

Total Time: 73:30 

Excess applause has been trimmed/faded out to enhance listening experience.

I Can't Get Started

Ruby Braff-Buddy Tate - With The Newport All Stars (1967)

Cornetist Ruby Braff and tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate make for a very complementary team on this fine CD reissue which also includes pianist George Wein, bassist Jack Lesberg, and drummer Don Lamond. Several alternate takes and a previously unreleased "Lullaby of the Leaves" expand this fine session which has among its highlights are enjoyable versions of "Mean To Me," "My Monday Date," "Take The "A" Train," and "The Sheik of Araby." This is high-quality small-group swing by some of the best which was recorded at a time when the idiom was considered very much out of style by the modernists. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Black Lion Records, BLCD 760138, 1990
Recorded 28th October, 1967 at Chappell Studios, London, England 

Musicians:
Ruby Braff - Cornet
Buddy Tate - Tenor Saxophone
George Wein - Piano
Jack Lesberg - Bass
Don Lamond - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Mean To Me [Take 1] {Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk} (6:33)
02. Body And Soul {Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour} (4:40)
03. I Surrender Dear {Harry Barris, Gordon Clifford} (5:01)
04. My Monday Date {Earl Hines} (6:13)
05. Take The "A" Train [Take 2] {Billy Strayhorn} (3:49)
06. Don't Blame Me {Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, David Raksin, F. Wess} (4:30)
07. Pan Am Blues {George Wein} (3:20)
08. These Foolish Things {Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey} (5:10)
09. The Sheik Of Araby [Take 2] {Harry Beasley Smith, Ted Snyder, Francis Wheeler} (5:33)
10. Lullaby Of The Leaves {Bernice Petkere, Joe Young} (2:41)
11. Mean To Me [Take 2] {Fred E. Ahlert, Roy Turk} (7:28)
12. Take The "A" Train [Take 1] {Billy Strayhorn} (4:25)
13. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone {Sidney Clare, Sam H. Stept} (4:12)
14. The Sheik Of Araby [Take 1] {Harry Beasley Smith, Ted Snyder, Francis Wheeler} (4:37) 

Total Time: 68:19 

Credits:
Producer - Alan Bates
Recording Engineer - John Timperley
Supervisor - Jack Higgins, Terry Brown
Design [Sleeve] - Malcolm Walker
Photography [Back Sleeve] - Fred Warren
Photography [Front Sleeve] - David Redfern
Liner Notes - Alun Morgan 

Take The "A" Train

Buck Clayton with Buddy Tate - Buck & Buddy blow the blues (1961) [re-rip]

A romping little session from Buck Clayton and Buddy Tate - served up in a looser, more relaxed setting than the former's albums for Columbia, and a slightly more swing-based mode than the latter's dates for Chess! Both horn players get plenty of room to solo in the open-ended Swingville mode - Buck on trumpet and Buddy on both tenor and clarinet - and the group's a nice one too, since Sir Charles Thompson's playing piano, Gene Ramey's on bass, and Gus Johnson's on drums. Titles include "Blue Creek", "Blue Breeze", "Blue Ebony", "Rompin At Red Bank", and "Dallas Delight". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige/Swingville, SVST 2030, 1961

Recorded 15th September, 1961 in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Buck Clayton - Trumpet

Buddy Tate - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet

Sir Charles Thompson - Piano

Gene Ramey - Bass

Gus Johnson - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Rompin’ At Red Bank {Buddy Tate} (6:35)

A2. Blue Creek {Buddy Tate} (6:32)

A3. A Swinging Doll {Buck Clayton} (3:55)

A4. Dallas Delight {Buck Clayton} (4:36)

B1. Don’t Mind If I Do {Buddy Tate} (8:06)

B2. Blue Breeze {Buck Clayton} (4:13)

B3. Blue Ebony {Buck Clayton} (5:59)

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Liner Notes - Joe Goldberg

Ray Bryant And His Combo - Dancing The Big Twist (1960) [re-rip]

This Ray Bryant album was released on Columbia Records in 1961. Dancing The Big Twist is basically an album of novelty tunes with a twist theme, including "Twist City," "Twistin' On A Cat's Paw," and "Do That Twist." This session will appeal to those who favour Bryant's dance hit of the era, "MadisonTime."

Columbia Records, CS 8546, 1961

Musicians:

Ray Bryant - Piano

Harry Edison - Trumpet (#B3)

Joe Newman - Trumpet (#A1-B2,B4)

Pat Jenkins - Trumpet (#A1-B2,B4)

Matthew Gee - Trombone (#A1-B2,B4)

Buddy Tate - Tenor Saxophone (#A1-B2,B4)

Ben Richardson - Baritone Saxophone (#B3)

Jimmy Rowser - Bass (#A1-B2,B4)

Bill Lee - Bass (#B3)

Mickey Roker - Drums (#A1-B2,B4)

Gus Johnson - Drums (#B3)

Ray Barretto - Bongos, Scraper (#B3)

Don Covay - Vocals (#A2)

Tracks:

A1. Twist City {Matthew Gee} (5:44)

A2. Just A Little Bit Of Twist {Don Covay} (2:47)

A3. Big Susie {Ray Bryant} (5:21)

A4. Twist On {Ray Bryant} (4:45)

B1. Twistin' On A Cat's Paw {Buddy Tate} (5:00)

B2. Mo-Lasses {Joe Newman} (5:16)

B3. Fast Twist {Harry Edison, Ray Bryant} (2:16)

B4. Do That Twist [Early In The Morning] {Matthew Gee} (5:32)

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - John Hammond

Ray Bryant Combo - Madison Time (1960) [re-rip]

Madison Time is an album recorded by American jazz pianist Ray Bryant recorded in 1959 and 1960 for the Columbia label. The album was released following the success of the Madison dance craze single "The Madison Time" which reached number 30 on the Billboard chart and number 5 on the R&B chart. The single also featured in the soundtrack to the 1988 film Hairspray.

Columbia Records, CL 1476, 1960

Recorded 16^th March, 1959 (#A1,A2); 20^th March, 1960 (#A3,B3,B4) and 12^th July, 1960 (#A4-B2) in New York City

Musicians:

Ray Bryant - Piano

Harry Edison - Trumpet

Urbie Green - Trombone (#A1,A2)

Benny Morton - Trombone (#A3,B3,B4)

Al Grey - Trombone (#A4,A5,B1,B2)

Buddy Tate - Tenor Saxophone

Tommy Bryant - Bass

Bill English - Drums (#A1,A2)

Jimmy Griffin - Drums (#A3,B3,B4)

Dave Pochonet [Gérard Pochonet] - Drums (#A4,A5,B1,B2)

Eddie Morrison - Caller (#A1,A4,B1)

Tracks:

A1. The Madison Time, Part I {Eddie Morrison, Ray Bryant} (3:01)

A2. The Madison Time, Part II {Eddie Morrison, Ray Bryant} (2:44)

A3. Centerpiece {Harry Edison} (4:14)

A4. Split T, Part I {Ray Bryant} (3:55)

A5. Split T, Part II {Ray Bryant} (5:11)

B1. Hit It!, Part I {Ray Bryant} (3:14)

B2. Hit It!, Part II {Ray Bryant} (4:02)

B3. Young Buddy {Ray Bryant} (3:54)

B4. The Huckle-Buck {Andy Gibson, Roy Alfred} (4:59)

Don Ewell

I just can't say enough about this album - a real gem.  Ewell is a name often attached to "Dixieland" via his work with the Dukes.  We also associate "Stride" with him because of his incredible style.

The fact is, those are both horrendous cliches which do nothing to really describe Don Ewell.  This self titled release for Chiaroscuro shows us that you simply can't put this pianist in a box.  For the sake of giving you something to relate him with, I would go with Traditional / NOLA jazz.

The music is bluesy, hard swingin and always joyous no matter the tempo or tune. This album is perfect, all the way through.  You won't find any filler or musical misgivings here, instead, we are given sides which display the best jazz has to offer.

Side 1 is a trio with Hall & Leeman, while side 2 is a quartet with Tate, Duvivier & Leeman.  The sidemen bring their A-game to these tunes, and are given plenty of room to shine.  Ewell himself gives us every reason to believe he is one of the more underrated pianists of his time.  It would be easy to overlook this album from it's unexciting cover, to it's 70's publishing date... but that would be a large mistake.  From start to finish this record delivers on all fronts and leaves you feeling upbeat.

I ripped this minty vinyl at 24/48 wav and transferred it to 24/48 FLAC for your convenience.  Superb stereo recording... enjoy!!!

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Chiaroscuro Records ‎– CR 130
1974

A1 Sweethearts On Parade
A2 Creole Love Call
A3 Diane
A4 Apex Blues
A5 All By Myself
B1 Coquette
B2 It Must Be True
B3 Let´s Fall In Love
B4 I Cover The Waterfront

Bass – George Duvivier (tracks: B1 to B4)
Clarinet – Herb Hall (tracks: A1 to A5)
Drums – Cliff Leeman
Piano – Don Ewell
Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Tate (tracks: B1 to B4)

Buddy Tate featuring Milt Buckner - Love and Slows Vol.1 (1976) [vinyl 24/48]

Originally issued on the Dutch Riff label as 'A Soft Summer Night'.

Buddy Tate - Hard Blowin' [24/48 vinyl rip]

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

Muse has released at least six albums of material recorded at Sandy's Jazz Revival in Massachusetts during a week in 1978. This is veteran tenor Buddy Tate's most rewarding album from the engagement and a fine all-around showcase. Accompanied by pianist Ray Bryant, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Alan Dawson, Tate stretches out on four familiar standards and shows listeners that he really had one of the more distinctive tenor sounds of the swing era.

Recommended.

Arnett Cobb - More Arnett Live At Sandy's [24/48 vinyl rip]

One of six albums recorded at Sandy's Jazz Revival in Beverly, Massachusetts during a two-day period and the second one led by Arnett Cobb has plenty of exciting music. Cobb takes "Smooth Sailing" as his feature, teams up with fellow tenor Buddy Tate on "Go Red Go" and "Flyin' Home #2," and welcomes both Tate and altoist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson to "Blues for Lester" (a blues version of "Lester Leaps In"). With assistance from pianist Ray Bryant, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Alan Dawson, Cobb's enthusiastic and extroverted tenor wins honors on this jam session-style set. Fortunately all of the music in this LP (and four of the five songs from the first Cobb set) has been reissued on CD.

Buddy Tate - Live At Sandy's [24/48 vinyl rip]

"One of the six Muse albums recorded at Sandy's Jazz Revival in Massachusetts during an engagement in 1978, this is essentially tenor veteran Buddy Tate's set although altoist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson and tenor Arnett Cobb join in on the closing blues "She's Got It." Tate is in fine form on the other four songs which includes an outing on clarinet for "Blue Creek," a warm version of the ballad "Candy" and two lengthy jams with pianist Ray Bryant, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Alan Dawson. Consistently swinging music and one of the better Buddy Tate recordings currently available." Yanow

Dicky Wells - Bones For The King

What can I say??!??  This album is a must have for anyone who considers themself a mainstream fan.  A wonderful, swaggering swing topped with relaxed and inspired solos.  Lots of fun vocals.  Jazz at its finest.  As promised, the Felsteds kept-a-rollin.  Taken from the Felsted Mainstream Jazz Series boxset, remastered in 24 bit, ripped to FLAC... enjoy!!!

Felsted FAJ 7006
1958

Buck Clayton (trumpet) Dicky Wells (trombone) Rudy Rutherford (clarinet, baritone saxophone) Buddy Tate (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone) Skip Hall (piano) Everett Barksdale (guitar) Major Holley (bass) Jo Jones (drums)

• Hello Smack! 
• Come And Get It 
• Stan's Dance

Vic Dickenson, George Matthews, Benny Morton, Dicky Wells (trombone) Skip Hall (piano) Major Holley (bass) Jo Jones (drums)

• Bones For The King 
• Sweet Daddy Spo-de-o 
• You Took My Hear

The Buddy Tate Celebrity Club Orchestra - Unbroken

Man... I love Buddy Tate.  This date is just another great session in his huge discography.  However, the orchestra owes it's swingin sound to more than just Tate.  They are indeed a group, and a fine one at that.  It was music like this which helped to keep swing alive and well through a decade like the 70's.

On Unbroken, we're treated to the full band blasting through ensemble melodies, individual solos, quiet and down tempo ballads & high flying dance numbers.  Aside from Tate, Bascomb really shines as a soloist - he has perfect tone.

I think it's easy to look back and see why albums like this, which at the time may have seemed average or relic, were infact essential to mainstream music's survival.

This MPS side was ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.  It's wonderfully minty and quiet.    
More of that old school vibe here at the Crypt... enjoy!!!

Recorded MPS Studio Villingen, Black Forrest June 30th/July 1st, 1970
MPS / BASF Stereo 20740

1972

Starting in 1952 and continuing into the early 1970s, tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate worked regularly at the Celebrity Club in Harlem with his septet/octet, which he logically called the Celebrity Club Orchestra. Tate and his group made relatively few recordings, which makes this set (cut for MPS and last available domestically as a Pausa LP) quite valuable. In addition to Tate, the group features trumpeter Dud Bascomb (who was with Erskine Hawkins' Orchestra during the swing era), pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Eddie Jones, and such lesser-known players as trombonist Eli Robinson, Ben Richardson (on clarinet, alto and baritone) and drummer George Reed. The unit performs six veteran swing standards (including "Undecided," "Airmail Special" and "Tuxedo Junction") and a couple of basic originals. The enjoyable music swings hard, making one wish that this fine session were reissued on CD. - Scott Yanow / AMG

Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Ben Richardson
Bass – Eddie Jones
Drums – George Reed
Piano – Nat Pierce
Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Tate
Trombone – Eli Robinson
Trumpet – Wilbur Dud Bascomb

Helen Humes - Helen

Helen Humes - Helen
Muse 5233, 1981

1) There'll Be Some Changes Made
2) Easy Living
3) You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me
4) Evil Gal Blues
5) Why Try to Change Me Now?
6) Draggin' My Heart Around

Helen Humes vocals, Joe Wilder trumpet, Buddy Tate tenor sax, Norman Simmons piano, Billy Butler guitar, George Duvivier bass, Butch Miles drums

Helen Humes was one of the most appealing jazz singers of the late '30s, and of the late '70s. Her comeback in her last few years was a welcome event, and all of her recordings for Muse are recommended. This one finds her backed by a veteran sextet including tenor man Buddy Tate, trumpeter Joe Wilder and pianist Norman Simmons. Her versions of "There'll Be Some Changes Made," "Easy Living" and "Draggin' My Heart Around" are particularly memorable. AMG

Kind of an unusual date because Joe Wilder comes out of the commercial studios to play real jazz, Billy Butler also adds some lovely touches on guitar. Norman Simmons and Buddy Tate are consummate pros  but the best feature of this band is....

***********George Duvivier is an absolute monster on this album!!************

The Buddy Tate All Stars - Swinging Like Tate

The Master Jazz Recordings label did a complete reissue of the Felsted catalogue, naming it the Felsted Series.  Although professional critics don't give this side alot of praise, the fact that it's been reissued several times over is testimony to it's greatness.

A wonderful cast of players including his Celebrity Club Orchestra on side one, and some old masters on side two.  The swingin doesn't stop and this one will make you feel warm inside.  Just a solid album overall... all of the Felsted albums are worth seeking out.  This album is minty with excellent fidelity, highly enjoyable...  enjoy!!

Master Jazz Recordings MJR8127
"Felsted Series"
1958

Black And Blue

 Ripped from my I Giganti Del Jazz LP... ultra minty!!

Also made available on the Italian budget label I Ganti Del Jazz, this little-known effort finds veteran trumpeter Joe Newman (55 at the time) stretching out quite effectively on four standards and two originals. In what was his first opportunity to lead a recording session since 1962, Newman and his top-notch rhythm section (pianist Hank Jones, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Alan Dawson) swing their way through such songs as "Softly As In a Morning Sunrise," "Paper Moon" and "Fiddy's Moods."  - Scott Yanow

 

 

 

 

 

Curcio Editore GJ-50 / Black and Blue 

I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 50


Recorded 1960??, Released 1972



Joe Newman - trumpet;  Hank Jones - piano;  George Duvivier - bass;  Alan Dawson - drums

1. Softly As A Morning Sunrise
2. It's Only A Papermoon
3. I Love My Woman
4. Fiddy's Moods
5. Summertime
6. Prelude To a Kiss

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This is a mint rip from my Classic Jazz reissue, as is the review.  A killer side to be sure...enjoy!!!

Also put out on the French Black & Blue label, this is one of the more obscure LPs to team together tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison. Lockjaw and Sweets always made for an exciting combination, constantly challenging each other to play with fire. Highlights of this particular encounter include "Jim Dawg," "Intermission Riff" and "Light and Lovely"; the two distinctive horn stylists are even able to uplift "The Good Life."  - Scott Yanow

Classic Jazz CJ116 / Black and Blue 33121
1975

Recorded on July 26th 1975 in Nice.

1. Jim Dawg
2. The Good Life
3. Meditation
4. Intermission Riff
5. Land Of Dreams
6. Light And Lovely

Eddie Lockjaw Davis - ts
Harry Sweets Edison - tp
Gerry Wiggins - p

Major Holley - b
Oliver jackson - d

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This was ripped from my mint I Giganti Del Jazz reissue.  The Curcio label was an Italian imprint, they put out a set of 100 albums, all reissues or out takes.

This album is a superb set, with both Tate and Buckner as expressive as can be.  Enjoy!!

 I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 13 / Black and Blue 33014
Paris, France
1967

A1 - When I'm Blue (Tate), 10:50
A2 - You Have Changed (Fisher, Carey), 05:10
A3 - Day by Day (Weston, Stordhal), 06:45
B1 - Them There Eyes (Tracy, Tauber, Pinkard), 10:46
B2 - Margie (Davis, Conrad, Robinson), 10:29

Buddy Tate (Tenor Sax), Milt Buckner (Organ), Wallace Bishop (Drums)

Newport in NY '72 - The Jam Sessions 1 & 2

I recently picked up all six volumes in NM condition for $20! I confess I got lazy on the scans and used the ones that accompanied my old mp3 copies from the Cobblestone blog of a few years back.

Foolish and violent vandals nearly succeeded in putting an end to the Newport Jazz Festival in 1971. George Wein underestimated the draw of booking The Allman Brothers, 10's of thousands more people showed up than there were tickets or room on the grounds for and a mob of gate crashers boiled through the fences during Dione Warwick and rushed the stage, destroying everything in their path. The relationship with the city of Newport, always a rocky one, suffered such damage it would take nine years to recover from it.

As a result Wein moved his festival to New York City in 1972, using multiple venues like Yankee Stadium, Radio City Music Hall and Wollman skating rink in Central Park for the next 9 years. I went for the first two and saw some of these shows. Newport has always been the home of the Jam Session; for better or worse George has always loved putting diverse groups of musicians on a stage and letting the sparks fly. These two jams were at the old Radio City Music Hall I am pretty sure I did not see either of these (it has been a looong time).

Volume One: Radio City Music Hall, July 6, 1972 

side a: Jumpin at Woodside
side b: Lo-Slo Blues

Cat Anderson, Jimmy Owens - trumpet; Charles McPherson alto sax; Buddy Tate tenor sax; Milt Buckner organ; Roland Hanna piano; Charles Mingus bass; Alan Dawson drums

Volume Two: Radio City Music Hall, July 3, 1972

side a: Bag's Groove
side b: Night in Tunisia

Dizzy Gillespie trumpet; Stan Getz tenor sax; Benny Green trombone, Milt Jackson vibes; John Blair violin; Kenny Burrell guitar; Mary Lou Williams piano; Percy Heath bass; Max Roach drums; Big Black congas

Were I looking at the program and trying to decide where to spend my money (and I suppose I was back then, I just don't remember) I would have chosen the July 3 show over the July 6 show....and I would have been wrong! For whatever reason the Volume One jam gels much more than the Volume Two show, the second show has some powerful moments no doubt, Diz, Kenny and John Blair all have some great solo moments, but there is a lot of indecision and differences of opinion on tempo and such too.