Kathleen Loves Music

Willis Jackson
with Pat Martino
Single Action

Produced by Fred Seibert

1. Evergreen
2. Bolita
3. Makin’ Whoopee
4. You Are My Sunshine
5. Hittin’ The Numbers
6. Single Action
7. Evergreen (outtake)

Willis Jackson: tenor saxophone
Pat Martino: guitar
Carl Wilson: organ
Jimmy Lewis: bass
Yusef Ali: drums
Ralph Dorsey: percussion

Willis Jackson single handedly pulled me away from the avant garde and towards the soulful, bluesy expression of jazz that was popular in the African American neighborhoods of mid-century America. He didn’t mean to, he didn’t want to, it was just that he was so damn good.

Less a producer than actually a recording supervisor (my credit on this album) I arrived at our first session together with virtually no information on what we were recording or who was playing. Willis was tough and a little paranoid so this situation played out during the three or four sessions we did together. I’d never heard any of his music (it wasn’t cool enough within the jazzbo circles [Read more…]

Hank Jones
Groovin’ High

Produced by Fred Seibert

1. Algo Bueno
2. Anthropology
3. Sippin’ at Bells
4. Blue Monk
5. Groovin’ High
6. I Mean You
7. Jackie-Ing

Hank Jones: Piano
Sam Jones: Bass
Mickey Roker: Drums
Thad Jones: Cornet
Charlie Rouse: Tenor Saxophone

As soon as we saw the incredible reaction to our first release with Hank Jones, Bop Redux , in 1977 it was clear to Muse Records’ founder Joe Fields and me we needed to record a sequel. Hank’s absence from the scene for 25 years (in the CBS Orchestra) had only made him better, and the yearning for the emotion and craft of originators of bebop was burning a hole in the hearts of 70s jazz fans. We moved recording from my base at CI Recording in Manhattan (the former Mercury Records studios) to Rudy VanGelder’s in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, the most famous studio for jazz in the world.

The moment of discord with Hank came when I insisted he replace [Read more…]

Jaki Byard
Family Man
Produced by Frederick Seibert

Click the titles to play.
1. Just Rollin’ Along
2. Mood Indigo/Chelsea Bridge
3. L.H. Gatewalk Rag
4. Ballad to Louise
Excerpts from Family Suite
5. Prelude No.16
6. Gaeta
7. Garr
8. Emil
9. John Arthur

Jaki Byard: piano, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone
Major Holley: bass, tuba, Fender bass
Warren Smith: drums, tympani, vibraphone
J.R. Mitchell: drums
…..
Jaki Byard was one of my great heroes and inspirations when I started listening to jazz in earnest in the early 70s. “Eclectic” was the word that best described him since he recorded in styles directly linked to stride, swing, bop and the avant-garde, all with authenticity and enthusiasm. When Muse Records’ owner Joe Fields asked me to suggest a suitable recording project Jaki immediately came to mind.
…..
Muse Records MR 5173
Jaki Byard
Family Man

Produced by Frederick Seibert
Engineered by Chuck Irwin & Elvin Campbell, CI Recording (110 W57th Street, NYC)
April 28 & May 1, 1978

Muse Records Discography

…..
Liner notes by Fred Bouchard:

Jaki Byard - pianist, composer, family man. Family man? Yes, indeed.

Whatever paradoxes [Read more…]

Hank Jones
‘Bop Redux
Produced by Fred Seibert, in association with Dick Ables
Grammy Nominee, 1977, Best Jazz Instrumental Performance - Soloist

Click the titles to play.
1. Yardbird Suite
2. Confirmation
3. Rudy, My Dear
4. Relaxin’ With Lee
5. Bloomdido
6. ‘Round Midnight
7. Moose the Mooche
8. Monk’s Mood

Hank Jones: Piano
George Duvivier: Bass
Ben Riley: Drums

Hank Jones had been a exemplar jazz journeyman until he took a full time day job in the CBS Orchestra in 1952. This record date, the first after his contract finally expired, was arranged by Muse Records’ owner Joe Fields, and he cordially to handle the production. My primary contribution –I was a wet behind the ears 26 year old with no particular skills– was suggesting the jazz standards repetoire as a respite from the relentlessness of the “energy” avant-garde of the previous 10 years. I also chose the engineer and studio, asked Hank to avoid bass solos, named the album after John Updike’s ‘Rabbit Redux,’ [Read more…]

Jason Plapp (co-creator of Bradwurst, “the only character who’s ass you can see from all directions”) asked me about some jazz he could check out. I assume because I started my career as a jazz record producer. So Jason’s giving me inspiration to search out and post some of my favorite jazz tracks. There won’t be any other rhyme or reason other than that I like them, but maybe they’ll be useful pointers. And I’ll link to Wikipedia biographies to help guide whatever sketches I put up.

Hank Jones is one of the great journeymen of his (and our) time. He comes from Detroit, made his name as a bebopper in the 40s, and settled in as one of the most versatile stylists of any era, equally comfortable in music popular before and after his coming of age. His brothers Elvin (from John Coltrane’s great quartet) and Thad (Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band) also [Read more…]