What does it sound like?:
Well you tell me. I don’t know about you, but perhaps due to the small pool of reviewers here, very few album reviews lately have been of particular interest to me. Of course we are all to blame, but I thought this thread, posted in Nights In, might be a good place for us to ask the Massive about particular albums we’re perhaps thinking of getting but would like to hear opinions/info from our trusted Afterchums before diving in.
In addition, it may be a good place for those who’d like to big up (or put down) a particular release but don’t necessarily want to write a ‘formal’ review or start a whole thread about it. Whether it’s a single sentence or a couple of paragraphs, it could make all the the difference to a potential purchaser.
Recent releases or vinlies of old, it doesn’t matter. What do you need to know? My query will follow in the comments, and I have a feeling that Colin H will be able to help.
What does it all *mean*?
Who knows?
Goes well with…
I dunno, gin?
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Findus Crispy Pancakes.
minibreakfast says
I rather like the look of this well-priced 3-disc set https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/keep-it-light-a-panorama-of-british-jazz-the-modernists/ but Mojo mag confused me with a great review yet just three stars. Also, there are eight tracks (out of 64) by Cleo Laine, and being extremely allergic to her scatting, I’d like to know a bit more about them. I’m heartened by this from an amazon reviewer: “Cleo Laine, in the days before she fell too in love with her own mannerisms, is a revelation” but I’m still a bit scared.
At under 17 quid for three discs is it as good a buy as it looks?
Rigid Digit says
Cherry Red collections rarely fail to hit the spot.
dwightstrut says
I would say “No”.
For three discs the price is fine, but “modernists”? That lot? There was a lot of fantastic jazz made on these islands in the late ’50s to early , ’70s but, IMHO, not a lot of it on that compilation. Tubby Hayes and Joe Harriot excepted.
To be fair, it is called “Keep It Light”.
Over to Colin H …
minibreakfast says
Thanks!
Colin H says
It’s a tough one, Mini. It’s ยฃ12.99, so a good deal for a 3CD set, you’d think. But my gut feeling is that ‘more is less’ with it as it stands. I wonder was there a better 2CD set in here, one that’s been dragged down/diluted by the inclusion of SO MUCH CLeo Laine, plus tradster/clown George Melly and dance banders Ted Heath and Jack Parnell and Hawksworth, plus Humph was always ‘mainstream’, hardly a ‘modernist’ in the sense that the subtitle/blurb suggests – and Johnny Dankworth is probably borderline within that brief. And Dudley Moore was at the cabaret/nightclub end of things. But the other names are all box-tickers when it comes to 50s-into-60s Soho modern jazz – Don Rendell, Ronnie Scott, Ronnie Ross, the Jazz Makers, Kinsey, etc.
Glancing at the divvying out of tracks, though, it smacks a bit of being slightly cobbled together or a case of ‘we have these six tracks by X, might as well put them all in’, rather than being a really painstakingly compiled/sequenced comp.
Still, it’s a kind of grab bag or pot pourri of people in and around Soho circa 1960 and maybe it has a good booklet essay – I don’t know.
For me, the surfeit of Cleo Laine is scary. One or two tracks, like similar nightclub chanteuse Annie Ross, fine; 8 or 9 – yikes. To be honest, it’s probably a deal breaker for me. I just don’t care for jazz vocalists – the Blossom Dearie school at a pinch (really cool, understated singers), but not the scoobly-oobly-doobly-bippity-boppity-boo stuff.
minibreakfast says
Thanks Colin!
Think I’ll give it a swerve and spend my pocket money elsewhere.
deramdaze says
Yep, I’d seen this and was wavering, but now I’m not.
Whenever I pick up a jazz CD and study the (always) detailed breakdown of participants on the back cover the word “vocals” is a guarantee that that particular fiver will be spent across the road in a dodgy boozer instead.
minibreakfast says
I usually favour instrumental over vocal when it comes to jazz, but when I saw this LP in a chazza yesterday for 50p I had to take it home: http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-irving-berlin-songbook-mw0000188872
mikethep says
And how did you like it? I have to say I find Billy Eckstine’s mannered vocals almost unlistenable, and even the Divine Sarah can be a bit trying sometimes. Give me Ella & Louis any day.
minibreakfast says
I haven’t cleaned it yet, let alone played it. Will get back to you Mr The P.
And happy big birthday!
minibreakfast says
Well @mikethep, I can sort of understand what you mean about Eckstine’s vocals, but I don’t find them any more mannered than, say, Nat King Cole, or other male singers of that era.
It’s a nice album, and a keeper.
jazzjet says
If you’re looking for something from around the same era you could try this : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soho-Scene-62-Jazz-Goes/dp/B01M0XBINF.
A good mix of British modernists with no vocals in sight plus a go0d selection of the kind of jazz appreciated by early mods.
jazzjet says
More details of the above and other related releases from the interesting looking Rhythm and Blues Records label : http://historyofrnb.net/rumba.html
Colin H says
Those two Soho Scene sets do look good, Jazzer – a strong brit jazz selection on disc 1 and a same-period US selection on Disc 2. I see that one of the reviews in the link states that the sleeve notes are exemplary. Tempting…
minibreakfast says
Fantastic, thanks jj. Yours and Colin’s responses were just the kind of thing I was hoping for, and demonstrate perfectly why the AW is the place to seek advice.
Colin H says
Advice, Mini? I can recommend a couple of books on John McLaughlin… ๐
jazzjet says
Happy to oblige, mini. Worth checking out the Harry South Big Band album too (The Songbook – 4CD set). He was a great arranger, decent pianist and worked with Tubbs, Harriott, Dick Morrissey etc, plus Georgie Fame. And he composed the theme to The Sweeney.
deramdaze says
That “Soho Scene ’62” release definitely looks the better bet.
Thanks for the recommendation.
dwightstrut says
“scoobly-oobly-doobly-bippity-boppity-boo”.
https://www.akavideos.com/watch?v=rl_MqXlX8ks
Junior Wells says
Cleo Laine’s scatting hmmmmm
bricameron says
@Junior Wells
Too Funny! ๐๐๐
Moose the Mooche says
Shoreline romancing… jazz and jewellery with Mr Magoo etc.
Tiggerlion says
I’m upset. I’m no longer of any interest to you.
*sobs*
minibreakfast says
Even if it’s something I’m not interested in, I ALWAYS read your reviews, tigs.
Tiggerlion says
Hmm. That makes me feel better but not quite convinced.
*tail twitches into a bounce*
Alias says
Joe Harriot and Tubby Hayes are worth checking out. A glowing review and only 3 stars suggests to me that 3 stars is the best the reviewer thinks British jazz is capable of.
There are very few music journalists whose reviews I trust. There are some that I know I will disagree with, which is not unhelpful, at least I know to avoid their recommendations.
minibreakfast says
Thank you. I do like Tubs, plus the Dudley Moore Trio. It’s the rest I’m not familiar with.
I agree about journalists’ reviews, hence the request for AW-ers’ input. And an Alias opinion has never steered me wrong ๐
Tiggerlion says
I thought the protocol was that everyone got four stars. At least, that’s the impression I got the last time I read a music magazine.
Alias says
That is not far from the truth. Which in practise means 3 stars means don’t even bother reading the review, there are loads better released this month to choose from. I only used to read music papers to find out which records were being released, tour dates and reviews. Now there are only 2 or 3 reviewers whose recommendations would make me buy an album.
Colin H says
As you ask for AWers’ faves or looking-forward-to’s, Mini, here’s ‘Girl From Ipanema’, a track from an album I’ve been enjoying recently, the recent Cherry Red comp ‘Sixties Byrd’ by light jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InmthRcfzWk
Jazzwise’s current issue describes the comp as representing ‘the nadir’ of Byrd’s output (from a jazz perspective) but to my ears it’s very enjoyable as a selection of pop music, film theme or bossa nova covers from the 60s, as recorded over various albums in that era by CB. Here’s the tracklist:
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/sixties-byrd-charlie-byrd-plays-todays-great-hits/
So what am I most looking forward to? Well, I see that next month Cherry Red (again) have a terrific looking 2CD anthology of San Francisco band The Flock. I’ve had the first of their two albums, ‘The Flock’ (1969), on vinyl since I was about 14 (a gift from an uncle) – it’s magical. And it’s pure coincidence that it features violinist Jerry Goodman, later to join the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Fred Glickstein’s songs and vocals, the brass section, the arrangements, the violin, the unforced, natural-feeling yet unique meeting of jazz and West Coast pop/rock and singer/songwriter territory. Oddly, though I often play that first album – and did so last week – I’ve never owned it on CD nor owned any version of ‘Dinosaur swamps’, their second and last album. This new anthology features both PLUS six single sides and six demos. I can’t resist.
https://www.cherryred.co.uk/product/truth-the-columbia-recordings-1969-1970-2cd-remastered-anthology/
‘I Am The Tall Tree’ – beautiful:
minibreakfast says
Ah yes, I saw the Byrd album on the Cherry Red site. The charity shop Easy-style album art caught my eye!
Vulpes Vulpes says
Thanks Col, pre-ordered, good call. Always like their stuff on the various CBS samplers, back in the day.
Bugger me, you’ve cost me money once again. ๐
Colin H says
Dammit, I’ve cost MYSELF money this time – I’ve just ordered a copy of ‘Soho Scene 62’…
minibreakfast says
๐๐๐
minibreakfast says
Me too.
Tiggerlion says
Pere Ubu release new album, 20 Years In A Montana Missile Silo, next month. They have three guitars and a clarinet. Should be brilliant. I’ll report back.
minibreakfast says
I think I speak for us all when I say we literally cannot wait.
minibreakfast says
The Soho Scene ’62 set came today, and is absolutely fantabulous. Buy it immediately! Thanks @jazzjet.
If any of you are dithering over a potential musical purchase, then this thread is the place to ask for advice!
jazzjet says
Glad you like it, mini. I still haven’t ordered my copy. Might get it along with the Soho Scene ’61 set.
minibreakfast says
Wait, what?