Thinking back to some reading decades ago that I haven't tried to document I think I recall some people saying also about Clyde Hart that, although the records don't show it, he was an early bopper. My sense is that the records show he was a swing pianist who happened to be at a lot of the sessions where bop was being worked out.
Yes, that's my sense of Hart as well. I think some people may misunderstand and think that somehow it's an insult to say that someone was not a bebopper--Hart was excellent! THANK YOU MARK
Wow...that arrangement and performance of "Yesterdays" was FANTABULOUS. I can't even imagine what it must've been like to hear that live. Also, with all due respect to Otto Harbach, who was a gifted lyricist, "Yesterdays" is one of the few Great American Songbook standards that I always prefer to hear as an instrumental. The lyrics are pretty dreadful...
thanks for yet another excellent series. I thought the same too: What the heck was so impressing about Freddie Webster as a jazz soloist, especially when you're really *listening* to the quintet recordings with Frank Socolow and Bud Powell?
Yes, it is a bit like Sleepy Lagoon. But I still think there is some piece that fits more exactly--maybe another one by James, as you say. And yes, it is a known fact that James studied Clarke's records and also his method books for brass players. Clarke was famous for good reasons! I have that same LP of his recordings. THANK YOU BREWSK!
Lewis, I'm from the Bronx. When you wrote about Freddie's sojourn there, I had to look up "845 Prospect Avenue". I know exactly where that is. Here is a 2006 article from the NYT about the former jazz scene — and more! — in that neighborhood.
I'm from the Bronx too. That's a very good article going back to the 845 Club in the '40s. Thanks for sharing that! I might add that link to essay 6, where I showed the ad. THANK YOU PETER
I knew Frank Socolow (1923-1981); I met him and his wife Joanne not long before Frank's death of cancer at age 57. They were neighbors of mine in Riverdale (NW Bronx). Frank and Joanne spent their honeymoon on Artie Shaw's 1949 band bus. Both were lovely people, and Frank was for years a well-respected player on the NYC music scene. Also, both were dog lovers, and for years they sponsored an annual benefit jam session concert for animal welfare. Among the participants were David Allyn, Manny Albam, John Glasel, Johnny Carisi, Aaron Sachs, Ron Odrich, Marky Markowitz, and many others, myself included.
Wow--what great memories of a man we knew little about. Much appreciated. I did check his discography and I saw that he recorded with Boyd Raeburn's band and other groups. Another subscriber, Todd Selbert, informed me that Frank takes some nice solos on some of his many recordings with the Johnny Richards big band, ca 1957-59. THANK YOU BILL!
Thinking back to some reading decades ago that I haven't tried to document I think I recall some people saying also about Clyde Hart that, although the records don't show it, he was an early bopper. My sense is that the records show he was a swing pianist who happened to be at a lot of the sessions where bop was being worked out.
Yes, that's my sense of Hart as well. I think some people may misunderstand and think that somehow it's an insult to say that someone was not a bebopper--Hart was excellent! THANK YOU MARK
Wow...that arrangement and performance of "Yesterdays" was FANTABULOUS. I can't even imagine what it must've been like to hear that live. Also, with all due respect to Otto Harbach, who was a gifted lyricist, "Yesterdays" is one of the few Great American Songbook standards that I always prefer to hear as an instrumental. The lyrics are pretty dreadful...
Ha ha true--there are some beautiful song melodies that have pretty dopey lyrics. THANK YOU SETH!
Hi Lewis,
thanks for yet another excellent series. I thought the same too: What the heck was so impressing about Freddie Webster as a jazz soloist, especially when you're really *listening* to the quintet recordings with Frank Socolow and Bud Powell?
As for the quote in the intro of Yesterdays, it strongly reminds me of one of Harry James's schmaltzy ballads, maybe it's a quote from Sleepy Lagoon (https://youtu.be/JDGIt_pYrWI)? Also, Harry must have "studied" Herbert L. Clarke. Even by today's technical standards, he played flawlessly. Wow! I have immediately ordered this LP: https://www.discogs.com/release/6417418-Herbert-L-Clarke-Sousa-Band-Victor-Orchestra-Cornet-Solos
Yes, it is a bit like Sleepy Lagoon. But I still think there is some piece that fits more exactly--maybe another one by James, as you say. And yes, it is a known fact that James studied Clarke's records and also his method books for brass players. Clarke was famous for good reasons! I have that same LP of his recordings. THANK YOU BREWSK!
Lewis, I'm from the Bronx. When you wrote about Freddie's sojourn there, I had to look up "845 Prospect Avenue". I know exactly where that is. Here is a 2006 article from the NYT about the former jazz scene — and more! — in that neighborhood.
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/30/nyregion/thecity/morrisania-melody.html
I'm from the Bronx too. That's a very good article going back to the 845 Club in the '40s. Thanks for sharing that! I might add that link to essay 6, where I showed the ad. THANK YOU PETER
I knew Frank Socolow (1923-1981); I met him and his wife Joanne not long before Frank's death of cancer at age 57. They were neighbors of mine in Riverdale (NW Bronx). Frank and Joanne spent their honeymoon on Artie Shaw's 1949 band bus. Both were lovely people, and Frank was for years a well-respected player on the NYC music scene. Also, both were dog lovers, and for years they sponsored an annual benefit jam session concert for animal welfare. Among the participants were David Allyn, Manny Albam, John Glasel, Johnny Carisi, Aaron Sachs, Ron Odrich, Marky Markowitz, and many others, myself included.
Wow--what great memories of a man we knew little about. Much appreciated. I did check his discography and I saw that he recorded with Boyd Raeburn's band and other groups. Another subscriber, Todd Selbert, informed me that Frank takes some nice solos on some of his many recordings with the Johnny Richards big band, ca 1957-59. THANK YOU BILL!
Here's Frank Socolow's Wikipedia entry--useful and accurate as far as I know:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Socolow