Claude Williamson - Kenton Jazz Presents Claude Williamson

It was in June 1954 that Stan Kenton was made head of a new Capitol Records department titled Stan Kenton Presents. Stan was quick to explain his position to Down Beat magazine: "This doesn't mean I'm going to oversee all of Capitol's jazz, but the preentation of new, modern jazz talent will be on Kenton Presents. What we hope is that the label will build so that it stands on its own. I'm very excited about this, and it will be interesting to see a year from now if we have built some importatnt jazz figures".

The music by the Claude Williamson trio is sublime as is the recording expertise of engineer John Palladino, who was responsible for achieving a perfect balance and capturing the music of all titles on tape. As Dick Bank told me, "This album shows both sides of Claude; a great bebop player who, obviously, could draw very heavily on The Great American Songbook". His complete understanding of what went into Bud Powell performancesis displayed on the opening "Bouncing with Bud". This was first recorded by Powell's quintet in August 1949 when Fats Navarro added his special brand of excitement to the occasion. Claude understands exactly what is required for his trio interpretation, and all the tracks which follow are, with no exaggeration,, masterpieces of the idiom, be it classic bebop or beautifullly resolved ballads.

When the album was released, it contained the following statement from Kenton: "Because jazz, more than any other music, is a reflection of the personality, I think it will prove interesting for the enthusiasts of the music to know something of the traits of each artist being introduced in this department of jazz. Possibly a partial knowledge of his emotional make-up will facilitate an easier communication with his music. Claude Williamson has the kind of finely-drawn sensitivity which gives him a sure and incisive awareness of the emotions of those around him. His stability, in the face of this awareness, is a characteristic which deserves applause. Williamson's soft spoken, unassuming manner, too, is deserving of applause, for it makes friends of musicians and non-musicians alike. The young pianist's life is a serious devotion to jazz — a vigorous, hard-working devotion — which can only result in flawness achievements".

The Capitol sessions of mid-Fifties have a special place in Claude Williamson's memory. They were the first albums he made as leader, and they enabled him to show off his abilities as both an outstanding bebop player and a man who could interpret the finest of songs in a truly unique way. *Alun Morgan*

Side 1

1 - Bouncing With Bud

(Bud Powell)

2 - Salute To Bud

(Claude Williamson)

3 - Penny (solo piano)

(Jimmy Shirl, Ervin Drake)

4 - Thou Swell

(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)

Side 2

5 - Obsession

(Claude Williamson)

6 - Indiana

(James F. Hanley, Ballard MacDonald)

7 - Over The Rainbow (solo piano)

(Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg)

8 - Curtistan

(Claude Williamson)

Claude Williamson (piano), Curtis Counce (bass), Stan Levey (drums).

Recorded at Capitol Melrose Studios, Los Angeles, California, June 26 (#5), June 29 (#3, #6, #7, #8) and July 29 (#1, #2, #4,), 1954.