John Plonsky Quintet

John Plonsky Quintet

Cool Man Cool

John Plonsky was a journeyman trumpet player, composer and arranger from the West Coast who had recorded with Ray Bauduc and Nappy Lamare in the '40s, starting out in traditional and swing styles. He later switched to a more bop-oriented approach after coming to the East Coast with Alvy West's Little Band. This recording was only his third time in the studio during his career, and it was his first time as a leader. It would be his last. What happened to John Plonsky after this is unknown, at least to me.

There are several aspects to this record that make it stand out. The first is purely cosmetic: its decidedly unhip cover. An apotheosis of bad concept, design and execution, the album front has the band, looking tentative and uncomfortable, superimposed over a snowy background. These guys are cool, get it? Golden Crest, the album's label, is the outfit that produced all those bright red and yellow children's records that I remember from my youth. Clearly jazz was a stretch for them, despite the fact that they issued a number of good jazz LPs. Cool Man Cool made me laugh, and I laid out four bits for it at my radio station's music sale a few years ago.

The second standout feature of Cool Man Cool is the band's instrumentation. With an electric accordion and a baritone saxophone backing up the trumpet's lead, you'd think the sound would be quite annoying. But no – it is remarkably coherent and nuanced. Plonsky talks about how accordionist Dominic Cortese muffles his instrument to "eliminate the reedy sound". He does and the result is very interesting.

One additional note: Dizzy Gillespie recorded as a sideman for a vocalist back in the mid'-40s and, because he was under contract to Victor, used a pseudonym on the label. The name he chose? "John Plonsky". *David Dann*

This quintet under the direction of composer-arranger-trumpeter John Plonsky (born in 1926) offers an interesting listening experience in the smooth jazz style of Dave Pell butwith a twist, its unusual instrumentation composed of baritone, amplified accordion and trumpet with bass and drums. Recorded in 1957, Cool Man Cool was his only album as a leader, and it revealed Plonsky as a talented and imaginative soloist with a warmand open tone, who also managed to carry out extremely laborious ensemble work. All players are excellent in harmony, and the use of amplified accordion provides an orchestral texture to support the trumpet and baritone saxophone, adding much appreciated depth to the overall sound. Plonsky's five tastefully conceived originals plus the six fresh, well-arranged standards — two of theman excellent frame to showcase the talent and the vocal facets of singer Betty Ann Blake — do much to enhance the album's appeal. *Jordi Pujol*

Side 1

1 - Laurel And Hardy

(J. Plonsky)

2 - The Lady Is A Tramp

(R. Rodgers)

3 - But Not For Me

(G. Geershwin)

4 - Putting On The Ritz

(I. Berrlin)

5 - Just In Time

(J. Styne, B. Comden, A. Green)

Side 2

6 - Calico Shoes

(J. Plonsky)

7 - Angel Hair

(J. Plonsky)

8 - How About You?

(B. Lane, R. Freed)

9 - Funkier Than Thou

(J. Plonsky)

10 - I'll Take Romance

(Oakland)

11 - Blonde Caboose

(J. Plonsky)

John Plonsky (trumpet), Carl Janelli (baritone sax), Dominic Cortese (accordion),

Chet Amsterdam (bass), Mel Zelnick (drums), Betty Ann Blake (vocals [#3, #8]).

Recorded in New York City, March 5, 1957