Rare And Obscure Criteria Jazz Recordings (II)

The Herbie Brock Trio

"Herbie's Room"

This is the second of several VSOP releases of Criteria recordings. All Criteria LPs are extremely rare and highly sought after. This recording by Herbie Brock's trio reveals that some great jazz was being played in and around Miami during the late 1950's. Herbie Brock is a blind piano virtuoso steeped in the tradition of Art Tatum and Teddy Wilson, but also influenced by Horace Silver and others, who melds a strong classical background with exciting and instinctively astute improvisational ideas. He recorded three albums during the late 1950's. Two very seasoned Miami pros, Bill Ladley and Bruce Caperton, help showcase Herbie's prodigious talent. While Herbie Brock has fallen into obscurity in recent years, this unfortunate situation should be remedied by the release of this very worthwhile CD. A great piano trio recording, showcasing a major underapreciated talent. Highly recommended. *magnebit.xeran.com*

The music that you first hear on this record is not produced by Herbie Brock, but is the final record of an intermission-Juke Box. Next, you will perceive a moment of musi 

cal silence penetrated by the faint sound of clinking glasses and the restrained laughter of happy people. These happy people are in "Herbie's Room", and as you listen further, the reason for their happiness becomes apparent. For it is here that the great "Herbie Brock Trio" holds forth until the infant hours of the morning. Unhappily, you are not there now, but if you will unloosen for a moment the shackles of your mind, perhaps the image of.

"Herbie's Room" can drift into the field of your imagination. You hear next the swish of a brush on the snare drum, it is Bill Ladley, and the trio is on the stand, then a soft cascading run of piano notes--this would be Herbie, as his fingers, following the dictates of his subconscious mind, ramble over the keys in an apparently aimless exploration. 

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The room quiets as Herbie probes the piano keyboard for the tune that will suit his mood of the moment. His chord changes and modulation continues briefly and then suddenly, without warning, they are into the tune. Drums and bass have caught the split second, unspoken cue on the first chord and the trio is off and swinging. You are a part of it now, the lifting jazz, the happy chatter of the crowd, the aura of subdued excitement generated by the entire setting-you are in "Herble's Room" (and if your imagination serves you well, this record will transport you there any time you desire). 

CRITERIA has always felt strongly that a taping of jazz "on the spot" captures an element of spontaneity and freshness that is frequently lacking in studio recordings. The 

audience was deliberately kept unaware of the recording process, because we wanted in a sense to "bottle up" for you the total live atmosphere of Herbie's Room — as is. *Val Machen (liner notes)*

1 - Jim And Andy

(Lou Stein)

2 - Tenderly

(Walter Gross)

3 - Polka Dots And Moonbeams

(J. Burke, J. Van Heusen)

4 - My Funny Valentine

(Rodgers, Hart)

5 - Doxy

(Sonny Rollins)

6 - Laura

(David Raskin)

7 - Johnny Jaguaar

(Lennie Niehaus)

8 - A Foggy Day

(George and Ira Gershwin)

Herbie Brock (piano), Brooks Caperton (bass), Bill Ladley (drums).

Recorded live at Herbie's Room, Miami, Florida, August 1957