Cool Blends (III) ★ European Panorama

Cool Europa

European Progressive Jazz in Germany 1959-63

A good record is not just an album, it is a story, and few people understand this better than Ekkehart Fleischhammer, who runs Sonorama. The label specializes in reissues and discoveries of lost jazz classics, library music, funk and soul. Every release is a labor of love and the albums in the following batch all include photography and liner notes (...)

Karlhanns Berger, who is now known as Karl Berger, also shows up on a nice compilation of modern jazz that marks the 100th release on Sonorama. The album portrays the golden age of the German jazz scene in the period 1959-1963 and includes unreleased cuts by Sonorama regulars like saxophonist Barney Wilen, guitarist Attila Zollar, clarinet "bird" Rolf Kühn and others. The playing time is generous (almost seventy minutes) and spans the big sound of Francy Boland's Ensemble, Rolf Ericson Quintet's interpretation of Thelonious Monk's "Straight No Chaser" and the tight trio sound of pianist Roland Kovac.

What is thought-provoking about this compilation is how the musicians walk the tight line between mainstream accessibility and progressive experiments. Nothing here will scare listeners away, but, at the same time, the by now established musical conventions of hard bop, cool jazz and modal jazz sound fresh and full of possibilities. *Jakob Baekgaard (allaboutjazz.com)*

Fourteen previously unknown tracks recorded 1959-63 in West-Germany by some of the best European jazz artists of the time, featuring Barney Wilen, Francy Boland, Rolf Kühn, Joki Freund, Attila Zoller, Fats Sadi, Roland Kovac, Rolf Ericson, Michael Naura and countless others. All tunes picked from collectors' archives, carefully mastered for 2LP-Gatefold and Longplay Digipack-CD with new sleeve notes and artist photos by Susanne Schapowalow and Hans Harzheim.

This music celebrates the 100th release of Sonorama, an independent record label from Berlin. Its founder Ekkehart Fleischhammer started in June 2004 with a 7-inch single that features an unreleased track by Swiss piano player Elsie Bianchi. A new cottage industry was born, bringing hidden treasures of modern jazz to international music lovers. Today the focus of Sonorama Records is on unavailable European jazz and American musicians playing in Europe.

The criteria Fleischhammer is looking for always is the quality of music, the condition of the source recording, if it is a rarity and the belief that people need to hear that music. "European Progressive Jazz in Germany 1959-1963" is the subtitle of this anniversary compilation and mainly features a selection of musicians from the Sonorama roster. Most of the tracks presented here are previously unreleased, a few others have appeared on hard to find EPs only. Some of the tunes are live takes, others hail from unreleased studio tapes, all recorded in former West-Germany by some of the best European jazz artists of the time and finally discovered in archives or in the vaults of collectors and musicians.

1959-1963 was the most prosperous period in the development of European modern and progressive jazz. Post-war Europe saw an influx of American jazz artists who felt more appreciated on the old continent. These expatriates brought with them a fresh influence, and European jazz musicians revered their American stage mates. American greats such as Stan Kenton and Lionel Hampton gave their premiere European concerts, creating a jazz-boom. By the late 1950s a new sound emerged as European players gained confidence and started to play and compose in their own style. The fervor for modern jazz was especially apparent in the many crowded jazz clubs which appeared across post-war Germany.

The cover of this album Cool Europa comes from the archive of German photographer Susanne Schapowalow. She loved jazz and followed musicians with her camera whenever she could. Trumpet player Fred Bunge was a member of the Joe Wick Orchestra and later played in the Edelhagen orchestra. Schapowalow met Bunge in Hamburg at the Heiligengeistfeld in 1949: "I don't remember if it was his or my idea to pose up there in the ruins. I was worried because it was slightly dangerous for him, but he looked great playing the trumpet. The two young boys came by on their wooden carriage and stopped to listen. The whole situation was improvised". After the end of the second world war, this picture seems optimistic. The two boys symbolize the post-war generation and Fred Bunge was very much into progressive jazz, but he missed the blossom of that period. He died in a car crash in 1960, only 36 years old. Another German photographer, Hans Harzheim contributes several portraits here. Harzheim has produced an impressive body of work and captured many jazz greats.

Sonorama Records has unearthed some excellent unpublished tracks here that will satisfy the serious connoisseur. Fleischhammer explained in an interview for the website "All About Jazz" what Sonorama is looking for: "It must always touch me in a spiritual sense, and be of historical importance regarding the repertoire of the artist. Even better if it can close a gap in certain fields of music that people, or especially the record industry forgot about". These rediscovered recordings are perfect to celebrate the 100th release of Sonorama. *(from the liner notes)*

1 - Blues For Koebes

(Francy Boland)

Francy Boland Ensemble:

Francy Boland (piano), Dusko Goykovich (trumpet),

Karl Drewo (tenoir sax), Derek Humble (alto sax),

Bubi Aderhold (baritone sax), Heinz Kretzschmar (bass clarinet),

Jean Warland (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums).

Cologne, Germany,February 14, 1961

2 -  Gigi's Pad

(Fats Sadi, Francis Coppieters)

Fats Sadi Quintet:

Fats Sadi (vibes), Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet),

Roland Ronchaud (piano), Maurice Salvat (bass), Stuff Combe (drums).

Cologne, Germany, May 22, 1959

3 - Straight No Chaser

(Thelonious Monk)

Rolf Ericson Quintet:

Rolf Ericson (trumpet), Rolf Kühn (clarinet).

[rhythm section unknown]

Hamburg, Germany, July 3, 1962

4 - Inspiration In 6/8

(Dieter Reith)

Hermann Mutschler Trio:

Dieter Reith (piano), Werner Schultze (bass), Hermann Mutschler (drums).

Frankfurt, Germany, June 3, 1962

5 - Tempus Fugit

(Bud Powell)

Barney Wilen Quartet:

Barney Wilen (tenor sax), Joel Vandroogenbroeck (piano),

Karl Theodor Geier (bass), Peter Baumeister (drums).

Frankfurt, Germany, August 1, 1962

6 - You Stepped Out Of A Dream

(Nacio Herb Brown)

Attila Zoller Trio:

Attila Zoller (guiytar), George Joyner (bass), Buster Smith (drums).

Berlin, Germany, August 30, 1961

7 - Marihuana

(Wolfgang Dauner)

Götz Wendland Quintet:

Lothar Behr (tenor sax), Jürgen Schmidt-Oehm (bass trumpet), 

Wolfgang Dauner (piano), Götz Wendland (bass), Sigi Knispel (drums).

Frankfurt, Germany, June 2, 1962

8 - Ginger

(Jack Sels)

Jack Sels  Ensemble:

Jack Sels (tenor sax), Lucky Thompson (soprano sax), Ado Broodboom (trumpet),

Jack Fanis (piano), Fats Sadi (vibes), Benoit Quersin (bass), Ghana M'Bow (drums).

Cologne, Germany, February 7, 1959

9 - Warm Up

(Helmut Brandt)

Helmut Brandt Combo:

Helmut Brandt (baritone sax), Harry Samp (trumpet),

Siegfried Schmidt (valve trombone), Hajo Lange (bass), Heinz Niemeyer (drums).

Rheda, Germany, October 13, 1962

10 - Prof. Wotasnozzle

(Karlhanns Berger)

Karlhanns Berger Quartet:

Karlhanns Berger (piano), Bent Jaedig (flute),

Joop Christoffer (bass), Bob Petrin (drums).

Bremen, Germany, July 3, 1963

 

11 - Bag's Groove

(Milt Jackson)

Rolf Kühn Sextet:

Rolf Kühn (clarinet), Wolfgang Schlüter (vibes).

[sax and rhythm section unknown]

Hamburg, Germany, May 10, 1962

12 - Psychophysis

(Roland Kovac)

Roland Kovac Trio:

Roland Kovac (piano), Jonny Fischer (bass), Rudi Sehring (drums).

Munich, Germany, October 24, 1962.

13 - Futurity

(Gigi Gryce)

Michael Naura Quintet:

Michael Naura (piano), Wolfgang Schlüter (vibesb),

Klaus Marmulla (alto sax), Hajo Lange (bass), Heinz von Moisy (drums).

Hamburg, Germany, February 24, 1959

14 - Olé Coltrane

(Joki Freund)

Joki Freund Sextet:

Joki Freund (soprano sax), Emil Mangelsdorff (flute),

Bernhard Kirchgärtner (guitar), Karl Theodor Geier (bass),

Günter Lenz (bass), Peter Baumeister (drums).

Frankfurt, Germany, June 2, 1962

Sahib Shihab - Summer Dawn

Sahib Shihab born Edmund Gregory in Savannah, Georgia, on June 23, 1925. Though his musical career stretched over four decades, Sahib Shihab counted only about a dozen titles as leader, including this 1964 recording made with a handful of members of the Clarke Boland Big Band in Cologne, engineered by their  regular engineer Wolfgang Hirschmann. How and why the title came to be released only in the US through Chicago based Chess Jazz subsidiary Argo label is anyone's guess. Shihab's other occasional label connections included Savoy, Debut, Storyville and Atlantic.

Shihab spent from 1960 to 1986 as a resident of Europe, including a decade 1963-72 a regular fixture of the Clarke Boland Big Band. He returned to the US for his final years, passing away in 1989 age 64.

The stripped-down Shihab — Clarke Boland Quintet is a marvel of musical mobility, big band in everything but... size. All the compositions and arrangements here enjoy a small big-band flavour, the power toned down, a bit more intimate, but unmistakably Clarke Boland, embracing a wider range of styles: waltz, rhumba, more European stuff.

Shihab is one of the most original voices of the baritone sax. With a reference bar of Harry Carney, Gerry Mulligan, Lars Gullin and Pepper Adams, Shihab  developed a unique vocabulary which owes little or nothing to those players, he simply charted his own course. Changing from baritone, his alto solo on the selection "Please Don't Leave Me" is quirky, straying fancifully, before finally locking onto the groove and picking up speed.  But not until Åke Persson and Francy Boland have shown their mettle. 

"Waltz For Seth" is another Shihab favourite, and other tracks ("Herr Fixit", "Campi's Idea")  point back to jazz producer / supervisor Gigi Campi: "busy, eloquent, creative intellectual, Pietro Luigi (Gigi) Campi — editor, architect, concert manager, music publisher, producer and restaurateur", and anchor of the Cologne jazz scene. Campi productions have found their way to the Italian reissue label Schema/Rearward,  of which I have many CBBB, Johnny Griffin and Sahib Shihab titles. *londonjazzcollector.wordpress.com*

A fantastic early record by Sahib Shihab — a motherlode of modal jazz grooves, cut during the early days of the Clarke-Boland Big Band! The record features a core group of players from that ensemble — including Shihab on alto, baritone, and flute, plus Francy Boland on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, Åke Persson on trombone, Francy Boland on piano, Joe Harris on bongos, and Kenny Clarke on drums — all coming together here with a groove that's really groundbreaking — a style that's sweet and soulful, but rhythmically revolutionary too! The tracks are all long and grooving — with the kind of dancing jazz tone that you'd expect from the Saba/MPS label during the mid 60s — a big change from the Argo label that originally issued the record. But that's no surprise, either, as the session was actually recorded in Europe by Gigi Campi — the man behind the CBBB albums on MPS — with a feel that's quite similar to other Shihab classics, like Companionship or Seeds. The whole thing's great — one of Shihab's most wonderful records, and totally worth owning.  *dustygroove.com*

There is one moment... when the darkness of the night begins to pass... when first light creeps from horizon through the leaves of the trees, 'round the corners of your neighbor's house... it sneaks through the windows softening the colors on its way, altering your feelings of past and present, banishing all those many troubles...

Listen! The sounds seems transparent... they echo... they come again... and now from over there...

You smell the cool breeze, touching heart and brain, rebuilding your ego, helpin to strip off the troublesome yesterday...

You're alone. It is summer dawn... *Nat Jungnick (liner notes)*

1 - Lillemor

2 - Please Don't Leave Me

3 - Waltz For Seth

4 - Campi's Idea

5 - Herr Fixit

(All compositions by Sahib Shihab)

Sahib Shihab (alto sax, baritone sax, flute),  Åke Persson (trombone), Francy Boland (piano), Jimmy Woode (bass), Joe Harris (bongos), Kenny Clarke (drums).

Recorded in Cologne, Germany, May 8 and 9, 1963.

***

and now... a break and some days for my own summer dawns...

 Best New Year for all here!

Fats Sadi - Sadi's Vibes

The Belgian Fats Sadi (1927-2009), due to his technique and modern approach, was the quintessential European vibraphonist of the 50s. In his beginnings, his style was indebted to Lionel Hampton, but as he assimilated the irresistible and evolving influence of Milt Jackson, his music became a true reflection of himself, generous and overflowing with swing.

Upon his arrival in Paris in 1951, Sadi had a hard time finding gigs as a jazzman. There were too many musicians chasing too few jobs and at first he had to work in all kinds of orchestras. From 1953 he joined forces with Bobby Jaspar and grew musically, playing and recording alongside him as a sideman and as a leader while surrounded by the best musicians on the Parisian scene. In 1954, he put together an eight-piece combo that recorded an album of wellcrafted arrangements firmly rooted in the West Coast sound performed with a precision rarely heard in mainland jazz groups at the time.

As the years passed, Sadi continued to develop his style and conception, establishing himself as an impressive and forceful soloist who was capable of sustaining the mood of the tunes with depth and freshness in both wailers and ballads. In the late 50s and early 60s, he was working and recording in Germany and Belgium and he was chosen to integrate the European All-Stars of 1961. On the bonus track "Hittin' the Road", Sadi blows along with another of his compatriots, the great guitarist René Thomas, who unleashes a memorable solo in a particularly graphic aural definition of swing.

In this retrospective we can hear Sadi playing in very different and exciting settings with a fierce flow of ideas and dedication. All in all, this set is an impressive showcase for an almost forgotten and often underrated vibes player. *Jordi Pujol*

Like trumpeter Harry James, Fats Sadi began his musical career in the company of clowns. The Belgian jazz musician played the xylophone in a touring circus before World War II. After the war, he took up the vibraphone and recorded as a sideman and as a leader. He could play swing and bop, and his earliest recordings in 1946 were with fellow Belgian standout, saxophonist and flutist Bobby Jaspar.

In 1950, Sadi moved to Paris in search of work and began playing at the many jazz clubs there in combos and recording as a sideman with Henri Renaud and Django Reinhardt.

Sadi reunited with Jaspar in May 1953 on a three-song session that is part of a recently released album Fats Sadi: Sadi's Vibes, a Retrospective 1953-1961. The album features Sadi on vibes across a range of small groups.

Sadi's leadership sessions start with the Fats Sardi's Combo, recorded in May 1954. In October of that year and in 1958, he was back with Jaspar before recording with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar in 1959. The album closes out in Brussels in 1961. These are scattered tracks but ones that prominently feature Sadi's firm vibes and cool, tender attack with West Coast jazz overtones. There's a guitar-like quality to his playing, and this album serves as a perfect introduction to a tasty player with plenty of swing and moxie. Fresh Sound features many other Sadi recordings. Have a look. *Marc Myers*

If you're a fan of the vibes, your probable references were the swing era gents of Lionel Hampton or Red Norvo, bebop with Terry Gibbs and Milt Jackson, and that's about it until modern jazz with Bobby Hutcherson. Well, here's a new gent for you to dig, but he's not a "new" guy, but an obscure Belgian stationed in Paris and hitting the vibes with fervermallet with a bunch of impressive locals like Henri Renaud, Maurice Vander, Pierre Michelot, Francy Boland, Jimmy Gourley, Rene Thomas, Genoir Quersin as well as some American ringers like Kenny Clarke, Jymie Merritt, Walter Bishop and Bobby Jaspar.

This single disc contains Sadi in sessions as both leader and sideman swinging from a '53 Jaspar led recording to Sadis' own quartets. With Jaspar, there's a "Nonette" with a hot horn section for "Honky Tonky", a bopping smaller ensemble for "le JAMF" and a lovely "I Only Have Eyes For You". Sadi's sense of swing is palpable, with a tone somewhere between Hampton and Jackson, tearing up "Ridin' High", glowing on "Dear Old Lady" and snapping with "Laguna Leap". The sound quality is excellent, and the vibes, well, vibrate!

As with all reissues from Fresh Sound, there's a great booklet with session listings as well as some great background on this obscure mallet man. This is a real fun one! *George W. Harris*

1 - Strike up the Band

(G. and I.Gershwin)

2 - I Only Have Eyes For You

(Warren, Dubin)

3 - Struttin' With Some Barbecue

(Lili Hardin Armstrong)

4 - Ad Libitum

(Francy Boland)

5 - Laguna Leap

(Edward Laguna)

6 - Karin

(Jose Bartel)

7 - Big Balcony

(Bobby Jaspar)

8 - Sadisme

(Francy Boland)

9 - Sweet Feeling

(Pierre Michelot)

10 - Ridin' High

(Cole Porter)

11 - Thanks A Million

(Johnston, Kahn)

12 - Early Wake

(Fats Sadi)

13 - Honky Tonky

(Bobby Jaspar)

14 - Jeux de Quartes

(Bobby Jaspar)

15 - Doxology (Memory of Dick)

(Bobby Jaspar)

16 - Le JAMF

(Bobby Jaspar)

17 - Ridin' In

(Sadi, Coppieters)

18 - Don't Blame Me

(McHugh-Fields)

19 - Gigi's Pad

(Sadi, Coppieters)

20 - If I Had You

(Shapiro, Campbell, Connelly)

21 - Hegor

(Fats Sadi)

22 - Dear Old Lady

(Fats Sadi)

23 - Hittin' The Road

(Fats Sadi)

#1 to #3: Bobby Jaspar Quintet - Featuring Sadi

from the 10"LP  New Sound of Belgium, Vol.4 (Vogue LD 143)

Bobby Jaspar (tenor sax), Fats Sadi (vibes),; Henri Renaud (piano [#2, #3]), Jimmy Gourley (guitar [#1]), Benoît Quersin (bass), Jean-Louis Viale (drums).

Recorded in Paris, May 22, 1953.

#4 to #11: Fats Sadi's Combo

from the 10" LP  Fats Sadis's Combo (Vogue LD 212)

Roger Guérin (trumpet, tuba), Nat Peck (trombone), Jean Aldegon (bass clarinet), Bobby Jaspar (tenor sax), Fats Sadi (vibes), Maurice Vander (piano), Jean-Marie Ingrand (bass), Jean-Louis Viale (drums), Francy Boland (arranger).

Recorded in Paris, May 8, 1954.

#12 to #14: Bobby Jaspar Nonette

from the 10" LP  Bobby Jaspar - New Jazz, Vol.2 (Swing M.33.338)

Buzz Gardner, Roger Guérin (trumpets); Nat Peck (trombone); Jean Aldegon (alto sax, bass clarinet); Bobby Jaspar (tenor sax); Armand Migiani (baritone sax); Fats Sadi (vibes, arranger); Pierre Michelot (bass); Gerard "Dave" Pochonet (drums).

Recorded in Paris, October 14, 1954.

#15 and #16: Bobby Jaspar Quartet

from the 12" LP  Bobby Jaspar Quartet (Barclay 84063)

Bobby Jaspar (flute), Fats Sadi (vibes), Jymie Merritt (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums).

Recorded in Paris, December 20, 1958.

#17 to #20: Fats Sadi Quartet plus Jimmy Deuchar

from the 7" EP  Sadi's Vibes (Manhattan 66133 C)

Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet), Fats Sadi (vibes), Roland Ronchaud (piano), Maurice Salvat (bass), Stuff Combe (drums).

Recorded in Cologne, May 22, 1959.

#21 and #22: Fats Sadi Quartet

from the 7" EP  Sadi Quartet (Palette EPP 7226)

Fats Sadi (vibes), Roland Ronchaud (piano), Jean Warland (bass), Freddy Rotier (drums).

Recorded in Brussels, 1961.

#23: Fats Sadi Quintet

from the 12" LP  Jack Sels (Best Seller 4C054-97754)

Fats Sadi (vibes), René Thomas (guitar), Francy Boland (piano), Roger Van Haverbecke (bass), Wallace Bishop (drums).

Recorded in Brussels, 1962.