Contributed by bluebird, who writes:-
These are further recordings from Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists in 1953 including the 'Caribbean' Suite an ambitious and interesting set of pieces which, surprisingly, have never been re-issued on cd. This particular lp issue dates from 1987 and is part of the Esquire Treasure Chest series of lps.
British guitarists never got much of a chance to shine in the 1950s in any band, being kept mainly to a role in the rhythm section but here Roy Plummer is featured on 'Beguine'. A rare solo spot.
The Afro Cubists recorded again in 1957 (to be seen here later) and then disbanded. It was a brave but financially disastrous experiment.
(01-03)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Derek Humble - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Oscar Birch - baritone
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Billy Olu Shelanke - conga drums
(04 to 06)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Norman Fantham - tenor
Eddie Mordue - tenor
Wally Moffatt - tenor
Oscar Birch - baritone
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Joe Muddell - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Billy Olu Shelanke - conga drums
Lati Pedro - African maracas
(08 09 12 13)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Eddie Mordue - tenor, clarinet
Norman Fantham - tenor
Don Honeywill - baritone
Dill Jones - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Donaldo - bongoes
Judy Johnson - vocal and maracas
(07 10 11 14)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Eddie Mordue - tenor, clarinet
Norman Fantham - tenor
Don Honeywill - baritone
Dill Jones - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
Donaldo - bongoes
Judy Johnson - vocal and maracas
01 Jump for Joe (Roland) (2:59)
02 A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie) (3:17)
03 Take the A Train (Strayhorn) (3:46)
04 Flamingo (Anderson, Grouya) (2:48)
05 Keni B'sindika (Graham) (3:37)
06 Afro-Kadabra (Graham) (8:42)
07 Mango Walk (Graham) (1:51)
08 Bongo Chant (Graham) (2:43)
09 Saga Boy (Graham) (2:01)
10 Dance of the Zombies (Graham) (3:46)
11 Wha' Huppin' Sah? (Graham) (3:16)
12 Tempo Medio Lento (Graham) (3:30)
13 Beguine (Graham) (2:53)
14 Haitian Ritual (Graham) (4:04)
Label: Esquire S 329
Recorded: February 05 (01-03) April 29 (04 to 06) October 23 (08 09 12 13) 27 (07 10 11 14) 1953
Lineage: Reissue LP>FLAC
Big thanks due for the Kenny Graham posts...excellent! Appreciated
ReplyDeleteTremendous find. Thanks for this - and the great blog.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! I had given up hope of ever seeing these. Great stuff and a very BIG thank you. Keep it going.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all these wonderful memories..and great music. The time and effort you put in is most appreciated.Good luck,best wishes, good health to you and yours
ReplyDeleteI know this is not directly linked to this recording, but this request IS directly linked to the artist Kenny Graham.
ReplyDeleteWay back in the 1960's Kenny composed a suite of music inspired by the 12 labours of Herecles (or for the non-Greeks) the 12 labours of Hercules.
The first I ever came across this was in an obituary for Kenny Graham in the Independent.
"Obituary: Kenny Graham "The Independant" 1997
Kenny Graham composed music for film and later experimented with electronic keyboards. His most inspired work included an orchestral suite, The Labours of Heracles, commissioned by the BBC and given one performance on radio before disappearing for ever."
I had this recording, taken from the BBC Light or Third program? it existed in my archive on a reel tape, sadly this tape was lost in a fire and no other copies can be found, I was sure I had a cassette copy too, but sadly it appears not.
I know this is not the modus of the blog to accept direct requests, but someone somewhere must have taken this recording too, it would be nice to get the chance to hear it again, as a prime example of the composing expertise of Kenny Graham. What a poor show that the BBC should go to the trouble to record this work, air it probably only once, and then bin it!
I've asked Geoffrey Smith the presenter of Jazz record Requests if a copy exists in the archive, could it be scheduled at some time as a special broadcast, so far no response other than the usual auto one. This really a request for anyone that reads this blog, do you have a copy, I am sure I, BJ and many others would love to hear one...
The links are dead on this one too.
ReplyDelete@bventure - yes, we know. Up, or rather down, to 0050 so far, renewing the links. So anything without current links newer than 0049 is probably a mistake which we would like to know about. All being well we should finish them all in about a week. See post "All Hands" at the top of the blog - it should not be there for much longer.
ReplyDeleteOK, thanks, I'll stop telling you what you already know! Sorry if I appeared to be nagging, that wasn't the intention. So pleased to find this wonderful site and impatient to hear things, but rapidshare is so slow that a few missing links are a bit academic anyway at the moment.
ReplyDeletePlaying the catch up game with this one, thanks Rod.
ReplyDeletehttps://cjoint.net/?spsesdxzpi
ReplyDelete