Contributed by delmonico, who writes:-
These are the first sixteen Esquire titles recorded by the Afro-Cubists during a two year period.
Formed in 1950, the band was no longer viable by March 1952 although it reformed periodically to record until 1957.
They were the only small bop group in the world to play full time with a latin rhythm section.
The talented trumpeter, Jo Hunter, appears on twelve of the sixteen tracks and the last two tracks show Kenny rethinking his format to use a five piece sax section.
(01 02)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Jack Honeybourne - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Cliff Ball - bass
Dickie Devere - drums
(03-06)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Cliff Ball - bass
Dickie Devere - drums
(11-14)
Terry Brown - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Bruce Swain - bass
Dickie Devere - drums
(15 16)
Jo Hunter - trumpet
Kenny Graham - tenor
Derek Humble - tenor
Pete King - tenor
Joe Temperley - tenor
Oscar Birch - baritone
Ralph Dollimore - piano
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
01 Mango Walk (Graham) (1:50)
02 Pina Colada (Ventura, Kral) (2:59)
03 Chloe (Kahn, Moret) (3:03)
04 Over The Rainbow (Harburg, Arlen) (3:34)
05 Skylon (Graham) (3:19)
06 Dome Of Discovery (Dollimore) (3:17)
07 Mike Fright (Graham) (3:18)
08 Pip Squeak (Graham) (3:11)
09 Kenny's Jig (Graham) (2:55)
10 Cuban Canon (Graham) (3:28)
11 Boom (Trenet, Goetz) (3:04)
12 Barbados (Parker) (2:43)
13 All The King's Horses (Gay) (3:30)
14 Peanut Vendor (Simons, Sunshine, Gilbert) (3:18)
15 I'll Remember April (Raye, De Paul, Johnson) (2:57)
16 Jump For Joe (Roland) (2:52)
Label: Esquire ESQ 308
Recorded:
February 10 (01 02) June 04 (03-06) 1951
February 13 (07-10) October 08 (11-14) 1952
February 05 1953 (15 16)
Lineage: vinyl>FLAC
My thanks to both you and Bluebird for these fine Kenny Graham recordings. Indeed everything that you've posted on this site is well worth hearing, it reminds me just how good British jazz of the Fifties was. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteWow, I had recently searched for any traces of Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists in blog-land recently, but just came upon the 2 albums here! Thank you very much! After reading about the Afro Cubists in the book "Essential Jazz Records, Vol. 2" by Max Harrison, who raves about these VERY albums, I wondered how the heck I would find them! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteCliff Ball was my uncle , he sadly dies a few years ago.. He was the son of Bass player Dick Ball who played for Bert Ambrose amongst many others.....A profile and photos of Cliff ,including one with Kenny Graham can be found on the following link.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jabw.demon.co.uk/ball1.htm
Hope some of you find it useful.
william
A fascinating read and listen, William. Thank you very much for posting here to open this window on the history of British jazz for us.
ReplyDeletemuch appreciated !!!
ReplyDeletemy British library is growing nicely:-)
cheers
Jo Hunter still plays really well. In fact I have a gig with him tomorrow
ReplyDeleteVery nice. Brought back a lot of memories especially "Over The Rainbow" Thank you again.
ReplyDeletehttps://cjoint.net/?r1egox2hsp
ReplyDelete