Contributed by Gonzo
Review of CD by Dave Thompson
Topped and tailed by four bonus tracks, this is an otherwise straightforward (and certainly long-awaited) reissue of Humphrey Lyttelton's best-known and most all-pervasively influential album, the 1957 set that he titled, fittingly, after the first volume of his own autobiography Widely regarded among the most adventurous of all the players bound up in the British trad boom of the mid- to late '50s, Lyttelton had already broken any number of seemingly inviolate rules by the time he teamed with producer Denis Preston to cut this set -- including the addition of a saxophone and the omission of the banjo Now it was time to push even further In terms of numerical strength, three bands appear on this album -- the seven-piece Humphrey Lyttelton Band, an expanded 12-man big band, and the so-called Humphrey Lyttelton Paseo Band, a nine-piece that eschewed horns for flutes, then added a riot of percussion to the mix It's a heady blend that had traditionalists wringing their hands in despair when the album first appeared, but time (and, of course, the eventual acceptance of many of the ideas Lyttelton first posited) readily vindicates the album's audacity For collectors, meanwhile, the set is bolstered by both sides of two singles recorded by the regular Lyttelton Band around the same time as I Play As I Please came together, the self-explanatory "Dixie Theme" and the sultry "Blues in the Afternoon."
(01 05 08)
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
Bert Courtley - trumpet
Maurice Pratt - trombone
Rick Kennedy - trombone
Alex McGuiness - trombone
Ronnie Ross - alto
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Don Rendell - tenor
Alex Leslie - baritone
Ron Davey - vibes
Ian Armitt - piano
Brian Brocklehurst - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(02 06 09)
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
John Picard - trombone
Tony Coe - alto
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Ian Armitt - piano
Brian Brocklehurst - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
(03 07)
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
Larry Saunders - flute
S. Farnsworth - flute
Phil Goody - bass flute
Denny Wright - guitar
Jack Fallon - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
John Blanchard - marimba
Jack McHardie - bongos
Sidney Rich - timbales
(04)
Humphrey Lyttelton - trumpet
John Picard - trombone
Tony Coe - alto
Kathy Stobart - tenor
Ian Armitt - piano
Brian Brocklehurst - bass
Eddie Taylor - drums
01 Skid Row (Skidmore) (6:44)
02 Manhattan (Rodgers) (2:15)
03 La Paloma (Yradier) (3:09)
04 Goin' Out The Back Way (Hodges) (7:08)
05 Mezzrow (Lyttelton) (4:15)
06 Singin' The Blues (Conrad, Robinson, Young, Lewis) (:3)09
07 Bodega (Lyttelton) (2:44)
08 Looking For Turner (Lyttelton) (6:51)
09 Sweethearts On Parade (Lombardo, Newman) (3:18)
Label: ECM/S 2009
Recorded: September 05 (02 06 09) 12 (01 05 08) November 21 (03 07) 25 (04) 1957
Lineage: LP/FLAC
¡Hola BritJazz!
ReplyDeleteI like Humphrey Lyttleton from the botttom of my musical heart. EXTRA-THANKS for sharing this music which will become the spicy of my life in the next days.
Very-best wishes
Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteA nice varied slice of Humph. Many thanks for this one Gonzo.
ReplyDeleteNow this looks very good. Thanks for Humph and all your good work. A great memorial to a great British jazzman who refused to be pigeon holed.
ReplyDeleteHere's one traditionalist who didn't wring his hands. I went to Humph's shows starting at the Red Barn in the 40's and thence to the 100 club, I loved his music and went with all his changes. I saw him with George Webb, Bechet and also with Big Bill. I have that album plus several other plus his two books from that era. I left the UK in 58 so I missed out on his TV fame but his records got plenty of play over here.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for this outstanding post dedicated to the great late Humph and compliments for yet another great jazz blog. Presumably this was ripped from an LP record. Any info as to the equipment used for the digital transfer for us hi fi enthusiasts would be welcome.
ReplyDeleteDelightful. Thank you very much.
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