Alto saxophonist Harry Hayes had a long and distinguished career in music. Not everything he played could be described as jazz but he always employed the best musicians and employed good arrangers. His tone was immaculate and he was perhaps a "musicians' musician", much appreciated by his colleagues.
As Ronnie Scott said, 'Harry was the guv'nor'
These sides were originally recorded on 78s for HMV and this is the first in a two volume set which Harry had privately produced for cd issue on his own label. The track and personnel details enclosed cover tracks on both volumes but Volume 2 is not here.
For those enthusiasts of 1940s small group swing or jump bands this will be a treat for you as there are echoes of the Savoy Sultans in places. Certainly worth exploring if you don't know the name.
FLAC with cd booklet details.
Kenny Baker - trumpet
Jimmy Watson - trumpet
Freddy Clayton - trumpet
Len Whitely - trumpet
Billy Smith - trumpet
Leo Wright - trumpet
George Chisholm - trombone
Harry Roche - trombone
Jock Bain - trombone
Jack Bentley - trombone
Nobby Knight - trombone
Lad Busby - trombone
Harry Hayes - alto, tenor
Tommy Whittle - tenor
Jimmy Williams - tenor
Mickey Deans- tenor
Aubrey Franks - tenor
Bill Lewington - baritone
Phil Goody - baritone
George Shearing - piano
Norman Stenfalt - piano
Pat Dodd - piano
Joe Deniz - guitar
Alan Ferguson - guitar
Archie Slavin - guitar
Tommy Bromley - bass
Joe Scott - bass
Charles Scott - bass
Bert Howard - bass
Arthur O'Neill - bass
Jack Fallon - bass
George Fierstone - drums
Billy Lonsdale - drums
Billy Wiltshire - drums
Johnny Wise - drums
Norman Burns - drums
01 Sequence (Kleeb) (2:49)
02 Needle Nose (3:04)
03 Five Flat Flurry (Hayes) (2:44)
04 First Edition (Hayes) (3:14)
05 Drop Me Off In Harlem (Ellington) (2:56)
06 Merely A Minor (Hayes) (3:11)
07 1/2/3/4 Jump (2:51)
08 Up (2:33)
09 No Script (Hayes, Stenfalt) (2:36)
10 Cherry Brandy (Hayes) (2:21)
11 Midnight Prowl (2:54)
12 Playboy (2:44)
13 Homeward Bound (2:45)
14 Swinging On Lennox Avenue (Johnson) (2:41)
15 Keep Going-Don't Stop (2:13)
16 Can't You Read Between The Lines (Styne, Cahn) (3:08)
Label: HEP CD58
Recorded: November 15 1944-July 22 1947
Lineage: CD>FLAC
Thanks BritJazz - nice post - Baron
ReplyDeleteHarry Hayes, hmmnn, I know the name but I don't think I've heard much of his music (I once saw a CD of his in a local shop and passed it by, and when I went back to get it the CD had gone), so thank you very much BJ and Azule Serape. And what a supporting line-up, Chis, Shearing, Kenny Baker, Tommy Whittle, Norman Stenfalt, and so on, fine musicians all.
ReplyDeletemany thanks to all for the chance to hear this rarity from the less modern area. Fine swinging music and surprisingly jazzy for the mere popular market. Outstanding musicianship all round. Any chance vol 2 ?
ReplyDeletezoot: After a determined campaign by the ever diligent and alert azule serape, the very rare vol 2 you ask about has been acquired. It will be posted here in due course.
Deletemany thanks. the dissemination of this is a profound public service but then Britjazz is a profound public service.
DeleteThat's kind of you, zoot. Perhaps we should quote you in our banner :-)
DeleteMany thanks for this one - in fact many thanks for all your wonderful shares - dropbox link most welcome
ReplyDeletebulldogUK
Thanks for another interesting one azule
ReplyDeleteNow that's nice! I had some of the tracks on 78s (many) years ago and a good friend of mine was one of Harry's students so I got to hear quite a bit about the man and his music. Listen to the rhythm section and you will be surprised that it is from a British band of that era. Shows you the Brits could swing when given the chance.
ReplyDeleteMany thanx britjazz & azule serape!! Missed this when originally posted, but came back to get it after spotting Vol. 2. Definitely swings!!
ReplyDeleteI listened to this CD the other day. Fine swing music from the time immediately before the first bop influences would start to creep in. I would say that the ensembles are reminiscent of Ellington small groups from the late 30s/early 40s, but Hayes's own soloing reflects Benny Carter much more than Johnny Hodges.
ReplyDeleteThe sound is good, but unfortunately the CD is not quite complete, even though there was plenty of room to include the remaining three tracks. From the first session "My Love", which was the flip side of "Sequence" has been omitted. From the fifth session, which yielded "Cherry Brandy", the flipside "Three O'Clock Jump" has also been left out. This side can be found on Spotify, but in worse sound. Finally, "Keep Going - Don't Stop" was a two-part 78, but we only get one of the parts here. The side we get is a piano feature, so presumably Hayes soloed on the side that was omitted!
For an LP it would have made sense to have a limit of 16 tracks, but the CD could easily have been expanded to include all 19 tracks. A missed opportunity.
https://cjoint.net/?4pfu7v9zcp
ReplyDelete