A 1961 recording which has Nat Gonella reminiscing about his earlier musical life and playing with a surprisingly modernist group.
Whilst this may not be everyone's cup of tea it is extremely enjoyable with the likes of Tony Coe (who also plays uncredited clarinet), Stan Tracey, Jimmy Skidmore etc in the ranks. Stan even plays vibes on some tracks (his 'other' instrument at that time). Don't be put off by the choice of tunes. Everything goes with a swing - with guess who on drums and some superior arrangements by none other than Kenny Graham. A little of Nat's singing goes a long way though.
FLAC with lp cover scans
(01 03 06 11 12)
Nat Gonella - trumpet, vocals
Stan Roderick - trumpet
Jock Bain - trombone
Tony Coe - alto, clarinet
Jimmy Skidmore - tenor
Joe Temperley - baritone
Stan Tracey - vibes, piano
Ernie Shear - guitar
Sammy Stokes - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
(02 05 07 08 10)
Nat Gonella - trumpet, vocals
Tony Coe - alto, clarinet
Harry Smith - piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
(04 09 13 14)
Nat Gonella - trumpet, vocals
Don Lusher - trombone
Wally Smith - trombone
Ken Goldie - trombone
Tony Coe - alto, clarinet
Joe Temperley - baritone
Stan Tracey - vibes, piano
Roy Plummer - guitar
Lennie Bush - bass
Phil Seamen - drums
01 Georgia on My Mind (Carmichael) (1:09)
02 Wildman Blues (Morton, Armstrong) (2:58)
03 Bessie Couldn't Help It (Warner, Richmond, Bayha) (3:18)
04 Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable to Lunch Today) (Porter) (2:33)
05 Them There Eyes (Pinkard, Tracey, Tauber) (3:30)
06 Oh Mo'nah (Weems, Washburn) (3:22)
07 Nagasaki (Warren, Dixon) (2:18)
08 Honeysuckle Rose (Waller, Razaf) (4:17)
09 Just a Kid Named Joe (Livingston, David) (3:12)
10 Ain't Misbehavin' (Waller, Razaf, Brooks) (5:14)
11 Stompin' at the Savoy (Goodman, Sampson, Webb) (3:29)
12 It's a Pair of Wings for Me (Gonella, Hood) (3:23)
13 Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Ellington, Russell) (3:16)
14 Five Minutes More (Styne, Cahn)
Label: EMI NTS 146
Recorded: February 01 06 07 1961
Lineage: 12" LP>FLAC
Thank you i grew up listening to the music of this band after the war
ReplyDeleteNat Gonella. Thank you Bluebird and BritJazz. A very enjoyable set. It's interesting to speculate on who put the band together, I can't find my copy of "Who's Who of British Jazz" to look them up but I suspect the brass players are closer to being Gonella's contemporaries while the reeds and rhythm seem to be a younger generation. But they play well together. And, as you say, good arrangements. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteNo need apologize for Nat. He made jazz part of mass entertainment in Britain around the halls in the 30s. His lisping London version of Louis' vocal style always swung. This is a Dennis Preston job, typically quirky in its proselytization of personal favourites. He bestrode the UK jazz recording scene of the 50s, from end to end. Arguably the creator of 'trad'. Anybody got any Pretson -- or even Nat -- stories ?
DeleteThanks for the Nat G, Bluebird and Britjazz. If there was a league table of forgotten men of British jazz then Nat would be at the top!
ReplyDeleteHere is his obit from 1998. I hope you have room for it. (I just tried and you don't! It's too big so here is a link instead:
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-nat-gonella-1170238.html
Many, many thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bluebird - not a Gonella fan but I'd like to hear the others featured
ReplyDeletehttps://cjoint.net/?v43xth6nox
ReplyDelete