Here's 'Jazz Calendar' which occupies one side of a Richard Rodney Bennett lp. The other side is a Classical Piano Concerto by him with no jazz interest.
This is pretty obscure and should really be better known. It has never seen cd issue but I think it's a little gem with great writing and short solos from all. This was later performed as a ballet.
Can you imagine these guys at Covent Garden with Nureyev dancing around?
The lp sound is exceptional - did classical music get a better deal when it was recorded? The bass almost jumps out and hits you here and Duncan Lamont, on alto for a change, puts in some outstanding work.
FLAC from lp with cover scans - there are two versions of the cover. The original and my own doctored version which has removed any reference to the Classical side.
Hope you enjoy it - I've chased a copy for years and finally got this a couple of weeks ago.
The London Jazz Ensemble:
Richard Rodney Bennett - leader, arranger
John Lanchberry - conductor
Leon Calvert - trumpet
Kenny Wheeler - trumpet
Keith Christie - trombone
Unknown - french horn
Alfie Reece (?) - tuba
Duncan Lamont - alto
Tony Coe - tenor
Ronnie Ross - baritone
Tony Roberts - flute
Pat Smythe - piano
Daryl Runswick - bass
Kenny Clare - drums
Jazz Calendar Suite:
01 Monday’s Child... (Is Fair Of Face) (Bennett) (3:58)
02 Tuesday’s Child... (Is Full Of Grace) (Bennett) (3:55)
O3 Wednesday’s Child... (Is Full Of Woe) (Bennett) (4:33)
04 Thursday’s Child... (Has Far To Go) (Bennett) (3:53)
05 Friday’s Child... (Is Loving And Giving) (Bennett) (5:16
06 Saturday’s Child... (Works Hard For It’s Living) (Bennett) (4:01)
07 And The Child That Is Born On The Sabbath Day... (Is Fair And Wise And Good And Gay) (Bennett) (3:37)
Label: Philips 6500301
Recorded: c. 1971
Lineage: LP>FLAC
Thank you Rodney and Bluebird! Cheers!
ReplyDeleteThanks to let us discover all these unknow music
ReplyDeleteThank you Rodney and Bluebird, I am looking forward to this one and the chance to hear Duncan Lamont on alto.
ReplyDeleteHeard of but never heard before - many thanks.
ReplyDeleteThis looks pretty interesting! Thanks, Rodney and Bluebird!
ReplyDeleteNew to me thanks Bluebird and Rodney.
ReplyDeleteQuite a rarity, I shall look forward to hearing this.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks
Great line-up. Many thanks, bluebird and Rodney.
ReplyDeleteRichard Rodney Bennett also wrote a violin concerto and at least three symphonies.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard his piano concerto and am looking forward to listening to it for the first time.
He was one of the most remarkable all-round musicians ever: virtuoso classical and jazz pianist, contemporary-classical composer, arranger, accompanist and singer.
Ironically he wasn't one of the better-known musicians.
Many thanks indeed, bluebird and Rodney for sharing this.
Oops - the piano concerto was not included... what bad luck that the scope of BritJazz doesn't include piano concertos.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks bluebird and Rodney.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful, beautiful music. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteBTW, I got a copy of the piano concerto performed by Stephen Kovacevich with the London S.O. cond. by Alexander Gibson. I would not have been aware of this work had you not posted this LP.
I imagine that this LP languished for many years in the classical section of most record stores before being deleted. I've heard a late 1960s BBC Jazz Club recording of this suite owned by a friend of mine. Unfortunately the sound quality is too poor to merit inclusion on the blog, so this version is most welcome. Many thanks to Bluebird and Rodney.
ReplyDeleteMan thats a fabulous album - reminds me of a Dankworth one (what the dickens possibly)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for posting this rarity
https://cjoint.net/?h6dmxzp8b5
ReplyDelete