OSCAR PETTIFORD & JAN JOHANSON - In Denmark 1959 to 1960
Stunt Records STUCD 16022
Tracks 1 to 5
Bent Axen ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass / cello ) Erik Moseholm ( bass ) Finn Frederickson ( drs )
Recorded Copenhagen, February 1960
Tracks 6 to 8
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Jan Johansson ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass ) Joe Harris ( drs )
Recorded Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, 28 October 1959
Track 9
Allan Botschinsky( tpt ) Uffe Korsakov ( alto ) Anders Linsskog ( tnr ) Bent Nielsen ( bar ) Jan Johansson ( pno ) Lars Blach ( gtr ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass / arr ) Jorn Elniff ( drs ) Lee Gaines
( vocal )
Recorded Copenhagen, 22 August 1960
Tracks 10 & 11
Louis Hjulmand ( vibes ) Jan Johansson ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass )
Recorded Kildevaeldskirken, 22 August 1959
Tracks 12 & 13
Louis Hjulmand ( vibes Jan Johansson ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass ) William Schieppfe ( drs )
Recorded Randers Jazzklub, 22 September 1959
Track 14
Louis Hjulmand ( vibes ) Jan Johansson ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass ) William Schieppfe ( drs )
Recorded Montmartre Jazzhus, Copenhagen, 20 August 1959
Tracks 15 to 17
Jan Johansson ( pno )
Recorded Montmartre Jazzhus, Copenhagen, 20 August 1959
Oscar Pettiford had a short but fruitful life, he died at only38 of a polio-like virus but left behind a fine body of work. In his early career he worked and recorded with musicians of the stature like Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines, Ben Webster and Dizzy Gillespie. He also ran and recorded with an occasional big band from 1956 to 1957, check out the album “Oscar Pettiford in Hi-Fi”.
He was the first jazz musician to play the cello pizzicato bass style successfully and there are examples of that on this album.
In 1958 he toured Europe with the “Jazz from Carnegie Hall” package and on completion of the tour he made Copenhagen his home until his demise in 1960.
This album covers his period in Copenhagen and many of the recordings were made at the Montmartre Jazz Club in that city. The talented Swedish pianist Jan Johansson is also featured on many of the tracks on this album.
Oscar Pettiford is also the composer of a number of jazz standards including “Bohemia After Dark”, “Trictasisim” ( sic ) and “Laverne Walk”, the latter is included on this album. The three tracks which feature Stan Getz have been included on a compilation of Getz recordings in Europe a number of years ago.
The first five tracks on the album are a quartet with an additional bass player, all the tracks are well known standards except for an original “Now See How You Are” by Oscar Pettiford. All the numbers which feature bass or cello solos by Pettiford but pianist Bent Axen does get a look in with some solo space. Pettiford’s original is particularly interesting with a brilliant cello solo and strong swinging line and Bent Axen continues in the same vein with his solo.
The three tracks featuring Stan Getz make a welcome return to the catalogue and Getz is in top form, his interpretation of the Benny Golson ballad “I Remember Clifford” is absolutely stunning. The Coleman Hawkin’s original “Stuffy” is played with great verve and Stan’s solo just flows and there is no lack of ideas, Jan Johansson piano solo is a model of swinging playing.
There are five tracks feature vibrophone player Louis Hjulmand and the interplay between him and pianist Jan Johansson on “Fru Bruel” is masterful, and same can be said about Sonny Rollin’s “Oleo” which has the addition of drummer William Schieppfe who pushes the whole thing along.
The final three tracks are piano solos by Jan Johansson of traditional folk songs which are very short but intriguing.
This is a release which should interest fans fine bass and cello playing but there is plenty more to interest any lovers of good jazz.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Stunt Records STUCD 16022
Tracks 1 to 5
Bent Axen ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass / cello ) Erik Moseholm ( bass ) Finn Frederickson ( drs )
Recorded Copenhagen, February 1960
Tracks 6 to 8
Stan Getz ( tnr ) Jan Johansson ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass ) Joe Harris ( drs )
Recorded Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, 28 October 1959
Track 9
Allan Botschinsky( tpt ) Uffe Korsakov ( alto ) Anders Linsskog ( tnr ) Bent Nielsen ( bar ) Jan Johansson ( pno ) Lars Blach ( gtr ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass / arr ) Jorn Elniff ( drs ) Lee Gaines
( vocal )
Recorded Copenhagen, 22 August 1960
Tracks 10 & 11
Louis Hjulmand ( vibes ) Jan Johansson ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass )
Recorded Kildevaeldskirken, 22 August 1959
Tracks 12 & 13
Louis Hjulmand ( vibes Jan Johansson ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass ) William Schieppfe ( drs )
Recorded Randers Jazzklub, 22 September 1959
Track 14
Louis Hjulmand ( vibes ) Jan Johansson ( pno ) Oscar Pettiford ( bass ) William Schieppfe ( drs )
Recorded Montmartre Jazzhus, Copenhagen, 20 August 1959
Tracks 15 to 17
Jan Johansson ( pno )
Recorded Montmartre Jazzhus, Copenhagen, 20 August 1959
Oscar Pettiford had a short but fruitful life, he died at only38 of a polio-like virus but left behind a fine body of work. In his early career he worked and recorded with musicians of the stature like Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines, Ben Webster and Dizzy Gillespie. He also ran and recorded with an occasional big band from 1956 to 1957, check out the album “Oscar Pettiford in Hi-Fi”.
He was the first jazz musician to play the cello pizzicato bass style successfully and there are examples of that on this album.
In 1958 he toured Europe with the “Jazz from Carnegie Hall” package and on completion of the tour he made Copenhagen his home until his demise in 1960.
This album covers his period in Copenhagen and many of the recordings were made at the Montmartre Jazz Club in that city. The talented Swedish pianist Jan Johansson is also featured on many of the tracks on this album.
Oscar Pettiford is also the composer of a number of jazz standards including “Bohemia After Dark”, “Trictasisim” ( sic ) and “Laverne Walk”, the latter is included on this album. The three tracks which feature Stan Getz have been included on a compilation of Getz recordings in Europe a number of years ago.
The first five tracks on the album are a quartet with an additional bass player, all the tracks are well known standards except for an original “Now See How You Are” by Oscar Pettiford. All the numbers which feature bass or cello solos by Pettiford but pianist Bent Axen does get a look in with some solo space. Pettiford’s original is particularly interesting with a brilliant cello solo and strong swinging line and Bent Axen continues in the same vein with his solo.
The three tracks featuring Stan Getz make a welcome return to the catalogue and Getz is in top form, his interpretation of the Benny Golson ballad “I Remember Clifford” is absolutely stunning. The Coleman Hawkin’s original “Stuffy” is played with great verve and Stan’s solo just flows and there is no lack of ideas, Jan Johansson piano solo is a model of swinging playing.
There are five tracks feature vibrophone player Louis Hjulmand and the interplay between him and pianist Jan Johansson on “Fru Bruel” is masterful, and same can be said about Sonny Rollin’s “Oleo” which has the addition of drummer William Schieppfe who pushes the whole thing along.
The final three tracks are piano solos by Jan Johansson of traditional folk songs which are very short but intriguing.
This is a release which should interest fans fine bass and cello playing but there is plenty more to interest any lovers of good jazz.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
