SACKVILLE ALL STARS - Saturday Night Function
Sackville SKCD2-3028
Buddy Tate ( tnr / clt ) Jim Galloway ( sop / tnr / bar ) Jay McShann ( pno ) Don Thompson ( bass ) Terry Clarke ( drs )
Recorded Toronto, 10 & 11 June 1981
Jim Galloway originates from Glasgow, Scotland where he played clarinet and alto in local bands but emigrated to Canada where he made a successful career for himself playing all of the saxaphone family. His main instrument became the soprano which he played in the style of Sidney Bechet and Bob Wilber.
Buddy Tate is one of the Texas style saxophone players but is also a particularly fine clarinet player and has recorded many albums under his own name and other musicians.
Jay McShann is probably best known as the bandleader who employed the young Charlie Parker but he deserves to be better known for his compelling piano playing which covers a spectrum of styles.
The bass player Don Thompson and Terry Clarke are both Canadians but have a wealth of experience, Don Thompson worked with George Shearing and Terry Clarke recorded with the Oscar Peterson Trio as well as playing with most of their fellow Canadians.
This group of musicians make for an interesting and swinging mainstream album with a programme of well considered numbers.
The album kicks off with Mercer Ellington’s neglected “John Hardy’s Wife” which has Jim Galloway on soprano and Buddy Tate on tenor but it is Jay McShann’s hard swinging piano which gives this track that extra lift.
Harry Edison’s “Jive at Five” which was written for the Count Basie Orchestra has Jim Galloway on baritone is another swinging outing and bassist Don Thompson gets his chance to shine with a well thought out solo and again Jay McShann shines.
You would normally associate “Arkansas Blues” with blues singer Jimmy Rushing but this version by The Sackville All Stars is just as compelling with solos to match by all concerned driven on by drummer Terry Clarke.
Buddy Tate’s clarinet and Jim Galloway’s soprano blend nicely together for Ellington and Bigard’s “Saturday Night Function” and again it’s Jay McShann’s piano which takes the honours by a short straw.
This is a likeable mainstream album by two fine reed players but it is the piano playing of Jay McShann which gives the album that extra dimension. this is a welcome addition to listener who loves this kind of music.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Sackville SKCD2-3028
Buddy Tate ( tnr / clt ) Jim Galloway ( sop / tnr / bar ) Jay McShann ( pno ) Don Thompson ( bass ) Terry Clarke ( drs )
Recorded Toronto, 10 & 11 June 1981
Jim Galloway originates from Glasgow, Scotland where he played clarinet and alto in local bands but emigrated to Canada where he made a successful career for himself playing all of the saxaphone family. His main instrument became the soprano which he played in the style of Sidney Bechet and Bob Wilber.
Buddy Tate is one of the Texas style saxophone players but is also a particularly fine clarinet player and has recorded many albums under his own name and other musicians.
Jay McShann is probably best known as the bandleader who employed the young Charlie Parker but he deserves to be better known for his compelling piano playing which covers a spectrum of styles.
The bass player Don Thompson and Terry Clarke are both Canadians but have a wealth of experience, Don Thompson worked with George Shearing and Terry Clarke recorded with the Oscar Peterson Trio as well as playing with most of their fellow Canadians.
This group of musicians make for an interesting and swinging mainstream album with a programme of well considered numbers.
The album kicks off with Mercer Ellington’s neglected “John Hardy’s Wife” which has Jim Galloway on soprano and Buddy Tate on tenor but it is Jay McShann’s hard swinging piano which gives this track that extra lift.
Harry Edison’s “Jive at Five” which was written for the Count Basie Orchestra has Jim Galloway on baritone is another swinging outing and bassist Don Thompson gets his chance to shine with a well thought out solo and again Jay McShann shines.
You would normally associate “Arkansas Blues” with blues singer Jimmy Rushing but this version by The Sackville All Stars is just as compelling with solos to match by all concerned driven on by drummer Terry Clarke.
Buddy Tate’s clarinet and Jim Galloway’s soprano blend nicely together for Ellington and Bigard’s “Saturday Night Function” and again it’s Jay McShann’s piano which takes the honours by a short straw.
This is a likeable mainstream album by two fine reed players but it is the piano playing of Jay McShann which gives the album that extra dimension. this is a welcome addition to listener who loves this kind of music.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
