Odd Couples, Part 5

There must be a whiff of country in the winter air.

Doug,
One more for the books—that works—Gatemouth Brown and Roy Clark, Makin’ Music. It’s listed as a country album, but it’s really Louis Jordan with a twang. The tunes include “Take the A Train” and “Caldonia,” and the band includes Airto Moreira on percussion and the Memphis Horns.
It may be slightly off topic, but with that cast I couldn’t resist adding it to the list.
—Peter Levin

Doug,
I also have a soft spot for Gary Burton playing with banjo icon Sonny Osborne on “Tennessee Firebird.” (1962) It’s more a display of Burton being able to play in Bluegrass rhythm than of Osborne being able to do jazz rhythms, but it’s very enjoyable.
—Anson Young

(DR responds)
Furthermore, it is an instance of drummer Roy Haynes kicking jazz and country behind in equal measure, so to speak. Haynes is also the drummer on Oliver Nelson’s The Blues and the Abstract Truth. If you want a real hoot, play Nelson’s “Hoe Down” and Burton’s “Tennessee Firebird” back to back.
“Wee-hah,” as they say, or holler, down yonder.

Doug,
Re your “Odd Couple” pairings, here is one that may shock you, but you ought to try and find it someday: Dorothy Collins and Barney Kessel!! That’s right! They did an album together in the Fifties called “Songs by Dorothy Collins”, which I remember very well. She was the “girl next door” pop singer on the “Hit Parade” TV show, and was never known as a jazz singer, but on this one album she selected some great standard ballads, put together a great rhythm section of Barney with an unknown bassist and drummer, and she really delivered a very credible jazz set — sort of an early Susannah McCorkle. She was probably chafing for years, singing all those pop songs, and secretly harboring a desire to be a real jazz cabaret vocalist. The album revealed a lovely voice with perfect pitch, a great rhythmic sense, crystal clear diction and great sensitivity to the lyrics. I’ll look for a copy on e-bay!
—Mal Harris

A search of internet music outlets, including e-bay, turns up references to the album, but no indication that it is available.