Ben Webster and Joe Zawinul: Soulmates (Riverside OJC)
Long after Ben Webster became famous and when the pre-Weather Report Joe Zawinul was laboring as a sideman, the immigrant Austrian pianist and the seasoned tenor saxophonist became pals. In 1963 they made this album, a product of their friendship and a reminder of what a splendid mixing bowl for jazz New York was in those days. Philly Joe Jones is the drummer, Sam Jones and Richard Davis split the bass duties, Thad Jones plays cornet on half the numbers. The music is timeless and comforting. Soulmates is not a reissue. How long it will still be available is anybody’s guess.
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
Gotta get this!
BTW, in the late Weather Report days, Zawinul gave an interview in which he said he had worked out a new development for the jazz-piano tradition, a new left-hand approach, I think “of voicings”.. The interviewer asked him to describe the new style, and he said, wait for my upcoming solo and trio releases. Would anyone have insight which albums these were, or if they came to be?
Zawinul’s style was ALWAYS good!
EVERY great pianist maybe should have been alloted recording time with Ben Webster. He seemed to bring out the best comping in Duke, Jimmy Rowles, Jimmy Jones, and everybody else lucky enough to play with him—
Oops, I can’t believe I forgot ART TATUM playing with BEN WEBSTER, a match made in heaven-