As he was about to leave for three weeks of gigs in Japan, to be followed by a week in Prague, peripatetic trumpeter Bobby Shew forwarded a succinct message and a video link from Cal Haines:
Here is “Salt Peanuts” on tube. The band was swinging and solos were very good.
There are accomplished jazz players almost everywhere, including Albuquerque. In that city in the American southwest there is a band called SuperSax New Mexico. It specializes in arrangements of Charlie Parker solos recorded by the original Supersax, a Parker tribute band founded in Los Angeles 40 years ago by alto saxophonist Med Flory and bassist Buddy Clark. Supersax had several of L.A.’s leading saxophonists, a rhythm section often made up of Clark or Monty Budwig on bass, pianist Lou Levy, and Jake Hanna or Larance Marable on drums. Trumpeter Conte Candoli and trombonists Frank Rosolino or Carl Fontana frequently soloed.
Shew transplanted himself from L.A. back to his Albuquerque home area several years ago. Recently, he has been SSNM’s featured trumpet soloist, as he is here. The alto sax solo is by Sam Reid. Full band credits run at the end of piece.
For the story of SuperSax New Mexico, go here, and to leader Cal Haines’s website for photographs and an essay.
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.
Yea Bobbie and Yea band. Wonderful stuff! Here in Prescott, AZ, we are doing our part to keep jazz alive in the southwest as well. I think many people don’t realize how much jazz there is “down here.” I would love to hear more from you!