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Following the April 8 Rifftides post about Carol Sloane and Carmen McRae, Bill Kirchner sent 
us a link to a German television program featuring McRae in 1968 with the formidable Clarke-Boland Big Band. Co-led by drummer Kenny Clarke and pianist-arranger-composer Francy Boland, the band was a collection of prominent European and American musicians. It thrived for more than a decade in the 1960s and 1970s. It was notable for, among other things, having two drummers.
The members: Benny Bailey, Manfred Schoof, Idrees Sulieman, Jimmy Deuchar, trumpets; Ć ke Persson, Nat Peck, Eric Van Lier, trombone; Derek Humble, Tony Coe, Johnny Griffin, Ronnie Scott, Sahib Shihab saxophones; Jimmy Woode, bass; Francy Boland piano; Kenny Clare and Kenny Clarke, drums. Carmen is the guest artist, singing three numbers. She is introduced 15 minutes into the program by critic Joachim Berendt. Here is the entire 40-minute show.
Is this the only known filmed document of Carmen singing with her ex husband Kenny Clarke?
Very relieving, to hear Carmen sing a ballad after all that screaming of the armed-with-two-drummers big band … Ah, yes: “Quiet … shhh … don’t explain.” š
It’s hard to find, but Ms. McRae recorded (for Black Lion, if I recall) with the Clarke/Boland orchestra in late 1970s. I once had it on CD from the Rearward label of Italy.
Always great to hear the CBBB again. What an all-star ensemble that was! Haven’t gotten as far as Carmen yet, but was knocked out by the band and soloists on the tribute to Willis Conover (“P.O. Box 703”) and “Griffin’s Groove” (or “Griffin’s Grove,” as it was presented onscreen). Everyone on that band was a terrific soloist as well as a dedicated team player. Thanks for the clip! I’ll catch Carmen later today.
The McRae/CBBB album was recorded in London on November 3, 1970, not “late 1970s” as I noted earlier. (Darn that ‘s’!)
Bravo! What a marvelous collection of big-band jazz at its finest. Superlatives escape me. Benny Bailey was always one of the best trumpeters on the planet and a bonus—Carmen at her finest. Thanks, Doug, for a remarkable posting.
What a band! Great to see Griff as a young guy, and my first look at Sahib, Ronnie Scott, Kenny Clarke, and Benny. This is Carmen at the beginning of her creative peak. All three tunes are wonderful, but “Don’t Explain” is special.
Speaking of the CBBB… if you had to have just one album of theirs, which would it be?
(I’m always looking for recommendations to additions to my “record” collection)
Just one? Oh…all right…
Clarke Boland Big Band En Concert Avec Europe (RTE). Two-CD set with Art Farmer, Benny Bailey, Johnny Griffin, Ronnie Scott, Ake Persson, et al, live in Paris, 1969.
Thanks for the tip, Doug. I see I asked a tough question. So, what would numbers two and three be?
Change Of Scenes, with Stan Getz.
Volcano: The Complete Live Recordings At Ronnie Scott’s.
I must add that I know of no recording in which this band plays less than well. In most, it is several notches above well.
Didnāt think youād be able to stop at one. I would have picked Change of Scene first. The sound quality is much better than the live stuff and it has some of Boland’s most adventurous writing with great ensemble playing. In addition to Stanās tenor, soloists include Herb Geller on oboe and english horn, Sahib Shihab on alto flute, Tony Coe on clarinet, etc.