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Rifftides

Doug Ramsey on Jazz and other matters...

Weekend Listening Tip: Two Herman Drummers & Friends

Jim Wilke alerts us that his Jazz Northwest  broadcast this weekend features two drummers who at different times drove Woody Herman’s Herd.  Jeff Hamilton and Joe LaBarbera will co-lead an all-star big band that includes another Herman alumnus, baritone saxophonist Gary Smulyan. Herman was known as “The Road Father” because he mentored countless young musicians who later became stars in their own right. The concert was recorded at this summer’s Jazz Port Townsend on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula. In the Jim Levitt photo we see (left to right) pianist John Hansen, Hamilton, bassist John Hamar, LaBarbera and trumpeter Terrell Stafford.

Drummers Jeff Hamilton (L) and Joe LaBarbera (R) lead the Faculty All-Star Big Band Tribute to Woody Herman, at 2016 Jazz Port Townsend. Travis Ranney, tenor; Jay Thomas, tenor; Tracy Knoop, tenor; Gary Smulyan, bari sax; Brad Allison, trumpet; Sean Jones, trumpet; Terell Stafford, trumpet; Thomas Marriott, trumpet; Oliver Groenewald, trumpet; Wycliffe Gordon, trombone; David Marriott, trombone; Greg Schroeder, trombone; John Hansen, piano; Jon Hamar, bass; Jeff Hamilton, drums; Joe LaBarbera, drums

From Mr. Wilke’s note about the program:

Jazz Northwest airs Sundays at 2 PM PDT and is recorded and produced by Jim Wilke exclusively for KPLU-FM, 88.5. The program also streams at kplu.org and is available anytime after broadcast at jazznw.org. Next week’s show will feature the opening concert from this year’s festival, with tenor saxophonist JD Allen and trumpeter Sean Jones (September 4).

While we’re Hermanizing, here he is as encourager-in-chief with the 1977 edition of the Herd. 24-year-old Jeff Hamilton is the drummer. The tenor saxophone soloists on “Giant Steps” are Frank Tiberi and Joe Lovano. You’ll catch a glimpse or two of Pat Coil at the piano.

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Doug Ramsey

Doug is a recipient of the lifetime achievement award of the Jazz Journalists Association. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, where he settled following a career in print and broadcast journalism in cities including New York, New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, San Antonio, … [MORE]

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