Facebook and I are uneasy bedfellows, live streams rarely run smoothly for me even when they are working fine for others. I don't know the answers, suggestions on a 20 dollar bill please.
Tonight - a tribute to the Johnny Smith/Stan Getz collaboration from the early 1950s - was quite bizarre. When the picture froze the music was fine, even superb, however, when the picture unfroze the music froze for a beat every four bars so it was as if they were suddenly slotting in a bar of 5/4!
Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable session bringing back memories of hearing the original Smith/Getz version of Moonlight in Vermont on a Vogue 78 (which I still have). Melody Maker actually printed a transcription at the time.
I'm not going to say they outshone the originals, who could? but they did have a good crack at it, wisely choosing to plough their own furrow whilst retaining the spirit of the original.
Cleasby was heavily featured which, although sometimes at a variance with the ultra cool setting, made us realise he was a force to be reckoned with. Arnold-Forster spoke authoritatively about Johnny Smith and proved adept at using Smith's unique voicings. Harper came close to the Getz sound at times as well as moving forward to a more contemporary vein as indeed Getz himself did in his later years. Sach was dependable and occupied the Eddie Safranski role to perfection - his solos totally sympathetic to the music.
So, another fine session from Smitty's, Facebook not withstanding!
They're back again tomorrow with another line-up - is it Giuffre or is that Friday?
Lance.
Where or When; Jaguar; Moonlight in Vermont; Cherokee; I'll be Around; Nice Work if You Can Get it.
I didn't catch the title of the opener but I suspect it may have been Tabu. The penultimate track doesn't seem to be on the album. Was it Coltrane's Village Blues?
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Tomorrow (Thursday) is a Django session (watch out for the amazing Kourosh Kanani). The Giuffre 3 gig is on Saturday.
The penultimate number (the one Alec Harper sat out) was Vilia.
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