Subtitled Unheard Eddie Sauter Arrangements for Red Norvo and Mildred Bailey, So Many Memories helps to put Eddie Sauter's place in the pantheon of jazz arrangers beyond question. Coupled with his early contributions to the big bands of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Red Norvo in the 1930s through to his collaboration with fellow arranger Bill Finegan in the '50s, Sauter's high standing is carved in stone.
One person who recognised this was Loren Schoenberg: saxophonist, pianist, jazz historian and educator at prestigious seats of learning such as Julliard and the Manhattan School of Music. After gaining access to an archival collection of unrecorded Sauter arrangements scored for the Red Norvo Orchestra with vocalist Mildred Bailey the seeds for this project were sown.
With the exception of Warren Wolf the band is comprised of a mix of students and alumni of Julliard where Schoenberg holds the the position of Professor of Jazz History. The pre- WWll era is captured without sounding overtly dated and I found listening a pleasure.
Ellington's Azure sets a dreamy mood with brief solos from Stein on clarinet, Lee on tenor plus longer bursts from Wolf and Camargo. Nice Work if You Can Get it followed by You go to my Head brings Kortum to the mic her voice capturing the the essence of the original. The instrumental I Know That You Know swings all the way with solos and fours traded by the trombones, tenors Stein and Lee follow suit as do all three trumpets. The track is book-ended by scintillating xylophone solos by Wolf.
A further seven vocals with Kate again recreating an atmosphere of dance halls with crystal ball chandeliers, marathon dance contests and Lotharios with carnations in their lapels and B-girls in slinky gowns and carnations in their cleavage. Ah those were the days (I'm told!). Lovely vocals and great solos. A couple more instrumentals, a couple more vocals and, to finish, an instrumental flagwaver.
After You've Gone has clarinetists Stein and Lee soloing individually then indulging in a chase chorus. Wolf takes it out somehow creating the warm tones of the vibraphone on his xylophone. No easy task.
Huge plaudits to singer, soloists and Loren Schoenberg for an excellent album. The concept may have been retro but, in the end, the result is a reminder that good music is timeless. Lance
Azure; Nice Work if You Can Get it (v); You go to my Head (v); I Know That You Know; Music, Maestro, Please (v); September in the Rain (v); So Many Memories (v); Two Sleepy People (v); I Can Dream Can't I? (v); I See Your Face Before me (v); You Couldn't be Cuter (v); Old Folks; Roses in December; Exactly Like You (v); You're Laughing at me (v); After You've Gone.
1 comment :
Sounds good! Kate Kortum - winner of the 2025 Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition and Joe Boga - one of the stars at the 2025 Classic Jazz Party!
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