Ever since I heard Tommy Flanagan accompanying Ella Fitzgerald at Newcastle City Hall as part of a JATP package in 1962 I've been a fan of the Detroit born pianist.
Apart From his stints with Ella, Flanagan, who died in 2001, also played on two albums that are particularly relevant this year: Sonny Rollins' Saxophone Colossus and John Coltrane's Giant Steps.
The tracks on Live in Dublin were recorded after a 1984 concert. They remained a well-kept secret until after John Wadham's death in 2003 when a cassette was discovered amongst his effects. Cleaned up, remastered and remixed for release by Livia Records the result is on a par with the restoration of the Bayeux Tapestry.
It's not a dazzling, flamboyant, Peterson/Tatum 21-gun-salute - it's more subtle. Think Hank Jones or Marian McPartland and you're getting close but not quite close enough. Flanagan is very much his own man as can be heard over the eight tracks on this delightful album. Four jazz classics and four standards.
Parker's Relaxin' at Camarillo and Donna Lee take us from O'Connell St. to 52nd St. Flanagan in bebop mode driven along by Wadham's personalised drumming and young New Yorker Lindsey Horner on bass. Solo piano on The Way You Look Tonight comes across as compelling as any version vocal or instrumental.
Back to bop for Monk's Straight no Chaser followed by good old Summertime. In 1984 it hadn't been crucified by every wannabe so it doesn't make me cringe. This could be the definitive piano version. Thad Jones' A Child is Born, another solo gem, has Flanagan once more in a reflective mood contrasting with Oscar Pettiford's Blues in the Closet. An uptempo 12-bar with all three giving it their best shot.
The album closes with Lady, be Good. The third unaccompanied track, Flanagan's rambling explorations are somewhat different to what he played when backing Ella's workout on the same tune.
A must for anyone likes jazz piano, bebop, standards or simply music. Lance
Available Nov. 1.
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