London Flat, London Sharp: Best of American Jazz Recorded in London

(A detail of ) London Jazz Festival poster, designed by Damien Frost

There are hundreds of live and studio recordings made by visiting or resident American jazz musicians in London. This list, a new installment in the series I started with Paris and jazz, picks those London albums that I've liked most. 

Since 1939, when Fats Waller paid a visit and composed a suite celebrating London's neighborhoods and monuments, most of the jazz greats have appeared in and around the city. The crippling union regulations stopped many musicians from performing in the clubs until the 1960s, and the life expenses and poor weather drove many of them towards the Continent for permanent or semi-permanent stays. Yet, thought the past century, London with its passionate jazz buffs and a good deal of jazz literature remained an unmissable temporary stop for the musicians, as well as musical ideas, travelling from the United States to Europe.

The 15 albums below, obviously emphasising a certain attitude or taste which might not be everybody's, are some personal favourites from the most vital decades of jazz in Britain. Be sure, there are still hundred or more to name. (While picking your favourite albums be aware that there are famous records - Basie in London, for one - which were never recorded in London!)

Here is the list of 15 favourite jazz albums recorded by visiting Americans in London:

details as above

Ad-Lib#2: Beware of Baker and Heywood

1
Beware of Mr. Baker is the title of a new documentary, and exceptionally a good one, about legendary drummer Ginger Baker which is going to be screened at this year's London Film Festival.

The programme booklet of the 56th London Film Festival insists in calling Baker "the world’s greatest drummer" which he obviously is not, as you will see in this accurate portrait of his musical (and geographical) journeys, ambitions and passions, how he is cut by Art Blakey in one of so many drum battles Baker set with the giants he praised. Even in the only scenes in the film that he is not bragging, or insulting people (including himself) he drops a few tears about his only "true friends" and "idols", Phil Seamen, Max Roach, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones. That's exactly the moment one begin to understand the reason for Mr. Baker's contempt for many of his ex-colleagues, among them, unjustly, Jack Bruce of the Cream. Baker talks about Time all the time. That's what he feels as what many rock musicians lack and why they cannot keep up with him and his complex rhythmic fireworks. He wants to be acknowledged in the idiom of jazz, and not became the context of his stardom, rock music.

A Guide to Best Jazz Scores for Cinema#4

10

Elmer Bernstein

The Man With The Golden Arm

1955

Otto Preminger

Jazz parts arranged by: Shorty Rogers. Musicians: Shorty Rogers/Pete Candoli/Conte Candoli/Bob Fleming (t), Ray Sims/Milt Bernhart/Frank Rosolino (tr), Bill Holman/Jack Montrose/Jimmy Giuffre/Ted Nash/Bud Shank/Bob Cooper (reeds), Martin Ruderman (f), Arnold Koblentz (oboe),  Mitchell Lurie (clar), Joseph Eger (french horn), Anatol Kaminsky (violin), Armand Kaproff (cello), Ray Turner/Lou Levy (p)/Joe Mondragon/Abe Luboff/Ralph Pena (b), Shelly Manne (d).

Drummer Shelly Manne was also credited as ‘personal assistant' to Mr Preminger and as ‘tutor' to Mr Sinatra. 

Clark Street from the soundtrack

9

Leith Stevens

The Five Pennies

1959

Melville Shavelson

Music Arranged by: Heinie Beau, Benny Carter, Alexander Courage. Musicians: Red Nichols (t), Moe Schneider (tr), Heinie  Beau (clar), Benny Carter (as), Eddie Miller (ts), Wayne Songer (bs), Joe Rushton (bass sax), Gene Plummer (p), Morty Corb (b), Shelly Manne (d), Eileen Wilson (voc).

With appearences by Shelly Manne (as Dave Tough) and Louis Armstrong (t/voc), Trummy Young (tr), Peanuts Hucko (clar), Billy Kyle (p), Mort Herbert (b), Curtis Counce (b), Danny Barcelona (d).

8

Henry Mancini/Benny Goodman

The Benny Goodman Story

1955

Valentine Davies

Musicians:
clarinet: Benny Goodman and Sol Yaged.
saxes: Hymie Schertzer, Blake Reynolds, Stan Getz, Babe Russin.
trumpets: Buck Clayton, Chris Griffin, Conrad Gozzo, Irving Goodman.
trombones: Urbie Green, Murray McEachern, Jimmy Priddy.
Rhythm section: Teddy Wilson (p), Allan Reuss (g), George Duvivier (b), Corky Hale (harp), Gene Krupa (d).

Also with appearances by Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, Ben Pollack, Kid Ory, Urbie Green, Buck Clayton, Stan Getz, Harry James, Martha Tilton, Ziggy Elman, Alvin Alcorn.

Sing, Sing, Sing

 

7

Johnny Mandel

I Want to Live!
1958

Robert Wise

Musicians:
trumpets: Jack Sheldon, Al Porcino, Ed Leddy.
trombones:Frank Rosolino, Milt Bernhart, Dave Wells.
French horns: Vince DeRosa, Sinclair Lott, John Cave, Dick Parisi.
piccolo, flutes: Harry Klee.
clarinets: Abe Most, Joe Maini, Bill Holman, Marty Berman.
saxes: Bill Holman, Chuck Gentry.
pianists: Russ Freeman, Pete Jolly.
guitar: Al Hendrickson.
bass: Red Mitchell.
drummers: Shelly Manne, Larry Bunker, Mel Lewis, Milt Holland, Mike Pacheco.

In the opening jazz club sequence, Art Farmer (t), Frank Rosolino (tr), Bud Shank (as),  Gerry Mulligan (bs), Pete Jolly (p), Red Mitchell (b), Shelly Manne (d) appear as themselves.

The title music

 6

Herbie Hancock

Round Midnight

1986

Bertrand Tavernier

Musicians: It worth mentioning all line-ups in the film

Herbie Hancock (p), Ron Carter (b), Tony Williams (d), Bobby McFerrin (voc)

Dexter Gordon (ts), Herbie Hancock (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Billy Higgins (d)

Herbie Hancock (p), John McLaughlin (g), Pierre Michelot (b), Billy Higgins (d)

Chet Baker (t/voc), Herbie Hancock (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Billy Higgins (d)

Dexter Gordon (ts), Bobby Hutcherson (vib), Herbie Hancock (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Billy Higgins (d)

Wayne Shorter (ts), Herbie Hancock (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Billy Higgins (d)

Dexter Gordon (ts), Herbie Hancock (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Billy Higgins (d), Lonette McKee (voc)

Freddie Hubbard (t), Dexter Gordon (ts), Cedar Walton (p), Ron Carter (b), Tony Williams (d)

Listen to Round Midnight (a Monk composition) performed by Hancock/Carter/Williams/McFerrin

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