Last of the Trumpet Masters

This would be the final post from the Trumpet Masters' session in Switzerland, a concert whose footage is now fully presented on this blog.

"Handsome, dark chocolate, a ladies magnet," is Clark Terry's description of Harry "Sweets" Edison, the subject of the first video. Terry met Sweets first in the Basie band: "Svelte physique draped in expensive threads, dripping with accents of rich gold and pristine diamonds. The note that floated through his trumpet made you feel his statement of 'Cool Daddy. Laid-back.'"

Squeeze the Moten Swing

In today's exclusive video, Squeeze Me, the classic 1925 Fats Waller composition, is reinterpreted  by Joe Wilder and Snooky Young. The video continues with Clark Terry and Harry Sweets Edison doing a version of  the Moten Swing, originally the Bennie Moten and the Kansas City Orchestra's hit from 1932.

The rhythm section is Hank Jones, Jesper Lundgaard, Clarence Penn, respectively on piano, bass and drums.

Strays On

 "I referred to him like a lot of the cats did, as 'Strays,'" says Clark Terry of Billy Strayhorn in his autobiography, Clark, which has a lot to say about Ellington years and the people of that tribe.

In a short chapter of the book, dedicated to "Strays," there is nothing but admiration and deep respect for the man and his music both as a composer/arranger and piano player. "Strays was like a breath of fresh air," says Mr Terry, "he had an almost spiritual touch in his writing. Deep undertones that would draw emotion and dig into the psyche." So true.

There are some stories in Clark about the relationship between Duke and Strays, whether artistically, emotionally ("he had a way of calming Duke") or even financially for which CT remembers:

"Strays was a man who lived the most unique life style of anybody. He had no bills: no hotel bills, no apartment bills, no food bills, no clothes or tax bills. No nothing. He didn't have a salary, either. He just signed a tab. Duke paid for everything."

Four Trumpet Masters

I'm knee-deep into London Film Festival and an overdose in film has kept me away from this venue and blogging on jazz. For the sake of reassurance, and promsing that I would return to jazz life soon, I'm posting a recent VHS transfer of a fabulous trumpet summit in which the cream of Ellington and Basie trumpet alumni are on stage together: Joe Wilder, Snooky Young, Harry "Sweets" Edison and Clark Terry!

The event was originally presented as the Legendary Trumpet Masters at the Jazzfestival Bern '97 (May 1) in Switzerland. In addition to the trumpets, our favorite Hank Jones is on piano, Jesper Lundgard on bass and Clarence Penn on drums. The whole concert (also featuring Doc Cheatham), including its nine songs, intro and interviews was broadcast on Swiss and German TVs in 1997.

Snooky Young (1919-2011)

Snooky Young who passed away today, was a man of the best bands of swing and post-swing era, including orchestras by Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Gerald Wilson. Richard Cook describes him as "an impeccable lead-man for the duration of his long career, able to play the most demanding of parts, and as a result his skilful solos, often given a rascally, high-wire treatment, have been largely undervalued." 

Interestingly, I discover him for the first time, in a live rock album by The Band, called Rock of Ages, and later, watching his magisterial solo on Stella By Starlight (Count Basie Orchestra, Sweden 1963, from Jazz Icons series DVD), entered his name to my personal pantheon of greatest trumpet players of all times.

We remember him by listening to his album with Marshal Royal from 1978:

 Snooky & Marshal's Album

This album is Snooky Young's second session as a leader (from three sessions throughout his life), and this one with altoist Marshall Royal. Backed by a great rhythm section and guest vocalist Scatman Crothers who sings his own composition, Mean Dog Blues.

Snooky Young (Flugelhorn, Trumpet), Marshall Royal (alto sax), Ross Tompkins (piano), Freddie Green (guitar), Ray Brown (bass), Louie Bellson (drums), Scatman Crothers (vocals)
Hollywood, CA, 1978, Concord Jazz CJ55 - Total Time 42:28 - Transferred from Vinyl

Side A:
1) I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart (Ellington, Mills, Nemo, Redmond)
2) Mean Dog Blues (Scatman Crothers)
3) Cederay (Ray Brown)
4) Limehouse Blues (Braham, Furber)

Side B:
1) Cherry (Corgan, Gilbert, Mogg, Redman, Way)
2) Medley: You've Changed/I'm Confessin'/Come Sunday (Carey, Fischer/Dougherty, Reynolds, Neiburg/Ellington)
3) Catch a Star (Tom Peterson)
4) Should I? (Brown, Freed)