The Soprano Summit in 1975 and More – from the Archives of the New Jersey Jazz Society – Arbors Jazz

by | Dec 13, 2008 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

The Soprano Summit in 1975 and More – from the Archives of the New Jersey Jazz Society – Arbors Jazz ARCD 19328 (2 CDs) [Distr. by Allegro] *****:

(Led by Bob Wilber & Kenny Davern, and incl. Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay, Dick Hyman, Dick Wellstood, Bob Rosengarden, Wayne Wright, George Duvivier, Ruby Braff, Fred Stoll)

The Soprano Summit sextet originated at a jazz party in 1972 when Bob Wilber and Kenny Davern were urged to wrap up a great weekend of jazz with a soprano sax duet. It was such a success that a new sound was born, the NJ Jazz Society was the first to hire the band for a gig, and they became part of jazz history. Audio writer and director of the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies Dan Morgenstern selected these well-recorded tapes from 1975, ‘76 and ‘79 from the archives of the Jazz Society, and both CDs sell for about the same price as a single CD.

The tunes are mostly familiar material. The mix of trad and swing combined with plenty of wonderful musical invention on the part of all aboard ensures a great listen.  It’s not all soprano duets – there are clarinet and soprano, double clarinets, and a number of variations. You don’t have to a fan of the soprano over all the other saxes (as I am) to enjoy this double album. The delightful cornetist Ruby Braff joins in on the second CD, and pianists Dick Wellstood and Dick Hyman are standouts at their respective keyboards. There are early trad jazz standards, some Ellington, some Reinhardt, some Bechet. All the proceedings bounce along with great spirit. There’s plenty of notes about each selection as well.

PlayList:

Disc 1
1. Swing Parade
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
2. The Mooche
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
3. Oh Sister Ain’t That Hot
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
4. Steal Away
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
5. Linger Awhile
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
6. Panama
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
7. Songs of Songs
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
8. Swing Thirty Nine
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
9. Egyptian Fantasy
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay
10. The Fish Vendor
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay

Disc 2
1. Kansas City Stomp
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay, Dick Hyman
2. Original Jell Roll Blues
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay, Dick Hyman
3. Froggie Moore
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay, Dick Hyman
4. Shreveport Stomp
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay, Dick Hyman
5. Sidewalk Blues
Kenny Davern, Bob Wilber, Marty Grosz, George Duvivier, Connie Kay, Dick Hyman
6. C.C. Rider
Kenny Davern, Dick Wellstood, Bob Rosengarden
7. Fidgety Feet
Kenny Davern, Dick Wellstood, Bob Rosengarden
8. Sweet Substitute
Kenny Davern, Dick Wellstood, Bob Rosengarden
9. Shim-me-sha Wabble
Kenny Davern, Dick Wellstood, Bob Rosengarden
10. Sugar
Ruby Braff, Bob Wilber, Wayne Wright, George Duvivier, Fred Stoll
11. When You’re Smiling (the Whole World Smiles with You)
Ruby Braff, Bob Wilber, Wayne Wright, George Duvivier, Fred Stoll
12. These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)
Ruby Braff, Bob Wilber, Wayne Wright, George Duvivier, Fred Stoll
13. All of Me
Ruby Braff, Bob Wilber, Wayne Wright, George Duvivier, Fred Stoll
14. Fine and Mellow
Ruby Braff, Bob Wilber, Wayne Wright, George

 – John Henry

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