Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band: Now Hear Our Meanin' – The Complete 1963 Recordings
Author: Stuart Nicholson
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Musicians: |
Jimmy Woode (b) |
Label: |
Jazz Lips Music |
Magazine Review Date: |
June/2014 |
Catalogue Number: |
JL764 |
RecordDate: |
1963-1966 |
Although the CD liner notes do not say, this collection brings together all the material released on the KCFBBB's second album for Atlantic, Handle With Care (Atlantic 1404) and their first and only album for Columbia, Now Hear Our Meanin' (Columbia BPG 62567). There are also four bonus tracks recorded in Cologne on 28 February 1966, arranged by Bora Rokovic. The Atlantic and Columbia material was recorded before the addition of Kenny Clare on drums when the band were beginning to attract international attention. The band's guiding light was non-musician Gigi Campi from Cologne, whose family wealth effectively bankrolled the project – indeed, his own restaurant (he died in 2010) in the shadow of Cologne's famous cathedral is still extant, and doing good business. The arrangements were by the Belgian pianist Francy Boland, who had arranged for Count Basie, and although he rejected ‘Johnny One Note’, it here acts as a showcase for the ensemble playing of this band (it would later be recorded again on the album More Smiles with Johnny Griffin the only soloist). What is surprising about these albums today is their remarkable consistency, given the personnel was drawn from the USA and from across Europe. The British contingent in the band, Ronnie Scott, Jimmy Deuchar and Derek Humble distinguish themselves in fast company, no more so than Derek Humble, whose sophisticated lead alto was a key ingredient in the band's ensemble cohesion. In an album not short of highlights, the coda of the title track merits mention as does the easy swing of ‘Get Out Of Town’. Well received in the United States, these albums came as a surprise to American critics who were unaware that Europe was also producing great jazz musicians as well.

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