Nathan Davis - London By Night

barabara sounds sez:

In my book Nathan Davis can do no wrong. That said, if I had to choose a decade, I would always go for his '60s sides (such as Peace Treaty and Funny Girl) above his later works. But by anyone else's standards, London By Night — from 1987 and, yes, recorded in the UK capital over a couple of nights — is a fine album and Davis is in great fettle on his horns (soprano as well as tenor) and also flute. The title track swings nicely, though the standout track for me is the beautiful Rio de Janeiro. If there's one glitch, it's the anachronistic Beatles cover. But that comes right at the end so you can just program it out. This one's from the Disk Union CD reissue...

dusty sez:

Overlooked genius from reedman Nathan Davis – a later session that's a bit more straight ahead than some of his 70s work, and a date that really gets back to some of the best soulful energy of his records from the 60s! Davis is recorded here in very sympathetic company – players who share some of the best energies he picked up on the expatriate scene during his famous time overseas – Dusky Goykovich on trumpet, Kenny Drew on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Al Leavitt on drums! There's an easygoing soul jazz groove to the whole set, with a slight touch of modernism – and in addition to tenor, Davis also plays some wonderful soprano sax – handling the horn with stretched-out soulfulness that makes him one of the undisputed masters of the instrument.

A couple more enthusiastic quotes:

Rough Guide sez: "Shows Nathan Davis at the top of his post-bop form"

Penguin Guide sez: "Could almost be from an undiscovered Jazz Messengers tape. Goykovich's flugelhorn has a fat, luxuriant quality that that blends well with Davis... there are fine, controlled solos all round, notably on 'Dr Bu', where the Blakey/Messengers debt is most openly acknowledged..."

personnel

Nathan Davis (tenor sax, soprano sax, flute); Dusko Gojkovic (trumpet, flugelhorn); Kenny Drew (piano); Jimmy Woode (bass); Al Levitt (drums); Stan Robinson, Jean Toussaint (tenor sax on Shades)

tracks:

Noite Em Leblon; I Thought About You; Rio De Janeiro; London By Night; Dr Bu; But Beautiful; You've Changed; Shades; Lament; If I Fell

recorded

Boathouse Studios, London (04/17/1987-04/18/1987)

Kenny Drew Trio - If You Could See Me Now + Dark Beauty

barabara sounds sez:

As far as most of mainstream America was concerned, Kenny Drew ceased to exist the moment he left the country in 1961. Having played with Trane (Blue Train) and all the young lions of Bluenote (check out the fine fine Undercurrent, his first album as leader), it was as if he'd fallen off the map. That was America's loss — and Denmark's gain. He became one of the pillars of the Copenhagen jazz scene, and a mainstay of the SteepleChase label.

As a trio with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and Albert Heath, Drew made these two 1974 albums which were issued separately but taken from the same two-day session. These limited edition JP remasters include extra outtakes, bringing together all the material from those sessions. Which is better? There's very little between them, but I do tend to listen to If You Could See Me Now, mainly for the first two cuts, the title track and the excellent In Your Own Sweet Way.

dusty sez:

nothing (the only mention is the above mentioned Undercurrent)

amazon (just one reviewer) sez:

This trio was the "house band" for the Montmartre Jazzhus in Copenhagen during the late 60's and early 70's. In that setting they accompanied and recorded with touring American expatriates like Dexter Gordon and Johnny Griffin. Here, the three of them get to stretch out in the studio, playing in a very melodic, flowing style. Drew has a light touch on piano, and Pedersen shines as both soloist and accompanist. A little like the Bill Evans trio with Scott LaFaro.

check out Undercurrent here at Sic Vos Non Vobis