UK Jazz

Year 2001 had many disappointments, when normal life almost seemed to stand still. So many musical friends in the Jazz world have passed on. Our adopted saxophone great Spike Robinson, who had lived in Britain for over ten years, the much admired pianist/vibist Bill Le Sage and among the alltime greats Tommy Flanagan, Billy Higgins and Conte Candoli, all departed at the height of their powers.

One encouraging event during the year was the re-establishment of the Wave record label. http://wavejazz.com. Peter Ind, a superb Jazz bassist and entrepreneur who ran The Bass Clef and The Treble Clef Jazz Clubs, has relaunched his label.

"Looking Out/Jazz Bass Baroque" (WAVE CD111) is a combination of two LPs released in 1958 and 1988 plus one track from 1998 not previously available. This music gives a clear idea of the extent and wide variety of Jazz that Peter was involved in during his tenure in New York in the early 1950's and later upon his return to the UK. The various listed musicians are in some cases less well-known, nevertheless highly skilled and deserving of recognition.

The two CD's of Warne Marsh, "Release Record - Send Tape" WAVE CD6) and "More Jazz From the East Village" (WAVE CD10) show Peter's involvement with the Lennie Tristano school of Jazz. Both of them feature the unique improvisational talents of tenor idividualist Warne Marsh.

"Jazz from the Nineteen Fifties" (WAVE CD39) brings Peter alongside other Tristano disciples Lee Konitz, Don Ferrara and guitarist Bill Bauer, which apart from its musical value fills an important historical gap in Jazz history.

A recording likely to catch the pubic's attention is the recent "The Artistry of Kenny Barron" (WAVE CD34). Peter's support, along with Mark Taylor's tasty drumming, provides a setting for the superb playing of the imaginative Kenny Barron.

by Al Merritt