Best Jazz Discs Of Year

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30630, 22 December 1964, Page 9

Best Jazz Discs Of Year

Miles Davis: Seven Steps To Heaven (CBS stereo SBP 473042; also mono): Six intense, brooding performances by Davis, three of which feature the brilliant teen-age drummer, Anthony Williams. Woody Herman: Encore (Philips stereo PHS 600-092; also mono): A roaring big band, caught in full flight before an audience.

Pete Jolly Trio: Five O’clock Shadows (MGM mono MC-6145): A dozen sparkling performances by Jolly, with the assistance of the superb bass-player, Ralph Pena. Catch Me: Joe Pass (Fontana mono TL 688137): The impressive debut of an important new talent. First Time Out: Clare Fischer (Philips mono BL 688124): Eight provocative performances by a leading exponent of the “new thing” (free form), ably complemented by Gary Peacock’s bass playing. Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelly With The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France (Ace of Clubs mono ACLM 1158): An indispensable bargain. Listen To Art Farmer And The Orchestra (Mercury stereo SR 60766): Fanner’s trumpet playing soars lyrically; but Oliver Nelson’s arrangements may be more impressive to those unfamil-

iar with the works of Aaron Copland. Theolonious Monk Big Band And Quartet In Concert (CBS stereo SBP 473081; also mono): Monk at his best, recorded before an audience in the New York Philharmonic Hall. Roland Kirk: Reeds And Deeds (Mercury mono MG 20800): Multi-instrumentalist Kirk in eight unusual performances, complemented by his own and Benny Golsons arrangements.

Cannonball Adderley: Nippon Soul (Riverside mono RM 477): Mr Adderiey’s best

disc for some time, recorded during his sextet’s tour of Japan.

Jaques Loussier: Play Bach. No. 1 (London Globe mono GLB 1002): An interesting! and sometimes provocative disc by a young French jazz I pianist who has so far re-1 stricted his recorded reper-! toire to the works of J. S. I Bach. Folk Music Joan Baez Vol. 2 (HMVI mono MCLP 6161): The most' successful recording to date i of the comely Miss Baez. Black Nativity (Allied International 39/738): A fine memento of an overwhelming stage show. The Carter Family Album (Liberty mono LBY HUM): The Carters’ glories remain in the past, but this is an interesting and varied recording by the present generation.

The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem In Person At Carnegie Hall (CBS mono BP 473078): A very Irish programme of children’s, protest and anti-British songs-—both entertaining and provocative. Pete Seeger: We Shall Overcome (CBS mono BP 473073): Civil-rights and other social songs, interspersed with lighter performances, by a leading member of the old guard of American folksingers, recorded in concert at Carnegie Hall.