Count Basie
At Newport
Verve

Oscar Peterson Trio
At Newport
Verve

Dizzy Gillespie
At Newport
Verve

The Colman Hawkins All Stars
At Newport
Verve

Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday & Carmen McRae
At Newport
Verve

John Coltrane
My Favorite Things at Newport
Impulse
By George W. Harris

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival, Verve records is graciously reissuing a healthy dose of the concert which took place July 4-7, 1957. The level of talent that played timeless music that half century ago sounds just as good to today’s ears as it must have back then. Did that audience back then realize how fortunate they were?

Back in 57 Count Basie was just starting his renaissance with his “Atomic” band which featured such heavyweights as Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Thad Jones and the hard driving Sonny Payne on drums. Fresh from recording the classic “Count Basie Swings, Joe Williams Sings” album, the band rips through beauties like “The Comeback” and “Smack Dab in the Middle” with the sensational baritone. The highlight of the concert, however was the return of tenorist Lester Young, who, for his last peak before sliding away, reunites with Jimmy Rushing, Jo Jones and the Count for some searing swinging. An absolute classic recording, and essential for anyone even remotely interested in what big band music is all about.

The famous Oscar Peterson Trio, with guitarist Herb Ellis and bassist Ray Brown, were at their peak of popularity, and amply demonstrate why, with seamless high velocity small group swing that is astonishing for the ears to take in. Light and breezy, they could do no wrong on standards like “Joy Spring” and “Will You Still BE Mine?”. Joining in the fun is and audibly inspired Sonny Stitt who rips through “Roy’s Son” on both alto and tenor, along with a vigorous Roy Eldridge on trumpet who is out to put a hole in the ozone layer with his high pitched solos. Thrilling, and without a net!

Dizzy Gillespie always seemed most comfortable in a big band setting, and his 57 band is definitely one of the best. With Wynton Kelly (p), Benny Golson (ts) and Lee Morgan (t) as members, how could he go wrong? These 3 guys were just at the beginning of their careers, and here they are, trying to make a name for themselves. The band is caffeinated to the brim on tunes like “Manteca” and “Cool Breeze”; Mary Lou Williams sits in on piano to guide the band through her fascinating “Zodiac Suite”. This is the one Diz big band disc to get if you’re only going to get one. Get ready to get hooked!

The original release only featured a red hot Ella Fitzgerald, and a slowly fading Billie Holiday, but the cd includes a nascent Carmen McRae who was featured on a different album. The contrast fits nicely on one disc. Ella was at the top of her game, in the midst of her famous “Songbook” cycle. The amazing thing about her was that, even though she has other live versions of these songs on other albums, each delivery is quite different. This lady was a major improviser; besides, this is also one of the rare times she does “Body and Soul”, and hits a home run with it. Holiday, in contrast, is fairly desultory and frail, mostly sticking to torch songs during her set. McRae is full of vinegar, and is sharp as a tack on her readings of “Midnight Sun” and “Skyliner.” This was an era when singers actually sounded like no one except themselves. What a concept!!

Coleman Hawkins, who was considered an “old man” at the time (he was in his 50s-imagine that!) because he represented music before even the swing era. However, he was capable of changing with the times, and he is his usual invincible self on this wondrous July evening. Hawkins; tenor is light years ahead of most other musicians, and his solo on “I Can’t Believe…” is state of the art. Obscure altoist Pete Brown joins with an exuberant Roy Eldridge to shake the rafters on the closing “Sweet Georgia Brown.” Just another set to these musicians, but a classic work of art to 21st century ears.

Recorded at two later festivals, John Coltrane’s disc features his “classic” quartet at different stages in their development. The 63 gig actually has Roy Haynes at the drums, sitting in for Elvin Jones, and delivers a lighter than air support system on “My Favorite Things” and “Impressions”, making them feel more supple than the usual and more famous versions. Elvin is back with the band for the 65 gig, and drives the band vigorously through “One Down, One Up” and “Things”. The comparison of the two bands is fascinating, as is the growth of pianist McCoy Tyner in between the concerts. One of Coltrane’s best live discs, and worth looking for, as are all of these discs.