Recorded on March 11, 1977
Originally released in Japan as Buddy DeFranco-Tal Farlow Quintet – The Great Encounter (Progressive, 1977).
Excellent straight-ahead jazz from the clarinet veteran, supported by a very strong cast.
DeFranco is an under-appreciated figure, I think. He makes compelling music.
More Buddy DeFranco
I've enjoyed these DeFranco records from the 1970s too:
- Free Sail (Choice, 1974)
- Borinquin (Sonet, 1976)
- Waterbed (Choice, 1978) - with accordionist Gordie Fleming; reissued on CD as Lush Life
There is a temptation to dismiss older clarinet players as swing artists, along the lines of Artie Shaw or Benny Goodman. The narrow-minded perspective on swing as popular ballroom dance music should be challenged, and both Shaw and Goodman should be critically valued as improvisers. The resurgence of clarinet playing by the likes of Don Byron, John Carter, John Surman, and others sometimes leaves Buddy DeFranco somewhere lost between ancient swing and modern.
ReplyDeleteA thorough exploration of DeFranco's work from the bebop years (roughly the mid 1950s) reveals a highly skilled improvisor who played with folks like Tal Farlow and Sonny Clark. The Clark albums are compiled on a Mosaic set that should be heard by any doubters. The many Verve albums with other small groups sustain this reputation as a very modern player.
The 1977 set on Progressive is first rate, and I'm glad to see it featured. I did not know that this was originally a Japanese release. The Progressive album should be easy to find on LP or CD. It's exceptionally good. Tal Farlow on guitar was enjoying his own resurgence after a string of great albums in the 1950s. Hearing Buddy and Tal today shows how fresh and lasting the music they made is.