Harry ''Sweets'' Edison & Eddie ''Lockjaw'' Davis • In Copenhagen

 

Review
by Michael G. Nastos
Coming from the heart of the Count Basie bands, Harry "Sweets" Edison and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis might seem an odd pair. The stoic Edison, able to straddle swing to bop with an ease rivaled by only Clark Terry, with Dizzy Gillespie or Fats Navarro as parallels on the bop side, played with a clean, professional efficiency that made him a true legend. Davis, who was known as a multi-faceted tenor saxophonist, dipped from the deep wellspring of the blues, was an R&B bar walker at times, but preferred a clipped yet refined approach that served him well over decades of jazz evolution. Though neither were expatriates, they found themselves in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1976 for these session that feature the brilliant pianist Kenny Drew, who did abandon the U.S. for Europe, and in his prime on these dates later in his life. There are four sextet tracks with trombonist John Darville joining, including the far too brief but hard bopping "C Jam Blues," Lou Donaldson's "Blues Walk," a 12-bar groove that was not ever linked to either Edison or Davis, the call and response laden "Lester Leaps In," and the laid-back rhythm on the bopper "Robbin's Nest." As a quintet, Sweets and Lockjaw cozy up on the cool blues "Opus Funk" and the Coleman Hawkins piece "Spotlite," playing the end of the melody line phrase which was turned into "Woody 'n' You" by Dizzy Gillespie. Drew is truly outstanding, digging in on "Opus Funk," using cascading arpeggiated dexterity on the stunning intro of "You Are Too Beautiful" in duet with Davis, and on the other emotional end of the spectrum, comping deep, blue and somber during "Angel Eyes." The good feelings of the front line mates is clear to understand and thoroughly enjoy, the sound is as good as it gets, and the song choices offers enough variation within the mainstream jazz model to keep things interesting. Astute listeners should note how Edison carries the play to Davis -- check out his presence on "Candy" or the bluesy, walking style he emotes on "Lullabye for Dancers," where he demonstrates his love of playing exactly on the beat. While not totally dominant, his is the stronger voice. This is a welcome item of many from the Storyville catalog (once issued on a Mobile Fidelity LP,) recommended without hesitation, and worth searching for.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-copenhagen-storyville--mw0000582161

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Reseña
por Michael G. Nastos
Viniendo del corazón de las bandas de Count Basie, Harry "Sweets" Edison y Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis podrían parecer una pareja extraña. El estoico Edison, capaz de pasar del swing al bop con una facilidad sólo comparable a la de Clark Terry, con Dizzy Gillespie o Fats Navarro como paralelos en el lado del bop, tocaba con una eficiencia limpia y profesional que le convirtió en una verdadera leyenda. Davis, que era conocido como un saxofonista tenor polifacético, se sumergió en el profundo manantial del blues, fue un paseador de bares de R&B en ocasiones, pero prefirió un enfoque recortado pero refinado que le sirvió durante décadas de evolución del jazz. Aunque ninguno de los dos era expatriado, se encontraron en Copenhague, Dinamarca, en 1976, para estas sesiones en las que aparece el brillante pianista Kenny Drew, que sí abandonó los Estados Unidos por Europa, y en su mejor momento en estas fechas posteriores. Hay cuatro temas del sexteto a los que se une el trombonista John Darville, incluyendo el demasiado breve pero duro bopping "C Jam Blues", el "Blues Walk" de Lou Donaldson, un groove de 12 compases que nunca se relacionó ni con Edison ni con Davis, la llamada y respuesta cargada "Lester Leaps In", y el ritmo relajado en el bopper "Robbin's Nest". Como quinteto, Sweets y Lockjaw se acercan al fresco blues "Opus Funk" y a la pieza de Coleman Hawkins "Spotlite", tocando el final de la frase de la línea melódica que fue convertida en "Woody 'n' You" por Dizzy Gillespie. Drew está realmente sobresaliente, profundizando en "Opus Funk", utilizando una destreza arpegiada en cascada en la impresionante introducción de "You Are Too Beautiful" a dúo con Davis, y en el otro extremo emocional del espectro, componiendo profundo, azul y sombrío durante "Angel Eyes". Los buenos sentimientos de los compañeros de primera línea se entienden claramente y se disfrutan a fondo, el sonido es tan bueno como puede serlo, y la elección de las canciones ofrece suficiente variación dentro del modelo de jazz convencional para mantener las cosas interesantes. Los oyentes astutos deberían notar cómo Edison lleva la obra a Davis -- comprueba su presencia en "Candy" o el estilo bluesy y andante que emite en "Lullabye for Dancers", donde demuestra su amor por tocar exactamente en el ritmo. Aunque no es totalmente dominante, la suya es la voz más fuerte. Se trata de una pieza bienvenida de las muchas del catálogo de Storyville (que en su día se publicó en un LP de Mobile Fidelity), que se recomienda sin dudar y que merece la pena buscar.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-copenhagen-storyville--mw0000582161

Tracks:
1 - Opus Funk 09:16
2 - You're too Beautiful 04:46
3 - Robin's Nest 09:29
4 - Candy 08:14
5 - There's No Greater Love 05:34
6 - The "C" Jam Blues 05:26
7 - Lullaby For Dancers 07:238 - Lester Leaps In 07:43
9 - Spotlite 06:06
10 - Blues Walk 08:00
11 - Angel Eyes 04:02


Credits:
Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenorsax), John Darville (trombone), Kenny Drew (piano), Hugo Rasmussen (bass), Svend Erik Nørregaard (drums)

Recorded July 26, 1976
Released March 18, 2020

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