egroj world: Hank Jones • Ain't Misbehavin'

Saturday, June 29, 2024

Hank Jones • Ain't Misbehavin'

Fats Waller (1904-1943) wrote several evergreens of the American popular songbook, including "Ain’t Misbehavin’" and "Honeysuckle Rose." There’s no better pianist to translate these classics into the modern idiom than Hank Jones, the jazz master who has worked with so many greats, from Coleman Hawkins and Charlie Parker to Ella Fitzgerald. Jones grew up in Detroit playing Waller’s songs, and in the late Seventies became the pianist for the hit Broadway show, Ain’t Misbehavin’, which sparked this recording. Here-in both invigorating trio renditions of "Honeysuckle Rose" and others, as well as sextet versions of "Mean to Me" and more that employ the instrumentation of Waller’s own group and are outfitted with robust arrangements by the renowned Bill Holman- Jones shows how contemporary Waller’s music can be.
From liner note.

When this set was recorded, Hank Jones was the pianist in the Broadway show Ain't Misbehavin', a revue that celebrated Fats Waller's music. Jones never sounded like Waller, being a swing-to-bop transition player rather than a stride pianist, and he makes no effort to copy Fats during this brief program. Instead he plays five Waller compositions and the swing standard "Mean to Me" in his own style, hinting at Waller slightly in spots but essentially playing mainstream bop. Jones is joined by bassist Richard Davis, drummer Roy Haynes, and (on three of the six numbers) trumpeter Bob Ojeda, tenor-saxophonist Teddy Edwards, and guitarist Kenny Burrell. Swinging if not particularly memorable music.
Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000259411

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Fats Waller (1904-1943) escribió varios temas de hoja perenne del cancionero popular estadounidense, incluidos "Ain't Misbehavin'" y "Honeysuckle Rose."No hay mejor pianista para traducir estos clásicos al idioma moderno que Hank Jones, el maestro del jazz que ha trabajado con tantos grandes, desde Coleman Hawkins y Charlie Parker hasta Ella Fitzgerald. Jones creció en Detroit tocando canciones de Waller y, a fines de los setenta, se convirtió en pianista del exitoso espectáculo de Broadway, Ain't Misbehavin', que provocó esta grabación. Aquí, tanto en vigorizantes interpretaciones en trío de "Honeysuckle Rose" y otras, como en versiones de sexteto de "Mean to Me" y más que emplean la instrumentación del propio grupo de Waller y están equipadas con robustos arreglos del renombrado Bill Holman, Jones muestra cuán contemporánea puede ser la música de Waller.
Nota de la revisión Editorial

Cuando se grabó este set, Hank Jones era el pianista del espectáculo de Broadway Ain't Misbehavin', una revista que celebraba la música de Fats Waller. Jones nunca sonó como Waller, siendo un jugador de transición de swing a bop en lugar de un pianista de zancadas, y no hace ningún esfuerzo por copiar a Fats durante este breve programa. En cambio, toca cinco composiciones de Waller y el estándar de swing "Mean to Me" en su propio estilo, insinuando ligeramente a Waller en algunos momentos, pero esencialmente tocando bop convencional. A Jones se le unen el bajista Richard Davis, el baterista Roy Haynes y (en tres de los seis números) el trompetista Bob Ojeda, el saxofonista tenor Teddy Edwards y el guitarrista Kenny Burrell. Música oscilante, si no particularmente memorable.
Scott Yanow
https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000259411

Tracks:
01. Ain't Misbehavin' - Fats Waller / Harry Brooks / Andy Razaf - 6:38
02. Lounging at the Waldorf - Richard Maltby, Jr. / Fats Waller - 6:20
03. Mean to Me - Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk - 5:41
04. The Joint is Jumpin' - J.C. Johnson / Andy Razaf / Fats Waller / Waller - 4:28
05. Honeysuckle Rose - Andy Razaf / Fats Waller / Waller - 6:04
06. Squeeze Me - Fats Waller / Waller / Clarence Williams - 8:27

Credits:
    Hank Jones - piano
    Richard Davis - double bass
    Roy Haynes - drums
    Bob Ojeda - trumpet (tracks 1, 3 & 5)
    Teddy Edwards - tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 3 & 5)
    Kenny Burrell - guitar (tracks 1, 3 & 5)

Recorded: August 5 & 6, 1978; Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA