Customer Reviews

Boppin' with Scott

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Four discs-77,79,78,76 minutes each approximately. Overall the sound is acceptable to good. Oftentimes these recordings sound as if they were recorded from a distance-the immediacy in the sound is lacking true definition. However,don't think this means "hard" listening-not at all,it's just lacking the dynamics of more modern recordings. All the instruments can be clearly heard. All of these tracks were recorded between the years 1946 and 1956,mostly in London,with a few from other areas in England or,in one instance,Sweden. The groups range in size from trios to quartets to big bands. There are a few early sides that feature a vocalist,which doesn't really detract from the music. The tunes are mostly well known jazz standards of the day. This was obviously after WW II and England was one of the first countries to recognize what was happening on the jazz front. People like Scott took what they heard and blended it with their own ideas-coming up with some of the best jazz England has produced.
Ronnie Scott played a soulful tenor sax-played it so well that Charles Mingus,the great jazz player (bass,piano) and composer thought that Scott was the best (Anglo-American) sax player,with that "bluesy" sound he had ever heard. These sides show Scott during his first ten years as a player in varying formats.
Mostly known,especially today,for running the jazz club bearing his name,many people are totally or,at most,dimly aware of his jazz playing. It is indeed of a high caliber-something these sides show unmistakeably,no matter what the size of the group may be. These recordings are both (mostly) studio and live (BBC Overseas Broadcast and others) and Scott's tenor constantly shines. This is jazz of it's time-beautiful ballads and straight ahead "toe-tappers". Nothing fancy,just good jazz,played by a master,who surrounded himself with like players. This in some ways reminds me of the Tubby Hays set,THE LITTLE GIANT,released by Proper Records awhile back. The same straight,clean arrangements,the band setting the tone and then,in this instance,Ronnie Scott coming out for a solo. His tone is a combination of Lester Young,Ben Webster (especially on the ballads),a bit of Don Byas, and others. But Scott took all of his influences and melded them together to form his own sound. Indeed,it would be interesting to play Scott's music next to a well known American player,and see if anyone could hear the difference-I'm betting not.
For anyone looking for straight ahead tenor playing in different settings,no matter what era,this would be a good purchase. This is pure jazz,played cleanly and intelligently,but also with (back to what Mingus said) great feeling. A number of these sets don't remain on the market for a long time period (Tubby Hays' set is disappearing) so don't hesitate to long. Once you hear this great tenor player you'll wonder why it took you so long.