JUNIOR MANCE: Straight ahead

JUNIOR MANCE
(CB, de Paris)
Apesar do frio glacial e insuportável, fui assistir à apresentação solo de JUNIOR MANCE ontem, no "Ducs de Lombards", um dos bons clubs de jazz de Paris. Do alto de seus 81anos, JM continua em plena forma, exibindo a mesma técnica esmerada, agilidade e clareza de idéias nos solos e improvisos. Conversei ligeiramente com ele: o "coroa" continua com um pique incrível. Estava partindo de volta para New York, para apresentações nas próximas semanas.

(*) A temporada de Jazz em Paris não tem nada que me desperte o interesse. Nenhum artista de renome ou realmente importante se apresentando em nenhum clube de jazz. Talvez seja culpa do frio "polonórtico". No Domingo fui até o "Blue Note", numa noite de "bossa nova", onde se apresentaram uma cantora brasileira (Ana-não-sei-das-quantas) e o trio de Laurent Oliveira, (pianista francês, provavelmente de ascendência brasileira). "Bossa nova" requentada. Já vi gente MUITO, mas muito melhor por lá: Tania Maria, por exemplo.
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JUNIOR MANCE
JUNIOR MANCE, born Julian Clifford Mance, Jr., in Chicago, Illinois on October 10, 1928 is a jazz pianist, composer, author of "HOW TO PLAY BLUES PIANO", and recording artist of thirty plus albums as a leader and numerous recordings as a sideman. Junior began playing the piano at the age of five, but did not begin formal training until the age of eight. He started playing professionally during his early teens. He attended Roosevelt College in Chicago as a music major. In 1947 Junior left Roosevelt College to join Gene Ammons' band and began his recording career with Gene. He joined Lester Young in 1949 for almost two years, and rejoined Ammons several months in 1951 before being drafted into the U. S. Army. He served in the 36th Army Band at Fort Knox, Kentucky along with Julian "Cannonball" Adderley. After his discharge from the Army in 1953, Junior became part of the house rhythm section at the Bee Hive Jazz Club in Chicago for a year, and accompanied jazz greats such as Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Sonny Stitt, and many others. In 1954 Junior joined and toured with Dinah Washington. Among the numerous recordings he made with her, there are two that really stand out in his memory: "DINAH JAMS" and "JAM SESSION". They are two live albums featuring Clifford Brown, Max Roach, Clark Terry, Maynard Ferguson, Herb Geller, Harold Land, Keter Betts, George Morrow, Richie Powell and Junior.
Junior joined Dizzy Gillespie's band in 1958, a period Junior considers one of the highlights of his career. Besides the joy and fun of playing with Dizzy, he remembers this period as a great learning experience in musicianship, showmanship, and just about everything related to the business of music. In 1961 Junior decided to form his own trio, following the release of his first recording as a leader. (Junior, Verve Records) In between gigs with his trio, with bassist Ben Tucker and Bobby Thomas on drums, he played and recorded with the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis/Johnny Griffin Quintet. With his trio he also accompanied singer Joe Williams in 1963/64.
In 1988 Junior became a member of the faculty at the The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. He teaches classes in Blues, Ballads, and also private lessons. During the 1990s Junior has been part of a very elite group called "100 Gold Fingers". This is a group which tours Japan every other year, consisting of ten outstanding jazz pianists. On various tours the group has included people such as Hank Jones, John Lewis, Tommy Flanagan, Kenny Barron, Ray Bryant, Roger Kellaway, Gene Harris, Marian McPartland, Barry Harris, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Lynne Arriale, Cyrus Chestnut, Benny Green, Duke Jordan, Joanne Brackeen, Monty Alexander, Dave McKenna, Renee Rosnes, Mulgrew Miller, Harold Mabern as well as Junior and a rhythm section consisting of bassist Bob Cranshaw and either Alan Dawson or Grady Tate on drums. On November 21, 1997, at Tampa, Florida, Junior was inducted into the International Jazz Hall of Fame, an honor Junior is extremely proud of, being in the elite company of many of his heroes, both past and present.
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ALBUM REVIEW
"Straight Ahead!"; a straight up Jazz album that features the Bob Bain Brass Ensemble. On "Straight Ahead!" we find eleven enjoyable cuts, with two compositions of Junior Mance himself: "Happy Time", a very church choir kinda track and "Señor Mance", which he wrote together with Bob Bain. The other known cuts like "In A Mellow Tone", "Fine Brown Frame" or "The Late, Late Show" will give you an idea of what to expect, so get ready for some enjoyable big band material. Of course the emphasis is on Junior's piano work; the Bob Bain Brass Ensemble delivers the rest of the goods. We have Shelly Manne on drums, Monty Budwig on bass, Bob Bain himself on guitar (Li'l Darlin'), Don Fagerquist, John Audino, Pete Candoli, Ray Triscari and Al Porcino on trumpets; Lew McCreary, Milt Bernhart and Vern Friley on trombones; bass trombones by George Roberts and Kenny Shroyer. All in all a high energy Jazz LP with some superb and loud brass here and there, combined with more easy goin' tracks. Pretty nice stuff.
(CB)
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MINHA OPINIÃO: neste álbum, um dos primeiros LP´s que gravou como leader, JUNIOR MANCE passeia por um repertório excelente, escorado por um timaço de sopros do "Bob Bain Brass Ensemble", todos eles egressos da "academia Kenton", além dos legendários Monty Budwig e Shelly Manne, na "cozinha". Arranjos em estilo "west coast", sob a influência dos sons de Stan Kenton, Shorty Rogers et al.
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JUNIOR MANCE: Straight ahead

PERSONNEL:
Junior Mance - piano
Shelly Manne - drums
Monty Budwig - bass
Bob Bain - guitar
Don Fagerquist, John Audino, Pete Candoli, Ray Triscari and Al Porcino - trumpets
Lew McCreary, Milt Bernhart and Vern Friley - trombones
George Roberts and Kenny Shroyer - bass trombones

TRACKS/FAIXAS:
A1 In A Mellow Tone
A2 Hannah Strikes Again
A3 Li'l Darlin'
A4 Diane
A5 Happy Time
B1 The Late, Late Show
B2 Fine Brown Frame
B3 Senor Mance
B4 Stompin' At The Savoy
B5 Trouble In Mind
B6 The J.A.M.F.