| This 2-CD set features the digitally remastered music from three magnificent Don Ewell recordings - originally issued on LPs, recorded between 1969 and 1973. They were first released as "Jazz On A Sunday Afternoon" (Fat Cat Jazz, 1969), "A Jazz Portrait Of The Artist" (Chiaroscuro #CR-106, 1969) and "Take It In Stride" (Chiaroscuro #CR-127, 1973). In addition, this set includes three wonderful never previously issued tracks that were recorded very informally at Sherman Fairchild's home studio in 1967.
There are no gimmicks on this record. All you hear is Don and a Steinway. The first session took place in the out of the way town of Manassas, Virginia on January 19, 1969. Don was encouraged by the presence o£ Eddie Condon and Harry Gale, both of whom played with Bix, and Johnson McRee, who didn't, but who has the right feeling just the same. Johnson runs Fat Cat's Jazz.
Don called all the tunes on this album, selecting songs he'd never recorded as solo efforts. Love Will Last, Don's own tune, Honey Babe, an obscure Morton item, and the joyful Oh! Baby were done at this session. The second session was in New York City, at Sherman Fairchild's, on May 9,1969. The McKinney's Medley and CCNY Rioter Blues completed the music for the record, the latter being a very informal blues inspired by some very informal rioting in New York City at the time.
This is Don's first completely solo recording since the glorious Windin' Ball issues in the early fifties. Someone always seems to be putting a quartet or something with Don, and while this is not really so bad, eighteen years between solo acts is a bit much. Don needs rhythm accompaniment about as much as a doctor needs pills. A good pianist can get by with a solo effort, but may need a little help, but a great pianist can sound like an orchestra and other instruments just clutter things up. This record is not cluttered. |
TRACKS
Disc One
1. Honey Babe (Morton)
2. Caution Blues/My Monday Date/Rosetta (Hines)
3. Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie - Pinkard - Casey)/Rose of the Rio Grande (Leslie - Warren - Gorman)
4. Love Will Last (Ewell)
5. Honey Hush (Waller)
6. Oh! Baby (Murphey)
7. Davenport Blues (Beiderbecke)
8. Deed I Do (Hirsch - Rose)
Recorded at Osbourn High School, Manassas, Virginia, 19 January 1969 (FC106)
9. Save It Pretty Mama/I Want A Little Girl/Cherry (Redman)
10. CCNY Rioter Blues (Ewell),
11. I'm Coming Virginia (Cook - Heyward) 3:07 (From MIS 5)
Recorded at Sherman Fairchild Studio, 17 East 65th Street, New York City on May 9, 1969, New York City (FCJ 106, except #14)
12. Buddy's Habit (Nelson)/Carolina Shout (Johnson)/Little Rock Getaway (Sullivan)
13. Careless Love (Handy)
14. Lullaby In Rhythm (Hirsch - Sampson - Profit)
15. Delmar Drag (Ewell)
16. Sunday (Miller - Cohn - Styne - Kreuger)
17. I'm Gonna Stomp Mr. Henry Lee (Teagarden - Kelly -Condon)
Disc Two
1. Spain (Jones - Kahn)
2. Snowy Morning Blues (Johnson)
3. Nobody's Sweetheart (Kahn - Meyers - Erdman - Schoebel)
4. Migrant Worker Blues (Ewell)
5. Someday Sweetheart (Spikes - Spikes)
Recorded at Sherman Fairchild Studio, 17 East 65th Street, New York City in September 1969 (CR 106)
6. Take It In Stride (Ewell)
7. Sweet Substitute (Morton)
8. Nice Work If You Can Get It (Gershwin - Gershwin)
9. Indian Summer (Herbert)
10. Get Happy (Arlen -- Koehler)
11. Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jibe (McDonough)
12. Meat Rack Blues (Ewell)
13. Someday You'll Be Sorry (Armstrong)
14. Thou Swell (Rodgers - Hart)
15. 100 Years From Today (Robison)
Recorded at Warp Studios/Downtown Sound, August 20 - 23, 1973, in New York City (CR 127)
16. Keeping Out Of Mischief Now (Waller - Razaf)
17. Blue Turning Grey Over You (Waller - Razaf)
18. Found A New Baby (Palmer - Williams) |