Birmingham Jazz Festival A Night To Remember Vol 2

About “Birmingham Jazz Festival A Night to Remember Vol 2”

During the ’50s, Usher joined with Dizzy Gillespie to found Dee Gee Records and later became a jazz A&R man for Argo/Chess,
producing such artists as Ahmad Jamal and James Moody. In 1960, as impresario, he managed to put together an eclectic package that included pianist Junior Mance; harmonica player and guitarist “Toots” Thielemans, drummer J. C. Heard, tenor saxophonist Sandy Mosse, and vibist Lem Winchester. Among the local players were pianists Bess Bonnier and Johnny Griffith, bassist Nick Fiore and drummer Dick Riordan.

The second of three volumes of previously unreleased music from the 1960 Birmingham Jazz Festival features four different groups. The first three numbers put the focus on the short-lived vibraphonist Lem Winchester, who shows that he could have been one of the best if he had enjoyed a longer life; he is backed by a trio that includes pianist Junior Mance. Pianist Bess Bonnier fares well on “Indiana” and Nick Fiore’s “Drum Suite,” while pianist Johnny Griffith digs into Bud Powell’s “Celia.” The obscure violinist Joe Kennedy (who seems to emerge every five years or so) is in top form on three numbers, welcoming Toots Thielemans on guitar for “Two Different Worlds.” Although a bit of a mixed bag, the music is consistently rewarding throughout these straight-ahead performances.

Scott Yanow