[Trombone-l] Fwd: [JWC] Jay and Kai

[George Carr]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jeff Thompson <4d0s-pd9f at spamex.com>
Date: May 14, 2007 4:29 PM
Subject: [JWC] Jay and Kai
To: Jazz West Coast <jazzwestcoast at yahoogroups.com>

I'm listening to the new Mosaic Single CD of Jay and Kai's Trombone
for Two (originally Columbia CL 742).
 This also includes Columbia CL 973  titled Jay and Kai, except for
the Bobby Jaspar and Kai Winding trombone quartet tracks. Jay and Kai
has been released on CD previously, Trombone for Two is new to CD.
 Listening to the opening tracks of Trombone for Two, one could argue
that it qualifies as west coast style jazz.
 All the tracks were recorded in New York City, at Columbia's 30th
Street Studios. Both J.J. and Kai were based in New York at this time.
Both lived and worked in Los Angeles much later in their careers.

 For the most part, both Jay and Kai, in blending their trombones,
come up with very mellow toned sounds, not raucous, and hardly even
the hard edged sound often associated with east coast jazz of that
time. Compare J. J.'s sound here with his sound on a later album Proof
Positive, where he works the hard-bop style. And listening to Kai on
Trombone for Two, you would hardly associate him with the trombonist
who had so much influence on the early Kenton trombone sound.

 The other thing that you will notice is the use of arrangements. Jay
and Kai both wrote arrangements of the tracks on Trombone for Two.
There is also a large use of mutes in the written and solo passages.
The original session producer, George Avakian, identifies straight
mute, cup mute, solotone mute, plunger mute and open ( no mute)
sounds. A close listen might even find the harmon muted sound. Note
this quote from Avakian's original liner notes:
 "When they trade off alternating muted phrases on a fast tune, as in
Let's Get Away from It All and The Whiffenpoof Song, it's a wild sight
to see them each keep pace with the lightning routine of mute up, mute
in, blow, mute out, mute down, new mute up, mute in, blow and so on."

 The pianist is Dick Katz, bassists are Paul Chambers, Bill Crow and
Milt Hinton, drummers are Osie Johnson, Shadow Wilson and Kenny
Clarke. The recording sessions are from 1955 and 1956.

 I strongly recommend this to Jay and Kai fans, unless you're
satisfied with your old vinyl, as well as fans of jazz trombone.
Additionally, fans of west coast jazz are urged to sample the sound
clips and consider purchasing.

 Regards,
 Jeff Thompson