Friday, February 13, 2015

Tadd and Fats Redux

Fat Girl and Baptiste: Fats Navarro and Illinois Jacquet at a session in the mid-'40s. Photo from Down Beat
If you were to guess the most visited and downloaded entry on this blog, what do think it would it be? That rare Mingus? The live version of Ornette's "Skies of America"? The only record pianist Kenny Kersey ever made as a leader? How about Duke Ellington and Bing Crosby teaming up on "St. Louis Blues," with Der Bingle scatting a chorus?

I might have guessed one of those, too. But I'd be wrong and so would you. Number 1 on Gems is "Fats and Fat Value" from March of last year. There I mused on the worth of this music called jazz and contrasted the value of a Michael Cosmic LP with one by Tadd Dameron and Fats Navarro. Apparently Gems' readers thought the Dameron/Navarro download was worth something, because it sold and keeps selling ("selling" being a term of art – nothing here is for sale except a bridge in Brooklyn).

So, to keep our readers happy, here's Part 2 of Tadd and Fats at the Royal Roost in 1948, another treasure that comes our way via the obsessive/compulsive airchecking of the late, lamented Boris Rose. This one features a few nice vocals by Kenny Hagood and a guest appearance by Milt Jackson. The playing is first rate with Fats in primo shape and Alan Eager displaying his mettle.

The recording has Boris's abrupt starts and stops, and there's a bit of surface sound, but overall I'd say these tunes are in pretty good sonic shape for being in their 67th year (hey, I'm nearly that old!). So enjoy them and let's see if we can outdo the last Tadd/Fats download. As always, from the original vinyl.

(I wonder if I should post the Michael Cosmic ... ?)












Tadd and Fats Fats Navarro/Tadd Dameron
Sneaker TDFN 829
Airchecks, Royal Roost, New York, NY

Fats Navarro, tp; Rudy Williams, as; Allen Eager, ts; Tadd Dameron, p; Curley Russell, b; Kenny Clarke, d; Kenny Hagood, v. August 29, 1948

1. The Squirrel
2. Good Bait
3. Pennies from Heaven (KH)
4. Anthropology
5. Kitchenette Across the Hall (KH)
6. Lady Be Good
7. Tadd Walk

Fats Navarro, tp; Rudy Williams, as; Allen Eager, ts; Milt Jackson, vbs; Tadd Dameron, p; 
Curley Russell, b; Kenny Clarke, d. September 4, 1948

8. Symphonette
9. The Squirrel #2

As above, October 16, 1948

10. Anthropology #2
11. Our Delight
12. Tadd Walk #2

Find it here: http://www.mediafire.com/download/uc3lzrzywl8r1do/Tadd_and_Fats.rar

5 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting this David. I've had the vinyl since the 70's but never got around to digitizing it and you've saved me the time. "Kitchenette Across The Hall" shows another side of Tadd not often heard.

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    1. Glad I could save you a bit of work, sun. I sometimes digitize recordings posted here so I can clean them up and use them later for radio broadcast. So the blog serves a dual purpose. Everybody benefits!

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  2. David, in your vast collection of vinyl do you have Duke Ellington A DATE WITH THE DUKE At The Hurricane Club 1943-1944 Caracol 435? If so, would you consider posting it? Thanks.

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    1. Sorry it took me so long to get back to you sunman. I've been out scouring the East Coast looking for new records to post. No, I'm sorry to say I don't the Duke LP you're looking for. I do have four others in that series but not that one. Sorry, but try me again if you have other requests. Cheers!

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  3. If I happened upon your excellent blog three months ago, I would have seen your tease for Michael Cosmic and fell over with excitement and anxiety and profound Want and Need.

    But, thank hooey, I found it two and a half months ago.

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