Bebop and gritty gospel beats

Mark Sherman has it spot-on with The LA Sessions. This is toe-tapping jazz, mainly from the bebop era.

The quartet play a selection of Sherman’s favourites (and probably yours): Woody ’n You (Dizzy Gillespie); Quasimodo (Charlie Parker); Celia (Bud Powell); Moment’s Notice (John Coltrane); Bag’s Groove (Milt Jackson); and Serpent’s Tooth (Miles Davis) are some of the tracks on the album.

If you are convinced the best jazz was recorded in the 1950s and 1960s, you will love this CD.

Sherman started on the drums and at age 18 moved to the piano and vibraphone. A man of many talents, he was trained at New York’s Juilliard school of music, played in a philharmonic orchestra and swung with Mel Torme and Peggy Lee.

Sherman leads on vibraphone supported by Bill Cunliffe (Hammond B3), John Chiodini (guitar) and Charles Ruggiero (drums). This is certainly one to be kept in your car and also to bring out for quiet dinner parties.

Sit back and relax to some excellent West Coast jazz.

The album is not available locally, but can easily be bought by visiting www.marksherman-music.com.

Revolver Records, outside Durban, has come up with a classic DVD that is being offered as a prize in today’s competition.

It is a gritty and earthy live performance by a group who have been together for more than 70 years. The Blind Boys of Alabama were in concert at Tipitinas in Napoleon Street in New Orleans.

Visit the club site at www.tipitinas.com. Among their performances are: Amazing Grace; Spirit in the Sky; Free at Last; Down by the Riverside (featuring Henry Butler); Bourbon Street Parade; Make a Better World (featuring Dr John) and many more. These Blind Boys have won five Grammies, twice performed for US presidents and been inducted into the Hall of Fame.

I say again, a gritty, almost agricultural performance, but if gospel, New Orleans-style, is for you, then you will be delighted with this concert. The Boys are backed by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The album is available in good music stores.

For a free Revolver Records catalogue, send a fax to 032 946 0574 or an e-mail to justine@iafrica.com

Competition: In which US city was the Blind Boys’ DVD recorded?

• Submit only one entry per competition by e-mail to: jassmanquiz@yahoo.com and include your name, postal address and contact numbers as I call the winners and confirm the delivery address and the answers. Competitions close at noon on Saturday.