Instead of my annual Equipment Review, I thought I’d offer a broader perspective on music and recordings that would serve as wonderful holiday gifts to give or receive this year. These are all items that I have used this year, and in several cases, for many years. I receive no commissions from any of these sites & links. I believe any woodwind performer would find a multitude of items to purchase that would be inspiring. Here goes:
ONLINE WEBSITES
JazzWax
https://jazzwax.com
Marc Myers is the longtime arts writer for the Wall Street Journal. He is also a jazz enthusiast who started his daily blog “JazzWax” 17 years ago. This is one of the best buys on the internet in that every day you receive excellent information about a selected jazz artist(s), recordings old and new, information concerning films, shows currently streaming on TV, interviews with celebrity figures, book reviews, etc. It is a truly inspiring blog that never fails to inspire and inform. And the price is just right—it’s free!
Liner Notes
https://liner-notes-magazine.com
This is an online magazine started in January 2022 by classical music writer Joe Moore. It is the most informative and interesting gathering of articles on classical music that I have ever experienced. This quarterly publication offers a diverse range of subjects related to instrumentalists, singers, conductors, legendary recordings, record labels, etc. The articles are contributed by experts in the discipline being written about and contain links to audio tracks demonstrating the subject at hand. The magazine is edited beautifully with phenomenal pictures. Being able to download every issue and refer to them years later is a tremendous benefit. Each magazine is approximately 200+ pages in length and the annual subscription is only $20. I have learned so much over the past several years from Liner Notes. Here is a YouTube preview of the magazine:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wpkpbIoTEk
Simply Flute
https://www.simplyflute.com
This is an online site for flutists of all levels started during the pandemic years that is produced by the wonderful English flutist, Paul Edmund-Davies. This website provides an enormous number of exercises, pieces, duets, and study materials every week covering the crucial areas of finger technique, articulation, breathing and sonority, interval playing, along with transcriptions done by Paul that are superb. An annual subscription of $60 gives one access to all materials that exist plus new ones that are uploaded several times a month. Paul discusses the exercises offered and often demonstrates an approach to performing them. Also offered and quite helpful are the “Play-A-Long with Paul” exercises and duets, a great way to warmup! This is a wonderful gift to the flute world. See my interview with Paul at: https://www.joffewoodwinds.com/videos/paul-edmund-davies-simply-magnificent-flutist
RECORDINGS
Terry Gibbs Dream Band, Vol. 7–The Lost Tapes, 1959
https://whalingcitysound.com/recordings/terry-gibbs-dream-band-vol-7-the-lost-tapes-1959
Terry Gibbs Dream Band was one of the great swinging bands of the 1950s. Based in Los Angeles and fronted by one of the premiere jazz vibraphonists in history, this latest and last edition of the Dream Band was recently discovered on Mr. Gibbs computer under the title “1959 Jazz Party.” It ended up featuring the band performing live at the Seville and Sundown clubs in Hollywood. The 18 tracks on the CD feature arrangements by Bill Holman, Med Flory, Marty Paich, Al Cohn, and Bob Brookmeyer—not too shabby! And the personnel is a Who’s Who of jazz including Conte Candoli, Carl Fontana, Bill Holman, Pete Jolly, Mel Lewis, Bill Perkins, Lou Levy, etc. as well as Mr. Gibbs. The recording quality is excellent for live on-site dates and particular plaudits to the great reed section headed by Joe Maini (lead asx), Charlie Kennedy (asx), Med Flory (tsx) Bill Perkins or Bill Holman (tsx) and Jack Schwartz (bsx). They are magnificent and any saxophonist looking to hear what a great sax section can do with terrific arrangements should jump at this opportunity. I have the 6 previous Dream Band recordings and this one is my favorite. BTW, Terry Gibbs is 100 years young, still full of energy and swinging! He also wrote the wonderful liner notes that are included in the CD booklet which accompanies the recording.
Zoot Sims Plays Alto, Tenor and Baritone
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/zoot-sims-albums/4640-plays-alto-tenor-baritone-digipack-edition-.html
Zoot Sims Plays Tenor and 4 Altos
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/zoot-sims-albums/4779-plays-tenor-4-altos-feat-george-handy-piano-compositions-arrangements.html
Zoot Sims remains one of the greatest saxophonists ever and these recordings stand as testament to that statement. Issued by Fresh Sounds Records in Barcelona, these are a remarkable series of remastered LPs recorded in the 1950s with outstanding rhythm sections featuring many innovative compositions of George Handy—one of the most progressive composers/arrangers/pianists during the late 1940s/1950s. These recordings also showcase Zoot as a formidable alto saxophonist and baritone sax player. (Zoot played beautiful soprano as well. I was fortunate enough to hear him on that horn during several live performances.) I think many will be surprised by the unique beauty of Zoot on alto and I implore all saxophonists to purchase both CDs through the links above—they can be shipped together and thereby save on shipping/taxes. While Zoot is often overshadowed in history by his Four Brothers tenor mate, Stan Getz, these recordings will make it clear that Zoot is second to none!
Stanley Drucker: Heritage Collection-Coda
https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Stanley-Drucker/dp/B0DB2R339Y
Every woodwind player should know of clarinetist Stanley Drucker. His accomplishments as the longest tenured principal clarinet with a major world-class orchestra as well as his legendary recordings that established a new level of technical achievement on the clarinet are well documented. In recent years, clarinetist and record producer Jerome Bunke (a former student of Stanley) has gathered all of Stanley Drucker’s recordings as well as many recitals and concerts that he presented outside of the New York Philharmonic throughout his career. His efforts are part of the Heritage Collection of recordings, 14 CDs issued in 4 different packages. The latest and final installment contains CDs 10-14 and presents never before heard recordings by this great artist. Stanley Drucker’s affinity for performing contemporary works alongside the great standards is showcased in all these recordings. Here is a promo for the latest offering:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFsl4R59Sw0
Ravel: Complete Orchestral Works
https://www.amazon.com/Ravel-Complete-Orchestral-Works-Maurice/dp/B000065TUZ
The 3-CD set of Ravel’s complete orchestral music, conducted by Claudio Abbado with the London Symphony Orchestra, is a definitive rendering of the great composer’s large-scale works. Recorded between 1981-1989 in various London halls and produced by Deutsche Gramophon, the sonic beauty and elegance displayed in the trio set is remarkable. Claudio Abbado was one of the finest conductors in the last 50 years and is passing in 2014 has left a great void in the world of truly great maestros. While every major orchestra has recorded these works over the past 100 years, I find myself referring to these recordings time and again while enjoying the wonderful detail and subtlety that Abbado and the LSO are able to bring to these masterpieces. And the woodwind playing is out of this world. Buy this and you will thank me!
George Szell/Cleveland Orchestra: The Forgotten Recordings
https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Recordings-Cleveland-Orchestra/dp/B08QW837SS
George Szell’s tenure with the Cleveland Orchestra (1946-1970) is legendary. There have been numerous books and articles written about how this musical genius transformed a very good orchestra into one of the great symphonic ensembles in history. Szell’s desire to record often and make use of the new format of LP recording in the 1950s has left a treasure trove of recordings available for present day enthusiasts. However, this set of recently discovered recordings made in 1954-1955 for the Book-of-the-Month Club has enabled us to get a better perspective of the brilliance of Szell and this ensemble. Szell agreed to do these recordings to bolster the musician’s salary at a time when the CSO was not paying its players a fair wage. The 2021 double CD-set offers 7 works never previously heard and I can state unequivocally that these recordings are among my favorite with this ensemble and conductor. The remastering of these works played in the Masonic Auditorium in Cleveland is top-tier and much credit is due to longtime Cleveland Orchestra producer and restorer, Loni Spahr. (His informative notes in the included booklet add another level of enjoyment to this production.) For all woodwinders, this is a great chance to hear the remarkable woodwind section of Robert Marcellus-clarinet, Maurice Sharp-flute, Mark Lifschey-oboe; and George Goslee-bassoon, in wonderful form.
SHEET MUSIC
The Complete Clarinet: F. Kroepsch
https://www.completeworksmusic.com/kroepsch
The Kroepsch Studies have been a familiar part of any serious clarinetist’s development for over 100 years. Originally published in 4 volumes that utilize every major and minor key, these 416 studies are now available in one complete edition of 132 spiral-bound, 9” x 12” pages. The exercises are broken up into progressive studies, scale studies, and etudes. And as a bonus, 5 original duets by Kroepsch are included at the end of the book. The layout, careful editing, and scrupulous attention to every detail results in a work of art. Stanley Drucker told me on several occasions that these were the books that he felt aided his magnificent articulation on the clarinet the most. Even if you have worked through these studies previously, I would encourage you to purchase this edition since it is the only one to include everything under one roof.
Charlie Parker Omnibook, Volume 2
https://www.ejazzlines.com/?q=charlie+parker+omnibook%2C+volume+2
The success of the original Charlie Parker Omnibook, published in 1978, has led to the more recent issue of a Volume 2 with 60 new transcriptions of Bird solos. These solos have been aided by digital technology to present the most accurate pitch and rhythmic notation possible. Every transcription includes the listing of the recording from which it is based, accurate tempo markings, alternate fingerings that Bird frequently made use of, and sensible phrasing and articulation markings. The tunes vary from Bird with Strings tunes to combo performances from live and studio dates. While nothing takes the place of the individual sitting down and transcribing a solo, this publication offers another means of seeing and hearing Bird as well as terrific music reading practice. Published for “C,” “Eb,” and “Bb” instruments, this is a fine way to keep delving into the greatest alto saxophonist in jazz history.
BOOKS
Reflectory: The Life and Music of Pepper Adams
https://www.amazon.com/Reflectory-Life-Music-Pepper-Adams-ebook/dp/B09J6SJDVH
Gary Carner’s riveting biography of Pepper Adams is one of the finest jazz profiles I have read. This 550-page downloadable book examines the life of the greatest bebop baritone saxophonist and is coupled with 450 music links—the best way to get the true essence of this artist’s work and contributions. It is endlessly informative and the level of research that went into this book will enable even the most knowledgeable reader to gain a new perspective of this artist. The author collaborated with Pepper during the last two years of his life (1984-86) and benefited from speaking with hundreds of other musicians who played with him throughout his career. One of the many great jazz players who grew up around Detroit or established themselves there in the mid-20th Century (Barry Harris, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Yusef Lateef, Thad Jones, Elvin Jones, Frank Foster, Charles McPherson, etc.), Pepper reinvented the sound of the contemporary jazz baritone saxophonist. Reflectory is a great tribute to this pioneer.
Wibb: A Flute for Life
https://www.fluteworld.com/product/wibb-a-flute-for-life/?srsltid=AfmBOopCI-zYkyUUhSF2Cdh4eGrE77h-fOk9OcHfm8BWwaimTJnp0M0f
William Bennett (1936-2022) was one of the most influential flutists of the 20th Century. Part of the generation of great English flutists who studied with Geoffrey Gilbert and Marcel Moyse (James Galway and Trevor Wye among them), he helped formalize the French school of flute playing as THE approach that would be heard in all major English orchestras. During his lifetime, he touched every corner of the flute world imaginable as an orchestral musician, chamber player, soloist, recording artist, teacher, inventor (his version of the Cooper scale is now standard on Altus flutes), in addition to his many transcriptions of works adaptable to flute. WIBB (the initials of his full name) was beloved by his colleagues and students. His friend, Edward Blakeman, did a wonderful job in collaborating with him on this inside view of a world-class musician. The 205-page book is replete with pictures, old programs, drawings and sketches by WIBB (he was also a talented artist), and musical notations that enliven his life story. If you are already a fan of his you will no doubt want to get this ASAP. If you are not familiar with the work of WIBB, this will be a delightful entry into his world and will hopefully entice you to purchase one of his many recordings from BEEP, his record company. As my teacher and friend Tom Nyfenger once told me when discussing a Mozart flute quartet: “You should listen to William Bennett’s recording of the quartets. He plays perfect.” Coming from Tom, that was the ultimate compliment!