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TEDDY WILSON TRIO At the London House, Chicago Sounds of Yester Year DSOY 866

AFRS One Night Stand 5133
1. Introduction/Theme Sunny Morning
2. Liza
3. Stompin' At The Savoy
4. Medley: Sophisticated Lady/ Misty/ I've Got The World On A String
5. King Porter Stomp
6. Someone To Watch Over Me
7. Honeysuckle Rose
8. Lullaby Of Birdland
 
AFRS One Night Stand 5138
9. Introduction/Theme Sunny Morning
10. Stompin' At The Savoy
11. Tea For Two
12. Medley: There's Danger In Your Eyes/ On The Sunny Side Of The Street/ It's The Talk Of The Town
13. How High The Moon
14. Body And Soul
15. Liza
16. Rose Room
17. Theme: Sunny Morning

Teddy Wilson- - Piano
Arvell Shaw - Bass
Bert Dahlander - Drums

 

This CD contains two broadcasts recorded at Chicago's London House by the Armed Forces Radio Service in the early 1960s to entertain American troops around the globe. The recordings have the advantage that, unlike some Sounds of Yester Year releases, they don't include any weak comedy or morale-boosting claptrap (except for a brief plug for savings bonds). What you get is an hour of virtually undiluted Teddy Wilson, accompanied by bassist Arvell Shaw and drummer Bert Dahlander.

Some of the same tunes reappear in each broadcast but they are treated differently. For instance, in Liza, Teddy swaps fours with Bert but in the second version the drummer takes the first of each set of fours. In fact the bassist and drummer get plenty of opportunities for solos. Arvell Shaw contributes an excellent bass solo to How High The Moon, and Dahlander helps several tunes to end with a big finish. For example, both versions of Liza close with invigorating dialogue between piano and drums, ending in an portentous climax.

Although I am used to Teddy Wilson's elegance, which is evident in the two ballad medleys here, these recordings reveal the influence of Earl Hines as well as Art Tatum. Wilson's runs up and down the piano are very like those of Hines and Tatum, and Teddy has Earl Hines' ability to make the piano sound like a whole orchestra.

The sound quality of these recordings is variable, sometimes fading out and in again. There is subdued background chatter from the audience but this doesn't spoil one's enjoyment of two animated sessions.

Tony Augarde
www.augardebooks.co.uk

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