Record Reviews

KENNY CLARKE / FRANCY BOLAND BIG BAND ~ EN CONCERT AVEC EUROPE 1 TREMA 3296637104137 (Barcode: 3296637104137) ~ BELGIUM ~ Big Band Jazz Recorded: 1969 Released: 1992 This is an archival live album recorded by the international / resident in Europe Big Band, co-led by American drummer / bandleader Kenny ClarkeFind albums by this artist and Belgian pianist / composer / arranger / bandleader Francy BolandFind albums by this artist. It was originally recorded in France in 1969 by French TV. The 2CD album presents fourteen tracks, six composed by Boland, two by Clarke, two by other Big Band members and four are standards, all brilliantly arranged by Boland. The sound quality of this release is not perfect, probably since it was originally a live TV broadcast, but the music is exceptional, as always. The Big Band includes some of the best European Jazz musicians active at the time, like British saxophonists Ronnie ScottFind albums by this artist, Derek HumbleFind albums by this artist and Tony CoeFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Derek WatkinsFind albums by this artist, drummer Kenny ClareFind albums by this artist, and many American expatriates: saxophonists Sahib ShihabFind albums by this artist and Johnny GriffinFind albums by this artist, trumpeters Benny BaileyFind albums by this artist, Art FarmerFind albums by this artist and Idrees SuliemanFind albums by this artist, bassist Jimmy WoodeFind albums by this artist and many other excellent musicians. Clarke and Boland co-led the Big Band between 1960 and 1972, which was one of the most formidable European Jazz Big Bands with an extensive recording legacy, with several notable releases also on the MPSFind albums on this label label. Boland composed and arranged for the most important American Jazz Big Bands in the 1950s, like those of Benny GoodmanFind albums by this artist, Woody HermanFind albums by this artist and Count BasieFind albums by this artist, before returning to Europe and starting his work with legendary German Big Band leader Kurt EdelhagenFind albums by this artist. The music is all within the mainstream Jazz idiom, but the sublime arrangements make it absolute timeless and distinctly different from the American Jazz Big Band tradition, with a much more complex orchestral sound and refined European aesthetics. There are plenty of wonderful soli by the orchestra members, as expected, but as usual in the European Big Band environment, the accent is on the entire orchestra sound, with the soloing being mostly the icing on the cake. Every note played here is simply exceptional. Overall, for Big Band / Orchestral Jazz fans this album is an absolute must of course, a true school book example of what Big Band music is all about. Holy Grail!

Updated: 16/06/2025Posted: 16/06/2025

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