Buck Clarke - The Buck Clarke Quintet- Argo LP 4021 - Original Pressing, Blue Label
Buck Clarke - Bongos & Congas
Charles Hampton - Flute, Alto Saxophone & Piano
Jimmy Crawford - Piano (only on A2, A3, B3)
Lennie Cuje - Vibes & Marimba
Dwayne Austin - Bass
Billy Hart - Drums
Arrangements by Charles Hampton
Recorded - November 17 &19, 1961, Washington Jewish Community Center, Washington, DC
Supervision: Phil Chess
Production: Burt Burdeen
Recording by: Edgewood Recording Studio Inc, Washington, DC
Cover: Wallace Conway
Released: 1963?
Well let's start this weekend with a very nice and seldom seen Argo rarity; a nice 'jazz with bongos-latin percussion' twist to a very poignant and deeply soulful side by Buck Clarke! This posting is also my first venture into Argo's LP 4000s Blues/Pop/Folk (1961-65) series which I initially discounted during my earlier adventures in crate digging, but which I'm now actively exploring as I discovered that there were some really nice jazz gems buried in this series. This side is one of them! Perhaps this side was assigned to the 4000 series as it wasn't a typical Chicago jazz date - more like early 60s Washington, DC which is quite interesting too and provides some much needed historical context to a jazz history which has been long dominated by the New York/Blue Note/Prestige sound etc..
Buck Clarke on the bongos is the nominal leader of this side, but the real revelation here is the long lost jazzman Charles Hampton who is heard on alto, flute, piano, contributes 4 originals and provides arrangements no less! Some of this album's cuts have appeared on various collections over the years - Hampton's 'Feel' is quite a wonderful straight ahead jazz groover (isn't that a contradiction?), but this side was mostly lost to history and never reissued. Acquired a slightly worn good condition copy which I've managed to restore, solid fidelity.
Get it
What a great start to the weekend!
ReplyDeleteClarke recorded the killer 'Cool Hands' album that also featured Charles Hampton for the obscure 'Offbeat' label in 1959. Worth checking out!
He also did a plethora of sideman appearances with everyone from Willis Jackson to Herbie Hancock to Jimmy Smith to The Isley Bros.
Superb share, many thanks!
I`ve got "Feel" on a comp so I`m looking forward to this! Many thanks for the share.
ReplyDeleteAgain I thank you for another lost treasure!
ReplyDeleteExcellent album. Thanks for the good work
ReplyDeleteListening as I write - great album - thanks for your time.
ReplyDeleteSuperb! I had no idea Buck Clarke (or the wonderful Charles Hampton) even existed before last week, but now these two lps are giving me great pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI've no idea how I originally came by your blog - but I have already picked up all three King Fleming lps (excellent!) - and I will be a regular visitor and will certainly check everything you've posted that I've never heard of. You're doing a wonderful thing here.
merci
ReplyDeleteThe Buck Clarke Sound
ReplyDeleteThis was the Clarke group's third and last album. Compared to the previous Argo album recorded a year before, only Hampton remained of the sidemen, but the general orientation remains the same. Many thanks for making this interesting rarity available; the chances of it ever appearing on CD are very slim. Putting up LP-only things like this is what makes your blog so great.
As for the 4000 series, I think the focus changed along the way. It seems to have been quite jazz-related from its start in 1960 up to this 4021 entry in 1962. Then came the Folk wave, and that, or blues, is what the series seems to have concentrated on thenceforth, with only the odd jazz-related release. The series seems to have come to an end in 1967.
Thanks for this album
ReplyDelete