Buck Clarke Quintet - Drum Sum - Argo LP 4007 - Argo Original Pressing, Stereo, Blue Label
Buck Clarke - Bongos and Conga
Charles Hampton - Piano, Alto & Baritone Saxophones + Flute
Clement Wells - Vibes
Fred Williams - Bass
Roscoe Hunter - Drums
Recorded - November 8, 1960, Bell Sound Studios, New York
Supervision - Ralph Bass
Cover - Don Bronstein
Released - 1961?
Here's a real Argo rarity and a true beauty - the first side of the Buck Clarke Quintet! I've been looking for this side for ages, and finally managed to acquire the original vinyl in nice condition for a very fair price last week. The Quintet, who were somewhat active in the early 1960s Washington, DC jazz scene were nominally led by percussionist Buck Clarke, but the real heart and soul of the group is multi- instrumentalist Charles Hampton who effortlessly trades off on piano, saxes, and flute here.
I really love the sound of the group which is a compelling hybrid of straight ahead, soul, groove, and something quite dark and malevolent - probably due to the sparing and expert vibes work by Clement Wells. Of the group's two sides on Argo - ' The Buck Clarke Sound' was posted earlier this year - I think this is the strongest and holds together better, but not by much. Cut in New York on election day November 1960 when Kennedy narrowly defeated Nixon - perhaps the historic occasion of the day added some gravitas to the session... Excellent fidelity off the original Argo stereo vinyl.
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No matter how long you have been listening to jazz - nearly 50 years in my case - there is always something new. Great post. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeletelovely stuff, "Darren the Redd Foxx" is the one for me here, thanks!
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Preston, for this unknown gem !
ReplyDeleteWhew! THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteWanted to buy this myself ever since i heard the other Buck Clarke here on Sun Ship.
ReplyDeleteBeing a Bongo player i wanted it as much for the music as for the great cover.
Many thanks!
Many thanks for Buck Clarke Quintet posted here, awesome music indeed. I have a request though - I'm still looking for Buck Clarke's Cool hands lp from 1959, can somebody help me with this?
ReplyDeleteAljaz
Many thanks ! Peace
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your blog
ReplyDeleteI love it
you did some tremendous work , really appreciated
thank you for all this rarities
j.
As a reader and downloader of your posts, it's very nice to have a chance to embrace the music from your records. One gets the feeling that you are not simply a collector, but a lover of the music. This Buck Clarke Quartet, the MJT+3, the Lou Donaldson stuff, all the Gene Shaw and Ahmad Jamal cuts...priceless! This one in particular is a lost gem! You have posted lots of unknown (to me, at least) treasures here and i'm grateful. Looking forward to your upcoming posts! Thanks again! ~j
ReplyDeleteMany thanks - marvellous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the Buck Clarke.
ReplyDeletemerci
ReplyDeleteIt is terrific to see Buck's name and reminisce.I have a review,a folded page in yellow fade,of us at that time,"The Buck Clarke Trio" playing at a place called "The Greenwich Lounge"in 1965.It was Wednesday through Monday back when there where actual gigs that supported us.Buck painted big colorful,African looking things and his heart was as large and colorful as his paintings.Charlie Hampton is also sorely missed in and around DC.Fred Williams was another DC good guy. Thanks for you generous uploads ,sharing these great sounds and memories.All the best to you and yours,Bob
ReplyDeleteBuck Clarke - Drum Sum
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for this true rarity! It is something Universal never would reissue on CD. Unfortunately, even though it isn't a very long album, one track recorded at the session, "The Deacon", remains unissued.
It is not entirely clear to me what made it qualify for the 4000 series instead of the regular 600 jazz series.
It is not Clarke's first album though. A year earlier he recorded an album titled "Cool Hands" for the Offbeat label. It has the same personnel, apart from Don McKenzie being on vibraphone instead of Clement Wells.
All these sidemen remained obscure. You have to wonder why such an impressive multi-instrumentalist as Charles Hampton didn't become better known. Probably because he stayed in Washington.