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Celebrating 50 years of Newport Jazz is like celebrating a history of compromise—there are shining achievements set aside a list of mountains never scaled. Newport was the home of establishment jazz even as it served the iconoclastic function of pushing jazz into the mainstream’s face and ears. Newport is where Duke triumphed in 1956 (the ‘real’ version of “Diminuendo,” and not the studio fake, is included), Coltrane waxed eloquent in his soprano envisioning of “My Favorite Things” (also included), and where Mingus and others felt obliged to stage a counter-festival to showcase the beyond-the-mainstream, politically hot sides of jazz.
But whatever Newport wasn’t (or isn’t), fifty years is an awful long and good time to reminisce over and savor. Hence, three CDs worth of Newport jazz highlights, selected by Newport impresario and festival founder George Wein. And this boxed set bears that signature in a heavy way, as Wein’s favoritism (a heavy dose of Armstrong) comes to the fore.
Most of this music is previously released, so it’s really a matter of convenience. But here are indeed magical highlights, two of which are worth the price of the collection. Mahalia Jackson’s 1958 “I’m Going To Live The Life I Sing About In My Song” is perhaps the most rooted-in-the-earth blues-fashioned gospel I’ve ever heard, and an immeasurably powerful performance. And the 1955 Miles Davis-Monk duet performance of “‘Round Midnight,” never before released, is stellar (and unlike the Prestige session where they performed the same piece, Monk does not lay out but chords and comps beneath Davis’ introspective assaying of the work).
There are other great moments, in particular the 1957 Dizzy Gillespie Big Band’s “I Remember Clifford;” Dinah Washington’s “Back Water Blues;” Willie “The Lion” Smith’s impeccable “Echo of Spring,” recorded with great clarity and performed with a regal stride; and some passionate Ella Fitzgerald. The Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry performances may show some eclecticism but really detract. Overall, unprepossessing but, as noted, with incredible efforts, the inevitable by-product of fifty years.
Release Date: 15 June 2004
Various Artists:
Happy Birthday Newport! 50 Swinging Years - 3-CD set (Columbia/Legacy)
The set also includes a booklet with vintage photographs plus remiscences about the performance by producer George Wein.
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last update 9 May 2004