ARTIST PROFILES
C. D. and Book Reviews

JAZZ MODERNISM
FROM ELLINGTON AND ARMSTRONG TO MATISSE AND JOYCE

BY ALFRED APPEL JR.

Alfred A. Knopf - New York 2002

Review by
Robin H. S. Munro

for PLANET JAZZ Magazine

.....Emboldened by the success of his earlier literary works, "The Annotated Lolita", "Signs Of Life", "Nabokov's Dark Cinema (1970)" and "The Art Of Celebration - Twentieth Century Painting, Literature, Sculpture, Photography and Jazz (1993)", Alfred Appel Jr. has turned his considerable talents of observation, thoughtfulness and communication to a new understanding of the interaction of the populist Art-forms of his self-defined Modernism period - the years 1920 through 1950. In a work originally conceived as "Vernacular Modernism", Appel - a professor emeritus of linguistics at Northwestern University in The United States - has plunged headlong into an appraisal of what is obviously one of the obsessions in his life - Classic Jazz - and its relationship to the Modernism Movement in the Literary and Visual Arts.
A beautifully produced volume replete with full-colour plates of Modernist Art, black and white photographs, rare record labels, cartoons, period advertisements and posters, is intended to support the many conclusions that Appel arrives at in presenting his desire for the wilful interaction and influence of visual artists - Matisse, Mondrian, Brancussi, Picasso and more - on musicians Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Jo Jones and Charlie Parker, among a few others.
.....Curiously, the Literary Arts are under-served in this book, which is ludicrous when one considers the weight of evidence which Appel ascribes to James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway, and scantily, T. S. Elliot and F. Scott Fitzgerald, to support his ideas. And with a book filled with one hundred and twenty-seven illustrations carefully annotated and identified, it is surprising to find no bibliography and no notes to support the infrequent, marginalized excerpts seemingly pulled at random from the aforementioned authors' books.
.....Appel's rules of engagement to us in what suffices for a Preface-Introduction-Chapter One include the admission-condition that "My musical emphasis is on singing and the lyrics of songs, because words lend themselves to discourse more readily than musical notes: ...". He continues by quoting Armstrong; "Singing was more into my blood than trumpet," as justification for relegating the majority of Jazz music produced through the three decades in question to the rag-picker's cart - a recurring symbolic image of his based on Eugene Atget's photograph of a Parisian rag-picker taken in 1900 which Appel iconizes using Picasso's exuberant outburst upon completion of his sculpture, "Woman In A Garden", to whit: "I'm king of the ragpickers!".
.....With that in mind, we are off on an investigation into the what, where and when of Waller and Armstrong for a good half of the book and how they - through their choice of songs, comic antics and singing!!! - applied the very same principles, ethics and influences of vernacular creation to their discipline as did Picasso and Matisse, et al. Duke Ellington, while dealt with substantially, does not garner the same degree of appraisal, and references to geniuses such as Charlie Parker and Philly Joe Jones are anecdotal, imaginary and peripheral.
.....Henri Matisse gets the lion's share of graphic design and theoretical attention due to a misunderstanding Appel has regarding the collection of works Matisse created depicting life in the circus world and titled "Jazz"(1947) by his enterprising publisher. Presumably, if the collection had been titled "Circus" it would have been less likely to be considered by Appel as evidence of Modernist inter-Arts collaboration.
.....Appel's arguments could be persuasive - especially when presented with his disarming humour, his personal anecdotes and his unlimited supply of poorly-conceived puns - if they were not so weak. "Jazz Modernism" is a superficial analysis of a complex artistic movement and illuminates little but the author's myopic view and ignorance of his beloved Jazz.
.....If one is looking for illumination on the impact of a global depression, horror-filled First and Second World Wars, the emerging technologies of radio, film and transportation, ethnic migration and new-found freedoms on Jazz Modernism - which are influences on all the Arts, and thus are far greater evidence of the commonality of artistic expression and endeavour - you are out of luck. The crucible of Modernism for the Fine Arts and Literature was not their emergence in the Twentieth Century, but the heritage they both shared that began as early as 1850 - and was influenced by previous centuries of growth and development. The birth of a new music discipline in the early part of the 1900s may actually eliminate it from any serious consideration as a participant in the Modernism Movement. Indeed, Classic Jazz has all the qualities of the later Constructive Post-Modernism Movement.
.....So who is served by this book? Not Musicians, Visual Artists and Authors. Not the audiences for Jazz music. Not Appel's hapless college students. Maybe, only Alfred Appel Jr.
.....One can only come to the conclusion that "Jazz Modernism" is a docu-drama masking as scholarship and, as such, is a rollicking good story brimming with colourful characters, adventure, drama, humour, pathos and joy. In his enthusiasm for Classic Jazz and its role in the Modernism Movement, it is very possible that Appel has conjured up a literary hybrid that is humanistic, creative, and emancipated. If so, his creation might rightly belong to the Constructive Post-Modernism Movement ........ or the "rag-picker's cart".

CARLOS DEL JUNCO

A LIFE AMONG THE REEDS

By Robin H. S. Munro

.....It's the coldest pre-holiday morn in December, and who should be warming up all the southern and central Ontarions as they prepare for the day ahead than the inimitable harmonicist, Carlos del Junco. Wafting out over the frigid airwaves of CBC Radio One's flagship Ontario Morning show is the latin flavoured "Let's Mambo" from del Junco's latest album, "Blues Mongrel".
.....This is nothing new for the hot-blooded musician, who has been warming the hearts and minds of audiences throughout North America and Europe for many years now. Del Junco's infectious music has been used extensively on the nation's public broadcaster for years due largely to the accessible sophistication of his material - both original creations and works by other composers. And what global audiences are discovering about Carlos, music lovers in Barrie-Huronia have been exhilarating in for over nine years. It was June of 1997 when the Carlos del Junco Quartet first performed in The Barrie Jazz And Blues Festival, and awakened audiences to his incredible talent and musicality, the excitement of his concerts and his fun-loving, gentle and thoughtful nature.
.....Havana, Cuba - early Spring of 1958 - and an Armenian-Cuban woman gives birth to the last of five children that she and her Cuban architect husband will bring into the world before leaving the increasingly inhospitable political climate of their pre-Castro country. In less than a year later, the infant Carlos and the del Juncos make their way to what is, for much of the year, an equally inhospitable climate and make Canada their home. A close-knit immigrant family, the del Junco children flourish in their new environment in Toronto, Ontario and are encouraged by their parents to develop as individuals, to build on their talents and follow their ambitions.
.....Always a creative personality, Carlos - whose surname, del Junco, means "of the bullrushes" or "reeds" - acknowledges that his initial fascination with music appeared at 14 years of age when a high-school classmate of his inspired him to learn to play the harmonica. Four years at the Ontario College of Art earning a degree in Fine Arts - majoring in sculpture - left del Junco with a dilemma. Much like The Beatles' John Lennon in his Art School heydays, Carlos had joined with a progressive guitarist to form a music group, "Eye Level", to explore the pair's many interests in popular music. "I've always had eclectic tastes", says del Junco and the two performed Latin, Blues, Reggae music and anything else that caught their attention. It was this early association with a unique guitar player that was the harbinger of his musical future as Carlos was maturing into a creative force.
.....Confronted now with a choice between following a career as a sculptor, or acting on an ever-increasing compulsion to pursue a life as a musician, Carlos "chose to take up the challenge" in becoming a professional musician. When asked why he would forego four years of study in one artistic discipline to engage in, what had been up to that time, more of a hobby, del Junco talked about his "connection to the sound" of the harmonica and how the instrument's musical register, in being "the closest to the human voice", was so resonant with his own musical yearnings and intuitions. Pursuing music lessons with the legendary Blues guitar-vocal-harmonica icon, Michael Pickett, and the equally renowned harmonicist, Rollie Platt, helped to gird del Junco for the competitive, rough and tumble life in Canada's world of music.
.....In the late 1980's, Carlos was playing as a sideman with various Artists and worked with a notorious Blues guitar-vocalist, "Buzz" Upshaw; working with innovative guitarists continuing a pattern that would subsequently emerge as a trademark feature on all of his recorded works and concert performances. None of this precluded his own leadership ambitions, or his developing interest in his own singing abilities, and one of his own groups "The Delcomos" gave him an opportunity to exercise both inclinations. Through this period, Carlos kept the wolf from the door as a part-time - and later, full-time - employee matting and framing posters in a local poster shop. In this period, the idea of the regularity of a career as an Art teacher competed with his desire to continue carving out his identity as a musician. And opportunities to compose and perform in projects as diverse as Governor-General Award-winning, Aboriginal playwright Thomson Highway's "Dry Lips Oughta Move To Kapuskasing" didn't make these decisions any easier. Extended productions of Highway's play took Carlos to Winnipeg, Manitoba and to Ottawa (The National Arts Centre), and then on to Toronto (The Royal Alex Theatre), gaining for both him and Highway greater recognition and praise.
.....As a musician, Carlos had developed many of the skills required to be an accomplished Artist on the harmonica, and joined the myriad of wonderful performers in Canada and the United States. But it took some Master Classes with American harmonica virtuoso, Howard Levy - of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones notoriety -, to finally find the musical level and liberation which he had been seeking and, from that point on, he has "never looked back". Never looked back, indeed, for in 1996, del Junco plucked up his courage and his little musical instrument and, like the biblical David, took on the World at The Hohner Harmonica World Championships in Germany and won the gold medals for the Blues category and the Jazz category. Numerous acknowledgements of his accomplishments in Canadian music - including Juno Award nominations, Maple Blues Awards, Jazz Report awards, consideration for a Grammy Award nomination for his latest recording, "Blues Mongrel" - have garnered for him the unqualified admiration of his peers, his audiences, his critics and have catapulted him into the ranks of musical virtuosi.
.....Carlos del Junco's gifts as an instrumentalist are only part of his inventory of skills. His accomplishments as a composer and arranger, and his talent as a vocal interpreter are imaginative and unique. And much of the credit for his recording and concert successes must be given to del Junco's abilities as a band-leader in seeking out and working with stellar Canadian musicians, many of whom he is often most demanding. He is the first to acknowledge the contributions of his musical compatriots to his projects and the respect with which he holds them personally. As already discovered, del Junco has always been associated with intriguing guitarists in his musical endeavours, and latterly in his career has worked with the cream of Canadian guitar-slingers - notably Mike Branton, Rick Fines, Shawn Kellerman, Jake Langley, Mark Sepic and Kevin Vienneau - all of them successful band-leaders and recording Artists in their own right. Standing above them all - all six-foot five inches of him - is the incomparable multi-stringed instrument Artist, Kevin Breit.
.....The Carlos and Kevin team goes back to del Junco's mid-90s years leading a band under his own name - which culminated in his first recording, "Just Your Fool", captured live at Grossman's Tavern in Toronto. Subsequent to that period, Breit has enriched the recording and concert efforts of many international music stars with his formidable talent, in addition to producing his own imaginative recordings with various eclectic ensembles of his own creation. His work on del Junco's recordings can be summed up in this appraisal of his contributions by Carlos, "My C.D.'s are as much Kevin Breit's as they are mine." Breit has a wonderful "quirky" and playful, dynamic inventiveness as an instrumentalist and this resonates completely with del Junco's musical exhibitionism. It could be argued that there are few musical partnerships in Canada that can match the innovative, creative collaborations of del Junco and Breit.
In assessing his own efforts as an Artist, del Junco considers himself "the Anne Murray of the harmonica". Successful more because of his ability to interpret and improvise over the original creations of others, rather than concerning himself with composition and song-writing. That's the way Charlie Parker and Oscar Peterson and Dizzy Gillespie and hundreds of other of inspired instrumentalists have approached musical creation.
.....In his private life, del Junco is a volunteer with Big Brothers-Big Sisters. He spends time in meditation - Zen-Buddhist leanings -, in annual contemplative retreats, and in trying to focus on life through "quieting the mind". Primarily vegetarian in his diet, del Junco enjoys movies and philosophy and has embraced the ideas found in the written works of American philosopher, Ken Wilbur, whom he considers a "map-maker of human consciousness". Extrapolating from himself, he feels that "if more people worked on themselves", greater human harmony could be achieved. Continuing, he believes that his music, at some level, reaches the spiritual and philosophical state that he is pursuing, and he is hopeful that this leaves an enlightening impression on his audiences.
.....In Biblical times, the infant Moses was kept hidden among the reeds of a river….. and the rest is history. The adult Carlos "of the reeds" has spent his life among the reeds of his little instrument, and has become a musical Goliath….. and the rest is making history.

DISCOGRAPHY
BLUES - Bill Kinnear & Carlos del Junco; Big Reed Records, 1993
BIG ROAD BLUES - Carlos del Junco; Big Reed Records, 1995
JUST YOUR FOOL - The Carlos del Junco Band; Big Reed Records, 1995
BIG BOY - The Carlos del Junco Band; Big Reed Records, 1998
UP AND AT 'EM - The Carlos del Junco Band; Big Reed Records, 2001
BLUES MONGREL - The Carlos del Junco Band; Northern Blues, 2005

MUSIC REVIEWS by Robin H. S. Munro "JAMES CARTER" JAMES CARTER DIW Columbia - 1993 Musical prize fighters are rare, indeed. The undisputed heavy-weight champion of the tenor sax is Detroit, U.S.A. native, James Carter. Aggressive, imaginative, technically prodigious, and possessing the lung capacity of a whale, the wailing sax of a Carter performance is an exhausting experience for the attentive and enthusiastic audiences of which he is usually disdainful. One cannot resist being drawn into every note and exotic sound he creates at the break-neck tempos he so revels in, or luxuriate in the moody ballads that unfold in this collection of mostly original compositions. The steady and accomplished support of his sidemen provides Carter with all the fuel he needs to reveal a musical universe unknown to most of his fellow practitioners in the art of Jazz. "DUOLOGUE VOL.2" MIKE MURLEY & DAVID OCCHIPINTI occdav music - 2005 On this their second album of duettes, guitarist David Occhipinti abandons the musical asceticism of his larger ensemble explorations in favour of a lyrical warmth and intimacy coupled with an abundance of rich harmonic subtleties in support of Canadian tenor ace, Mike Murley. The tone and creative musicality of the multi-Juno Award winning Murley dominate the soundscape and are a continued delight in providing the listener with an exciting dualism-duelism in works written by both instrumentalists. Interesting arrangements on a number of choice Jazz Standards complete the set. "FUTURISTIC WORLDS UNDER CONSTRUCTION" YUVAL RON & RESIDENTS OF THE FUTURE Self-Produced - 2004 Take refined artistic prowess, add modern electronic technology, Middle Eastern musical modes, the pulse of North American fusion Jazz .... then add plenty of chutzpah...., and you end up with the exciting works of Yuval Ron and his quartette from Israel. Focusing primarily on their own compositions, this collection of well-crafted contemporary material is further testimony to the universal appeal of Jazz for the creative residents of all cultures. Broad sweeps of musical texture, intriguing harmonic progressions, cutting edge melodic ideas and sophisticated syncopations mirror the works of late Twentieth Century fusion ensembles. Yuval Ron and Residents Of The Future seem to be reminding us that, as in their part of the world, the past and the future will meet in the present. "RHYTHM 'N JAZZ" ALAIN CARON le band Disques norac Records - 2000 Widely heralded as the greatest electric bass player in the world, Montréal resident Alain Caron has put together possibly the finest band of its kind - from the musical élite of francophone Jazz - in producing his first solo album. A veteran of the legendary UZEB - the Roland Electronics endorsed super fusion group of the latter third of the last century -, Caron is an in-demand Artist around the globe for his musical, composing and arranging skills. A collection of predominantly original works revealing his own superb talents as a sideman and his awe-inspiring gifts as an improviser is joined by his tribute to Jaco Pastorious in the Charlie Parker tour de force, "Donna Lee". The grooves, originality and powerful arrangements in Caron's music reaffirm the remarkable contribution of Québecois Artists to the world of Jazz. "TALES... my Mama told me" DIANE NALINI 33 records - 2001 Diane Nalini has been captivating British audiences for years with the charm and richness of her beautiful voice. Undisputedly recognized as one of the great new voices in Jazz, she sings a collection of Jazz Standards, original creations and classic literary offerings set to music in this engaging first recording. Originally from Montréal, she performs this eclectic mix en francais et en anglais impeccably. Diane Nalini's playful sense of phrasing, combined with a sultry warmth of expression and exquisite tone, make her album a treasure for music lovers and romanticists alike. "UKRAINIANISM" JOHN STETCH Justin Time - 2002 Expatriate, John Stetch - originally from Edmonton, Alberta and now living in up-state New York, U.S.A. - applies his formidable talents as a pianist to his own remarkable compositions reflecting his Ukrainian heritage. This one of three solo piano albums is more of a revelation of what Claude Debussy or Maurice Ravel might have been up to circa 2002 than a Bud Powell or a Duke Ellington. Classified as "a genius" in the influential DOWNBEAT magazine, John Stetch unleashes his extraordinary technique on the nuance-filled, musically complex, absorbing and completely satisfying works of his unfettered imagination.

MUSIC REVIEWS by Robin H. S. Munro "HAPPY MAN" THE STEPHEN BARRY BAND BROS-5001-2 - 1995 These Québecois garçons can groove with the best of them when it comes to straight ahead Blues. Lead by veteran francophone bass player, Stephen Barry, this collection of original and cover songs captures all the typical rhythms, tempos, instrument tonalities and solos one would expect to find on a no-nonsense Blues album. But it's the great vocals - sans accent - that make this recording trés merveilleux! "CONVERSATION WITH THE BLUES" MICHAEL PICKETT Wooden Teeth Records WTCD002 - 2000 If you have never heard the Paul Butterfield Blues Band from the 1960s, then listen up. This is it!- the Canadian way. The cream of Canadian Blues musicians support the incredible vocal efforts of Pickett and his legendary harmonica playing. Pickett's song-writing is superb and all of his songs have intriguing arrangements. Complete with beautiful sound production, this recording is all you will ever need if you are stranded on a New Orleans levee. "JUST YOUR FOOL" CARLOS DEL JUNCO BAND Big Reed Records - 1995 Virtuosi time, music lovers. inCredible Carlos - on harmonica and vocals - and unBelievable Breit - on electric guitar - lead the band through a combination of original and standard Blues material, recorded live at Grossman's Tavern in "Muddy York". The interplay between del Junco and Breit is musical magic, and all their solos mesmerize the listener with their musicality, intricacy, surprises, technical wizardry, and just plain funnnnn! "BARBARA LYNCH" BARBARA LYNCH Duke Street Records DSRMD 31099 - 1996 as evocative and poignant and macabre as Tom Waites plays the piano sings all her own extraordinary songs but please don't ask about Barbara tooooo far behind her time it's a tragedy to be this talented and a woman and live in canada and sing for your supper and finally evaporate find this recording even if it blinds you "... 12 bars from now ..." JAKE THOMAS & THE FUNDAMENTALS Self-Manufactured - 2002 These Northern boys can play! A semi-annual treat for Blues lovers in Barrie during the FEBRUARY BLUES and THE BARRIE JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL, Jake and the boys make their way down from North Bay to heat up the Barrie nights with their original songs and great Blues Standards. This album captures it all ..... and Jake's fiery guitar solos always continue to amaze! "LAST NIGHT" CHUCK JACKSON & THE ALLSTARS Self-Manufactured - 2000 A perennial favourite at music festivals and night-clubs throughout Ontario, the lead singer for the Downchild Blues Band has a second career leading his own band. Straight ahead jump Blues and swingin' Jazz - with a big band to back him up - makes this live recording a great party album. Jackson has the most versatile Jazz and Blues voice in Canada and it is unfortunate that he hasn't recorded more material. Get this album when he comes to your town. "BREAKFAST AT MIDNIGHT" RITA CHIARELLI northernblues music NBM0003 - 2001 Possessing a four-octave range could over-qualify you for singing the Blues. Not Rita Chiarelli. This powerhouse utilizes every asset she possesses, and then takes no prisoners. From the smokey Jazz of "Midnight In Berlin" to the angst-ridden "other woman" in "Woman In Blue", Chiarelli lets her original compositions tell the story on what it means to be the vulnerable woman possessed by her passions. This album doesn't capture the incredible animal magnetism she reveals in her concerts. But it'll do 'till the real thing comes along. "THE RONNIE DOUGLAS BLUES BAND" THE RONNIE DOUGLAS BAND Self-Manufactured RDB 90801 - circa 2001 The most gifted Blues interpreter that Huronia has produced captures himself live at The Silver Dollar Room in "Hogtown" and in studio sessions in Orillia, Ontario. With all the raw energy of a Jimmy Reed concert at Carnegie Hall in the late 1940s, Douglas has an affinity for his Art that is scarily reminiscent of the great Robert Johnson. Could it be that Douglas has sold his soul to the Devil at the crossroads, too? A mix of original songs and traditional Blues material may reveal the answer.

JEFF HEALEY
"AMONG FRIENDS"

by
Robin H. S. Munro

for PLANET JAZZ Magazine

From the opening chorus of "I Would Do Anything For You", through 15 more pieces culminating in "Blues In Thirds", Jeff Healey's recording - "JEFF HEALEY Among Friends" - is pure, uncompromising FUN! The master of so much that he surveys has - with humility, respect and playfulness - presented a collection of songs from the early days of recorded Jazz that have always held a special place in his heart.
The material has a consistency of presentation - a predictability - which is the hallmark of this period. But all of the soloists have a jaunty swagger that keeps each selection seeming fresh and full of merriment. Jeff has added British imports Jim Shepherd, on trombone, and John R.T. Davies, on alto sax, along with American import Dick Sudhalter, on trumpet, to a very capable contingent of Canadians in the creation of this work.
And Healey does triple-duty in this ensemble - combining his consummate skill on the six-string with some of the hottest trumpet playing this side of Basin Street, and gracing many of the songs with his warm, enticing voice that, when required, delivers a delicious grittiness. Jeff's arrangement - which preserves the original concept of the piece - and vocals, on his favourite song "Stardust", is a stellar example of the richness of his gifts.
There is a dry, lack of adornment in the overall production which gives the album a coziness and familiarity, even if all of the pieces are new to the listener.
When you love and revere music the way Jeff Healey does, it shines through in all that he undertakes. Thanks for a musically joyful look in the rear-view mirror.