Bluebird Releases Three New “First Editions”

By I Jul. 11, 2002

In its “Bluebird First Editions” series of reissues from the RCA Victor Group vaults, Bluebird Jazz just released three new albums July 9: Djangology, the classic1949 Italian recording session of guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli; Louis Armstrong And His Friends the 1970 session that proved to be the last jazz recording Pops made; and Astral Traveling, the 1973 debut of keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith. All feature previously unreleased tracks or alternate takes

While Reinhardt and Grappelli recorded together frequently, beginning in 1934, their partnership was suddenly severed in 1939 because of the outbreak of World War II. It was especially difficult for Reinhardt because Nazi Germany persecuted gypsies. It wasn’t until after the war that the pair met up again for occasional dates. The best recording session the two engaged in came in 1949 when they settled into Rome with an Italian rhythm section and rediscovered the magical collaborative spirit they had enjoyed a decade earlier. The resulting album was Djangology, featuring Reinhardt’s radiant acoustic rhythm guitar accompanying Grappelli’s lyrical violin lines. The two covered various tunes, including the guitarist’s title track, “Honeysuckle Rose,” “All the Things You Are,” “Swing 42,” “Lover Man,” “(It’s Only A) Paper Moon” and “I Got Rhythm.” Plus, while both were renowned for their swing proclivity, there’s evidence here of the then-new bebop influence, especially in Reinhardt’s adventurous performance on “Honeysuckle Rose.”

Also included on this ‘Bluebird First Editions’ release are three rarities from the 1949 sessions: “Menilmontant,” “Swing Guitars” and a classical music-informed piece, “Improvisation On Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique (Andante).”

On the occasion of Louis Armstrong’s 70th birthday, three recording sessions were organized for Pops (sans trumpet) to have some jazz fun with his peers. The invitees and special guests combined to make this 1970 Louis Armstrong And His Friends date a star-studded jazz event. The orchestra was arranged and conducted by the great Oliver Nelson and featured such noteworthies as trumpeter Thad Jones, trombonist Al Grey, saxophonist Billy Harper, guitarist Kenny Burrell and bassist Chuck Rainey. On the opening track, a soulful gospel rendition of “We Shall Overcome,” Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Tony Bennett and impresario George Wein join a choir of singers in the refrain.

Produced by Bob Thiele, who first worked with Satchmo in the recording of his Great Summit recording with Duke Ellington, the album spotlights Armstrong covering a range of material from the Ellington band classic “Mood Indigo” to an exhilarating rendition of John Lennon’s anti-war chant “Give Peace a Chance.” Also included are a cover of “Everybody’s Talking” from the film Midnight Cowboy, the autobiographical number “Boy From New Orleans” and the exuberant “This Black Cat Has Nine Lives.”

Bonus tracks on the CD include “Here Is My Heart For Christmas” and two alternate mixes of “The Creator Has A Master Plan (Peace),” the 1969 Leon Thomas collaboration with Pharoah Sanders. The album proved to be Pops’ last jazz outing.

Originally released in 1973, keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith’s debut album, Astral Traveling, helped to usher in a slinky, celestial yet grooving music that he called “jazz fusion funk.”

Produced by Bob Thiele, the album features Smith’s band the Cosmic Echoes, which included saxophonist George Barron, guitarist Joe Beck, bassist Cecil McBee and tabla specialist Badal Roy. Recorded at the time when Smith was still a member of Miles Davis’ band (a tenure that lasted a total of two years), Astral Traveling features Smith in a free-flowing state of mind on a Fender Rhodes and an acoustic piano. He was a former member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers as well as a sideman with Max Roach, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Pharoah Sanders<