We were pleased to hear from Herb in New York about this
great new CD showcasing Phil Seamen
Wild Man Of The Drums Phil Seamen Remembered On Superb New
Album
The gargantuan drug habit of drummer Phil Seamen, who died
in 1972 aged just 46, often overshadowed the Burton-on-Trent-born man's
glorious playing. But with a new compilation The Late Great Phil Seamen
set for release on the Dutch Sharp Wood label next month all this is set
to change because some of the best moments of his career are gathered
together on a single CD for the first time.
Some of the key moments of the album include his gutsy work
with tenorist Dick Morrissey on Jimmy Witherspoon song 'Times Getting
Tougher'; 'Free' with Stan Tracey unusually playing vibes, as well as
Joe Harriott's 'Abstract' with Seamen joining the great Jamaican saxophonist,
trumpeter Shake Keane, bassist Coleridge Goode and pianist Pat Smythe
on the track taken from the classic Jazzland album, Free Form.
Inspired by hearing Gene Krupa play on records with the
Benny Goodman band, Seamen went on to work with every big name in British
modern jazz from the late-1940s onwards, including Jack Parnell, Ronnie
Scott in the mid-50s, Vic Ash, Victor Feldman, Don Rendell, Dizzy Reece,
the Jazz Couriers, Tubby Hayes and altoist Joe Harriott from 1960-62.
Later in the 60s Seamen became the resident drummer at Ronnie Scott's
club, playing with many US stars including Johnny Griffin, Freddie Hubbard
and Roland Kirk.
Fast, strong and supple with the ability to pull the listener
into the heart of his energising bebop lines, the CD compiled by producer
Michael Baird, is a reminder of a great musician in his prime about whom
Sonny Rollins when recalling his days at Ronnie Scott's in the 60s told
Jazzwise recently: "We had a lot of fun with Phil, and all the guys".
Cream drummer Ginger Baker, who Seamen taught, in the sleeve notes to
the album says: "There were few drummers in the world who could come
close to Phil Seamen."
Released next month the album will surely confirm Baker's
opinion of Seamen's playing and alert a new generation to a talent which
burned bright for the short period of his life but whose recorded legacy
lingers long. Read November's Jazzwise for Jack Massarik's detailed account
of the highs and lows of Seamen's career.
- Stephen Graham
An amazing tribute to one of the hippest drummers ever --
the late, short-lived Phil Seamen -- easily one of the hippest cats to
ever hit the kit on the British jazz scene, and a player who could make
visiting Americans forget all about their rhythm sections back home! Phil
had an undeniable groove that was evident from his very first recordings
-- a bad-snapping sense of rhythm that made him one of the most in-demand
drummers during the key Brit bop years of the 50s and early 60s -- a time
when Seamen's drumming could really help transform the sound of a tune!
He also did some key avant work too, most importantly with Joe Harriott
-- and most of his greatness is beautifully captured here, in a selection
of tunes recorded with a variety of different leaders, plus a solo number
and even a brief spoken bit too. The book features very detailed notes
on Phil's life and music -- and titles include "Tangerine" with
Harold McNair, "Free" with Stan Tracey, "Tonal" with
Joe Harriott, "Kick Off" with Jack Parnell, "The Escape"
with Dizzy Reece, "Seamen's Mission" with Ronnie Scott, "Reza"
with Tony Coe, "Bongo Chant" with Kenny Graham's Afro Cubists,
and "One Four" with Kenny Graham & His Satellites.
© 1996-2009, Dusty Groove America, Inc.
available through these websites:
http://www.swp-records.com/Products/Catalogue%20list/115.html
http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=s4zsdzdnr8
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Late-Great-Phil-....58196971&sr=8-1
