Vic Juris, John Etheridge, Miroslav Vitous Vic Juris g, John Etheridge g, Miroslav Vitous b, Marcello Pellitteri dr | Bohemia | CD jp 1023 | |
Larry Coryell & Miroslav Vitous Quartet Larry Coryell g, Miroslav Vitous b | Dedicated to Bill Evans & Scott La Faro | CD jp 1021 | |
Benny Waters Quartet Benny Waters as, voc, Thilo Wagner p, Jan Jankeje b, Gregor Beck dr | Swinging Again | CD jp 1037 | |
Benny Waters Benny Waters as, Charles Red Richards p, Johnny Wiliams jr. b, Jackie Williams dr, Vic Juris g | Plays Songs of Love | CD jp 1039 | |
Benny Waters & Jan Jankeje Benny Waters as, voc, Jan Jankeje b, Andy Lawrence tr, Klaus Graf ts, Alexander Katz tb, Olaf Polziehn p, Ellen Ritz voc | Let's talk about Jazz | CD GJ 2009 | |
Matthew Brubeck & David Widelock Matthew Brubeck cello, David Widelock g | Really | CD jp 1030 | |
Bireli Lagrene, Larry Coryell & Miroslav Vitous Bireli Lagrene g, Larry Coryell g, Miroslav Vitous b | Special Guests | CD jp 1049 |
BOHEMIA CD jp 1023 VIC JURIS, JOHN ETHERIDGE, MIROSLAV VITOUS, MARCELLO PELLITTERI
This has to be highly recommended. The liner notes describes the album as "a pure jazz guitar album for string purists",and I couldnt describe it any better, except to add that the appel will exted well beyond the guitar world. JURIS and ETHERIDGE are supberbly compatible, and their four acoustic duets are a particular delight. Just hear their thoughtful version of Youve Changed " Etheridge on classical nylon string guitar and Juris on Ovation steel string" or their bossa-nova interpretation of Con Alma and you'll be hooked. The four quartet tracks demonstrate that VITOUS is a world-class bass player "listen to his arco work on Sim", though I must say that the quartet tracks, particularly "L", dont hold my interest to the same extent as the duos, if all of the album was up to the standard of the duets it would have to be considered for the end of year top 10. jazzjournal J.R. Brown 3/1989
BENNY WATERS Maxi-CD GJ 2009 BENNY & JAN
As saxophonist, clarinetist, and singer the name Benny Waters is a steady institution on the international Jazz scene. Now, for the very first time the Mainstream specialist has recorded a dance production BENNY & JAN “Let’s Talk About Jazz” and the new rendition of Gospel song “Oh When The Saints Go Marchin’ In..” in which he is heard as saxophonist and rap-singer. Benny Waters was considered to be the world’s oldest Live-Jazz musician.
Benny Waters, born January 23rd, 1902 in Brighton, Maryland died in August 11th, 1998. He was the one who recorded as early as 1927 together with Louis Armstrong’s mentor Joe “King” Oliver.
Benjamin “Benny“ Waters, born in 1902, started his musical career in 1918 in the Charlie Miller Band. After a three year period of study at the Boston Conservatory in the early 30‘s, he began playing with the stars of the time, Charlie Johnson, King Oliver, Clarence Williams and Claude Hopkins and followed Coleman Hawkins in the Fletcher Henderson Band.
After working with Benny Carter, Hot Lips Page, Jimmie Lunceford, and leading his own formation for several years, he came to Europe with Jimmy Archey in 1952. After fourty years touring mainly as a soloist based in Paris, he returned to N.Y.C. in 1992. Although he is now 91 years old and blind, his playing has lost none of the youth and vitality with which it was always refreshingly coloured.
BENNY WATERS Swinging Again CD jp 1037
This recording bears witness to Benny‘s musical effervescence: his alto saxophone playing emotional but never rude, reminisces on “Blue Waters“ of his time with blues greats Memphis Slim and Roy Milton. His great sense of humour, his friendliness and warmth, his controlled inspiration of the rhythm section (Jan Jankeje, bass, Thilo Wagner, piano and Gregor Beck, drums) made it clear during recording that Benny is a man with rare qualities, a true Grandsegnor of Jazz.
This recording captures a moment in the long life of a man gifted in music and character. His alto saxophone playing here is a short tribute to a life time in Jazz, a tribute that tells us Benny Water is mellowing well with the years: a fruity wine, but very, very drinkable.
BENNY WATERS ”The Grand Old Man on saxophone” Gudrun Endress on SDR (South German Broadcasting) ”All those who have met Benny Waters personally recently were certainly surprised by the vitality and joie de vivre that this 92-year-old pioneer of jazz just radiates. Although he has meanwhile lost his sight completely due to cataracts, he regularly tours Europe, in company. He has spent almost four decades in the Old World, and for many German bands this temperamental, life-loving, eager musician was the first contact they had with a representative of the first jazz generation. He really livened up the old-time and swing scene in this country. Not least of all due to a good measure of showmanship he bewitches the audience even today as he plays on the stage. He has a charismatic effect, comparable to that of Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller or Dizzy Gillespie“. A true Grandsegnor of Jazz.
Bill Clinton congratulated Benny Waters on his 95th birthday, the 21st of January 1997 with these words: „Over the course of your long and remarkable career, you have helped broaden the horizons of jazz and have made it one of our most-sought-after international exports. Not just a performer, you are a music pioneer, and I thank you for all that you’ve given us. Have a wonderful celebration!”