Search - Tiny Parham :: Tiny Parham

THE RECORD-HUNTER'S DREAM

Barry McCanna | Normandy, France | 02/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many jazz musicians have their own voice, which expresses itself via their instrument, but there are a few, like Oliver, Ellington and Morton, whose individuality pervades their compositions and recordings also, and Tiny Parham deserves to be considered alongside them. From the beginning of July 1928 to November 1930 he made a series of recordings for Victor, mostly of his own compositions, with a largely static group of musicians, which in terms of arrangement are quite as advanced as anything else being recorded at that time.



The acme was reached in late 1929, when one session produced both the ecclesiastical "Cathedral Blues" and the equally descriptive "Black Cat Moan". Indeed, it is no exaggeration to describe many of these pieces as tone poems. The wonder is that a company such as Victor permitted time and energy to be expended on what could not have been a commercial proposition, and indeed many of the original recordings are extremely rare. Full marks to Timeless then, for having reissued these masterpieces, which were both supplied and remastered by the late John R.T. Davies."

The man was an artist

jive rhapsodist | NYC, NY United States | 01/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Is this an essential purchase? It is, if you love Jelly Roll Morton - Parham is something like Herbie Nichols to Morton's Monk. Well, this is maybe not the best analogy. Parham's melodies are nothing really special. But his ingenuity in orchestrating for his seven-piece band certainly puts him on Morton's level. There is some really top - notch Chicago Jazz on this set, particularly on Disc 1. And Quinn Wilson is one of the baddest, funkiest tuba players of all time (but you knew that already because of his work with Morton and Hines, right?). Jogo Rhythm moves effortlessly through its multi-themed structure and the groove is 20's Jazz at its grooviest. The soloists are not amazing, but it really doesn't matter. Skag-A-Lag, Voodoo, and Stompin' On Down are also fantastic. But the high point is Jungle Crawl. Virtually mapped moment to moment to Ellington's Mooche (relation of themes, sonic contrasts, and don't forget those temple blocks), it achieves its own majesty, grandeur and poignancy. A masterpiece, even if a totally derivative one. Need I once again tell you that the remastering was done by John R.T. Davies - my late hero!"