The tapes are always rolling. In restaurants, bars, school gyms, residential lofts, concert stages and countless other venues both established and impromptu. The ubiquitous nature of recording technology has been a given, virtually since its inception. Consequently tapes such as those that comprise this new Pablo release really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Still, the prospect of ‘new’ music by Sims playing an instrument, which he recorded with all too rarely on, raises the expectation stakes. As is often the case with unearthed treasures the story behind the music carries an allure in common with the sounds themselves.
Recorded informally at the home of Joe Castro, a Bohemian hideout in the Beverly Hills dubbed Falcon Lair; the session was actually one of many such jam sessions. Castro was a fairly prominent bop pianist based in the Los Angeles area during the Fifties, who went on to record a date as a leader for Atlantic. His palatial digs were actually the outcome of his wife Doris Duke’s fortune as heiress to a tobacco dynasty. By most accounts Castro’s numerous jam sessions were leisurely excuses to hang out. The cover of the disc demonstrates just how colloquial the dates were with Sims and Castro clothed in the casual attire of white t-shirts. Sims sticks to alto for the entire disc, a sax he flirted with briefly in the Fifties on a pair of albums for ABC-Paramount and a single platter for Riverside. His tone on the smaller horn frequently favors a dry Konitzian flavor, light and breezy, but lubricious when weaving through the changes of the various standards on hand. There are also spots where hints of his later soprano sound seep in through an arid, almost nasally, intonation.
Castro supplies able, if fairly unremarkable support alongside Ron Jefferson, a regular gigging drummer on the LA scene who also recorded frequently with Les McCann. Bassist Leroy Vinnegar is the true blue chip of the rhythm section, his stout walking lines adding to the easy ambulatory swing of the quartet. His pizzicato solos, which pepper several tunes, trace lines coaxed by trotting fingers. “A Night in Tunisia” works as fine, if slightly wobbly opener as the four men warm to a communal groove and Castro has an early chance to show his nimble chordal approach against Vinnegar’s plump throbbing bass undercarriage. Sims is more prominent on “Pennies From Heaven” sailing through the melody and into an aerated solo that tugs playfully at the tune’s steady tempo. The set’s second half includes three Castro originals, all of which work off simple blues riffs ripe for relaxed exposition. Fidelity across all eight tracks is of remarkably high quality considering the circumstances and the source. As mentioned, Sims pretty much shelved his alto from the Sixties on. These performances show that reason behind his decision certainly wasn’t due to any naiveté on the instrument.
~ Derek Taylor
Excellent review....even better CD.
hopefully we can hear more from Fantasy.
Zoot!
Thanks for the kind word, Steve. James Castro, Joe’s son, actually has about 150+ reels in his possession, taped by his father over the years. He’ll hopefully be contributing an article here at Bags at some point detailing his successful efforts to restore them.
Some of the sessions in the Castro collection:
Stan Getz-Zoot Sims-Gerry Mulligan-Oscar Pettiford (amazing)
Billy Higgins-Teddy Edwards-Lucky Thompson-Leroy Vinnegar-
Teddy Wilson-Dexter Gordon-Anita O'Day-Chico Hamilton-
Zoot Sims w/ Teddy Wilson
Stan Getz w/ Teddy Wilson
Buddy Colette-Red Mitchell-Jimmy Gourley-Chuck Wayne-
Lou Levy-Ron Jefferson-Mel Lewis-Jack Sheldon-Buddy Jones-
Allen Eager-Philly Joe Jones-Paul Chambers-Vernon Alley-
Monte Budwig-Paul Motian-Sonny Truitt-Gary Frommer-George Handy.
Oscar Pettiford-Lucky Thompson-Zoot Sims-
A 50-minute ‘avant garde’ piece by Chico Hamilton that mixes classical & jazz.
A pretty amazing trove all told.
Hey All...Bongo Pete the Drummer here..I look forward to hearing this and the other offerings from the Castro collection. My Thanks to Sandi Hummer for turning me on to this news, and great writing by Derek Taylor...incidentally there is a Drummer named Derek Taylor in Sacramento california playing for a group called Bucho! Not really my cup of tea, but the kid used to listen to me as an 8 or 9 year old riding his bike past my house..anyhow Great Jazz News!!
Posted by: Pete Poulos at March 15, 2006 12:41 PMIn 1957, I went up to Falcon Lair with Don Joham and LeRoy Vinegar after hours, after picking up his bass at Diggers in East L.A. Actually, we went there a few times, all after hours, always leaving from the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, which is where I lived. We always had to leave a bit early just to be sure to get to Los Angeles before Diggers closed, as LeRoy had to have his bass to play at Joes.
LeRoy and Don were always afraid I would fall on the stairway up over the garage, so each of them would put their arms around my waist and carry me, helping me all the way up the stairs as they were so steep and slick with moisture. I was on crutches and they were so afraid I would fall.
Once inside, I just remember all of the crystal sparkling in the dim light, the cigars, and the overstuffed chairs. LeRoy took me on a mini tour downstairs in the main part of the house, us laughing about the suit of armor in the hallway. We had always wanted to flip up a visor in one, so we did. He was a special fellow you know. No one nicer.
I am curious as to the recordings that you haven't released. Would there any that were from April of 1957 to June that might have LeRoy and Don Joham on them? Or any others featuring Don Joham as drummer or pianist? He even played guitar once in a while, so he might be on one as well.
Don was injured in a robbery and his career was ended in 1976, so it would all have to have been before that time. His family and myself have been on a long and futile search for his music. I never saw Don set up his kit when playing there, so he may never have played there, unless someone else set theirs up and he used theirs. What terrific times those were. I know there were times I just fell asleep as I was fighting bone infection in my foot and at that time it was flaring up and it oftentimes made me tire a bit.
If you could get in touch about this even if you don't have any information, it would be terrific, as we would like to know if there is anything at all about Don.
Thank you and it's been fun thinking about Falcon Lair and all of the fellows. I was all of 18 when going there. A fun time.
Sandi
Posted by: Sandi Winkler-Hummer at March 15, 2006 12:55 PMThanks for your comments, Pete & Sandi. The only kind of drums I play are Tupperware™ bongos, but it's cool to learn of another DT.
I haven't been in touch with James Castro for quite awhile, but I'm guesssing plans for other Falcon Lair recordings may have been quelled by the Fantasy/Concord merger. Bummer in the extremis.
Posted by: derek at March 17, 2006 7:46 AMThanks for letting me know about his being held up by Fantasy. That label sure did have some good music for a while. Wish they had been easier to deal with. I wrote to them twice, about a year ago, and never heard back from them at all. If you should talk to Joe's son, if you can remember, and if you would, just ask him if there are complete records of who played there. Was it documented? I know they were talking about who was recording what, but that was another lifetime ago, and it isn't all that clear as to who was supposed to record, I'm sure LeRoy was, as that is why we had to pick up his bass. Don probably recorded there as well, but nothing has ever been released that we can find. Hopefully with Fantasy selling, perhaps there will be someone in charge who can work with Joes son and let some things be released. Not likely, but that would be a good thing.
Again, thanks for letting me know about everything,
Sandi
Posted by: Sandi Winkler Hummer at March 31, 2006 9:19 PMDerek-
Actually the Fantasy/Concord merger didn't effect any releasing of the other material.
I decided not to sell anymore Masters at the current time. They wanted to Release the Stan Getz Teddy Wilson, Doris Duke, Joe Castro, and Beverly Getz (on one track) the only recording of Stan and his Wife and it's beautiful.
It's Stan with Teddy on 3 tracks (They never played together or recorded except this date)
It’s a very strange Mix of Old Stride meets Cool School quite interesting. One With Doris Duke and Stan (She played piano very well I might add), and was taught by Teddy Wilson before my Father began teaching her.
And then there are 3 more with my father and others. It's all just amazing, the sound quality down to the playing and all the little bits of talking and joking..
I had to take a break from the whole project and have some offers on the table, it's just making the best call.
I was in talks with Heritage Galleries and was at one point going to sell the entire Collection as a Vintage Historic Piece of Jazz with many other things to add to the collection, but it's kind of hard to let it go.
It's not about money, that's not a concern, it's about doing the right thing for the collection.
I'm pondering over an offer to release with a couple
Of investors to start a Label and release this to the Jazz world.
There are just so many beautiful recordings and they need to be heard.
I do have Teddy Edwards only Big Band album that's all cleared with about 6 others.
So it's in process, it's just taking alot of time and making the right moves with the right people.
All the best Derek...
I'll keep all of you posted.
Hi James, thanks for the info & setting me straight on the situation with Concord. Properly stewarding the collection must take a lot of time & energy. It sounds like you’re adopting the right strategy in taking things slow & staying choosy. Please do keep us posted on the project. Best to you too.
Posted by: derek at April 17, 2006 3:08 PMFor James Castro, I'm trying to reach his Dad, Joe. Joe's an old friend from the 40-60's and we lost contact. If James can help me reach Joe, that would be great.
Best,
Buz Kringen
206-757-8532
gkringen@cablespeed.com
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