TERRY GIBBS

PLAYS JEWISH MELODIES IN JAZZTIME

  1/  Bei Mir Bist Du Schon                      (Jacobs,Secunda,Cahn,Chaplin) 4.50
  2/  Papirossen (Cigarettes)                    (Yablokoff)                   4.30
  3/  Kazochok (Russian Dance)                   (Traditional)                 2.41
  4/  Vuloch (A Folk Dance)                      (Traditiona)                  3.56
  5/  My Yiddishe Momme                          (Yellen,Pollack)              2.57
  6/  And the Angels Sing                        (Elman,Mercer)                2.35
  7/  S & S                                      (Gibbs)                       4.23
  8/  Shaine Une Zees (Pretty & Sweet)           (Gibbs)                       5.50
  9/  Nyah Shere (New Dance)                     (Traditional)                 4.06

          Recorded at A & R Studios, New York City on January 11 & 12, 1963
          Produced by Terry Gibbs(?)

Terry Gibbs: vibes; Herman Wright: bass; Bobby Pike: drums; Sol Gage: drums; Alice Hagood: piano; Alan Logan: piano; Sam Kutcher: trombone; Ramon Musiker: clarinet.

          1963 - Mercury Records (USA), MG 20812 (Mono Vinyl)
          1963 - Mercury Records (USA), SR 60812 (Stereo Vinyl)
          2002 - Mercury/Verve (USA), 589673 (CD)

Note: Alice Coltrane is noted as Alice Hagood in the credits, and Alice McCord in the liner notes.

REVIEWS :

Terry Gibbs integrates two separate bands on this album, which not only interprets traditional Jewish melodies but also works of fairly recent vintage (at the time these 1963 recordings were made) that incorporate Jewish rhythms. The results have stood the test of time very well, with swinging versions of "And the Angels Sing" and "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon," along with centuries-old melodies like "Kazochock (Russian Dance)," which has an introduction that makes one visualize a circus, and "Vuloch (A Folk Dance)," reworked by Gibbs into a snappy waltz. Most of the artists accompanying Gibbs have faded into obscurity, but there's one surprise: One of the pianists is Alice McLeod, who later became better known as Alice Coltrane; this is actually her debut recording. Like other reissues in Verve's limited-edition series released during 2002, this CD should be snapped up without delay.

Ken Dryden (courtesy of the All Music Guide website)

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A klezmer band quickly transitions out of a vibe-based jazz quartet. Is this the latest in downtown fusion projects? No. It is the CD release of 1963's Terry Gibbs Plays Jewish Melodies in Jazztime. Terry is the remaining member of the Gibbs-Hampton-Jackson-Norvo "Big Four," whose collective work helped transform the vibraphone from a novelty into a serious jazz instrument. Trace back the music to Gibbs’ father, bandleader Abe Gubenko, or discover the latter progeny collaborations of drummer Gerry Gibbs with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane. Explore the career of still performing Ray Musiker and his own two (yet to appear on CD) 1963 LP classics or simply enjoy this release that displays great musicians at various stages in their careers. While the 1955 Tarras/Musiker brother collaboration, Tanz!, is a truer swing/klezmer fusion, there are many magical moments on this disc such as the beautiful clarinet vibraphone interplay on "My Yiddishe Momme" and "Vuloch's" seamless segues through multiple genres. Two Gibbs self-penned numbers, "Nyah Shere" and "S&S", remind us that we are in the presence of vibe royalty. These cuts presage fusion 40 years hence while recalling Jakie "Jazz-Em-Up" Hoffman xylophone stylings from the earliest days of jazz/klez fusion 40 years prior. If you own the LP, the digital transfer will re-impress, plus, the mini-LP packaging is very cool. Check it out for the music lovers on your holiday gift list.

Elliott Simon (courtesy of the All About jazz website)