Search - Carroll Gibbons :: On the Air

FASCINATING RHYTHM PIANO

Barry McCanna | Normandy, France | 10/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation from Living Era casts its net somewhat wider than others, covering the period 1926 to 1943. That enables us to hear Carroll's solo on an early SHO recording under Debroy Somers' direction, and a 1927 track from the period of his own first directorship, and it's worth noting the amount of syncopation involved. When the Savoy's Director of Entertainment fell out with the management and set the band free it must have seemed like the end of an era.



They toured on the Continent but Carroll soon returned, lured by the attraction of directing HMV's house band, the New Mayfair Dance Orchestra. It's in that guise that track 3 finds him accompanying George Metaxa in Carroll's own composition, "A Garden In The Rain". That's followed by a couple of trio recordings which, together with two piano solos later in the compilation, enable Carroll's rhythmic style and sure touch to be better appreciated. There is some surface noise present, but that is inevitable, and surely worth tolerating.



The SHO was reconstituted in late 1931 and initially Carroll assumed joint leadership with saxophonist Howard Jacobs, but the latter moved on a year later. Before that happened, however, the SHO made a series of recordings with Al Bowlly, many under the pseudonym of The Masqueraders, and two of them are included.



Even at this early stage Carroll had hit on the idea of a small group within the group, which he called his Boyfriends (this being a more innocent age). They and guest Matty Malneck play Carroll's "On The Air" which became his signature tune, and six other tracks, including one with guest vocalist Hildegarde, and a duet with composer Johnny Green. Several of the Savoy Orpheans tracks are embellished by Anne Lenner, and Jack Plant, Harry Bentley, Brian Lawrance, Marjorie Stedeford, Leslie Douglas and Edna Kaye can be heard also.



Altogether a delightful compilation, which you should snap up while you can, given the cultural philistinism involved in Living Era's recent axing following the take-over of the Sanctuary Group.

"