Search - Paul Bascomb :: Bad Bascomb

Neglected jazz master

Yves F. Smierciak | Chicago, Illinois United States | 05/16/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Bascomb was born in the early days of the 20th century (debate still goes on the exact year, he told me 1909) in Alabama, and died in November 1986. He is mostly remembered as one of the 2 tenor sax players in the Erskine Hawkins band (the other being Julian Dash), and the man who replaced Lester Young in Count Basie's band (who, in turn was replaced by Don Byas). These recordings (recorded orginally for the United label in 1952, though they were issued on the States subsidary) stem from a band he led in Detroit from the late 1940's to about 1953 (when he moved full time to Chicago), and are the best examples of his post war playing (and the maturity of an excellent working band). The music enclosed features a rhythm and jazz ensamble complete with an excellent plunger trumpeter, a sax section and some fine Duke Jordan piano (and arrangments). The band really shines on the blues (the hot territory band feel shines on the jump number "More Blues, More Beat" and the slow "Liza's Blues" are my favorites, but a boppish "Indiana" and an r&b number like "Pink Cadillac" (recently made popular by "The Mighty Blues Kings" here in Chicago) complete with Bascomb's jivey vocals are also pleasures to enjoy. Bascomb recorded little after these recordings (a few singles for Parrot - one title "Jan" being reissued on a recent compliation by BMG called "Jukebox Jazz"- and an LP that never was released, a couple of blues sessions in Chicago- notably 2 titles with Dinah Washington from late 1953 "My Man's and Undertaker" and "Mean and Evil", an Erskine Hawkins reunion in 1971 and his last session with my band from 1982 is the rest of his rather small ouvere), and besides, these are the best examples of this neglected extroverted master of the blues/jazz saxophone. Kudos to Bob Koester of Delmark records to reissue this fine music. Highly recommended to fans of both the Erskine Hawkins band as well as tenor players like Jacquet and Cobb. Enjoy, Yves Francois Smierciak"