Red Norvo: The Modern Red Norvo

The most interesting of the initial three Savoy Jazz reissues is the Modern Red Norvo release. This long overdue collection features Norvo’s virtuostic vibraphone playing, but while he comes from the big band school (having played with Paul Whitehead orchestra), the personel that surround Norvo provide a fascinating glimpse into an artist and a music in transition.

Not concerned with whether a particular artist fit his style, it is apparent that Norvo on these two sessions was looking for musicians that could play and play brilliantly.

The collection begins with a very compelling collection for his Sextet. While Norvo enlisted musicians from his era such as Teddy Wilson and Slam Stewart, he augmented them with none other than Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. On paper, this pairing shouldn’t work, but upon hitting the play button, it is more than evident that the musicians were there to serve the music not their particular styles and the result is nothing short of wonderful.

Next series of recordings stem from three trio sessions in which Norvo played with Tal Farlow on guitar and a bassist he hunted down and found working at a Los Angeles post office named Charles Mingus. Again, the same prejudice exists looking at the line-up, but again, the sessions turn up some tasty recording and even interesting alternate takes.

What makes the release one of the best in the series is not only the gems that it includes, but the detailed liner notes from the producers. You follow them as they painstakingly recount their journey collecting and annotating this collection.

A joyous surprise lies in-store for all who listen!!

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