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 | Charlie BiddleIn Good CompanyLabel: Justin Time | Jazz | June 12, 1996Format UPC Order # Unit Price |
Credits Charlie Biddle bass Wray Downes piano (on tracks 08 and 09) Oliver Jones piano (on tracks 10 and 11) Ranee Lee voice (on tracks 05, 06 and 07) Wali Muhammad drums (on tracks 02, 04, 05, 06, 07 and 11) Johnny O'Neal piano (on tracks 01, 02, 03, 05, 06 and 07) Richard Ring guitar (on tracks 04, 05, 06 and 07) Production Credits | TracksNo Title Duration Excerpts 01 Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans 00:05:41 03 All Of You 00:08:27 05 Bewitched 00:07:12 06 Willow Weep For Me 00:05:17 07 Straight No Chaser 00:03:51 08 A Child Is Born 00:06:21 10 Embraceable You 00:05:40 11 Broadway 00:05:11 Liner NotesPhiladelphia-born bassist Charlie Biddle has been a fixture on the Montreal scene since the early 50s, through his work with some local legends of jazz history - pianists Oliver Jones, Stan Patrick, and Milt Sealey, guitarist Nelson Symonds, and the group The Stablemates, just to name a few. Since the early 80s, Biddle has kept his profile high through the downtown jazz club that bears his name.This recording has Biddle in the company of some old friends - pianists Johnny O'Neal, Wray Downes and Oliver Jones, singer Ranee Lee, guitarist Richard Ring, and drummer Wali Muhammad. (Do You Know What It Means To Miss) New Orleans features the duo of Biddle and Johnny O'Neal. While no virtuoso, Biddle has a good sense of time and an unfailing ability to swing. O'Neal, who recently released his debut for Justin Time (On The Montreal Scene) offers up a serving of the blues and gospel ingredients that help make him such a tasty player. All of You is another duo performance for Biddle and O'Neal. This delicate ballad shows how well the two listen to and respect each other. Duck Soup is a trio tune with Biddle, O'Neal, and Wali Muhammad, the de facto house drummer for Justin Time. His special sense of time can be heard on numerous recordings, including ones by Jeri Brown, Johnny O'Neal, Richard Ring, and Nelson Symonds. Check out Biddle's solo here. Blues For Charlie was written by guitarist Richard Ring, who's finally got a recording out under his own name, (Ring In Minor). ItÂ’s a funky, swinging tune for the trio of Biddle, Muhammad, and Ring, who shows off his Kenny Burrell-influenced chops. Singer Rance Lee, backed up by Biddle, Ring, O'Neal and Muhammad, gives us three songs. She gives a lovely reading of Rodgers and Hart's Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered. Willow Weep For Me starts off with just Lee accompanied by Biddle. When Muhammad kicks in, the tune starts to cook, with fine solos from O'Neal, and some judicious scatting by Lee. Monk's Straight, No Chaser has the quirky line of the head doubled by Lee and Ring. Everyone gets a bit of solo space on this one. A Child Is Born and Blues in F feature Biddle and pianist Wray Downes. Downes is a wonderfully unique player who's almost a state secret, due to his being woefully under-recorded. That was recently remedied, in part, with Downes' first Justin Time recording, (For You . . . E ). While A Child Is Born shows off the more reflective side of the two, Blues In F exhibits the more raucous. Embraceable You and Broadway have Biddle in the company of an old friend, pianist Oliver Jones, the heir apparent to Oscar Peterson as Canada's most famous jazz pianist. Oliver and Charlie worked together regularly at Biddle's in the 80s, and with drummer Bernard Primeau, inaugurated the Justin Time label (Live At Biddle's) back in 1983. Jim Little Jim Little writes on jazz for the Montreal weekly Hour, and is a regular contributor to Jazz Euphorium on CKUT, 90.3 FM. He also produces a regular jazz series at ISART, a non-profit art gallery performance space at 263 St. Antoine Street West in Montreal.) |
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