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| Maurice Gawronsky at University of Cape Town 1973. Pic Ian Bruce Huntley |
I am truly struck by the passage of forty eight years in
being able to share this previously unreleased quartet recording. After all
this time Maurice Gawronsky tells me matter-of-fact that he just can’t stop drumming. In fact, he has gig lined up with Shihab over
the eight-days jazz festival period. And Morris Goldberg, well he just
continues to amaze me.
The only member of this quartet who is no longer with us is
Bob Tizzard, who was at home both on bass and trombone – having played trombone
on the legendary 1963 recording: Jazz The African sound. Bob’s son Paul is a
drummer, and continues to run the piano tuning business that his father started
in Cape Town.
The Troubadour Restaurant in Breda Street, Gardens was owned
by Maurice Gawronsky until he sold it in 1967. Maurice recalls during the week
it was more of a folk music venue where patrons would pay twenty five cents for
entrance and a bottomless cup of coffee. Live jazz would take place on Sunday
evenings.
Judging from this recording, The Troubadour was a relaxed place
to spend a Sunday evening listening to fine music. I asked Maurice how often it
was possible for groups to rehearse together, given that many of the musicians
had day jobs too. “When there were big band gigs coming up, we would get
together for a rehearsal or two, but for a quartet playing standards, we just
fell into the groove on the night – no rehearsals, we knew each other well
enough”.
I invite you to sit
back, relax and be transported back to an unhurried 87 minutes of fine jazz
making its way out of the Troubadour Restaurant into the Cape Town night. If
you happen to recognise the last two tracks, please leave a comment and tell us
what you think they might be.
This blog has a series of posts that feature the music recorded by Ian Bruce Huntley in Cape Town in the 1960s and early 70s. Use the search function (right hand side bar near the top). Look for IBH Jazz Archive.
This blog has a series of posts that feature the music recorded by Ian Bruce Huntley in Cape Town in the 1960s and early 70s. Use the search function (right hand side bar near the top). Look for IBH Jazz Archive.
Morris Goldberg (Saxophone); Chris Schilder (Piano);
Bob Tizzard (Bass); Maurice Gawronsky (Drums).
1. All of
you (19:47)
2. Spanish
Thing (Morris Goldberg) (14:34)
3. If I
were a Bell (12:48)
4. Now's the Time (Charlie Parker) (10:16)
5. Four (Miles Davis)
(13:30)
6. Unidentified
(16:49)
Mediafire here
Rapidshare here
Thanks for this wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteIt is the first time I hear the late Bob Tizzard playing the bass.
I can add that Maurice is portrayed in the "Jazz People of Cape Town" (p.73-79).
I saw him playing with a trio (Arthur Gilles and Basil Moses) at the Green Dolphin (Cape Town). That was the 8th of January 2008.
He is a wonderful man !
Many thanks again to Ian
Olivier
Great stuff. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteTrack 5 is Miles Davis's 'Four'. I think Track 4 is (more or less) Charlie Parker's 'Now's the Time' rather than 'Straight No Chaser'. I wish I knew what Track 6 is – it's lovely. Bob D.
ReplyDeleteYou are really on a roll Bob D - many thanks again
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome. It's fascinating to hear all this wonderful music from people not previously known to me here in the UK.
ReplyDeleteBob D. (with fond memories of the Brotherhood of Breath's time in London)
OK great Bob - when I get a chance I will make a plan to post a 1962 recording of the Blue Notes made by Prof Robert Blacking at Wits University
ReplyDelete