Claude Steel

Elliot Lawrence, who was born in 1925, formed a big band at the very end of the swing era, much too late to make a strong impression. A fine pianist/arranger/composer, Lawrence primarily wrote for radio and television. In the 1950s he recorded quite frequently for such labels as Decca, King, Columbia, Groove, Vik, Camden, and, particularly, Fantasy, cutting six records for the latter label during 1955-1957 with big bands. This CD has all of the music from the LP Swinging at the Steel Pier, five cuts from Plays Tiny Kahn and Johnny Mandel Arrangements (just the Kahn charts), and a few selections from Plays for Swinging Dancers and Dream on…Dance On. The music, which features arrangements by Tiny Kahn, Al Cohn, Johnny Mandel, and Gerry Mulligan, is essentially updated swing along with some melodic dance music.

The five years from the beginning of 1958 to the end of 1962 were crucial to the genesis of country music as it moved away from a traditional hillbilly and western sound to something altogether more cosmopolitan in construction.

This is Jazz album, with eastern and western infuences in the melodies and rhythms, including a reminiscence of flamenco. The Catalan bass player Carles Benavent is the most extroverted of Spain’s flamenco and jazz musicians. His work has brought him into contact with Miles Davis and Chick Corea, but also with Camarуn and Claude Nougaro and, particulary with Paco de Lucнa. “Aigua” brings together his most intimate compositions, each originating from a poetic experience.