Sahib SHIHAB - Companionship 1971

Sahib SHIHAB - Companionship  1971
(Jazz Joint Vol 2)

Jazz

Jazz music has more than its fair share of overshadowed figures that whilst contributing much to the music have little presence in its collective conscious.
One such musician is the talented multi-reedist, Sahib Shihab.
Born Edmond Gregory, as he was known before he adopted the Muslim faith in 1946, Sahib Shihab's music background shows a deep and significant evolution, influenced by Thelonious Monk, Dizzie Gillespie (his experience in Dizzie's band marked Sahib's switch to Baritone, the instrument he became most readily associated with), and above all by Charlie Parker's Bop.
Had it not been for the post-war migration of many top American jazz musicians to Europe, it is quite likely that the legendary Clarke-Boland Big Band might never come into existence.
Sahib, one of this musicians disillusioned with the politics and racism of the United States, accepted to join the band of Quincy Jones for an European tour in 1959.
When the tour ended, Shihab he remained in Europe where he joined, in 1961, the Clarke-Boland Big Band.
The collection 'Companionship', whose line up consists of seven elements which derives from this original band, spotlights the consummate musicianship and individuality of Sahib Shihab and is testimony to his special musical gifts - not only as a top-rank flautist and baritone saxophone but also as a composer.
Furthermore, it provides a welcome reminder of the high quality of the Clarke-Boland Big Band's rhythm section, the lively style of vibraphonist Fats Sadi and the power and personality of two of the C-BBB's horn-playing stalwarts, Benny Bailey and Ake Persson.
Here's a real rarity, surely a desert island disc.
This double album has it all from frantic banging percussive workouts to modal numbers to beautiful ballads.
It's a staggeringly good piece of music and worth every penny of the price tag it commands.
Let's have a look to the most significant pieces.
Francy Boland's 'Om Mani Padme Hum', taken from a Tibetan prayer, shows Shihab in exuberant mood, playing against a vigorous percussion background and making dramatic use of his special technique of combining voice and flute.
Boland contributes an incisive, effervescent solo. 'Bohemia After Dark', a classic original by bassist Oscar Pettiford which he first recorded back in August 1955, finds Shihab in exultant form on baritone.
'Companionship' has a Bossa Nova beat and features Bailey on flugelhorn and Shihab on flute, playing with a limpid, floating sound.
Bailey's minor-key original, 'Stoned Ghosts' was, he says, inspired by listening to some music written by Bela Bartok before he emigrated to the United States.
The piece has an infectious back-beat pulse and showcases the superb walking technique of Jimmy Woode.
In 'Con Alma' Shihab's mellow flute set against a churning 12/8 beat in this stylish Boland arrangement.
Woode's performance of the superb Mei Torme ballad, 'Born To Be Blue', reveals his great affection for the song.
'lt is the perfect combination' he says, 'a beautiful melody married to a great lyric. I really love that tune'.
It is a song of rueful resignation, putting a brave face on the blues.
'Balafon' is an up-tempo Francy Boland original written for the French mime artist, Marcel Marceau.
The rhythm section really cooks on this track with Kenny Clarke's cymbal work outstanding.
Boland's solo here is notable for its neat, left hand punctuations.
'Calypso Blues' has been written by Nat King Cole and Don George.
It tells the wry and wistful tale of a Trinidadian in New York desperately homesick for the land where everything 5 so much cheaper (in New York 'a dollar buy, a cup of coffee and a ham on rye') and the girls more natural than the artificial, painted beauties of New York.
Woode's composition, 'Sconsolato' is a haunting theme in A minor and it brings to a close a truly fascinating album.
This is dynamic music played with vigour, verve and vitality - and it is an enormous pleasure to rediscover it.
A shadowy fugitive from his home in the land of jazz, Sahib Shihab remains a true unsung figure, worthy of more attention.
With his equally expert technique on Baritone, Flute, Alto and Soprano saxophones and his capacity to adapt easily to a variety of musical settings.
His warm, individual, singsong sound in improvisation and his unusual and interesting compositions mark him out as a hidden treasure in the dusty corners of jazz archive.
**
Double-length brilliance from the mighty Sahib Shihab -- a set that collects a number of killer 60s sessions with members of the Clarke Boland Big Band -- all of them great! The small combo work here is amazing -- hard-hitting modal jazz that matches, if not tops the best MPS/Saba sounds of the time -- all produced to perfection with a really sharp edge, and a cutting approach to jazz that's gone onto inspired countless others in the current scene -- including artists on Schema and Ricky-Tick Records, as well as most Japanese club jazz combos! But long before any of those cats started copping his groove, Sahib Shihab had it all totally together -- a great ear for his own amazing solos on baritone and flute, and a way of hooking up with players like Francy Boland on piano, Fats Sadi on vibes, Benny Bailey on trumpet, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums. All players here were Shihab's partners in the Clarke Boland Big Band, and they use these small combo sessions to explore some great new ideas -- stripped-down groovers that are heavy on rhythm, and really allow full expression from all the players involved. Titles include "Companionship", "Om Mani Padme Hum", "Bohemia After Dark", "Serenata", "Yah Yah Blues", "Balafon", "Talk Some Yak-ee Dak", "The Turk's Bolero", "CT + CB", "Jay Jay", "Stoned Ghosts", "Just Give Me Time", and "Dijdar".
From Dusty Groove.
**
An American jazz musician who played baritone saxophone, but also the flute and tenor sax. Shihab, born Edmund Gregory, changed his name when he converted to Islam in 1947. He spent most of his career recording and performing in Europe.
While still in the US, Sahib Shihab played with notable jazz legends including Thelonius Monk, Art Blakey, Fletcher Henderson and Dizzy Gillespie, before joining the Quincy Jones Big Band. With Jones, Shihab traveled to Europe, where he remained until 1986.
Sahib Shihab recorded several solo albums during his lengthy stay on the Continent. His two albums for the German label Vogue (Seeds and Companionship) are regarded especially highly amongst fans of stylish modern jazz. Sadly, many of his releases have never been reissued and are extremely hard to come by.
Shihab was a long-time member of the Clarke-Boland Big Band, with whom he recorded several classic sessions between 1963 and 1972.
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Sahib Shihab- Flute, sax
Fats Sadi- Vibes, Bongos
Francy Boland- Piano, Arranger
Jimmy Woode- Bass, Vocals
Kenny Clarke- Drums
Joe Harris- Percussion
Benny Bailey- Trumpet
Åke Persson- Trombone
Milt Jackson- Vibes
**
01. Om Mani Padme Hum
02. Bohemia After Dark
03. Companionship
04. Stoned Ghosts
05. Jay Jay
06. Dijdar
07. Con Alma
08. Ct+Cb
09. The Turk's Bolero
10. Talk Some Yak-Ee-Dak
11. Calypso Blues
12. Balafon
13. I'm a Fool To Want You
14. Insensatez
15. Invitation
16. Yah Yah Blues
17. Serenata
18. Just Give Me Time
19. Born To Be Blue
20. Sconsolato
**
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