Live In Rome – 1959
Jimmy Giuffre
A rare Italian TV broadcast with Jim Hall
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Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008) had a fascinating and constantly evolving musical life.
A cool-toned tenor-saxophonist and clarinetist who composed “Four Brothers,” Giuffre’s career ranged from bebop to cool to exploring the avant-garde in his own laidback way.
After being part of the West Coast jazz scene of the 1950s (working with Shorty Rogers), he led a series of groups called the Jimmy Giuffre 3.
The most popular of those units was his first one, a trio with guitarist Jim Hall and bassist Jim Atlas; by 1959, Buddy Clark (who years later would co-found Supersax) was on bass.
This very rare filmed concert appearance from Italy on June 19, 1959 is introduced by producer Norman Granz and finds the chamber trio performing John Lewis’ “Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West” (a medium-tempo blues with Giuffre on clarinet) and “Four Brothers”; it is fascinating to hear the big band arrangement of the latter played by the trio with its composer on tenor.
– Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald