CD Reissues Showcase LP Work of Masters

Ben Webster was a charter member of the “big tone” school of tenor saxophone, and his work is being cited these days by several young turks--James Carter and Don Braden among them--as a major influence on their style of play.

Webster’s sound was a breathy, creamy delight. He had a genius for interpreting slow, sensual ballads, and “Music for Loving,” a two-CD set just reissued on Verve, offers heartfelt versions of “Chelsea Bridge,” “There Is No Greater Love,” “Early Autumn” and 27 others recorded in the mid-1950s, all surrounded by tasteful string sections. (Eight tracks are included from Verve’s “Harry Carney With Strings,” spotlighting the Ellington baritone.)

The other side of Webster--his endless capacity for blues and swinging medium tempos--is heard on “The Soul of Ben Webster,” a two-CD reissue package that’s composed of three mid-’50s LPs: Webster’s “Soul,” Harry (Sweets) Edison’s “Gee, Baby Ain’t I Good to You” and Johnny Hodges’ “Blues-a-Plenty.” The latter, in both blues and ballad selections, showcases Webster and alto Hodges, who was one of the tenor saxophonist’s chief influences.

Webster’s work leads the field of recent CD reissues featuring the LP work of many saxophone masters.

Don Byas had a tone that was as thick and robust as that of his swing-era colleague Webster, but his technique also allowed for rapid-fire bursts. He is at his best on “Savoy Jam Party,” a 20-plus track single CD that gathers four sessions from the late ‘40s. Byas reveals a stance that’s rooted in the melody of swing but attempts to add the ornamentation and detail of bop.

The works of the great Charlie Parker are highlighted on two first-rate reissues from Verve: “Confirmation: Best of the Verve Years” and “South of the Border.” The two-CD set “Confirmation” is an ideal album to acquaint yourself with one of the chief architects of be-bop. Bird is represented here by many of his finest early ‘50s recordings: the exquisite title track, considered by many to be the anthem of be-bop; the jack-rabbit-fast invention of “Kim” and “She Rote,” the subtle splendor of “Old Folks.” On “South of the Border” Parker fronts Latin rhythm sections, proving that bop and the Latin beat fit well together. A highlight is the 17-minute “Afro Cuban Suite,” written by Chico O’Farrell and recorded by Parker without benefit of rehearsal.

Parker’s disciples were many. Sonny Stitt was one who claimed he played like Bird before he’d heard him and yet his work was rife with Parker’s phrasings.

That doesn’t make his Verve “Jazz Masters” compilation any less valuable. Versions of “I Got Rhythm,” “Sunny Side of the Street” and “Easy Living” demonstrate his appealing style.

Another Bird lover is Charles McPherson, and while he is at his peak today, he was no slouch as a 26-year-old when he made “Con Alma” for Prestige in 1965. With tenor Clifford Jordan and pianist Barry Harris on board, McPherson’s looks at Monk’s “Eronel” and Dexter Gordon’s “Dexter Rides Again” are exhilarating.

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Happy Anniversary: The Baked Potato, now the oldest jazz room in Southern California, celebrates its 25th anniversary Wednesday. Owner-pianist Don Randi said he’s invited “all the guys” who’ve played there for a big bash; the invitees include Joe Sample, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, Al Jarreau and Tom Scott, among others. And while, as of press time, none of the guests had confirmed, Randi expected several to perform. The pianist will be featured with Quest, the club’s house band; Quest appears most Thursdays through Saturdays.

The owner called the experience of running the club “25 years of survival.” “We’re still there, so we must be doing something right,” he said. “But it is a struggle.” Information: (818) 980- 1615.

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Around Town: There will be a memorial for the late trumpeter Don Cherry on Sunday, 3 p.m., at the Watts Towers Art Center, 172 E. 107th St., Los Angeles. Cherry died of liver failure on Oct. 19 at the age of 58. The memorial service will include performances by his children--Jan, Davis and Eagle Eye--and by the Watts Prophets, (213) 847-4646. . . . “Tonight Show” band members Ralph Moore (tenor sax), Bob Hurst (bass) and Marvin (Smitty) Smith (drums) are part of pianist Greg Kurstin’s quartet tonight at Bjlauzezs in Sherman Oaks, (818) 789-4583. . . . Modern individualist Mulgrew Miller, an increasingly absorbing pianist, leads his trio Wednesday through Saturday at the Jazz Bakery, (310) 271-9039.

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Free Music: Moving singer Julie Kelly appears tonight at 5:30-8:30, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, (213) 857-6000.. . . Saxophonist Bruce Eskovitz plays a tribute to Sonny Rollins on Saturday, 1:30 to 4 p.m., at Pedrini Music, 230 W. Main St., Alhambra, (213) 283-1932.