Hey, y’all! Hope you’re doing well this evening. Let’s see what we’ve got on the schedule this evening…
Talkie Time: Secrets Of Scotland Yard - Henri Perot
“The secret of Scotland Yard that I’m going to tell you today is a closesly guarded one….so I’d rather you didn’t spread it around, if you don’t mind.”
–Clive Brooks, from the “Henri Perot” episode of Secrets Of Scotland Yard
The predecessor to Orson Welles’ Black Museum, Secrets Of Scotland Yard tells the tales of England’s sharpest detectives and the grisly cases they solve. Unlike Welles’ joint, however, this one has the honor of being hosted by Sherlock Holmes himself. Well, one of them, anyways.
The one and only Clive Brook, who plays my beloved bloodhound in the 1929 talkie The Return Of Sherlock Holmes, takes the reins as narrator for this deep dive into the case files of London’s finest. He’s also occasionally joined by real-life crime-beat reporter Percy Hoskins – who covered the goings-on of the ne’er-do-wells for the Daily Express at the time – to add some real-life grit and detail to the stories being told.
Tonight, we’ve got two episodes for you, both of which sadly lack definitive air dates and both of which feature stories about guys named Henry getting whacked for some reason; Henri Perot, and Henry Fauntleroy. Come take a walk with us through the filing cabinets in the basement as we dive into the secret files of Scotland Yard.
Y'all might remember a while back when we did our Black Orpheus episode, I had an additional selection (namely, Masabumi Kikuchi's Black Orpheus) that didn't make the time cut. Well, it turns out that this one by tonight's featured artist also didn't make the time cut. Maybe at some point, we'll do a second Black Orpheus episode just so y'all can hear these fantastic records.
The Jazz Program : The Ray Brown Trio - Soular Energy (featuring Gene Harris) (1985) / Seven Steps To Heaven (featuring Ulf Wakenius) (1995) / Summer Wind (Live At The Loa) (1990)
Jazz bassist Ray Brown had one helluva career. After he copped a one-way bus ticket to New York City at the age of twenty and found himself in Dizzy Gillespie’s band, Brown’s bass found its way into sets that ran the gamut of jazz and popular music. His session discography has him paired alongside everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Steely Dan, and his work with the Modern Jazz Quartet helped cement the sound of jazz as we know it today.
Tonight, we’re focusing on his work with his own trio, as we dive into three of his records from the eighties and nineties. First off, it’s Soular Energy, featuring Gene Harris on piano, released in 1985 on Concord Records. I actually own this one on vinyl, and it’s one of my favorite records to spin as of late while I’m cookin’ up supper.
After that, we’ve got 1995’s Seven Steps To Heaven, featuring longtime Oscar Peterson Quartet member Ulf Wakenius and released on the Telarc Jazz imprint.
And finally, we’ve got a live recording for you. It’s 1990’s Summer Wind (Live At The Loa, released on Concord Jazz.
Summer may be on its ways out, but we’ve still got some last rays of sunlight left. Come soak up the bass with us.
aaaaaand that about covers this week’s show! Next week, it’s drugs time. Time for drugs. And jazz cabbage. So, our usual, basically.
If you’re reading this the day of, and you can make it in tonight, you should come hang out in the chat with us on Datafruits! We’ve got a good crowd of folks in the chat every week, and whether you have a suggestion for a future show or just want to hang out and chat with fellow jazz enjoyers, you’re welcome here with us.
You’re all amazing and don’t let anyone tell you that you’re not. Stay safe out there, and I’ll see you back again next week. Same time, same station: on datafruits dot fm..