Kenny Clarke began his career in New York City in the late 30s and early 40s, performing at Minton’s and recording with Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Sidney Bechet, Edgar Hayes, and many others. He also met and befriended Dizzy Gillespie during this time. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1943-46, Clarke joined Dizzy Gillespie’s band (replacing Max Roach) and recorded several tracks with them, including “Oop Bop Sh’ Bam” which I posted last week.
In 1948 he toured Europe and it was during this time that this recording was made. If anyone has a copy of “Klook: The Story of Kenny Clarke” there may be more information about this session in that book.
Emanon was a Detroit-based jazz record label started by Dave Usher in 1948 focusing on French recordings and recordings made in France. Not a lot out there about the label or how it sourced its masters. Its name, no doubt, comes from the Dizzy Gillespie tune, which is “No Name” spelled backwards. At any rate, the label appears to have only pressed two titles, 9600 and 9601, both European Kenny Clarke recordings.
In December of 1948, Down Beat reviewed the record, writing: “These sides were cut in Europe… and he made these and subsequent of the Emanon sides with European men and whatever American boppers… happened to be passing by at the moment.”
Of the track “Too Much Horn” (misspelled on the label), Down Beat awarded the record two out of four eight notes – a designation it described as “Tepid”. Despite this, they sorta dug the track, writing, “[Horn] comes on at a flash tempo, and if those are European cats, they get around on their horns pretty good.”
The label credits “Saint John” on trumpet, which is very likely a pseudonym for John “Dizzy” Gillespie. Sure sounds like him – what do you think?
Recorded in Paris, France circa March of 1948.
Released as Emanon 9600.
Alto Saxophone – John Brown
Baritone Saxophone – Cecil Payne
Trumpet – Saint John (Probably an alias for Dizzy Gillespie)
Piano – Jacques Dieval
Bass – Al McKibbon
Drums – Kenny Clarke
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