Buddy Tate - Tate Live (March 2021 nagel heyer records)

Veteran tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate toured with a band led by young drummer Torsten Zwingenberger in both 1983 and 1988; the selections heard on this live recording made at the Quasimodo in Berlin are from the latter year. The rest of the group includes vibraphonist Hendrik Meurkens (who would later make a name for himself as a leader on several Concord releases), pianist Otto Weiss, and bassist Dieter Gutzkow. For the most part, the group sticks to extended workouts of well-known standards like "Tangerine" and "Sweet Georgia Brown," though a rare appearance by Tate on flute is ruined somewhat because the tape reel ran out prematurely. 

A furious take of "Jumpin' at the Woodside" is followed by a smoking closing blues, "She's Got It," with humorous (but somewhat throwaway) vocals by Tate and Meurkens. Tate proves to be an entertaining MC, and it is fun to hear him try to pronounce the drummer's name. Since this is one of Buddy Tate's last recordings prior to a 1988 heart attack (though he made a few recordings after his triple-bypass surgery), bop fans will want to pick up this Nagel-Heyer CD. AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden

1. Tangerine 10:38

2. Shiny Stockings 10:29

3. Intro SGB 00:18

4. Sweet Georgia Brown 10:41

5. Summertime 10:02

6. Intro JATW 00:31

7. Jumpin' at the Woodside 08:51

8. She's Got It 10:46

Buddy Tate - tenor sax, flute, vocals

Hendrik Meurkens - vibraphone, vocals

Otto Weiss - piano

Dieter Gützkow - bass

Torsten Zwingenberger - drums

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Buddy Tate - Buddy and Soul: Live in Dublin 1976 (March 2021 nagel heyer records)

One of the more individual tenors to emerge from the swing era, the distinctive Buddy Tate came to fame as Herschel Evans' replacement with Count Basie's Orchestra. Earlier he had picked up valuable experience playing with Terrence Holder (1930-1933), Count Basie's original Kansas City band (1934), Andy Kirk (1934-1935), and Nat Towles (1935-1939). With Basie a second time during 1939-1948, Tate held his own with such major tenors as Lester Young, Don Byas, Illinois Jacquet, Lucky Thompson, and Paul Gonsalves. After a period freelancing with the likes of Hot Lips Page, Lucky Millinder, and Jimmy Rushing (1950-1952), Tate led his own crowd-pleasing group for 21 years (1953-1974) at Harlem's Celebrity Club. During this period, Tate also took time out to record in a variety of setting (including with Buck Clayton and Milt Buckner) and he was the one of the stars of John Hammond's Spirituals to Swing concert of 1967.

Tate kept busy after the Celebrity Club association ended, recording frequently, co-leading a band with Paul Quinichette in 1975, playing and recording in Canada with Jay McShann and Jim Galloway, visiting Europe many times, and performing at jazz parties; he was also a favorite sideman of Benny Goodman's in the late '70s. Although age had taken its toll, in the mid-'90s Buddy Tate played and recorded with both Lionel Hampton and the Statesmen of Jazz. Tate lived in N.Y. until January, 2001, when he moved to Phoenix, AZ, to live with his daughter. Buddy Tate died a few weeks later, on February 10. Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

1. Chicago 08:30

2. In a Mellow Tone 10:57

3. There'll Never Be Another You 08:08

4. I Can't Get Started 04:14

5. Theme Song I 07:44

6. All of Me 09:51

7. (Back Home Again In) Indiana 06:47

8. Body and Soul 05:08

9. Theme Song II 04:53

10. Theme Song III 03:09

11. Polka Dots and Moonbeams 04:58

Buddy Tate - tenor sax, clarinet, vocals

Tony Drennan - piano

Jimmy McKay - bass

Jack Daly - drums

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