Moe Koffman- Plays for the Teens

DSCN4298This was $5.00 at the record show.  I think I got it because I thought the title was funny.  The idea of the Swinging Shepard knowing that the teens want more light jazz flute.koffman-moe-63182

Moe Koffman was actually from Canada, Toronto to be exact.  He had worked with some big bands in the US before returning to Canada to form smaller unis.  His big hit, “Swinging Shepard’s Blues” elevated him to the upper ranks of jazz flutists of the time.  His ability to adapt to popular styles of the times did not sit well with the older jazz crowd.  But he was versatile, both with music and with musical instruments.  He also did a lot of session and television work in Canada.  He would die of cancer in 2001 at the age of 72.

This was his first record for Ascot Records and contains his big hit mentioned above.  I can see where jazz flute purists would be upset with his up beat light numbers.   A lot of references to the twist and the shimmy on the titles.  There is also a few jazz classics such as “In The Mood” and “When the Saints Go Marching In.” DSCN4299

There is an article from the UK’s Guardian on this record that makes a good point:  this does not sound like the work of someone who would play with Quincy Jones and Dizzy Gillespie.

Review from the Guardian on their strangest records.

For a sample, I went with “Flute Twist”.tspa_0060339f

Meh.  I was kind of expecting more out of this album.  The flute playing is kind of vanilla.  It did not help that I paid the upper limit for this record, either.

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