Milt Buckner

Milt Buckner – Play Chords (1966/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 42:33 minutes | 433 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © MPS

Buckner’s Play Chords won the Hot Club de France’s prestigious Grand Prix de Jazz for the best album of 1967. No wonder: Jimmy Woode, bassist on some of the greatest Duke Ellington recordings of the 50’s, and the legendary Jo Jones, engine of the Count Basie Orchestra, and arguably the greatest drummer of the Swing Era, were along for the ride. Feeling Sorta Villingen, Chitline A La Carte, Hamp’s Boogie Woogie, and Saba House Party are all blues pieces by Buckner. The first two are mastered in medium tempo. The boogie is a dancing, down-to-earth classic, and “Saba” portrays the kind of slow blues played late at night with the lights down low and the party getting down and dirty. Cute shows off Jo Jones’ drumming magic, and Alec Lovejoy presents an up-tempo romp with a smoking bass intro prefacing a blistering piano solo. I Only Have Eyes for You and Pick Yourself Up have loping medium swing grooves. The early bop classic Robbin’s Nest has a relaxed feel, with Milt at his “locked hands” best. Bruckner plays the ballad Yours is My Heart Alone with a “light music” touch. You can’t go wrong with this all-star trio.

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Milt Buckner – More Chords (1969/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 39:09 minutes | 403 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © MPS

More Chords is the third MPS Milt Buckner production, with bassist Jimmy Woode and drummer Kenny Clare back on board. I De Clare was written for Clare. It’s a hot tune with great drum-piano interaction and a terrific drum solo. I Want a Little Girl to Call My Own features Buckner’s blues-drenched soulful piano ringing out striking glissandos and upper register trills. The trio turns the popular 1920’s waltz Three o’clock in the Morning into a hard-driving 4/4 with vibrant piano and bass solos. Pennies from Heaven features a two-handed parallel-lines piano and drums in a lively exchange. Jimmy Guiffre’s Four Brothers was written for Woody Herman’s 2nd “Herd” big band and its famous sax section. Buckner does the piece justice –with his voicings there’s no need for the horns. Buckner takes Back Home in Indiana at a medium-up tempo, showing off his bebop chops by playing Charlie Parker’s Donna Lee (based on the same chord changes) as the end theme. If I Could Be With You is a beautiful theme-driven ballad. Taking a Chance on Love ends the set – no risk here – this music’s easy to fall in love with. Want more Buckner? Check out MPS’s Alive & Jumping

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Milt Buckner – Locked Hands (1968/2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 42:10 minutes | 784 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © MPS

Pianist-organist Milt Buckner originated the “locked hands” technique in which parallel lines are played as two-handed “block” chords. The style has been emulated by his and future generations from George Shearing to Oscar Peterson and beyond. From 1941-1948, then again in the early 50’s, Buckner worked as arranger and director for jazz giant Lionel Hampton’s band. He was also instrumental in bringing the Hammond organ into modern popular music. From 1966 until his death in 1977 Bruckner spent most of his time in Europe. For French critic André Hodeir, “Bruckner must surely belong to the front line of pianists along with Earl Hines, Fats Waller, and Teddy Wilson.”

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