In 1988, the Kenny Wheeler Quintet released Flutter By, Butterfly, an album of extended ballads by the legendary Canadian trumpeter in which he is joined by Bill Elgart on drums, Dave Holland on bass, Stan Sulzmann on soprano and tenor saxophones and flute, and John Taylor on piano. The well-received jazz album was the first of four Wheeler and Elgart made together between 1988 and 1995.
“Everybody’s Song But My Own,” “We Salute The Night,” “Miold Man,” the title track, “Gigolo,” and “The Little Fella” were recorded over two days in May 1987 at Barigozzi Studio in Milano, Italy, engineered by Giancarlo Barigozzi and produced by Giovanni Bonandrini.
Kenny Wheeler’s “Everybody’s Song But My Own” opens the album:
At this time it seems the other five cuts from Flutter By, Butterfly are not available online. However, the whole album was reissued in 2014 by Soul Note, including a deluxe vinyl LP and CD 2-for-1 release. In addition, the album can also be purchased as a digital download from most major music retailers. If and when more album cuts from Flutter By, Butterfly become available online, this piece will be updated at that time.
In 2015, Black Saint and Soul Note, two Italian jazz labels owned by Italy’s CAM Records, jointly released Kenny Wheeler’s The Complete Remastered Recordings on Black Saint & Soul Note 5-CD set. Each album of the very competitively priced set is housed in a replica sleeve of the original vinyl release.
The albums include Flutter By, Butterfly as well as Claudio Fasoli – Kenny Wheeler – J.-F. Jenny Clark – Daniel Humair’s Welcome (1987), Paolino Dalla Porta – Kenny Wheeler – Stefano Battaglia – Bill Elgart’s Tales (1993), the European Music Orchestra’s Guest (1994), and Wheeler’s All The More (1997).
The Kenny Wheeler Quintet Perform Pair of Dave Holland Compositions Live in 1990
Prior to the release of the Kenny Wheeler Quintet’s Flutter By, Butterfly, Wheeler appeared on Dave Holland’s Jumpin’ In (1983), Seeds of Time (1984) and The Razor’s Edge (1987), all three released on Germany’s ECM records.
The Dave Holland Big Band’s live take of Dave Holland’s “Blues For C.M.” from The Razor’s Edge was also captured on video at the JVC Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island on 15 August 2005.
Dave Holland’s “Blues For C.M.” featuring Antonio Hart and Mark Gross on alto sax, Chris Potter on tenor sax, Gary Smulyan on baritone sax, Steve Nelson on vibes and marimba, Taylor Haskins, Duane Eubanks, and Alex Sipiagin on trumpet, Robin Eubanks, Jonathan Arons, and Josh Roseman on trombone, Nate Smith on drums, and Holland on bass is on YouTube:
Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor in the Studio in 2004 and 2005
In 2004, Kenny Wheeler and John Taylor collaborated on their Where Do We Go From Here? album for Italy’s CAM label. The ten-track CD showcasing Wheeler on trumpet and flugelhorn and Taylor on piano is currently available as a digital download from Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, and more.
John Taylor’s original composition “Au contraire,” featuring Kenny Wheeler on trumpet and flugelhorn, is online:
Wheeler and Taylor teamed up with John Taylor again, along with saxman Chris Potter on What Now? (2005), another CAM Jazz album, this one recorded in New York rather than Italy. This album is currently available in CD and digital download format.
Kenny Wheeler’s title track from What Now? is on YouTube:
And one more Kenny Wheeler original composition, “The Lover Mourns” with Dave Holland on bass, Chris Potter on tenor saxophone, John Taylor on piano, and Wheeler on flugelhorn:
Stan Sulzmann Live in 2013
In 2013, Stan Sulzmann celebrated his 65th birthday by playing on the opening night of the EFG London Jazz Festival. A nine-minute clip of the British sax player is on YouTube:
Elgart and Wheeler Partnership Yields Four Albums
Bill Elgart and Kenny Wheeler played together on several tours as well as at least four albums in the late 1980s and the 1990s.
In addition to Flutter By, Butterfly, Elgart and Wheeler hooked up with bassist Wayne Darling and guitar player Peter O’Mara on the Kenny Wheeler – Peter O’Mara – Wayne Darling – Bill Elgart album in 1990.
“Old Ballad” from Kenny Wheeler – Peter O’Mara – Wayne Darling – Bill Elgart is on YouTube:
An in-depth look at the album that includes an exclusive interview with Peter O’Mara is HERE.
In 1993, Bill Elgart and Kenny Wheeler both played on Tales with bassist Paolino Dalla Porta and pianist Stefano Battaglia.
Two years later, Bill Elgart and Kenny Wheeler were on composer-saxophonist Claudio Fasoli’s Ten Tributes, with Henri Texier on double bass and Mick Goodrick on guitar.
A rare live performance from the Kenny Wheeler Quartet was recorded at Krone Krempraten in Rapperswil, Switzerland in 1992.
The Kenny Wheeler Quartet featuring Wayne Darling on bass, Bill Elgart on drums, Peter O’Mara on electric guitar, and Wheeler on flugelhorn is here:
This updated and expanded article initially appeared 19 March 2015 on http://hapsnowswhirlwinds.com, which spawned Bill’s Blue Note as well as sister site http://the6thdimension.com
Bill's Blue Note 