Spondance

Jim Doherty with Louis Stewart, Bobby Shew, Gordon Brisker

Bob Sheppard, Randy Aldcroft, Tom Warrington and Billy Mintz

SPONDANCE is the 1986 octet album of pianist Jim Doherty’s jazz suite, recorded

with close friends Louis Stewart and Bobby Shew, and the cream of Los Angeles

musicians (Bob Sheppard: alto, Gordon Brisker: tenor, Randy Aldcroft: trombone,

Tom Warrington: bass, and Billy Mintz: drums).

The six tracks deliver a fine example of modern jazz ensemble playing, including

ballads, jazz-blues, Latin, bop, and swing, with great solos.

The compositions are based on a strong narrative, linking the brass, woodwind and

guitar with specific characters and scenarios, which in particular, influence the solos.

Though recorded nearly 40 years ago, the suite maintains its vibrancy and relevance.

The release will be marked by a Dublin concert on 28th February.

Available on CD and Download. Release Date: 28th February.

Recorded in one day in Hollywood’s Sand & Sage studio in

September 1986, SPONDANCE was originally conceived as

the music for a modern jazz ballet. However, by the time

the recording was complete, the ballet partner had run

into financial issues, so the SPONDANCE project

remained a stand-alone jazz album.

Jim Doherty gave the musicians specific narrative

guidance on each of the tune’s characters and scenarios

which greatly helped them focus their playing, especially

the soloists.

On its initial release, the Irish Times said of Louis

Stewart’s playing, “Louis Stewart has not been captured

better on record.” And of the full band, “they all deliver

on Doherty’s attractive, thoughtful charts.”

First released in 1986 on cassette and later CD, this

updated edition includes a 16-page booklet with new

photographs and sleeve notes, which give the recording

greater context.

SPONDANCE was performed at some European jazz

festivals following its release, but never in Dublin.

Coinciding with the album’s re-issue, the suite will be

performed again, for the first time in decades, at a

concert in Dublin’s National Concert Hall on February

28th, featuring later generation Irish jazz musicians.

TRack Listing

1. Nordic Maiden .....................07:01 (slow to medium tempo)

2. When Two People Meet ....07:24 (ballad featuring Bobby Shew and Louis Stewart)

3. Bertha D. Blooze .................06:23 (up tempo jazz blues with alto, tenor and drum solos)

4. El Sponzo ............................ 05:40 (Latin feel, up tempo featuring Gordon Brisker tenor)

5. Sergeant Bones .................. 04:51 (Basie style jazz blues featuring Randy Aldcroft)

6. Maybe It's You .....................08:46 (Fast swing featuring Bobby Shew and Louis Stewart)

L-r: Bob Sheppard, Tom Warrington, Randy Aldcroft, Gordon Brisker,

Bobby Shew, Louis Stewart, Billy Mintz, and Jim Doherty