Nov 21 1937- Feb 8 2003
A Review of His Publically Issued Recordings
By Brian Towers, Canada
e-mail: briantowers@msn.com Phone: 905-821-1728
December 16 1964 Onward Records LP O.H.F.1001 "Black Eagle Jazz Band"
Cliff Bastin (sic) is playing banjo. Cliff’s surname was really Bastin but he later changed it to Bastien for business reasons. He did not want his musical activities confused with his sign-painting business. Other members of Black Eagle Jazz Band were: Joe Van Rossem - cornet; Jim Falconbridge - clarinet; Geoff Holmes - trombone (later to be first trombonist in the Climax Jazz Band); Bill Weller - bass; Ron Sullivan - drums
Tunes: Climax Rag; Perdido St. Blues; Milneburg Joys; Jambalaya; Yaaka Hula Hickey Dula;
A Closer Walk With Thee; Wolverton Mountain; In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree;
Blues for Wooden Joe. “Wolverton Mountain” is actually the second number on side two and not as shown on the cover. It is reversed with “In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree”
Jazz Crusade issued LP # 1004 entitled “Traditional Jazz Around The World Vol 1”
Of the selection of 10 tunes, two are by Toronto’s Black Eagle Jazz Band, with Cliff Bastin (sic) on banjo and the same line-up as above, except that the bass player is Tom Duquette instead of Bill Weller.
Tunes: Golden Leaf Strut; Blues for Papa John.
March 7 1971Sunny South Records SSR101 (Cliff's own Recording Label)
"Kid" Bastien's Camelia Band with Cliff "Kid" Bastien on cornet, George Berry - tenor sax & clarinet; Pete Savory - trombone; Mal Dyson - tenor banjo; John Mathieson - piano and Geoff Baines -drums; Max Leggatt -bass.
Tunes: When my Dreamboat comes Home; Big Lunch Blues; Eh-La-bas!; Gonna Keep It to Myself; Ice Cream; Mobile Stomp; Buckets Got A hole in It; Ting-a-ling; Love Songs of the Nile; Chicken.
A feature of this Album is the sleeve note by Cliff Bastien, typed up on a beat-up old typewriter, the keys of which badly needed cleaning, I would say! His words are very interesting and tell us something about his jazz philosophy and pride in achieving the standard of playing by the group on this recording, after only just over one year of rehearsing the band. Cliff (Kid) had only been playing cornet since 1969, having previously played banjo. Mal Dyson and Geoff Baines were not even jazz musicians when Cliff met them and taught them what to do. I can confirm that the standard the whole band reached on this album is remarkably good and it speaks volumes for the ability of Cliff Bastien to inspire and teach young would-be jazz musicians. This is something he did until the day he died. The turning point for the band (Cliff writes) was May 1970, when the band got a regular gig at Grossman’s Tavern on Spadina Avenue, Toronto. They played Saturdays from 3-6 pm and 8-11 pm. I am scanning Cliff’s sleeve notes for your interest. It would have been written around the time of the record’s production on March 7 1971 – see below.
This is an excellent recording. A highlight for me was George Berry’s tenor sax solo on “Ice Cream”. George does a fabulous job of re-creating Captain John Handy’s famous alto sax solo choruses. He shines all the way through.
Sunny South Records LP SSR102 - George Berry Plays New Orleans.
While Kid Bastien produced this LP on his own label, he does NOT perform on it. I do not have a copy of this album.
December 2 and 3 1972Fat Cats Jazz LP #131. Recorded at the 7th Manassas Jazz Festival, in Virginia.
Cliff "Kid" Bastien is on cornet, which he had been playing for just three years. The late Brian Williams is on clarinet - a stunning player in the George Lewis mould. Brian died at the early age of 50, after a heart attack. . Pete Savory is on trombone and he plays the “Big Jim” licks on ‘Ice Cream” to perfection. The rest of the band was Bob Boyle -banjo; Dennis Elder - drums;
John Mathieson - piano and Jimmy Jones - string bass.
Tunes: Ice Cream; Does Jesus Care?; Short Dress Girl; When your hair has turned to Silver; down by the Riverside; See My Milk Cow Blues; Kid Thomas Boogie Woogie; Burgundy Street Blues; Rip ‘Em up Joe; Algiers Strut.
This is another excellent session - the front line were in their prime and the rhythm section is lively, with drummer Dennis Elder leading the way.
September 11 1975Sunny South Records LP SSR103
Kid Bastien's Camelia Jazz Band – "In The Mood"
Cliff is playing trumpet; George Berry tenor sax; Sven Stahlburg - drums; Peter Ness - string bass; John Quinn - banjo; John Hiscott -piano; Pete Savory - trombone. Sven comes from Sweden and was evidently on vacation in Toronto.
Tunes: S’il Vous Plait; I Love You So Much it hurts Me; Girl of my Dreams; Waltz you saved for Me; Kid Thomas Boogie Woogie; Just A Closer Walk With Thee; Four Leaf Clover; In the Mood.
Another very good session. The band is mature and relaxed - once again George Berry gives a stand-out performance.. It could not have been too long after this that George Berry returned to England. It must have been a sad blow for Cliff and the band members. The band evidently folded soon after George left.
September 29 1977Pelican LP 101 - Pete Savory's Louisiana Joymakers
This recording sees Cliff “Kid” Bastien playing drums and the band is led by Pete, his former sideman. This new group took over the Grossman’s weekend residency in November 1976. Cliff gives a fine display of New Orleans styled drumming.. The late Bruce Bakewell is magnificent on clarinet. Pete Savory leads on trombone and the versatile Ron Sullivan plays trumpet. (On the 1964 recording, he was playing drums!) Completing the rhythm section: Jack King - banjo (who now leads Toronto’s Silverleaf Jazz Band); Stephen Brown - piano (now moved to British Columbia.) And Rainer Hunck - string bass (who now plays bass, banjo and guitar in my Hot Five Jazzmakers but not all at once!)
Tunes: Clarinet Marmalade; Rose Room; Who’s sorry Now; Grossman’s Tavern Blues; At the Jazz Band Ball; Keep off Katie’s Head (Sister Kate); Original Dixieland One-Step; Anytime; That’s A Plenty; My Josephine (Some of These Days)
The band wanted the Artesian Hall sound for this recording, I guess and they got it - lots of echo! This really favours the clarinet, trumpet, banjo & drums but does not help trombone etc. This band name - The Louisiana Joymakers - is the name that I inherited, when Pete Savory got his “green card” and left for the USA, to end up in New Orleans, thereby fulfilling a life-long ambition!. I still have the band sign, drawn by signwriter Cliff Bastien, in my garage! I transcribed this to a personal CD btcd4012 but it has not been commercially issued.
New Orleans revival styled jazz, well played, with authentic sounding “Artisian Hall” acoustics which I enjoyed but may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
May 29 1984Sunny South Records LP 104. Kid Bastien's Happy Pals
Cliff “Kid” Bastien – trumpet; Patrick Tevlin -tenor sax; Roberta Tevlin – trombone; Chuck Clarke -drums. Jack King - banjo; Rainer Hunck - string bass and Stephen Brown -piano.
Tunes: Clarinet Marmalade; the Curse of An Aching Heart; Sheik of Araby; Somebody Else is Taking My Place; Caldonia; Lil Liza Jane; Precious Lord, take my Hand; Down on the Farm; Bogolousa Strut; Shake it and Break It; Home (When Shadows Fall)
Some background information which is of interest. Cliff “Kid” Bastien left the Louisiana Joymakers in March 1978. That band had been offered a six gigs a week contract at the Park Plaza Hotel, including a Saturday matinee and this was too much playing for Cliff, at that time, remember he ran his own very successful sign-writing business. For a short period there was no jazz at Grossman’s Tavern and I stepped in to fill the vacuum in November 1979, leading a short-lived Saturday matinee band called “Kilroy’s Jazz Aces” – we made $25 a performance! It was a six month spell from November 3/79 to May 10/80. At that time I left the Grossman’s gig to concentrate on the Louisiana Joymakers, which was playing Friday and Saturdays at Jakes Boathouse in Brampton. ($50!) Pete Savory had given up that band in February to move to the USA and the guys invited me to take his place! Cliff returned to Grossman’s Tavern with a new band in May 1980 or soon after.
Getting back to this recording, It is notable how Cliff has stamped his personality on the group and the enthusiasm of the band members comes through very well on the recording. Chuck Clarke plays great drums in the New Orleans style and Roberta Tevlin’s earthy trombone is a very pleasant surprise. Her husband, Patrick Tevlin had previously played trumpet but switched to tenor sax in order to join this group. It is amazing how much he learnt in such a short time. The group itself gives indications of promise for the future after further development. This is demonstrated by the band’s first CD recording in 1993 which is first class (see entry to follow)
Cassette tape - Tapeworm # 1 Sunny South Records.
This featured Patrick Tevlin's New Orleans Rhythm Boys - a clarinet trio with Cliff on banjo, Colin Bray on bass and the very versatile Patrick Tevlin on clarinet.
Titles: St. Philip St. Breakdown; Only a Look; White Cliffs of Dover; Avalon,;Does Jesus Care; Bright Star; Over The Waves; When The Birds Play Peekaboo; The Old Rugged Cross; Where The River Shannon Flows; Melancholy.
Colin Bray had joined the “Happy Pals” in mid-November 1985 and this was his first band. He played regularly with them until around March 1989. Colin had been shown the rudiments of bass playing by (no prizes for guessing who) Cliff “Kid” Bastien! Cliff encouraged and guided many talented initiates in playing the New Orleans style, on most of the instruments too. He did this regularly over the years and was blessed with the ability to convey his happiness and enthusiasm, thereby inspiring people. His pupils invariably benefited from his example and guidance.
June 3 1988
Cassette tape - Tapeworm # 2 Sunny South Records.
Kid Bastien's Happy Pals with Norrie Cox
Cliff Bastien – trumpet; Norrie Cox – clarinet; Patrick Tevlin – tenor sax; Roberta Tevlin – trombone; Colin Bray –string bass; Elizabeth Brown – banjo; Chuck Clarke – drums.
Tunes: Sing On; S’il Vous Plait; Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland; Big Chief Battle Axe; April Showers; In The Shade of the Old Apple Tree; Short Dress Gal; Silver Bells; New Iberia Blues; Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
April 30 1989
Cassette tape - Tapeworm # 3 Sunny South Records
Kid Bastien's Happy Pals - "Live At The Canoe Club. Recorded at the Toronto Sailing & Canoe Club.
Kid Bastien – trumpet; Patrick Tevlin – clarinet & tenor sax; Roberta Tevlin –trombone;
Elizabeth Brown – banjo; Chuck Clarke – drums; Charlie Trainor –piano. (no bass)
Tunes: You Tell Me Your Dreams; Willie The Weeper; Roll Along Kentucky Moon; Algiers Strut; Ole Miss; The Laughing Samba; Exactly Like You; When We Danced at the Mardis Gras. : I Don’t Want to set the World on Fire; The Old Spinning Wheel In the Parlour; Lily of the Valley.
April 1990 (but see comments below)George Buck recorded this CD, Chester Zardis New Orleans Footwarmers BCD-293 in New Orleans. This is a mixed group with all star performers such as Sammy Rimington - clarinet & alto saxophone; the legendary Chester Zardis - string bass (his last recording before his death); Fredrik John - trombone; Jon Marks - piano; Sven Stahlberg -drums. Cliff is on trumpet;
Tunes: Smile Darn Ya Smile; If You See My Saviour; I Had Someone else Before I had You; Yearning; Mexicali Rose; Tuck Me to Sleep; Broken Promises; Je Vous Aime; Right or Wrong; Till Then; How About You; Old Grey Bonnet; Down By The Old Mill Stream; I Cant Escape From You.
A good blend of tunes and pleasant listening. While nothing really takes off in the manner of the earlier recordings, Cliff plays tasteful and restrained trumpet and sings some fine vocals. Lots of fine, careful solos from all the star players in the group.
While George Bucks liner states the recording was in April 1990, I am certain it was actually done in May. That was the year Cliff Bastien and Chuck Clarke (drums) played with the Hot Five Jazzmakers and we were down for the Jazz & Heritage Festival with a party of over 60. The band performed at Fritzels Bar and the Inn on Bourbon etc. It was a six day tour, arriving May 2nd 1990 and leaving on Monday May 7th. I believe the GBH CD was recorded sometime during this period. Swedish Discographer Björn Bärnheim has recently shown the recording date to be May 6 1990. This is a much more likely date.
January 24 1991Sunny South Records LP 105
Brian Williams 1940-1990 New Orleans Clarinet
This is a mixed group of recordings which Cliff Bastien issued to commemorate the excellent clarinet player Brian Williams, whose untimely death in 1990 was a sad loss to the Toronto jazz fraternity. Cliff takes part in just four of the ten tracks.He is on banjo on three tracks and trumpet on one track.
While the record was not issued until 1991, the material covers a period from 1968 to 1984.
There is an excellent and very moving sleeve tribute by Don Chapman, who played trumpet in the Silverleaf Jazz Band with Brian for several years.
Tunes: Till we meet Again; Streets of the City; Old Rugged Cross (all Brian Williams trio recorded 1968, with Cliff Bastien on banjo & Max Leggatt on bass) Peoria (Silverleaf Jazz Band 1976); Martha & Pallet on Your Floor (Silverleaf Jazz Band 1974) Short Dress Gal & Smile Darn Ya Smile (Camelia Jazz Band, Preservation Hall, NOLA 1973, Kid Bastien on trumpet, Kid Thomas replaces Cliff on Smile Darn Ya);
When I Grow too Old to Dream (New Black Eagle Jazz Band, Venlo, Holland, 1984)
A fitting tribute to a fine clarinet player.
A few new copies of this LP are still available.
1993 UndatedKid Bastien's Happy Pals
"Live at Grossman's" Produced by David Goldberg.
This is stated to be a 25 year anniversary of the band at Grossman's Tavern, which is probably incorrect (assuming one accepts the notes on album SSR101) but who cares? it will give the historians something over which to puzzle in years to come!
Cliff 'Kid" Bastien - trumpet; Patrick Tevlin - tenor sax; Roberta Tevlin - trombone; Roberta Hunt - piano; Len Samuels - banjo; Jimmy Jones - string bass; Chuck Clarke - drums.
Tunes: Jamabalaya; Sing On; Sammy's Blues; Kat's got Kittens; In the Upper Garden; Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone; Sail Along Silvery Moon; Cest Magnifique; Blue & Broken Hearted; Laissez les Bon Temps Roulez!
This CD was re-issued in Denmark in November 2002 as Music Mecca CD 4004-2 for the purpose of Cliff Bastien's tour of Denmark and Sweden. Around 100 were sold.
The band has further matured since their fine 1984 LP. This is the band's first recording on compact disk. It is a lively, stomping, affair which really captures the atmosphere of the band in the ambiance of Grossman's tavern perfectly. The Kid singing "Kats Got Kittens" highlights Cliff's sense of fun, which he conveyed so easily to his audiences. "Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez" summarises the approach of Cliff and the band - swinging like the proverbial clappers!
A very entertaining and lively recording which does justice to this gifted group.
Copies of this CD are still available.
January 1988It was not until June 6 2002 that I transcribed this radio broadcast on to a private CD (btcd4018) of the Magnolia Brass Band. This was the marching band led by Kid Bastien. It has not been commercially issued, but it was digitally recorded for a radio broadcast in Toronto and the quality is good.
Trumpets - Cliff Bastien & Don Chapman; trombones - Roberta Tevlin & Brian Towers; alto sax - Janet Shaw; tenor sax - Brian Ogilvie; clarinet - Patrick Tevlin; bass drum - Chuck Clarke; snare drum - Phil Pie; tuba - Dave Maynard; Parade Marshall - Noonie Shears.
Tunes: Victory Walk (Joe Averys piece); If I Ever Cease To Love; Just A Closer Walk With Thee; Over in the Gloryland; Panama; Salutation March; Whoopin Blues; In the Upper Garden; Bugle Boy March; You Are My Sunshine/the Saints.
A rare opportunity to hear a New Orleans styled brass band playing indoors with fine recording conditions, with multiple mikes and digitally mastered. The band sounds really authentic. The numbers are well-rehearsed and are well played. Maybe I should not say that, as I happen to be in the line-up!
Music Mecca CD 4024-2.
Recorded at the SeaSide Jazzklub, Frederikssund, Denmark. "New Orleans Delight" is one of the finest European bands presently playing in the New Orleans revival style.
Cliff "Kid" Bastien - trumpet and George Berry - tenor sax are the featured guests. The regular members are Kjeld Brand - clarinet and leader; Bengt Hansson - trombone; Goran Magnusson - piano; Erling Lindhardt - banjo; Stefan Karfve - string bass; Claus Lindhardt - drums.
Tunes: Algiers Strut; San Antonio Rose; Winin Boy Blues; Highways are Happy Ways; John B Calypso; Gloryland; Blueberry Hill; Big Mamou; Last Mile of the Way; Joe Avery's Piece/Dippermouth Medley; A Thousand Goodnights.
This is a very significant recording for everyone and especially for myself personally. The Wednesday before Cliff died, I was with him in his workshop - we were talking about our forthcoming joint trip to NOLA with a band, for the French Quarter Festival.
Cliff had just received a demo copy of this CD and he wanted to know if I thought he should allow the Danish guys to release it. Incredibly, he was actually doubtful about it - he wanted some re-assurance! He played it for me. After hearing only the first track "Algiers Strut" I let him know I thought it was excellent and that it would be a crime not to issue it. Mind you, I am sure wiser heads would have prevailed, even if I had not spoken up for it!
A little over two months after this session, Kid Bastien was no longer with us and it was a big shock and trauma for us all.
His friends and fans of New Orleans styled jazz everywhere, will be very thankful this recording was issued. It is an important part of his legacy.
It has all the excitement that one expects of a live session. Cliff and George are musically re-united after many years and New Orleans Delight is an exceptional band in this style. Also it is very well recorded. It also happens to be the most attractively packaged CD production I have ever seen and I am not saying this just because I made a very modest contribution to the liner notes!
If you are a fan of "Kid" Bastien, you will need to have this CD in your collection.
Dec 1 2002Music Mecca CD 4023-2.
Church Concerts 2001-2002 Volume 3.
Recorded at the Sorgenfri Kirke, Denmark and produced by Christian Westergaard.
"New Orleans Delight" with Cliff "Kid Bastien & George Berry appear on 4 of the 14 tracks on this CD. The line-up is the same as 4024-2.
The 4 tunes: San Antonio Rose; Jesus Is Calling; Rivers of Babylon; Highways are Happy Ways.
There is some title duplication with the other CD, though it is a different session. The lovely hymn "Jesus is Calling" is a stand-out. Cliff sings it in an emotionally touching manner, which left me wondering if he had a presentiment of the future and his own passing.
Apart from being the very last official recording of Kid Bastien, the album is a valuable one due to the other groups taking part - Jensens Jazz Serenaders with Brian Carrick (outstanding!) Max Lagers New Orleans Stompers and The Rae Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band
A lovely album
Film: "Cowboy and Indian"
The National Film Board of Canada made this 45 minute film in 1972
There is a two minute clip in a Toronto nightclub where Cliff Bastien appears with his Camelia Jazz Band and he sings "Eh La Bas"
Also seen are: George Berry - tenor sax; Peter Savory trombone; Max Leggatt string bass and A.N. Other guitar.
One of the lead actors in the film, Gordon Rayner, sits in on drums in the clip. Can be bought on line from the NFB web site. The URL is:
http://www.nfb.ca/nfbstore/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?a=b&formatid=13887
I ordered a copy and it came today, as I write. Have not had time to view it as yet!
Cliff Bastien & George Berry Radio interview at Radio Jazz Copenhagen.
Fascinating discussion between the show’s compere and Cliff and George. They tell the story of how they became involved with jazz. Seven of their favourite jazz tunes are played in between the discussions. I have a CD transcription made from the radio broadcast.
An interview took place at Grossman’s Tavern between Jim Hiscott and Cliff “Kid” Bastien. It was designed for radio and includes the playing of various jazz selections. Cliff talks about his introduction to jazz; about going to New Orleans; about meeting Kid Thomas and so on. The Interviewer, Jim Hiscott, played piano with Cliff in the Camelia Jazz Band in the 1970’s and is present on the September 1975 recording. I have a CD transcription of this interview.
I have had lots of help from many people in putting this together and lots of encouragement. In particular I would like to thank our friends in Scandinavia and also Bill Winters. Bill inherited Cliff's record collection and kindly allowed me access to those albums I did not have. I am very grateful to everyone. It started out for me as a listing of Cliff's recording releases but turned into a major exercise and a real learning experience! No doubt there are still errors and omissions and there will be further additions. I have tried to include all the Kid's publically issued recordings. I have not included the many casual and impromptu recordings made by people over the years. There are many in existence and some are quite good but to try to list them all would be an impossible task. There are also some professionally recorded sessions which were rejected or moth-balled at the time of recording which may find their way into issuance in the future. It is beyond the scope of my project to get into details about those items. My purpose has been to try and tell a part of Cliff's story by using his issued recordings as guidelines.
Getting to know Cliff, watching him in action and seeing his impact upon others has been a fascinating experience for me, since I first met him in the late 1970's. I was fortunate indeed to have enjoyed his friendship and I admired his approach to jazz. He certainly made the lives of many people richer, by his skills and showmanship. He gave of himself unstintingly in his efforts to entertain his audiences. He was the perfect guide and mentor for any young musicians with the desire to better understand and perform the "Real Jazz"
Brian Towers
Canada
November 13 2003
e-mail briantowers@msn.com
Phone: 905-821-1728