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Just in time for birthday cake >> It's a happy 15th for local jazz label Justin Time by LEN DOBBIN
Live at Biddles, the first release, caught Montreal-born Jones at the beginning of the renewal of his jazz career. There's a great deal of energy on that recording and it wears well--despite the fact that Jones is playing with two musicians whose reputations far exceed their playing abilities. Jones would quickly go on to record with his peers, people like Fraser MacPherson, Michel Donato, Herb Ellis, Ed Thigpen, Ray Brown and (on From Lush to Lively) a disguised Boss Brass. The careers of a number of people who came on board early in the label's history have skyrocketed. These include Ranee Lee, the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, Jeri Brown (all of whom remain with the label) and Diana Krall. Many an excellent Canadian-bred musician has gained wide exposure through sessions done for Justin Time: Wray Downes, Jon Ballantyne, Pat LaBarbera, Reg Schwager, Dave Young and Sonny Greenwich among them. Between the label and its sister, Just A Memory, West has material by three Montreal-born, world-class pianists: Paul Bley, Oscar Peterson and Jones. There's also a wealth of important vintage material available on the two labels. The Rising Sun Collection includes live recordings by people like Chet Baker, Archie Shepp, Nina Simone, Taj Mahal, John Lee Hooker and Lightnin' Hopkins. Collectors Classics has intimate Montreal performances by the likes of Dave Van Ronk and Muddy Waters, and material by such important Canadian musicians as the late, great Brian Barley, Peterson and Kenny Wheeler can be found in the RCI (Radio Canada International) series. Ottawa-born pianist D.D. Jackson's debut CD Peace-Song brought his special guest David Murray in contact with Jim West and that led to a number of Americans signing with Justin Time, including Murray himself, the World Saxophone Quartet and Billy Bang. WSQ member Hamiet Bluiett has also seen four volumes of his music recorded, and U.S. bluesman Bryan Lee now has no less than five CDs on the label. West has also come up with some memorable material by putting musicians in duo situations. There are three volumes of bassist Dave Young in the company of pianists like Jones, Peterson, John Hicks, Tommy Flanagan and Cyrus Chestnut. D.D. Jackson has been paired with Don Byron, James Carter, Ray Anderson, Bang and Bluiett, while Bley, one of the most influential pianists in jazz, has been recorded in tandem with Sonny Greenwich, Kenny Wheeler, Jane Bunnett and Ballantyne. Justin Time is hardly a one-man operation. The hard-working team behind its success includes Morty Sachs and Walter Giardetti, Nancy Marley, Jean Pierre Leduc, Denis Barnabé, Nadine Campbell and, most importantly, Ian Terry, a recording engineer with big ears. He's the man who gives the label its sound. They've just issued a two-CD retrospective and this year's edition of the Montreal Jazz Fest is also helping the label celebrate. Either a jazz or a blues compilation CD from the label's catalogue comes with this year's "Les Amis du Festival" card and a number of the label's artists are featured. Hamiet Bluiett, D.D. Jackson and Mor Thiam appear tonight (Thursday, July 9) while Bryan Lee (featuring Frank Marino) and Michael Marcus with the Jaki Byard trio appear on Saturday night. The same night, the festival capper is a salute to the label featuring the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir under the direction of Trevor Payne, with special guests including Oliver Jones and Ranee Lee. A little toast to Jim West, a man I share a birthday with. Here's to continued success and 15 more years of great music!
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Justin Time records recently celebrated its 15th birthday. It was "born" on June 14, 1983, when Jim West got the idea to start a Montreal jazz label by recording pianist Oliver Jones, then 48, as he played with the Charlie Biddle trio.