ST

Musicians
Ed Bickert: guitar
Don Thompson: bass
Terry Clarke: drums

Songwriting
‘Come Rain Or Come Shine’ written by Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen
‘Where Are You’ written by Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
‘When Sonny Gets Blue’ written by Jack Segal, Marvin Fisher
‘It Might As Well Be Spring’ written by Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
‘Nancy With The Laughing Face’ written by Phil Silvers, Jimmy Van Heusen
‘Manha de Carnaval’ written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, George David Weiss, Luiz Bonfá

Publishing
‘Come Rain Or Come Shine’ published by A-M Music / Chappell Music (ASCAP)
‘Where Are You’ published by Leo Feist, Inc. (ASCAP)
‘When Sonny Gets Blue’ published by Marvin Music Co. (ASCAP)
‘It Might As Well Be Spring’ published by Williamson Music, Inc. / Chappell (ASCAP)
‘Nancy With The Laughing Face’ published by Barton Music Co. (ASCAP)
‘Manha de Carnaval’ published by Chappell and Co., Inc. / Intersong Music (ASCAP)

Production
Produced by Gene Perla
Recorded live at George's, Toronto, June 1975
Engineered by Don Thompson
Re-mixed by Gene Perla at Red Gate Studio, Kent, New York
Technical adversary and overseer: Andy Topeka
Liner notes by Nighthawk, CBC Jazz Radio Canada, Jazz Critic, Montreal Gazette

Artwork
Cover design and illustration by Anne Maria Schnider

Release
1976, P.M. Records, PMR-010, LP, Canada
Pressed by Keel Record Mfg. of Canada Limited
MAPL designation: 50% Canadian content (artist, performance)

Matrix / Runout
Side A: PMR-010-S1 -K- (etched)
Side B: PMR-010-S2 -K- (etched)

Liner Notes (English)

It's always with a sense of victory that I sit back and grin when I hear music that is not afraid of being quiet, kind, and pretty. Such is the case with this record. I put it on and I heard some pleasant, relaxing sounds and that was that. Until the music stopped and suddenly I was missing its company. Nice music to go to sleep with and nice to wake up to. Would sound good on a sandy beach at sunset. Nice sound skiing down a slope too.

That's one of the really big troubles with this sort of sound: it'll never tell you the same story. It'll challenge your mood every time you hear it. And should you get really careless and listen, note for note, you'll wonder how come you hadn't heard that phrase like that before. It's maddeningly delightful.

It's even more maddening when you know the songs well and you are trying to remove years of dust off the lyrics. Why aren't the lyrics on the back of this album you think. But I just told you that i couldn't remember them didn't I? Besides, who knows what lyrics Ed Bickert was thinking about when he phrased these impossible slips, slides, runs and turns. Not to mention Don Thompson. Have you ever tried to paint white on white by numbers? These guys probably do that every day.

What I've been trying to say all this time is that Ed Bickert's Ed Bickert is full of challenging subtleties from all involved. But now, let me clear things up: Take this record home with you and play it a lot. Maybe you'll solve the riddle and surely your ears will love you.

And after all is said—or unsaid—it might as well be spring, indeed!

Smile, Nighthawk.

Ed Bickert is, you will note, very much of a guitarist. Self-taught under the influences of Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney and Jim Hall. He was born to a musical family November 29, 1932 in Hochfeld, Manitoba. Now lives and works (radio, TV, studio commercials) in Scarborough, Ontario. He is married, has four children and is a wonderful musician. Or did I already say that?

Don Thompson is the bassist on this date. Sometimes he also plays piano. Or vibes. Thompson has been around since January 1940... and he keeps getting better. Seriously.

Terry Clarke is definitely a drummer. Born in Vancouver, B.C. August 20, 1944 he's been at it since 1957. Getting tastier and tastier as you discover his secret moves. Like Kenny Clarke, one of his strong influences (not related), he is always there like a springboard. A drummer you have to listen attentively for. Now, that's a treat, isn't it?

Liner Notes (French)

J'ai toujours l'impression d'avoir remporté une victoire personnelle lorsque j'entends de la musique qui est tout simplement belle et agréable. C'est ce sentiment-là que provoque l'écoute de ce disque. La première fois, la musique est aimable et paisible, mais quand le disque est fini il ne reste plus que le vide et vite, on a envie de l'entendre à nouveau. On aime s'endormir et se réveiller en sa compagnie. On aimerait l'emmener à la plage sur le sable chaud. On aimerait même l'entendre en descendant en slalom une piste neigeuse.

C'est un des gros ennuis avec cette musique: elle ne vous raconte jamais la même histoire. Elle change constamment de paysage et défie vos idées fixes. Si vous osez l'écouter attentivement, note par note, vous ne la trouverez jamais pareille. C'est un vrai plaisir de caprice!

On se demande à quoi pensait Ed Bickert alors qu'il dessinait ces nouvelles courbes sur des chansons dont on ne retrouve plus les paroles tant elles viennent de loin. Et Don Thompson à quoi pense-t'il dans ces improvisations délicates? Toutes ces phrases musicales sont aussi élusives que le calme qu'elles décorent.

Ce que j'essaye de vous confier, c'est que ce disque est plein de subtilités à la fois défiantes et bénévoles. Mais laissez-moi m'exprimer clairement: Prenez ce disque et écoutez-le plusieurs fois. Vous résoudrez peut-être la charade et vos oreilles vous remercieront.

Après tout, je ne peux pas décrire la joie sublime que donne une musique simplement belle... je ne peux que vous la souhaiter. Alors, meilleurs voeux!

Nighthawk.

Ed Bickert, vous l'admettrez vite, est un guitariste de grande classe. Il a étudié seul, en pur autodidacte, mais sous l'influence de Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney et Jim Hall. Il est né dans une famille musicale le 29 Novembre 1932 à Hochfeld, Manitoba. Il vit maintenant à Scarborough, Ontario où il travaille à la radio, télévision et à des bandes sonores de publicité commerciale. Il est marié, père de quatre enfants et guitariste extraordinaire... Ça je l'avais déjà dit.

Don Thompson, un autre Canadien, est le contrebassiste sur ce disque. D'autres fois il joue du piano ou du vibraphone. Depuis qu'il est né, en Janvier 1940, il ne cesse de s'améliorer. Il a un talent à rallonges et Dieu sait où ça s'arrêtera.

Terry Clarke est un batteur par excellence. Né à Vancouver, B.C. le 20 Août 1944, il joue depuis l'âge de treize ans. Plus il joue plus il devient subtil et secret. Comme le grand Kenny Clarke, (qui n'est pas son parent), l'un de ceux qui l'ont le plus et le mieux influencé, il est toujours là, discret et rythmique à souhait. Il soutient chaque phrase à la perfection, mais il faut l'écouter attentivement pour l'entendre. Des batteurs de ce genre, mes amis, il n'y en aura jamais beaucoup. Alors, profitez-en!

Artwork Restoration
Restoration by Scott Edward
spinningmywheelsinternational@gmail.com
226-235-6005