Before the end of the 72 From ’72 series there will be a selection of my favourite jazz albums from the year in question. In the meantime, here is a somewhat random half-dozen 1972 albums that have tickled the jazz fancy over the years.

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When I acquired this from Bentleigh Sewing & Records in the mid-70s, I didn’t know that Teddy Wilson was Billie Holiday’s pianist for a key period in her storied career. Nor that he was one of the first musicians in an integrated jazz group when he played with Benny Goodman. I just knew I enjoyed jazz piano. Although released in 1972, this album is actually a ring-in, as the recording took place in 1969. Either way, Moonglow is a delightful LP, demonstrating Wilson’s light, melodic style admirably.

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Duke Ellington undertook his first ever tour of Central and South America in 1968. Always open to absorbing influences from his travels, the master composer began writing some of the music that would eventually appear on Latin American Suite while touring. It’s classic Ellington big band, with great solos from Johnny Hodges and Paul Gonsalves. I think this came from Bentleigh Sewing & Records too.

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Flautist Hubert Laws was a prolific recorder during the 1970s, releasing a dozen LPs on several labels. This one, Morning Star, recorded for Creed Taylor’s CTI label, has some stellar players and is certainly one of Laws’ more satisfying albums. It’s very tempting to collect CTI for the fabulous art work, but so far I’ve resisted. So far.

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Several of the albums in this post represent work by musicians later in their careers. The Teddy Wilson, Ellington and Modern Jazz Quartet are all worthwhile listens, though none represent the cutting edge. That’s less true of Ornette Coleman’s 1972 LP, Science Fiction. This is more demanding jazz with some amazing playing (particularly bassist Charlie Haden) and a number of pieces in the ‘free jazz’ range. And what about that fabulous multi-exposure cover image?

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Before French violinist Jean-Luc Ponty recorded his popular and thoroughly entertaining fusion albums he had done a stint with Frank Zappa and released a number of albums and collaborations. The latter are more experimental than subsequent material but rewarding for those who like a bit of edge in their jazz.

Open Strings is an intense and sparky LP that has a fabulous line-up of musicians. In addition to the leader’s violin, there’s Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine, German pianist Joachim Kuhn, and classically trained bass player Peter Warren (USA). A marvellously international group.

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The Modern Jazz Quartet were a major ‘gateway’ group for me and jazz. Their tight arrangements and light touch had plenty of swing as the piano of John Lewis and the vibraphone of Milt Jackson danced elegantly over the superbly under-stated rhythm section of Percy Heath (bass) and drummer Connie Kay.

Returning to Atlantic after a brief stint on The Beatles’ Apple label, The Legendary Profile is late career LP that has been under-valued by history. It is a very enjoyable listen and much stronger than Blues On Bach, which followed.

What makes this album particularly special for me is that I saw them live on their last tour at the time (1974), sitting in Melbourne’s plush Dallas Brooks Hall and thrilling to the sounds of my first concert by an international jazz artist. Of course I bought a program to commemorate the event.

At the end of the concert I sat in the emptying auditorium, soaking up the last vestiges of atmosphere and watching as some well dressed stage hands began ambling across the stage, presumably to dismantle the gear. But hang on a dotted minim! Isn’t that the legendary profile of composer John Lewis? And the solid presence of Mr Connie Kay? Surely that’s Percy Heath moving to the stage apron to chat to a fan?

In a few steps I was there, shyly proffering my program for an autograph. All three musicians joined the small throng and kindly signed our booklets. But where was the ‘star’ of the MJQ, vibes-master Milt Jackson? We loitered long after the others politely bid us goodnight, craning necks to peer into the shadowy wings, but Mr Jackson did not appear.

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