In continuing the celebrations for the centenary of Paul Gonsalves, the above recording Storie de Pol shows the tenor player in the context, and the company of his Cape Verdean heritage.
His childhood friend, Joe Livramento is on alto saxophone. Leader and trumpeter 'Phil' Barboza was also, briefly, an Ellingtonian, deputising for Willie Cook for a couple of weeks in April, 1956, just months before the famous Newport performance, those 27 choruses of which clearly show the influence of Paul's background.
From Cimboa magazine:
One musician who apparently was able to draw on his Cape Verdean heritage to play jazz music was Paul Gonsalves who gained fame as a star tenor player in the famous Duke Ellington big band, according to Joli Gonçalves.
"I asked Paul once," Joli recalls. "He had this unusual form of taking solos. I asked 'where did you develop this technique?' He said, 'John I think in crioulo.' "
Gonsalves, who wowed audiences at the 1955(sic) Newport Jazz festival with a 22-minute (sic)solo while playing in Ellington's band also attributed that feat to his Cape Verdean heritage, according to entertainment lawyer Jim Lopes. "Gonsalves said when he played that solo, in his heart, in his mind he thought, 'this is for Cape Verde.'" Lopes says.
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