House Of Horn - Paul Horn

 

House Of Horn - The Golden Princess

House Of Horn

Paul Horn

Produced by Tom Mack

Recorded September, 1957, in Hollywood, California

Jazz Horizons

Dot Records DLP 3091

Personnel:

Paul Horn: Flute, Alto Sax, Piccolo, Clarinet, Alto Flute

Gerry Wiggins: Piano and Celeste

Dan Lube & David Frisina: Violin

David Sterkin: Viola

Fred Katz: Cello

John Pisano: Guitar

Red Mitchell: Bass

Forest Thorn: Drums

Larry Bunker: Vibes

Bill Max: Bells

From the back cover: The five instruments Paul plays here are alto saxphone, clarinet, piccolo, flute and alto flute. Actually, he has mastered even more of the woodwinds, and one might well wonder why this diversity of effort. Paul's answer is quite clear: "There are emotions you can register on a flute," he points out, "that just wouldn't come off on, say, a piccolo or alto sax. Each has an individual sound. And I never feel satisfied with substitutions.

This discerning musical taste has made Paul his own sternest taskmaster. Having postponed earlier opportunities to record a first Paul Horn album, he now presents this album's inventive, wide-ranging program with the confidence of someone who knows at last where he stands, as artist who has clearly defined his terms.

The acquisition of this musical identity, Paul feels, came about when he left the relative anonymity of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra for the creative explorations of the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Though he credits every member of that group with stimulating help, Paul singles out Fred Katz (who, remarkably, works simultaneously as jazz cellist, classical cellist, and serious composer) as the most important influence of all.

"I live just two doors from Fred," he relates, "and we spend a great deal of time together. We talk about our kids, about politics, about people, places and economics. But mostly we talk about music."

And, of course, they play music. The result, in both writing and performance, is an unusual  amalgam of what most people call jazz and the classics, of improvisation and composition. To those who would ask what, really, to call his music, Paul has this reply:

"I think," he says, "that it's unfortunate when any music must carry a label. "If a person begins to listen to music with preconceived notions of the category it ought to fall into, that person isn't giving himself or the music a fair chance.

"A musician has to satisfy his own musical desires and most of the time that can be difficult enough."

"In this particular case – in House Of Horn – I'm doing what really satisfies me. I can't ask for more than that."

Also from the back cover: Paul Horn was born on March 17, 1930, in New York City. His parents both loved music. Paul's mother, Frances Sper, was associated with Irving Berlin and was a well known pianist and singer in Tin Pan Alley; his father, Jack Horn, gave Paul's career invaluable support. At four Paul began instruction in piano, but shelved that for the clarinet at eleven, took up alto sax at thirteen. He played in the band and orchestra at high school, took a Bachelor's Degree in Music at Oberlin College. He studied further at the Manhattan School Of Music (where his classmates included Max Roach, John Lewis, Julius Watkins) and there won his Master's Degree. After a term of military service Paul played with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra for nearly a year, leaving it in September, 1956, to join the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Paul is married (to the former Yvonne Jourdan) and has one son (Marlen; born Sept. 3, 1957). This is his solo album debut, though he is also heard in the Dot Album Word Jazz, which features Ken Nordine and the music of the Fred Katz Group.

From Billboard - December 16, 1957: There's some clever work displayed by Horn on a variety of interesting originals, most notable of which is "Golden Princess." Horn works the woodwinds thruout the set, using alto, clarinet, piccolo, flute and alto flute to achieve striking and at times brilliant effects. Instrumentation on "Princess" – flute, piano, celeste and vibes creates an infectious sound while the music itself is superbly written. Many modernists will enjoy the package.

Pony Tal

Day By Day

A Soldier's Dream

House Of Horn

The Golden Princess

Sunday, Monday Or Always

To A Little Boy

Siddartha

Interlude