Harold Betters Takes Off

 

Just For A Thrill

Harold Betters Takes Off
Photo: JohnWhited
Cover Design: Ken Moore
Gateway Records, Inc. GLP 7004
1963

From the back cover: This album opens with a driving number, You Can't Sit Down, that creates a lot of emotion and should make feel like clapping your hands, patting your feet or snapping your fingers. I think the song was properly named as it makes me feel, when I play it, that I, "Can't Sit Down.

Now And Forever is a change of pace – a well constructed tune with a flowing melody line – one that gives even the most inexperienced listener the feeling he knows what's coming next.

In Other Words is a favorite of mine. The melody and lyrics are so beautiful that I had to sing it as well as play it. For a second vocal I picked, Work Song. This turn depicts work on a chain gang.

Baby Cake creates a lot of drive and excitement – I wrote it for the "Twisters." Another tune for fast dancing is Last Night.

Just For A Thrill speaks for itself – its another of my favor- ites. I am partial to ballads. You can hear air projecting through the horn which is sometimes called an airy or "cool" sound. While I am on the subject of my favorite numbers I might point out, With The Wind And Rain In Your Hair. This tune gives me an opportunity to show the brilliant sound of the trombone in the higher register.

After Supper is very beautifully done by John Huges. He tries to create the feeling of listening to jazz as you would in the 40's. The setting is a club filled with smoke, the smell of booze and the customers that want to sit back and relax after a hard days work.

A favorite of small jazz groups is the Preacher. It has a simple melody line that moves along smoothly. Although my group is small we try to get the effect of a large band with David Rose's composition "Our Waltz. I play the first part only as a waltz and then go into six-eight time. I want to create the feeling, with this piece of music, of two armies approaching each other for battle. the fight and then the ruins.

I would like to sum up what I have written about the tunes on this album by saying: I felt every number I played. I believe every artist should – only that way can he give his best. I am very thankful to Gateway for giving me complete freedom in choosing my numbers and executing them the way I felt they should be played. Making this album was lots of kicks. – Harold J. Betters

"a jazz that is creative and yet can be understood by every- one"-those were my closing words in the notes of Harold Betters' first album, Harold Betters At The Encore. Judging from the wide acceptance of the album, a great many people must agree with me.

The success of an artist, in any field, is based on sincerity, creativity, and skill. Harold Betters has all these in abundance.

Harold is sincere about his work and what is more important about his emotions. With this quality he is able to reach out to his audience and make them apart of his music.

Harold Betters is creative! He makes his chosen form of expression interesting to the listener-thereby capturing and holding their interest. While being sincere and creative he has mastered the art of his instrument to its fullest. His skill with the trombone is hard to match.

With the qualities I have mentioned it is easy to see why Harold has enjoyed the success he has as a performer and musician. I can predict a very long and fruitful career for Harold Betters. – Robert W. Schachner (April 15, 1963) Gateway Recordings, Inc.

You Can't Sit Down
Now And Forever
In Other Words
Baby Cake
The Preacher
Our Waltz
Last Night
After Supper

The Work Song
With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair
Just For A Thrill