Gene Perla: I'm Popeye The Sailor Man
Musicians:
Gene Perla (bass), Elvin Jones (drums), Vladyslav Sendeck (piano), Dan Gottshall (trombone),
NDR Big Band (horn section)
.Arranged by Bill Warfield. Composed by Sammy Lerner
.Recorded: New York, 1986 - Hamburg, 2008
Rating: 97/100 (learn more)
What began as an intimate session involving Elvin Jones and multi-instrumentalist Gene Perla back in 1986 culminated in the November, 2008 release of a unique (if somewhat controversial) album uniting archived tracks with Protools-enabled contemporary sessions involving members of North German Broadcasting’s NDR Big Band. The same outrage inspired by dead celebrities appearing in new commercials (John Wayne hawking Coors Beer, Fred Astaire dancing with a vacuum cleaner, etc.) has surfaced in the wake (bad choice of words?) of Bill’s Waltz. To be deterred by all the brouhaha would be a pity, as there are some authentic moments of spontaneous combustion to be found on these sides, click track be damned!
"I’m Popeye the Sailor Man" may be an unlikely vehicle for a jazz session but, propelled by this legendary drummer's boundless energy, it runs downwind with a bone in its teeth. The track opens with Elvin’s popping snare tattooing a New Awlins- style march interpretation of the traditional sailor’s hornpipe, a theme which resurfaces throughout the arrangement, salted with tritones and arrgh-mented ninths. Leading with a respectable imitation of Popeye’s staccato laugh, trombonist Dan Gottshall delivers a satisfying, Olive Oyl-smooth solo, piloting through bluesy, spinach-free channels which never sound canned or Wimpy. Across the vast, improbable gulf of time and space the entire ensemble is held together and ignited by Jones’s unmistakable back beat, while the signature hornpipe theme takes its final bow with a drum solo tag.
Well, blow me down. Popeye aficionados are aware of the scruffy cartoon sailor’s scatting ability, but who knew he could swing?
Reviewer: Bill Barnes
Tags: 2000s jazz · big band
the Popeye soundtrack is also the coolest cartoon track ever. Everyone knows it which makes it even better as a vehicle to any jazz session.