Question for the jazz guys.....The Sy Clifford Modern Trio

[Campag Record]

The Sy Clifford Modern Trio - Late Night Session (Rondo Records)











Picked this up in a charity recently and I can't find one google mention of it. My knowledge of jazz is next to zero but I would have thought there would have been at least one mention of a UK jazz LP from 1963.

The players don't seem to come up either on google. Anyone know if these guys are known in jazz circles or recorded with anyone else?

Musically I can't say what it sounds like. It's an acetate and I'm reluctant to put my needle to it. The sleeve has a very much homemade feel to it.

Any info appreciated.

[peretti]

Aside from a tantalising ghost ebay result for "7in EP THE SHADOW OF YOUR SMILE Sy Clifford Trio 1966" which leads nowhere, I can't see any mention. That name rings a very vague bell, though, so will check my cassettes and see if it's the same guy I'm thinking of, who was an amateur West Country jazzer ...

[babycart]

Simon Clifford ("seemingly engaged with his own private battle with the keyboard") and the other band members are mentioned here as the "General Modern Trio" of Portsmouth Grammar School.

https://issuu.com/elisalinley/docs/o..._v6_single_/21

A Simon Clifford is also noted as playing keyboards with Portsmouth band The Classics at around the right time on this page.


http://www.michaelcooper.org.uk/C/1960%20groups.htm

I'd love to hear this - especially the two originals.

[Saint Jude]

I'd love to hear this too. You 100% sure it is an acetate?

Probably unrelated but there was a Rondo Records shop in Newhaven along the South Coast from Gosport where the LP was recorded.

It was there in 1990, but whether it existed in 1963 I don't know.

[peretti]

My tape is by the Clifford Sylvester Trio so completely wrong but I'd also really like to hear what you've found if you ever dare play it.

[amidar]

Looks like a bunch of standards but would be really interested to hear some sound clips. This kind of thing could either be pretty uptight and staid or really loose and cool depending on the players and their sensibilities at the time.

Anyway really cool looking find!

[cratedigger]

I'd love to hear this too. You 100% sure it is an acetate?

I think you can see the metal disc in the centre hole.

[Campag Record]

Simon Clifford ("seemingly engaged with his own private battle with the keyboard") and the other band members are mentioned here as the "General Modern Trio" of Portsmouth Grammar School.

https://issuu.com/elisalinley/docs/o..._v6_single_/21

A Simon Clifford is also noted as playing keyboards with Portsmouth band The Classics at around the right time on this page.


http://www.michaelcooper.org.uk/C/1960%20groups.htm

I'd love to hear this - especially the two originals.

Excellent googling skills there! Thanks for that BC.

[Campag Record]

I think you can see the metal disc in the centre hole.

Yep, well spotted. It also has a tiny chip on the outer edge where the metal clearly shows through.

[Campag Record]

Looks like a bunch of standards but would be really interested to hear some sound clips. This kind of thing could either be pretty uptight and staid or really loose and cool depending on the players and their sensibilities at the time.

Anyway really cool looking find!

This is where my lack of jazz knowledge or appreciation of the genre comes in. If it was a bunch of long haired dudes playing 'rock' or acoustic folkies I would be able to at least say whether it was credible sounding and to my tastes. With a jazz trio of piano, double bass and drums I wouldn't be able to tell if it was high end jazz playing that deserved a Blue Note release or just some amateur guys playing standard tunes with no redeeming charms.

I might swap my needle to an older one and give it a play. As you'd expect its not in EX shape although most of the marks look more like surface than deep scratches.

[The Divine One]

Very cool find Nige, regardless if the music!!! Don't think I've heard a cover of "Moanin'" which hasn't been in some way decent.

It's amazing that the acetate has a sleeve, would lead you to believe they must have made a handful at least. Personally I wouldn't be too worried about playing it, I think people get a bit fixated on acetates quality deteriorating - you might lose some top end after a few plays (which it's already presumably had) and after that I think they're fine if you play them on a decent set-up. That's my experience anyway...

[Campag Record]

Very cool find Nige, regardless if the music!!! Don't think I've heard a cover of "Moanin'" which hasn't been in some way decent.

It's amazing that the acetate has a sleeve, would lead you to believe they must have made a handful at least. Personally I wouldn't be too worried about playing it, I think people get a bit fixated on acetates quality deteriorating - you might lose some top end after a few plays (which it's already presumably had) and after that I think they're fine if you play them on a decent set-up. That's my experience anyway...

Thanks Andy...good to know.

And to make some of you wince I gave the sleeve a little wipe with a very wrung out cloth as I thought there was a couple of smudges that were just dirty stains. I put the cloth in the left corner where the LP name is and the black ink immediately started to come off, as you can see in the picture (the smudges were just ink blots). Oops....note to self...keep any liquids well away from this sleeve.

[amidar]

I've heard a private press version of 'Moanin!' last year 'The Bill 'something or other' Trio' or something along those lines, from what I remember they had residency in a hotel in Torquay it was in no way a keeper anyway and it all went a bit smoochy after the opener but their cover of 'Moanin!' as track one was the highlight if indeed as it was a bit 'by numbers' and it was an early eighties album, yours look like a fine vintage. Give it a listen and compare it to Art Blakey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9NSR-2DwM

I would wager they'll be no comparison but might give you an idea if you have something a little special.

[SirSlim]

I've heard a private press version of 'Moanin!' last year 'The Bill 'something or other' Trio' or something along those lines, from what I remember they had residency in a hotel in Torquay it was in no way a keeper anyway and it all went a bit smoochy after the opener but their cover of 'Moanin!' as track one was the highlight if indeed as it was a bit 'by numbers' and it was an early eighties album, yours look like a fine vintage. Give it a listen and compare it to Art Blakey:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9NSR-2DwM

I would wager they'll be no comparison but might give you an idea if you have something a little special.

Perhaps direct comparison to Blakey's version might be a tad unfair?

I'd be most interested in hearing the originals first, if I'd stumbled over a record like that, "estherique" for example - I'm imagining a modal jazz waltz or something in 5/4 - I bet AlanMck knows something but he's keeping quiet...

[babycart]

I'd be most interested in hearing the originals first, if I'd stumbled over a record like that, "estherique" for example - I'm imagining a modal jazz waltz or something in 5/4 - I bet AlanMck knows something but he's keeping quiet...

And "Guatemala" is obviously a storming latin-jazz banger where they all cut loose.