Infinitely adaptable, DeMerle's power and rhythmic elasticity underlines his bold presence and command of modern jazz drumming.
By the time of Spectrum, Les DeMerle's dynamic 1969 United Artists debut album, Les was a known, prodigious young drumming talent who had been wowing audiences through club and TV performances since he was a teen. Unheard at the time was a 1967 recording of his band, Sound 67, which was lost in the shuffle at Atlantic Records, never to see the light of day. The acetates that followed DeMerle around for the last 56 years reveal a 20-year old dynamo who knew talent, showmanship, and the sounds of his times. With a collection of crack arrangements by Frank Foster & Bob Hammer, channeling the latest grooves of Ramsey Lewis and Cannonball Adderley, balanced with sublime pop hits and burning swingers, Les sculpted his 5-piece band into a musical juggernaut. Featuring Randy Brecker on trumpet - in what would have been his first featured recording - and the voice of rock diva, Genya Ravan, Once in a Lifetime is an amazing time capsule find, containing great hints of the career DeMerle would unfurl over the coming decades.
Track Listing:
1. Come Back to Me 2:58
2. Feelin' Good 3:42
3. On a Clear Day 2:18
4. Raunchy Rita 4:16
5. Signifyin' 7:14
6. Alfie 3:51
7. Sticks 3:28
8. That's Life 3:31
9. Once in a Lifetime 4:14
10. Taking a Chance on Love 2:28
Performers:
Les DeMerle - drums
Randy Brecker - trumpet, flugelhorn
(1,2,4,5,7,9) -
Alan Gauvin - alto sax
Danny Sandridge - piano
Terry Plumeri - bass
(3,6,8) -
Lanny Morgan - alto sax, flute
Mel Olman - piano
Jack Greg - bass
Genya Ravan - vocals
(10)
Les DeMerle - percussion
Rosemary Clooney - vocals
Mike Douglas TV Show Band
Production Info:
Produced by Les DeMerle and Bonnie Eisele for
Music Unlimited Prod, Amelia Island, FL
Recorded by Don Seat at
Peer Southern Music, New York City 1967
Mastered by Jeff Alford & Denny LeRoux at
Storm Studios, Jacksonville, FL
Liner Notes: Scott Yanow
Photography: Popsie Randolph, Jack Bradley,
Classic Jazz Visions, Fortune Monte
Cover Design & Layout by John Bishop
Reviews of Once in a Lifetime
Dusty Grooves (Editor)
Rare lost work from funky drummer Les DeMerle – a set of tracks that were recorded for Atlantic Records in 1967, two years before DeMerle's classic Spectrum album – yet which finally appear here for the first time ever! Les is rock-solid, right from the start – definitely one of those younger players really helping to shift the sound of the l ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Back in 1967, the careers of both drummer Les DeMerle and trumpeter Randy Brecker were just beginning, and this recently discovered album has the two together along with a rotating team of Lanny Morgan/asfl, Alan Gauvin/as, Terry Plumeri-Jack Greg/b and Genya Ravan/voc. DeMarle is snappy on the snares along with Brecker and Gauvin on Jazz Messenger ...
