Ageless Imagination Keeps Waters Young

There have been many star-crossed, truncated careers in jazz--from cornetist Bix Beiderbecke and guitarist Charlie Christian to saxophonists Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. So many, that it’s easy to overlook the fact that jazz has also produced a few artists who have been blessed with long, productive lives in the music.

The passings this year of violinist Stephane Grappelli at 89 and trumpeter Doc Cheatham at 91 are cases in point. Both not only played with style and creativity over the course of lengthy careers, they also did so to the end of their days. (Cheatham actually played a set a night or two before his death.)

So there’s something particularly appealing about hearing a new album from saxophonist Benny Waters. At 95, he certainly has to rank as the eldest, still-active, well-known jazz artist. His productive longevity has only been surpassed--thus far, at least--by pianist Eubie Blake, who died in 1983, five days after his 100th birthday.

In January of this year, Waters had another of his “post-retirement age” parties to celebrate his birthday with an evening of jazz. Fortunately, Enja Records (“Benny Waters Birdland Birthday: Live at 95”) was on hand to record the event--an evening of upbeat music in which Waters performed with a sterling ensemble that included Mike LeDonne, piano and organ, Howard Alden and Steve Blailock, guitars, Earl May, bass, and Ed Locke, drums.

What is most impressive about the recording is Waters’ astounding vitality. Playing in a style that manages to blend the lush vibrato of pre-World War II style saxophone with a startlingly contemporary improvisational perspective and a solid founding in the blues, he produces solos that are the product of an alert, ageless, intensely energetic musical imagination. On “Everybody Loves My Baby,” he sings with wit and humor, and his closing set announcement over the melody of “Misty” has the wry, whimsical sensibility characteristic of Duke Ellington--a Waters’ idol.

Waters returned to the United States in the late ‘80s after living for four decades in Paris. He eventually became known as “the world’s most modern saxophone player over 90.” Highly regarded in Europe during the period, he was not well-known in his native land, despite a career that virtually encompassed the 20th century history of jazz. Yet, amazingly, he taught Harry Carney, longtime baritone saxophonist with the Ellington band, and performed with trumpeter King Oliver in the ‘20s. Before moving to France in 1949, he played with Jimmy Lunceford, Clarence Williams, Fletcher Henderson and Hot Lips Page.

He is, in other words, a walking compendium of jazz. But there is nothing archaic about his playing or his energy, which offer convincing testimony to the idea that creativity knows no age limits.

Jazz, says Waters, who lost his eyesight after cataract surgery a few years ago, “is like life itself. It’s always changing.”

Holiday Radio: The Jimmy Heath Big Band, saxophonist Donald Harrison and drummer T.S. Monk Jr. are the principal acts in the 10th annual Cognac Hennessy / WBGO-Radio New Year’s Eve jazz concert.

The six-hour broadcast begins in New York with a concert by the Heath band, featuring the Heath brothers--Jimmy, tenor saxophone, Percy, bass, and Albert “Tootie,” drums--at 7 p.m.

At 9:30, the focus shifts to New Orleans for a performance by Harrison. And at 11, the Monk on Monk Tentet plays in San Francisco. Although times for the live performances are Eastern, jazz radio station KLON-FM (88.1) will broadcast on a tape delay at the equivalent Pacific time zone hours. KLON also airs a special Christmas program, featuring jazz Christmas selections. A highlight will feature veteran jazz deejay Chuck Niles in a reading of “The Night Before Christmas.” The seven-hour program runs three times, starting at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and at 1 and 8 a.m. on Christmas Day.

Live New Year’s Jazz: Fans who prefer to hear their jazz sounds in person on New Year’s Eve have a number of options. Pianist and humorist Dave Frishberg entertains at Catalina Bar & Grill, (213) 466-2210, and Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba kicks off a four-night run at the Jazz Bakery, (310) 271-9039.

But the biggest jazz New Year’s event takes place at Indian Wells, where an eclectic lineup of talent that includes Nicholas Payton, B.B. King, Maria Muldaur, Poncho Sanchez and the Gerald Wiggins Trio will perform in the 10th annual New Year’s Jazz at Indian Wells. The festival takes place Dec. 29-31 at the Renaissance Esmeralda and the Hyatt Grand Champions Resort. Music begins each day at 10 a.m. and runs until 1 a.m., with two black-tie-optional New Year’s Eve parties--the “Swinging Traditional Jazz Bash” and the “Sizzling Blues Latin Jazz ‘n Party.” Information: (562) 799-6055.

Passing: Francis Paudras, a French artist, author and jazz patron, died at 62 on Nov. 26 in Antigny, France, reportedly a suicide. Paudras’ long, difficult friendship with legendary but frequently unstable jazz pianist Bud Powell was the source for the 1986 film “ ‘Round Midnight.” The picture featured saxophonist Dexter Gordon in a role that blended aspects of Powell and saxophonist Lester Young. Paudras, who became devoted to the then-ill Powell in the early ‘60s, chronicled their difficult relationship in “La Danse des Infideles,” which will be published in a Da Capo Press translation in the spring. Paudras also partnered with Charlie Parker’s former wife, Chan Parker, to write “To Bird With Love,” a collection of photos and reminiscences.