After the Riot at Newport
By The Nashville Allstars

The year 1960 was not a transitional time for jazz. Be-bop and its successor hard-bop were still the order of the stylistic day and the free approach of Ornette Coleman had yet to take hold. The Newport Rhode Island Festival was an annual gathering of the jazz clan. And it was in July 1960 that a group of Nashville’s finest players made the journey to Newport for a much-anticipated performance.

Chet Atkins, Boots Randolph, Hank Garland were the best of Nashville session musicians, playing on many country and pop recordings day in and day out. They were all jazz music fans and very proficient jazz players too, jamming at every opportunity in local Nashville clubs. They would often be joined by 17 year old vibes prodigy, Gary Burton.
So this all-star band headed to Newport, Rhode Island for what I’m sure would have been a tremendous show. Unfortunately, festival organizers had trouble managing an unruly crowd and most of the schedule was scrapped, including the appearance of the Nashville All-stars.

But the guys were determined to document their music anyway and recorded what is today a milestone album yet widely overlooked jazz classic – After the Riot at Newport. Germany’s Bear Family label reissued the long out of print LP a few years back and Nashville Public Library was fortunate enough to obtain a copy for the jazz collection. Especially noteworthy is the fabulous playing of Gary Burton and Hank Garland. To me these two have never played better. In fact, the whole project stands as proof that there is so much more to the Nashville music scene than meets the eye. It is highly recommended.

-Lew