Linda Lawson - Introducing

 Tonight is the occasional vocal offering. Not much out there to be found about Miss Lawson. This is a pretty decent record that was never destined to set the world on fire.
 Here's the rub. The backing band was put together by Marty Paitch. We know that Paitch used Art Pepper whenever he could. This would have been recorded during Pepper's break from incarceration. Even though he is not listed in the personnel, some of the solos are his without a shred of doubt. Now I'm not a research guy (Straight Life is 3 ft, away) so maybe this is common knowledge and I just don't remember it.
 Either way this is an opportunity to offer up a nice record on a Saturday evening. A nice mix of enjoyable covers of evergreens and a few oddballs thrown in for good measure.
 Best part is, it was offered to me by a friend who digs the blog.

1. Are You With Me

2. Where Flamingos Fly

3. But Beautiful

4. Me and My Shadow

5. You Don't Know What Love Is

6. Easy To Love

7.Meaning Of The Blues

8. Mood Indigo

9. Like Young

10. Hi-Lilli-Hi-Lo

Jimmy Rowles (piano);
Bud Shank (alto, sometimes);
Art Pepper - alto
Med Flory (baritone sax);
Bill Perkins (tenor sax);
Al Porcino, Stu Williamson, Jack Sheldon (trumpets);
Frank Rosolino (trombone);
 Bill Pitman (guitar);
Joe Modragon (bass);
 Mel Lewis (drums)

A Taste Of The Best From World Pacific

Hell, I wanna post this record almost as much for the cover as the music. Everything about this record is just about its period. I can see this spinning on the Hi-fi at my bachelor pad, except I'm not that old and was never that cool. Prepared for the industry the year I was born, I wonder which of us has held up better? The competition may have been tougher if they had mined Pacific's vaults a bit more, but I realize that was not the intention.
There is nothing unreleased on here as far as I know although there a bit of stuff you won't find easily.
On the bright side..."all the selections were chosen for broad appeal and brevity..."
"All necessary information to facilitate and stimulate frequent play is included in the chart below."

The Major Names In Modern Music - On World Pacific

1. Let's Face The Music and Dance

2.The Folks Who love On The Hill

3. Siren Song

4. Smoke gets In Your Eyes

5. Put Away Your Dreams

6. 'Round About Midnight

7. In A Mellowtone

8. Lullaby Of The Leaves

9. Dance of The Siamese Children

10. Rhymes Have I

11. Disc Jockey Jump

12. Jersey Bounce

13. It Don't Mean A Thing

14. The Preacher

15. Don't Be That Way

16. That Old Feeling

17. Look For The Silver Lining

18. September In The Rain

19. Guitar For Sale

20. Raga Mishra Piloo

1. David Allen w/ Bill Holman Orch.

2. David Allen w/ Johnny Mandel Orch.

3. Pat Healy w/ Fred Katz  Orch.

4. Bud Shank w/ Len Mercer Orch.

5. Bud Shank - Bob Cooper Orch.

6. Gil Evans and his Orch.

7. Chico Hamilton Quintet

8. Chico Hamilton Trio

9. The Mastersounds

10. The Mastersounds

11. Gerry Mulligan and the Sax Section

12. Gerry Mulligan Quartet

13. Annie Ross w/ Gerry Mulligan Quartet

14. Gerry Mulligan w/ Vinnie Burke Strings

15. Bob Brookmeyer - Jimmy Guiffre Quintet

16. Chet Baker Quartet

17. Chet Baker - Bill Perkins Quintet

18. Harry Edison Quartet

19. Shorty Petterstein!

20. Ravi Shankar w/ Charur Lal

World Pacific ST 779

Shorty Rogers - Chances Are It Swings

Shorty Rogers records often took, and maybe still do take some heat from the "serious" jazz critics. Me? I've always dug him. He stood by his conviction to continue in the swinging big band traditional long after it had fallen out of favor. His arrangements always feel fun.
Let's be honest here, just how serious do you think Rogers took himself? Lps about martians and outer space!! The dude definitely had a sense of humor about it. I think that's is why the lps feel the way they do.
On this session all the songs were written, or co-written by a single composer, Robert Allen. For me Allen's claim to fame will always be the Christmas tune "Home For The Holidays". The performers themselves are only credited as the "Orchestra featuring the Giants." The solos are all shorty and punchy in keeping with the feel of the whole lp which is rather short itself. - In retrospect the lp is not all that short but it seems to fly by far too quickly - hook
Released on the Living Stereo imprint, I'm betting this lp was the tits (which is way better than the cat's meow) when it was first released. It's always been my pleasure to do my part to keep this stuff alive!

Shorty Rogers - Chances Are It Swings

1. Chances Are
2. No Such Luck
3. It's Not For Me To Say
4. Lilac Chiffon
5. I Just Don't Need You
6. Who Needs You
7. Everybody Loves A Lover
8. Come To Me
9. My Very Good Friend In The Looking Glass
10. You Know How It Is
11. A Very Special Love
12. Teacher, Teacher


The personnel of the orchestra cannot be found anywhere on the sleeve, so it seems worth while to list it here. Shorty Rogers was directing Al Porcirio, Pete Candoli, Conte Candoli, Ray Triscari and Ollie Mitchell (trumpets); Harry Betts, Dick Nash, Kenny Shroyer and Bob Enevoldsen (trombones); Bill Holman, Bud Shank, Richie Kamuca, Chuck Gentry and Paul Horn (reeds); Pete Jolly (piano), Mel Lewis (drums) and Red Norvo or Gene Estes (vibes). Don Fagerquist (trumpet) and either Barney Kessel or Howard Roberts (guitar) are featured in a small group ("The Giants") which is heard on some tracks.

Personnel info was taken from a Gramaphone article.

Recorded Hollywood, 12/12 and 12/20, 1958 (I was a squalling six month old.)

LSP-1975

My lp has the Living Stereo bar across the top AND the blue" for jazz fans" box in the corner. Can't find a picture with both, and even sharing that with you means I am a geek.

Bud Shank - Jazz at Cal-Tech

Yup - bang, click, pow...not in the best shape but then neither am I. I have decided to embrace my shortcomings, for now.

I don't see this record offered up often and it will never be in good enough shape for the dudes at the Pacific Jazz site (Goddamn! are they doing a great job?).

But I can offer it up here first.

A pretty cool date which sports the flute, oboe combo on a couple of tracks.

The Bud Shank Quartet In Concert With Bob Cooper
Jazz at Cal-Tech

1. When Lights Are Low
2. Old Devil Moon
3. The Nearness Of You
4. How Long Has This Been Going On & Tea For Two
5. Lullaby Of Birdland
6. Somebody Loves Me
7. Moonlight In Vermont
8. The King

Bud Shank - alto and flute
Bob Cooper - tenor and oboe
Claude Williamson - piano
Don Prell - bass
Chuck Flores - drums

This session was produced by Frank Kofsky, a Cal-Tech physics student.

Pacific Jazz PJ-1219

Jazztone - West Coast Jazz Anthology Vol. III

Jazztone was a small mail order club label. Much like Book of the Month or ARS, subscribers would be sent a cool jazz lp once a month or so, often with original sessions made for the label. It was only around for 3 years but they still managed to swing some mighty fine sessions.

I started with Vol. III in this series for a couple of reasons. Vol I has some previously released stuff and...well I don't happen to own a copy of Vol. II.

This volume contains some very nice live sessions and a handful of studio dates that I don't think you will see around much. I have no doubt some of these recordings have appeared elsewhere at some point, but this should be their first appearance.

As usual, ripped late at night from a questionable condition lp - this is music for music lovers and not connoisseurs of high art.

Jazz West Coast, Vol III
1. There Will Never Be Another You - Gerry Mulligan
2. Mr. Smith Goes To Town - Chico Hamilton
3. Polka Dots and Moonbeams - Bud Shank
4. Old Croix - Art Pepper
5. Little Girl - Chet Baker
6. Love Nest - Russ Freeman/Chet Baker
7. Sweet Georgia Brown - Bud Shank/Bob Cooper
8. Things Ain't What They Used To Be - Jim Hall
9. Too Marvelous For Words - Phil Urso/Bob Burgess
10. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime - Russ Freeman/Bill Perkins

Gerry Mulligan Sextet
Mulligan - piano
Zoot Sims - tenor sax
Bob Brookmeyer - valve trombone
Jon Eardley - trumpet
Red Mitchell - bass
Larry Bunker - drums
Hoover High School Auditorium - LA - 12/54

Chico Hamilton Quintet
Hamilton - drums
Fred Katz - cello
Paul Horn - clarinet
John Pisano - guitar
Carson Smith - bass
Forum Theater - LA - 10/56

Bud Shank Quartet
Shank - flute
Claude Williamson - piano
Don Prell - bass
Chuck Flores - drums
Forum Theater - 2/56

Art Pepper Quartet
Pepper - alto sax
Pete Jolly - piano
Leroy Vinnegar - bass
Stan Levey - drums
Forum Theater - 10/56

Chet Baker Sextet
Baker - trumpet
Art Pepper - alto
Richie Kamuca - tenor
Pete Jolly - piano
Leroy Vinnegar - drums
Stan Levey - drums
Forum Theater - 10/56 (and recorded at the same session as the one above)

Russ Freeman - Chet Baker Quartet
Freeman - piano
Baker - trumpet
Leroy Vinnegar - bass
Shelley Manne - drums
Radio Recorders - 11/56

Bud Shank - Bob Cooper Quintet
Shank - flute
Cooper - oboe
Howard Roberts - guitar
Don Prell - bass
Chuck Flores - drums
Capitol Studios - 12/56

Jim Hall Trio
Hall - guitar
Carl Perkins - piano
Red Mitchell - bass
Radio Recorders - 1/57

Phil Urso - Bob Burgess Quintet
Urso - tenor sax
Burgess - trombone
Bobby Timmons - piano
Jimmy Bond - bass
Peter Littman - drums
Radio Recorders - 10/56

Russ Freeman - Bill Perkins Quintet
Freeman - piano
Perkins - tenor sax
Bud Shank - alto sax
Carson Smith - bass
Shelley Manne - drums
Music Box Theater - LA - 2/56

Jazztone Society J1274

Shorty Rogers - Martians Come Back

No one, especially Shorty Rogers took this seriously, especially with that cover, and the song titles, please!

But still Rogers had a knack for pulling together a bunch of guys and playing these wonderful west coast arrangements that obviously danced around in his head.

Sometimes music is just about having fun. I have always thought this is a perfect example of that.

Big and swinging, small and swinging, it doesn't matter. It all swings in a very irreverent manner. This is a record will likely have to be sold in my estate sale, whatever that may be.

And who the hell thinks they will be taken seriously with that cover??

Shorty Rogers and His Giants
Martians Come Back

1. Martians Come Back
2. Astral Alley+
3. Lotus Bud
4. Dickie's Dream
5. Papouche
6. Serenade In Sweets
7. Planetarium
8. Chant Of The Cosmos

Shorty Rogers - trumpet, flugelhorn
Harry Edison, Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist - trumpet
Bud Shank - alto sax
Jimmy Guiffre - clarinet, tenor sax
Bob Enevoldsen - trombone
John Grass - french horn
Paul Sarmento - tuba
Earl Grey - piano
Lou Levy - piano
Ralph Pena - bass
Shelly Manne - drums



Atlantic 1232

ripped from original vinyl in glorious mono

Bud Shank - Bossa Nova Jazz Samba

For the first post of the new year, I offer this, one of those jazz lps when everyone was so fascinated with the South American thing.
I know this sort of thing reaches a limited audience. Sorta like reggae - ya really have to be in the mood for it. And there are so many bad versions out there that it is near impossible to sift through the chaff. Fortunately I do it for you.
With the weather dipping into the teens this week, I thought a little something that reminds me of sunshine was in order.

Bud Shank and Clare Fischer
Bossa Nova Jazz Samba

1. Samba da Borboleta
2. Illusao
3. Pensativa
4. Joao
5. Misty
6. Que Mais?
7. Wistful Samba
8. Samba Guapo

Bud Shank - alto sax
Clare Fischer - piano
Ralph Pena - bass

percussionists -
Larry Bunker, Bob Neel
Milt Holland, Frank Guerrero

1962

PJ-58

Just for the record - you are not getting the fancy stereo version but rather the one in glorious mono.

Showcase For Modern Jazz

Here's one that I surprisingly have no recollection of where I picked it up.

A reissue, this has one track that was not on the original release, Lady Like. I'll take it... a John Graas tune featuring perennial favorite Art Pepper.

Pepper features prominently on several tunes as well as other West Coasters as indicated in the lp's subtitle. As far as Lucraft goes, I know very little other than the purple prose of the liner notes but he seems to be relegated to a footnote in jazz history, (much like the very blog you are reading if I were to reach such dizzying heights.)

Do not be fooled, these are inspired tracks. I'm betting that if I had been more than a glimmer in my mama's eye at the time I would have been floored by this new "West Coast" thing.

I don't know how this dude assembled this cast for this session but he deserves to be showered with love.

Showcase For Modern Jazz
Featuring Outstanding west Coast Jazz Men - directed by Howard Lucraft

1. Blue Moon
2. I'll Never Say 'Never Again' Again
3. California Zephyr (Howard Lucraft)
4. I May Be Wrong
5. Larissa (Howard Lucraft)
6. Lady Like (John Grass)
   
7. Midnight Sun (Sonny Burke, Lionel Hampton)
8. Smog a la Mode (Howard Lucraft)
9. Jazz for Gene (Howard Lucraft)
10. Two Part Contention (Dave Brubeck)

Personnel:

• Bud Shank – flute (1,8), alto saxophone (4,8)
• Buddy Collette – clarinet (1), baritone saxophone (4,8)
• Conte Candoli – trumpet (2,5,9)
• Stu Williamson – trumpet (2,5,9)
• Frank Rosolino – trombone (2,5,9)
• Charlie Mariano – tenor & alto saxophones (2,5,9), baritone saxophone (5,9)
• Bob Cooper – oboe (3,7), tenor saxophone (3,6,7,10)
• Art Pepper – alto saxophone (3,6,7,10), tenor saxophone (7)
• Pete Jolly – piano (2,9), accordion (2,5,9)
• Claude Williamson – piano (3,6,7,9)
• John Doe – guitar (1,4,8)
• Howard Lucraft – guitar (5,9)
• Red Mitchell – bass (1,4,7)
• Leroy Vinegar – bass (2,5,9)
• Monty Budwig – bass (3,6,7,9)
• Mel Lewis – drums (1,4,8)
• Shelly Manne – drums (2,5,9)
• Stan Levey – drums (3,6,7,10)

Recorded June 8, 1957 in Los Angeles, California, USA

Decca DL 8679 (WEA 1986 vinyl reissue)