April 2003

When and where was the jazz singer Barbara Morrison born?

Ted:

Female artists are frequently reluctant to list their year of birth, however, Barbara Morrison's official web site (barbaramorrison.com) states that she was born and raised in and around Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Yesi of New York, NY wrote:

I’m looking for the album which contains the song "Everything Happens to Me," with Sonny Stitt on vocals and Dizzy Gillespie on the trumpet. Can you help? Thank you so much.

Yesi:

That particular track was recorded for the Atlantic 2 record set "The Giants of Jazz" recorded in London. I havewn't gotten around to playing my copy to see if he sings, too.

Ramona Collins of Toledo, OH wrote:

Where would I find a comperhensive listing of deceased jazz vocalists and musicians that includes the dates they passed away?

Ramona:

I’m unaware of any such site, though dates of death are posted for many artists with their bios at www.allmusic.com. A number of artists who disappeared from active recording have died without anyone knowing the details, for example, Wilbur Harden.

Roberto Moore of Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. wrote:

I would like to get information on the album by A.K. Salim "A Blues Suite," including the year of release and on which tracks Phil Woods plays alto sax.

Roberto:

I've never heard this disc, though I've read that it isn't too hot, in spite of the presence of Woods, Nat Adderley, and Eddie Costa, among others. It was recorded on Oct. 6, 1958 for Savoy, so it was likely issued on LP the following year. It was reissued in 1991 on CD, but it's currently out of print.

John S. Tomasini wrote:

Erroll Garner, "Concert By The Sea". I have the Columbia LP, CL 883. Is this the original issue? And what is the correct recording date? There is very little info on the album sleeve or the record itself (no track times, recording date, etc. ). I have seen different cover photos, both on lp's and CD, than the one I have. I have seen different references to recording dates (09/09/55, 09/19/55). Can you tell me the actual data?

Zoot Sims/Bob Brookmeyer, "Morning Fun". I have a CD with this title, Black Lion BLCD760914, which is taken from George Wein's Storyville label sessions. Again, as is usual with these type of reissues, there is scant information about the original issues. I would guess that this material was taken from more than one issue. The personnel is: Brookmeyer, Sims, Hank Jones, Bill Crow, Jo Jones. Notes say recorded in Aug 1956. The tunes are: The King/Lullaby Of The leaves/I Can't Get Started/Snake Eyes/Morning Fun/Whooeeeee!/Someone To Watch Over Me & My Old Flame/Box Cars. Can you help me with the original issues and release dates?

John:

According to Lord's Discography, Concert by the Sea was recorded on Sept. 19, 1955, and first issued on Columbia CL883. There are also four unissued songs, which surprisingly never came out on the CD reissue. Maybe next time.

Lord gives Feb, 8, 1956 as the correct date for the Sims-Brookmeyer session, originally issued on George Wein's Storyville label as Whoo-eee. No wonder Black Lion changed the title.

Peter Harpin from Phoenix, AZ wrote:

I have a program from the inaugural Newport Jazz Festival in very good condition with autographs of Gerry Mulligan, Stan Kenton and Eddie Condon. I attended the festival. Any idea what it's worth?

Peter:

I'm sure it has a collectible value but I've got no way to determine it, as I don't know of anyone who deals in such memorabilia. It seems like a longshot that such an item would have appeared on ebay recently. I would think the presence of the three autographs would alone make it worth a minimum of $75-$100, but that may be understating its value considerably. Maybe one of this column's readers can make a recommendation for a source to estimate its worth.

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