I love precious jazz guitarists who place a premium on harmony, swing and compelling chords. One of the best in this category was Joe Puma. In the 1950s, Puma was a session sideman on many recordings and led his own groups. He recorded into the 1990s and died in 2000 at age 72.
One of his finest early albums was Joe Puma Quintet: East Coast Jazz/3, which was part of a series produced by Creed Taylor for Bethlehem, in November 1954. The lineup consisted of Don Elliott (vib), Joe Puma and Barry Galbraith (g), Vinnie Burke (b) and Ted Sommer (d).
Creed told me he launched the series “to distinguish the new music emerging in New York from the new jazz in Los Angeles and San Francisco." The series featured nine albums in total.
What's particularly notable about this album is the uniting of Puma and Barry Galbraith, who was equally as prolific as Puma in the New York studios and just as tasteful. Puma has all the leads and solos, with Galbraith comping on rhythm.
Here's Joe Puma Quintet: East Coast Jazz/3 without ad interruptions...
One of his finest early albums was Joe Puma Quintet: East Coast Jazz/3, which was part of a series produced by Creed Taylor for Bethlehem, in November 1954. The lineup consisted of Don Elliott (vib), Joe Puma and Barry Galbraith (g), Vinnie Burke (b) and Ted Sommer (d).
Creed told me he launched the series “to distinguish the new music emerging in New York from the new jazz in Los Angeles and San Francisco." The series featured nine albums in total.
What's particularly notable about this album is the uniting of Puma and Barry Galbraith, who was equally as prolific as Puma in the New York studios and just as tasteful. Puma has all the leads and solos, with Galbraith comping on rhythm.
Here's Joe Puma Quintet: East Coast Jazz/3 without ad interruptions...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved.
