Backgrounder: Johnny Richards Something Else

One of my very favorite big band albums is Johnny Richards' Something Else. Recorded for Bethlehem in Los Angeles in August 1956, the album features Richards compositions and arrangements and a band that will make West Coast jazz fans gasp.

Waltz Anyone featured Pete Candoli, Buddy Childers and Maynard Ferguson (tp); Stu Williamson (tp,v-tb); Tommy Pederson, Frank Rosolino and Milt Bernhart (tb); John Cave (fhr); Albert Pollan (tu); Charlie Mariano (as); Richie Kamuca (ts); Ronnie Lang (bar,pic); Bill Holman (bassax); Marty Paich (p); Buddy Clark (b); Stan Levey (d); Lou Singer (perc) and Johnny Richards (arr,cond). [Photo above of Johnny Richards]

The rest of the album's tracks are For All We Know, Aijalon, Dimples, Long Ago and Far Away, Band Aid, Turn Aboot and Burrito Borracho. As for the band's personnel, Shorty Rogers (flhrn) was added, and Don Kelly (b-tb) and Vince DeRosa (fhr) replaced Milt Bernhart and John Cave.

The arrangements are fresh and spectacular, and the solos are sterling.

Here's Johnny Richards' Something Else without commercial interruption...