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Backgrounder: Frank Wess - Trombones + Flute (1956)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
In July 1956, during a brief summer break by the Count Basie band, the trombone section went into Rudy Van Gelder's Hackensack, N.J., studio and, with the addition of trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, recorded five pieces. Two were composed by Basie tenor saxophonist Frank Foster, who arranged by all five. What made the session for Savoy special was that Basie-ite Frank Wess was the lead player on flute on four of the tracks. Added was a superb four-man rhythm section that ...
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Perfection: Jackie Paris - Skylark (1953)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
For me, the finest and most perfect vocal rendition of Hoagy Carmichael's Skylark is by Jackie Paris. Recorded for Coral Records in August 1953, the session was arranged by Neal Hefti. The band featured Billy Taylor (p), George Barnes (g), Sandy Block (b), Eddie Grady (d), Harry Breuer (vib) and 10 strings, with Hefti conducting. It's one of the only versions of the song where you can really hear the wonderment and emotion Carmichael intended when he wrote it. Most ...
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Perfection: The Dorseys - Just Swingin' (1955)
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
In 1954, at the dawn of the 12-inch LP era and hi-fidelity sound, Tommy Dorsey and his brother, Jimmy, joined forces. Billed as the Fabulous Dorseys, the two bands were combined and great songwriters and arrangers were called in to compose for the superband. Both orchestras were enormously elegant, largely because the brothers had spent a lifetime playing and recording hot jazz and swing and had a smart sense of taste. By the 1950s, they had their bands' sounds down ...
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Perfection: Buddy Childers - Sentimental Sam (1955)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Summer always reminds me of Los Angeles and the thick, humid heat. But it's not so much the heat as it is the mood. Because I'm a romantic, when I'm in L.A. in the summer, I always imagine it's 1955. A private detective with his tie loosened and light-colored suit jacket off is sitting in a black Buick Century staking out a tropical-themed, one-story apartment building. That's enough to get me thinking of Hollywood trumpet ballads. Here's one that always ...
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Backgrounder: Clarke/Boland - Latin Kaleidoscope
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
Today, the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band still doesn't get the respect it deserves. Perhaps that's because the band was comprised of American and European musicians, many of whom were little known to record buyers. The band also did much of its touring abroad. But there were other reasons. Most of their records were released on smaller labels that lacked the distribution and promotional dollars of the majors. And not being based in New York at the time wasn't a ...
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Perfection: Bird - Almost Like Being in Love (1952)
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
In March 1952, producer Norman Granz had Charlie Parker record with a big band for his Clef label. He assembled a stunning collection of New York talent: Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Poole, Al Porcino and Bernie Privin (tp); Bill Harris, Lou McGarity and Bart Varsalona (tb); Charlie Parker, Harry Terrill and Murray Williams (as); Flip Phillips and Hank Ross (ts); Danny Bank (bar); Oscar Peterson (p); Freddie Green (g); Ray Brown (b) and Don Lamond (d), with Joe Lippman conducting his ...
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Backgrounder: Count Basie's Sinatra Tribute (1963)
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
In 1963, Count Basie was persuaded by producer Norman Granz to record a tribute album to singer Frank Sinatra. Though Creed Taylor was Verve's executive producer by then, Granz held onto several of his artists, including Basie and Ella Fitzgerald, after the label was sold to MGM. By then, Sinatra and Basie had recorded and released the first of three albums together for Sinatra's Reprise label—Sinatra-Basie: An Historic Musical First (1962), arranged by Neal Hefti. Basie had also recorded This ...
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Concert Video: Frank Sinatra in Tokyo, 1962
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
In 1962, Frank Sinatra went out on a world tour to raise money for underprivileged children. He personally funded the tour, with stops in Mexico, Japan, China, Israel, Greece, England, France, Italy and Monaco. A large chunk of the tour involved performing at benefit concerts and visiting hospitals and orphanage. Accompanying him on stage were Emil Richards on vibes, Al Viola on guitar, Harry Klee on flute and saxophone, Bil Miller on piano, Ralph Peña on bass and Irv Cottler ...
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