Tag Archives: 1956

Nat King Cole And His Trio: After Midnight

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In January 1957, “Capitol” label released “After Midnight”, album by Nat King Cole and His Trio (15th Nat King Cole album overall). It was recorded August – September 1956, at “Capitol” in Hollywood.

Personnel:

  • Nat King Cole – vocals, piano
  • John Collins – guitar
  • Charlie Harris – bass
  • Lee Young – drums
  • Willie Smith – alto saxophone
  • Harry Edison – trumpet
  • Juan Tizol – trombone
  • Stuff Smith – violin
  • Jack Costanzo – bongos

Track listing:

  1. Just You, Just Me – Jesse Greer, Raymond Klages
  2. Sweet Lorraine – Cliff Burwell, Mitchell Parish
  3. Sometimes I’m Happy – Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
  4. Caravan – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Jian Tizol
  5. It’s Only a Paper Moon – Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg, Billy Rose
  6. You’re Looking at Me – Bobby Troup
  7. Lonely One – Lenny Hambro, Roberta Heller
  8. Don’t Let It Go to Your Head – Henry Hadamik, Frank LaVere, Bob Nast
  9. I Know That You Know – Vincent Youmans, Anne Caldwell
  10. Blame It on My Youth – Oscar Levant, Edward Heyman
  11. When I Grow Too Old to Dream – Oscar Hammerstein, Sigmund Romberg
  12. (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 – Bobby Troup

James Moody: Flute ‘N The Blues

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In December 1956, “Argo” label released “Flute ‘n the Blues”, the ninth James Moody album. It was recorded in November 1956, in Chicago, and was produced by Dave usher.

Personnel:

  • James Moody – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute
  • Eddie Jefferson – vocals
  • Pee Wee Moore – baritone saxophone
  • Johnny Coles – trumpet
  • William Shepherd – trombone
  • Jimmy Boyd – piano, peck horn
  • John Latham – bass
  • Clarence Johnston – drums

Track listing:

  1. Flute ‘n the Blues – Harold Newboldt, James Moody, Arthur Boyd
  2. Birdland Story – Eddie Jefferson, James Moody
  3. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  4. I Cover the Waterfront – Edward Heyman, Johnny Green
  5. Body and Soul – Edward Heyman, Johnny Green, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton
  6. Breaking the Blues – John Adriano Acea
  7. Parker’s Mood – Charlie Parker
  8. Easy Living – Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger
  9. Boo’s Tune – Florence Pleasant
  10. Richard’s Blues – Moody, Newboldt

Lee Konitz: Inside Hi-Fi

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In November 1956, “Atlantic” label released “Inside Hi-Fi”, the eleventh Lee Konitz album. It was recorded September – October 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun.

Personnel:

  • Lee Konitz – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Billy Bauer – guitar
  • Sal Mosca – piano
  • Peter Ind – bass
  • Arnold Fishkin – bass
  • Dick Scott (Tox Drohar) – drums

Track listing

  1. Kary’s Trance – Lee Konitz
  2. Everything Happens to Me – Matt Dennis, Tom Adair
  3. Sweet and Lovely – Gus Arnheim, Jules LeMare, Harry Tobias
  4. Cork ‘n’ Bib – Lee Konitz
  5. All of Me – Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons
  6. Star Eyes – Gene de Paul, Don Raye
  7. Nesuhi’s Instant – Peter Ind
  8. Indiana – James F. Hanley, Ballard MacDonald

Harry Edison And His Orchestra: Sweets

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In November 1956, “Clef” label released “Sweets”, album by Harry Edison and His Orchestra (the third Harry Edison album overall). It was recorded in September 1956, is Los Angeles, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Harry Edison – trumpet
  • Ben Webster – tenor saxophone
  • Jimmy Rowles – piano
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Joe Mondragon – bass
  • Alvin Stoller – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Harry Edison except where noted.

  1. Hollering at the Watkins
  2. Used to Be Basie
  3. How Deep Is the Ocean? – Irving Berlin
  4. Studio Call
  5. Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronell
  6. Opus 711
  7. Love Is Here to Stay – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  8. K.M. Blues
  9. Walkin’ with Sweets

Joe Newman’s Septet: The Midgets

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In 1956, “RCA” label released “The Midgets”, album by Joe Newman’s Septet (the ninth Joe Newman album overall). It was recorded in July 1956, at “Webstar Hall” in New York City, and was produced by Jack Lewis.

Personnel:

  • Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Frank Wess – flute
  • Hank Jones – piano, organ
  • Barry Galbraith – electric guitar
  • Freddie Green – rhythm guitar
  • Eddie Jones – bass
  • Osie Johnson – drums
  • Ernie Wilkins – arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Ernie Wilkins, except where noted.

  1. The Midgets – Joe Newman
  2. The Late, Late Show – Roy Alfred, Murray Berlin
  3. Really? Healy!
  4. One Lamper
  5. She Has Red Hair
  6. Valerie
  7. No Moon at All – Redd Evans, Dave Mann
  8. Indeed the Blues
  9. Living Dangerously
  10. Scooter
  11. My Dog Friday

Jimmy Smith: Jimmy Smith At The Organ

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In July 1956, “Blue Note” label released “Jimmy Smith at the Organ”, the third Jimmy Smith album. It was recorded in June 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Jimmy Smith – organ
  • Thornel Schwartz – guitar
  • Donald Bailey – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording, mastering
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Jimmy Smith, except where noted.

  1. Judo Mambo
  2. Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronell
  3. Lover, Come Back to Me – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
  4. Well, You Needn’t – Thelonious Monk
  5. Fiddlin’ the Minors
  6. Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert
  7. I Cover the Waterfront – Johnny Green, Edward Heyman

Phil Woods Septet: Pairing Off

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In July 1956, “Prestige” label released “Pairing Off”, album by Phil Woods Septet (the third Phil Woods album overall). It was recorded in June 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

  • Phil Woods – alto saxophone
  • Gene Quill – alto saxophone
  • Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham – trumpet
  • Tommy Flanagan – piano
  • Doug Watkins – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Phil Woods, except where noted.

  1. The Stanley Stomper
  2. Cool Aid
  3. Pairing Off
  4. Suddenly It’s Spring – Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen

Rosemary Clooney: Blue Rose

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On May 21, 1956, “Columbia” label released “Blue Rose”, the debut Rosemary Clooney studio album. It was recorded January – February 1956, and was produced by Irwing Townsend.

Personnel:

  • Rosemary Clooney – vocals
  • Duke Ellington – piano
  • Billy Strayhorn – arranger, conductor
  • Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone
  • Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry – trumpets
  • Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombones
  • John Sanders – valve trombone
  • Jimmy Woode – bass
  • Sam Woodyard – drums

Track listing:

  1. Hey Baby – Duke Ellington
  2. Sophisticated Lady – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
  3. Me and You – Duke Ellington
  4. Passion Flower – Billy Strayhorn, Milton Raskin
  5. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, John Redmond
  6. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  7. Grievin’ – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  8. Blue Rose – Duke Ellington
  9. I’m Checkin’ Out – Goombye – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  10. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) – Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
  11. Mood Indigo – Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard, Irving Mills

Hampton Hawes: This Is Hampton Hawes

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In May 1956, “Contemporary” label released “This Is Hampton Hawes”, the second Hampton Hawes label. It was recorded June – December 1955, January 1956, at “Los Angeles Police Academy” in Chavez Ravine, “Contemporary’s Studio” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Lester Koenig.

Personnel:

  • Hampton Hawes – piano
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Chuck Thompson – drums

Track listing:

  1. You and the Night and the Music – Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
  2. Stella by Starlight – Victor Young, Ned Washington
  3. Blues for Jacque – Hampton Hawes
  4. Yesterdays – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
  5. Steeplechase – Charlie Parker
  6. ‘Round About Midnight – Thelonious Monk
  7. Just Squeeze Me – Duke Ellington
  8. Autumn in New York – Vernon Duke
  9. Section Blues – Red Mitchell, Chuck Thompson

Randy Weston Trio: With These Hands…

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In May 1956, “Riverside” label released “With These Hands…”, the fourth Randy Weston album. It was recorded in March 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bill Grauer and Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Randy Weston – piano
  • Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone 
  • Ahmed Abdul-Malik – bass
  • Wilbert Hogan – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Weston, except where noted.

  1. The Man I Love – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  2. Serenade in Blue – Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
  3. I Can’t Get Started – Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin
  4. This Can’t Be Love – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  5. These Foolish Things – Harry Link, Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey
  6. Lifetime
  7. Do Nothing till You Hear from Me – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  8. Little Niles