Tag Archives: Alfred Lion

Johnny Griffin: Introducing Johnny Griffin

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In February 1957, “Blue Note” label released “Introducing Johnny Griffin”, the debut Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in April 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin – tenor sax
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Curly Russell – bass
  • Max Roach – drums

Track listing:

  1. Mil Dew – Johnny Griffin
  2. Chicago Calling – Johnny Griffin
  3. These Foolish Things – Harry Link, Holt Marvell, John Strachey
  4. The Boy Next Door – Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
  5. Nice and Easy – Johnny Griffin
  6. It’s All Right with Me – Cole Porter
  7. Lover Man – Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, Jimmy Sherman

Jackie McLean: Bluesnik

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In February 1962, “Blue Note” label released “Bluesnik”, the 21st Jackie McLean album. It was recorded in January 1961, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • Doug Watkins – bass
  • Pete La Roca – drums
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Jackie McLean, except where noted.

  1. Bluesnik
  2. Goin’ ‘Way Blues
  3. Drew’s Blues – Kenny Drew
  4. Cool Green – Kenny Drew
  5. Blues Function – Freddie Hubbard
  6. Torchin’ – Kenny Drew

Jackie McLean: New and Old Gospel

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In January 1968, “Blue Note” label released “New and Old Gospel”, the 36th Jackie McLean album. It was recorded in March 1967, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
  • Ornette Coleman – trumpet
  • LaMont Johnson – piano
  • Scotty Holt – bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums

Track listing:

  1. Lifeline Medley: Offering/Midway / Vernzone / The Inevitable End – Jackie McLean
  2. Old Gospel – Ornette Coleman
  3. Strange as It Seems – Ornette Coleman

Pete La Roca: Basra

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In October 1965, “Blue Note” label release “Basra”, the debut Pete La Roca album. It was recorded in May 1965, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Pete La Roca – drums
  • Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone
  • Steve Kuhn – piano
  • Steve Swallow – bass
  • Rudy van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Ira Gitler – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Pete La Roca except where noted.

  1. Malagueña – Ernesto Lecuona
  2. Candu
  3. Tears Come from Heaven
  4. Basra
  5. Lazy Afternoon – John La Touche, Jerome Moross
  6. Eiderdown – Steve Swallow

Herbie Hancock: Takin’ Off

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In October 1962, “Blue Note” label released “Takin’ Off”, the debut Herbie Hancock album. It was recorded in May 1962, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Herbie Hancock – piano
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Dexter Gordon – tenor saxophone
  • Butch Warren – double bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Herbie Hancock.

  1. Watermelon Man
  2. Three Bags Full
  3. Empty Pockets
  4. The Maze
  5. Driftin’
  6. Alone and I

Larry Young: Unity

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In August 1966, “Blue Note” label released “Unity”, the fifth Larry Young album. It was recorded in November 1965, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Larry Young – Hammond B-3 organ
  • Woody Shaw – trumpet
  • Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone
  • Elvin Jones – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Zoltan – Woody Shaw
  2. Monk’s Dream – Thelonious Monk
  3. If – Joe Henderson
  4. The Moontrane – Woody Shaw
  5. Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
  6. Beyond All Limits – Woody Shaw

Wayne Shorter: JuJu

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In July 1965, “Blue Note” label released “JuJu”, the fifth Wayne Shorter album. It was recorded in August 1964, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, in New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Wayne Shorter – tenor saxophone
  • McCoy Tyner – piano
  • Reggie Workman – bass
  • Elvin Jones – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Wayne Shorter.

  1. JuJu
  2. Deluge
  3. House of Jade
  4. Mahjong
  5. Yes or No
  6. Twelve More Bars to Go

The Horace Silver Quintet: Serenade to Soul Sister

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In June 1968, “Blue Note” label released “Serenade to a Soul Sister”, the 16th Horace Silver album (credited to The Horace Silver Quintet). It was recorded February – March 1968, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Horace Silver – piano
  • Bennie Maupin – tenor saxophone
  • Stanley Turrentine – tenor saxophone
  • Charles Tolliver – trumpet
  • Bob Cranshaw – bass, electric bass
  • John Williams – bass
  • Mickey Roker – drums
  • Billy Cobham – drums, photography
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Horace Silver.

  1. Psychedelic Sally
  2. Serenade to a Soul Sister
  3. Rain Dance
  4. Jungle Juice
  5. Kindred Spirits
  6. Next Time I Fall in Love

Sonny Clark: Sonny Clark Trio

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In May 1958, “Blue Note” label released “Sonny Clark Trio”, the fourth Sonny Clark album. It was recorded in October 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Sonny Clark – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography

Track listing:

  1. Be-Bop – Dizzy Gillespie
  2. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  3. Two Bass Hit – Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis
  4. Tadd’s Delight – Tadd Dameron
  5. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
  6. I’ll Remember April – Gene DePaul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye

Jimmy Smith: Plain Talk

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In April 1968, “Blue Note” label released “Plain Talk”, the 47th Jimmy Smith album. It was recorded in March 1960, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Jimmy Smith – organ
  • Quentin Warren – guitar
  • Donald Bailey – drums
  • Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
  • Ike Quebec – tenor saxophone
  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Photomedia – photography
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listings:

  1. Big Fat Mama – Lucky Millinder, Stafford Simon
  2. My One and Only Love – Robert Melvin, Guy Wood
  3. Plain Talk – Jimmy Smith
  4. Time After Time – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne