Tag Archives: Billy Byers

The Mothers: The Grand Wazoo

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On November 27, 1972, “Bizarre” and “Reprise” label released “The Grand Wazoo”, the eleventh Mothers (The) album. It was recorded April – May 1972, at “Paramount Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Frank Zappa.

Personnel:

  • Frank Zappa – vocals, guitar, percussion, arrangements, art direction
  • Tony Duran – guitar, rhythm guitar
  • George Duke – vocals, keyboards
  • Don Preston – Mini Moog
  • Erroneous (Alex Dmochowski) – bass
  • Aynsley Dunbar – drums
  • Bob Zimmitti – percussion
  • Alan Estes – percussion
  • Lee Clement – gong
  • Mike Altschul – woodwind
  • Joel Peskins – woodwind
  • Joanna Caldwell – woodwind
  • Johnny Rotella – woodwind
  • Earl Dumler – woodwind
  • Fred Jackson – woodwind
  • Tony “Bat Man” Ortega – woodwind
  • Ernie Watts – C Melody Saxophone
  • Sal Marquez – vocals, trumpet , brass
  • Ken Shroyer – trombones
  • Billy Byers – trombone
  • Malcolm McNab – brass
  • Ken Shroyer – brass
  • Ernie Tack – brass
  • Sal Marquez – brass
  • Janet Neville-Ferguson – vocals
  •  “Chunky” (Lauren Wood) – vocals
  • Kerry McNabb – engineer
  • Cal Schenkel – cover illustration
  • Ed Caraeff, Tony Esparza, Barry Feinstein – photography
  • Paul Hof – special assistance, contractor
  • Kenny Shroyer – spiritual advisor

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa.

  1. For Calvin (And His Next Two Hitch-Hikers)
  2. The Grand Wazoo
  3. Cletus Awreetus – Awrightus
  4. Eat That Question
  5. Blessed Relief

Oliver Nelson: Afro/American Sketches

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In February 1962, “Prestige” label released “Afro/American Sketches”, the ninth Oliver Nelson album. It was recorded September – November 1961, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Personnel:

  • Oliver Nelson – arranger, alto and tenor saxophone, liner notes
  • Eric Dixon – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Bob Ashton – tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
  • Joe Newman, Clyde Reasinger, Jerry Kail, Ernie Royal, Joe Wilder – trumpet
  • Billy Byers, Paul Faulise, Urbie Green, Britt Woodman, Melba Liston – trombone
  • Ray Alonge, Jim Buffington, Julius Watkins – French horn
  • Don Butterfield – tuba
  • Peter Makas, Charles McCracken – violoncello
  • Patti Bown – piano
  • Art Davis – bass
  • Ed Shaughnessy – drums
  • Ray Barretto – congas, bongos
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording, lacquer cut
  • Edmond Edwards – supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by Oliver Nelson.

  1. Message
  2. Jungleaire
  3. Emancipation Blues
  4. There’s a Yearnin’
  5. Going Up North
  6. Disillusioned
  7. Freedom Dance

Quincy Jones: Quintessence

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In February 1962, “Impulse!” label released “The Quintessence”, album by Quincy Jones and his Orchestra album (the eleventh Quincy Jones album overall). It was recorded November – December 1961, at “Capitol Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Phil Woods, Oliver Nelson, Eric Dixon, Frank Wess, Jerome Richardson – saxophone
  • Ernie Royal, Snooky Young, Freddie Hubbard, Al Derisi, Snooky Young, Joe Newman, Thad Jones, Jerome Kail, Clyde Reasinger, Clark Terry – trumpet
  • Billy Byers, Curtis Fuller, Thomas Mitchell, Melba Liston, Billy Byers, Paul Faulise, Rodney Levitt – trombone
  • Julius Watkins, James Buffington, Earl Chapin, Ray Alonge – French horn
  • Harvey Phillips – tuba
  • Gloria Agostini – harp
  • Patricia Bown – piano
  • Bobby Scott – piano
  • George Catlett – bass
  • Milt Hinton – bass
  • James Johnson – drums
  • Bill English – drums
  • Stu Martin – drums
  • Frank Abbey – engineer
  • Bob Arnold – engineer
  • Robert Flynn – design
  • Pete Turner – cover photography
  • Jack Bradley – liner photography
  • Lena Horn – liner notes
  • Lennie Hayton – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. The Quintessence – Quincy Jones
  2. Robot Portrait – Billy Byers
  3. Little Karen – Benny Golson
  4. Straight, No Chaser – Thelonious Monk
  5. For Lena and Lennie – Quincy Jones
  6. Hard Sock Dance – Quincy Jones
  7. Invitation – Bronisław Kaper, Paul Francis Webster
  8. The Twitch – Billy Byers

Hal McKusick: Triple Exposure

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In December 1957, “Prestige” label released “Triple Exposure”, the sixth Hal McKusick album. It was recorded in December 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” ini Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

  • Hal McKusick – alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Billy Byers – trombone
  • Eddie Costa – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Charlie Persip – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording

Track listing:

 All tracks by Hal McKusick, where noted.

  1. Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week) – Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
  2. Something New – Albert Gamse, Ricardo López Méndez
  3. Blues Half-Smiling
  4. A Touch of Spring
  5. The Settlers and the Indians – Robert Scott
  6. I’m Glad There Is You – Jimmy Dorsey, Paul Madeira

Bob Brookmeyer: Gloomy Sunday And Other Bright Moments

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In December 1961, “Verve” label released “Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments”, the 19th Bob Brookmeyer album. It was recorded in November 1961, in New York City, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone, arrangements
  • Eddie Caine – alto saxophone, flute
  • Phil Woods – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Gene Quill, Eddie Wasserman – alto saxophone
  • Phil Bodner – tenor saxophone, oboe, English horn
  • Al Cohn – tenor saxophone
  • Gene Allen – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Bernie Glow, Joe Newman, Doc Severinsen, Clark Terry, Nick Travis – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre, Billy Byers, Bill Elton, Alan Raph – trombone
  • Wally Kane – bassoon
  • Eddie Costa – vibraphone, percussion
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Mel Lewis – drums
  • Ralph Burns, Al Cohn, Gary McFarland, Eddie Sauter – arrangements
  • Olga Albizu – cover painting
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Caravan – Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  2. Why Are You Blue – Gary McFarland
  3. Some of My Best Friends – Al Cohn
  4. Gloomy Sunday – Rezső Seress
  5. Ho Hum – Bob Brookmeyer
  6. Detour Ahead – Herb Ellis, Johnny Frigo, Lou Carter
  7. Days Gone By; Oh My! – Gary McFarland
  8. Where, Oh Where – Cole Porter

Lee Konitz: You And Lee

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In December 1959, “Verve” label released “You and Lee”, the 18th Lee Konitz album. It was recorded in October 1959, in New York City.

Personnel:

  • Lee Konitz – alto saxophone
  • Marky Markowitz – trumpet
  • Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Phil Sunkel – trumpet
  • Eddie Bert – trombone
  • Billy Byers – trombone
  • Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone
  • Bill Evans – piano 
  • Jim Hall – guitar
  • Sonny Dallas – bass
  • Roy Haynes – drums
  • Jimmy Giuffre – arranger, conductor
  • Merrie Shore – art direction
  • George Jerman – cover photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Everything I’ve Got (Belongs to You) – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  2. You Don’t Know What Love Is – Gene de Paul, Don Raye
  3. You’re Driving Me Crazy – Walter Donaldson
  4. I Didn’t Know About You – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  5. (You’re Clear) Out of This World – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  6. The More I See You – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
  7. You Are Too Beautiful – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  8. I’m Getting Sentimental Over You – George Bassman, Ned Washington

Al Jarreau: Breakin’ Away

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On June 30, 1981, “Warner Bros” label released “Breakin’ Away”, the fifth Al Jarreau album. It was recorded in 1981, at “Dawnbreaker Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Jay Graydon. The album was certified Platinum in US by the RIAA.

Personnel:

  • Al Jarreau – lead and backing vocals, vocals and rhythm arrangements
  • Steve Lukather – electric guitar
  • Dean Parks – electric guitar
  • Jay Graydon – electric guitar, synthesizer programming, vocals and rhythm arrangements
  • George Duke – Fender Rhodes
  • Milcho Leviev – acoustic piano, rhythm arrangements
  • Tom Canning – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, vocals and rhythm arrangements
  • David Foster – acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, string arrangements
  • Michael Omartian – synthesizers, Fender Rhodes
  • Michael Boddicker – synthesizers, synthesizer programming
  • J. Peter Robinson – synthesizers
  • Larry Williams – synthesizer solo
  • Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass guitar
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Jeff Porcaro – drums
  • Bob Zimmitti – percussion
  • Lon Price – alto saxophone
  • Tom Scott – horns
  • Bill Reichenbach Jr. – trombone
  • Jerry Hey – flugelhorn, trumpet, horn arrangements
  • Chuck Findley – trumpet
  • Richard Page – backing vocals
  • Steve George – backing vocals
  • Bill Champlin – backing vocals
  • Billy Byers – string arrangements
  • Frank DeCaro – album music contractor and string contractor
  • Joe Bogan – engineer
  • Debbie Thompson – second engineer
  • Mikey Davis, Csaba Petocz – second engineer
  • Larry Brown – recording
  • Humberto Gatica – strings recording
  • Jay Graydon – mixing
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Christine Sauers – art direction, design
  • Susan Jarreau – photography
  • Tom Canning – associate producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Tom Canning, Jay Graydon and Al Jarreau, except where noted.

  1. Closer to Your Love
  2. My Old Friend – Steve George, John Lang, Richard Page
  3. We’re in This Love Together – Roger Murrah, Keith Stegall
  4. Easy
  5. Our Love
  6. Breakin’ Away
  7. Roof Garden
  8. (Round, Round, Round) Blue Rondo a la Turk – Dave Brubeck
  9. Teach Me Tonight – Sammy Cahn, Gene De Paul

Bob Brookmeyer: Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments

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In December 1961, “Verve” label released “Gloomy Sunday and Other Bright Moments”, the 16th Bob Brookmeyer album. It was recorded in November 1961, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone, arranger
  • Bernie Glow, Joe Newman, Doc Severinsen, Clark Terry, Nick Travis – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre, Billy Byers, Bill Elton, Alan Raph – trombone
  • Wally Kane – bassoon
  • Eddie Caine – alto saxophone, flute
  • Phil Woods – alto saxophone, clarinet 
  • Gene Quill, Eddie Wasserman – alto saxophone
  • Phil Bodner – tenor saxophone, oboe, English horn
  • Al Cohn – tenor saxophone
  • Gene Allen – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Eddie Costa – vibraphone, percussion
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Mel Lewis – drums
  • Ralph Burns, Al Cohn, Gary McFarland, Eddie Sauter – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. Caravan – Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  2. Why Are You Blue – Gary McFarland
  3. Some of My Best Friends – Al Cohn
  4. Gloomy Sunday – Rezső Seress
  5. Ho Hum – Bob Brookmeyer
  6. Detour Ahead – Herb Ellis, Johnny Frigo, Lou Carter
  7. Days Gone By; Oh My! – Gary McFarland
  8. Where, Oh Where – Cole Porter

Quincy Jones: The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones

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In December 1959, “Mercury” label released “The Great Wide World of Quincy Jones”, the sixth Quincy Jones album. It was recorded in November 1959, at “Fine Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Qunicy Jones.

Personnel:

  • Quincy Jones – conductor
  • Art Farmer, Lennie Johnson, Jimmy Maxwell, Lee Morgan, Ernie Royal, Nick Travis – trumpet
  • Billy Byers, Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Frank Rehak – trombone
  • Julius Watkins – French horn
  • Porter Kilbert, Phil Woods – alto saxophone
  • Budd Johnson – tenor saxophone
  • Jerome Richardson – tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo
  • Sahib Shihab – baritone saxophone
  • Patti Bown – piano
  • Les Spann – guitar, flute
  • Buddy Jones, Buddy Catlett – bass
  • Don Lamond – drums
  • Ralph Burns, Al Cohn, Bill Potts, Ernie Wilkins – arranger

Track listing:

  1. Lester Leaps In – Lester Young
  2. Ghana – Ernie Wilkins
  3. Caravan – Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  4. Everybody’s Blues – Ernie Wilkins
  5. Cherokee (Indian Love Song) – Ray Noble
  6. Air Mail Special – Benny Goodman, Charlie Christian, Jimmy Mundy
  7. They Say It’s Wonderful – Irving Berlin
  8. Chant of the Weed – Don Redman
  9. I Never Has Seen Snow – Harold Arlen, Truman Capote
  10. Eesom – Bill Potts