Tag Archives: Billy Strayhorn

Johnny Hodges: Johnny Hodges With Billy Strayhorn And The Orchestra

In June 1962, “Verve” label released “Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra”, the 22nd Johnny Hodges album. It was recorded in December 1961, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone
  • Billy Strayhorn – arrangements, conductor
  • Russell Procope – alto saxophone, reeds, clarinet
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, reeds
  • Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone, reeds
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone, reeds, bass clarinet
  • Bill Berry – trumpet
  • Cat Anderson – trumpet
  • Ed Mullens – trumpet
  • Shorty Baker – trumpet
  • Howard McGhee – trumpet
  • Lawrence Brown – trombone
  • Quentin Jackson – trombone
  • Chuck Connors – bass trombone
  • Jimmy Jones – piano
  • Aaron Bell – bass
  • Sam Woodyard – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Stanley Dance – liner notes
  • Charles Stewart – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Get Around Much Any More – Bob Russell, Duke Ellington
  2. I’ve Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good – Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
  3. Gal from Joe’s – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  4. Your Love has Faded – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
  5. I’m Just a Lucky So and So – Duke Ellington, Mack David
  6. Jeep’s Blues – Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
  7. Day Dream – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, John Latouche
  8. Juice-A-Plenty – Johnny Hodges
  9. Azure – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  10. Tailor Made – Ed Mullins, Johnny Hodges
  11. Stardust – Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish

John Hicks: Same

In May 1982, “Theresa” label released the self-titled, fifth John Hicks album. It was recorded in 1982, at “Different Fur Studios” in San Francisco, and was produced by Allen Pittman.

Personnel:

  • John Hicks – piano
  • Bobby Hutcherson – vibraphone
  • Olympia Hicks – piano
  • Walter Booker – bass
  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Mark Needham – recording, mixing
  • John Golden – lacquer cut
  • Paul Arslanian – producer assistant

Track listing:

  1. Pas De Trois (Dance for Three) – Paul Arslanian
  2. Steadfast – John Hicks
  3. For John Chapman – John Hicks
  4. Star-Crossed Lovers – Billy Strayhorn
  5. Littlest One of All – Bobby Hutcherson
  6. After the Morning – John Hicks
  7. That Ole Devil Called Love – Allan Roberts, Doris Fisher
  8. Gypsy Folk Tales – Walter Davis

David “Fathead” Newman: The Blessing

On May 5, 2009, “High Note” label released “The Blessing”, the 38th and the final David “Fathead” Newman studio album. It was recorded in December 2008, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Houston Person and David “Fathead” Newman.

Personnel:

  • David “Fathead” Newman – tenor saxophone, flute
  • David Leonhardt – piano
  • Peter Bernstein – guitar
  • Steve Nelson – vibraphone
  • John Menegon – bass
  • Yoron Israel – drums

Track listing:

  1. SKJ – Milt Jackson
  2. Someone to Watch Over Me – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  3. As Time Goes By – Herman Hupfeld
  4. Manhã de Carnaval – Luiz Bonfá, Antônio Maria
  5. Smile – Charlie Chaplin
  6. Romantic Night – David Leonhardt
  7. Chelsea Bridge – Billy Strayhorn
  8. Whispers of Contentment – David Leonhardt
  9. The Blessing – David “Fathead” Newman

Allen Toussaint: The Bright Mississippi

On April 21, 2009, “Nonesuch” label released “The Bright Mississippi”, the tenth Allen Toussaint album. It was recorded in March 2008, and was produced by Joe Henry. 

Personnel:

  • Allen Toussaint – vocals, piano
  • Marc Ribot – acoustic guitar
  • Brad Mehldau – piano
  • David Piltch – upright bass
  • Jay Bellerose – drums, percussion
  • Joshua Redman – tenor saxophone
  • Nicholas Payton – trumpet
  • Don Byron – clarinet

Track listing:

  1. Egyptian Fantasy – Sidney Bechet, John Reid
  2. Dear Old Southland – Raymond Bloch
  3. St. James Infirmary – traditional
  4. Singin’ the Blues – Con Conrad, J. Russel Robinson
  5. Whinin’ Boy Blues – Jelly Roll Morton
  6. West End Blues – Joe Oliver, Clarence Williams
  7. Blue Drag – Django Reinhardt
  8. Just a Closer Walk with Thee – traditional
  9. Bright Mississippi – Thelonious Monk
  10. Day Dream – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  11. Long, Long Journey – Leonard Feather
  12. Solitude – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Eddie DeLange

Booker Ervin: Structurally Sound

In April 1967, “Pacific Jazz” label released “Structurally Sound”, the 16th Booker Ervin album. It was recorded in December 1966, at “Pacific Jazz Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Richard Bock.

Personnel:

  • Booker Ervin – tenor saxophone
  • Charles Tolliver – trumpet
  • John Hicks – piano
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Lenny McBrowne – drums
  • Dino Lappas – engineer
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Gabor Halmos – design
  • Fred Seligo – photography
  • Leroy Robinson – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Berkshire Blues – Randy Weston
  2. Dancing in the Dark – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
  3. Stolen Moments – Oliver Nelson
  4. Franess – Charles Tolliver
  5. Boo’s Blues – Booker Ervin
  6. You’re My Everything – Harry Warren, Mort Dixon, Joe Young
  7. Deep Night – Charles Henderson, Rudy Vallee
  8. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn

Tommy Flanagan And Jaki Byard: The Magic Of 2

On April 9, 2013, “Resonance” label released “The Magic of 2”, album Tommy Flanagan and Jaki Byard. It was recorded in February 1982, at “Keystone Korner” in San Francisco, and was produced by Todd Barkan and Zev Feldman.

Personnel:

  • Tommy Flanagan – piano
  • Jaki Byard – piano
  • Frank Gala – mastering
  •  Bill Charlap, Dan Morgenstern, Diane Byard, Howard Mandel, Renee Rosnes, Zev Feldman – liner notes
  • George Klabin – executive producer

Track listing:

  1. Introduction by Todd Barkan
  2. Scrapple from the Apple – Charlie Parker
  3. Just One of Those Things – Cole Porter
  4. Satin Doll – Duke Ellington
  5. Something to Live For – Billy Strayhorn
  6. Send One Your Love – Stevie Wonder
  7. Our Delight – Tadd Dameron
  8. All Day Long – Billy Strayhorn
  9. Sunday – Bennie Krueger, Chester Conn, Jule Styne, Ned Miller
  10. Chelsea Bridge – Billy Strayhorn
  11. Land of Make Believe – Chuck Mangione
  12. The Theme – Miles Davis

Gary Burton: Easy As Pie

In March 1981, “ECM” label released “Easy as Pie”, the 32nd Gary Burton album. It was recorded in June 1980, at “Tonstudio Bauer” in Ludwigsburg, Germany, and was produced by Manfred Eicher.

Personnel:

  • Gary Burton – vibraphone
  • Jim Odgren – alto saxophone
  • Steve Swallow – electric bass
  • Mike Hyman – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Chick Corea, except where noted.

  1. Reactionary Tango – Carla Bley
  2. Tweek
  3. Blame It On My Youth – Oscar Levant, Edward Heyman
  4. Summer Band Camp – Mick Goodrick
  5. Isfahan – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
  6. Stardancer

Yusef Lateef: The Sounds of Yusef

In March 1958, “Prestige” label released “The Sounds of Yusef”, the seventh Yusef Lateef album. It was recorded in October 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

  • Yusef Lateef – tenor saxophone, flute, tambourine, argol
  • Wilbur Harden – flugelhorn, balloon
  • Hugh Lawson – piano, Turkish finger cymbals, 7 Up bottle, balloon, bells
  • Ernie Farrow – bass, rabat
  • Oliver Jackson – drums, gong, earth board
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recoding
  • Mark Rice – design
  • Ed Edwards – photography
  • Ira Gitler – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Yusef Lateef, except where noted.

  1. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  2. Playful Flute – Wilbur Harden
  3. Love and Humor
  4. Buckingham
  5. Meditation

Oscar Peterson: Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song Book

In February 1960, “Verve” label released “Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Song”, the 70th Oscar Peterson album. It was recorded July – August 1959, at “Universal” in Chicago, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Oscar Peterson – piano
  • Ray Brown – double bass
  • Ed Thigpen – drums
  • John Altoon – artwork

Track listing:

  1. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – lyrics by Bob Russell, music by Duke Ellington
  2. Sophisticated Lady – lyrics by Mitchell Parish, music by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  3. Rockin’ in Rhythm – music by Duke Ellington, Harry Carney, Irving Mills
  4. Prelude to a Kiss – lyrics by Mack Gordon, Music by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
  5. In a Mellow Tone – lyrics by Milt Gabler, music by Duke Ellington
  6. Cotton Tail – lyrics and music by Duke Ellington
  7. Just A-sittin’ and A-Rockin’ – lyrics by Lee Gaines, music by Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  8. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be – lyrics by Ted Persons, music by Mercer Ellington
  9. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  10. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) – lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, music by Duke Ellington
  11. Do Nothing till You Hear from Me – lyrics by Bob Russell, music by Duke Ellington
  12. John Hardy’s Wife – Mercer Ellington

Rahsaan Roland Kirk And Al Hibbler: A Meeting Of The Times

In December 1972, “Atlantic” label released “A Meeting of the Times”, album by Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Al Hibbler (the 21st Rahsaan Roland Kirk album overtall). It was recorded in March 1972, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Joel Dorn.

Personnel:

  • Rahsaan Roland Kirk – tenor saxophone, manzello, stritch, flute, clarinet, baritone saxophone
  • Al Hibbler – vocals
  • Leon Thomas – vocals
  • Lonnie Liston Smith – piano
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Major Holley – bass
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Grady Tate – drums
  • Charles Crosby – drums
  • Lew Hahn – engineer
  • Phil Lehle – engineer
  • Bob Liftin – remix
  • Bob Alcorn – cover
  • Loring Eutemey – cover
  • Stuart Nicholson – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Rahsaan Roland Kirk, except where noted.

  1. Do Nothing till You Hear from Me – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  2. Daybreak – Duke Ellington, John Latouche, Billy Strayhorn
  3. Lover, Come Back to Me – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
  4. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  5. This Love of Mine – Sol Parker, Henry W. Sanicola, Jr., Frank Sinatra
  6. Carney and Bigard Place – Rahsaan Roland Kirk
  7. I Didn’t Know About You – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  8. Something ‘Bout Believing – Duke Ellington
  9. Dream – Rahsaan Roland Kirk