Tag Archives: December 1956

James Moody: Flute ‘N The Blues

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

Freddie Green: Mr. Rhythm

In December 1956, “RCA Victor” label released “Mr. Rhythm”, the only Freddie Green album. It was recorded in December 1955, at “Webster Hall” in New York City, and was produced by Jack Lewis.

Personnel:

  • Freddie Green – guitar
  • Al Cohn – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Henry Coker – trombone
  • Nat Pierce – piano
  • Milt Hinton – double bass
  • Osie Johnson – drums
  • Jo Jones – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Freddie Green, except where noted.

  1. Up in the Blues
  2. Down for the Double
  3. Back and Forth
  4. Free and Easy
  5. Learnin’ the Blues – Delores Vicki Silvers
  6. Feed Bag
  7. Something’s Got to Give
  8. Easy Does It – Sy Oliver, Trummy Young
  9. Little Red
  10. Swinging Back
  11. A day with Ray
  12. When You Wish Upon a Star – Leigh Harline, Ned Washington

Mel Tormé: Mel Tormé Sings Fred Astaire

In December 1956, “Bethlehem” label released “Mel Tormé Sings Fred Astaire”, the fourth Mel Tormé album.

Personnel:

  • Mel Tormé – vocals
  • Marty Paich – arrangements, conductor
  • Herb Geller – alto saxophone
  • Jack Montrose – tenor saxophone
  • Jack DuLong – baritone saxophone
  • Pete Candoli – trumpet
  • Don Fagerquist – trumpet
  • Bob Enevoldsen – valve trombone
  • Vince DeRosa – French horn
  • Albert Pollan – tuba
  • Max Bennett – bass
  • Alvin Stoller – drums

Track listing:

  1. Nice Work If You Can Get It – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  2. Something’s Gotta Give – Johnny Mercer
  3. A Foggy Day – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  4. A Fine Romance – Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern
  5. Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  6. Top Hat, White Tie and Tails – Irving Berlin
  7. The Way You Look Tonight – Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern
  8. The Piccolino – Irving Berlin
  9. They Can’t Take That Away from Me – Geirge Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  10. Cheek to Cheek – Irving Berlin
  11. Let’s Face the Music and Dance – Irving Berlin
  12. They All Laughed – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin

Illimois Jacquet: Swing’s The Thing

In December 1956, “Clef” label released “Swing’s the Thing”, the twelve Illinois Jacquet album. It was recorded in October 1956, at “Radio Recorders” in Hollywood, and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Illinois Jacquet – tenor saxophone
  • Roy Eldridge – trumpet
  • Jimmy Jones – piano
  • Herb Ellis – guitar
  • Ray Brown – bass
  • Jo Jones – drums
  • Phil Stern – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Las Vegas Blues – Roy Eldridge
  2. Harlem Nocturne – Earle Hagen, Dick Rodgers
  3. Can’t We Be Friends? – Paul James, Kay Swift
  4. Achtung – Illinois Jacquet
  5. Have You Met Miss Jones? – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  6. Lullaby of the Leaves – Bernice Petkere, Joe Young

Miles Davis: Collectors Items

In December 1956, “Prestige” label released “Collectors’ Items”, the 20th Miles Davis album. It was recorded in January 1953, at “WOR Studios” in New York City, March 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Ira Gitler and Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

January 1953 session:

  • Miles Davis – trumpet
  • Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
  • Charlie Parker (as Charlie Chan) – tenor saxophone
  • Walter Bishop Jr. – piano
  • Percy Heath – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums

March 1956 session:

  • Miles Davis – trumpet
  • Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
  • Tommy Flanagan – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Art Taylor – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Miles Davis, except where noted.

  1. The Serpent’s Tooth (Take 1)
  2. The Serpent’s Tooth (Take 2)
  3. Round About Midnight – Thelonious Monk
  4. Compulsion
  5. No Line
  6. Vierd Blues
  7. In Your Own Sweet Way – Dave Brubeck

Lee Morgan: Introducing Lee Morgan

In December 1956, “Savoy” label released “Introducing Lee Morgan”, the second Lee Morgan album. It was recorded in November 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Ozzie Cadena.

Personnel:

  • Lee Morgan – trumpet
  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Doug Watkins – bass
  • Art Taylor – drums
  • Rudy van Gelder – recording, lacquer cut
  • H. Alan Stein – liner notes
  • Ozzie Cadena – supervision

Track listing:

  1. Hank’s Shout – Hank Mobley
  2. Nostalgia – Fats Navarro
  3. Bet – Doug Watkins
  4. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise – Oscar Hammerstein, Sigmund Romberg
  5. P.S. I Love You – Gordon Jenkins, Johnny Mercer
  6. Easy Living – Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin
  7. That’s All – Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes

Trigger Alpert: Trigger Happy

In December 1956, “Riverside” label released “Trigger Happy!” the only Trigger Alpert album. It was recorded October – November 1956, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Trigger Alpert – bass
  • Zoot Sims – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Al Cohn – tenor and baritone saxophone
  • Joe Wilder – trumpet
  • Urbie Green – trombone
  • Tony Scott – clarinet, tenor saxophone, arrangements
  • Ed Shaughnessy – drums
  • Dick Hyman, Marty Paich – arrangements
  • Jack Higgins – recording

Track listing:

  1. Treat Me Rough – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  2. Looking at You – Cole Porter
  3. Love Me Tomorrow (But Leave Me Alone Today) – Vernon Duke, John La Touche
  4. Trigger Happy – Tony Scott
  5. Tranquilizer – Dick Hyman
  6. I Like the Likes of You – Vernon Duke, Yip Harburg
  7. I Wish I Were in Love Again – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  8. I Don’t Want to Be Alone Again – Johnny Mercer, Jimmie Smith
  9. Trigger Fantasy – Trigger Alpert
  10. Where’s That Rainbow? – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

Paul Chambers: Whims of Chambers

In December 1956, “Blue Note” label released “Whims of Chambers”, the second  Paul Chambers album. It was recorded on September 21, 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, NJ, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Paul Chambers- bass
  • Donald Byrd- trumpet
  • John Coltrane- tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Burrell- guitar
  • Horace Silver- piano
  • Philly Joe Jones- drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Chambers, except where noted.

  1. Omicron – Donald Byrd
  2. Whims of Chambers
  3. Nita – John Coltrane
  4. We Six – Donald Byrd
  5. Dear Ann
  6. Tale of the Fingers
  7. Just for the Love – John Coltrane