Tag Archives: December 1959

Johnny “Hammond” Smith:That Good Feelin’

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In December 1959, “New Jazz Label” released “That Good Feelin’”, the fourth Johnny “Hammond” Smith album. It was recorded in November 1959, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs”, New Jersey, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Johnny “Hammond” Smith – organ
  • Thornel Schwartz – guitar
  • George Tucker – bass
  • Leo Stevens – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks Johnny “Hammond” Smith except where noted.

  1. That Good Feelin’
  2. Bye Bye Blackbird – Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson
  3. Autumn Leaves – Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert
  4. I’ll Remember April – Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye
  5. Billie’s Bounce – Charlie Parker
  6. My Funny Valentine – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  7. Puddin’

Frank Wess: Opus De Blues

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In December 1959, “Savoy” label released “Opus de Blues”, the sixth Frank Wess album. It was recorded in December 1959, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Ozzie Cadena.

Personnel:

  • Frank Wess – flute, tenor saxophone
  • Charlie Fowlkes – baritone saxophone
  • Thad Jones – trumpet
  • Curtis Fuller – trombone
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Eddie Jones – bass
  • Gus Johnson – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Thad Jones, except where noted.

  1. I Hear Ya Talkin’ – Frank Wess
  2. Liz
  3. Boop-Pe-Doop – Curtis Fuller
  4. Opus de Blues
  5. Struttin’ Down Broadway

Blue Mitchell: Blue Soul

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In December 1959, “Riverside” label released “Blue Soul”, the fourth Blue Mitchell studio album. It was recorded in September 1959, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet
  • Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone
  • Curtis Fuller – trombone
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums

Track listing:

 All tracks by Blue Mitchell, except where noted.

  1. Minor Vamp – Benny Golson
  2. The Head
  3. The Way You Look Tonight – Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern
  4. Park Avenue Petite – Benny Golson
  5. Top Shelf – Jimmy Heath
  6. Waverly Street – Jimmy Heath
  7. Blue Soul
  8. Polka Dots and Moonbeams – Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen
  9. Nica’s Dream – Horace Silver

Thelonious Monk: Thelonious Alone In San Francisco

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In December 1959, “Riverside” label released “Thelonious Alone in San Francisco”, the 16th Thelonious Monk album. It was recorded in October 1959, at “Fugazi Hall” in San Francisco, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Thelonious Monk – piano
  • Reice Hamel – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Thelonious Monk, except where noted.

  1. Blue Monk
  2. Ruby, My Dear
  3. Round Lights
  4. Everything Happens to Me – Tom Adair, Matt Dennis
  5. You Took the Words Right Out of My Heart – Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin
  6. Bluehawk
  7. Pannonica
  8. Remember – Irving Berlin
  9. There’s Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie – Jack Meskill, Harry Richman, Pete Wendling
  10. Reflections

Red Garland: Lil’ Darlin’

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In December 1959, “Status” label released “Lil’ Darlin’”, the 16th Red Garland album. It was recorded in October 1959, at “The Prelude Club” in New York City.

Personnel:

  • Red Garland – piano
  • Jimmy Rowser – bass
  • Charles “Specs” Wright – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Don Schlitten – design
  • Esmond Edwards – photography

Track listing:

  1. Li’l Darlin’ – Neal Hefti
  2. We Kiss in a Shadow – Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
  3. Blues in the Closet – Oscar Pettiford
  4. Like Someone in Love – Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen

Art Farmer: The Aztec Suite

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In December 1959, “United Artists” label released “The Aztec Suite”, the twelve Art Farmer album. It was recorded in November 1959, at “Webster Hall” in New York City, and was produced by Jack Lewis.

Personnel:

  • Art Farmer – trumpet 
  • Zoot Sims, Seldon Powell – tenor saxophone
  • Bernie Glow, Nick Travis – trumpet
  • Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak – trombone
  • Jim Buffington – French horn
  • Hank Jones – piano
  • Addison Farmer – bass
  • Charlie Persip – drums
  • José Mangual – percussion
  • Chico O’Farrill – arrangements
  • Harris Lewine – design
  • Ken Braren – design
  • Paul Bacon – design

Track listing:

  1. The Aztec Suite – Chico O’Farrill
  2. Heat Wave – Irving Berlin
  3. Deliro – Felipe Domínguez
  4. Woody ‘N You – Dizzy Gillespie
  5. Drume Negrita – Eliseo Grenet
  6. Alone Together – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz

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

Johnny Griffin: The Little Giant

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In December 1959, “Riverside” label released “The Little Giant”, the seventh Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in August 1959, at “Reeves Sound Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet
  • Julian Priester – trombone
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Sam Jones – bass
  • Albert “Tootie” Heath – drums
  • Jack Higgins – engineer
  • Jack Matthews – mastering
  • Paul Bacon – cover
  • Charles Stewart – cover
  • Lawrence N. Shustak – photography

Track listing:

  1. Olive Refractions – Norman Simmons
  2. The Message – Norman Simmons
  3. Lonely One – Babs Gonzales
  4. 63rd Street Theme – Johnny Griffin
  5. Playmates – Saxie Dowell
  6. Venus and the Moon – Norman Simmons

Hank Mobley: Peckin’ Time

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In December 1959, “Blue Note” label released “Peckin’ Time”, the 14th Hank Mobley album. It was recorded in February 1958, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
  • Lee Morgan – trumpet
  • Wynton Kelly – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Charlie Persip – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Hank Mobley except where noted.

  1. High and Flighty
  2. Speak Low – Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash
  3. Peckin’ Time
  4. Stretchin’ Out
  5. Git-Go Blues

Willie Dixon: Willie’s Blues

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In December 1959, “Prestige Bluesville” label released “Willie’s Blues” the debut is Willie Dixon album. It was recorded in December 1959, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Esmond Edwards.

Personnel:

  • Willie Dixon – vocals, double bass
  • Memphis Slim – piano
  • Gus Johnson – drums
  • Wally Richardson – guitar
  • Al Ashby – tenor saxophone
  • Harold Ashby – tenor saxophone
  • Esmond Edwards – supervisor
  • Dale Wright – liner notes

Track listing:

  • All tracks by Willie Dixon, except where noted.
  • Nervous
  • Good Understanding
  • That’s My Baby
  • Slim’s Thing – Memphis Slim
  • That’s All I Want Baby
  • Don’t You Tell Nobody
  • Youth to You
  • Sittin’ and Cryin’ the Blues
  • Built for Comfort
  • I Got a Razor
  • Go Easy – Memphis Slim
  • Move Me