Tag Archives: December 1959

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 October 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

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

Philly Joe Jones: Showcase

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In December 1959, “Riverside” label released “Showcase”, the third Philly Joe Jones album. It was recorded in November 1959, in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Philly Joe Jones – drums, piano 
  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet 
  • Julian Priester – trombone 
  • Bill Barron – tenor saxophone 
  • Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone 
  • Dolo Coker, Sonny Clark – piano
  • Jimmy Garrison – bass 

Track listing:

All tracks by Philly Joe Jones except where noted.

  1. Battery Blues – Julian Priester
  2. Minor Mode – Bill Barron
  3. Gwen
  4. Joe’s Debut
  5. Gone – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
  6. Joe’s Delight
  7. Julia – Julian Priester
  8. I’ll Never Be The Same – Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck, Frank Signorelli
  9. Interpretation – Bill Barron

Hank Mobley: Peckin’ Time

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In December 1959, “Blue Note” label released “Peckin’ Time”, the 13th Hank Mobley album. It was recorded in February 1959, at “Van gelder Studio” in Hackensack, 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

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

Jimmy Smith: The Sermon!

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In December 1959, “Blue Note” label released “The Sermon!”, the fifteenth Jimmy Smith album. It was recorded August 25, 1957 and  February 25, 1958, at “Manhattan Towers” in New York City, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Jimmy Smith– organ
  • Lee Morgan– trumpet
  • Lou Donaldson– alto saxophone
  • Tina Brooks– tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Burrell– guitar
  • Art Blakey– drums
  • George Coleman– alto saxophone
  • Eddie McFadden– guitar
  • Donald Bailey– drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder– engineer
  • Reid Miles– design
  • Francis Wolff– photography
  • Ira Gitler– liner notes

Track listing:

  1. The Sermon – Jimmy Smith
  2. O.S. – Jimmy Smith
  3. Flamingo – Edmund Anderson, Ted Grouya