Tag Archives: Don Grolnick

The Brecker Brothers: The brecker Bros.

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In September 1975, “Arista” label released “The Brecker Bros.”, the debut Brecker Brothers (The) studio album. It was recorded in January 1975, at “Secret Sound” in New York City, and was produced by Randy Brecker.

Personnel:

  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker – vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Bob Mann – guitars
  • Don Grolnick – keyboards
  • Will Lee – vocals, electric bass
  • Harvey Mason – drums
  • Chris Parker – additional drums 
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Gerald Block – engineer, mixing
  • David Stone – mixing assistant
  • Leanne Ungar – mixing assistant
  • Bob Heimall – art direction
  • Arron Associates – design
  • John Paul Endress – photography
  • Steve Backer – executive produce

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Brecker, except where noted.

  1. Some Skunk Funk
  2. Sponge
  3. A Creature of Many Faces
  4. Twilight
  5. Sneakin’ up Behind You – Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Don Grolnick, Will Lee, David Sanborn
  6. Rocks
  7. Levitate
  8. Oh My Stars
  9. D.B.B.

Michael Brecker: Don’t Try This At Home

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On September 5, 1988, “Impulse!” label released “Don’t Try This at Home”, the second Michael Brecker studio album. It was recorded in 1988, at “The Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Don Grolnick. In 1989, the album won a “Grammy Award” for “Best Improvised Jazz Solo”.

Personnel:

  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone, EWI
  • Don Grolnick – acoustic piano
  • Herbie Hancock – acoustic piano
  • Joey Calderazzo – acoustic piano
  • Judd Miller – synthesizer programming
  • Jim Beard – synthesizers, acoustic piano
  • Mike Stern – guitars 
  • Charlie Haden – acoustic bass
  • Jeff Andrews – fretless electric bass, electric bass
  • Jack DeJohnette – drums
  • Adam Nussbaum – drums
  • Peter Erskine – drums
  • Mark O’Connor – violin
  • James Farber – recording, mixing
  • Gary Solomon – engineer assistant
  • Karen Robben – engineer assistant
  • Greg Calbi – mastering 
  • Kathleen Covert – art direction. design
  • Mark Seliger – photography
  • George Varga – liner notes
  • Tom Gill – piano technician
  • Ricky Schultz – executive producer
  • Jerry Wortman – production assistant
  • Karen Kramer – production coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Itsbynne Reel – Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick
  2. Chime This – Don Grolnick
  3. Scriabin – Vince Mendoza
  4. Suspone – Mike Stern
  5. Don’t Try This at Home – Michael Brecker, Don Grolnick
  6. Everything Happens When You’re Gone – Michael Brecker
  7. Talking to Myself – Don Grolnick
  8. The Gentleman & Hizcaine – Jim Beard

Don Sebesky: The Rape Of El Morro

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In July 1975, “CTI” label released “The Rape of El Morro”, the fourth Don Sebesky album. It was recorded April – May 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Don Sebesky – keyboards, arranger, conductor
  • Joan LaBarbara – vocals
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Wayne Andre, Barry Rogers, Sonny Russo – trombone
  • Tony Studd – bass trombone
  • Ray Beckenstetein – flute, alto flute, piccolo
  • Harvey Estrin, Walt Levinsky, George Marge, Al Regni – flute
  • Joe Beck – guitar
  • Don Grolnick, Roland Hanna, Pat Rebillot – keyboards
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Will Lee – bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • George Devens, Phil Kraus – percussion
  • Harry Cykman, Paul Gershman, Harry Glickman, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Charles Libove, Harry Lookofsky, David Nadien, Matthew Raimondi, David Rose – violin
  • Jean R. Dane, Manny Vardi – viola
  • Seymour Barab, Charles McCracken – cello
  • Bob Ciano, Richard Mantel – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Don Sebesky, except where noted.

  1. The Rape of El Morro
  2. Moon Dreams – John Chalmers MacGregor, Johnny Mercer
  3. Skyliner – Charlie Barnet, Billy Moore Jr.
  4. The Entertainer – Scott Joplin
  5. Footprints of the Giant – based on themes by Béla Bartók, arranged and adapted by Don Sebesky
  6. Lucky Seven

George Benson: Good King Bad

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In June 1976, “CTI” label released “Good King Bad”, the thirteenth George Benson studio album. It was recorded July – October – December 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – vocals, guitar
  • Eric Gale – guitar
  • Don Grolnick – clavinet
  • Bobby Lyle – keyboards
  • Roland Hanna – keyboards
  • Ronnie Foster – keyboards
  • Gary King – bass, rhythm arrangements
  • Andy Newmark – drums
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Dennis Davis – drums
  • Sue Evans – percussion
  • David Friedman – vibraphone
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Frank Vicari – tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone 
  • Randy Brecker – trumpet
  • Fred Wesley – trombone
  • Joe Farrell – flute
  • Romeo Penque – flute
  • David Tofani – flute
  • David Matthews – arrangements
  • Bob James – conductor
  • Max Ellen – violin
  • Paul Gershman – violin
  • Harry Glickman – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Harold Kohon – violin
  • David Nadien – violin
  • John Pintavalle – violin
  • Max Pollikoff – violin
  • Harold Coletta – viola
  • Theodore Israel – viola
  • Charles McCracken – cello
  • Alan Shulman – cello
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Rene Schumacher – design
  • Pete Turner – cover and liner photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Theme from Good King Bad – David Matthews
  2. One Rock Don’t Make No Boulder – David Matthews
  3. Em – Philip Namanworth
  4. Cast Your Fate to the Wind – Vince Guaraldi
  5. Siberian Workout – David Matthews
  6. Shell of a Man – Eugene McDaniels

Carly Simon: Come Upstairs

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On June 16, 1980, “Warner Bros” label released “Come Upstairs”, the ninth Carly Simon studio album. It was recorded October 1979 – May 1980, at “The Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Mike Mainieri.

Personnel:

  • Carly Simon – lead and backing vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Pete Hewlett – acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
  • Sid McGinnis – lead guitar, electric slide guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar
  • Billy Mernit – electric piano
  • Mike Mainieri – acoustic piano, Oberheim synthesizer, Prophet-5, Oberheim OB-X, Yamaha CS30, synthesizers, marimba, backing vocals
  • Don Grolnick – acoustic piano
  • Ed Walsh – Oberheim OB-X, synthesizer programming, Oberheim 8 voice
  • Ken Landrum – Prophet-5
  • Larry Fast – synthesizers
  • Tony Levin – bass guitar, fretless bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Rick Marotta – drums
  • Jerry Grossman – cello
  • James Taylor – backing vocals
  • Mariah Aguiar – backing vocals
  • Christine Martin – backing vocals
  • Laraine Newman – backing vocals
  • Hugh Taylor – backing vocals
  • Alex Taylor – backing vocals
  • Sally Taylor – backing vocals
  • Gail Boggs – backing vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Carly Simon, except where noted.

  1. Come Upstairs
  2. Stardust
  3. Them
  4. Jesse
  5. James
  6. In Pain – Carly Simon, Mike Mainieri, Don Grolnick
  7. The Three of Us in the Dark
  8. Take Me as I Am – Carly Simon, Mike Mainieri, Sid McGinnis
  9. The Desert

Idris Muhammad: House of the Rising Sun

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On January 14, 1976, “Kudu Records” label released “House of the Rising Sun”, the fourth Idris Muhammad album. it was recorded May – October 1975, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Eric Gale – guitar  
  • Joe Beck – guitar
  • Leon Pendarvis – piano   
  • Don Grolnick – piano 
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • Will Lee, Wilbur Bascomb – bass
  • George Devens – percussion
  • David Sanborn – alto saxophone
  • George Young – tenor saxophone
  • Bob Berg – tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
  • Tom Harrell- trumpet
  • Barry Rogers – trombone
  • David Matthews – arrangements, conducting
  • Tom Harrell – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. House of the Rising Sun – traditional
  2. Baia (Boogie Bump) – Ary Barroso, Ray Gilbert
  3. Hard to Face the Music – Ashford & Simpson
  4. Theme for New York City (based on prelude No. 41) – Frédéric Chopin
  5. Sudan – Idris Muhammad, Tom Harrell
  6. Hey Pock A-Way – Aaron Neville, Greg Porter, Joseph Modelliste, Leo Nocentelli

Ringo Starr: Ringo The 4th

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On September 20, 1977, “Polydor” label released “Ringo the 4th”, the sixth Ringo Starr studio album. It was recorded February – June 1977, in Cherokee, Los Angeles, Atlantic, and New York City, and was produced by Arif Mardin.

Personnel:

  • Ringo Starr– lead vocals, drums
  • David Spinozza– guitar
  • John Tropea– guitar
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • Cornell Dupree– guitar
  • Lon Van Eaton– guitar
  • Dick Fegy – guitar
  • Danny Kortchmar– guitar
  • David Bromberg– guitar
  • Tony Levin– bass guitar
  • Chuck Rainey– bass guitar
  • Hugh McDonald– bass guitar
  • Don Grolnick– keyboards
  • David Foster– keyboards, clavinet, piano
  • Richard Tee– clavinet, piano
  • Jeff Gutcheon – keyboards
  • Ken Bichel– keyboards
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Michael Brecker– saxophone
  • Randy Brecker– trumpet
  • Don Brooks– harmonica
  • Arnold McCuller – backing vocals
  • Brie Howard– backing vocals
  • David Lasley – backing vocals
  • Debra Gray – backing vocals
  • Duitch Helmer – backing vocals
  • Jimmy Gilstrap – backing vocals
  • Joe Bean – backing vocals
  • Luther Vandross– backing vocals
  • Lynn Pitney – backing vocals
  • Marietta Waters – backing vocals
  • Maxine Anderson – backing vocals
  • Melissa Manchester– backing vocals
  • Rebecca Louis – backing vocals
  • Robin Clark– backing vocals
  • Vini Poncia– backing vocals
  • Bette Midler– backing vocals

Track listing:

  1. Drowning in the Sea of Love – Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff
  2. Tango All Night – Steve Hague, Tom Seufert
  3. Wings – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  4. Gave It All Up – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  5. Out on the Streets – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  6. Can She Do It Like She Dances – Steve Duboff, Gerry Robinson
  7. Sneaking Sally Through the Alley – Allen Toussaint
  8. It’s No Secret – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  9. Gypsies in the Flight – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia
  10. Simple Love Song – Richard Starkey, Vini Poncia

 

Michael Brecker Quindectet: Wide Angels

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On September 9, 2003, “Verve” label released “Wide Angles”, the 20th Michael Brecker album. It was recorded in January 2003, and was produced by Michael Brecker and Gil Goldstein. In 2004, “Wide Angels” won the “Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album”.

Personnel:

  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone, arranger
  • John Patitucci– bass
  • Adam Rogers– guitar
  • Antonio Sánchez– drums
  • Robin Eubanks– trombone
  • Alex Sipiagin– trumpet
  • Charles Pillow – English horn, oboe
  • Peter Gordon – French horn
  • Steve Wilson– alto flute
  • Iain Dixon – bass clarinet
  • Joyce Hammann – violin
  • Mark Feldman– violin, concert master
  • Lois Martin – viola
  • Erik Friedlander– cello
  • Daniel Sadownick – percussion
  • Gil Goldstein– arranger, conductor, orchestration
  • Brian Dozoretz – assistant engineer
  • Jay Newland – engineer, mixing
  • Greg Calbi– mastering
  • George Whitty – digital editing
  • Nicole Hegeman – production coordination
  • Darryl Pitt – production coordination
  • Tommy Wilson – production coordination

Track listing:

All tracks by Michael Brecker except where noted.

  1. Broadband
  2. Cool Day in Hell
  3. Angle of Repose
  4. Timbuktu
  5. Night Jessamine
  6. Scylla – Michael Brecker, George Whitty
  7. Brexterity
  8. Evening Faces – Don Grolnick
  9. Modus Operandy
  10. Never Alone

Melissa Manchester: Singin’…

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On September 6, 1977, “Arista” label released “Singin’…” the sixth Melissa Manchester album. It was recorded in 1977, at “A&R Studios”, “Sound Labs” in Hollywood, and was produced by Vini Poncia.

Personnel:

  • Melissa Manchester – lead vocals
  • Jeff Mironov – guitar
  • David Spinozza– guitar
  • Sid McGinnis– guitar
  • Don Grolnick– keyboards
  • James Newton Howard– Oberheim synthesizer, string arrangements
  • Will Lee– bass guitar
  • Tony Levin– bass guitar
  • Steve Gadd– drums
  • Lenny Castro– percussion
  • Tom Saviano – woodwind arrangements, flute, horn arrangements, tenor saxophone
  • Mike Carnahan – flute
  • Leo Potts – flute
  • Andy Macintosh – baritone saxophone
  • Stanley Schwartz – tenor saxophone
  • George Bohanon– trombone
  • Richard Felts – trumpet, flugelhorn solo
  • Sid Sharp – concertmaster
  • Vini Poncia– backing vocals
  • Claudia Cagan – backing vocals
  • Wendy Haas – backing vocals
  • Brie Howard – backing vocals
  • Gail Kantor – backing vocals
  • The Faragher Brothers– backing vocals
  • Bob Schaper – engineer
  • Tom Bush – second engineer
  • Galen Senogles – mixing
  • Ron Hitchcock – mastering
  • Kay Steele – cover coordinator
  • John Kosh – art direction, desiign
  • David Alexander – photography
  • Anne Streer – production coordinator

Track listing:

  1. Sad Eyes – David Spinozza
  2. I Wanna Be Where You Are – Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
  3. A Love Of Your Own – Ned Doheny
  4. No One’s Ever Seen This Side Of Me – Melissa Manchester
  5. You Make It Easy – James Taylor
  6. Stand – Melissa Manchester
  7. My Love Is All I Know – Wendy Waldman
  8. Time – Robert Marshall, John Miles
  9. Let Me Serenade You – John Finley
  10. The Warmth Of The Sun – Brian Wilson

Harry Chapin: Verities & Balderdash

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On August 24, 1974, “Elektra” label released “Verities & Balderdash”, the fourth Harry Chapin studio album. It was recorded in 1973, at “Connecticut Recording Studios” in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and was produced by Paul Leka. The album was certified 2 x Platinum in Canada by “Music Canada”, and 2 x Platinum in the US by “RIAA”.

Personnel:

  • Harry Chapin – vocals, guitar
  • John Tropea- acoustic guitar, sitar
  • Don Payne – bass
  • Allan Schwartzberg- drums
  • Don Grolnick- piano, electric piano, harpsichord
  • Ron Bacchiocchi – synthesizer
  • Irving Spice – concertmaster
  • George Simms – backging vocals
  • Frank Simms- backing vocals
  • Dave Kondziela – backing vocals
  • Zizi Roberts – female vocals
  • Ron Bacchiocchi – recording
  • Paul Leka – mixing
  • Fred Kewley – mixing
  • Glen Christensen – art direction
  • Shiah Grumet – design
  • Bill Hofman – illustration
  • Ruth Bernal – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Harry Chapin, except where noted.

  1. Cat’s in the Cradle- Sandy Chapin, Harry Chapin
  2. I Wanna Learn a Love Song
  3. Shooting Star
  4. 000 Pounds of Bananas
  5. She Sings Songs Without Words
  6. What Made America Famous?
  7. Vacancy
  8. Halfway To Heaven
  9. Six String Orchestra