Tag Archives: Don Sebesky

Randy Weston: Blue Moses

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In June 1972, “CTI” label released “Blue Moses”, the 21st Randy Weston album. It was recorded March – April 1972, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Randy Weston – electric piano
  • Grover Washington, Jr. – tenor saxophone
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • John Frosk, Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Garnett Brown, Warren Covington – trombone
  • Wayne Andre – trombone, baritone horn
  • Paul Faulise – bass trombone
  • James Buffington, Brooks Tillotson – French horn
  • Hubert Laws – flute, alto flute, bass flute, piccolo
  • Romeo Penque – clarinet, flute, alto flute, bass flute, piccolo, oboe, English horn
  • George Marge – clarinet, flute, alto flute, bass flute, English horn
  • David Horowitz – synthesizer
  • Ron Carter, Vishnu Bill Wood – bass
  • Billy Cobham – drums
  • Phil Kraus, Airto Moreira, Azzedin Weston – percussion
  • Madame Meddah – vocals
  • Don Sebesky – arrangements, conductor
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Bob Ciano – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Weston.

  1. Ifrane
  2. Ganawa (Blue Moses)
  3. Night in Medina
  4. Marrakesh Blues

George Benson: The Other Side of Abbey Road

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In June 1970, “A&M” label released “The Other Side of Abbey Road”, the eight George Benson album. It was recorded October – November 1969, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – vocals, guitar
  • Bob James – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
  • Herbie Hancock – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
  • Ernie Hayes – acoustic piano, organ, harpsichord
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Jerry Jemmott – bass
  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Ed Shaughnessy – drums
  • Ray Barretto – percussion
  • Andy Gonzalez – percussion
  • Sonny Fortune – alto saxophone
  • Jerome Richardson – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute
  • Don Ashworth – baritone saxophone
  • Phil Bodner – flute, oboe
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Wayne Andre – trombone, euphonium
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Mel Davis – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Bernie Glow – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Raoul Poliakin – violin
  • Max Pollikoff – violin
  • Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Don Sebesky – arrangements
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Sam Antupit – design
  • Eric Meola – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.

  1. Golden Slumbers / You Never Give Me Your Money
  2. Because / Come Together
  3. Oh! Darling
  4. Here Comes the Sun – George Harrison / I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
  5. Something – George Harrisons / Octopus’s Garden – Richard Starkey / The End

Freddie Hubbard: Sky Dive

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In January 1973, “CTI” label released “Sky Dive”, the twentieth Freddie Hubbard album. It was recorded in October 1972, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Freddie Hubbard: trumpet
  • Keith Jarrett: piano, electric piano
  • George Benson: guitar
  • Ron Carter: bass
  • Billy Cobham: drums
  • Ray Barretto, Airto Moreira: percussion
  • Alan Rubin, Marvin Stamm: trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Wayne Andre, Garnett Brown: trombone
  • Paul Faulise: bass trombone
  • Tony Price: tuba
  • Hubert Laws: flute, alto flute, bass flute
  • Phil Bodner: flute, alto flute, bass clarinet, piccolo
  • George Marge: alto clarinet, bass clarinet
  • Wally Kane: bass clarinet, piccolo
  • Romeo Penque: flute, alto flute, clarinet, oboe, English horn
  • Don Sebesky: arranger, conductor
  • Bob Ciano – design

Track listing:

  1. Povo – Freddie Hubbard
  2. In a Mist – Bix Beiderbecke
  3. The Godfather (Theme) – Nino Rota
  4. Sky Dive – Freddie Hubbard

Gino Vannelli: A Pauper in Paradise

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On November 7, 1977, “A&M” label released “A Pauper in Paradise”, the fifth Gino Vannelli studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “AIR Studios”, and “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Gino Vanelli, and Joe Vanelli.

Personnel:

  • Gino Vannelli – lead vocals, arranger
  • Joe Vannelli – Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, acoustic piano, synthesizer programming, backing vocals; synthesizer, arstring and brass arrangements
  • Bill Meyers – acoustic piano, synthesizers, synth bass, backing vocals
  • Chris Rhyne – keyboards, synth bass
  • Mark Davis – bass guitar
  • Casey Scheuerell – drums
  • John J. Mandel – timpani, percussion
  • Dido Morris – congas, bongos
  • Dick Morrissey – tenor saxophone
  • Don Sebesky – orchestration, conductor
  • Barry Griffiths – orchestra leader
  • The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – orchestra
  • Joanie Bartels – backing vocals
  • Joanne Jayde – backing vocals
  • Jay Stone – backing vocals
  • The John McCarthy Choir – choir
  • Norm Kinney; John Kurlander – engineer
  • Steve Prestage – engineer assistant
  • Jon Kelly – remixi
  • Bernie Grundman – mastering
  • Fabio Nicola, Roland Young – art direction
  • Joanne Jayde – design
  • Beth Kelly – poster photography
  • Paul McCreath – back cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Gino Vannelli.

  1. Mardi Gras
  2. Valleys of Valhalla
  3. The Surest Things Can Change
  4. One Night with You
  5. A Song and Dance
  6. Black and Blue
  7. A Pauper in Paradise (In Four Movements)

George Benson: Bad Benson

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On October 13, 1974, “CTI” label released “Bad Benson”, the twelve George Benson album. It was recorded April – June 1974, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – guitar
  • Phil Upchurch – guitar, electric bass, percussion, musical concept
  • Kenny Barron – piano
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Steve Gadd – drums
  • Garnett Brown, Warren Covington, Wayne Andre – trombone
  • Paul Faulise – bass trombone
  • Alan Rubin, Joe Shepley, John Frosk – trumpet
  • Phil Bodner – English horn, clarinet, alto flute
  • George Marge – English horn, flute, piccolo flute
  • Ray Beckenstein – flute
  • Al Regni – flute, clarinet
  • Brooks Tillotson, Jim Buffington – French horn
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, Frank Levy, Jesse Levy, Paul Tobias, Seymour Barab – cello
  • Don Sebesky – arrangements, conductor
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer, mastering
  • Bob Ciano – album’s design
  • Ben Rose – cover photography
  • Pete Turner – liner photography

Track listing:

  1. Take Five – Paul Desmond
  2. Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams – Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Johnny Mandel
  3. My Latin Brother – George Benson
  4. No Sooner Said Than Done – Phil Upchurch
  5. Full Compass – Phil Upchurch
  6. The Changing World – George Benson, Art Gore

Freddie Hubbard: First Light

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On October 12, 1971, “CTI” label released “First Light”, the 23rd Freddie Hubbard album. It was recorded in September 1971, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Jack DeJohnette – drums
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Richard Wyands – piano
  • George Benson – guitar
  • Airto Moreira – percussion
  • Herbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes piano
  • Phil Kraus – vibraphone
  • Hubert Laws – flute
  • Wally Kane – flute, bassoon
  • George Marge – flute, clarinet
  • Romeo Penque – flute, English horn, oboe, clarinet
  • Jane Taylor – bassoon
  • Ray Alonge – French horn
  • James Buffington – French horn
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • David Nadien – violin
  • Paul Gershman – violin
  • Emanuel Green – violin
  • Harold Kohon – violin
  • Joe Malin – violin
  • Gene Orloff – violin
  • Matthew Raimondi – violin
  • Tosha Samaroff – violin
  • Irving Spice – violin
  • Alfred Brown – viola
  • Emanuel Vardi – viola
  • Charles McCracken – cello
  • George Ricci – cello
  • Don Sebesky – arranger, conductor

Track listing:

  1. First Light – Freddie Hubbard
  2. Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey –  Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney
  3. Moment to Moment – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
  4. Yesterday’s Dreams – Norman Martin, Don Sebesky
  5. Lonely Town (from On the Town) – Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Asolph Green
  6. Fantasy in D – Cedar Walton

Airto Moreira: Free

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On October 24, 1972, “CTI” label released “Free”, the third Airto Moreira studio album. It was recorded March – April 1972, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Airto Moreira– vocals, percussion
  • Flora Purim– vocals
  • George Benson– guitar
  • Jay Berliner– guitar
  • Keith Jarrett– piano
  • Nelson Ayres – electric piano
  • Chick Corea– piano, electric piano
  • Ron Carter– double bass
  • Stanley Clarke– bass guitar
  • Joe Farrell– soprano saxophone, alto and bass flutes, piccolo
  • Burt Collins– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Mel Davis– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Alan Rubin– trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Wayne Andre– trombone
  • Garnett Brown– trombone
  • Joe Wallace – trombone
  • Hubert Laws– flute
  • Don Sebesky– arranger

Track listing:

  1. Return to Forever – Chick Corea
  2. Flora’s Song – Flora Purim
  3. Free – Airto Moreira
  4. Lucky Southern – Keith Jarrett
  5. Creek (Arroio) – Victor Brazil
  6. So Tender – Keith Jarrett
  7. Jequié – Moacir Santos

Ron carter: Pastels

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In December 1976, “Milestone” label released “Pastels”, the ninth Ron Carter album. It was recorded in October 1976, at “Fantasy Studios” in Berkeley, California, and was produced by Retrac.

Personnel:

  • Ron Carter- bass, piccolo bass, arrangements
  • Kenny Barron- piano
  • Hugh McCracken – acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica
  • Harvey Mason- drums
  • Sanford Allen – concertmaster
  • Virginia Baker, Myra Bucky, Fei-Pang Ching, Ronald Erickson, Daniel Kobialka, Roy Oakley Jr., Nathan Rubin, Emily Van Valkenburgh, Mark Volkert – violin
  • Arthur Bauch, Denis DeCoteau, Daniel Yale – viola
  • Garfield Moore, Kermit Moore, Melinda Ross – cello
  • Don Sebesky- conductor, arrangements

Track listing:

All tracks by Ron Carter

  1. Woolaphant
  2. Ballad
  3. One Bass Rag
  4. Pastels
  5. 12 + 12

Roberta Flack: Killing Me Softly

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On August 1, 1973, “Atlantic” label released “Killing Me Softly”, the fifth Roberta Flack album. It was recorded 1972 – 1973, and was produced by Joel Dorn. “Killing Me Softly” won the 1974 “Grammy Award for Record of the Year”. In 2006, the album was certified 2 x Platinum in US by the “RIIA”.

Personnel:

  • Roberta Flack – arranger, piano, vocals
  • Deodato– conductor, string arrangements
  • William Eaton – brass arrangement
  • Alfred Ellis – brass arrangement, conductor
  • Kermit Moore – arranger, cello
  • Don Sebesky– conductor, horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Eric Gale– guitar
  • Ron Carter– bass
  • Grady Tate– drums
  • Ralph MacDonald– congas, percussion, tambourine
  • Bob Liftin, Gene Paul– engineer
  • Barry Diament – mastering
  • Rod Dyer – design
  • Burt Goldblatt – photography
  • David Redfern – inside photo
  • Jack Shaw – associate producer

Track listing:

  1. Killing Me Softly with His Song – Charles Fox, Norman Gimbel
  2. Jesse – Janis Ian
  3. No Tears (In the End) – Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
  4. I’m the Girl – James Alan Shelton
  5. River – Gene McDaniels
  6. Conversation Love – Terry Plumeri, Bill Seighman
  7. When You Smile – Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
  8. Suzanne – Leonard Cohen

Freddie Hubbard

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On December 29, 2008, Frederick Dewayne “Freddie” Hubbard died aged 70. He was musician (trumpet) and composer, known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles. He has performed and recorded with many famous musicians including George Benson, Walter Benton, Art Blakey, Tina Brooks, Kenny Burrell, George Cables, Betty Carter, Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Richard Davis, Eric Dolphy, Kenny Drew, Charles Earland, Bill Evan,  Joe Farrell, Curtis Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Oscar Peterson, Benny Golson, Dexter Gordon, Slide Hampton, Herbie Hancock, Jimmy Heath, Joe Henderson, Andrew Hill, Bobby Hutcherson, Milt Jackson, Billy Joel, Elton John, J.J. Johnson, Quincy Jones, John Lewis, Kirk Lightsey, Ronnie Mathews, Jackie McLean, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Wes Montgomery, Hank Mobley, Alphonse Mouzon, Oliver Nelson, Duke Pearson, Sam Rivers, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Rufus, Poncho Sanchez, Don Sebesky, Wayne Shorter, Leon Thomas, Stanley Turrentine, McCoy Tyner, Cedar Walton and Randy Weston.