Tag Archives: George Avakian

Paul Desmond: Glad To Be Unhappy

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In September 1965, “RCA Victor” label released “Glad to Be Unhappy”, the seventh Paul Desmond album. It was recorded in 1963 at “Webster Hall” in New York City, July, August and September 1964, at “RCA Studio A” in New York City, and was produced by George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Paul Desmond – alto saxophone
  • Jim Hall – guitar
  • Gene Cherico – bass 
  • Eugene Wright – bass
  • Connie Kay – drums

Track listing:

  1. Glad to Be Unhappy – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  2. Poor Butterfly – Raymond Hubbell, John Golden
  3. Stranger in Town – Mel Tormé
  4. A Taste of Honey – Ric Marlow, Bobby Scott
  5. Any Other Time – Paul Desmond
  6. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo – Bronisław Kaper, Helen Deutsch
  7. Angel Eyes – Matt Dennis, Earl Brent

Sonny Rollins: Now’s The Time

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In September 1964, “RCA Victor” label released “Now’s the Time”, the 23rd Sonny Rollins album. It was recorded January, February and April 1964, in New York City, and was produced by George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
  • Herbie Hancock – piano 
  • Thad Jones – cornet 
  • Ron Carter – bass 
  • Bob Cranshaw – bass
  • Roy McCurdy – drums

Track listing:

  1. Now’s the Time – Charlie Parker
  2. Blue ‘n’ Boogie – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli
  3. I Remember Clifford – Benny Golson
  4. 52nd Street Theme – Thelonious Monk
  5. St. Thomas – Sonny Rollins
  6. ‘Round Midnight – Thelonious Monk
  7. Afternoon in Paris – John Lewis
  8. Four – Miles Davis

Charles Lloyd: Dream Waver

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In July 1966, “Atlantic” label released “Dream Weaver”, the third Charles Lloyd album. It was recorded in March 1966, and was produced by Arif Mardin and George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Charles Lloyd – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Keith Jarrett – piano
  • Cecil McBee – bass
  • Jack DeJohnette – drums
  • Phil Lehle – engineer
  • Marvin Israel – design
  • Charles Stewart – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Lloyd, except where noted.

  1. Autumn Sequence: Autumn Prelude/Autumn Leaves/Autumn Echo – Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert, Charles Lloyd
  2. Dream Weaver: Meditation/Dervish Dance
  3. Bird Flight
  4. Love Ship
  5. Sombrero Sam

Paul Desmond: Easy Living

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In June 1966, “RCA Victor” label released “Easy Living”, the ninth Paul Desmond album. It was recorded June 1963, September 1964, June 1965, in New York City, and was produced by George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Paul Desmond – alto saxophone
  • Jim Hall – guitar
  • Gene Cherico, Percy Heath, Eugene Wright – bass
  • Connie Kay – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Paul Desmond except where noted.

  1. When Joanna Loved Me – Robert Wells, Jack Segal
  2. That Old Feeling – Sammy Fain, Lew Brown
  3. Polka Dots and Moonbeams – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  4. Here’s That Rainy Day – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  5. Easy Living – Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin
  6. I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face – Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
  7. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  8. Blues for Fun

Sonny Rollins: The Bridge

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In April 1962, “RCA Victor” label released “The Bridge”, the 20th Sonny Rollins album. It was recorded January – February 1962, at “RCA Victor” in New York City, and was produced by Bob Prince.

Personnel:

  • Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
  • Jim Hall – guitar
  • Bob Cranshaw – bass
  • Ben Riley – drums
  • Harry “H.T.” Saunders – drums
  • Ray Hall – engineer
  • Chuck Stewart – cover photography
  • George Avakian – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Without a Song – Edward Eliscu, Billy Rose, Vincent Youmans
  2. Where Are You? – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
  3. John S. – Sonny Rollins
  4. The Bridge – Sonny Rollins
  5. God Bless the Child – Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday
  6. You Do Something to Me – Cole Porter

Charles Lloyd: Of Course, Of Course

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In November 1965, “Columbia” label released “Of Course, Of Course”, the third Charles Lloyd album. It was recorded May 1964, March – October 1965, at “Columbia 7th Ave” in New York City, and was produced by George Avakian and John Simon.

Personnel:

  • Charles Lloyd – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Gábor Szabó – guitar
  • Robbie Robertson – guitar
  • Ron Carter – bass 
  • Albert Stinson – bass
  • Tony Williams – drums 
  • Pete LaRoca – drums
  • Roy Halee, Stan Tonkel – recording
  • Richard Mantel – art direction, design
  • Bob Cato – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Lloyd except where noted.

  1. Of Course, Of Course
  2. The Song My Lady Sings
  3. The Best Thing for You – Irving Berlin
  4. The Things We Did Last Summer – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  5. Apex
  6. One for Joan
  7. Goin’ to Memphis
  8. Voice in the Night
  9. Third Floor Richard

Dave Brubeck Quartet: Brubeck Time

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On February 14, 1955, “Columbia” label released “Brubeck Time”, album by Dave Brubeck Quartet (the 16th Dave Brubeck album overall). It was recorded October – November 1954, at “Columbia 30the Street” in New York City , and was produced by George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Dave Brubeck – piano
  • Paul Desmond – alto sax
  • Bob Bates – double bass
  • Joe Dodge – drums
  • Howard Fritzson – art direction
  • Randall Martin – design
  • John Jackson – production assistant

Track listing:

  1. Audrey – Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond
  2. Jeepers Creepers – Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren
  3. Pennies From Heaven – Johnny Burke, Arthur Johnston
  4. Why Do I Love You? – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  5. Stompin’ for Mili – Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond
  6. Keepin’ Out of Mischief Now – Andy Razaf, Fats Waller
  7. A Fine Romance – Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields
  8. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? – Edgar Yipsel Harburg, Jay Gorney

The Jazz Messengers: Same

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In November 1956, “Columbia” label released the self-titled, debut Jazz Messengers (The) studio album. It was recorded April – May 1956, at “Columbia 30th Street Studio” in New York City, and was produced by George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Art Blakey – drums
  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
  • Donald Byrd – trumpet
  • Horace Silver – piano
  • Doug Watkins – bass

Track listing:

  1. Infra-Rae – Hank Mobley
  2. Nica’s Dream – Horace Silver
  3. It’s You or No One – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  4. Ecaroh – Horace Silver
  5. Carol’s Interlude – Hank Mobley
  6. The End of a Love Affair – E.C. Redding
  7. Hank’s Symphony – Hank Mobley

Sonny Rollins: Sonny Meets Hawk

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In October 1963, “RCA Victor” label released “Sonny Meets Hawk!”, album by Sonny Rollins and Coleman Hawkins (the 23rd Sonny Rollins album overall). It was recorded in July 1963, at “RCA Victor Studios” in New York City, and was produced by George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone
  • Coleman Hawkins – tenor saxophone
  • Paul Bley – piano
  • Bob Cranshaw – bass
  • Henry Grimes – bass
  • Roy McCurdy – drums
  • George Avakian – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Yesterdays – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
  2. All the Things You Are – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  3. Summertime – DuBose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  4. Just Friends – John Klenner, Sam M. Lewis
  5. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) – Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
  6. At McKies’ – Sonny Rollins

Dave Brubeck: Brubeck Plays Brubeck

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On July 16, 1956, “Columbia” label released “Brubeck Plays Brubeck”, the 18th Dave Brubeck album. It was recorded in April 1956, at Dave Brubeck’s House in Oakland, and was produced by George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Dave Brubeck – piano
  • S. Neil Fujita – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Dave Brubeck.

  1. Swing Bells
  2. Walkin’ Line
  3. In Your Own Sweet Way
  4. Two-Part Contention
  5. Weep No More
  6. The Duke
  7. When I Was Young
  8. One Moment Worth Years
  9. The Waltz