Tag Archives: Gerald Wilson

Duke Ellington: Dance To The Duke!

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In November 1954, “Capitol” label released “Dance to the Duke!”, the eleventh Duke Ellington album. It was recorded 1953 in “Capitol Studios” in Los Angeles, 1954, in San Francisco and Chicago.

Personnel:

  • Duke Ellington – piano
  • Russell Procope – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Rick Henderson – alto saxophone
  • Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone
  • Jimmy Hamilton – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Harry Carney – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
  • Cat Anderson, Willie Cook, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Gerald Wilson  
  • Quentin Jackson, George Jean, Juan Tizol, Britt Woodman – trombone
  • John Sanders – valve trombone
  • Wendell Marshall, Oscar Pettiford – bass
  • Butch Ballard, Dave Black – drums
  • Ralph Collier – congas
  • Frank Rollo – bongos

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington except where noted.

  1. C Jam Blues
  2. Orson – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
  3. Caravan – Juan Tizol
  4. Kinda Dukish
  5. Bakiff
  6. Frivolous Banta – Rick Henderson
  7. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be – Mercer Ellington
  8. Montevideo

The 5th Dimension: Love’s Lines, Angles And Rhymes

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On February 1, 1971, “Bell” label released “Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes”, the sixth 5th Dimension (The) studio album. It was recorded in 1970, at “Wally Heider” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bones Howe.

Personnel:

  • Marilyn McCoo – lead and backing vocals
  • Florence LaRue – lead and backing vocals
  • Billy Davis Jr. – lead and backing vocals
  • Lamonte McLemore – backing vocals
  • Ron Townson – backing vocals
  • Dennis Budimir, Fred Tackett, Mike Deasy, Michael Anthony – guitar
  • Jimmy Rowles – piano
  • Larry Knechtel, Gary Illingworth – keyboards
  • Joe Osborn, Max Bennett – bass guitar
  • Hal Blaine – drums
  • Jack Arnold, Larry Bunker, Victor Feldman – percussion
  • Jim Horn, Tom Scott, Pete Christlieb, Lanny Morgan – saxophone
  • Bud Brisbois, Chuck Findley, Oliver Mitchell, Ray Triscari – trumpet
  • Lew McCreary, Bob Edmondson – trombone
  • Catherine Gothoffer – harp
  • The Sid Sharp String Section – strings

Track listing:

  1. Time and Love – Laura Nyro
  2. Love’s Lines, Angles and Rhymes – Dorothea Joyce
  3. What Does It Take – Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Vernon Bullock
  4. Guess Who – Jesse Belvin, JoAnne Belvin
  5. Viva Tirado – Gerald Wilson, Norman Gimbel
  6. Light Sings – Gary William Friedman, Will Holt
  7. The Rainmaker – Bill Martin, Harry Nilsson
  8. He’s a Runner – Laura Nyro
  9. The Singer – Elliott Willensky, Lamonte McLemore
  10. Every Night – Paul McCartney n

Johnny Hartman: Unforgettable Songs By Johnny Hartman

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In September 1966, “ABC Paramount” label released “Unforgettable Songs by Johnny Hartman”, the 13th Johnny Hartman album. It was recorded in February 1966, at “United Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Hartman – vocals
  • Harold Land – tenor saxophone
  • Teddy Edwards – tenor saxophone
  • Curtis Amy – tenor saxophone
  • Anthony Ortega – saxophone
  • Jack Nimitz – baritone saxophone
  • Al Porcino – trumpet
  • Bud Brisbois – trumpet
  • Jules Chaikin – trumpet
  • Frederick Hill – trumpet
  • Melvin Moore – trumpet
  • John Ewing – trombone
  • Michael Barone – trombone
  • Lester Robertson – trombone
  • Ernie Tack – trombone
  • Mike Melvoin – piano
  • Herb Ellis – guitar
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • John Gray – guitar
  • Ray Brown – bass
  • Jimmy Bond Jr. – bass
  • Stan Levey – drums
  • Gerald Wilson – arrangements, conductor

Track listing:

  1. The Very Thought of You – Ray Noble
  2. Fools Rush In – Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom
  3. Love Is Here to Stay – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  4. Once in a While – Michael Edwards, Bud Green
  5. Bidin’ My Time – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  6. Down in the Depths – Cole Porter
  7. Ain’t Misbehavin’ – Fats Waller, Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf
  8. Isn’t It Romantic? – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  9. Unforgettable – Irving Gordon
  10. The More I See You – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
  11. What Do I Owe Her? – Fred E. Ahlert, Benny Goodman
  12. Almost Like Being in Love – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe

Russell Malone

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On August 23, 2024, Russell Malone died aged 60. He was musician (guitar), recorded and performed with Jimmy Smith, Harry Connick Jr., Diana Krall, Benny Green, Ron Carter, Roy Hargrove, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron, Branford Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Jack McDuff, Mulgrew Miller, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, Hank Jones, Bobby Hutcherson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Sonny Rollins, Houston Person, David Sanborn, Mose Allison, Kenny Barron, Gary Bartz, Stefano Di Battista, David Benoit, Don Braden, Gary Burton, Regina Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, The Chieftains, Jimmy Cobb, Natalie Cole, Will Downing, Jon Faddis, Macy Gray,  Dave Grusin, Vincent Herring, Shirley Horn, Freddie Hubbard, Etta Jones, B. B. King, Gladys Knight, Jeff Lorber, Christian McBride, Bill Mobley, New York Voices, Johnny O’Neal, Kenny Rankin, Tony Reedus, Stephen Scott, Janis Siegel, Terell Stafford, Joss Stone, Billy Taylor, Steve Turre and Gerald Wilson. As leader, Malone released 15 albums.

Less McCann & The Jazz CRusaders: Jazz Waltz

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In December 1963, “Pacific Jazz” label released “Jazz Waltz”, album by Less McCan and The Jazz Crusaders (the twelve Less McCan album overall). It was recorded in 1963, at “Pacific Jazz Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Richard Bock.

Personnel:

  • Les McCann – piano, electric piano, organ
  • Wilton Felder – tenor saxophone
  • Wayne Henderson – trombone
  • Joe Sample – piano, organ
  • Bobby Haynes – bass
  • Stix Hooper – drums
  • Richard Bock – engineer
  • Woody Woodward – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Les McCann except where noted.

  1. Spanish Castles – George Gruntz
  2. Blues for Yna Yna – Gerald Wilson
  3. Damascus
  4. 3/4 For God & Co.
  5. Bluesette – Toots Thielemans
  6. Big City – Marvin Jenkins
  7. This Here – Bobby Timmons
  8. Jitterbug Waltz – Fats Waller
  9. All Blues – Miles Davis
  10. Jazz Waltz – Bobby Haynes

Jean-Lyc Ponty: King Kong: Jean-Lyc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa

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On May 25, 1970, “World Pacific” and “Liberty” labels released “King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa”, the sixth Jean-Luc Ponty album. It was recorded in October 1969, at “Whitney Studios” in Glendale, California, and was produced by Richard Bock. 

Personnel:

  • Jean-Luc Ponty – electric violin, baritone violectra
  • Frank Zappa – electric guitar, arrangements, conductor
  • George Duke – acoustic and electric piano
  • Buell Neidlinger – double bass 
  • Wilton Felder – Fender Precision electric bass 
  • John Guerin – drums 
  • Arthur Dyer Tripp III – drums 
  • Gene Estes – vibraphone, percussion
  • Ernie Watts – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Ian Underwood – tenor saxophone, orchestra conductor
  • Gene Cipriano – oboe, English horn
  • Arthur Maebe – French horn, tuba 
  • Vincent DeRosa – descant recorder, French horn, descant 
  • Jonathan Meyer – flute
  • Donald Christlieb – bassoon
  • Milton Thomas – viola
  • Harold Bemko – cello
  • Gerald Wilson – conductor
  • Ian Underwood – conductor
  • Dick Kunc – engineer
  • Ron Wolin – art direction, design
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Frank Zappa, except where noted.

  1. King Kong
  2. Idiot Bastard Son
  3. Twenty Small Cigars
  4. How Would You Like to Have a Head Like That – Jean-Luc Ponty
  5. Music for Electric Violin and Low-Budget Orchestra
  6. America Drinks and Goes Home

Gerald Wilson: New York, New Sound

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On August 25, 2003, “Mack Avenue Label” released “New York, New Sound”, the 20th Gerard Wilson album. It was recorded in February 2003, at “Clinton Recording Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Stix Hooper.

Personnel:

  • Gerald Wilson – arranger, conductor
  • Oscar Castro-Neves, Anthony Wilson – guitar
  • Kenny Barron, Renee Rosnes – piano
  • Bob Cranshaw, Trey Henry, Larry Ridley – bass
  • Stix Hooper, Lewis Nash – drums
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
  • Jesse Davis – alto saxophone
  • Frank Wess – tenor saxophone, flute
  • Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone
  • Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Jon Faddis, Frank Greene, Eddie Henderson, Sean Jones, Jimmy Owens – trumpet
  • Luis Bonilla, Benny Powell, Douglas Purviance, Dennis Wilson – trombone

Track listing:

All tracks by Gerald Wilson, except where noted.

  1. Milestones – Miles Davis
  2. Blues for the Count
  3. Equinox – John Coltrane
  4. Viva Tirado (Mucho Mas)
  5. Teri
  6. Blues for Yna Yna
  7. Theme for Monterey
  8. M Capetillo
  9. Josefina
  10. Nancy Jo

Gerald Wilson Orchestra: Feelin’ Kinda Blues

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In December 1965, “Pacific Jazz” label released “Feelin’ Kinda Blues”, the fourth Gerald Wilson (Gerald Wilson Orchestra) album. It was recorded November – December 1965, at “United Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Richard Bock.

Personnel:

  • Gerald Wilson – arranger, conductor
  • Bobby Bryant, Jules Chaikin, Freddie Hill, Nat Meeks, Melvin Moore, Al Porcino – trumpet
  • Bob Edmondson, John Ewing, Lester Robertson – trombone
  • Fred Murell – bass trombone
  • Curtis Amy – soprano saxophone
  • Anthony Ortega – alto saxophone, flute, piccolo
  • Teddy Edwards, Harold Land – tenor saxophone
  • Jack Nimitz – baritone saxophone
  • Phil Moore III – piano
  • Don Randi – organ
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Buddy Woodson – bass
  • Victor Feldman – vibraphone
  • Mel Lee – drums
  • Modesto Duran, Bones Howe, Adolfo Valdes – percussion
  • Gerald Wilson – arrangements
  • Bonew Howe – engineer
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Jon Nimmo – photography
  • Howard Rumsey – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. When I’m Feeling Kinda Blue – Gerald Wilson
  2. Freddie Freeloader – Miles Davis
  3. Do Anything You Wanna – Harold Betters, Carl Ramsey
  4. Yesterday – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Watermelon Man – Herbie Hancock
  6. Yeh Yeh – Rodgers Grant, Pat Patrick, Jon Hendricks
  7. One On the House – Harry James, Ernie Wilkins
  8. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown
  9. I Concentrate on You – Cole Porter
  10. Well Son Shuffle – Mike Barone

Ray Charles: Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music

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In April 1962, “ABC-Paramount” label released “Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music”, the 19th Ray Charles album. It was recorded in February 1962, at “Capitol Studios” in New York City and “United Recording Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Sid Feller, Ray Charles and Joe Adams. In 1999, the album was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”. In 2001, the album track “I Can’t Stop Loving You” was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”. in 2001,  the album was cited by “The Recording Academy” as a recording of “historical significance. “I Can’t Stop Loving You” was ranked number 49 on “Country Music Television’s” list of the “100 Greatest Songs of Country Music”  In 2001, “VH1” channel listed the album in its list of “The 100 Greatest Albums of R ‘N’ R”. In 2003, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked the album at number 104 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Ray Charles– vocals, piano
  • Hank Crawford– alto saxophone
  • Gil Fuller, Gerald Wilson– big band arrangements
  • Marty Paich– string arrangements
  • Bill Putnam, Gene Thompson, Johnny Cue.Bob Arnold, Frank Abbey – engineer
  • Bill Inglot, Ken Perry – remastering
  • Michael Ochs Archives, Hugh Bell – photography
  • Todd Everett – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Bye Bye Love – Boudleaux Bryant, Felice Bryant
  2. You Don’t Know Me – Eddy Arnold, Cindy Walker
  3. Half As Much – Curley Williams
  4. I Love You So Much It Hurts – Floyd Tillman
  5. Just a Little Lovin’ (Will Go a Long Way) – Eddy Arnold, Zeke Clements
  6. Born To Lose – Frankie Brown, (Ted Daffan)
  7. Worried Mind – Ted Daffan, Jimmie Davis
  8. It Makes No Difference Now – Floyd Tillman, Jimmie Davis
  9. You Win Again – Hank Williams
  10. Careless Love – traditional, arranged by Ray Charles
  11. I Can’t Stop Loving You – Don Gibson
  12. Hey, Good Lookin’ – Hank Williams