Tag Archives: Hal McKusick

George Russell: New York, N. Y.

In July 1959, “Decca” label released “New York, N.Y.”, the second George Russell album. It was recorded 1958 – 1959.

Personnel:

  • George Russell – arranger, conductor
  • Jon Hendricks – vocals
  • Hal McKusick – alto saxophone
  • Phil Woods – alto saxophone
  • John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
  • Al Cohn – tenor saxophone
  • Benny Golson – tenor saxophone
  • Sol Schlinger – baritone saxophone
  • Gene Allen – baritone saxophone
  • Art Farmer – trumpet
  • Doc Severinsen – trumpet
  • Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Joe Wilder – trumpet
  • Joe Ferrante – trumpet
  • Bob Brookmeyer – valve trombone
  • Frank Rehak – trombone
  • Tom Mitchell – trombone
  • Jimmy Cleveland – trombone
  • Bill Evans – piano
  • Barry Galbraith – guitar
  • George Duvivier – bass
  • Milt Hinton – bass
  • Charlie Persip – drums
  • Max Roach – drums
  • Don Lamond – drums
  • Al Epstein – percussion

Track listing:

All tracks by George Russell, except where noted.

  1. Manhattan – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  2. Big City Blues
  3. Manhattan: “Rico”
  4. East Side Medley: Autumn in New York / How About You? – Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin / Ralph Freed, Burton Lane
  5. A Helluva Town

Dinah Washington: Swingin’ Miss D

In September 1957, “EmArcy” label released “The Swingin’ Miss D”, the sixth Dinah Washington studio album. It was recorded in December 1956, and was produced by Bob Shad.

Personnel:

  • Dinah Washington – vocals

Quincy Jones and His Orchestra

  • Quincy Jones – conductor, arrangements
  • Ernie Wilkins – arrangements
  • Benny Golson – arrangements
  • Anthony Ortega – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Jerome Richardson – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Lucky Thompson – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Don Elliott – trumpet, mellophonium, vibraphone, bongos; xylophone
  • Jimmy Maxwell – trumpet
  • Doc Severinsen – trumpet
  • Charlie Shavers – trumpet
  • Clark Terry – trumpet
  • Bernie Glow – trumpet
  • Nick Travis – trumpet
  • Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Joe Wilder – trumpet
  • Jimmy Cleveland – trombone
  • Urbie Green – trombone
  • Quentin Jackson – trombone
  • Tommy Mitchell – bass trombone
  • Hal McKusick – flute, alto saxophone
  • Danny Bank – bass clarinet, baritone saxophone
  • Clarence “Sleepy” Anderson – piano, celeste
  • Barry Galbraith – guitar
  • Milt Hinton – double bass
  • Osie Johnson – drums
  • Jimmy Crawford – drums
  • Murray Garrett, Gene Howard – photography
  • John S. Wilson – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. They Didn’t Believe Me – Jerome Kern, Herbert Reynolds
  2. You’re Crying – Leonard Feather, Quincy Jones
  3. Makin’ Whoopee – Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn
  4. Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye – Cole Porter
  5. But Not for Me – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  6. Caravan – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol
  7. Perdido – Ervin Drake, H. J. Lengsfelder, Tizol
  8. Never Let Me Go – Ray Evans, Jay Livingston
  9. Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby? – Billy Austin, Louis Jordan
  10. I’ll Close My Eyes – Buddy Kaye, Billy Reid
  11. Somebody Loves Me – Buddy DeSylva, George Gershwin, Ballard MacDonald

Hal McKusick: Triple Exposure

In December 1957, “Prestige” label released “Triple Exposure”, the sixth Hal McKusick album. It was recorded in December 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” ini Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

  • Hal McKusick – alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Billy Byers – trombone
  • Eddie Costa – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Charlie Persip – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording

Track listing:

 All tracks by Hal McKusick, where noted.

  1. Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week) – Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn
  2. Something New – Albert Gamse, Ricardo López Méndez
  3. Blues Half-Smiling
  4. A Touch of Spring
  5. The Settlers and the Indians – Robert Scott
  6. I’m Glad There Is You – Jimmy Dorsey, Paul Madeira

Gil Evans

On March 20, 1988, Ian Ernest Gilmore “Gil” Evans died aged 75. He was musician (piano), arranger, composer and bandleader, had important role in the development of free jazz, cool jazz, modal jazz and jazz fusion. Evans performed and recorded with many important jazz musicians including: Miles Davis, Lee Konitz, Glen Hall, Steve Lacy, Claude Thornhill, Johnny Mathis, Hal McKusick, Marcy Lutes, Helen Merill, Don Elliot, Astrud Gilberto and Kenny Burrell. In 1986, Evans was inducted into the “Down Beat”  “Jazz Hall of Fame”. He won two “Grammy Awards” – in1960: “Sketches of Spain”, “Grammy Award for Best Original  Jazz Composition” with Miles Davis; in 1986: “Bud and Bird”, “Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band”.