Tag Archives: Jimmy Knepper

Gil Evans: The Individualism Of Gil Evans

In September 1964, “Verve” label released “The Individualism of Gil Evans”, the sixth Gil Evans album. It was recorded September 1963, April, May, July and October 1964, at “A&R Studios” and “Webster Hall” in New York City, “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Gil Evans – piano, arrangements, conductor
  • Steve Lacy – soprano saxophone
  • Phil Woods – solo alto saxophone
  • Wayne Shorter – solo tenor saxophone
  • Johnny Coles – solo trumpet
  • Thad Jones – trumpet
  • Ernie Royal – trumpet
  • Bernie Glow – trumpet
  • Louis Mucci – trumpet
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Frank Rehak – trombone
  • Jimmy Cleveland – solo trombone
  • Tony Studd – trombone
  • Bill Barber – tuba
  • Eric Dolphy – flute, bass clarinet, alto saxophone
  • Jerome Richardson – reeds, woodwinds
  • Bob Tricarico – reeds, woodwinds
  • Garvin Bushell – reeds, woodwinds
  • Andy Fitzgerald – reeds, woodwinds
  • George Marge – reeds, woodwinds
  • Al Block – solo flute
  • Julius Watkins – French horn
  • Gil Cohen – French horn
  • Don Corado – French horn
  • Bob Northern – French horn
  • Jimmy Buffington – French horn
  • Ray Alonge – French horn
  • Pete Levin – French Horn
  • Harry Lookofsky – tenor violin
  • Bob Maxwell – harp
  • Margaret Ross – harp
  • Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • Barry Galbraith – guitar
  • Gary Peacock – bass
  • Ron Carter – bass
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Richard Davis – bass
  • Ben Tucker – bass
  • Milt Hinton – bass
  • Elvin Jones – solo drums
  • Osie Johnson – drums
  • Val Valentin – director of engineering
  • Bob Simpson – engineer
  • Phil Ramone – engineer
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Gene Lees – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Time of the Barracudas – Miles Davis, Gil Evans
  2. The Barbara Song – Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill
  3. Las Vegas Tango – Gil Evans
  4. Flute Song/Hotel Me – Miles Davis, Gil Evans
  5. El Toreador – Gil Evans

Charles Mingus: Tijuana Moods

In June 1962, “RCA” label released “Tijuana Moods”, the eleventh Charles Mingus album. It was recorded July – August 1957, at “RCA Studios” in New York, and was produced by Bob Rolontz.

Personnel:

  • Charles Mingus – leader, bass
  • Shafi Hadi – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Clarence Shaw – trumpet
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Bill Triglia – piano
  • Dannie Richmond – drums
  • Ysabel Morel – castanets, vocals
  • Frankie Dunlop – percussion
  • Lonne Elder – vocals
  • Bob Simpson – recording

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Mingus except where noted.

  1. Dizzy Moods
  2. Ysabel’s Table Dance
  3. Tijuana Gift Shop
  4. Los Mariachis (The Street Musicians)
  5. Flamingo – Ted Grouya

Charles Mingus: Mingus Dynasty

In May 1960, “Columbia” label released “Mingus Dynasty”, the 18th Charles Mingus album. It was recorded in November 1959, at “CBS 30th Street Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Teo Macero. In 1999, the album was inducted in the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.

Personnel:

  • Charles Mingus – bass
  • John Handy – alto sax
  • Booker Ervin – tenor sax
  • Benny Golson – tenor sax
  • Jerome Richardson – baritone sax, flute
  • Richard Williams – trumpet
  • Don Ellis – trumpet
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • Nico Bunink – piano
  • Dannie Richmond – drums
  • Teddy Charles – vibes
  • Maurice Brown – cello
  • Seymour Barab – cello
  • Honi Gordon – vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Mingus, except where noted.                         

  1. Slop
  2. Diane
  3. Song with Orange
  4. Gunslinging Bird (originally titled If Charlie Parker Were a Gunslinger, There’d Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats) 
  5. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be – Mercer Ellington
  6. Far Wells, Mill Valley
  7. New Now Know How
  8. Mood Indigo – Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
  9. Put Me in That Dungeon

Charles Mingus: East Costing

In December 1957, “Bethlehem” label released “East Coasting”, the twelve Charles Mingus album. It was recorded in August 1957.

Personnel:

  • Charles Mingus – bass
  • Bill Evans – piano
  • Shafi Hadi – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Clarence Shaw – trumpet
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Dannie Richmond – drums
  • Rick Essig – engineer
  • Lyn Bradley – design
  • Robert Berenson – photography
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Mingus, except where noted.

  1. Memories of You  (take 7) – Eubie Blake, Andy Razaf
  2. East Coasting (take 4)
  3. West Coast Ghost (Take 6)
  4. Celia (Take 5)
  5. Conversation (Take 16)
  6. Fifty-First Street Blues (Take 4)

Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica: Thad Jones/ Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica and the Jazz Orschetra

In September 1974, “Pausa” label released “Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica and the Jazz Orchestra”, album by Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica. It was recorded in September 1973 in London and in July 1974 in Perugia, Italy.

Personnel:

  • Manuel De Sica – composer
  • Thad Jones – flugelhorn
  • Mel Lewis – drums
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater – vocals
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • George Mraz – bass
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
  • Eddie Xiques – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Billy Harper – tenor saxophone
  • Ron Bridgewater – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Jim Bossy – trumpet
  • Steve Furtado – trumpet
  • Cecil Bridgewater – trumpet
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Quentin Jackson – trombone
  • Billy Campbell – trombone
  • Cliff Heather – trombone

Track listing:

  1. First Jazz Suite – Manuel De Sica
  2. Brasserie
  3. Father
  4. Sing
  5. Ballade
  6. For Life
  7. Little Pixie – Thad Jones

Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Orchestra: Thad Jones / Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica and the Jazz Orchestra

In September 1976, “Pausa” label released “Thad Jones/Mel Lewis and Manuel De Sica and the Jazz Orchestra”, album by Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. It was recorded in September 1973, and in July 1974, in Perugia, Italy.

Personnel:

  • Thad Jones – flugelhorn
  • Mel Lewis – drums
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater – vocals
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • George Mraz – bass
  • Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, flute
  • Eddie Xiques – alto saxophone, clarinet
  • Billy Harper – tenor saxophone
  • Ron Bridgewater – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Jim Bossy – trumpet
  • Steve Furtado – trumpet
  • Cecil Bridgewater – trumpet
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Quentin Jackson – trombone
  • Billy Campbell – trombone
  • Cliff Heather – trombone

Track listing:

  1. First Jazz Suite – Manuel De Sica
  2. Brasserie
  3. Father
  4. Sing
  5. Ballade
  6. For Life
  7. Little Pixie – Thad Jones

Charles Mingus: Pre-Bird

SONY DSC

In September 1961, “Mercury” label released “Pre-Bird”, the 18th Charles Mingus album. It was recorded in May 1960, and was produced by Leonard Feather.

Personnel:

  • Charles Mingus – bass
  • Paul Bley – piano
  • Roland Hanna – piano
  • Gunther Schuller – conductor
  • Marcus Belgrave – trumpet
  • Ted Curson – trumpet
  • Clark Terry – trumpet
  • Hobart Dotson – trumpet
  • Richard Williams – trumpet
  • Robert Di Domenica – flute
  • Eric Dolphy – alto saxophone, flute
  • Booker Ervin – saxophone
  • Yusuf Lateef – saxophone, flute
  • John LaPorta – saxophone
  • Danny Bank – saxophone
  • Bill Barron – saxophone
  • Joe Farrell – saxophone
  • Eddie Bert – trombone
  • Slide Hampton – trombone
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Charles “Majeed” Greenlee – trombone
  • George Scott – drums
  • Dannie Richmond – drums
  • Sticks Evans – drums
  • Max Roach – drums
  • Lorraine Cusson – vocals

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Mingus, except where noted.

  1. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn / Exactly Like You – Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields
  2. Prayer For Passive Resistance
  3. Eclipse
  4. Mingus Fingus No. 2
  5. Weird Nightmare
  6. Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell / I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, John Redmond
  7. Bemoanable Lady
  8. Half-Mast Inhibition

Charles Mingus: The Clown

In September 1957, “Atlantic” label released “The Clown”, the ninth Charles Mingus album. It was recorded February – March 1957, at “Atlantic Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Nesuhi Ertegün.

Personnel:

  • Charles Mingus – bass
  • Wade Legge – piano
  • Shafi Hadi – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Jimmy Knepper – trombone
  • Dannie Richmond – drums
  • Jean Shepherd – narration

Track listing:

All tracks written by Charles Mingus.

  1. Haitian Fight Song
  2. Blue Cee
  3. Reincarnation of a Lovebird
  4. The Clown

Charles Mingus

On January 5, 1977, Charles Mingus Jr. Died aged 57. He was musician (bass), composer and bandleader, regarded as one of the most creative and influential Jazz artists of all times.

For his work and contribution to the modern music, Mingus has received many awards including:

  • “Guggenheim Fellowship” (1971).
  • Inducted in the “Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame” (1971).
  • “National Endowment for the Arts” provided grants for a Mingus nonprofit called “Let My Children Hear Music” which cataloged all of Mingus’s works (1988)
  • “The Library of Congress” acquired Mingus’s collected papers in what they described as “the most important acquisition of a manuscript collection relating to jazz in the Library’s history.(1993)]
  • “The United States Postal Service” issued a stamp in his honor (1995).
  • Posthumously awarded the “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award” (1997)
  • Album “Mingus Dynasty”(1959) inducted in the “Grammy Hall of Fame” (1999)
  • Inducted in the “Jazz at Lincoln Center”, Nesuhi Ertegun “Jazz Hall of Fame” (2005)

Mingus has recorded and performed with some of the most important musicians of the modern music, including: Illinois Jacquet, Dinah Washington, Wilbert Baranco, Ivie Anderson, Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Billy Taylor, Oscar Pettiford, Max Roach,  Bud Powell, Paul Bley, Teo Macero, Oscar Pettiford,  Ada Moore,  Charlie Parker, J.J. Johnson, Hazel Scott, John Mehegan,  Thad Jones, John Dennis, Ralph Sharon, Miles Davis, Teddy Charles, The Metronome All-Stars, Jimmy Knepper, Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Max Roach and Eric Dolphy.