Tag Archives: Johnny Mercer

Lee Konitz: Motion

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In November 1961, “Verve” label released “Motion”, the 19th Lee Konitz album. It was recorded in August 1961, at “Olmsted Sound” in New York City, and was produced by Creed Taylor.

Personnel:

  • Lee Konitz – alto saxophone
  • Sonny Dallas – bass
  • Elvin Jones – drums
  • Pete Turner – photography

Track listing:

  1. I Remember You – Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer
  2. All of Me – Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons
  3. Foolin’ Myself – Jack Lawrence, Peter Tinturin
  4. You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To – Cole Porter
  5. I’ll Remember April – Gene DePaul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye

Dinah Washington: What A Difference A Day Makes

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In November 1959, “Mercury” label released “What a Difference a Day Makes!”, the tenth Dinah Washington studio album. It was recorded February – August 1959, at “Fine Recoding Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Clyde Otis. At the 2nd “Annual Grammy Awards” held in November 1959, the title track won Washington the “Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance”.

Personnel:

  • Dinah Washington – vocals
  • Charles Davis – baritone saxophone
  • Jerome Richardson – flute
  • Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • David “Panama” Francis – drums
  • Milt Hinton – double bass
  • Joe Zawinul – piano
  • Belford Hendricks – arrangements, conductor
  • Tom Greenwood – research coordination
  • Carlos Kase
  • George Piros – sound engineer
  • Hollis King – art direction
  • Edward Odowd – design
  • Sherniece Smith – art producer
  • Chuck Stewart – photography

Track listing:

  1. I Remember You – Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger
  2. I Thought About You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer
  3. That’s All There Is to That – Clyde Otis, Kelly Owens
  4. I Won’t Cry Anymore – Al Frisch, Fred Wise
  5. I’m Thru with Love – Gus Kahn, Fud Livingston, Matty Malneck
  6. Cry Me a River – Arthur Hamilton
  7. What a Difference a Day Makes – Stanley Adams, María Mendez Grever
  8. Nothing in the World – Brook Benton, Belford Hendricks, Clyde Otis
  9. Manhattan – Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
  10. Time after Time – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  11. It’s Magic – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  12. A Sunday Kind of Love – Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, Louis Prima, Stan Rhodes
  13. Time after Time (First Version) – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  14. Come On Home (bonus) – Juanita Hill, Dinah Washington
  15. It Could Happen To You (bonus) – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke

Charles Mingus: Mingus Three

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In November 1957, “Jubilee” label released “Mingus Three”, the eight Charles Mingus album. It was recorded in July 1957, in New York City.

Personnel:

  • Charles Mingus – bass
  • Hampton Hawes – piano
  • Dannie Richmond – drums, tambourine

Track listing:

All tracks by Charles Mingus except where noted.

  1. Yesterdays – Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern
  2. Back Home Blues
  3. I Can’t Get Started – Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin
  4. Hamp’s New Blues – Hampton Hawes
  5. Summertime – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
  6. Dizzy Moods
  7. Laura – Johnny Mercer, David Raksin

Ian Shaw: In A New York Minute

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On September 28, 1999, “Milestone” label released “In a New York Minute”, the sixth Ian Shaw album. It was recorded in September 1998, and was produced by Todd Barkan.

Personnel:

  • Ian Shaw – vocals, arrangements
  • Iain Ballamy – saxophone
  • Joe Beck – guitar
  • Cedar Walton – piano, arrangements
  • Geoff Gascoyne – arrangements
  • James Pearson
  • Simon Wallace
  • James Pearson
  • Troy Halderson – engineer
  • Todd A. Gerard – mastering
  • Jamie Putnam – art direction, design
  • John Abbott – photography
  • Darren Crowdy – executive producer
  • Will Friedwald – liner notes
  • Jack Frisch

Track listing:

  1. In a New York Minute – Fran Landesman, Simon Wallace
  2. Standing in the Dark – Sikandar Luck
  3. Wouldn’t It Be Loverly – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe
  4. I Thought About You – Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Van Heusen
  5. Furry Sings the Blues – Joni Mitchell
  6. Grandma’s Hands – Bill Withers
  7. Alfie – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  8. All or Nothing at All – Arthur Altman, Jack Lawrence

Eva Cassidy: Eva By Heart

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On September 23, 1997, “Blix Street” label released “Eva by Heart”, the third Eva Cassidy album. It was recorded in 1997, and was produced by Chris Biondo. The album was released year after her death (Cassidy died in November 1996).

Personnel:

  • Eva Cassidy – lead and backing vocals, acoustic and wah wah guitar, strings, cello, keyboards, arrangements
  • Chris Biondo – acoustic guitar, bass
  • Keith Grimes – electric guitar
  • Mark Carson – piano, backing vocals
  • Anthony Flowers – organ
  • John Gillespie – organ, backing vocals
  • Lenny Williams – organ, strings, keyboards, string arrangements
  • Kent Wood – piano
  • Larry Melton – bass
  • Raice McLeod – drums
  • William “JuJu” House – drums
  • Leigh Pilzer – tenor and baritone saxophone, horn arrangements
  • Chris Walker – trumpet
  • Doug Elliot – trombone
  • Dan Haverstock – trombone
  • Dan Cassidy – violin
  • Mike Stein – violin
  • Karen Van Sant – violin
  • Chuck Brown – backing vocals
  • Chris Biondo – drums programming
  • Chris Biondo, Lenny Williams, Kent Wood – engineer
  • Robert Vosgien – mastering
  • Eilen White – design
  • Joel Siegel – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. I Know You by Heart – Eve Nelson, Diane Scanlon
  2. Time Is a Healer – Diane Scanlon, Greg Smith
  3. Wayfaring Stranger – traditional
  4. Wade in the Water – traditional
  5. Blues in the Night – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  6. Songbird – Christine McVie
  7. Need Your Love So Bad – Little Willie John, Mertis John Jr.
  8. Say Goodbye – Steven Digman, Andrew Hernandez
  9. Nightbird – Doug MacLeod
  10. Waly, Waly – traditional
  11. The Dark End of the Street – Dan Penn, Chips Moman

Nat King Cole: Penthouse Serenade

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In September 1952, “Capitol” label released “Penthouse Serenade”, the eight Nat King Cole album.

Personnel:

  • Nat King Cole – piano, arrangements

Track listing:

  1. Penthouse Serenade (When We’re Alone) Val Burton, Will Jason
  2. Somebody Loves Me – Ballard MacDonald, Buddy DeSylva, George Gershwin
  3. Laura – David Raksin, Johnny Mercer
  4. Once in a Blue Moon (based on Rubinstein’s Melody in F)
  5. Polka Dots and the Old Man Stream – James Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  6. Down by the Old Mill Stream – Tell Taylor
  7. If I Should Lose You – Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger
  8. Rose Room – Art Hickman, Harry Williams

Christian McBride: Without Further Ado, Vol. 1

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On August 29, 2025, “Mack Avenue Records” label released “Without Further Ado, Vol. 1”,  the 20th Christian McBride album. It was recorded in 2025, at “Blue Engine Studios”, “Sear Sound” and “The Power Station” in New York City, “Rocky Mountain Recorders” in Denver, and was produced by Christian McBride.

Personnel:

  • Christian McBride – acoustic and electric bass
  • Rodney Jones – guitar
  • Xavier Davis – piano, electric piano, clavinet
  • McClenty Hunter Jr. – drums
  • Andy Summers
  • Sting
  • Jeffrey Osborne
  • Samara Joy
  • José James
  • Cécile McLorin Salvant
  • Dianne Reeves
  • Antoinette Henry

Track listing:

  1. Murder by Numbers – Andy Summers, Sting
  2. Back in Love Again – Len Ron hanks, Zane Grey
  3. Old Folks – Dedette Lee Hill, Willard Robinso
  4. Moanin – Bobby Timmons
  5. All Through the Night – Cole Porter’
  6. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow – Gerald Goffin, Carole King
  7. Come Rain or Come Shine – Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen
  8. Op. 49 – Cold Chicken Suite 3rd Movement – Christian McBride

Ahmad Jamal: Tranquility

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In August 1968, “ABC” label released “Tranquility”, the 25th Ahmad Jamal album. It was recorded in 1968, and was produced by Bob Thiele.

Personnel:

  • Ahmad Jamal – piano
  • Jamil Sulieman – bass
  • Frank Gant – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Ahmad Jamal except where noted

  1. I Say a Little Prayer – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  2. The Look of Love – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  3. When I Look in Your Eyes – Leslie Bricusse
  4. Illusions Opticas – Joe Kennedy
  5. Nothing Ever Changes My Love for You – Jack Segal, Marvin Fisher
  6. Emily – Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer
  7. Tranquility
  8. Free Again – Armand Canfora, Joss Baselli, Robert Colby
  9. Manhattan Reflections

Frank Sinatra: Swing Easy

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On August 2, 1954, “Capitol” label released “Swing Easy!”, the eighth Frank Sinatra studio album. It was recorded in April 1954, at “Capitol” in Hollywood, and was produced by Voyle Gilmore. It was released in 10” vinyl format.

Personnel:

  • Frank Sinatra – vocals
  • Nelson Riddle – arrangements, conductor

Track listing:

  1. Just One of Those Things – Cole Porter
  2. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter) – Fred E. Ahlert, Joe Young
  3. Sunday – Chester Conn, Benny Krueger, Ned Miller, Jule Styne
  4. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams – Harry Barris, Ted Koehler, Billy Moll
  5. Taking a Chance on Love – Vernon Duke, Ted Fetter, John Latouche
  6. Jeepers Creepers – Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer
  7. Get Happy – Ted Koehler, Harold Arlen
  8. All of Me – Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons

June Christy: Something Cool

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On August 2, 1954, “Capitol” label released “Something Cool”, the debut June Christy album. It was recorded August 1953 – March 1954, and was produced by Lee Gillette. The album was released in 10” vinyl format.

Personnel:

  • June Christy — vocals
  • Pete Rugolo — arranger, conductor
  • Gus Bivona, Harry Klee, Bud Shank — flute, alto flute, alto saxophone
  • Bob Cooper, Ted Nash — flute, tenor saxophone
  • Skeets Herfurt, Willie Schwartz — alto saxophone
  • Fred Falensby, Jimmy Giuffre — tenor saxophone
  • Chuck Gentry, Bob Gordon, John Rotella — baritone saxophone
  • Frank Beach, Conte Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn, Ollie Mitchell, Uan Rasey, Shorty Rogers, Ray Triscari, Jimmy Zito — trumpet
  • Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, Nick Dimaio, Bob Fitzpatrick, Herbie Harper, Tommy Pederson, Dick Reynolds, Frank Rosolino — trombone
  • Dick Noel, George Roberts — bass trombone
  • Vincent DeRosa, John Graas — French horn
  • Paul Sarmento, Phil Stephens — tuba
  • Buddy Collette, Paul Horn — reeds
  • Joe Castro, Geoff Clarkson, Russ Freeman, Paul Smith, Claude Williamson — piano
  • Barney Kessel, Jack Marshall, Tony Rizzi, Howard Roberts — guitar
  • Harry Babasin, Joe Comfort, Joe Mondragon — bass
  • Larry Bunker, Frank Carlson, Shelly Manne, Alvin Stoller — drums

Track listing:

  1. Something Cool – Billy Barnes
  2. It Could Happen to You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
  3. Lonely House – Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes
  4. Midnight Sun – Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke, Johnny Mercer
  5. I’ll Take Romance – Ben Oakland, Oscar Hammerstein II
  6. A Stranger Called the Blues – Mel Torme, Robert Wells
  7. I Should Care – Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl