Tag Archives: Kenny Clarke

Thelonious Monk: Monk’s Music

In November 1957, “Riverside” label released “Monk’s Music”, an album by Thelonious Monk Septet. It was recorded in June 1957, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews. In 2001, the album was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame”.

Personnel:

  • Thelonious Monk – piano
  • Gigi Gryce – alto saxophone, arrangements
  • Coleman Hawkins – tenor saxophone
  • John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
  • Ray Copeland – trumpet
  • Wilbur Ware – double bass
  • Art Blakey – drums
  • Jack Higgins – recording
  • Paul Bacon – design
  • Paul Weller – cover photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Thelonious Monk, except where noted.

  1. Abide with Me – Henry Francis Lyte, William Henry Monk
  2. Well, You Needn’t
  3. Ruby, My Dear
  4. Off Minor
  5. Epistrophy – Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke
  6. Crepuscule With Nellie

Kenny Burrell: Introducing Kenny Burrell

In September 1956, “Blue Note” label released “Introducing Kenny Burrell”, the debut Kenny Burrell album. It was recorded in May 1956, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • Tommy Flanagan – piano
  • Paul Chambers – double bass
  • Kenny Clarke – drums
  • Candido Camero – conga
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid K. Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Leonard Feather – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. This Time the Dream’s on Me – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  2. Fugue ‘n’ Blues – Kenny Burrell
  3. Takeela – Kenny Burrell
  4. Weaver of Dreams – Jack Elliot, Victor Young
  5. Delilah – Victor Young
  6. Rhythmorama – Kenny Clarke
  7. Blues for Skeeter – Kenny Burrell

Duško Gojković 

On April 5, 2023, Duško Gojković died aged 91. He was musician (trumpet), composer and arranger. Regarded as one of the best jazz trumpet players in the world, he recorded and performed with many famous musicians, including Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Oscar Pettiford, Maynard Ferguson, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, Sonny Rollins, Duke Jordan, Slide Hampton, Rolf Ericson, Kenny Clarke, Francy Boland and Woody Herman. In 1966, he released “Swinging Macedonia”, which is regarded as the definitive album of the Balkan’s jazz music. As leader, Gojković released 32 albums.

Thelonious Monk: Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Elington

In December 1955, “Riverside” label released “Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington”, album by Thelonious Monk. It was recorded in July 1957, at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.  

Personnel:

  • Thelonious Monk – piano
  • Oscar Pettiford – bass
  • Kenny Clarke – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington except where noted

  1. It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)
  2. Sophisticated Lady
  3. I Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good
  4. Black and Tan Fantasy – Bubber Miley, Duke Ellington
  5. Mood Indigo – Duke Ellington, Barney Bigard
  6. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart
  7. Solitude
  8. Caravan – Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington

J. J. Johnson & Kai Winding: Jay & Kai

In April 1957, “Columbia” label released “Jay and Kai”, album by J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding. It was recorded in November 1955, July – December 17, 1956, and January 1957 in New York City.

Personnel:

  • J. J. Johnson – trombone, trombonium 
  • Kai Winding – trombone, trombonium
  • Wayne Andre, Carl Fontana – trombone
  • Dick Leib – bass trombone 
  • Bobby Jaspar – tenor saxophone
  • Roy Frazee, Hank Jones, Dick Katz – piano
  • Bill Crow, Percy Heath, Milt Hinton, Kenny O’Brien – bass
  • Kenny Clarke, Jack Franklin, Elvin Jones, Shadow Wilson – drums
  • Candido Camero – bongos

Track listing:

  1. You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To – Cole Porter
  2. Caribe – Kai Winding
  3. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe – Harold Arlen, Yip Harburg
  4. The Song Is You – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  5. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – David Mann, Bob Hilliard
  6. Yes, You – Dick Leib
  7. Tromboniums in Motion – J. J. Johnson
  8. How High the Moon – Morgan Lewis, Nancy Hamilton
  9. Violets for Your Furs – Matt Dennis, Tom Adair
  10. Too Close for Comfort – Jerry Bock, George David Weiss, Larry Holofcener
  11. ‘S Wonderful – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  12. I Should Care – Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn

Kenny Burrell: Same (second album)

In April 1957, “Blue Note” label released the self-titled, second Kenny Burrell studio album. It was recorded March – May 1956, at “Audio-Video Studios” in New York City and “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, NJ, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • Tommy Flanagan – piano 
  • Frank Foster – tenor saxophone
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Oscar Pettiford – bass
  • Kenny Clarke – drums
  • Shadow Wilson – drums
  • Candido – conga 
  • Andy Warhol – cover art

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenny Burrell except where noted.

  1. Get Happy – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  2. But Not for Me – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
  3. Moten Swing – Bennie Moten
  4. Cheetah
  5. Now See How You Are – Woody Harris, Oscar Pettiford
  6. Phinupi
  7. How About You? – Burton Lane, Ralph Freed

Milt Jackson: Roll Em Bags

On January 5, 1956, “Savoy” label released “Roll ‘Em Bags”, the fourth Milt Jackson album. It was recorded in January 1949 and January 1956, in New York City, and at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Ozzie Cadena.

Personnel:

  • Milt Jackson – vibes, piano
  • Kenny Dorham – trumpet
  • Julius Watkins – French horn
  • Billy Mitchell, Lucky Thompson – tenor saxophone
  • Wade Legge – piano
  • Wendell Marshall, Curly Russell – bass
  • Kenny Clarke – drums
  • Joe Harris – timbales

Track listing:

All tracks by Milt Jackson except where noted.

  1. Conglomeration
  2. Bruz
  3. You Go to My Head – J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie
  4. Roll ‘Em Bags
  5. Faultless
  6. Hey, Frenchy – Ozzie Cadena
  7. Come Rain or Come Shine – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  8. Fred’s Mood
  9. Wild Man

Thelonious Monk: With John Coltrane

In October 1961, “Jazzland” label released “Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane”, album by Thelonious Monk. It was recorded April – July 1957, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Thelonious Monk – piano
  • John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
  • Ray Copeland – trumpet 
  • Gigi Gryce – alto saxophone 
  • Coleman Hawkins – tenor saxophone
  • Wilbur Ware – bass
  • Shadow Wilson – drums 
  • Art Blakey – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Thelonious Monk except where noted..

  1. Ruby, My Dear
  2. Trinkle, Tinkle
  3. Off Minor (take 4)
  4. Nutty
  5. Epistrophy – Kenny Clarke, Thelonious Monk
  6. Functional (take 1)

Bud Powell: The Lonely One…

On September 3, 1955, “Verve” label released “The Lonely One…”, the tenth Bud Powell studio album. It was recorded January – April 1955, at “Fine Sound Studios” in New York and was produced by Norman Granz.

Personnel:

  • Bud Powell– piano
  • George Duvivier– bass
  • Art Taylor– drums
  • Percy Heath– bass
  • Kenny Clarke– drums
  • Sheldon Marks – art director
  • Howard Morehead – cover photography

Track listing:

  1. Confirmation – Charlie Parker
  2. Star Eyes – Gene De Paul, Don Raye
  3. Lullaby in Rhythm – Clarence Profit, Edgar Sampson, Benny Goodman, Walter Hirsch
  4. Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronnell
  5. Mediocre
  6. All the Things You Are – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II
  7. Epistrophy – Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke
  8. Dance of the Infidels
  9. Salt Peanuts – Dizzy Gillespie, Kenny Clarke
  10. Hey George (Sweet Georgia Brown) – Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey

Sacha Distel

On July 22, 2004, Alexandre “Sacha” Distel died aged 71. He was musician (guitar), singer and actor, during his career worked with Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennett, Kenny Clarke, Jimmy Gourley, Lionel Hampton, Slide Hampton, Bobby Jaspar, Barney Kessel, John Lewis, Pierre Michelot, Bernard Peiffer, Henri Renaud, Fats Sadi, Art Simmons, Martial Solal, René Urtreger, and Barney Wilen.  In 1997, Distel was made “Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d’honneur”.