Tag Archives: Langston Hughes

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

Abbey Lincoln: Straight Ahead

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In July 1961, “Candid” label released “Straight Ahead”, the fifth Abbey Lincoln album. It was recorded in February 1961, at “Nola Penthouse Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Nat Hentoff.

Personnel:

  • Abbey Lincoln — vocals
  • Julian Priester — trombone
  • Eric Dolphy — alto saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, piccolo
  • Walter Benton — tenor saxophone
  • Coleman Hawkins — tenor saxophone
  • Booker Little — trumpet
  • Mal Waldron — piano
  • Art Davis — bass
  • Max Roach — drums
  • Roger Sanders, Robert Whitley — congas

Track listing:

  1. Straight Ahead – Abbey Lincoln, Earl Baker, Mal Waldron
  2. When Malindy Sings – Oscar Brown, Paul Lawrence Dunbar
  3. In the Red – Chips Bayen, Abbey Lincoln, Max Roach
  4. Blue Monk – Abbey Lincoln, Thelonious Monk
  5. Left Alone – Billie Holiday, Mal Waldron
  6. African Lady – Langston Hughes, Randy Weston
  7. Retribution – Abbey Lincoln, Julian Priester

Muddy Waters: At Newport 1960

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On November 15, 1960, “Chess” label released “At Newport 1960”, album by Muddy Waters. It was recorded in July 1960, at “Newport Jazz Festival”, in Newport, Rhode Island, and was produced by Leonard Chess. “Rolling Stone” magazine included it at number 348 on its list of “500 Greatest Albums of all Time”.

Personnel:

  • Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) – vocals, guitar
  • Otis Spann – vocals, piano
  • Pat Hare – guitar
  • James Cotton – harmonica
  • Andrew Stephens – bass
  • Francis Clay – drums
  • Jack Tracy – liner notes
  • Burt Goldblatt – photography
  • Mary Katherine Aldin – liner notes
  • Bob Schnieders – liner notes, coordination, research
  • Geary Chansley – photo research

Track listing:

All tracks by McKinsley Morganfield, executive producer.

  • I Got My Brand on You – McKinley Morganfield
  • I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man
  • Baby, Please Don’t Go
  • Soon Forgotten – James Oden
  • Tiger in Your Tank – Willie Dixon
  • I Feel So Good – Big Bill Broonzy
  • Got My Mojo Working
  • Got My Mojo Working, Part 2
  • Goodbye Newport Blues – Langston Hughes, McKinley Morganfield

Betty Carter: I’m Yours, You’re Mine

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In January 1997, “Verve” label released “I’m Yours, You’re Mine”, the 23rd and the final Betty Carter album. It was recorded in 1996, at “Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Betty Crater.

Personnel:

  • Betty Carter – vocals
  • Mark Shim – tenor saxophone
  • Andre Hayward – trombone
  • Xavier Davis – piano
  • Curtis Lundy – double bass
  • Matt Hughes – bass
  • Gregory Hutchinson – drums
  • Joe Ferla – engineer
  • Rory Romano – engineer assistant
  • Ted Wohlsen – mixing
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Anthony Barboza – photography

Track listing:

  1. This Time – Jule Styne
  2. I’m Yours, You’re Mine – Betty Carter, Curtis Lundy
  3. Lonely House – Langston Hughes, Kurt Weill
  4. Close Your Eyes – Bernice Petkere
  5. Useless Landscape – Aloysio de Oliveira, Ray Gilbert, Antonio Carlos Jobim
  6. East of the Sun (and West of the Moon) – Brooks Bowman
  7. September Song – Maxwell Anderson, Kurt Weill

Randy Weston: Uhuru Afrika

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In April 1961, “Roulette” label released “Uhuru Afrika”, the thirteenth Randy Weston album. It was recorded in November 1960, at “Bell Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Teddy Reig. The album features lyrics and liner notes by the poet Langston Hughes and was banned in South Africa in 1964.

Personnel:

  • Randy Weston – piano
  • Clark Terry – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Benny Bailey, Richard Williams, Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Slide Hampton, Jimmy Cleveland, Quentin Jackson – trombone
  • Julius Watkins – French horn
  • Gigi Gryce – alto saxophone, flute
  • Yusef Lateef – tenor saxophone, flute, oboe
  • Sahib Shihab – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone
  • Budd Johnson – tenor saxophone, clarinet
  • Jerome Richardson – baritone saxophone, piccolo
  • Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone
  • Les Spann – guitar, flute
  • Kenny Burrell – guitar
  • George Duvivier, Ron Carter – bass
  • Max Roach, Charlie Persip – drums, percussion
  • Wilbert Hogan – drums
  • Babatunde Olatunji – percussion
  • Armando Peraza – bongos
  • Candido Camero – congas
  • Martha Flowers, Brock Peters – vocals
  • Tuntemeke Sanga – narrator
  • Melba Liston – arranger

Track listing:

All tracks by Randy Weston, except where noted.

  1. Introduction: Uhuru Kwanza – Langston Hughes
  2. First Movement: Uhuru Kwanza
  3. Second Movement: African Lady – Randy Weston, Langston Hughes
  4. Third Movement: Bantu
  5. Fourth Movement: Kucheza Blues

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: English Electric

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On April 5, 2013, “100%”, “BMG” labels released “English Electric”, the twelfth Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark studio album. It was recorded 2012 – 2103 at “Motor Museum Studio” in Liverpool, “Bleepworks” in London, and was produced by Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Martin Cooper and Malcolm Holmes.

Personnel:

  • Andy McCluskey– vocals, bass guitar, keyboards
  • Paul Humphreys– vocals, keyboards, mixing
  • Martin Cooper– keyboards
  • Malcolm Holmes– drums, additional programming
  • David Watson– backing vocals
  • Claudia Brücken– machine voice
  • Fotonovela– additional programming
  • James Watson – additional programming
  • Abbey Lincoln– sample performer
  • Charles Reeves– Chinese recording
  • Mike Spink – additional engineering
  • Peter Saville– art direction
  • Tom Skipp – design
  • Innes Marlow – photography
  • Guy Katsav– additional production

Track listing:

  1. Please Remain Seated – Andy McCluskey
  2. Metroland – Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys
  3. Night Café – Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys
  4. The Future Will Be Silent – Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys
  5. Helen of Troy – Andy McCluskey, Bitzenis, Geranois
  6. Our System – Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys
  7. Kissing the Machine – Andy McCluskey, Karl Bartos
  8. Decimal – Andy McCluskey
  9. Stay With Me – Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, James Watson
  10. Dresden – Andy McCluskey
  11. Atomic Ranch – Andy McCluskey
  12. Final Song – Andy McCluskey, Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes

Jane Ira Bloom: The Nearness

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On February 20, 1996, “Arabesque” label released “The Nearness”, the eight Jane Ira Bloom album. It was recorded in July 1995, at “Power Station Studio B” in New York City, and was produced by Jane Ira Bloom.

Personnel:

  • Jane Ira Bloom– soprano saxophone
  • Kenny Wheeler– flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Julian Priester– trombone, bass trombone
  • Fred Hersch– piano
  • Rufus Reid– bass
  • Bobby Previte– drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Jane Ira Bloom except where noted

  1. Nearly Summertime – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
  2. Midnight Round/’Round Midnight – Jane Ira Bloom, Thelonious Monk
  3. 6 Bop
  4. Midnight’s Measure/In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – Jane Ira Bloom, David Mann, Bob Hilliard
  5. Painting Over Paris
  6. Wing Dinning
  7. Panosonic
  8. White Tower
  9. It’s a Corrugated World
  10. Monk’s Tale/The Nearness of You – Jane Ira Bloom, Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
  11. Lonely House – Kurt Weill, Langston Hughes
  12. The All-Diesel Kitchen of Tomorrow
  13. Yonder

Joan Baez: 5

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On October 1, 1964, “Vanguard” label released “Joan Baez 5”, the fifth Joan Baez album. It was recorded in 1964, and was produced by Maynard Solomon.

Personnel:

  • Joan Baez – vocals, guitar
  • Gino Foreman – guitar
  • David Soyer – cello
  • Langston Hughes – linear notes

Track listing:

  1. There but for Fortune – Phil Ochs
  2. Stewball – Ralph Rinzler, Bob Yellin, John Herald
  3. It Ain’t Me Babe – Bob Dylan
  4. The Death of Queen Jane – traditional
  5. Bachianas Brasileiras 5: Aria – Heitor Villa-Lobos
  6. Go ‘Way from My Window – traditional, arranged by John Jacob Niles
  7. I Still Miss Someone – Johnny Cash, Roy Cash Jr.
  8. When You Hear Them Cuckoos Hollerin’ – traditional
  9. Birmingham Sunday – Richard Fariña
  10. So We’ll Go No More A-Roving – Richard Dyer-Bennet, Lord Byron
  11. O’ Cangaceiro” (The Bandit) – Alfredo Ricardo do Nascimento
  12. The Unquiet Grave – traditional – Child 78

Charles Mingus

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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.