Tag Archives: Take the “A” Train

Booker Ervin: Structurally Sound

In April 1967, “Pacific Jazz” label released “Structurally Sound”, the 16th Booker Ervin album. It was recorded in December 1966, at “Pacific Jazz Studios” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Richard Bock.

Personnel:

  • Booker Ervin – tenor saxophone
  • Charles Tolliver – trumpet
  • John Hicks – piano
  • Red Mitchell – bass
  • Lenny McBrowne – drums
  • Dino Lappas – engineer
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Gabor Halmos – design
  • Fred Seligo – photography
  • Leroy Robinson – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Berkshire Blues – Randy Weston
  2. Dancing in the Dark – Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz
  3. Stolen Moments – Oliver Nelson
  4. Franess – Charles Tolliver
  5. Boo’s Blues – Booker Ervin
  6. You’re My Everything – Harry Warren, Mort Dixon, Joe Young
  7. Deep Night – Charles Henderson, Rudy Vallee
  8. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn

Yusef Lateef: The Sounds of Yusef

In March 1958, “Prestige” label released “The Sounds of Yusef”, the seventh Yusef Lateef album. It was recorded in October 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

  • Yusef Lateef – tenor saxophone, flute, tambourine, argol
  • Wilbur Harden – flugelhorn, balloon
  • Hugh Lawson – piano, Turkish finger cymbals, 7 Up bottle, balloon, bells
  • Ernie Farrow – bass, rabat
  • Oliver Jackson – drums, gong, earth board
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recoding
  • Mark Rice – design
  • Ed Edwards – photography
  • Ira Gitler – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Yusef Lateef, except where noted.

  1. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  2. Playful Flute – Wilbur Harden
  3. Love and Humor
  4. Buckingham
  5. Meditation

Oscar peterson: Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington

In December 1952, “Clef Records” label released “Oscar Peterson Plays Duke Ellington”, the sixth Oscar Peterson album. It was recorded in December 1952, and was produced by Norman Granz. This is the first of two Oscar Petersons Duke Ellington songbook albums (released in the 50’s as 10”).

Personnel:

  • Oscar Peterson – piano
  • Barney Kessel – guitar
  • Ray Brown – double bass
  • David Stone Martin – artwork
  • Norman Granz – liner notes, supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington, except where noted.

  1. John Hardy’s Wife – Mercer Ellington
  2. Sophisticated Lady – Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
  3. Things Ain’t What They Used to Be – Mercer Ellington, Ted Persons
  4. Just A-Sittin’ and A-Rockin’ – Lee Gaines, Billy Strayhorn
  5. In a Mellow Tone
  6. I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) – Paul Francis Webster
  7. Prelude to a Kiss – Mack Gordon, Irving Mills
  8. Cotton Tail
  9. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell
  10. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  11. Rockin’ in Rhythm – Irving Mills
  12. Never No Lament (Do Nothin’ Til You Hear from Me) – Duke Ellington, Bob Russell

Clark Terry: Duke With A Difference

In October 1957, “Riverside” label released “Duke with a Difference”, the fourth Clark Terry album. It was recorded in September 1957, at “Reeves Sound” in New York City, and was produced by Orin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  1. Clark Terry – trumpet, arrangements
  2. Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone 
  3. Paul Gonsalves – tenor saxophone 
  4. Quentin Jackson, Britt Woodman – trombone
  5. Tyree Glenn – trombone, vibraphone
  6. Billy Strayhorn – piano
  7. Luther Henderson – celeste
  8. Jimmy Woode – bass
  9. Sam Woodyard – drums
  10. Marian Bruce – vocals
  11. Mercer Ellington – arrangements
  12. Jack Higgins – engineer
  13. Jack Matthewes – engineer
  14. Paul Bacon – design
  15. Paul Weller – photography
  16. Orrin Keepnews – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Duke Ellington except where noted.

  1. C Jam Blues – Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
  2. In a Sentimental Mood – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Manny Kurtz
  3. Cotton Tail
  4. Just Squeeze Me
  5. Mood Indigo – Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington
  6. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  7. In a Mellow Tone
  8. Come Sunday

New York Unit: Blue Bossa

On December 16, 1990, “Paddle Wheel” label released “Blue Bossa”, the second George Adams album with the “New York Unit”. It was recorded in 1990, at “MusicInn Studio” in Tokyo.

Personnel:

  • George Adams– tenor sax
  • John Hicks– piano
  • Richard Davis– bass
  • Tatsuya Nakamura– drums

Track listing:

  1. Blue Bossa – Kenny Dorham
  2. The Everywhere Calypso – Sonny Rollins
  3. I Thought About You – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer
  4. Monk’s Mood – Thelonious Monk
  5. A Minor Melody – Roland Hanna
  6. Blues for Moment – George Adams
  7. Misako and Beautiful Shores – Richard Davis
  8. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn

Chaka Khan: Echoes Of The Era

On January 14, 1982, “Elektra” label released “Echoes of an Era”, the fifth Chaka Khan album. It was recorded 1981 -1982, at “Mad Hatter Studios”, Los Angeles, and was produced by Lenny White.

Personnel:

  • Chaka Khan- vocals
  • Joe Henderson- tenor saxophone
  • Freddie Hubbard- trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Chick Corea- piano
  • Stanley Clarke- acoustic bass
  • Lenny White- drums
  • Bernie Kirsch – engineer

Track listing:

  1. Them There Eyes – Maceo Pinkard, Doris Tauber, William Tracey
  2. All of Me – Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons
  3. I Mean You – Coleman Hawkins, Thelonious Monk
  4. I Loves You Porgy – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward
  5. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  6. I Hear Music – Burton Lane, Frank Loesser
  7. High Wire – The Aerialist – Chick Corea, Tony Cohen
  8. All of Me (Alternate take) – Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons
  9. Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most – Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf