Tag Archives: Van Gelder Studio

Curtis Fuller: The Opener

In September 1957, “Blue Note” label released “The Opener”, the third Curtis Fuller album. It was recorded in June 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Curtis Fuller – trombone
  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone 
  • Bobby Timmons – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Art Taylor – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Francis Wolff – cover photography
  • Robert Levin – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Curtis Fuller, excepted where noted.

  1. A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
  2. Hugore
  3. Oscalypso – Oscar Pettiford
  4. Here’s to My Lady – Rube Bloom, Johnny Mercer
  5. Lizzy’s Bounce
  6. Soon – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin

Johnny Griffin: Johnny Griffin Vol. 2

In September 1957, “Blue Note” label released “Johnny Griffin Vol. 2” (also known as “A Blowin’ Session”), the third Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in April 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin — tenor saxophone
  • John Coltrane — tenor saxophone
  • Hank Mobley — tenor saxophone
  • Lee Morgan — trumpet
  • Wynton Kelly — piano
  • Paul Chambers — bass
  • Art Blakey — drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Harold Feinstein – photography
  • Ira Gitler – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. The Way You Look Tonight – Jerome Kern, Dorothy Fields
  2. Ball Bearing – Johnny Griffin
  3. All the Things You Are – Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein
  4. Smoke Stack – Johnny Griffin

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

Lee Morgan: The Sixth Sense

In July 1970, “Blue Note” label released “The Sixth Sense”, the 28th Lee Morgan album. It was recorded November 1967 – September 1968, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Francis Wolff and Duke Pearson.

Personnel:

  • Lee Morgan – trumpet
  • Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
  • Frank Mitchell – tenor saxophone
  • Cedar Walton – piano
  • Harold Mabern – piano
  • Mickey Bass – bass
  • Victor Sproles – bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Lee Morgan, except where noted.

  1. The Sixth Sense
  2. Short Count
  3. Psychedelic
  4. Afreaka – Cedar Walton
  5. Anti Climax
  6. The Cry of My People – Cal Massey

Grant Green: Green is Beautiful

In July 1970, “Blue Note” label released “Green Is Beautiful”, the 27th Grant Green album. It was recorded in January 1970, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Francis Wolff.

Personnel:

  • Grant Green – guitar
  • Neal Creque, Emmanuel Riggins – organ
  • Jimmy Lewis – electric bass
  • Idris Muhammad – drums
  • Candido Camero – conga
  • Richie “Pablo” Landrum – bongos
  • Blue Mitchell – trumpet
  • Claude Bartee – tenor saxophone

Track listing:

  1. Ain’t It Funky Now – James Brown
  2. A Day in the Life – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  3. The Windjammer – Neal Creque
  4. I’ll Never Fall in Love Again – Burt Bacharach, Hal David
  5. Dracula – Neal Creque

Kenny Dorham: Trompeta Toccata

In July 1965, “Blue Note” label released “Trompeta Toccata”, the 20th Kenny Dorham album. It was recorded in September 1964, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Dorham – trumpet
  • Joe Henderson – tenor saxophone
  • Tommy Flanagan – piano
  • Richard Davis – double bass
  • Albert Heath – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Nat Hentoff – liner notes

Track listing:

All tracks by Kenny Dorham, except where noted.

  1. Trompeta Toccata
  2. Night Watch
  3. Mamacita – Joe Henderson
  4. The Fox

Hank Mobley: The Turnaround!

In July 1965, “Blue Note” label released “The Turnaround!”, the 25th Hank Mobley album. It was recorded in March 1963 and February 1965, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
  • Donald Byrd – trumpet
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Herbie Hancock – piano
  • Barry Harris – piano
  • Butch Warren – bass
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Reid Miles – design
  • Francis Wolff – photography
  • Del Shields – liner notes

All tracks by Hank Mobley, except where noted.

  1. The Turnaround
  2. East of the Village
  3. The Good Life – Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon
  4. Straight Ahead
  5. My Sin
  6. Pat ‘n’ Chat

John Coltrane: Stardust

In July 1963, “Prestige” label released “Stardust”, the tenth John Coltrane album. It was recorded in July 1958, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Bob Weinstock.

Personnel:

  • John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
  • Wilbur Harden – flugelhorn, trumpet
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Red Garland – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Jimmy Cobb – drums
  • Arthur Taylor – drums

Track listing:

  1. Stardust – Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish
  2. Time After Time – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  3. Love Thy Neighbor – Mack Gordon, Harry Revel
  4. Then I’ll Be Tired of You – Yip Harburg, Arthur Schwartz

Elvin Jones: Poly-Currents

In June 1970, “Blue Note” label released “Poly-Currents”, the twelve Elvin Jones album. It was recorded in September 1969, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Francis Wolff.

Personnel:

  • Elvin Jones – drums
  • George Coleman – tenor saxophone
  • Joe Farrell – tenor saxophone, English horn, flute, bass flute
  • Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
  • Fred Tompkins – flute
  • Wilbur Little – bass
  • Candido Camero – congas
  • Rudy Van Gelder – engineer
  • Frank Gauna – art direction
  • Bob Venosa – design

Track listing:

  1. Agenda – Elvin Jones
  2. Agappe Love – Joe Farrell
  3. Mr. Jones – Keiko Jones
  4. Yes – Fred Tompkins
  5. Whew – Wilbur Little

Hank Mobley: Same

In June 1958, “Blue Note” label released the self-titled, eleventh Hank Mobley album. It was recorded in June 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
  • Curtis Porter – alto and tenor saxophone
  • Bill Hardman – trumpet
  • Sonny Clark – piano
  • Paul Chambers – bass
  • Art Taylor – drums

Track listing:

  1. Mighty Moe and Joe – Curtis Porter
  2. Falling in Love with Love – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
  3. Bags’ Groove – Milt Jackson
  4. Double Exposure – Hank Mobley
  5. News – Curtis Porter