Tag Archives: Watermelon Man

Maynard Ferguson: The New Sounds Of Maynard Ferguson

In April 1963, “Cameo” label released “The New Sounds of Maynard Ferguson”, the 21st Maynard Ferguson album. It was recorded in March 1963, at “Fine Recording Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Dave Edelman.

Personnel:

  • Maynard Ferguson – trumpet, valve trombone, French horn
  • Lanny Morgan – alto saxophone
  • Willie Maiden, Frank Vicari – tenor saxophone
  • Ronnie Cuber – baritone saxophone
  • Dusan Goykovitch, Nat Pavone, Rick Kiefer – trumpet
  • Don Doane, Kenny Rupp – trombone
  • Mike Abene – piano
  • Linc Milliman – bass
  • Rufus Jones – drums
  • Mike Abene, Willie Maiden, Don Sebesky – arrangements

Track listing:

  1. Take the “A” Train – Billy Strayhorn
  2. Bossa Nova de Funk – Willie Maiden
  3. Gravy Waltz – Steve Allen, Ray Brown
  4. Cherokee (Indian Love Song) – Ray Noble
  5. I’m Getting Sentimental Over You – George Bassman, Ned Washington
  6. One O’Clock Jump – Count Basie
  7. At the Sound of the Trumpet – Maynard Ferguson, Willi Maiden
  8. Maine Bone – Mike Abene
  9. Watermelon Man – Herbie Hancock
  10. Danny Boy – traditional

Gerald Wilson Orchestra: Feelin’ Kinda Blues

In December 1965, “Pacific Jazz” label released “Feelin’ Kinda Blues”, album by Gerald Wilson Orchestra (the sixth Gerald Wilson album overall). It was recorded November – December 1965, at “United Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Richard Bock.

Personnel:

  • Gerald Wilson – conductor, arrangements
  • Anthony Ortega – alto saxophone, flute, piccolo
  • Curtis Amy – soprano saxophone
  • Teddy Edwards, Harold Land – tenor saxophone
  • Jack Nimitz – baritone saxophone
  • Bobby Bryant, Jules Chaikin, Freddie Hill, Nat Meeks, Melvin Moore, Al Porcino – trumpet
  • Bob Edmondson, John Ewing, Lester Robertson – trombone
  • Fred Murell – bass trombone
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Phil Moore III – piano
  • Don Randi – organ
  • Victor Feldman – vibraphone
  • Buddy Woodson – bass
  • Mel Lee – drums
  • Modesto Duran,  Adolfo Valdes – percussion
  • Bones Howe (Daytron Burr Howe) – percussion, engineer
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Jon Nimmo – photography

Track listing:

  1. When I’m Feeling Kinda Blue – Gerald Wilson
  2. Freddie Freeloader – Miles Davis
  3. Do Anything You Wanna – Harold Betters, Carl Ramsey
  4. Yesterday – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Watermelon Man – Herbie Hancock
  6. Yeh Yeh – Rodgers Grant, Pat Patrick, Jon Hendricks
  7. One On the House – Harry James, Ernie Wilkins
  8. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown
  9. I Concentrate on You – Cole Porter
  10. Well Son Shuffle – Mike Barone

Herbie Hancock: Takin’ Off

In October 1962, “Blue Note” label released “Takin’ Off”, the debut Herbie Hancock album. It was recorded in May 1962, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Herbie Hancock – piano
  • Freddie Hubbard – trumpet
  • Dexter Gordon – tenor saxophone
  • Butch Warren – double bass
  • Billy Higgins – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Herbie Hancock.

  1. Watermelon Man
  2. Three Bags Full
  3. Empty Pockets
  4. The Maze
  5. Driftin’
  6. Alone and I

Gerald Wilson Orchestra: Feelin’ Kinda Blues

In December 1965, “Pacific Jazz” label released “Feelin’ Kinda Blues”, the fourth Gerald Wilson (Gerald Wilson Orchestra) album. It was recorded November – December 1965, at “United Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Richard Bock.

Personnel:

  • Gerald Wilson – arranger, conductor
  • Bobby Bryant, Jules Chaikin, Freddie Hill, Nat Meeks, Melvin Moore, Al Porcino – trumpet
  • Bob Edmondson, John Ewing, Lester Robertson – trombone
  • Fred Murell – bass trombone
  • Curtis Amy – soprano saxophone
  • Anthony Ortega – alto saxophone, flute, piccolo
  • Teddy Edwards, Harold Land – tenor saxophone
  • Jack Nimitz – baritone saxophone
  • Phil Moore III – piano
  • Don Randi – organ
  • Dennis Budimir – guitar
  • Buddy Woodson – bass
  • Victor Feldman – vibraphone
  • Mel Lee – drums
  • Modesto Duran, Bones Howe, Adolfo Valdes – percussion
  • Gerald Wilson – arrangements
  • Bonew Howe – engineer
  • Woody Woodward – art direction
  • Jon Nimmo – photography
  • Howard Rumsey – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. When I’m Feeling Kinda Blue – Gerald Wilson
  2. Freddie Freeloader – Miles Davis
  3. Do Anything You Wanna – Harold Betters, Carl Ramsey
  4. Yesterday – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
  5. Watermelon Man – Herbie Hancock
  6. Yeh Yeh – Rodgers Grant, Pat Patrick, Jon Hendricks
  7. One On the House – Harry James, Ernie Wilkins
  8. I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown
  9. I Concentrate on You – Cole Porter
  10. Well Son Shuffle – Mike Barone

The Gun Club: Miami

On September 20, 1982, “Animal Records” label released “Miami”, the second Gun Club (The) studio album. It was recorded in June 1982, at “Blank Tape Studios” in New York, and was produced by Chris Stein.

Personnel:

  • Jeffrey Lee Pierce – vocals, guitar, piano, lead guitar
  • Ward Dotson – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Rob Ritter– bass
  • Terry Graham – drums
  • Mark Tomeo – steel guitar
  • Walter Steding – fiddle
  • Chris Stein– bongos
  • H. Laurence, Jr. (Debbie Harry) – backing vocals
  • Joe Arlotta – session engineer
  • Butch Jones – mixing
  • Chris D.- design, original photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Jeffrey Lee Pierce except where noted.

  1. Carry Home
  2. Like Calling Up Thunder
  3. Brother and Sister
  4. Run Through the Jungle – John Fogerty
  5. A Devil in the Woods
  6. Texas Serenade
  7. Watermelon Man – Ward Dotson, Jeffrey Lee Pierce
  8. Bad Indian
  9. John Hardy – traditional; arranged by Jeffrey Lee Pierce
  10. Fire of Love – Jody Reynolds, Stordivant Sonya
  11. Sleeping in Blood City
  12. Mother of Earth

Mongo Santamaria

On February 1, 2003, Ramón “Mongo” Santamaría Rodríguez died aged 85. He was musician (congas, bongos), performed and recorded with Perez Prado, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Fania All Stars, Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielemans, Lalo Schifrin and Paul Horn. His 1977 album “Amanecer” won a “Grammy” award, and his hit rendition of Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man” was inducted into the “Grammy Hall of Fame” in 1998. He is composer of the jazz standard “Afro Blue”, recorded by John Coltrane among others.