Tag Archives: Wilbur Ware

Kenny Drew: A Harold Arlen Showcase

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In May 1957, “Judson” label released “A Harold Arlen Showcase”, the sixth Kenny Drew album. It was recorded in February 1957, in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer Jr.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • Wilbur Ware – bass

Track listing:

  1. Come Rain or Come Shine – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  2. That Old Black Magic – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  3. Over the Rainbow – Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg
  4. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  5. As Long as I Live – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  6. It’s Only a Paper Moon – Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg, Billy Rose
  7. Stormy Weather – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  8. I’ve Got the World on a String – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  9. Let’s Fall in Love – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  10. Ill Wind – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
  11. Blues in the Night – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
  12. Get Happy – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler

Kenny Drew: A Harry Warren Showcase

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In May 1957, “Judson” label released “A Harry Warren Showcase”, the fifth Kenny Drew album. It was recorded in February 1957, in New York City, and was produced by Bill Grauer Jr. and Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • Wilbur Ware – bass

Track listing:

  1. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby – Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren
  2. Lullaby of Broadway – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
  3. Remember Me – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
  4. Jeepers Creepers – Johnny Mercer, Harry Warren
  5. I Only Have Eyes for You – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
  6. You’re My Everything – Mort Dixon, Joe Young, Harry Warren
  7. You’ll Never Know – Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
  8. The Boulevard of Broken Dreams – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
  9. You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
  10. Serenade in Blue – Mack Gordon, Harry Warren
  11. About a Quarter to Nine – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
  12. September in the Rain – Al Dubin, Harry Warren

Archie Shepp: For Losers

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In July 1970, “Impulse!” label released “For Losers”, the 17th Archie Shepp album. It was recorded in September 1968, February – August 1969, at “RCA Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Bob Thiele and Ed Michel.

Personnel:

  • Archie Shepp – soprano and tenor saxophone, liner notes
  • Robin Kenyatta – alto saxophone, flute
  • James Spaulding- alto saxophone
  • Clarence Sharpe – alto saxophone
  • Cecil Payne – baritone saxophone, flute
  • Charles Davis – baritone saxophone
  • Martin Banks – trumpet, flugelhorn
  • Jimmy Owens – trumpet
  • Woody Shaw – trumpet
  • Matthew Gee – trombone
  • Grachan Moncur III – trombone
  • Leon Thomas – vocals
  • China-Lin Sharpe – vocals
  • Cedar Walton – piano
  • Andrew Bey – piano
  • Dave Burrell – organ
  • Wally Richardson – guitar
  • Bert Payne – guitar
  • Wilbur Ware – bass
  • Albert Winston – electric bass, bass
  • Bob Bushnell – electric bass
  • Bernard Purdie – drums
  • Beaver Harris – drums
  • Joe Chambers – drums
  • Tasha Thomas, Doris Troy – backing vocals
  • George Whiteman – design
  • Chuck Stewart – photography
  • Bob Thiele, Ed Michel – supervision

Track listing:

All tracks by Archie Shepp, except where noted.

  1. Stick ‘Em Up
  2. Abstract
  3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) – Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
  4. What Would It Be Without You – Cal Massey
  5. Un Croque Monsieur

Johnny Griffin: Way Out!

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In November 1958, “Riverside” label released “Way Out!”, the sixth Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in February 1958, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • Wilbur Ware – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums
  • Jack Higgins – engineer
  • Orrin Keepnews – liner notes

Track listing:

  1. Where’s Your Overcoat, Boy? – Richard Evans
  2. Hot Sausage – Jody Christian
  3. Sunny Monday – John Hines
  4. Cherokee – Ray Noble
  5. Teri’s Tune – Teri Thornton
  6. Little John – John Hines

Thelonious Monk: Monk’s Music

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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 Drew: Pal Joey

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In October 1958, “Riverside” label released “Pal Joey”, the ninth Kenny Drew album. It was recorded in October 1957, at “Reeves Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • Wilbur Ware – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums
  • Jack Higgins – engineer
  • Paul Bacon – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.

  1. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
  2. Do It the Hard Way
  3. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
  4. Happy Hunting Horn
  5. I Could Write a Book
  6. What Is a Man?
  7. My Funny Valentine
  8. The Lady Is a Tramp

Hank Mobley: Hank

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In October 1957, “Blue Note” label released “Hank”, the tenth Hank Mobley album. It was recorded in April 1957, at “Van Gelder Studio” in Hackensack, New Jersey, and was produced by Alfred Lion.

Personnel:

  • Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
  • John Jenkins – alto saxophone
  • Donald Byrd – trumpet
  • Bobby Timmons – piano
  • Wilbur Ware – bass
  • Philly Joe Jones – drums
  • Rudy Van Gelder – recording
  • Yoshio Okazaki – engineer

Track listing:

All tracks by Hank Mobley except where noted.

  1. Fit for a Hanker
  2. Hi Groove, Low Feedback
  3. You’d Be So Easy to Love – Cole Porter
  4. Time After Time – Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne
  5. Dance of the Infidels – Bud Powell

Johnny Griffin: Johnny Griffin Sextet

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In May 1958, “Riverside” label released “Johnny Griffin Sextet”, the fifth Johnny Griffin album. It was recorded in February 1958, in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin — tenor saxophone
  • Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone
  • Donald Byrd – trumpet
  • Kenny Drew — piano
  • Wilbur Ware — bass
  • Philly Joe Jones — drums

Track listing:

  1. Stix’ Trix – Wilbur Campbell
  2. What’s New? – Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart
  3. Woody ‘n’ You – Dizzy Gillespie
  4. Johnny G.G. – John Hines
  5. Catharsis – Johnny Griffin

Art Blakey: Drum Suite

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In April 1957, “Columbia” label released “Drum Suite”, album by Art Blakey, side one is the Art Blakey Percussion Ensemble, side two is the Jazz Messengers. It was recorded June – December 1956, February 1957, at “Columbia 30th Street Studio” in New York City, and was produced by George Avakian.

Personnel:

  • Art Blakey – drums
  • Bill Hardman – trumpet
  • Donald Byrd – trumpet
  • Jackie McLean – alto saxophone
  • Ira Sullivan – tenor saxophone
  • Ray Bryant – piano
  • Sam Dockery – piano
  • Kenny Drew – piano
  • Oscar Pettiford – bass, cello
  • Spanky DeBrest – bass
  • Wilbur Ware – bass
  • Jo Jones – drums
  • Charles “Specs” Wright – drums, timpani, gong
  • Candido Camero – bongos
  • Sabu Martinez – bongos 

Track listing:

  1. The Sacrifice – Art Blakey
  2. Cubano Chant – Ray Bryant
  3. Oscalypso – Oscar Pettiford
  4. Nica’s Tempo – Gigi Gryce
  5. D’s Dilemma – Mal Waldron
  6. Just for Marty – Bill Hardman

Junior Mance

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On January 16, 2021, Julian Clifford Mance, Jr. aka Junior Mance died aged 92. He was musician (piano) and composer, one of the main figures of the Hard bop jazz scene. He recorded and performed with some of the biggest names of jazz, blues and soul music including Gene Amons, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Sonny Stitt, Dinah Washington, Wynton Kelly, Cannonball Adderley, Dexter Gordon, Nat Adderley, Joe Gordon, Bennie Green, Al Grey, Ernie Andrews, Johnny Griffin, Art Blakey, Cliford Brown, Benny Carter, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Cleveland, Arnett Cobb, Red Holloway, Jose James, Ray Crawford, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Eddie Jefferson, Aretha Franklin, Etta Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Irene Kral, Jay Leonhart, Les McCann, Paul Gonsalves, Howard McGhee, The Metronomes, Virgil Gonsalves, James Moody, Wild Bill Moore, Barbara Morrison, Sandy Mosse, Leo Parker, Ken Peplowski, Billie Poole, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Alvin Queen, Jimmy Scott, Arnold Sterling, Sonny Stitt, Clark Terry, Frank Vignola, Wilbur Ware, Ben Webster, Joe Williams, Marion Williams, and Leo Wright. As leader, Monce released 56 albums (live and studio). In 2007, Mance and his wife Gloria started their own record label “JunGlo”.