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Saturday, February 6, 2016

Jazz And Swing - Billy Lawrence

Temptation
Jazz And Swing
Featuring Billy Lawrence And His Orchestra
Hollywood Records LPH 10
1956

Hollywood reissue featuring the same catalog number but different cover art, title and artist (Barry English). Although, oddly enough... it may be that the disc with the "Barry English" credit was stuffed into the reissue jacket. At least, that what appears to be the case with my copy.

Begin The Beguine
Yes Indeed
C-Jam Blues
I'm Beginning To See The Light
Sweet Georgia Brown
Stomping At The Savoy
Temptation
Take The "A" Train
Hawaiian War Chant
One O'Clock Jump

Hey, Lover - Johnny Guarnierei

All That Jazz

It's A Swing Thing

Hey, Lover
Johnny Guarnierei
Johnny Guarnierei and His Piano and Orchestra
RKO Records SLP-1002
1959

From the back cover: You take one great jazz pianist; 1 bass; 1 guitar; 2 drummers; all of whom are tops in their fields, mix well with a good interpretation and you have the solid combination featured in this album, Hey, Lover.

Johnny Guarnieri, whom RKO Records is fortunate to have as the jazz pianist, comes from a family of find violin-makers. As a result he was exposed to classical music during his early years and due to his training and background, is equally at ease playing Mozart as well as popular music. Johnny's first love, however, has always been jazz. America's own musical creation. He employed all the elements pop his vast talents into his jazz interpretations and styling and it wasn't long before the name of Johnny Guarnieri was synonymous with smooth, rhythmical keyboard magic. Johnny worked with Benny Goodman and later joined Artie Shaw, where he was a prime factor in setting the style of the popular Gramercy Five. "All That Jazz," contained in this album, is a fine example of the Guarnieri mood set to his own musical composition.

Musical improvisation, which can only be handled by the best of musicians, is one of the delights of all jazz-happy enthusiasts. In this album, Johnny puts his mastery of the difficult feat of improvisation into action, backed by a truly creative group of boys who complement his own musical ability. Much in demand by theaters, studios and nightclub owners everywhere, they include Eddie Safranski doing the mellow bass work; Mundell Lowe, jazz guitarist supreme and the swinging drummers, Cliff Lehman and Frank Aristo, Jr., who take turns upholding the driving beat of the drum work.

As all true artists, Johnny and the boys blend light but difficult jazz motifs into all the numbers with what seems like a minimum of effort. The rhythmical lift is sustained throughout all the selection, providing the type of music which will bring to mind  favorite night spots, be they sophisticated cocktail lounges, soft lit dinner dancing hide-a-ways or collegiate type rathskellers.

For you, Hey, Lover is an album which you'll want to play again and again and one well worth having for any occasion.

From Billboard - March 9, 1959: This low price stereo disk contains some fine piano work by Johnny Guarnierei, accompanied by a talented group of jazz musicians. The tunes are mainly standards, including "More Than You Know," "Body And Soul," "Lover" and "Tea for Two." Stereo separation is good and the LP is a good buy for the money.

Anything For You
More Than You Know
It's A Swinging Thing
Body And Soul
All That Jazz
Keyboard Rhythm
Lover Classical Exercise
Tea For Two There's A Small Hotel

Friday, February 5, 2016

Hey! Dig That Crazy Band! - Gus Bivona

Dark Green
Hey! Dig That Crazy Band!
Gus Bivona And His Orchestra
Mercury Records MG 20157
1956

From the back cover: Gus Bivona brings to his leadership of this great new orchestra the richness gathered up and assimilated from a most impressive history with the greatest bandleaders of our age. Add to this his experience in recent years as lead clarinet and alto sax soloist for M-G-M pictures, one of the most exacting assignments for a musical artist, and you have one of the most uniquely prepared musicians of our age for the demanding requirements of great band leadership.

Ever since Gus trekked westward as a member of Tommy Dorsey's rocking crew, and then decided to settle there because he loved the climate, he was destine to emerge as a bandleader of importance on his own. The climate that attracted him was not the kind you measure with thermometers and barometers. It was the musical climate he wanted, the climate of high craftsmanship, uninhibited experimenting and free creativity which pervades the musical world of the Californians. It was the excitement of the give-and-take and the friction of ideas which had shaped the brassy jazz of Stan Kenton and the soft intensity of Dave Brubeck. Now Gus Bivona's danceable rhythms and fresh harmonics fill out the western canvas by providing a musical bridge between the extremes in intensity between the Kenton and Brubeck schools.


From Billboard - November 17, 1956: Bivona's album debut on the label has every earmark of a click with the terping younger set. Here are great swing arrangements with masterful clarinet and alto sax leads, listening as sharp for sitting oldsters as for younger steppers. This is top craftsmanship in sound that packs originality and carries plenty of power for jock dancing spins. Can make a fine holiday package for families with young dancers in the house.

All Of You
My Ideal
Moten Swing
Una Mas
It's All Right With Me
Querida
Clarinet Parmesan
Chicago Cargo
Organ Grinders Swing
Dark Green
Stumbling Blocks
King Porter Stomp

Moody - Emil Stern

Street Car
Moody
Emil Stern And His Orchestra
Wing - Mercury Record Corporation MGW 12002
1956

Smooth mid-50s "mood" package that features a set that nicely supports the cover art and title theme "Moody".

From the back cover: The master of melodies and memories presented for the first time in this country is Emil Stern, born in France. He began playing the piano when he was four years and was entered in the famous national Conservatory at nine. In the same class were other piano students, like Leo Chauliac, who have since also become famous.

When he was seventeen and a half, he heard one of his fellow students, Stephane Moujin, play jazz on the organ and form this moment, Emil had only one desire and that was to play jazz. However, in order to get his parents' consent, he felt he must win first prize for piano at the Conservatory. He managed to accomplish his aim the following year in Marguerite Long's class and, at this time, he also won the first prize for harmony while studying under Andre Block. For some time, after finishing his studies, Emil disappeared from his usual haunts and spent as much time as possible listening to every jazz record he could get his hands on. Within a year's time, he started playing with Dorsey's orchestra. Following the first engagement, he joined Ray Ventura's band where he remained for a year. For another year, he was accompanist for Maurice Chevalier and, during this time, managed to travel to practically all of the leading countries. At the termination of his engagement with Chevalier, Emil formed his first trio which gave him an opportunity of being heard as a jazz pianist. He has accompanied many of the leading singers such as Renee Leas and Jean Sablon.

In 1953, he won the grand Prix Du Disque De Danse (The Grand Prize for Dance Records). Besides his role as pianist, Emil Stern is a competent composure. His first song did not achieve great success in France since it was created for and recorded by Marlene Dietrich in America. It was called "Assez." Since this first effort, he has contributed to many French songs.


Stardust
Out Of Nowhere
If I Had You
Love Is Here To Stay
The Nearness Of You
A Foggy Day
I Cover The Waterfront
Embraceable You
I Surrender Dear
Street Car
Love Walked In

The Riddle Of Today - Nelson Riddle

Theme From "Tarzan"
The Riddle Of Today
Nelson Riddle
Arranged and Conducted by Nelson Riddle
Liberty Records LST-7532
1967

From Billboard - November 4, 1967: Nelson Riddle gets in a pleasant pop mood with "Don't Sleep In The Subway," "Goin' Out Of My Head" and "Sunshine Superman," "Cortege" and Chestnut Trees." He also treats the "Smothers Brothers" and "Tarzan Theme" with class.

Hurt So Bad
Sunshine Superman
Don't Sleep In The Subway
Goin' Out Of My Head
Hey, Girl
Up, Up And Away
Theme From "Tarzan"
The Smothers Brothers' Theme
Cortege
Chestnut Trees
Amy's Theme

Monday, February 1, 2016

Melodic Magic - Henri Rene

I'm In Love Again
Melodic Magic
Henri Rene
RCA Camden CAL 353
1958

Collection of mood instrumentals with the exception I'm In Love Again featuring vocalist April Stevens.

Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
Jalousie
Speak To Me Of Love
Cielito Linda
Seashells
Madeleine
Bye Bye Blues
Always You
I'll String Along With You
I'm In Love Again
The Hour Of Parting
Drago's Serenade