Dave Pell Plays Big Band Sounds

 

Patricia

Dave Pell Plays Big Band Sounds

Designed by Arnold Carlson

PRI Records 3011 Volume 10

From the back cover: About Dave Pell

For seven years, 1948 to 1955, a major reason for the popularity of the Les Brown orchestra was a young man in the reed section who hailed from legendary Brooklyn, New York – Dave Pell. He had come to the Brown band via the aggregations of Bob Astor, Tony Pastor and Bobby Sherwood in the early 1940s, followed by two years with Bob Crosby on the Ford Show.

When Pell left the Brown orchestra in '55 he had in mind a concrete plan. He formed his own octet comprising other ex-Brown bandsmen and took his cool tenor saxophone to the college campuses of Southern California where Pell fast established himself and group as the collegian's favorite for school dances, concerts and sundry fraternity affairs. Since then, the Dave Pell Octet has earned for itself a unique place in modern jazz. Recorded on several labels, it remains one of the busiest little bands at large.

In this series of tributes to the bands of the 1930s and '40s, however, Pell has laid aside his tenor to take over the podium as able leader and music director of the sessions.

From Billboard - November 14, 1960: Tops Intros New Subsid, PRI Label

Tops Records has introduced a new PRI Label (Precision Radiation Instruments, Inc.). The line carries a $1.98 tag and the initial nine-album release comes under the general heading of what might be called "a salute to the big bands."

Tenor sax man Dave Pell is the leader in this instance and he batons a full band complement including many well-known Coast studio men, in tributes to Glenn Miller, the Dorsey Brothers, Harry James, etc. In each case, the tunes closely associated with the bands being saluted are performed with arrangements that are very close to the original.

Sound is moderately good and the cover idea – which has continuity thru all nine packages – is carried out with considerable effect. This kind of material has a continuing market, but there is substantial competition in terms of "salute" type sets for almost all of these.

Artie Shaw - Frenesi

Tommy Dorsey - I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You

Duke Ellington - I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart

Lawrence Welk - Champagne Time

Benny Goodman - Why Don't You Do Right

Jimmy Dorsey - Green Eyes

Mantovani - O Sole Mio (My Sun)

Glenn Miller - Little Brown Jug

Harry James - Ciribiribin

Perez Prado - Patricia