Autobiography In Jazz

Janet Thurlow With Charles Mingus Octet 

Autobiography In Jazz
Mastering: Bob Guy (Audiosonic Recording Company, New York City)
Debut Records, Inc. DEB-198
1955

From the back cover: A Word About The Recordings

Lee Konitz and Jackie Paris were the first two artists recorded with Charles Mingus Quintet. Single records released from these sessions were termed "unusual" by Leonard Feather (Downbeaat). "Mingus is as good as his word to produce out-of-the-ordinary records," said Metromone's Barry Ulanov, who rated the sides highly.

The waxing of Max Roach's Sepet came next in April 1953 followed by recordings in the next months of Hank Jones and two Max Roach discoveries – little 15-year old Honey Gordon and The Gordons, a vocal group which included Honey, her father George Gordon and her two brothers, George, Jr. (14) and Richard (11). Barry Ulanov reviewed Bebopper as "a witty, almost touching saga of an almost-up-to-date jazzster in which for once jazz language is fitting and unforced."

May brought the Massey Hall concert sponsored by the New Jazz Society of Toronto which was recorded in Toronto. The recordings released were given 5-stars in Downbeat by Nat Hentoff who remarked "This is what records are for. It would be a shame to lose this after only one performance." Along these same lines, the Jazz Workshop series materialized from an idea conceived by Charles Mingus while he was running sessions at Putnam Central Club in Brooklyn during the summer of 1953. Praise was again received from Nat Hentoff who awarded 5-stars to the first Workshop releases and wrote "Congratulations about all to Debut for having had the presence of spirit to record this."

Near the end of the year Mingus recorded again, this time with an octet and singer Janet Thurlow. Released only on EP the sides were rated "an unusually interesting collection" by Nat Hentoff who further stated that "Janet sings the difficult vocal of the sociological Eclipse with sensitive musicianship." 1953 wound up with the recording sessions of Paul Bley with drummer Art Blakey, and the Sam Most Quartet. The LP released from the latter date was undoubtedly instrumental in bringing Sam to attention of the critics who voted him "New Star on Clarinet" in 1954.

Don Senay and Thad Jones with Strings were recorded in September 1954. Of this session Bill Coss of Metronome reported: "A novel session for Debut in a getting-together of jazz and classical musicians. Points of interest: Don's musically baritone voice and Louis Mucci's trumpet obligato on Makin' Whoopee, the breath of all this playing and writing which requires keen listening.

Max Roach Septet Orientation (April 10, 1953)
Alto Saxophone – Gigi Gryce
Bass – Franklin Skeete
Drums – Max Roach
Piano – Walter Davis II
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trombone – Leon Comegys
Trumpet – Idrees Sulieman
Written-By – Hank Mobley

Jackie Paris With Charles Mingus Quintet (September 16, 1952)
Paris In Blue (Mingus)
Bass – Charles Mingus
Cello – Jackson Wiley
Drums – Max Roach
Flute, Alto Saxophone – Paige Brook
Piano – John MeheganWritten-By – Mingus*

Lee Konitz With Charles Mingus Quintet (April 12, 1952)
Extrasensory Perception
Alto Saxophone – Lee KonitzBass – Charles MingusCello – George KoutzenDrums – Al Levitt
Piano – Phyllis Pinkerton
Written-By – Mingus

Janet Thurlow With Charles Mingus Octet (October 27, 1953)
Eclipse
Alto Saxophone – Eddie Caine
Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank
Bass – Charles Mingus
Cello – Jackson Wiley
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Piano – John Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Teo Macero
Trombone – Willie Dennis
Written-By – Mingus

Paul Bley Trio Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (November 30, 1953)
Bass – Charles Mingus
Drums – Art Blakey
Piano – Paul Bley

The Gordons With Hank Jones Trio (April 29, 1953)
Bebopper
Bass – Charles Mingus
Drums – Max Roach
Piano – Hank Jones
Written-By – Gordon, Leonard

Jazz Workshop Kai's Day (September 18, 1953)
Bass – Charles Mingus
Drums – Arthur Taylor
Piano – John Lewis
Trombone – Bennie Green, J. J. Johnson*, Kai Winding, Willie Dennis
Written-By – Kai Winding

Thad Jones With Strings Portrait (September 17, 1954)
Alto Saxophone – John LaPorta
Bass – Milton Hinton
Cello – Jackson Wiley
Drums – Joe Morello
Piano – Billy Taylor
Trumpet – Thad Jones
Written-By – Mingus

Honey Gordon* With Hank Jones Trio Can You Blame Me (April 29, 1953)
Bass – Charles Mingus
Drums – Max Roach
Piano – Hank Jones
Written-By – Gordon, Leonard*

Sam Most Quartet Notes To You (December 29, 1953)
Bass – Percy Heath
Clarinet – Sam Most
Drums – Louie Bellson
Piano – Bob Dorough
Written-By – Bob Dorough

Don Senay With Strings Makin' Whoopee (September 17, 1954)
Alto Saxophone – John LaPorta
Bass – Milton Hinton
Cello – Jackson Wiley
Drums – Joe Morello
Piano – Billy Taylor
Trumpet – Louis Mucci

Hank Jones Medley (April 29, 1953)
Piano – Hank Jones

Max Roach Drum Conversation Part 2 (May 15, 1953)
Drums – Max Roach

Bud Powell Trio* I've Got You Under My Skin (May 15, 1953)
Bass – Charles Mingus
Drums – Max Roach
Piano – Bud Powell