Search Manic Mark's Blog

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

After Hour Jazz - Jonah Jones

 

Sam's Pretty Blues (Vocal: Sam Price)

After Hour Jazz
Jonah Jones
Hall Of Fame - Jazz Greats JG 613

Jonah Jones - Trumpet
Vic Dickenson - Trombone
Pete Brown - Alto Sax
Sammy Price - Piano
Milt Hinton - Bass
Cozy Cole - Drums

From the back cover: Jonah Jones nearly gave up the music business when his fortunes seemed at an unusually low ebb when jazz seemed to be forced underground with the emergence of rock nearly 20 years ago, but a chance shot at a feature spot on a Fred Astaire TV program renewed his career and made hime a commercial asset and since then he has earned sums unknown in his heyday as a jazz musician of the first rank.

His jazz days began on the riverboats operating out of Louisville back in the late 20's. His other apprentice jobs where with Horace Henderson, Jimmy Lunceford, McKinney's Cotton Pickers and Lil Armstrong, but his early fame came in the thirties with violinist Stuff Smith when that famous combo lit up 52nd Street. Firmly established as a stylist of note and power, he became a featured artist with Cab Calloway for 10 years, and then spent several more with jumping Earl Hines sextet. Since his renewal in the later 50's he has steadily led a quartet in leading nightclubs here and in Canada, Australia and Europe. He is featured on growl and open horn on Jonah Whales Again and Jumping' On 57th.

You might have heard musicians like these jazz men playing much in this style in after-hour clubs, in Harlem, on Chicago's South Side, in Kansas City (definitely) and in Detroit and in L.A.'s Central Avenue places like this don't exist anymore, and for that matter this kind of jazz has become sometimes, like gold coins, very, very precious and therefore much sought after.

Often these clubs were small, and as such, didn't have any specific or advertised entertainers working there regularly, but things would and did happen, usually in the hours after one in the morning.

This was the time when most entertainers and musicians had pretty much finished up on their downtown jobs, or sometimes it would be later, because years ago nightclubs had a habit of staying open regularly until four, and then the jamming which might commence somewhat earlier would likely go on until dawn.

Start with sometimes just a piano player (Sam Price would many times be that piano man) and possibly a drummer or a guitarist, and it wouldn't be long before all kinds of horn men would be crowding in to work off extra energy or to prove they worth as musicians. The bread and butter jobs often didn't allow much freedom of expression but instead on the written arrangements being followed to the letter.

Some clubs like Mexico's in Harlem would have things set up so each night in the week would be set aside for each horn (trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, etc.) and all the top men would be sure to be on hand blowing, with an audience of wildly appreciative fellow musicians who were usually the section men in the bands, plus a liberal sprinkling of hours girls, dancers, pimps, numbers men and a handful of the top sidemen of well-liked bandleaders from downtown.

In such exhibitions trombonist Vic Dickenson could be counted on to more than hold his own. The tall, slender Ohioan blew his exuberant yet wistful horn from bandstands as varied as Zach Whyte's, Blanche Calloway's, Claude Hopkins, Benny Carter's and Count Basie, before working with smaller groups led by Sidney Bechet, Fankie Newton, Eddie Heywood, Bobby Hackett, Red Allen, Wild Bill Davision and lately the World's Greatest Jazz Band. He is featured a length on Stormy Weather, Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (the late great Bee Palmer's number) and If I Could Be With You.

Alto man Pete Brown played an usual style that seemed to be the epitome of "jump," an adjective applied to some of the more heated moments of swing style. He was from Baltimore and came to New York with Banjo Bernie Robinson in 1927, but it took him 10 more years to get downtown to 52nd Street where he began building an audience for his playing.  He led his own small bands regularly until the mid-50's when bad health and a weight problem forced him to give up regular playing. This is one of his last recordings and he is featured on Pete's Delta Bound and Jumping' On 57th. He died in 1963.

Bassist Milt Hinton from Vicksburg, Mississippi played with Freddie Keppard, Cass Simpson and Eddie South around Chicago before joining Cab Calloway in 1936. 15 years later he began doing studio work in New York and taking choice jobs like playing with Louis Armstrong's All-Stars and a short period with Count Basie. Milt is always in demand for any kind of jazz and any kind of pop session as well.

Cozy Cole's drums have had the diversified background of working with Wilbur Sweatman, Jelly Roll Morton, Blanche and Cab Calloway, Willie Bryant, Benny Carter and Stuff Smith (at the same time as Jonah Jones). He has appeared on Broadway in Carmen Jones and in The Seven Lively Arts, ran a drum school with Gene Krupa, played with Louis Armstrong's All-Stars, and had a hit single record with TOPSY and has since joined forces with his old friend Jonah Jones.

Sammy Price has doggedly pursued individuality and the retention of his blue-based style in the face of ever-changing musical fads. Starting in his native Texas as Charleston contest winner, he soon became an adept blues pianist and talent scout, serving in the latter capacity for Brunswick Records. He played in territory bands and small night clubs throughout the Southwest and wound up spending three fertile years in Kansas City, playing mainly at the famed Yellow Front night club until Prohibition ended. Then a short stay in Chicago led to five years up as house pianist for Decca's race record series for more than a decade, while working on 52nd Street and in Cafe Society. His appearances in Europe after World War II increased his following, and he has since gone into other non-musical ventures and politics, while not forsaking blues and boogie boogie.

Jumpin' On 57th
Sam's Pretty Blues (Vocal: Sam Price)
If I Could Be With You
Pete's Delta Bound
Jonah Whales Again
Stormy Weather
Walkin' And Shouting' The Boogie
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (Vocal: Sam Price)
Manhattan Blues

Patti Sings Golden Hits Of The Boys - Patti Page

 

Georgia On My Mind

Patti Sings
Golden Hits Of The Boys
12 Songs... each a hit by a different male vocalist... now sung by the one and only Miss Patti Page
Mercury Records 
Mercury Hi-Fidelity MG 20712
1962

The Twist
Georgia On My Mind
Put Your Head On My Shoulder
Don't Be Cruel (To A Heart That's True)
(You've Got) Personality
It's Just A Matter Of Time
I'm Walkin'
Don't Worry
Big Bad John
Poor Little Fool
I Almost Lost My Mind
Mack The Knife

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Latin Airs - Luis Arcaraz

 

I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me

Latin Airs
Luis Arcaraz and His Orchestra
RCA Victor LPM-1712
1958

From the back cover: Born in Mexico City of musical parents, Luis spent his childhood debating the relative attractions of music, bullfighting and engineering. Music won out much to our good fortune (and to the good fortune of the bulls, no doubt, for Luis is formidable in anything he attempts). He has won his oles nevertheless and Arcaraz is the proud owner of Mexico's Gold Record Award for his compositions.

I've Got The World On A String
Perfume de Amor
No Me Platiques (If I No Longer Love You)
Solitude
Fascination 
Sabra Dios
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
Ain't Misbehavin'
Si Me Compredieras 
Porque Tu Me Acostumbraste
Tentacion de Amor (Thrill Of A New Romance)
Serenade In The Night (Violino Tzigano)

My Fair Lady - Al Weber

 

I Could Have Danced All Night

My Fair Lady
Orchestra And Chorus Conducted By Al Weber
Golden Tone Hi-Fidelity C4034

Overture
Wouldn't That Be Lovely
I'm An Ordinary Man
With A Little Bit Of Luck
Ascot Gavotte
I Could Have Danced All Night
I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
Get Me To The Church On Time
On The Street Where You Live

Child Of Plenty - Julie Budd

 

People Are Strange

Child Of Plenty
Julie Budd
Produced, Arranged and Conducted by Herb Bernstein
Cover Photo: Bob Golden
Art Direction: Any R. Lehman
Engineer: Gordon Clark
Director Of Engineering: Val Valentine
Recorded at Sound Center, Inc. N.Y., N.Y.
MGM Records SE-4545
1968

All's Quiet On West 23rd Street
Black Is Black
Child Of Plenty
People Are Strange
New Hope
Yesterday's Sunshine
Little Toy Store
Whistle A Tune
Georgie Porgie
Fly, Little Bird
Follow Your Dream

Monday, May 10, 2021

Big Hits Vol. III - L. A. Connection

Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue

Big Hits
Vol. III
As Performed by The L. A. Connection
Springboard International Records SPB-4094
1977

You Light Up My Life
How Deep Is Your Love
Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue
It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next To Me
Nobody Does It Better
Blue Bayou
Keep It Comin' Love
Send In The Clowns
Daybreak

Modern Sound MS 1030

 

Monday, Monday

Modern Sound MS 1030
Producer: William Beasley
Recorded & Mastering: Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee

Monday, Monday
Gloria
Your Cheating Heart
Young World
You Don't Want My Love
Sloop John B
Rhapsody In The Rain
You Can Depend On Me
Wolverton Mountain 
Wise Like Soloman

Modern Sound MS 1028

 

Time Won't Let Me

Modern Sound MS 1028
Producer: William Beasleyu
Recorder & Mastering: Columbia Recording Studio, Nashville, Tennessee

A Sign Of The Times
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
Ain't That A Shame
All Alone Am I
Anything
Secret Agent Man
Time Won't Let Me
Have You Been There
Heart In Hand
Love Potion Number Nine

Secret Agent Meets The Saint - Edwin Astley

 

Mio Amore Sta Lontano

The Saint Takes A Ride

Secret Agent Meets The Saint
Original Music From The TV Shows
Secret Agent - Patrick McGoohan
The Saint - Roger Moore
Music Composed and Conducted by Edwin Astley
A&R Coordinator: Joe Linhart
Produced by Marquis Prod.
RCA Victor LPM-3467
1965

From the back cover: The real star of this album is the music – and its arranger-conductor Edwin Astley, Ted is a prolific composer with an exceptional gift for making his music fit the mood, whether it be one of neurotic tension or peaceful relaxation. With an assist from Ken Jones, another gentleman of no small musical talent, Ted decided to do an album based on themes from various episodes of two famous TV series: the result is Secret Agent Meets The Saint.

High Wire
Drake And Ducks
I Wonder Where The Microdot Went?
Mio Amore Sta Lontano
Drake In The New World
The Saint
Recumbent Love
Halo
Staten Island Ferry
Cantina
The Saint Takes A Ride

Sunday, May 9, 2021

Makin' Out At The Movies - The Boss Guitars

 

Goldfinger

Makin' Out At The Movies
The Boss Guitars
Arranged by Leroy Glover
Produced by Tom Catalano
KAPP STEREO KS-3439
1965

Theme From "Zorba The Greek"
The Magnificent Seven
Love Me Now
Goldfinger
Jolie Gendarme
The Theme From Harry's Place
The Knack
Baby, The Rain Must Fall
Hush... Hus, Sweet Charoltte
From Russia With Love
Bazooki
The Sweetheart Tree

The Heartbeat Trumpet - Seymour

 

Japanese Sandman

Seymour
The Heartbeat Trumpet
Heartbeat Records Co, Inc.
Engineer: Ed Webb
Cover Design: Dan Lumbert
The Home Of The Good Music - Chicago, Illinois

Some Of These Days
Melancholy Baby
Somebody Loves Me
Japanese Sandman
My Buddy
When My Baby Smiles At Me
Danny Boy
I Want A Girl (Just Like The Girl Who Married Dear Old Dad)
My Wonderful One
Does Your Heart Beat For Me
Always

Six Top Bands Swing Again!

 

Intermission Riff - Stan Kenton

Six Top Bands Swing Again!
Les Brown - Benny Goodman - Glen Gary - Woody Herman - Harry James - Stan Kenton
Cover Photo by Jerry Yulsman
The Star Line
Capitol Records T 1386
1968

From Billboard - May 16, 1960: This is a collection of sides waxed for the label over the past 10 years or so by some of the top bands including Glen Gray, Les Brown, Woody Herman, Harry James, Stan Kenton and Benny Goodman. The top sides are Brown's "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," James' "Two o'Clock Jump," Goodman's "Jumpin' At The Woodside," Herman's "Keeper Of The Flame." Kenton's "Intermission Riff," and Gray's "No Name Jive." For swing fans.

I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm - Les Brown
Two O'Clock Jump - Harry James
Jumpin' At The Woodside - Benny Goodman
Wild Apple Honey - Woody Herman
Intermission Riff - Stan Kenton
No Name Jive - Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra
Eager Beaver - Stan Kenton
Trumpet Blues - Harry James
Stompin' At The Savoy - Benny Goodman
Keeper Of The Flame - Woody Herman
Bizet Has His Day - Les Brown

Songs I Played For Eddy Arnold - Little Roy Wiggins

 

The Echo Of Your Footsteps

Songs I Played For Eddy Arnold
Little Roy Wiggins
Eddy Arnold's Featured Guitarist
Diplomat Records STEREO DS2615
1963

Anytime
Molly Darlin'
I Had One Kiss Too Many
I'd Trade All My Tomorrows
Heart Full Of Love
Don't Rob Another Man's
Castle
Just A Little Loving
I'm Throwing Rice
Bouquet Of Roses
Chained To A Memory
Prison Without Any Walls
Echo Of Your Footsteps

Country & Western Hits - Dan & Dale

 

Don't Rob Another Man's Castle

Country & Western Hits
The "Sensational" Guitars of Dan & Dale
Diplomat Records STEREO DS 2624

I Went To Your Wedding
Mom & Dad's Waltz
Let Me Go Lover
Auf Wiedersehen Sweetheart
Her Name Was Mary
Don't Rob Another Man's Castle
Forever
Don't Say Goodbye
You Don't Know Me
Till I Waltz Again With You