Jazz Furlough - Danny Long

 

Penny

Jazz Furlough

Danny Long - Piano

With Ray Heapolitan - Bass

And John Whited - Drums

Cover Photo: Capitol Photo Studio / Ken Veeder

Capitol Records T 1988

1963

From the back cover: Last year I was appearing at a Chicago club, a young pianist by the name of Danny Long was heading up his own instrumental trio there at the same time. I was so impressed by his impeccable, swinging style that I decided right then that I wanted him to make an album.

Danny Long plays a lot of piano. You'll hear what I mean when you listen to this album. – Bobby Darin

The chances for Bobby Darin to record Danny came a little later when the Trio was on the West Coast, packing crowds in nightly at a club called P J's. The Darin production staff is headquartered at the Capitol Records building in Hollywood, so they moved into action while Danny was in town.

As it turned out, the recording was completed just in time, because Danny was called into the Army shortly after the last date.

Bobby went ahead with the album, working with Capitol Records to arrange the many details that are necessary to turn out a finished album. Then, just about the time the records began to come off the presses, Danny Long got his first furlough.

He returned to the West Coast to get some well-deserved relaxation, to hear playbacks of his new record for the first time, and to renew acquaintances at P J's. It was during this time that Capitol producer Tom Morgan got the idea for the cover picture of this album – literally, a portrait of Danny Long enjoying his "Jazz Furlough."

Now the album is released and Danny Long is back at work with the Army. Fortunately, however, Bobby Darin is not the only one who knows something good when he hears it. For Uncle Sam has given Danny the job of packing in G.I. audiences at concerts all over the U.S., and Danny's career is still flourishing, just as when he was a civilian.

Form his beginnings in Chicago, where he rose quickly to play in many of the finest clubs, Danny has branded out to top bookings in New York, Los Angeles and Atlantic City, and now with the Army he's making even more of a name for himself.

Recently, he has performed concert engagements at Fort Knox, Kentucky; Fort Riley, Kansas; has functioned as composer-arranger-conductor for the 1st Division Dance Band; emerged as winning instrumentalist of the 5th Army Area Entertainment Contest; took second place as vocalist in the same contest (though he didn't get around to singing in this album); was Grand Finalist in the All-Army Entertainment Contest, held at Fort Lee, Virginia; and the list of credits goes on, with concert and musical directing assignments and credits across the country.

His skill as a composer is not to be overlooked – a fact that listeners can attest to for themselves by listening to five of Danny's own compositions in this album.

As for Danny's "Jazz Furlough," the vacation version is a thing of the past – just a pleasant memory. But the "Jazz Furlough," album version, is only the beginning of a big climb to a bright future for Danny Long. And in the meantime, he's not slowing down along the way.

From Billboard - November 23, 1963: Here's a fine young pianist, a discovery of Bobby Darin. Long, with bassist Joe Neapolitan and drummer Jim Whited make tight, lucid swing. The trio works well together and there are a number of tracks that have the pop-jazz ring. "Paul's Raffle, Part I and II" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" are the leading examples. The lad has a strong touch and has a good sense of dynamic dramatics.

Smile (John Turner - Geoffrey Parsons - Charles Chaplin)

Save One For Bugs (Danny Long)

Paul's Raffle, Part I and II (Danny Long)

Penny (Danny Long)

Audrey's Purpose (Danny Long)

I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Dorothy Fields - Jimmy McHugh)

Broadway (Henri Wood - Teddy McRae - Bill Bird)

It Could Happen To You (Johnny Burke - Jimmy Van Heusen)

Strange Meadow Lark (Dave Brubeck)

Mrs. E. T. (Danny Long)