Just For Variety - Bethlehem's Best - Volume Three

 

Bethlehem's Best

Just For Variety

Bethlehem's Best

Volume Three

Cover photograph courtesy The Champion Paper and Fibre Company

From the back cover: The history of the Bethlehem label is not difficult to trace. Starting as it did in the highly competitive "pop" market, it soon became evident that of the many names recording for the label, only that of Chris Connor made any appreciate dent on the record buying habits of the American public From the very beginning, Chris Connor was destined to be one of the stars of the Bethlehem label, and from the time her first LP was issued her prestige as an interpretive singer began to grow. In this volume Chris' tune "Blame It On My Youth", offers the present day style with intricate small group backing plus the recently developed shading and inflection which have made Chris Connor one of the most successful jazz attractions in America.

As always the case in recording talent, there must be a classification for the miscellaneous instruments which are an integral part of jazz but which don't fit into any established category. The Australian Jazz Quartet is classified here, though more for reasons of variety than anything else. Employing a variety of instruments – including the seldom heard bassoon – the AJQ has caught the fancy of the American jazz listener in a very short period of time. From one of their Bethlehem LP's we offer "The Girl With The Flaxen Hair".

No showcase album such as this would be complete without highlighting the piano talent recording for Bethlehem. In this division we offer two completely different styles, each one surpassing our standards of musical quality. The lightly swinging "Emaline" from Terry Pollards LP show Terry's relaxed but sensitive piano feeling nicely backed by Don Fagerquist's trumpet and Howard Robert's guitar.

The Ralph Sharon reading of "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" is the politely creative style that has become Ralph's stock-in-trade and which has kept his trio much in demand in the more sophisticated supper clubs around the country.

The name of Don Elliott is nearly synonymous with instrumental variety. Don has proven himself a capable vibist (George Shearing Quintet) as well as demonstrating proficiency on trumpet, mellophone, piano and as a vocalist. Don has one album completely devoted to his goal styling. "Summer Setting" however is taken from his Mellophone album BCP 12.

Joe Roland is another vibist of major stature who has worked with several small groups around the country and in Canada. Joe has rightfully earned the plaudits of critics and devotees everywhere, and we're happy to include his "Stairway To The Steinway" in this collection.

Certainly one of the most unique groups in the Bethlehem catalog is the Smith-Glamann Quintet. The group is named for co-leaders Rufus Smith and Betty Glamann, bass and harp respectively. Though an association is television, Rufus and Betty have developed the Smith-Glamann Quintet with Betty's harp as the featured instrument. We're sure you'll find "Pulling Stings", taken from their "Poinciana" LP, an interesting approach to music.

Herbie Mann and Sam Most, who are among the pioneers in jazz flute, have both done separate LPs for Bethlehem. In those releases both men demonstrate the sound and interpretation that each one has given to this newly accepted member of the jazz family. The plan soon evolved to combine the two talents icon LP, using special arrangements for the most part which-permitted free singing flute interchange by Herb and Sam. "Let's Get Away From It All" is our choice for this series with a special bow to Russ Garcia whose arrangement it is.

This representative album is designed for your listening pleasure. In it you'll meet and hear some of the world's greatest jazz talent. We thing that you'll agree it is Bethlehem's Best. – Joe Quinn

Blame It On My Youth - BCP 20

Chris Connor

Recorded April, 1955

You Stepped Out Of A Dream - BCP 41

Ralph Sharon, p. - Jay Cave, b. - Christie Febbo, d.

Recorded October, 1955

Emaline - BCP 1

Terry Pollard, p. - Don Fagerquist, trot. - Howard Roberts, g. - Frank DeVito, d - Herman Wright, b.

Recorded January, 1955

Pulling Strings - BCP 22

Rufus Smith, p. - Betty Glamann, harp - Nick Perito, acc. - Barry Galbraith, g. - Frank Garisto, d.

Recorded August, 1954

The Girl With The Flaxen Hair - BCP 6002

Australian Jazz Quartet - Dick Healey, flute - Errol Buddle, bassoon - Bryce Rhode, p. -Jack Brokensha, vibes & d.

Recorded February, 1955

Stairway To The Steinway - BCP 17

Joe Roland, vibes - Danny Martucci, b - Dick Garcia, g. - Ron Jefferson, d. - Freddie Redd, p.

Recored March, 1955

Easy To Love - BCP 6006

Carmen McRae, v. - Mat Matthews Quintet

Recored October, 1954

Mutation - BCP 14

Urbie Green, try. - Doug Mettome, trpt. - D. Bank, bari - Oscar Pettiford, b. - Al Cohn, ten. - J. Lyon, p. - J. Campbell, d.

Recorded January, 1955

Summer Setting - BCP 12

Don Elliott, mellophone - Bill Byres, trb. - D. Bank, bari. - Barry Galbraith, g. - M. Zelnick, d. - Hal McKusick, alto - Milt Hinton, b. - Howard Roberts, trpt.

Recorded January, 1955

Motherless Child - BCP 6006

Julie London, v. - Bobby Troup, p. - Howard Roberts, g. Don Heath, d. - Bob Enevoldson, b. Buddy Colette, alto flute.

Recorded March, 1955

Ill Wind - BCP 1021

Charlie Shavers, trpt. - Orchestra conducted by Sy Oliver.

Recorded December, 1954

Let's Get Away From It All - BCP 40

Herbie Mann & Sam Most, flutes - Joe Puma, g. - Jimmy Gannon, b. - Lee Kleinman, d.

Recorded October, 1955