The First Jazz Piano Quartet

 

Love For Sale

The First Jazz Piano Quartet

Produced by Bob Prince

Cover Photo: Gene Kornmann

Recorded December 12, 16, 17, 1958 - New York City

Warner Bros. Records W 1274

1959

From the back cover: It's stimulating to think that some relatively unexplored fields of music are being listened to and accepted by the public. Of course not everyone likes the classiscs, rock-and-roll, jazz, calypso or the various other styles of music, but I sincerely think it would be difficult to find very many people who wouldn't enjoy this album of great standards. Poly-piano combinations have been used to some advantage in the past. George Gershwin, Freddy Martin, Guy Lombardo, a few classical composers and numerous smart supper clubs have utilized twin pianos to everyone's delight, and some years ago four classical pianists formed the First Piano Quartet. I had the pleasure myself of recording a two-piano album with Andre Previn quite recently. To my knowledge, however, this is the first time that four pianos have been used on a "popular" record.

The pianists heard here – Bernie Leighton, Irv Joseph, Moe Wechsler and Morris Nanton – are all well versed in the classics. The first three are top New York studio musicians, while the fourth, Morris Nanton, is a recent Warner Bros. discovery. I think you'll agree that a wonderful rapport is evident among these four. Each is capable of playin any style of piano, and from listening to the album, I know they experience a real pleasure from playing together.

For those of you who don't think you like jazz, don't let the word "jazz"scare you off. The arrangements, by Leighton and Joseph, are always interesting, with the melody firmly established in each. All four pianists get a chance to improvise, often with a rhythmic and subtle background supplied by the other keyboards, helping to indicate just what is going on. While speaking of background, I mustn't forget to mention the wonderful support given the quartet by Al Hall on bass and Osie Johnson on drums.

from my own personal experience, I'd like to mention a few of the difficulties encountered in recording with more than one piano. It's an accepted fact that there is usually only one piano in a band, whether it's a trio a full symphony orchestra. Consequently, pianists rarely get the chance to  play with other pianists. Certain problems are bound to arise under the circumstances. In my own case I found that comping (musician's term for playing chords for a singer or soloist) was quite different. Ordinarily a pianist when playing a solo comps for himself with his left, while his right hand carries the melody line. Therefore, if one pianist is playing a solo and three other pianists are comping for him, there could easily be quite a conflict of chord voicings and rhythmic patterns. The result: CHAOS – unless handled properly! I feel that these four men have overcome this obstacle exceedingly well. At no time while listening to the record did I get a feeling of confusion.

Another hazard in a piano quartet is the danger of the particular soloist of the moment being overshadowed by his accompaniment. I don't mean just in volume, although this, too, must be considered. As most comping is done in the middle and lower registers of the piano, for contrast's sake the soloist must generally play in the upper register. He doesn't necessarily have to limit himself to the very top of the piano, but a least high enough so the sound will be distinctly heard above the background. Again, the quartet has succeeded in this respect.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed about this album was the big-band type fills or riffs (background again for the soloist). Also, if you will notice, at times the group achieved a sound very similar to a guitar or vibes. Piano is the greatest single instrument int he world. Anything is possible when you put four of them together. – Russ Freeman

The Continental

Sometimes I'm Happy

You Do Something To Me

Thou Swell

All Through The Night

Medley: Jeepers Creepers / Lover, Come Back To Me / Sweet Georgia Brown

April In Paris

Mountain Greenery

I  Want To Be Happy

Love For Sale

Fascinating Rhythm

Medley: I Cover The Waterfront / I've Got A Crush On  You / Bye Bye Blackbird / When Your Lover Has Gone