The Big Bamboo - The Big Bamboo Orchestra

Bahama Lullaby

The Big Bamboo
Recorded at The Big Bamboo
Nassau, Bahamas by The Big Bamboo Orchestra
Featuring Roy Shurland, Vocalist & Little Sparrow on the Steel Pan
Carib Folk Music
Carib LP 2015
1961

From the back cover: Contributing their natural talents based on their island origins and playing the instrument they know best are pianist John Clark, Bahamas; Fred Callender and Little Sparrow, Steel Pan of Trinidad; Tony Allen, Barbados. (A former Nassau police constable who composed "Junkanoo In Nassau" and sings his own composition in this album) Jack Roker, Guitar, Bahamas; Fred Burnett, Alto Pans, Bahamians Eric Roker and Lord Cody, Bongo Drums. This Calypso "little League Of Nations" is augmented by Sonny Johnson on the cowbell and his fabulous choral group, the Dolphins. Roy Shurland, the featured vocalist is a Jamaican whose remarkable versatility permits a change of pace from jump-up calypsos such as The Monkey Song and Gloria to beautifully haunting ballads like Yellow Bird and Kingston Market.

Without the splendid cooperation of your hosts Don Roberts and Jack Manns in providing their popular club "The Big Bamboo" for a studio, this album would have lost much of its authenticity. This beautiful room with its native atmosphere was a perfect setting and the performers were really "at home."

Monkey Song
Gloria
Kinston Market
These Are The Times
John B. Sail
Garret Bounce
Big Bamboo
Junkanoo In Nassau
Land Of The Sun And The Sea
Yellow Bird (Choucoune)
Bahama Lullaby
Brown Skin Gal Medley

The Rape Of El Morro - Don Sebesky

The Rape Of El Morro

The Rape Of El Morro
Don Sebesky
Produced by Creed Taylor
CTI Records - A Division Of Creed Taylor, Inc.
Cover Photo by Alan Kaplan
Liner Photograph by Alen MacWeeney
Album Design by Bob Ciano and Richard Mantel
CTI 6061 S1
Distributed by Motown Records Corporation
1975

From the inside cover: The title number (Don recalls that the original tentative title was Spanish Blood) is a wild mix of Mexican flavoring, electronic effects, jazz improvisation, and sheer unadulterated excitement. "It evolves piece by piece," says Don, "with Roland Hanna in the center of it all, followed by Mike Brecker.

"I had an idea of overlaying a flamenco voice. Someone suggested Joan LaBarbara, who had been working with various experimental groups. She has the ability to create two notes at once – octaves, or an octave and a fifth simultaneously. She's amazing! So that added another dimension."

Keyboards
Don Grolnick (solo Lucky Seven)
Roland Hanna (solo The Rape Of Morrow and Moon Dreams)
Pay Rebillot (Skyliner)

Bass
Ron Carter (The Rape Of Morrow and Moon Dreams)
Will Lee (Footprints Of The Giant, The Entertainer, Lucky Seven, Skyliner)

Drums
Steve Gadd

Guitar
Joe Beck

Percussion
George Devens
Phil Kraus

Saxophone
Mike Brecker (all tenor solos - Courtesy of Arista Records)
Dave Sanborn (alto)

Trumpet
Randy Brecker Courtesy of Arista Records)
Jon Faddis
Trombone
Wayne Andre
Barry Rogers
Sonny Russo
Tony Studd (bass)
Flute/Alto Flute
Roy Beckenstein (also piccolo)
Harvey Estrin
George Marge
Al Regni

Electric Violin
David Rose

Violin
Harry Cykman
Paul Gershman
Emanuel Green
Harold Kohon
Charles Libove
Harry Lookofsky
David Nadien
Matthew Raimondi

Viola
Jean Dane
Manny Vardi

Cello
Seymour Barab
Charles McCracken

Vocal
Joan LaBarbara

The Rape Of El Morrow
Moon Dreams
Footprints Of The Giant
The Entertainer
Lucky Seven

Dancing In The Dark - Carmen Cavallaro

Cocktails For Two

Dancing In The Dark

Carmen Cavallaro

Decca Records DL 8120

1955

Dancing In The Dark
Carmen Cavallaro
The Poet Of The Piano
Decca Records DL 78961
1961

From Billboard - August 2, 1946 (A-441): It was his Dancing In The Dark piano folio, offered a half dozen years ago, that first attracted so much attention to Carmen Cavallaro. Since the maestro has gone a long way up the musical road since those early days, this new set of five records hits an easy merchandising mark. Dressed up with a new cover design that features the maestro's flash smile with an explanatory booklet added. Cavallaro re-creates his original click. With assist from his Steinway sparkle on the same 10 selections – Dancing In The Dark, Lover, Alone Together, Night And Day, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, If I Had You, Body And Soul, You're Mine You, Cocktails For Two and The Very Thought Of You, each an evergreen. While Cavallaro adds some frills and flourishes to his keyboarding for this repeat performance, he creates the same satisfying piano mood that make this disking an everlasting delight. For those who missed his original, this carbon copy is every bit as desirable.

From Billboard - August 7, 1961: The "Poet Of The Piano," Carmen Cavallaro, provides a very pleasant 30 minutes of listening and dancing music. Set includes such favorites as "The Very Thought Of You," "Lover," "You're Mine You" and the title tune "Dancing In The Dark." Cavallaro has many fans and this package should be one of their favorites. This is actually a newly recorded stereo version of material originally cut by the artist some years back.

From Billboard - October 22, 1955 (Decca DL 8120): Dancers, lovers and those who just plain admire a flawless piano technique will enjoy this newest Cavallaro package. A Dozen popular standards, commonly associated with the mood of romance, are given sparkling, bubbling treatment. Standard rhythm accompaniment keeps things moving nicely on the likes of "The Very Though Of You," "Cocktails For Two," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and "Alone Together." while a string ensemble is moved in for others like "Falling In Love With You," and "September Song." Fine listening.

Dancing In The Dark
The Very Thought Of You
If I Had You
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
Falling In Love With Love
Stairway To The Stars
Cocktails For Two
Lover
Alone Together
You're Mine You!
September Song
Always In My Heart

Our Love Story - Gordon & Sheila MacRae

I'm Glad There Is You

Our Love Story
Romantic Songs In A Bright Broadway Style
Co-Starring
Gordon and Sheila MacRae
Arranged & Conducted by Van Alexander
Produced by Voyle Gilmore
Capitol Records T1353
1960

From the back cover: This is the MacRae's first album together, and it captures the same charm and sparkle and carefree quality that make them one of the most sought after acts in night clubs and on television. Their choice of material here also serves to demonstrate that Gordon and Sheila know their way around the musical comedy stage.

Gordon's work, of course, is so well known that very little else can be said except that the quality of his rich, flexible baritone deepens with each new album; his interpretations are surer, more subtle, and more varied than ever.

Hearing Sheila for the first time on records, listeners will be pleased to discover a rare versatility combined with plenty of humor, as well as pleasing forthright diction. Furthermore, she is able to deliver a ditty like "My Baby Just Cares For Me" with a nice torch feeling that leaves no doubt as to why Baby should feel this way.

From Billboard - April 18, 1960: The real-life husband and wife team joined forces on wax for the first time with a varied line-up of items. MacRae warbles in his usual rich legit fashion on some great standards. His frau contributes a couple of her nitery mimic routines, plus a sock edition of "My Baby Just Cares For Me," and they duet pleasantly on a few sides, including the title tune, also released as a single. Solid jockey wax.

Our Love Story
I Met A Girl
A Wonderful Guy
Love Is A Simple Thing
I'm Glad There Is You
That's For Me
Love And Marriage
All The Things You Are
My Baby Just Cares For Me
When The Children Are Asleep
And This Is My Beloved
Happy Anniversary

Dinah Sings Some Blues With The Red Norvo Quintet

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

Dinah (Shore) Sings Some Blues With Red
With The Red Norvo Quintet
Produced by Voyle Gilmore
Capitol Records T1354
1960

From the back cover: The Red Norvo Quintet boasts a distinguished "cast of characters." In addition to Red on vibes, there are John Mosher on bass, Jimmy Wyble on guitar, Jerry Dodgion on alto sax and flute, and John Markham on drums. They are joined in this album by piano and trumpet and on several numbers by a muted trumpet quartet.

Also from the back cover: While Dinah Shore is singing, time seems to melt away. Actually, it just sort of curls itself up into a relaxed and joyful swinging ball.

In an era when vocal mannerisms abound, Dinah has adhered steadfastly to her own unaffected, lyrical, and utterly feminine way with a song. These radiant attributes have made her not only a perennially favorite singer, but one of the most admired and genuinely beloved performers in the world.

On a Sunday night awhile back, Dinah met up professionally with Red Norvo and his Quintet, the group that backs her in this album. A musician on mild manner and monumental ability, Red starred in the 1930s with his own highly-regarded bands, and with Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, and Woody Herman. Since the mid-40s Red and his vibraphone have headed a succession of the most tastefully creative small groups in modern music. Red's superb musicianship is characterized by delicacy and eloquent understatement – a perfect match for the wonderfully lilting grace of Dinah's singing. The televised teaming of the two artists proved inspired. It resulted, by overwhelming demand, in rapid reappearances of Red on Dinah's show, and in this initial, swinging get-together on Capitol Records.

Dinah's vocals here are reminiscent of some of the very best of her early work with chamber groups. They illustrate why Shore vocals, like Sinatra vocals, become reference works for new singers, to be played and replayed for that incomparable "something" that sets them apart.

All told, here are twelve enticing capsules of Dinah's Special Brand of Instant Enchantment – each containing the potent added ingredient fo Norvo's rhythmic caress. Directions: To be taken neat. And they certainly are!

From Billboard - April 11, 1960: Dinah Shore shines in another fine set. She delivers blues (both sweet and low), standards and oldies in fine fashion. Backed by a swingin' group, headed by vibist Red Norvo, she excels on such fare as "Who," "Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues" and "It's All Right With Me." Sounds is good, and attractive cover shot of the lark will lure.

Bye Bye Blues
I Can't Face The Music Without Singing The Blues
Someday Sweetheart
It's Funny To Everyone But Me
Who
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues
Lucky In Love
Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
Its All Right With Me
Skylark
Lover, Come Back To Me

Keep It Gay - Green & Iles

Taboo

Keep It Gay
Conversational Music
Piano and Organ Stylings of Greene and Iles
Mercury Records MG 20427
1959

From the back cover:

Eddie Greene - plays three keyboards, two on the Hammond organ and the Kruger String bass keyboard which is attached to the foot-pedals of the organ and which authentically imitates a real string bass. Greene's organ is equipped with two 40-watt Leslie speakers. The complete organ unit is valued at $5,000.

Greene was born in New York City in 1930. First show biz contact was the children's chorus at six at the Metropolitan Opera House. He received a B.A. in Music and Education from Queen's Collegs, New York and did graduate study at Julliard Music school, New York, where he worked with Teddy Wilson and Ted Royal and studied organ with Jessie Crawford.

Stephen Iles - plays three keyboards: Steinway Grand, the Magnaharp, an electronic keyboard instrument which obtains the sound of vibes and celeste; and the harpsichord.

Iles is a native of Philadelphia where he was born in 1928. He started in show business at 16, when he was accompanist to actress Vicki Cummings. Iles was a protege of the world renowned pianist, Henrietta Schumann.

Harry Fiedel - Born in 1925. Has worked with many hotel bands as drummer. Recorded with eastern society orksters Lester Lanin and Meyer Davis. Played staff with WOR, New York, radio crew and also has worked most of the Gotham hostelries before joining Greene and Iles.

From Billboard - November 16, 1959: Eddie Greene and Stephen Ilse (with nice assist from drummer Harry Fiedel) combine talents on a varied line-up of keyboards - piano, organ, Magnaharp, Kurger String bass, etc. The results are pleasant, smoothly unobtrusive instrumental arrangements of such contrasting standards as "Lazy River," "Taboo," "You Make Me Feel So Young" and "Ja-Da."

Keep It Gay
Lazy River
I've Got The World On A String
Taboo
When It's Sleepy Time Down South
You Make Me Feel So Young
Chinatown Cha Cha (Chinatown My Chinatown)
Ja-Da
Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
From This Moment On
Taking A Chance On Love
Dansero

Piano Moods - Paul Lefevre

Summertime

Piano Moods
Paul Lefevre At The Piano
Richmond London Records B 20053

September In The Rain
Vous Qui Passez Sans Me Voir
Louise
Plaisir D' Amour
Danse Macabre
La Chapelle Au Clair De Lune
Paris Je T'Aime
Summertime
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
L'Arlesienne

Irving Field's Favorites

My Funny Valentine

Irving Field's Favorites
Irving Fields At The Piano
King Records 703
1960

From the back cover: Irving Fields and his trio have been supplying their infectious music for so many years that many of the group's fans are surprised to discover that the leader is still a comparatively young man. Fields started his performing career when he was in his teens, and now, 17 years later, and still with the same bassist and drummer with whom he started out, Field's happy brand of music draws crowds wherever the trio appears, in smart supper clubs and night clubs throughout the country. There are few rooms in the United States that have not featured the Fields combo, from New York to Las Vegas to Miami. Right now he is packing them in at the El Borracho in New York.

Perhaps one of the things that has helped the Irving Fields Trio to remain as popular as it has for so long, is the ability of the leader to play any and all types of music. If the audience desires sweet music, Fields can play sweetly, if they want jazz he can play that too. And if they want happy music for dancing, Fields and his Trio are able to handle with ease as well. That Irving Fields knows what the public wants and likes is evident from his successful songwriting as well as his musical career. He is the writer of three pop hits, "Miami Beach Rumba", Managua, Nicaragua", and "Chantez, Chantez".

In this collection of all time favorites selected by Irving Fields from the tunes most requested of his trio over the years, the pianist gets an opportunity to display the various types of rhythms that have made the trio musically interesting for almost two decades. He arranged every tune in the album with an eye to keeping listener attention throughout the entire LP. The Field's version of "Mack The Knife", the Kurt Well tune that recently became a smash pop hit, is handed a concert arrangement here, starting out with Latin Rhythms, then turning into a classical selection and ending with a dazzling display of technique on the part of the pianist. "The Third Man Theme" is given a cha cha flavor and wonderful beat, the "Ebb Tide", another pop hit of recent vintage, is handled in pop-symphonic style by the combo. You are sure to find one of your favorites in this new collection, performed in an engaging and distinctive manner by the Irving Fields Trio. – Bob Rolontz, The Billboard

Ebb Tide
Fascination
September Song
Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers
My Funny Valentine
How High The Moon
Holiday For Strings
Tico Tico
Laura
Mack The Knife Concerto
Danube Waves
Stephen Foster Rumba Medley

The Girl I Love - Carl Smith

The Girl I Love

The Girl I Love
Carl Smith
Produced by Wesley Rose
Hickory/MGM Records H3GG 4522
1975

The Girl I Love
I Can't Get You (Out Of My Mind)
I Can't Go On This Way
It's Teardrop Time
It's Gonna Be One Of Those Days
A Pair Of Wings For Me
Roly Poly
Just Because I'm Still In Love With You
One Thing Leads To Another
Drinking Champagne
She Is

Big Mable Murphy - Sue Thompson

Baby's Not Home

Big Mable Murphy
Sue Thompson
Featuring Baby's Not Home
Produced by Wesley Rose
Art Direction: John Donegan
Cover Design: John Robertson
Hickory/MGM Records H3G-4523
1975

Big Marble Murphy
Whole Lot Of Walkin'
Big Daddy
Any Other Morning
James (Hold The Ladder Steady)
Blue Eyed Jack's Wild
Baby's Not Home
(Til) I Kissed You
Heaven Really Smiled On Me This Time
I Can't Stop Loving You (Spanish Version) (No Puedo Estar Sin Ti)
He Cheats On Me