Carmen McRae - Carmen For Cool Ones (1957) [vinyl>flac]

Hip early work from Carmen McCrae - with jazzy arrangements by Fred Katz, featuring mostly west coast players running through some off-kilter backings that give Carmen a different sound than usual. The album's definitely got the "cool" in the title, but Carmen's sophisticated phrasing of the songs brings a lot of warmth to the tracks - in a kind of counterpoint that works really well with the music. Titles include "I Remember Clifford", "What's New", "Weak For The Man", "A Shoulder To Cry On", "Any Old Time", "Without A Word Of Warning", and "The Night We Called It A Day". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Decca Records, DL 8738, 1958

Recorded 1957

Personnel:

Carmen McRae - Vocals

Pete Candoli - Trumpet (#A6)

Ray Lion - Trumpet (#A6)

Milt Bernhart - Trombone (#A6)

Bob Enevoldsen - Trombone (#A6)

Tommy Johnson - Tuba (#A6)

Buddy Collette - Flute, Alto Saxophone (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

George W. Smith - Clarinet (#A1,A2,A4,B1,B3,B4,B6)

Justin Gordon - Bass Clarinet (#A1,A2,A4,B1,B3,B4,B6)

Mahlon Clark - Bass Clarinet (#A1,B1,B3)

Bill Green - Flute (#A1,B1,B3)

Harry Klee - Flute [Solo] (#A1,B1,B3)

Warren Webb - Oboe (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

Larry Bunker - Vibraphone (#A3,A5,B2,B5), Drums (#A6)

Frank Emilio Flynn - Vibraphone, Marimba (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

John T. Williams - Piano (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

Joe Marino - Piano (#A2,A4,B4,B6), Celeste (#A3,A5,B2,B5)

Calvin Jackson - Piano (#A6)

Joseph R. Gibbons - Guitar (#A2,A4,B4,B6)

Billy Bean - Guitar (#A6)

Fred Katz - Cello (#B5)

Ike Isaacs - Bass (#A1-A5,B1-B6)

Red Mitchell - Bass (#A6)

Specs Wright - Drums (#A1-A5,B1-B6)

Tracks:

A1. All The Things You Are {Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II} (2:25)

A2. A Shoulder To Cry On {Chuck Darwin, Paulette Girard} (3:52)

A3. Any Old Time {Artie Shaw} (3:09)

A4. Weak For The Man {Jeanne Burns} (4:08)

A5. What's New {Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke} (2:29)

A6. I Get A Kick Out Of You {Cole Porter} (2:14)

B1. [What Can I Say] After I Say {Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman} (1:46)

B2. Without A Word Of Warning (Mack Gordon, Harry Revel} (3:19)

B3. You Are Mine {Frank Loesser} (3:26)

B4. If I Were A Bell {Ted Snyder, Sam Lewis, Joe Young} (1:54)

B5. The Night We Called It A Day {Matt Dennis, Tom Adair} (4:28)

B6. I Remember Clifford {Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks} (3:00)

Orchestra Director, Arranger - Fred Katz

Liner Notes - Burt Korall

Pete Rugolo & His All-Stars - Out On A Limb

This is a really nice album of mostly originals by the west coast jazzman, Pete Rugolo.  It mostly serves as a vehicle for his compositions and arrangements which are of course, fantastic.  We hear some brief but gorgeous soloing from a nice cross section of west coast talent.

Rugolo was no Basie, but he certainly could put the band to great effect.  There are some stunning moments where he uses the whole brass section, or band itself to emphasize a note.  "Repetitious Riff" is hands down my favorite tune as he finds the best balance between putting down his own material while still allowing the band to shine individually.  There are definitely a few tunes with very little in the way of personal expression from his all stars.

Overall its a nice listen, but certainly not a classic.  The album cleaned up nicely and there was only one issue I couldn't clean up (a small pop for 4 rpm).  Brought to you in glorious mono, this was ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.  There are some really nice notes on the back cover, which is of course included in hi rez.  Enjoy the golden days of the west coast jazz sound!!

Emarcy (MG 36115)
1957

Recorded in Los Angeles, CA
July 9 -11, 1956

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes:

Harry Klee (alto saxophone, alto flute, piccolo) Ronny Lang (alto saxophone, flute) Gene Cipriano, Dave Pell (tenor saxophone) Chuck Gentry (baritone saxophone) Russ Freeman (piano) Howard Roberts (guitar) Joe Mondragon (bass) Shelly Manne (drums) Pete Rugolo (arranger, conductor)

Don't Play The Melody;  The Boy Next Door:

Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Ray Linn, Don Paladino (trumpet) Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, Frank Rosolino (trombone) George Roberts (bass trombone) John Cave, Vince DeRosa (French horn) Clarence Karella (tuba) Harry Klee (alto saxophone, alto flute, piccolo) Ronny Lang (alto saxophone, flute) Gene Cipriano, Dave Pell (tenor saxophone) Chuck Gentry (baritone saxophone) Larry Bunker (vibraphone, xylophone, percussion, timpani) Russ Freeman (piano) Howard Roberts (guitar) Joe Mondragon (bass) Shelly Manne (drums) Pete Rugolo (arranger, conductor)

Cha-Lito Linda;  Early Duke;  In A Modal Tone:

Same as previous but Don Fagerquist (trumpet) replaces Paladino

Sunday, Monday Or Always;  Ballade For Drums; Nancy (With The Laughing Face);  Repetitious Riff:

Jay McAllister (tuba) Bud Shank (alto saxophone, flute) Bob Cooper (tenor saxophone) Jimmy Giuffre (baritone saxophone) Barney Kessel (guitar) replaces Karella, Lang, Cipriano, Gentry, Howard Roberts

A1 Don't Play The Melody
A2 In A Modal Tone
A3 Early Duke
A4 Nancy
A5 Sunday, Monday Or Always
B1 The Boy Next Door
B2 Cha-Lito Lindo
B3 Ballade For Drums
B4 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
B5 Repetitious Riff