Russ Freeman ~ Chet Baker Quartet (1956) [vinyl]

Can you remember those far off pre-internet days, when the only way to hear the music was to physically acquire a copy of the LP?
Out of print, this had been on my wish list for years, my heart leapt when it wa reissued by the Japanese in 1978, but these limited edition high quality pressings were very expensive in the UK - outside my price range - until I stumbled across this second hand copy in Honest Jons in the Portobello Road, London - heaven!

These days of course you just download the CD reissue or the Mosaic set from some Russian site, but for me this 12" slab of cardboard and vinyl is still heaven, and I thought I'd share it with you.

01 - Love Nest
02 - Fan Tan
03 - Summer Sketch
04 - An Afternoon At Home
05 - Say When
06 - Lush Life
07 - Amblin'
08 - Hugo Hurwhey

Chet Baker (trumpet) Russ Freeman (piano) Leroy Vinnegar (bass) Shelly Manne (drums)
Los Angeles, CA, November 6, 1956
[King Jazz GXF 3104 reissue of Pacific Jazz PJ-1232]

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