Posts tagged West Coast

June 11, 2005

Decca Jazz Studio 1 and 2

Decca jazz studio In the early 1950s Decca responded to Clef/Verve jazz impresario Norman Granz’s Jam Sessions releases with a series of “Jazz Studio” titles. We’ll hear “Tenderly” from Jazz Studio 1, which featured lengthy numbers much in the manner of the Granz records; soloists include tenor saxophonists Frank Foster and Paul Quinichette (aka “the Vice-Prez,” so called for the…

The Art of Pepper: Art Pepper’s Aladdin Recordings

In the mid-1950s Art Pepper had already served two prison terms on narcotics charges and was struggling to re-ignite the promising solo career he’d started several years earlier after leaving Stan Kenton’s orchestra. 1956 was a spectacular year for Pepper, and the recordings he did for the Aladdin label, featuring West Coast greats such as…

Young Chet: Trumpet and Vocals

Chet Baker LP Several recent Pacific Jazz re-issues of Chet Baker are the focus of this edition of Night Lights, including Chet Baker Ensemble, Chet Baker Sextet, and Chet Baker Sings and Plays. These recordings were all done between 1953 and 1955, when Baker’s star was ascending and he was relatively untroubled by…

Early Baron: Charles Mingus 1945-49

Mingus This week on Night Lights we feature the early music of Charles Mingus, taken from an Uptown Records CD entitled “Charles ‘Baron’ Mingus: West Coast Recordings, 1945-49.” Musicologist Stefano Zenni has an interesting website devoted to this little-heard period of Mingus’ music, which includes jump blues, Ellingtonian ballads…