Chuck Thompson

Charles 'Baron' Mingus - West Coast, 1945-49 (2000) {Uptown Records UPCD 27.48}
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© 1945-49, 2000 Uptown Records | UPCD 27.48
Jazz / Bop / Bass

This anthology collects a number of obscure 78s by Charles Mingus, many of which have not been reissued since they were originally released during the 1940s. Many of the vocal features are fairly traditional ballads, and Mingus was by no means an inventive lyricist, but it is the strong solos by the musicians within these tracks and the often rather progressive arrangements (even if their execution is not always perfect) that generally merit the most attention.

Tracks 1-3, 5, 7, 10 & 12 were recorded in June 1952 and featured Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray on tenor sax; Gerry Wiggins on piano and organ; Red Callender on bass; and Chuck Thompson on drums. Gladys Bentley contributes vocals on track 5, and Maurice Simon plays baritone sax on track 10. Tracks 4, 6, 8 & 9 were recorded in November 1946. They feature Wardell Gray on tenor sax; Dodo Marmarosa on piano; Red Callender on bass; and Chuck Thompson on drums. Track 11 was recorded in April 1947 and features Wardell Gray on tenor sax; Erroll Garner on piano; Red Callender on bass; and Jackie Mills on drums.

Charlie Parker - Intégrale Charlie Parker, Vol. 2, "Now's The Time", 1945-1946 (2011) {3CD Set Frémeaux & Associés FA1332}
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© 1945-46, 2011 Frémeaux & Associés | FA 1332
Jazz / BeBop / Bop / Saxophone

The Frémeaux label have done an admirable job of compiling the complete chronological recordings of major artists such as Django Reinhardt, Louis Armstrong and Mahalia Jackson. Now they turn their attention to Charlie Parker. This three CD set covers an exciting period when Parker and fellow bebop pioneer Dizzy Gillespie were shaking up the jazz world, not just at gigs but with widely distributed 78s. Most of the tracks, recorded in New York and Los Angeles, feature both men, in the studio and on radio broadcasts. A young Miles Davis also makes an appearance.

Sonny Criss - Jazz U.S.A. (1956) {Liberty Japan TOCJ-5329 rel 1990}
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© 1956, 1990 Imperial / Liberty / Toshiba-EMI | TOCJ-5329
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Saxophone

The sessions of Sonny Criss for the Imperial label deserve at least as much attention as his better known Prestige albums of the sixties. They show an alto saxophonist of tremendous power and authority. The uptempo standards on Jazz U.S.A. are particularly overwhelming.

Hampton Hawes Quartet - All Night Session, Vols. 1-3 (1956) {2CD Set Japan Victor Mini LP 20-bit K2, VICJ-60782~3 rel 2001}
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© 1956, 2001 Contemporary Records / Victor Japan | VICJ-60782~3
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

A Japanese reissue of this terrific session which was originally released on three LPs. It's beautifully remastered in 20-bit K2 super coding and contains one track not on any of the original LPs. Originally issued on three LPs, the music resulting from Hampton Hawes' All Night Session! was stereophonically recorded for the Contemporary label in Los Angeles on the night of November 12 and into the morning of November 13, 1956. This session transcended the conventions of studio production by moving steadily from one tune to the next like a live gig with no alternate takes.