Curtis Counce

These 1956 Pacific Jazz sides appeared in 1961 under the title Playboys. Myth and rumor persist that, under legal advice from the publisher of a similarly named magazine, the collection would have to be retitled. It was renamed Picture of Heath, as more than half of the tracks are Jimmy Heath compositions. Regardless, the music is the absolute same. These are the third sessions to feature the dynamic duo of Art Pepper (alto sax) and Chet Baker (trumpet).

Chet Baker & Art Pepper - Picture Of Heath (1956) {Pacific Jazz 724349410626 rel 1998}
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© 1956, 1998 Pacific Jazz / Capitol Records | 7243 4 94106 2 6 | 20-bit SBM
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet / Saxophone

The seven sides that make up the all-star outing Picture of Heath (1961) might be familiar to fans of co-leads Chet Baker (trumpet) or Art Pepper (alto saxophone), as Playboys (1956). Perhaps owing to trademark-related issues with the men's magazine of the same name, Picture of Heath became the moniker placed on the 1961 Pacific Jazz vinyl re-release, as well as the 1989 compact disc. Regardless of the designation on the label, the contents gather selections recorded on October 31, 1956 – the third encounter between Baker and Pepper.

The seven sides that make up the all-star outing Picture of Heath (1961) might be familiar to fans of co-leads Chet Baker (trumpet) or Art Pepper (alto saxophone), as Playboys (1956). Perhaps owing to trademark-related issues with the men's magazine of the same name, Picture of Heath became the moniker placed on the 1961 Pacific Jazz vinyl re-release, as well as the 1989 compact disc. Regardless of the designation on the label, the contents gather selections recorded on October 31, 1956 – the third encounter between Baker and Pepper. ~ AllMusic

The great swing violinist Stuff Smith had not recorded as a leader since 1945 when producer Norman Granz got him to make three albums for Verve during a three-month period. Smith, who was still very much in his prime, recorded 11 selections (one previously unissued) with pianist Carl Perkins, either Red Callender or Curtis Counce on bass and Oscar Bradley or Frank Butler on drums (Have Violin Will Swing), jammed nine numbers (three released for the first time here) with the Oscar Peterson Trio (for the album titled Stuff Smith), and on five tunes teamed up with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and a rhythm section (Dizzy Gillespie-Stuff Smith); all are reissued in full on this generous two-CD set from 1994. In each of the settings, the violinist excels, making this an easily recommended and very satisfying release.

Buddy Collette & Chico Hamilton - Tanganyika (1956) {Dig–V.S.O.P. #20 CD rel 1993}
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© 1956, 1993 Dig / Tampa / V.S.O.P. Records | V.S.O.P. #20 CD / Tampa #34
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Reeds / Drums

The cover and the title tend to make you think you're going to experience something like Herbie Mann's 'Sugarloaf - Jazz Impressions Of Brazil', a musical reaction to a country and its culture, but that's not really what's on offer here. Sure, there is a track called 'Tanganyika' and another called 'Jungle Pogo Stick' and a third titled 'A Walk On The Veldt' but their connection to Tanganyika (Tanzania) or any other part of Africa is pretty hard to discern. No matter, because what we have here is a great session from the Capital Records Studios in Hollywood CA on Oct 11, 1956 with Buddy Collette and John Anderson blowing up a storm, driven along by Chico Hamilton on drums and with some very sympathetic guitar from Jim Hall.

Herb Geller - Herb Geller Plays (1954) {Emarcy Japan Paper Sleeve PHCE-3069 rel 1996}
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© 1954-55, 1996 Emarcy / Mercury / PolyGram Japan | PHCE-3069
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Saxophone

The first of a series of excellent recordings that he made for Emarcy in the 1950s, all of which have been reissued by Emarcy in Japan. Other than four titles from a year before, this LP contains altoist Herb Geller's first recordings as a leader. Cut during a period when Herb was based in Los Angeles and regularly working with his wife, the talented but short-lived pianist Lorraine Geller, the music also has either Curtis Counce or Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Lawrence Marable or Eldridge Freeman on drums. Herb Geller was already in his early prime and contributed six originals. The band also performs one of Lorraine's tunes, plus five standards, all in swinging and boppish style. This LP (which has not been reissued lately) is well worth searching for.

Buddy DeFranco - Generalissimo + Live Date! (1958) {Verve–Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10295 rel 2007}
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© 1958, 2007 Lone Hill Jazz / Verve | LHJ 10295
Jazz / Bop / Clarinet

De Franco's 1958 album + bonus LP "Live Date". Both albums appear here for the first time on CD. In 2007, the Lone Hill Jazz label reissued two Verve albums by clarinetist Buddy DeFranco: Generalissimo and Live Date!, which despite the title was a studio recording. In a producer's note, Morton James verbally winces at the pun on the name of the notoriously genocidal Spanish dictator Generalissimo Francisco Franco, and speculates that this grossly insensitive gimmick, thought up by some clueless A&R director or advertising agent, might actually have delayed the album's appearance on CD until 2007.

Shorty Rogers And His Giants - The Swinging Mr. Rogers (1955) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27077}
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© 1955, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27077 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. A standout set from Shorty – tightly arranged numbers performed by a quartet that includes Jimmy Giuffre, Pete Jolly, Curtis Counce, and Shelly Manne – all working with Shorty in perfect west coast form! Despite the length of the tunes, the overall feel is similar to Rogers' excellent Wherever The Five Winds Blow album for RCA – and makes the record a great set, done without any gimmicks or tricks – and enough of the modern touch still left from Rogers' first few years on record. Titles include "Martians Go Home", "Trickleydidlier", "Not Really The Blues", and "Michele's Meditation".

Clifford Brown All Stars - Best Coast Jazz +1 (1954) {EmArcy Japan PHCE-3062 rel 1996}
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© 1954, 1996 EmArcy / Mercury Japan | PHCE-3062 | 24/96 mastering
Jazz / Bop / Cool

Clifford Brown: "Best Coast Jazz" is the Five Star bookend session to "Clifford Brown All Stars", both having been recorded at the same session in Los Angeles in 1954. On the vinyl LP, each song took up a side, allowing for plenty of blowing room. "BCJ" would be released in 1955. One year later, Clifford Brown (and pianist Richie Powell and wife) would be dead from a car wreck on the Penn Turnpike during a rainstorm. Thus altering the course of jazz trumpet history in one tragic act. "CBAS" would be hurriedly released following the accident and we would once again shake our heads at the tremendous loss of trumpet genius Clifford Brown.