Gene Norman

Frank Morgan - Gene Norman Presents Frank Morgan (1955) {Fresh Sound Records ‎FSR-CD71 rel 1989}
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© 1955, 1989 Gene Norman Presents / Fresh Sound Records | ‎FSR-CD 71
Jazz / Bop / Saxophone

When altoist Frank Morgan recorded his debut as a leader in 1955, he was being hyped as "the new Bird." Unfortunately, he followed in Charlie Parker's footsteps mostly by becoming an irresponsible drug addict. After 30 years passed, he cut his second album and seriously began his successful comeback. This GNP album features Morgan back at the beginning, performing four numbers with Machito's rhythm section and six other songs with a septet that also includes tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray (heard on his final recordings). Trumpeter Conte Candoli is a major asset on both of these boppish dates, while Morgan shows why he was rated so highly at this point in his career.

This was Ammons' final recording before "being made an example of" and getting a lengthy jail sentence for possession of heroin; his next record would be cut over seven years later. The music is surprisingly upbeat, with Ammons joined by two guitars (Bucky Pizzarelli and Kenny Burrell), a fine rhythm section (pianist Hank Jones, bassist Norman Edge, and drummer Oliver Jackson), and the bongos of Al Hayes for a set of Latin-flavored jazz that was masquerading as bossa nova.

Ella Fitzgerald - Twelve Nights In Hollywood (2009) {4CD Verve-Hip-O Select B0012920-02 rec 1961-1962}
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© 1961-62, 2009 Verve / Hip-O Select / Universal | B0012920-02
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Standards

An appearance in Hollywood for a first-rate jazz vocalist was not necessarily an opportunity to broadcast your visage and pander to everyone from Tacoma to Tallahassee. It could also include a date at the Crescendo, the Sunset Strip's best chance to find premier jazz. Gene Norman's nightclub hosted dozens of jazz legends (and a comic or two), and produced more than its share of excellent LPs recorded on location. Better even than Mel Tormé's 1954 classic, the Ella Fitzgerald LP that resulted from her May 1961 appearances generated one of the best (and certainly most underrated) live records in her discography – and almost 50 years later, it became a four-CD set compiling ten days' worth of performances.