OSCAR PETTIFORD 1956

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email: themenschmidt@t-online.de

© Hans-Joachim Schmidt, themen Verlag Köln

 

OSCAR INTRO | OSCAR 1922-1945 | OSCAR 1946-1949 | OSCAR 1950-1955 |

OSCAR 1957-1960 | SONGS BY OP | COOVER

OSCAR PETTIFORD

1956

 

(BIO / SESSIONS continued)

56 The fourth year of the Down Beat critics poll. OP wins. S. below 560831. 

56 (ca.) NYC. Leonard Feather ld, Thad Jones tp, Benny Powell tb, Frank Wess ts, fl, Dick Hyman p, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d.

West Coast Vs. East Coast. MGM E-3390.

56 NYC. The 4 Most Sing The Arrangements of Joe Derise. Al Evans, lead voc, Chuck Sedacca, 2nd voc, Joe Derise, p & 3rd voc, Marv Falcon, 4th voc, feat.: Dick Sherman tp, Gene Quill as, Al Cohn ts, Hank Jones p, Mat Mathews acc, Joe Puma, Mundell Lowe g, Oscar Pettiford b, Charlie Smith d.

The 4 Most + Bob Stewart. Dawn DCD 112.

56 NYC. Bob Stewart Sings with the Mat Mathews Quintet. Bob Stewart voc, Herbie Mann fl, ts, Mat Mathews acc, Joe Puma g, Oscar Pettiford b & cello, Kenny Clarke d.

The 4 Most + Bob Stewart. Dawn DCD 112.

560105 NYC. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra. Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, Mike Shain, Billy Butterfield tp, Eddie Bert, William Byers, Phil Giacobbe tb, Hal McKusick, Ray Beckenstein as, Frank Socolow ts, Danny Bank, Al Epstein bs, Boyd Raeburn ss, Nat Pierce p, Steve Jordan g, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d. Ginnie Powell voc, George Williams arr.

Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra with Johnny Eaton’s Princetonians and Ginnie Powell and The Classmates: Dance Spectacular. Columbia CL889. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra: Fraternity Rush. Columbia CL957. - I found the matrix numbering a little puzzling at first. As Marc Shepherd says: There are „Columbia sets for which the matrix numbers seem to have been assigned in the order the sides were recorded. Hence, by sorting the matrix numbers one can determine the sequence of the recording sessions. For (...) other (...) Columbia sets, the matrix numbers were pre-assigned in the issue sequence, and it is impossible to determine the recording sequence in a given session."  Matrix numbers of unissued recordings were used again in later sessions. Cf. Co.56386 (Blues) from 560326 which was used for Sweet Sue, Just You on 560719. - NOTE: There is a Solid, Solid South on CL889, but this is from the session 560719, with Eddie Jones on bass. The recording above remains unissued. 

560117 Milt Jackson vib, ld, Lucky Thompson ts, John Lewis p, Skeeter Best g, Oscar Pettiford b, Kenny Clarke d.

Ballads & Blues. Atlantic 1242. - AMCY 1032 (CD). 

560121 Milt Jackson vib, ld, John Lewis p, Barry Galbraith g, Oscar Pettiford b, Kenny Clarke d, and 5 woodwinds. Ralph Burns arr.

Ballads & Blues. Atlantic 1242. - AMCY 1032 (CD).

560123 NYC. Chris Connor voc, John Lewis p, Barry Galbraith g, Oscar Pettiford b, Connie Kay d. [Coover Gazdar 56030]

Chris Connor. Atlantic 1228. - Atlantic 7567-80769-2.

560124 Lucky Thompson Trio. Lucky Thompson ts, Oscar Pettiford b, Skeeter Best g.

Lucky Thompson Featuring Oscar Pettiford. Vol. 1. ABC 111. - Jasmine 1037. - Dancing Sunbeam. Impulse AS 9307-2. -  Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar Pettiford. FSR-CD 424. - *also on: In Memoriam Oscar Pettiford. Philips B 08 657 2 (twen 21). - Cf. The Lucky Thompson Discography 1951-1956.

560130 Lucky Thompson Quintet. Lucky Thompson ts, Jimmy Cleveland (as Jim Whatsmyname on Jasmine) tb (except*), Hank Jones p, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d.

Lucky Thompson Featuring Oscar Pettiford. Vol. 1. ABC 111. - Jasmine 1037. - Dancing Sunbeam. Impulse AS 9307-2.  - Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar Pettiford. FSR-CD 424. - Cf. The Lucky Thompson Discography 1951-1956.

560203 s. 560717/18

560211 NYC. Tal Farlow Quintet. Hank Jones p, Tal Farlow g, Oscar Pettiford cello, Ray Brown b, Henry Bellson d. - Oscar Pettiford and Henry Bellson lay out on The Way You Look Tonight.

Poppin' And Burnin'. Verve 815236-2. Except* also on: Giants of Jazz 53247. - Producer Norman Granz was not delighted with the results of this session and consequently it was not put on release although it finally saw the light of day nearly thirty years later on the double LP Poppin' and Burnin'. An interesting facet of this recording is that the guitar and cello both solo in a similar register.  - "At the time, Oscar was playing with my trio at The Embers," Tal recalls. "If a bass player would come in, he'd pick up his cello and plug into my amp. I love listening to him; he played so much like Charlie Christian." - Henry Bellson is Louie Bellson's brother. - Two previously unreleased takes are on The Complete Verve Tal Farlow Sessions (7CD). Mosaic MD7-224:

560228 NYC. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra. Ernie Royal, Mike Shain, Billy Butterfield, Charlie Shavers tp, Eddie Bert, Harry Divito, Phil Giacobbe tb, Sam Marowitz, Eddie Scalzi as, Frank Socolow, Sam "The Man" Taylor ts, Danny Bank, Charlie O'Kane bs, Boyd Raeburn ss, Nat Pierce p, Steve Jordan g, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d. Ginnie Powell voc, George Williams arr.

Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra with Johnny Eaton’s Princetonians and Ginnie Powell and The Classmates: Dance Spectacular. Columbia CL889. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra: Fraternity Rush. Columbia CL957. - NOTE: There is a Summertime on CL957, but this is Co.56929 from the session 560719, with Eddie Jones on bass. The recording above remains unissued.

5603 NYC. Frances Faye acc by Frank Hunter's Orch. Frances Faye voc, Don Leight, Nick Travis, Al DeRisi, Bernie Glow tp, Harry DiVito, Phil Giacobbe tb, Leon Cohen as, Herbie Mann ts,fl, Allen Eager ts, Hy Mandell bs, Don Trenner p, Sal Salvador g, Oscar Pettiford b, Shadow Wilson d, Frank Hunter arr, dir. Cover art by Burt Goldblatt.

Relaxin' with Frances Faye. Bethlehem BCP-62. - Also on Bethlehem (Jap) COCY9940.

5603 s. also 560717/18

560302 Earl Coleman With The Art Farmer Quintet. Earl Coleman voc, Art Farmer tp, Gigi Gryce as, Hank Jones p, Oscar Pettiford b, Shadow Wilson d.

Earl Coleman Returns! Prestige OJCCD-187-2 (P7045). - On two of the bonus tracks later Ellingtonian Ernie Shepard can be heard on bass (551104).

560312 Kenny Burrell g, ld, Frank Foster ts, Tommy Flanagan p, Oscar Pettiford b, Shadow Wilson d.

Introducing Kenny Burrell. The First Blue Note Sessions. 2 CD set. Blue Note 24561.

560312 Audio-Video Studios, NYC. Thad Jones tp, Kenny Burrell g, Tommy Flanagan p, Oscar Pettiford b, Shadow Wilson d.

560313 Audio-Video Studios, NYC. Thad Jones Sextet. Thad Jones tp, Billy Mitchell ts, Tommy Flanagan p, Kenny Burrell g, Oscar Pettiford b, Shadow Wilson d.

Thad Jones: Detroit-New York Junction. Blue Note BLP 1513. - R.V.G. Limited edition Toshiba-EMI TOCJ-9127. - Also on: The Complete Blue Note/UA/Roulette Recordings of Thad Jones. 3 CD set Mosaic #172.

560313 & 21 NYC. Creed Taylor prod, Billy Taylor p, Jimmy Cleveland tb, Oscar Pettiford b, George Duvivier b*, Kenny Clarke d, Percy Brice d°, Tony Scott cl, Joe Roland vib, Charlie Rouse ts, Donald Byrd tp, Gigi Gryce as, Mundell Lowe g (collective personnel). - Gigi Gryce says that the date is 560301.

Creed Taylor Presents: Know Your Jazz Vol 1. LP ABC Paramount ABC 115. - Billy Taylor Trio Meets the Jazz Greats. Lonehill Jazz LHJ 10276 (CD). - [In accordance with the personnel given on the cover, Coover Gazdar 56100 omits How About You, but Mike Hennessey: Klook p. 309 lists Oscar Pettiford/Kenny Clarke for this title. Michael Frohne follows Billy Taylor's LP liner notes. LHJ says it's Pettiford on How About You]. 

560316 NYC. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra. Ernie Royal, Mike Shain, Billy Butterfield, Charlie Shavers tp, Eddie Bert, Harry Divito, Phil Giacobbe tb, Sam Marowitz, Ray Beckenstein as, Frank Socolow, Sam "The Man" Taylor ts, Danny Bank, Charlie O'Kane bs, Boyd Raeburn ss, Nat Pierce p, Steve Jordan g, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d. Ginnie Powell voc, George Williams arr.

Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra with Johnny Eaton’s Princetonians and Ginnie Powell and The Classmates: Dance Spectacular. Columbia CL889. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra: Fraternity Rush. Columbia CL957.

560317 Hackensack, N.J. Thelonious Monk p, ld, Oscar Pettiford b, Art Blakey d.

The Unique. Riverside OCDCD 064-2 (RLP-209). - Rest of this LP 560403.

560321 s. 560313 & 21

560326 NYC. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra. Mike Shain, Billy Butterfield, Buck Clayton, Jack Lubach tp, Eddie Bert, Harry Divito, Phil Giacobbe tb, Sam Marowitz, Ray Beckenstein as, Frank Socolow, Sam "The Man" Taylor ts, Danny Bank bs, Eddie Scalzi bass-sax, Boyd Raeburn ss, Nat Pierce p, George Barnes g, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d. Ginnie Powell voc, George Williams arr. - Herbie Mann fl*, Bob Prince vib*, Johnny Eaton’s Princetonians*, Johnny Eaton arr*, p*

Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra with Johnny Eaton’s Princetonians and Ginnie Powell and The Classmates: Dance Spectacular. Columbia CL889. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra: Fraternity Rush. Columbia CL957.

560328 - 560403 Birdland; a concert handbill announcing: "March 28th - April 3rd. Oscar Pettiford And His 13 Piece Orchestra."

560330 NYC. "Kenneth Karpe ... was instrumental in helping me to organize these truly wonderful artists by sponsoring the first "Easter Jazz Festival at Town Hall" 1956, in which we (the Orchestra) were an important part." Oscar Pettiford. - The New York Times, March 31, 1956: "Several jazz groups took note of the season by offering an 'Easter Jazz Festival' at Town Hall last evening. The most interesting of the ensembles was an orchestra, led by Oscar Pettiford. The instrumentation was rather unusual for a jazz orchestra - two trumpets, two French horns, a trombone, three saxophones, piano, string bass and drums - but it proved well suited to the tightly knit, swinging arrangements that it played. The choice of horns allowed Mr. Pettiford to avoid the blasting shrieks common to brass-heavy groups without losing any of the dynamic potential. The orchestra's ensemble work was crisp and clean, a reflection of the exceptionally high caliber of Mr. Pettiford's sidemen. Included among them were James Cleveland, a trombonist rich in both tone and creative fluidity, Julius Watkins, an accomplished French horn player, and Osie Johnson, an almost faultless drummer. Mr. Johnson, in fact, proved to be the cohesive core of the orchestra, setting an excellent beat and giving the group vitality at all tempos. He even managed to take the inevitable drum solo with an engaging touch of humor. - Thelonious Monk, a veteran pianist of the bop era, appeared with a trio and a quintet, playing with a graceless force that occasionally was brightened by some pixyish conceptions. - The Art Farmer - Gigi Gryce Quintet ... ran through some coldly glittering exercises highlighted by the facile but warm-blooded piano work of Duke Jordan. - Eddy Barnes, a singer, and Morgana King also appeared." - The Monk trio and quintet: Monk p, OP b, Shadow Wilson d, plus Ray Copeland tp, Sahib Shihab saxes (cf. Amram: Vibrations p. 234; Cohen / Fitzgerald: Rat Race Blues p. 200, and the foto showing Monk, Pettiford and Shadow Wilson at Town Hall). 

56 (spring). Concert at Cooper Union, NYC. The Teddy Charles Tentet. Teddy Charles vib, Art Farmer tp, Gunther Schuller fh, Bill Russo tb, Gigi Gryce as, arr, John Lewis p, Oscar Pettiford b, George Russell arr, a.o.

Cf. Teo Macero: Modern Jazz at Cooper Union. Metronome, June 1956, pp. 21, 30.

560401 Gil Melle Quintet. Gil Melle bs, Eddie Bert tb, Joe Cinderella g, Oscar Pettiford b, Ed Thigpen d.

Gil Melle Quartet. Same, omit Eddie Bert.

Gil Melle: Patterns In Jazz. Blue Note BLP 1517.

560403 Hackensack, N.J. Thelonious Monk p, ld, Oscar Pettiford b, Art Blakey d.

The Unique. Riverside OCDCD 064-2 (RLP 12-209).

560405 NYC. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra. Mike Shain, Billy Butterfield, Charlie Shavers, Ernie Royal tp, Eddie Bert, Harry Divito, Phil Giacobbe tb, Sam Marowitz, Ray Beckenstein as, Frank Socolow, Budd Johnson ts, Danny Bank bs, Charlie O'Kane bs, bass-sax, Boyd Raeburn ss, Nat Pierce p, Steve Jordan g, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d. Ginnie Powell, The Classmates voc, George Williams arr.

Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra with Johnny Eaton’s Princetonians and Ginnie Powell and The Classmates: Dance Spectacular. Columbia CL889. Boyd Raeburn and his Orchestra: Fraternity Rush. Columbia CL957.

560411 NYC. Bernard Peiffer p, Joe Puma g, Oscar Pettiford b.

Bernard Peiffer: Bernie's Tunes. EmArcy MG36080

560421 Basin Street Café, NYC. Stan Getz Quartet. Stan Getz ts, Dick Katz p, Oscar Pettiford b, Shelly Manne d.

Stan & Shelly Live in 1956/57. Jazz Band Records (E) EB407

560430 Ray Charles Trio. Ray Charles p, Oscar Pettiford b, Joe Harris d.

Ray Charles: The Genius After Hours. LP Atlantic 90464-1 TIS.

The Great Ray Charles. LP Atlantic SD 1259. - All four titles on: The Great Ray Charles. CD Atlantic 7567-81731-2.

560503 Phineas Newborn p, ld, Calvin Newborn g, Oscar Pettiford b, Kenny Clarke d.

That's Jazz Vol. 39: Here Is Phineas. Atlantic ATL 50522. - Here Is Phineas.The Piano Artistry of Phineas Newborn Jr. Koch Jazz KOC-CD-8505.

560504 Phineas Newborn p, ld, Oscar Pettiford b, Kenny Clarke d.

That's Jazz Vol. 39: Here Is Phineas. Atlantic ATL 50522. - Here Is Phineas. The Piano Artistry of Phineas Newborn Jr. Koch Jazz KOC-CD-8505.

560518 NYC. Joe Carroll. Joe Carroll voc, Urbie Green tb, Hank Jones p, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d. Jimmy Cleveland tb added on*.

Joe Carroll with the Ray Bryant Quintet. Epic LN3272. - Epic Sony ECPC-12 (Japan). 

5606 NYC. Nat Pierce & His Orch. Nat Pierce p, arr, Joe Newman tp, Bill Harris tb, Hal McKusick as, Freddie Green g, Oscar Pettiford b, Jo Jones d.

Kansas City Memories. Coral CRL57091. - Also on: MCA-1378 (Jazz Heritage Series).

560607 NYC. The Manhattan Jazz Septette. Urbie Green tb, Hal McKusick as, Herbie Mann ts,fl, Eddie Costa p, vib, Barry Galbraith g, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d, Manny Albam arr.

Old & New. MCA Coral 6.22189 AK (Jazz Lab Vol. 20). - Coral CRL 57099.

560610 Les Jazz Modes. Co-leaders: Charlie Rouse ts, Julius Watkins fr-h. With Gildo Mahones p, Oscar Pettiford b, Ron Jefferson d, Eileen Gilbert voc*.

Dawn DLP 1108. - Charlie Rouse, Julius Watkins: Les Jazz Modes. The Rare Dawn Sessions. Biograph BCD 134/135 ADD.

560611 NYC. The Oscar Pettiford Orch. Ernie Royal, Art Farmer tp, Jimmy Cleveland tb, Julius Watkins, David Amram fr-h, Gigi Gryce as, arr*, Lucky Thompson ts, arr**, Jerome Richardson ts, fl, Danny Bank bs, Tommy Flanagan p, Oscar Pettiford b, cello, Osie Johnson d.

The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi. ABC Paramount 135. - The Oscar Pettiford Orch.: Deep Passion. CD Impulse GRP 11432. - Oscar Pettiford Complete Big Band Studio Recordings. CD Lonehilljazz LHJ 10168. The sound is better than on GRP 11432. - To know more about this band and the abilities of its leader, read chapter six of Rat Race Blues. The Musical Life of Gigi Gryce.

560612 NYC. The Oscar Pettiford Orch. Ernie Royal, Art Farmer tp, Jimmy Cleveland tb, Julius Watkins, David Amram fr-h, Gigi Gryce as, arr*, Lucky Thompson ts, arr**, Jerome Richardson ts, fl, Danny Bank bs, Tommy Flanagan p, Oscar Pettiford b, cello, cond (1), Whitey Mitchell b (1), Osie Johnson d, Janet Putnam harp*.

The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi. ABC Paramount 135. - The Oscar Pettiford Orch.: Deep Passion. CD Impulse GRP 11432. - Oscar Pettiford Complete Big Band Studio Recordings. CD Lonehilljazz LHJ 10168. The sound is better than on GRP 11432. - Perdido also on: In Memoriam Oscar Pettiford. Philips B 08 657 2 (twen 21).

560616 NYC. Leonard Feather, Dick Hyman ld, Joe Newman tp, Benny Powell tb, Jerome Richardson as, pic, Frank Wess ts, fl, Romeo Penque bs, cl, Don Elliott vib, misc. instruments, Dick Hyman p, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d, Don Elliott perc.

Hi Fi Suite. MGM E 3494.

560619 NYC. The Oscar Pettiford Orch. Ernie Royal, Art Farmer tp, Jimmy Cleveland tb, Julius Watkins, David Amram fr-h, Gigi Gryce as, arr*, Lucky Thompson ts, arr**, Jerome Richardson ts, fl, David Kurtzer bs, Tommy Flanagan p, Oscar Pettiford b, cello, Osie Johnson d, Janet Putnam harp (1).

The Oscar Pettiford Orchestra in Hi-Fi. ABC Paramount 135. - The Oscar Pettiford Orch.: Deep Passion. CD Impulse GRP 11432. - Oscar Pettiford Complete Big Band Studio Recordings. CD Lonehilljazz LHJ 10168. The sound is better than on GRP 11432. - The Gentle Art Of Love also on: In Memoriam Oscar Pettiford. Philips B 08 657 2 (twen 21).

560626 NYC. Helen Merrill with the Gil Evans Orch. Helen Merrill voc, Gil Evans arr, cond, Harry Lookofsky v; unknown strings (4) and woodwinds; Hank Jones p, celeste*,  Barry Galbraith g, Oscar Pettiford b, Joe Morello d. 

Helen Merrill: Dream Of You. EmArcy 36078. - EmArcy 314 514074-2. - EmArcy (Korea) DZ 2893 / 514 074-2. - Helen Merrill, Gil Evans & Clifford Brown. EmArcy 838292-2. -  The Complete Helen Merrill On Mercury. 18PJ-1047-50. Kiyoshi Koyama who had access to the Mercury files does not mention bass and drums.

560627 NYC. Helen Merrill with the Gil Evans Orch.  Omit Lookofsky and strings. Helen Merrill voc, Gil Evans arr, cond. Prob. Art Farmer tp, Joe Bennett tb, John LaPorta cl, as, Jerome Richardson fl, sax, Danny Bank bs, Hank Jones p, Barry Galbraith g, Oscar Pettiford b, Joe Morello d. 

Helen Merrill: Dream Of You. EmArcy 36078. - EmArcy 314 514074-2. - EmArcy (Korea) DZ 2893 / 514 074-2. - The Complete Helen Merrill On Mercury. 18PJ-1047-50.

560629 NYC. Helen Merrill with the Gil Evans Orch. Helen Merrill voc, Gil Evans arr, cond, Art Farmer, Louis Mucci tp, Jimmy Cleveland tb, unidentified tuba, John LaPorta cl, as, Hank Jones p, Barry Galbraith g, Oscar Pettiford b, cello*, Joe Morello d, & strings, horns. 

Omit Farmer, Mucci & Jones

Helen Merrill: Dream Of You. EmArcy 36078. - EmArcy 314 514074-2. - EmArcy (Korea) DZ 2893 / 514 074-2. - Helen Merrill, Gil Evans & Clifford Brown. EmArcy 838292-2. - The Complete Helen Merrill On Mercury. 18PJ-1047-50.

5607 Boston. Toshiko Akiyoshi p, Oscar Pettiford b, Roy Haynes d.

Toshiko, her trio, her quartet. Storyville SLP918, Trio (Jap)PA6134, Trio (Jap)PA6006(M).

560708-18 NYC. Mat Mathews Orchestra. Mat Mathews acc, David Amram fr-h, Herbie Mann fl, Chasey Dean b-cl, Joe Roland vib, Joe Puma g, Oscar Pettiford b, Charlie Smith d.

Mat Mathews acc, Art Farmer tp, Herbie Mann fl, Harry Lookofsky viola, Joe Puma g, Oscar Pettiford b, Charlie Smith d.

Mat Mathews acc, Herbie Mann fl, Harry Lookofsky viola, Joe Puma g, Oscar Pettiford b, Charlie Smith d.

The Gentle Art Of Love. Dawn DCD 111 (Dawn LP 1111). - *on DCD 111 only.

Mat Mathews acc, ld, Oscar Pettiford b, Charlie Smith d.

Mat Mathews acc, ld, Herbie Mann fl, Chace Dean b-cl, Joe Roland vib, Oscar Pettiford b, Charlie Smith d.

Oscar Pettiford: Discoveries. Savoy SJL 1172 (Liner notes by Phil Schaap).

Modern Jazz Festival. Jazztone (Europe) J-1245. - Cf. Coover Gazdar 56412: "While the Savoy LP liner notes claim that You're covered is a discovery, the track sounds identical to Straight ahead; the difference in timing is because the Savoy version starts halfway thru Mathews' solo." - Find a list of the original titles compared to the renamed and edited ones under 570813. - Straight Ahead is Dawn material, now on Dawn DCD 111 (see above).

560717/18 (? Lord has 560203). NYC. Mat Mathews Quintet. Mat Mathews acc, Julius Watkins fr-h, Joe Puma g, Oscar Pettiford b, Kenny Clarke d.

The Modern Art Of Jazz. Dawn DCD 110. - The Modern Art Of Jazz Vol. 2. Fresh Sound FSR 563 (Dawn DLP 1104). - *also on: The Modern Art of Jazz. Feat. Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, … Oscar Pettiford & Others. Biograph BCD 120.

Mat Mathews Quintet. Watkins out, Herbie Mann fl, in.

The Modern Art Of Jazz. Dawn DCD 110. - The Modern Art Of Jazz Vol. 2. Fresh Sound FSR 563 (Dawn DLP 1104). *also on: The Modern Art of Jazz. Feat. Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, … Oscar Pettiford & Others. Biograph BCD 120. 

°Pete Bainbridge found an old music book called "Milt Meets Oscar" with transcriptions of "The Puritan" and "Wild Kitten", along with "Not So Deep" (performed by Hinton).  Following the link you will find a scan of the cover.

560717/18 (? Lord has 5603). Mat Mathews Sextet. Mat Mathews acc, Art Farmer tp, Gigi Gryce as, Dick Katz p, Oscar Pettiford b, Kenny Clarke d.

The Modern Art Of Jazz. Dawn DCD 110. - The Modern Art Of Jazz Vol. 2. Fresh Sound FSR 563 (Dawn DLP 1104). - *also on: The Modern Art of Jazz. Feat. Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, … Oscar Pettiford & Others. Biograph BCD 120. - **also on: Jazz for Hi-Fi Lovers. Dawn DLP 1124.

Mat Mathews Trio. Mat Mathews acc, Oscar Pettiford b, Kenny Clarke d.

Mat Mathews acc, Oscar Pettiford b.

The Modern Art Of Jazz. Dawn DCD 110. - The Modern Art Of Jazz Vol. 2. Fresh Sound FSR 563 (Dawn DLP 1104).

Mat Mathews acc. (Lord has 560708 for F., and 560718 for H.)

Harmony HL 7196. - The Modern Art Of Jazz. Dawn DCD 110.

560726, 560727 & 560729 cf. 560626, 560627 & 560629.

560728 Connecticut Jazz Festival, Fairfield University Stadium, Westport, Conn. The Jazz Festival All Stars. Buck Clayton tp, Jimmy Hamilton cl, Paul Gonsalves ts, Hank Jones p, Sidney Gross g, Oscar Pettiford b, Sam Woodyard d. Note: bass and guitar drop out on Ad Lib Blues. 

Duke Ellington, His Orchestra and Friends at the First Annual Connecticut Jazz Festival, July 28, 1956. IAJRC 45 & IAJRC CD 1005. Liner notes by Jerry Valburn, who was present, but did not notice OP - maybe because there was "such a forest of mikes the musicians could hardly been seen." (Variety 560801, quoted after Stratemann: Duke Ellington Day by Day and Film by Film p. 364). "When we showed up with our equipment at University Stadium, I in particular was amazed by the great proliferation of microphones and cables. The networks of NBC, CBS, and MBS were already on the scene along with a grouping of independent radio stations. This affair had been well publicized."  (From Jerry Valburn's liner notes). 

The New York Times 560728: "On radio 8:15-12:30-Connecticut Jazz Festival; Concert from Fairfield University Stadium, with Duke Ellington, Chico Hamilton, Buck Clayton, Willie Smith, Oscar Pettiford, and others; Sidney Gross, host-(WFUV-FM). (Portions of the concert will also be carried by WRCA on 'Monitor' at various times from 8:30 to 11:30; by WOR on 'Bandstand, U.S.A.,' from 8:30-9; and by WABC from 10:05-11.)" 

The festival must have been a mess. 

5608 NYC. Lionel Hampton & His All Stars. Lionel Hampton vib, marimba, vib, Ray Copeland tp, Jimmy Cleveland tb, Lucky Thompson ts, Oscar Dennard p, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d. The Gordons (vocal group) on A Train.

Oscar Pettiford: First Bass. IAJRC CD 1010.

The Fabulous Lionel Hampton & His All-Stars. Jazztone JZ-1238.

Lionel Hampton & His All Stars 1956. Jazz Anthology 550152, and on: JA 5107.

The Fabulous Lionel Hampton & His All-Stars. Jazztone JZ-1238, and on: Lionel Hampton & His All Stars 1956. Jazz Anthology 550152, and on: JA 5107.

Note: No release has the complete session (but s. below***). The tracks of the mono and stereo editions often have different lengths. But there are no alternate takes: in the stereo edition most of the tunes are heavily edited, while A Ghost Of A Chance has a few seconds more. Uwe Weiler documented it like this:

Session A - Quartet - Lionel Hampton All Stars. Lionel Hampton vib, marimba, vib, Oscar Dennard p, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d. The Gordons voc on track 06.

Session B - Septet - Lionel Hampton All Stars. Ray Copeland tp, Jimmy Cleveland tb, Lucky Thompson ts, Lionel Hampton vib, marimba, vib, Oscar Dennard p, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d.

Session A & B - Quartet & Septet - Lionel Hampton All Stars. Ray Copeland tp, Jimmy Cleveland tb, Lucky Thompson ts, Lionel Hampton vib, marimba, vib, Oscar Dennard p, Oscar Pettiford b, Gus Johnson d.

*** In 2007 there is finally - thanks to producer Jordi Pujol - a 2-CD release of "Lionel Hampton and His All Stars: Complete Jazztone Recordings". FSR-CD 446. Here we seem to have considerably longer versions of My Man and Over The Rainbow, but this is due to an error. So there is no new material. The title of "Time For Lions" is corrected: it is Line For Lions by Gerry Mulligan. 

For a quick overview: mono: stereo: FSR-CD 446:
       
A Ghost Of A Chance (06:19) Jazztone J-1040 (06:26) Jazztone SJS-1238 6:24
Dark Eyes (04:56) Jazztone J-723 (04:59) Jazztone SJS-1238 4:59
Deep Purple (04:23) Jazztone J-1040   4:26
Lionel's Choo Choo* (03:01) Jazztone J-723   2:58
Loch Lomond (quartet) (06:00) Jazztone J-1238 (06:00) Jazztone SJS-1238 5:58
Look! Four Hands (quartet) (03:41) Jazztone J-1238 (03:41) Jazztone SJS-1238 3:42
My Man (quartet) (05:18) Jazztone J-1040 (03:53) Jazztone SJS-1238 5:20 (not 6:29!)
Over The Rainbow (11:06) Jazztone J-1238   11:09 (not 11:44!) 
Raindeer (07:59) Jazztone J-1238 (05:07) Jazztone SJS-1238 8:04
Romeo's Gone Now (06:25) Jazztone J-723 (04:10) Jazztone SJS-1238 6:25
Summertime (02:39) Jazztone J-1238   2:45
Take The „A" Train (quartet) (04:18) Jazztone J-1040   4:21
Time For Lyons (quartet) (06:20) Jazztone J-1238 (04:58) Jazztone SJS-1238 6:25
Too Much (quartet) (04:55) Jazztone J-1040 (03:49) Jazztone SJS-1238 5:01
Undecided (07:02) Jazztone J-1040 (05:19) Jazztone SJS-1238 7:05
What's Your Hurry* (03:52) Jazztone J-1238   3:52
When You're Smiling (06:48) Jazztone J-1238   6:55

* note by Coover Gazdar: "Lionel's Choo Choo and What's Your Hurry are different takes of the same tune."

The editing of Jazztone SJS-1238 is repeated on the CDs: Lionel Hampton: My Man. Excelsior EXL-2-5318, and Four Star FS-40079.

560822 Charlie Smith Trio. Charlie Smith d, Hank Jones p, Oscar Pettiford d.

Jazzville DCD 114 (2 CD). - Jazzville Vol. 3. Fresh Sound FSR 565 (Dawn DLP 1114). And on: The Modern Art of Jazz. Feat. Milt Hinton, Hank Jones, … Oscar Pettiford & Others. Biograph BCD 120. - *also on: Various Artists: Critics Choice. Dawn DLP-1123.

Oscar Pettiford: Discoveries. Savoy SJL 1172 (Liner notes by Phil Schaap). - Note by Coover Gazdar 56260: "These are NOT discoveries but rather reissues. [Blues For Sal] has been retitled "What Is It" on Savoy; the two tracks are identical. [Air Mail Special] titled "Out Is In" on Savoy where the time has been shortened (1.55) by editing out 37 secs. of the beginning. [Have You Met Miss Jones] titled "The Switch" on Savoy where the time has been shortened (2.10) by editing out 1.07 secs. of the beginning." - Cf. 56 Mat Mathews: You're Covered / Straight Ahead, and 570813 Gene Roland: The Creeper / No Knox Blues.

560824 NYC. Tom Talbert Orch. Joe Wilder, Nick Travis tp, Eddie Bert, Jimmy Cleveland tb, Aaron Sachs ts, cl, George Wallington p, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d, Tom Talbert, arr, cond.

Tom Talbert: Bix Duke Fats. Atlantic 1250. - Seabreeze CDSB-3013.

560827 Music Inn. Lenox, Mass. "For five days, a number of jazz musicians of widely varying ages and 'schools' were invited ... to sit and discuss ... specific jazz subjects. The panels began on August 27 with Charles Mingus, Milt Jackson, Dick Katz, Jimmy Giuffre, Pee Wee Russell, John Lewis, Sammy Price and Oscar Pettiford discussing Improvisation. The topics for the rest of the week were Composition And Instrumentation, Rhythm, Instrumental Tradition And The Development Of Instrumental Techniques, and Jazz And Its Audience - Communication. ... (Metronome has published several extracts from these discussions.)" From Nat Hentoff's liner notes to Historic Jazz Concert At Music Inn. Atlantic 1298 (below).

560830 Music Inn. Lenox, Mass. Jimmy Giuffre cl, ts, Pee Wee Russell cl, George Wein p, Oscar Pettiford b, Connie Kay d.

Pee Wee Russell out, Rex Stewart cornet in.

Herbie Mann fl, Dick Katz p, Oscar Pettiford cello, Ray Brown b, Connie Kay d.

Historic Jazz Concert At Music Inn. Atlantic 1298. - Discussions and concerts were rewarding. "In any case, the mutual affection and warmth was exhilaratingly contageous, and it was this experience that led directly to the decision by the Barbers and John Lewis to form the School Of Jazz at Music Inn." (from Nat Hentoff's liner notes). - From 1957 to 1960, the Lenox School Of Jazz conducted jazz courses at Music Inn during regular summer semesters. Teachers John Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie, George Russell, Oscar Peterson, Jimmy Giuffre, Gunther Schuller a.o. encouraged Jamey Aebersold, David Baker, Ran Blake, Don Cherry, Ornette Coleman, Bob Dorough, Don Ellis, Chuck Israels, Steve Kuhn, Steve Marcus, Gary McFarland, Larry Ridley, Attila Zoller a.o.

*from Nat Hentoff's liner notes: "Notable in this performance, incidentally, is the bass solo of Oscar Pettiford. In addition to the man's beat and conception, there is the complete authority with which he plays. The same authority, as it happened, with which he kept proclaiming throughout the week that the contribution of the American Indian to jazz had been scandalously neglected." - Martin Williams in his liner notes to Jelly Roll Morton's Library of Congress Recordings Vol. 11, Riverside RLP 9011, where Morton demonstrates how the Indian groups sounded that participated in the Mardi Gras: "The question of Indian music reminds one of a theory about jazz which had some popularity at the time of these recordings [1938] and was neglected thereafter until bassist Oscar Pettiford (born on a reservation in Okmulgee, Oklahoma) raised it again - strongly, to say the least - at a summer round table at Music Inn in Lenox, Mass. ... Morton's apparently accurate memory of this Mardi Gras ceremony (which may have been very mixed with vodun music by the time, of course) seems to show that the music made an important impression." 

560831 1956 Down Beat Critics Poll

560907 NYC. Tom Talbert Orch. Joe Wilder tp, Joe Soldo fl, Danny Bank cl, b-cl, Harold Goltzer bassoon, Jim Buffington fr-h, Barry Galbraith g, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d, Tom Talbert, arr, cond.

Tom Talbert: Bix Duke Fats. Atlantic 1250. - Seabreeze CDSB-3013.

560914 NYC. Tom Talbert Orch. Joe Wilder tp, Eddie Bert tb, Joe Soldo fl, Aaron Sachs ts, cl, Danny Bank bs, b-cl, Jim Buffington fr-h, Claude Williamson p (* only), Barry Galbraith g, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d, Tom Talbert, arr, cond.

Tom Talbert: Bix Duke Fats. Atlantic 1250. - Seabreeze CDSB-3013.

560917 TVB, Chicago, IL. Stan Getz Quartet. Stan Getz ts, Sam Dockery p, Oscar Pettiford b, Art Blakey d.

Stan Getz Special, Vol. 1 (Raretone FC 5010). - Cf. 6009 (?)!

560926 'Showboat', Philadelphia. Benefit concert for the mother of Richie and Bud Powell. Those appearing incl. Max Roach, Miles, OP, Kenny
Dorham, Kenny Burrell, Sonny Rollins, both Adderleys etc. Source: 'Jazz Hot' (French) No 115, Nov 1956, p 26. Communicated by Pete Bainbridge.

561009 Thelonious Monk Quintet. Thelonious Monk p, Ernie Henry as, Sonny Rollins ts, Oscar Pettiford b, Max Roach d.

Thelonious Monk: Brilliant Corners. Riverside OJC20 026-2. - **only on Thelonious Monk: The Complete Riverside Recordings. Riverside 15RCD-022-2.

also on: The Thelonious Monk Memorial Album. LP Riverside 0081.130. - Orrin Keepnews about "Brilliant Corners" 561009: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W6mRy4jdk0. 

5611 NYC. Anthony Ortega records Bob Zieff's compositions & arrangements. Jack Chambers: "A few months after [Chet] Baker recorded the two Zieff tunes in Hollywood, Anthony Ortega recorded five more in New York... For his first recording as a leader, for the same Bethlehem label that Wetmore’s record was on (but featuring “Bethlehem’s new ‘Micro Cosmic Sound’,” according to the cover blurb) Ortega cooked up the concept of presenting himself playing what he calls “straight-forward Jazz” on one side and “a form of chamber-music-styled Jazz” on the other. The former had arrangements for a midsized jazz band by Nat Pierce, Woody Herman’s arranger. The flip side featured an “orchestra arranged and conducted by Robert Zieff,” made up of Ortega on alto saxophone, clarinet or flute with violin (Dick Wetmore), trumpet (Art Farmer) and three low-pitched wind instruments (French horn, bass clarinet and bassoon), all relatively rare in jazz, and string bass. Zieff provided orchestral settings for two ballads, “I Can’t Get Started” and “Ghost of a Chance,” and three original compositions, “Four to Four,” “Cinderella’s Curfew” and “Patting.” Essentially, he assigns melodies to the alto saxophone and trumpet, and he writes densely textured chords for the ensemble as a kind of cushion for the melody. In Ortega and Farmer, he is blessed with fluid, light-toned lead voices who can supply swing even when the ensemble occasionally grows static. One of Zieff’s special gifts as composer is his use of the string bass as an ensemble voice, but sometimes in these recordings the bassist seems to drag the beat. When I questioned Zieff about it, he told me that the bassist was supposed to be Oscar Pettiford, one of the great players of the day, but Pettiford had a “big argument” with Ortega and was replaced. Zieff was “quite apprehensive” about his replacement, and “he [Malik] messed up where he was in the pieces — as you may note if you focus on him a bit.” So he does (...)" 

Paul Benkimoun, 25. March 2009: "I just spoke with Anthony Ortega about OP. In the course of the conversation I asked him about the session during which he recorded compositions of Bob Zieff (5611 NYC. Anthony Ortega records Bob Zieff's compositions & arrangements). On your entry you quote Jack Chambers quoting Zieff as saying that Anthony Ortega had a "big argument" with OP which explains why OP was replaced by Ahmed Adul Malik. Ortega told me that was completely untrue and that OP was a very much in demand and likely wasn't available for the session. He insisted in telling how nice, smiling a person OP was and that he made people feel comfortable. Not a single sour word about OP from him.
Anthony is 80 or 81 now and still blowing..."

561107 NYC. Leonard Feather, Dick Hyman ld, Thad Jones tp, Benny Powell tb, Bill Barber tuba, Jerome Richardson as, pic, Frank Wess ts, fl, Phil Bodner bs, oboe, Dick Hyman p, Oscar Pettiford b, Kenny Clarke d.

Hi Fi Suite MGM E 3494.

The music of Bass Reflex is published in Leonard Feather: The Jazz Years p. 259. "This blues in 5/4 seemed so startling in 1956 that Oscar Pettiford, who was to play a solo on it as part of my 'Hi Fi Suite' ... insisted on taking his part home to study it before the session. ... There had been no 5/4 jazz records before, and there were no others until Dave Brubeck recorded Paul Desmond's 'Take Five' three years later."

561116 NYC. Chris Connor With The Ralph Sharon Sextet. Chris Connor voc, Ralph Sharon p, arr, Joe Wilder tp, Al Cohn ts, Eddie Costa vib, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d. [Coover Gazdar 56330]

A Jazz Date With Chris Connor. Atlantic 1286. - Atlantic AMCY 1072. - A Jazz Date With Chris Connor / Chris Craft. Rhino R2 71747. - On Everything I've Got Chris Connor sings: "I've the only disk where Oscar flubbed a note."

561123 Tonight Show, NYC. Dizzy Gillespie tp, J.J. Johnson tb, Tony Scott cl, Horace Silver p, Tal Farlow g, Oscar Pettiford b, Art Blakey d. 

Unissued. A tape is in the Coover Gazdar collection. 

561211 Lucky Thompson Quintet. Lucky Thompson ts, Skeeter Best g, Oscar Pettiford b.

Lucky Thompson Featuring Oscar Pettiford. Vol. 2. ABC 171. - Dancing Sunbeam. Impulse AS 9307-2. -  Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar Pettiford. FSR-CD 424. - *also on: In Memoriam Oscar Pettiford. Philips B 08 657 2 (twen 21). - Cf. The Lucky Thompson Discography 1951-1956.

561212 Lucky Thompson (ld), Jimmy Cleveland tb, Lucky Thompson ts, Don Abney p, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d.

Lucky Thompson ts, Don Abney p, Oscar Pettiford b.

Lucky Thompson Featuring Oscar Pettiford. Vol. 2. ABC 171. - Dancing Sunbeam. Impulse AS 9307-2. - Lucky Thompson Meets Oscar Pettiford. FSR-CD 424. - Cf. The Lucky Thompson Discography 1951-1956.

561217 NYC. Chris Connor With The Ralph Sharon Sextet. Chris Connor voc, Ralph Sharon p, arr, Sam Most fl, Eddie Costa vib, Joe Puma g, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d. [Coover Gazdar 56350]

A Jazz Date With Chris Connor. Atlantic 1286. - Atlantic AMCY 1072. - A Jazz Date With Chris Connor / Chris Craft. Rhino R2 71747.

561219 NYC. Chris Connor With The Ralph Sharon Orch. Chris Connor voc, Ralph Sharon p, arr, Sam Most fl, Al Cohn, Lucky Thompson ts, Eddie Costa vib, Oscar Pettiford b, Osie Johnson d, Chino Pozo bongos, Mongo Santamaria congas. [Coover Gazdar 56360]

A Jazz Date With Chris Connor. Atlantic 1286. - Atlantic AMCY 1072. - A Jazz Date With Chris Connor / Chris Craft. Rhino R2 71747.

 

OSCAR INTRO | OSCAR 1922-1945 | OSCAR 1946-1949 | OSCAR 1950-1955 | OSCAR 1957-1960 |

SONGS BY OP | COOVER

 

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© Hans-Joachim Schmidt, themen Verlag Köln

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OSCAR PETTIFORD 1956