Oscar Peterson – Plays Count Basie (1956)

Clef – MG C-708Rec. Date : December 27, 1955Stream this Album Piano : Oscar PetersonBass : Ray BrownDrums : Buddy RichGuitar : Herb Ellis Billboard : 05/19/1956Score of 80 Peterson salutes Basie, the composer, pianist and bandsman by building a program on numbers long associated with the band (e.g., Lester Leaps In and Easy Does It). Peterson even adopts the “Count’s” sparse piano styling

Billie Holiday – Lady Sings the Blues (1956)

Clef – MG C-721Rec. Dates : September 3, 1954, June 6, 1956, June 7, 1956Stream this Album Vocals : Billie HolidayAlto Sax : Willie SmithArrangements : Tony ScottBass : Red Callender, Aaron BellClarinet : Tony ScottDrums : Chico Hamilton, Lenny McBrowneGuitar : Barney Kessel, Kenny BurrellPiano : Bobby Tucker, Wynton KellyTenor Sax : Paul QuinichetteTrumpet : Harry Edison, Charlie Shavers Billboard : 12/22/1956Spotlight on… selection Lady Sings the Blues is

Erroll Garner – Concert By The Sea (1956)

Columbia – CL 883Rec. Date : September 19, 1955Stream this Album Piano : Erroll GarnerBass : Eddie CalhounDrums : Denzil Best Billboard : 08/18/1956Spotlight on… selection This package is the first Garner LP recoded while he was playing before a concert audience (at Carmel, Calif.). The pianist’s brilliant jazz technique and tender touch are showcased on a group

The Jazz Messengers – The Jazz Messengers (1956)

Columbia – CL 897Rec. Dates : April 6, 1956, May 4, 1956Stream this Album Drums : Art BlakeyBass : Doug WatkinsPiano : Horace SilverTenor Sax : Hank MobleyTrumpet : Donald Byrd Billboard : 12/01/1956Spotlight on… selection The Messengers’ first Columbia album carries on in the brilliant, free-wheeling fashion that attracted so much critical admiration when they were on another label.

Modern Jazz Quartet – At Music Inn (1956)

Atlantic – 1247Rec. Date : August 28, 1956Stream this Album Vibes : Milt JacksonBass : Percy HeathClarinet : Jimmy GiuffreDrums : Connie KayPiano : John Lewis Billboard : 12/15/1956Spotlight on… selection This should be still another best-seller for the MJQ. The program is typical, except for the addition, on several tracks, of clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre. The cover is a stunning full-color

Jimmy Giuffre – The Jimmy Giuffre Clarinet (1956)

Atlantic – 1238Rec. Dates : March 21, 1956, March 22, 1956Stream this Album Clarinet : Jimmy GiuffreAlto Clarinet : Buddy ColletteAlto Flute : Bud ShankBaritone Sax : Maury BermanBass : Ralph PeñaBass Clarinet : Harry KleeBass Flute : Harry KleeBassoon : Maury BermanCeleste : Jimmy RowlesDrums : Stan Levey, Shelly ManneEnglish Horn : Dave PellFlute : Buddy ColletteOboe : Bob CooperPiano : Jimmy RowlesTenor Sax :

Charles Mingus – Pithecanthropus Erectus (1956)

Atlantic – 1237Rec. Date : January 30, 1956Stream this Album Bass : Charlie MingusAlto Sax : Jackie McLeanDrums : Willie JonesPiano : Mal WaldronTenor Sax : J.R. Monterose Billboard : 8/25/1956Score of 77 In his first Atlantic LP, Mingus departs from the strict composter-imposed discipline of his “Composer Workshop” series. There is more of a conventional “jazz” feel and more improvisation. However,

Phineas Newborn Jr. – Here is Phineas (1956)

Atlantic – 1235Rec. Dates : May 3, 1956, May 4, 1956Stream this Album Piano : Phineas Newborn Jr.Bass : Oscar PettifordDrums : Kenny ClarkeGuitar : Calvin Newborn Billboard : 08/18/1956Score of 84 On the basis of this first record, Memphis-born Newborn can be labeled one of the most promising of new musicians on the jazz scene. The technique is superior and

Shorty Rogers – Martians Come Back! (1956)

Atlantic – 1232Rec. Dates : October 26, 1955, November 3, 1955, December 6, 1955, December 9, 1955, December 16, 1955Stream this Album Trumpet : Shorty Rogers, Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Harry Edison, Don FagerquistAlto Sax : Bud ShankBaritone Sax : Jimmy GiuffreClarinet : Jimmy GiuffreBass : Ralph Peña, Leroy VinnegarDrums : Shelly ManneFlugelhorn : Shorty RogersFrench Horn : John GraasGuitar : Barney KesselTenor Sax : Jimmy GiuffrePiano