Gerry Mulligan – Presenting the Gerry Mulligan Sextet (1956)

EmArcy – MG 36056Rec. Dates : September 21, 1955, September 22, 1955, October 31, 1955Stream this Album Baritone Sax : Gerry MulliganBass : Peck MorrisonDrums : Dave BaileyPiano : Bob BrookmeyerTenor Sax : Zoot SimsTrumpet : Jon EardleyValve Trombone : Bob Brookmeyer Billboard : 02/25/1956Spotlight on… selection This is the first new Mulligan in a long time, and his big debut disk for

Stuff Smith – Stuff Smith (1957)

Verve – MGV-8206Rec. Dates : March 7, 1957, March 12, 1957Stream this Album Violin : Stuff SmithBass : Ray BrownDrums : Alvin StollerGuitar : Barney KesselPiano : Oscar Peterson A nice article about Stuff Smith’s violin, “Big Red,” from the June 2018 issue of Strings Magazine. Billboard : 08/05/1957Score of 70 An appealing slice of the jazz violin work that Smith has long been

Count Basie – Basie in London (1957)

Verve – MGV-8199Rec. Date : September 7, 1956Stream this Album Piano : Count BasieAlto Sax : Bill Graham, Marshall RoyalBaritone Sax : Charlie FowlkesBass : Eddie JonesClarinet : Marshall RoyalDrums : Sonny PayneGuitar : Freddie GreenFlute : Frank WessTenor Sax : Frank Foster, Frank WessTrumpet : Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones, Thad Jones, Joe NewmanTrombone : Henry Coker, Bill Hughes, Benny PowellVocals : Joe Williams Billboard : 10/14/1957Spotlight on… selection Another

Art Tatum – Presenting The Art Tatum Trio (1957)

Verve – MGV-8118Rec. Date : January 27, 1956Stream this Album Piano : Art TatumBass : Red CallenderDrums : Jo Jones Billboard : 07/08/1957Score of 76 One of the last packages cut by Tatum before his death, and a set worthy of one of the true giants in jazz. Tho Red Callender and Jo Jones ably support the sprightly 88’er, there’s little doubt that Tatum

Illinois Jacquet – Swings the Thing (1957)

Verve – MGV-8023Rec. Date : October 16, 1956Stream this Album Tenor Sax : Illinois JacquetBass : Ray BrownDrums : Jo JonesGuitar : Herb EllisPiano : Jimmy JonesTrumpet : Roy Eldridge Billboard : 04/20/1957Score of 74 Gusto galore here for the go-go fans, with a romping brand of swing that never lets down. Accompanied by some excellent sidemen: Roy Eldridge, trumpet; Jimmy Jones, piano; Ray

Ray Brown – Bass Hit! (1957)

Verve – MGV-8022Rec. Dates : November 21, 1956, November 23, 1956Stream this Album Bass : Ray BrownAlto Sax : Jack Dulong, Herb GellerArranger, Conductor : Marty PaichBaritone Sax : Jimmy GiuffreClarinet : Jimmy GiuffreDrums : Alvin Stoller, Mel LewisGuitar : Herb EllisPiano : Jimmy RowlesTenor Sax : Jimmy Giuffre, Bill HolmanTrombone : Herbie HarperTrumpet : Pete Candoli, Harry Edison, Ray Linn, Conrad Gozzo Billboard : 04/20/1957Score of 78 This

Tal Farlow – Tal (1957)

Verve – MGV-8021Rec. Date : June 5, 1956Stream this Album Guitar : Tal FarlowBass : Vinnie BurkePiano : Eddie Costa Billboard : 05/13/1957Special Merit Jazz Album Dazzling jazz musicianship here. All the elements necessary for definite jazz playing – fluency, lyricism and swing – are present in large doses. Farlow, perhaps the most persuasive jazz guitarist since C. Christian, turns

Count Basie – April in Paris (1957)

Verve – MGV-8012Rec. Dates : July 26, 1955, January 4, 1956, January 5, 1956Stream this Album Piano : Count BasieAlto Sax : Bill Graham, Marshall RoyalBaritone Sax : Charlie FowlkesBass : Ed JonesClarinet : Marshall RoyalDrums : Sonny PayneFlute : Frank WessGuitar : Freddie GreenOrgan : Count BasieTenor Sax : Frank Foster, Frank WessTrombone : Henry Coker, Bill Hughes, Benny PowellTrumpet : Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones, Thad Jones, Joe NewmanVocal : Joe

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Ella and Louis (1956)

Verve – MG V-4003Rec. Date : August 16, 1956Stream this Album Vocals : Ella Fitzgerald, Louis ArmstrongTrumpet : Louis ArmstrongBass : Ray BrownDrums : Buddy RichGuitar : Herb EllisPiano : Oscar Peterson   Cashbox : 11/03/1956 This package has already made a strong appearance on the charts. Little wonder. Two sturdy entertainers are coupled in some rare moments of beautiful jazz

Dexter Gordon – Blows Hot and Cool (1956)

Dootone – DL-207Rec. Dates : November 11, 1955, November 12, 1955Stream this Album Tenor Sax : Dexter GordonBass : Leroy VinnegarDrums : Chuck ThompsonPiano : Carl PerkinsTrumpet : Jimmy Robinson Billboard : 02/04/1956Score of 70 Dexter Gordon has not recorded much in the last few years, and many fans will be eager to latch on to a sample of his most