Sonny Stitt – Sonny Stitt Plays (1956)

Roost – RLP 2208Rec. Dates : December 15, 1955, December 16, 1955Stream this Album (YT only) Alto Saxophone : Sonny StittBass : Wendell MarshallDrums : Shadow WilsonGuitar : Freddie GreenePiano : Hank Jones Billboard : 05/05/1956Score of 79 The heir-apparent to the “top alto sax man” crown of the late and great Charlie Parker is generally conceded to be Sonny Stitt, who gives a

Thelonious Monk – Mulligan Meets Monk (1957)

Riverside – RLP 12-247Rec. Dates : August 12, 1957, August 13, 1957Stream this Album Baritone Sax : Gerry MulliganPiano : Thelonious MonkBass : Wilbur WareDrums : Shadow Wilson   Billboard : 11/18/1957Special Merit Jazz Album A significant album in which these two major modern figures engage in relaxed, conversational jazz, and are obviously challenged by each other. Though their

Gil Melle Quartet – Quadrama (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7097Rec. Date : April 26, 1957 Baritone Sax : Gil MelleBass : George DuvivierDrums : Shadow WilsonGuitar : Joe Cinderella Listening to Prestige : #229Album is Not Streamable Billboard : 08/26/1957Score of 71 An emphatic modern date that sports the thoughtful, melodic compositions of baritonist Melle, some fine blowing from the leader guitarist J. Cinderella plus stellar rhythmic support from S.

Sonny Stitt – Kaleidoscope (1957)

Prestige – PRLP 7077Rec. Dates : February 17, 1950, December 15, 1950, February 1, 1951, February 25, 1952 Alto Sax, Baritone Sax, Tenor Sax : Sonny StittBass : Tommy Potter, Gene Wright, Ernie ShephardCongas : Humberto MoralesDrums : Art Blakey, Teddy Stewart, Shadow WilsonPiano : Kenny Drew, Junior Mance, Charlie Bateman, John HoustonTrumpet : John Hunt, Bill Massey, Joe Newman Listening to Prestige : #18, #37, #41, #52Stream this Album Billboard : 05/27/1957Score of

Earl Coleman – Earl Coleman Returns (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7045Rec. Dates : March 2, 1956, June 8, 1956 Vocals : Earl ColemanAlto Sax : Gigi GryceBass : Oscar Pettiford, Wendell MarshallDrums : Shadow Wilson, Wilbert HoganPiano : Hank JonesTrumpet : Art Farmer Listening to Prestige : #164, #174Album is Not Streamable Cashbox : 10/13/1956 Earl Coleman is a vocalist, who, in the late 1940’s, created a stir, but was sidelined because of

Tadd Dameron – Fontainebleau (1956)

Prestige – PRLP 7037Rec. Date : March 9, 1956 Piano, Arranger : Tadd DameronAlto Sax – Sahib ShihabBaritone Sax : Cecil PayneBass : John SimmonsDrums : Shadow WilsonTenor Sax : Joe AlexanderTrombone : Henry CokerTrumpet : Kenny Dorham Listening to Prestige : #165Album is Not Streamable Billboard : 07/28/1956Score of 78 Dameron, who has been hibernating out Cleveland way for some time, makes a

Kenny Burrell – Kenny Burrell (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1543Rec. Date : March 12, 1956, May 29, 1956, May 30, 1956 Guitar – Kenny BurrellBass : Oscar Pettiford, Paul Chambers, Sam JonesCongas : CándidoDrums : Shadow Wilson, Kenny Clarke, Arthur EdgehillPiano : Tommy Flanagan, Bobby TimmonsTenor Sax : Frank Foster, J.R. MonteroseTrumpet : Kenny Dorham Strictlyheadies : 02/20/2019Album is Not Streamable Audio : July, 1957Charles A. Robertson The second collection featuring Kenny Burrell is a most

Fats Navarro – The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume One (1957)

Blue Note – BLP 1531Rec. Dates : September 26, 1947, October 11, 1948, August 8, 1949 Trumpet : Fats Navarro, Howard McGheeAlto Sax : Ernie HenryBass : Nelson Boyd, Curley Russell, Tommy PotterDrums : Shadow Wilson, Kenny Clarke, Roy HaynesPiano : Tadd Dameron, Milt Jackson, Bud PowellTenor Sax : Charlie Rouse, Sonny RollinsVibes : Milt Jackson Strictlyheadies : 02/08/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 07/01/1957Score of 76 A valuable collection of Navarro performances

Thad Jones – Detroit-New York Junction (1956)

Blue Note – BLP 1513Rec. Date : March 13, 1956 Trumpet : Thad JonesBass : Oscar PettifordDrums : Shadow WilsonGuitar : Kenny BurrellPiano : Tommy FlanaganTenor Sax : Billy Mitchell Strictlyheadies : 01/21/2019Stream this Album Down Beat : 07/25/1956Nat Hentoff : 4 stars Detroit-New York Junction involves former Detroiters Jones, tenor Billy Mitchell, guitarist Kenny Burrell and pianist Tommy Flanagan with drummer Shadow Wilson and bassist Oscar Pettiford. Thad, potentially one of

Thelonious Monk – Genius of Modern Music, Volume One (1956)

Blue Note – BLP 1510Rec. Dates : October 15, 1947, October 24, 1947, November 21, 1947, July 2, 1948 Piano : Thelonious MonkAlto Sax : Danny Quebec West, Sahib ShihabBass : Eugene Ramey, Robert Paige, John SimmonsDrums : Art Blakey, Shadow WilsonTenor Sax : Billy SmithTrumpet : Idrees Sulieman, George TaittVibes : Milt Jackson Strictlyheadies : 01/18/2019Stream this Album Billboard : 06/02/1956Score of 72 A collection of Monk recordings made