Ray Brown – This is Ray Brown (1958)

Verve – MGV-8290Rec. Dates : February 27 & 28, 1958Stream this Album Bass : Ray BrownDrums : Osie JohnsonFlute : Jerome RichardsonGuitar : Herb EllisOrgan : Oscar PetersonPiano : Oscar Peterson Billboard : 02/09/1959 Ray Brown, one of the Oscar Peterson Trio, one of the top bassists on today’s jazz scene, is the featured soloist on this attractive new jazz set. It

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

Gerry Mulligan and Paul Desmond – Mulligan Desmond Quartet (1957)

Verve – MGV-8246Rec. Dates : August 2, 1957, August 27, 1957Stream this Album Alto Sax : Paul DesmondBaritone Sax : Gerry MulliganBass : Joe BenjaminDrums : Dave Bailey Billboard : 12/12/1957Spotlight on… selection The clarity of Paul Desmond‘s alto and the warm intensity of Gerry Mulligan on baritone were never so richly captured as they are on this, their first package together.

Tal Farlow – The Swinging Guitar of Tal Farlow (1957)

Verve – MGV-8201Rec. Date : May 31, 1956Stream this Album Guitar : Tal FarlowBass : Vinnie BurkePiano : Eddie Costa Billboard : 11/18/1957Score of 82 Farlow‘s tremendous dexterity and vivid imagination make this one of the better jazz guitar packages on the market. The music is bright thruout the set, with some superb piano by Eddie Costa and a pleasing

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

Oscar Peterson Trio – At the Stratford Shakespearean Festival (1957)

Verve – MGV-8024Rec. Date : August 8, 1956Stream this Album Piano : Oscar PetersonBass : Ray BrownGuitar : Herb Ellis Billboard : 07/08/1957Score of 81 One of the best Peterson sets in a long while, with the buoyant pianist framed by Ray Brown on bass and Herb Ellis on guitar in “concert.” A loose, relaxed feeling pervades, with subtle ensemble changes giving way to

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