#joesalbums — Public Fediverse posts

Chet Baker, Albert’s House, 1969 on Beverly Hills

One of Baker’s releases following getting his teeth (allegedly) knocked out (see Born to Be Blue) – eleven songs composed by Steve Allen. Gets some pretty negative reviews – I’d agree it isn’t Baker at his prime, but I’m closer to the Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide which gives is three out of five stars than to Allmusic who gave it one.

He’s joined by Paul Smith (piano, organ), Barney Kessel (guitar), Jim Hughart (bass), and Frank Capp (drums).

My copy is a 2021 reissue on Liberation Hall that was part of Record Store Day (“RSD First”) in November 2021, via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA

#1960s #1969 #BarneyKessel #BeverlyHills #ChetBaker #FrankCapp #jazz #JimHughart #JoeSAlbums #LiberationHall #PaulSmith #RecordStoreDay #RecordStoreDay2021 #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA

Lou Donaldson, Blues Walk, 1958 on Blue Note

Great late 50s Blue Note album, with Donaldson joined by Peck Morrison on bass, Ray Barretto on congas, Dave Bailey on drums, and Herman Foster on piano. Sleeve notes by Ira Gitler. (Donaldson died last month – November 2024).

I wasn’t as familiar with Donaldson as some of his better known contemporaries, but he started with Milt Jackson and Thelonious Monk, and was part of Art Blakey’s Quintent on A Night At Birdland. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for his other Blue Note LPs from the 50s and 60s.

My copy from the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series, mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA.

#1950s #1958 #BlueNote #BlueNoteClassicVinylSeries #CohearentAudio #DaveBailey #HermanFoster #IraGitler #JoeSAlbums #KevinGray #LouDonaldson #PeckMorrison #RayBarretto #Reissue #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA

Ike Quebec, Easy Living, 1987 on Blue Note

Though this was first released / issued by Blue Note in 1987, it was actually recorded in 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder’s studio in New Jersey, and represents that early 60s jazz era. It was originally going to be issued as BST-84103 – but the tracks on side one did ultimately make it on Blue Note LT-1089 (1981).

Quebec is joined here by fellow tenor sax master Stanley Turrentine and Bennie Green (on the first three tracks) plus Sonny Clark, Milt Hinton, and Art Blakey (on all six).

Unfortunately both Ike Quebec and Sonny Clark died in January of 1963, three days apart.

My copy via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA.

#1960s #1962 #1987 #ArtBlakey #BennieGreen #BlueNote #IkeQuebec #jazz #JoeSAlbums #MiltHinton #RudyVanGelder #SonnyClark #StanleyTurrentine #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA

Dexter Gordon, Daddy Plays the Horn, 1956 on Bethlehem Records

Wonderful mid-50s bop jazz record I’d have bought just for the cover illustration by Howard Stabin. Gordon is joined here by Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawreance Marable on drums. Liner notes by Joseph Muranyi.

This was recorded just after Gordon got out of prison at Chino and before being incarcerated again at Folsom later in the 50s.

Bethlehem Records was founded by Gus Wildi, and put out 10″ records in 1954 and 1955, switching to 12″ records in 1955-1960, the BCP1 to BCP93 series.

My copy, via Joe’s Albums in Worcester MA, is a modern (2022) reissue by BMG (Bethlehem Records is now owned by Verve, which in turn is owned by BGM). Like apparently many others in this reissue, the A-side label is actually for The Jazz Experiments Of Charles Mingus (BCP-65 instead of BCP-36) but the audio is correct. The hype sticker calls it a “1955 classic” but it wasn’t actually released until 1956.

#1950s #1956 #2022 #BethlehemRecords #BMG #Bop #DexterGordon #jazz #JoeSAlbums #KennyDrew #LawranceMarable #LeroyVinnegar #Reissue #Verve #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds #WorcesterMA