West Coast Jazz in The Jazz Club Forum

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West Coast Jazz

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Jeremiah The Elder

West Coast Jazz

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Posts: 1539

Aug 25 07 3:18 PM

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The names still strike a note in my heart: Jimmy Giuffre, Bob Cooper, Shelly Manne, Claude Williamson, Frank Rosolino, Conte Condoli. In the mid to late 50's, the original cool jazz emanated from California. (Not the "Cool Jazz" of today, thank you.) Much of the action centered around The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. The recordings of Howard Rumsey & The Lighthouse All-Stars was a revelation to me, and still sounds fresh and inventive. Some of the musicians, like Manne, Giuffre and Rosolino continued to record through the 60's and 70's and I followed their careers. There are other names, too.

Anyone go back this far?

Jerry

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ghost of miles

#1

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Posts: 166

Aug 25 07 5:09 PM

JTE, love West Coast--you ever read Ted Gioia's book? A classic... doing a show on Giuffre in a few weeks and just re-aired our Lighthouse All-Stars show (you might also be interested in The Nocturne Records Story).

Night Lights
WFIU-Bloomington, IN

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IronManMC

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 1636

Aug 25 07 7:12 PM

Howard Rumseys son, Roy, was a bartender at a bar I played for a number of years, Starboard Attitude, on the Redondo Pier, next to the old site for Concerts By The Sea. We used to swap stories about the good ol' days. Unfortunately, Roy recently passed.

Most people would sooner die than think; in fact, they do.

North Hollywood, CA USA
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Jeremiah The Elder

#3

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Aug 25 07 8:20 PM

Thanks for sharing the story, Iron Man...

Jerry

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Tom 1960

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6152

Aug 25 07 8:36 PM

Something I'm seriously lacking in my collection is the west coasters. One day I'll have to do something about that. As many here already know, I'm a huge fan of Shelly Manne's recordings at The Blackhawk. As well as Art Pepper and Chet Baker which are largely represented in my collection. Others mentioned by Jeriamiah I have yet to scratch the surface on. I'm familar with the names, but clueless right now where to start. Board member "Blue Trane" is a big time fan of Frank Rosolino. I'm sure he'll offer some thoughts on this subject soon.

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Jeremiah The Elder

#5

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Posts: 1539

Aug 25 07 9:56 PM

Hey, Tom: There's a fine, 4CD boxed ser titled The West Coast Jazz Box on Audio CD that's available at amazon.com that pretty much covers the range of musicians from that part of the country and time period. The names go on and on. I always liked Shelly Manne, and even moreso, Chico Hamilton. I have a treasured CD of the Chico Hamilton Qunitet that isn't available in this country... picked it up inexpensively on the Internet a few years ago. There are a couple of tracks from the CD on the boxed set collection.

Yeah, Frank Rosolino, and Bob Brookmeyer... another favorite of mine.

Jerry

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lowell X

#6

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Posts: 866

Aug 25 07 11:05 PM

Yeah, jump on that West Coast Jazz Box if you can. It's out of print now. Got it (used) for my brother through Amazon-- was about 40 bucks.
For one of those complilation deals, they really did a good job.
Don't know why it's out of print, I went to the library to try and reserve it, and I was 27th on the waiting list!

One guy that's overlooked a lot is a piano player named Russ Freeman.
And another is pianist Richard Twardzik.

Even though the Moon is smaller than the Earth, it is farther away-- Ernie Kovaks

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ghost of miles

#7

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Posts: 166

Aug 25 07 11:29 PM

QUOTE (lowell X @ Aug 25 2007, 11:05 PM)

One guy that's overlooked a lot is a piano player named Russ Freeman.
And another is pianist Richard Twardzik.

The Mosaic Select "Pacific Jazz Piano Trios" 3-cd set has some very good recordings by both Freeman and Twardzik....some fine Jimmy Rowles to be found there as well (along with some great Clare Fischer).

Night Lights
WFIU-Bloomington, IN

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Jeremiah The Elder

#8

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Posts: 1539

Aug 25 07 11:40 PM

I just ordered the box set on Amazon.com and they have them used, and in very good condition for about $35. Best to grab one while they're still around.

As the blues says, "I Got Mine."

Jerry

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ForumerDeletedUser

#9

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Pale Blue

Posts: 0

Aug 25 07 11:49 PM

Just to make a search for CDs etc. easier: it's Candoli, not Condoli. Both Pete and Conte Candoli made a few nice albums in the 1950s.

Robert Gordon's Jazz West Coast and Ted Gioia's West Coast Jazz books are good reads about various jazz styles on the West Coast, including cool jazz.

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Jeremiah The Elder

#10

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Posts: 1539

Aug 25 07 11:58 PM

You're right on the spelling of Candoli... kinda like a canoli.

Jerry

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lowell X

#11

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Posts: 866

Aug 26 07 12:00 AM

ghost-- that Pacific Jazz Piano thing sounds good. I used to have one Clare Fischer PJ side-- think Gary Peacock was on it.

One other album that I grew up with was Flute and Oboe-- Bob Cooper and Bud Shank.
Max is the drummer. His solo on "Night in Tunisia" is, once again, masterful...
Claude Williamson is the piano player. 'Nother guy you don't hear much about.

Even though the Moon is smaller than the Earth, it is farther away-- Ernie Kovaks

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lowell X

#12

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Posts: 866

Aug 26 07 12:05 AM

Speaking of books, brother sent me a copy of
Harlem of the West
the San Francisco Fillmore Jazz Era,
by Elizabeth Pepin and Lewis Watts.

Get us out of LA for a minute

Even though the Moon is smaller than the Earth, it is farther away-- Ernie Kovaks

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ForumerDeletedUser

#13

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Pale Blue

Posts: 0

Aug 26 07 1:00 AM

QUOTE (lowell X @ Aug 26 2007, 02:00 AM)

ghost-- that Pacific Jazz Piano thing sounds good. I used to have one Clare Fischer PJ side-- think Gary Peacock was on it.

Clare Fischer's Pacific Jazz trio recordings with Gary Peacock were originally issued on two Pacific Jazz albums. The Pacific Jazz Piano Trios Mosaic Select set has both.

The Pacific Jazz Piano Trios discography

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Jeremiah The Elder

#14

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Posts: 1539

Aug 26 07 1:03 AM

I have the flute and oboe album. Nights In Tunisia is on the 4cd boxed set, I think. Claude Williamson: I had to go to Paris to find a CD of him. He did a wonderful album as part of a series titled Stan Kenton Presents. I have the vinyl, but it hasn't as far as I know been released on CD. They finally released Stan Kenton presents Sal Salvadore (who I came to know many years later>0 I'm also waiting for Stan Kenton Presents Frank Rosolino... again, I had it on vinyl. Hopefully, they'll get around to relasing the whole Stan Kenton Pressents series someday.

Now, if you REALLY want to get into West Coast Jazz, how about the Autralian Jazz Quartet?

Jerry

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ForumerDeletedUser

#15

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Pale Blue

Posts: 0

Aug 26 07 1:17 AM

QUOTE (Jeremiah The Elder @ Aug 26 2007, 03:03 AM)

I have the flute and oboe album.� Nights In Tunisia is on the 4cd boxed set, I think.� Claude Williamson:� I had to go to Paris to find a CD of him.� He did a wonderful album as part of a series titled Stan Kenton Presents.� I have the vinyl, but it hasn't as far as I know been released on CD.� They finally released Stan Kenton presents Sal Salvadore (who I came to know many years later>0� I'm also waiting for Stan Kenton Presents Frank Rosolino... again, I had it on vinyl.� Hopefully, they'll get around to relasing the whole Stan Kenton Pressents series someday.

Now, if you REALLY want to get into West Coast Jazz, how about the Autralian Jazz Quartet?

Jerry

Mosaic released a 4CD-set, Kenton Presents: Bob Cooper, Bill Holman & Frank Rosolino several years ago. It's now OOP. I doubt that these will be reissued by EMI any time soon. The Rosolino was available on CD in Japan.

Sal Salvador (lose the e at the end) was from the East Coast. His Capitol (Kenton Presents...) and Blue Note recordings were reissued on a Blue Note CD years ago; it's now also OOP. The Blue Note sides have also been reissued on CD in Japan several times, as were his 1950s Bethlehem albums, Frivolous Sal, Shades of Sal Salvador, and A Tribute to the Greats.

Claude Williamson's two Bethlehem albums have been reissued more than once on CD in Japan, while some of his Capitol sides (Kenton Presents...) were also available on CD in Japan for a while.

Quite a few cool-jazz recordings from the 1950s were reissued on CD by the Spanish Fresh Sound label, but some of their CDs sound as if noise reduction was used, they're dead as a dodo...

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Muddylives

#16

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5141

Aug 26 07 6:20 AM

Another central contributor to the West Coast sound was Shorty Rogers. I enjoy a number of his works, including the Count Basie tribute.

Muddy

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Jeremiah The Elder

#17

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Posts: 1539

Aug 26 07 11:52 AM

I have some Shorty Rogers CDs, and the Sal Salvador reissue of the Stan Kenton presents album. When they do resissues, you have to grab them while you can, because they often don't press any more, once the original reissue is sold. I even have a couple of Sal Salvador 45 rpm singles.

Back when I was in college at the University of Wisconsin, I stumbled across a juke box warehouse where they sold records taken from juke boxes for a quarter a piece. I picked up a lot of jazz there. It's hard to believe that a Sal Salvador single would ever have been on a juke box, or some of the other things I found.
But they were.

Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end.

Jerry

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Tom 1960

#18

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6152

Aug 26 07 12:37 PM

Thanks to both Jeremiah and Lowell for plugging the "West Coast Jazz" box set. I see it available from Newbury Comics for $30. I will give this some very serious consideration. Right now I have some other items I've been wanting to purchase, but this is awfully tempting. Looking at the listing of performers it looks like I have a larger representation of west coast jazz in my collection than initially thought. Speaking of West Coasters any thoughts out there on Curtis Counce? I already own "You Get More Bounce With...". That album features Harold Land, Jack Sheldon, Carl Perkins and Frank Butler.
user posted image

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Jeremiah The Elder

#19

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Posts: 1539

Aug 26 07 1:08 PM

The name is familiar, Tom. I'll have to check him out.

And from a previous comment, yes, Sal Salvador wasn't from the West Coast. He grew up in Massachusetts. I came to know him when I was living in Stamford, CT. At the time, I was Exective Director of the Museum there, and Sal was a member. I heard him several times, playing with a small group. It was an unexpected friendship. I thought of Sal as very "cool," And I grew up in Midwestern farm country. I gave him a copy of my first album of mostly original songs about growing up in the country, and it brought back many memories for him... similar childhood experiences, except his were in rural Massachusetts.

Even farm kids can become cool.

With the right glasses...

Jerry

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Muddylives

#20

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 5141

Aug 26 07 2:26 PM

QUOTE (Tom 1960 @ Aug 26 2007, 12:37 PM)

Speaking of West Coasters any thoughts out there on Curtis Counce? I already own "You Get More Bounce With...". That album features Harold Land, Jack Sheldon, Carl Perkins and Frank Butler.
user posted image

That's a fine album, as are the other Curtis Counce records. Good solid hard bop that could just as easily been from the East as the West. For West Coast hard bop, I would recommend stocking up real well on Sonny Criss and Teddy Edwards as well. Harold Land's the Fox is another absolute must.

Muddy

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