Curtis Counce - Carl's Blues

While it lasted, The Curtis Counce Group was one of the most exciting ever organized in Los Angeles. Counce picked four men who almost immediately achieved a togetherness only long-established bands seem to have. Today, Carl Perkins is dead, and the members of the group have gone off in different directions — Harold Land to form his own group, Jack Sheldon to the trumpet section of the Kenton orchestra, and Frank Butler to gigging around Los Angeles. It would be difficult under the best of conditions to recapture the feeling of the 1957 quintet. Without Perkins, whose unique piano style was basic to the group’s special sound, it is impossible. 

Contemporary recorded a third Counce album just before Perkins died — the last we shall have of this great jazz group, and one of the most gifted modern jazz pianists. Listening to the forty minutes of pure jazz in the set, it is a source of wonder and regret that the group did not succeed. Lack of work, indifference of the critics, and personal problems within the group helped destroy it. But their music in this, and their previous albums, stands. The evidence is all there — on the record. *(Liner notes)*

Some of my happiest moments were working with these talented musicians. The freedom of each member to express himself fully was the foundation of the group, and our secret was the ability of each to communicate with one another, spontaneously and with good taste.

This album is dedicated to the memory of Carl Perkins. His music will always live in the hearts of those who knew him. As was his music, so was he. *Curtis Counce*

Side 1

1 - Pink Lady

(Jack Sheldon)

2 - I Can't Get Started

(Vernon Duke & Ira Gershwin)

3 - Nica's Dream

(Horace Silver)

Side 2

4 - Love Walked In

(George & Ira Gershwin)

5 - Larue

(Clifford Brown)

6 - The Butler Did It

(Frank Butler)

7 - Carl's Blues

(Carl Perkins)

Gerald Wilson, Jack Sheldon [#3] (trumpets); Harold Land (tenor sax); Carl Perkins (piano); Curtis Counce (bass); Frank Butler (drums).

Recorded at Contemporary Records’, Los Angeles, April 22 [#1, #4], August 29 [#3] 1957 and January 6 [#2, #5, #6, #7] 1958.