Virgil Gonsalves- Two Sextets

Virgil Gonsalves

Jazz In Hollywood Series

Jazz fans in the San Francisco Bay Area have been becoming increasingly aware of young baritonist-leader Virgil Gonsalves who has, between stints as a sideman with Alvino Rey and Tex Beneke, been presenting in concerts and club dates a cleverly — arranged sextet comprised of the top jazz men of the area. Johnny Adams, prominent Bay Area DJ, very impressed by the Gonsalves group, contacted Nocturne and after several ensuing meetings, this album resulted. 

Two of the outstanding soloists from the big bands of the late forties, ex-Krupa tenor saxist Buddy Wise and Second Herdsman pianist Lou Levy, are once again, after much too long an interval, presented on records. With the additional freedom offered in this small group, each displays a warmth of jazz feeling heard only from them in person heretofore. *(Liner notes)*

Side 1

1 - Bounce

(Searle)

2 - Out Of Nowhere

(Green)

3 - Too Marvelous For Words

(Whiting, Mercer)

Side 2

4 - It Might As Well Be Spring

(Rodgers, Hammerstein)

5 - Yesterdays

(Kern, Harbach)

6 - Love Me Or Leave Me

(Kahn, Donaldson)

Virgil Gonsalves (baritone sax), Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombone), Buddy Wise (tenor sax), Lou Levy (piano), Harry Babasin (bass), Larry Bunker (drums).

Recorded at Western Recorders, Hollywood, September 29, 1954.

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Virgil Gonsalves

Jazz • San Francisco Style

Music has played an integral role in the development of San Francisco as the cultural outpost of the West. Her Opera House is of world renown; her symphony orchestra and museums are rated with the nation’s finest. However, until recently, San Francisco’s contributions to the jazz scene were limited to Lu Watters’ Yerba Buena Jazz Band, a driving crew of Dixielanders; Kid Ory’s Creole Band; and the usual assortment of unorganized groups who played mostly for their own pleasure (and little remuneration) at the city’s many night spots. 

In 1950, however, the City by the Golden Gate rose to national jazz prominence on the steely fingertips of Dave Brubeck, a pianist with an immense classical background, who gave the nation the first new sound in a decade. His fertile, imaginative application of polytonality in jazz started a whole new trend in music... one that could really be called Jazz — San Francisco Style. 

Thus began the renaissance of jazz in San Francisco. Many groups with varying sounds began to make their mark in the Bay area. 

Perhaps of all these, the group led by Virgil Gonsalves is the one following closest in Brubeck’s footsteps. 

Gonsalves’ cool articulation on the baritone sax has jazz critics hailing him as the hottest star on this instrument since the heyday of Gerry Mulligan. 

Jazz • San Francisco Style  is a Swinging album! The vibrant solo efforts are indicative of the uninhibited jazz feel that Virgil and his group generate. The spirit and drive shown in this LP give us the feeling that Virgil Gonsalves will soon emerge as one of the nation’s leading jazz figures. *(Liner notes)*

Side 1

1 - Whitewash

(Cournoyer)

2 - Our Love Is Here To Stay

(Gershwin)

3 - Lost World

(Cournoyer)

4 - I'll Take Romance

(Oakland, Hammerstein)

5 - Searle's Corner

(Searle)

6 - Viva Zapata

(Shorty Rogers)

Side 2

7 - Half Mine

(Searle)

8 - Goody-Goody

(Mercer, Malneck)

9 - Gar-Din

(Marabuto)

10 - My Heart Stood Still

(Rodgers, Hart)

11 - Fascinatin' Rhythm

(Gershwin)

12 - Bags' Groove

(Gonsalves)

Virgil Gonsalves (baritone sax); Bob Badgley (valve trombone); Dan Patiris (tenor sax); Clyde Pound (piano); Ron Crotty, Max Hartstein [#2, #3, #12] (basses); Gus Gustafson (drums).

Recorded at Capitol Records, Hollywood, November 1955.