Shorty Rogers And André Previn - Collaboration

It really seems that West Coast musicians will never cease to surprise us. They had a propensity for launching themselves into the wildest enterprises, taking enormous musical risks, with an air of nonchalance totally their own. The album Collaboration could well be the most impressive of all such carefree excursions; it is, at the very least, unique of its kind. 

The rules of this particular game seem innocuous at the outset, but have an unexpected sting in their tail. Take nine musicians, of whom two — among the best in California — double as instrumentalists and arrangers. Ask this same nonet to perform charts by each of the two arrangers in Strict alternation. Too easy so far, so now impose the condition that for each standard scored by the one, the other must reply with an original composition constructed around the same harmonies! A challenge to which Shorty Rogers and André Prévin respond magnificently.

Milton "Shorty" Rogers symbolises single-handed that magnificent wave of renewal that swept across the West Coast in the early 'fifties. Everything that bore his signature-whether as trumpeter, arranger or supervisor-possessed a certain distinction. His spell as artistic director at RCA produced many quite irreplaceable albums. André Prévin, for his part, is a musician who defies all categorisation. For many years he worked for MGM, composing the music of films such as Vincente Minnelli's "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse", Ranald McDougall’s "Subterraneans" and Richard Brook’s "Elmer Gantry". Today he reigns triumphant as conductor of some of the world's leading symphony orchestras.

Undaunted by the daring concept of this project, Shorty Rogers and André Prévin set joyously about their task, juggling eagerly with contrasts and camparisons. They humorously nod acknowledgement to classical music: the shadow of Stravinsky glides over "You Do Something to Me", while Bud Shank and Bob Cooper execute a magnificent fugue passage on "Some Antics".

The vitality, invention and sheer mastery exhibited in this album almost obscure the fact that "Collaboration" originated as little more than a lighthearted wager! *Alain Tercinet*

Shorty Rogers And André Previn

Collaboration

For this slightly unusual LP Shorty Rogers and Andre Previn split the arranging chores in a somewhat competitive fashion. Rogers arranges a standard and then that is followed by a Previn original based on the same chord structure. This procedure is followed until the halfway point of the date when they reverse roles. As performed by a nonet featuring Rogers' trumpet, Previn's piano, altoist Bud Shank, Bob Cooper on tenor, baritonist Jimmy Giuffre, trombonist Milt Bernhart and a rhythm section, the result is a dead heat with some fine swinging solos on tunes (and variations) of such songs as "It's DeLovely", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream" and "You Do Something To Me". This will be a difficult album to locate. *Scott Yanow*

Here's a jazz set that should sell at a snappy rate over the next few months. If features, for the first time together, two top arrangers, having a go at each other in a sort of jazz arrangers battle. Shorty Rogers does a take-off on three of André Previn's arrangements, and vice versa. It ends up a stimulating, and oft-times exciting platter. The sidemen, all first-rate modernist, include Bud Shank on alto, Jimmy Giuffre on baritone, Milt Bernhart on trombone and Shelly Manne on drums. The boys turn out some mighty listenable jazz on both Rogers and Previn wear their arranging laurels proudy. Liner notes are good and the cover attractive. Crazy wax this, and a potent release. *Billboard, February 12, 1955*

1 - It's Delovely

(Cole Porter)

2 - Porterhouse

(André Previn)

3 - Heat Wave

(Irving Berlin)

4 - 40.° Below

(André Previn)

5 - You Stepped Out Of A Dream

(Nacio Herb Brown, Gus Kahn)

6 - Claudia

(André Previn)

7 - You Do Something To Me

(Cole Porter)

8 - Call For Cole

(Shorty Rogers)

9 - Everything I've Got (Belongs To You)

(Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)

10 - Some Antics

(Shorty Rogers)

11 - It Only Happens When I Dance With You

(Berlin)

12 - General Cluster

(Shorty Rogers)

Shorty Rogers (trumpet); Milt Bernhart (trombone); Bud Shank (alto sax, flute); Bob Cooper (tenor sax); Jimmy Giuffre (baritone sax); André Previn (piano); Al Hendrickson [#3 to #6, #9 to #12], Jack Marshall [#1, #2, #7, #8] (guitars); Curtis Counce [#4, #6, #10, #12], Joe Mondragon [#1 to #3, #5, #7 to #9, #11] (basses); Shelly Manne (drums).

Recorded at RCA Studios in Hollywood, California, March 30 (#3, #5, #9, #11), June 14 (#4, #6, #10, #12) and September 14 (#1, #2, #7, #8), 1954.

***

and now... time for Punta del Este...

~ will back on December 20 ~