Joe Roland's Ensembles

A native New Yorker, Joe Roland (1920-2009) was an innovative jazz vibraphonist. Starting in 1946, he became immersed in the bebop scene, playing alongside influential musicians like Terry Gibbs and Red Rodney. He began forming his own ensembles with support from jazz critic Leonard Feather, who helped him secure performances at venues like the Three Deuces. In 1949, Roland created the Symfonet, a pioneering group where string players performed bop melodies rather than just providing background accompaniment, a concept he claimed to have developed before Charlie Parker's known efforts to incorporate strings into bebop.

Despite his creativity, Roland struggled to find consistent work for his string-based group. He joined Oscar Pettiford’s sextet in 1951, by which time his vibraphone technique had reached a high level of sophistication. He later played with George Shearing (1951–1953), Howard McGhee, and Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five (1953–1954), further honing his craft.

Throughout the 1950s, Roland led various groups, including a mambo-jazz quintet, which added a vibrant, danceable element to his music. He also directed modern chamber jazz ensembles featuring talented musicians such as pianists Wade Legge and Freddie Redd, guitarist Dick Garcia, bassist Oscar Pettiford, and drummer Ron Jefferson. These groups were distinguished by their balance of taste and rhythmic vitality. His innovative programs showcased his ability to blend cool modern jazz with elegance while maintaining the lively pulse characteristic of the bebop movement.

Though relatively underappreciated during his lifetime, Roland’s energetic approach to the vibraphone continues to resonate with jazz aficionados. As Terry Gibbs noted in 1951, "players like Joe are a real challenge in the rapidly expanding vibraphone field". *Jordi Pujol*

Joe Roland

Complete 1949 ~ 1956 Sessions

Symfonet, Quartet and Quintet

While overlooked today, vibist Joe Roland was an in demand artist, best known for his work with George Shearing. This two disc set of his material from 1949-56 displays that same classy charm, as he leads a variety of small groups that include artists like Red Mitchell/piano, Joe Puma/guitar, Freddie Redd/piano, Oscar Pettiford/bass and Kenny Clarke/drums.

Roland's touch is soulful and kinetic, gliding in the quintet of "Henry VIII" while a teaming with some strings adds panache to "Half Nelson" and "Sally Is Gone". A collection of Christmas songs like "Sleigh Ride" and "Jingle Bells" with percussionists Jose Mangual-Luis Miranda-Ubaldo Nieto is a real hoot, wile some serious hard bopping takes place with Redd and Pettiford on "Garrity’s Flight". Redd sticks around for a hip "Soft Winds" and "Easy Living" while a take of "Laura" is as lovely as Gene Tierney. Glowing vibes.

The booklest includes copious notes and a list of all of the sessions. One worth looking for.

*Scott Yanow*

*CD 1*

1 - Free Of Charg

 (Unknown)

2 - Henry VII

 (Unknown)

3 - Half Nelson

 (Miles Davis)

4 - Sally Is Gone

(Joe Roland)

5 - Love Is Just A Plaything

(Lert, Jaffe)

6 - Dee Dee's Dance

(Denzil Best)

7 - Ravel’s Bolero In Mambo

(Maurice Ravel, P.D.)

8 - Poor Butterfly

(Golden, Hubbell)

9 - I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

(Bassman, Washington)

10 - Lover's Mambo

(Joe Roland)

11 - Sleigh Ride

(Leroy Anderson)

12 - Christmas Song

(Torme, Wells)

13 - Jingle Bells

(P.D.)

14 - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

(Styne, Cahn)

#1 and #2: Joe Roland Quintet

Joe Roland (vibes), Ray Turner (tenor sax), Red Mitchell (piano),

Joe Puma (guitar), Paul Szglay (bass), Harold Granowsky (drums).

Recorded in New York City, July 21, 1949

#3 to #6: Joe Roland’s Modern Symfonet

Joe Roland (vibes); Joe Puma (guitar); Gus Oberstein, Jules Modlin (violins); Mike Barten (viola);

Sid Kassimir (cello); Ishmael Ugarte (bass); Harold Granowsky (drums); Paula Castle (vocal #5).

Recorded in New York City, January 27, 1950

#7 to #10: Joe Roland Quintet

Joe Roland (vibes), Sam Mario (piano), Dante Martucci (bass),

José Mangual (bongo), Luis Miranda (conga).

Recorded in New York City, spring 1954

#11 to #14: Joe Roland Sextet

Joe Roland (vibes), Doug Duke (organ), Dante Martucci (bass), 

José Mangual (bongo), Luis Miranda (conga), Ubaldo Nieto (timbales).

Recorded in New York City, spring 1954

*CD 2*

1 - Garrity's Flight (Little Pete)

(Joe Roland)

2 - Indian Summer

(Victor Herbert)

3 - I've Got The World On A String

(Arlen, Koehler)

4 - Stephanie's Dance

(Freddie Redd)

5 - Joyce's Choice

(Wade Legge)

6 - Gene's Stew

(Wade Legge)

7 - Music House

(Wade Legge)

8 - Spice

(Wade Legge)

9 - Easy Living

(Rainger, Robin)

10 - Stairway To The Steinway

(Freddie Redd)

11 - Soft Winds

(Benny Goodman)

12 - Teach Me Tonight

(De Paul, Cahn)

13 - Robin

(Ishmael Ugarte)

14 - Sweet Lorraine

(Burwell, Parish)

15 - Goodbye Bird

(Joe Roland)

16 - After You've Gone

(Layton, Creamer)

17 - Anticipation

(Dick Garcia)

18 - I Cover The Waterfront

(Green, Heyman)

19 - The Moon Got In My Eyes

(Johnston, Burke)

20 - Street Of Dreams

(Young, Lewis)

21 - Laura

(David Raksin)

#1 to #4: Joe Roland Quartet

Joe Roland (vibes), Freddie Redd (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Ron Jefferson (drums).

Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, May 10, 1954

#5 to #8: Joe Roland Quartet

Joe Roland (vibes), Wade Legge (piano), Dante Martucci (bass), Ron Jefferson (drums).

Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, October 17, 1954

#9 to #20: Joe Roland Quintet

Joe Roland (vibes), Freddie Redd (piano), Dick Garcia (guitar),

Dante Martucci (bass), Ron Jefferson (drums).

Recorded in New York City, March 17 and 18, 1955

#21: Joe Roland Quartet

Joe Roland (vibes), Billy Taylor (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums).

Recorded in New York City, March, 1956