Liberty Records • Lighthouse Series (0)

Liberty Records was founded in 1955 in Hollywood by Simon Waronker. He liked lush orchestral music and the label´s catalog was in the beginning filled with movie music, big bands. In 1957, Liberty acquired Pacific Jazz Records, and in mid 1960s they also acquired Blue Note Records. A few years later Liberty was sold to the owner of United Artists Records, who in 1971 dropped the Liberty name. But in 1980, a new owner, EMI, dropped United Artists name and revived the Liberty name.

More information about its history and associations with other record labels can be found on sites like bsnpubs.com or friktech.com.

But there is one very particular partnership about which there is Little — if any — information. It is documented only in the press release published by Billboard on April 13, 1957, which announced:

"In a move to solidify its position in the jazz market, Liberty Records has signed Howard Rumsey to a long-term pact in a dual capacity. Rumsey, credited with being one of the pioneer's of the West Coast jazz movement, will henceforth handle all artist and repertoire chores on all of the company's future jazz efforts, and in adition will record with the Lighthouse All-Stars.

According to Vice President Jack Ames, Rumsey will be given free rein with the Lighthouse series of albums to create and develop new ideas and talent for the firm". 

Bassist Howard Rumsey initiated a jazz program at the Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach, California, in 1949. His Lighthouse All-Stars performed every night, typically hosting a 12-hour jam session on Sundays. Although Rumsey eventually created his own record label, Lighthouse Records, the primary recording outlet for the Lighthouse All-Stars was Lester Koenig's record company, Contemporary Records.

Hence, the aforementioned partnership between Rumsey and Liberty Records is interesting, given that the "project" only had three volumes released.

It is this rare and obscure trilogy that will motivate the next three OUTLET JAZZ posts.

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