Liberty Records • Jazz in Hollywood Series (VIII)

Bobby Enevoldsen

Smorgasbord

✤Liberty LJH 6008✤

Smorgasbord is a delightful album. The title is so intriguing because it is so descriptive and applicable. According to Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, "Smorgasbord" is a Scandinavian word meaning "a variety of appetizers served before the main meal". Mr. Enevoldsen is Scandinavian (Danish to be exact), and this is his album, but that's only the first parallel. The arrangements, also Mr. Enevoldsen's, are interestingly varied; and the songs run the gamut from the old to the new, from the soulful beauty of the ballad, "My Ideal", to the almost raucous blues of "Bob's Boy", and, then to the up-tempoed "You're In Love". The musicians themselves offer even more variety to the sum total, because four of them double and triple on instruments: Red Mitchell on bass and piano; Marty Paich on piano, organ and accordion; Larry Bunker on drums, vibes and piano; and Bob, himself, on tenor saxophone, valve trombone, and bass. So you see, it's really a smorgasbord of jazz. And it's all very stimulating. In too many jazz albums today there's a regrettable lack of judgement and care. You listen and know that the entire twelve sides were conceived, arranged, and recorded within a two or three day period. This is an excellent method for a company to release six or seven albums every month; but it's also an excellent method of not taking advantage of talent and good musicianship. Smorgasbord, fortunately, is not this kind of album. Each composition was obviously carefully arranged and rehearsed. And the end result is more than worth the time and effort consumed in getting the desired sound. *Bobby Troup (liner notes)* 

Back in the early 1950s, jazz musicians were impossibly gifted. A good number not only could play their primary instrument with enormous skill and flair, they often could play quite a few others. This was particularly true on the West Coast, where studio work was abundant but your share depended largely on how many axes you could grind. If you played only the tenor sax, your odds of being called consistently for a job were slim given the competition. But if you played three or more instruments, you could find yourself recording on several sessions a day. One of these highly versatile West Coast jazz musicians was Bob Enevoldsen, who played valve trombone, tenor sax and upright bass.

Born in Montana, Enevoldsen studied music in Montana, served in the army, taught music in Salt Lake City, and moved to Los Angeles in 1951. There, he played valve trombone and tenor saxophone with Gerry Mulligan, Shorty Rogers, Shelly Manne and Marty Paich. Soon after he arrived, he learned the bass, perhaps as a way to play with the Harry Babasin Quartet and free up bassist Babasin to play the jazz cello.

Enevoldsen also played bass in pianist and singer Bobby Troup's groups from 1954 onward. In 1959, Enevoldsen began working in Las Vegas show bands, and became a staff and studio musician for Steve Allen's TV show from 1962-64. In the decades that followed Enevoldsen remained a steady session and freelance musician on the West Coast.

Among Enevoldsen's key recordings of the 1950s are dates with the Gerry Mulligan Tentet , Shorty Rogers, Bud Shank , Bill Holman, Russ Garcia, Marty Paich and Art Pepper. From 1960 onward, Enevoldsen worked on movie soundtracks and TV show themes, and recorded jazz sessions up until his death in 2005.

Perhaps Enevoldsen's finest leadership date from the mid-1950s is Smorgasbord. The album demonstrates his versatility and humor as well as his spirited arranging skills. In addition to being a highly swinging session, it's notable for the musicians who were there and the instruments they played. The recording features Enevoldsen on valve trombone and tenor sax; Marty Paich on piano, organ and accordion; Larry Bunker on vibes and drums; Howard Roberts on guitar; Red Mitchell on bass and piano; and Don Heath on drums.

Besides the terrific small-group charts by Enevoldsen, you get to hear Paich play the squeezebox, and he does quite a fabulous job ("Swinging on a Star", for example). Also spectacular is Larry Bunker on vibes and guitarist Howard Roberts, who too often is overlooked among the crowd of jazz session guitarists in California during this period.

As one of jazz's early valve-trombonists, Enevoldsen cannot be compared with Bob Brookmeyer. Bob was and continues to be spectacular, and the two artists weren't in the same league. But Enevoldsen was a solid player and arranger who found steady work playing three different instruments. And he played them with ease and grace. *Marc Myers*

Side 1

1 - Ding Dong, The Witch Is Dead

(Arlen, Harburg)

2 - Swingin' On A Star

(Van Heusen, Burke)

3 - Swinger's Dream

(MacDougald)

4 - My Ideal

(Robin, Whiting, Chase)

5 - How Low The Tune

(Troup, Enevoldsen)

6 - John's Jumble

(Enevoldsen)

Side 2

7 - You're In Love

(Bobby Troup)

8 - Thinking Of You

(Kalmar, Ruby)

9 - No Time For Love

(Davidson)

10 - Mr. Know-It-All

(Bobby Troup)

11 - Oh! Look At Me Now

(John DeVries)

12 - Bob's Boy

(Bob Gordon)

#1:

Bob Enevoldsen (tenor sax), Marty Paich (piano), Larry Bunker (vibes),

Howard Roberts (guitar), Red Mitchell (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#2:

Bob Enevoldsen (tenor sax), Marty Paich (accordion), Larry Bunker (vibes),

Howard Roberts (guitar), Red Mitchell (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#3:

Marty Paich (organ), Red Mitchell (piano), 

Larry Bunker (vibes), Bob Enevoldsen (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#4:

Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombone), Marty Paich (accordion), Larry Bunker (vibes),

Howard Roberts (guitar), Red Mitchell (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#5:

Marty Paich (accordion); Larry Bunker (vibes); Howard Roberts (guitar);

Red Mitchell, Bob Enevoldsen (basses); Don Heath (drums).

#6:

Marty Paich (piano), Bob Enevoldsen (bass), Larry Bunker (drums).

#7:

Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombone), Marty Paich (piano),Larry Bunker (vibes), 

Howard Roberts (guitar), Red Mitchell (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#8:

Bob Enevoldsen (tenor sax), Marty Paich (piano),Larry Bunker (vibes), 

Howard Roberts (guitar), Red Mitchell (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#9:

Bob Enevoldsen (tenor sax), Marty Paich (accordion), Larry Bunker (piano),

Howard Roberts (guitar), Red Mitchell (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#10:

Bob Enevoldsen (tenor sax), Marty Paich (organ),

Larry Bunker (vibes), Red Mitchell (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#11:

Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombone), Marty Paich (piano), Larry Bunker (vibes), 

Howard Roberts (guitar), Red Mitchell (bass), Don Heath (drums).

#12:

Marty Paich, Larry Bunker, Red Mitchell (pianos); Howard Roberts (guitar);

Bob Enevoldsen (bass); Don Heath (drums).

Recorded in Hollywood, California, November 25 and 29, 1955