Lighthouse All-Stars Collection VII

Howard Rumsey

Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars

Volume 6

The major factor in the phenomenal success of The Lighthouse is the extremely high standard of musicianship. Unlike many of the "cool" school, the All-Stars have always been characterized by a free, swinging, driving enthusiasm. Rumsey has encouraged his musicians to be composers, and over the years he has developed a large and impressive library of original works by Rogers, Giuffre, Cooper, Shank, Williamson and other leading writers, many of which have appeared on Rumsey's first five long playing Contemporary albums. The musicians have worked together to create a unique Lighthouse ensemble sound, and Rumsey has also put them in what he calls "the solo spotlight", featuring individual performances by every member of the group.

*Lester Koenig (from the liner notes)*

The forty minutes in Volume 6 of The Lighthouse series give the listener a chance to hear the All-Stars in a typical set. Here are the new compositions written by the members of the band, and here too are the individual soloists, featured on standard tunes they have made their own property. In response to Contemporary's request, Howard Rumsey has supplied the following details on the nine performances:

This is our second twelve-inch LP, the sixth volume to be released. I feel it shows each member of the group to good advantage, has lots of pace and it has our full band’s best recorded swinging effort, in my opinion. *Howard Rumsey (from the liner notes)*

Throughout the 1950s, a seaside club called the Lighthouse was a beacon attracting jazz lovers from all over the world to Hermosa Beach, just south of Los Angeles. Through the ranks of bassist Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars passed virtually every major player of the West Coast movement. But the music rarely reflected the cool, academic aspects of that school. These mid-Fifties recordings by one of the best editions of the All-Stars preserve hot, direct playing from the early years of such major artists as Frank Rosolino, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, and Conte Candoli. *concord.com*

Another standout set from Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars — the kind of group who should have been a gimmicky way to promote his nightclub, but who actually managed to cut some of the best LA records of the time! The lineup here features Rumsey on bass, Bud Shank on alto, Bob Cooper on tenor, Conte Candoli on trumpet, Claude Williamson on piano, Stan Levey on drums, and either Frank Rosolino or Stu Williamson on trombone — depending on the track — and as before, there's a great focus on the solo talents of each member, so that even in this larger group setting, each number features a strong contribution by a particular player. Arrangements are great, and titles include "Who's Sleepy", "Isn't It Romantic", "Mad At The World", "Long Ago & Far Away", "Sad Sack", and "Dickie's Dream".  *Dusty Groove, Inc.*

1 - Who's Sleepy

(Bob Cooper)

2 - Isn't It Romantic

(Rodgers, Hart)

3 - Mad At The World

(Bob Cooper)

4 - East Of The Sun

(Brooks Bowman)

5 - Long Ago And Far Away

(Gershwin, Kern)

6 - Sad Sack

(Bud Shank)

7 - If I Should Lose You

(Robin, Rainger)

8 - Prelude To A Kiss

(Ellington, Mills, Gordon)

9 - Dickie's Dream

(Basie, Young)

#1, #3, #6:

Conte Candoli (trumpet), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Bud Shank (flute, alto sax),

Bob Cooper (tenor sax), Claude Williamson (piano), Howard Rumsey (bass), Stan Levey (drums).

#5, #9:

Conte Candoli (trumpet), Stu Williamson (valve trombone), Bud Shank (alto sax),

Bob Cooper (tenor sax), Claude Williamson (piano), Howard Rumsey (bass), Stan Levey (drums).

#2, #4, #7, #8:

Conte Candoli (trumpet), Bud Shank (alto sax), Bob Cooper (tenor sax),

Claude Williamson (piano), Howard Rumsey (bass), Stan Levey (drums).

Recorded in Los Angeles, California ; December 3, 1954 (#1, #3, #6),

February 22, 1955 (#5, #9), and March 1, 1955 (#2, #4, #7, #8)