Lighthouse All-Stars Collection XXVIII ★ Jazz On Television (I)

Los Angeles Jazz Institute presents

Rare And Unissued Audio of

West Coast Jazz On Television

From the 1950s

Following the "historical route" of existing recordings by the Lighthouse All-Stars, including their mentor Howard Rumsey, we come across hard-to-find recordings covering the group's appearances on the television circuit. These will be two very special posts.

This first post rescues a collection of rare and unissued broadcast recordings made between 1953 and 1957. The core of the album consists of performances from the celebrated TV show Stars of Jazz (broadcast on ABC/KABC-TV starting in June 1956 and hosted by Bobby Troup), alongside invaluable television gems: from the Lighthouse All-Stars' historic appearance on the premiere broadcast of NBC's Monitor in 1955, to a newly discovered 12" acetate featuring Chet Baker on The Today Show, as well as the 1953 charity telethon with the Sonny Burke Orchestra and an appearance by the Dave Brubeck Quartet on Steve Allen's show.

Although very few kinescopes with the original video footage survived over the years, the audio archive has been meticulously preserved thanks to the work of the Los Angeles Jazz Institute—sourced from the collections of key figures like Jimmie Baker and Bob Andrews, as well as transcription discs recorded for the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) and material later issued by Calliope Records—. Much of the historical rigor surrounding these broadcasts is owed to James Harrod's exhaustive research across his platforms (Jazz Profiles, Stars of Jazz blog, and Calliope Records blog), an essential reference for understanding this era.

A unique opportunity to experience the vibrancy of the Los Angeles scene live on television, preserved in a truly indispensable archival release.

1 - Anybody Hurt / Hey Bellboy

(Sonny Burke, Paul Francis Webster / Sonny Burke)

Gloria Wood and Pete Candoli with Sonny Burke Orchestra:

Gloria Wood (vocals), Pete Candoli (trumpet), Sonny Burke (piano, conductor).

[other personnel unidentified]

Recorded at KECA-TV (Channel 7), Cerebral Palsy Telethon,

Los Angeles, California, June 6, 1953

2 - Goodbye / I Get Along Without You Very Well

(Gordon Jenkins / Hoagy Carmichael)

Chet Baker

Chet Baker (trumpet, vocal), Russ Freeman (celeste).

[unidentified percussionist]

Recorded live on "The Today Show",

NBC Television Network, May 13, 1955

3 - Happy Town / Jazz Invention

(Bob Cooper / Bob Cooper)

Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars:

Bud Shank (alto sax, flute), Bob Cooper (tenor sax, oboe), Frank Rosolino (trombone),

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

Recorded live at The Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach, California,

"NBC Monitor Premiere", NBC Network, June 12, 1955

4 - All The Things You Are

(Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II)

Dave Brubeck Quartet:

Dave Brubeck (piano), Paul Desmond (alto sax), Norman Bates (bass), Joe Dodge (drums).

Recorded live on "The Tonight Show hosted by Steve Allen",

NBC Television Network, February 22, 1956

5 - Doxy

(Sonny Rollins)

Shelly Manne and His Men:

Stu Williamson (trumpet), Charlie Mariano (alto sax),

Russ Freeman (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Shelly Manne (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, July 16, 1956

6 - Sweet Georgia Brown

(Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey)

Red Norvo Ensemble:

Red Norvo (xylophone), Jack Montrose (tenor sax),

Robert Drasnin (reeds), Bill Kosinski (french horn),

Jimmy Wyble (guitar), Buddy Clark (bass), Bill Douglass (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, August 27, 1956

7 - Coolin' The Blues

(Hampton Hawes)

Hampton Hawes Trio:

Hampton Hawes (piano), Red Mitchell (bass), Leroy McCray (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, September 10, 1956

8 - Modus Operani

(Jack Montrose)

Jack Montrose Quintet:

Jack Montrose (tenor sax), Fred Waters (baritone sax),

Paul Moer (piano), Ralph Peña (bass), William Donley (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, December 10, 1956

9 -I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me

(Jimmy McHugh, Clarence Gaskill)

Lennie Niehaus Quintet:

Lennie Niehaus (alto sax), Bill Perkins (tenor sax),

Paul Moer (piano), Buddy Clark (bass), Mel Lewis (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, January 14, 1957

10 - Short Stop

(Shorty Rogers)

Shorty Rogers Big Band:

Shorty Rogers (flugelhorn); Ollie Mitchell, Conte Candoli, Al Porcino,

Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpets); Sam Rice (tuba);

Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Frank Strong Jr., Harry Betts (trombones); 

Herb Geller, Jack Montrose, Bill Holman, Bill Perkins, Pepper Adams (reeds);

Pete Jolly (piano); Red Mitchell (bass); Stan Levey (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, February 4, 1957

11 - Wow

(Shorty Rogers)

Kay Brown with Shorty Rogers Big Band:

Kay Brown (vocal) with

Shorty Rogers (flugelhorn); Ollie Mitchell, Conte Candoli, Al Porcino,

Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpets); Sam Rice (tuba);

Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Frank Strong Jr., Harry Betts (trombones); 

Herb Geller, Jack Montrose, Bill Holman, Bill Perkins, Pepper Adams (reeds);

Pete Jolly (piano); Red Mitchell (bass); Stan Levey (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, February 4, 1957

12 - Popo

(Shorty Rogers)

Shorty Rogers Big Band:

Shorty Rogers (flugelhorn); Ollie Mitchell, Conte Candoli, Al Porcino,

Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpets); Sam Rice (tuba);

Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Frank Strong Jr., Harry Betts (trombones); 

Herb Geller, Jack Montrose, Bill Holman, Bill Perkins, Pepper Adams (reeds);

Pete Jolly (piano); Red Mitchell (bass); Stan Levey (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, February 4, 1957

13 - Infra Rae

(Hank Mobley)

Claude Williamson Trio:

Claude Williamson (piano), Willfred Middlebrooks (bass),Billy Higgins (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, June 24, 1957

14 - Westlake Bounce

(John Graas)

John Graas Quintet:

John Graas (french horn), Sam Firmature (tenor sax),

Dick Grove (piano), Dick Fritz (bass), Ray Roten (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, August 5, 1957

15 - Makin' Whoopee

(Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn)

Lucy Ann Polk with the Marty Paich Septet:

Lucy Ann Polk (vocal) with

Jack Sheldon, Don Fagerquist (trumpets);

Stu Williamson, Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombones);

Marty Paich (piano); Buddy Clark (bass); Mel Lewis (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, November 11, 1957

16 - Blue Lou

(Edgar Sampson, Irving Mills)

Marty Paich Septet:

Jack Sheldon, Don Fagerquist (trumpets);

Stu Williamson, Bob Enevoldsen (valve trombones);

Marty Paich (piano); Buddy Clark (bass); Mel Lewis (drums).

Recorded live on "Stars of Jazz", KABC-TV (Channel 7),

Los Angeles, California, November 11, 1957