California Cool
Presenting
The Hip Jazz Sounds Of The West Coast
Ever since Stan Kenton disbanded his Innovations Orchestra in Los Angeles in 1951, both the local jazz and movie colonies have co-existed comfortably along California's coastline.
Far from being beached, most of these ex-Kentonites, together with a number who'd previously been in Woody Herman's employ, soon found themselves leading a lucrative lifestyle that quickly translated into matching continental sports' cars and casual wear. For most of those who worked Hollywood's sound stages by day, also blew jazz by night at local clubs.
The commencement of Sunday afternoon jams at The Lighthouse on May 29 1949 and Shorty Rogers recording his Modern Sounds 10-inch for Capitol on October 8, 1951 are regarded as the two major events that signify what became universally refered to as the West Coast Scene. Long before that, jazz had been an integral part of the area's local night life especially along Central Avenue (the Harlem of the West Coast) where Dexter Gordon was the key figure along with Wardell Gray, Teddy Edwards, Sonny Criss and Hampton Hawes. A bustling locale crammed with clubs such as Billy Berg's, The Jungle Room and Jack's Basket that nightly presented jukebox stars of the calibre of Slim Gaillard, Charles Brown, Louis Jordan and Nat Cole.
However, by the early 1950s, the indigenous music scene had, in the quest for the almighty dollar, polarized along race lines, and (white) West Coast Jazz was a commercial reality. It's bright primary coloured leisure image was meant to reflect an optimistic and affluent postwar mood of prosperity. Not for these guys the smoke and shadows of New York's jazz cellars. Out on the coast, the air was fresh, palm trees lined the avenues and the big decision of the day was whether to surf or golf!
Look closer and it was obvious that this was a surface image - albeit well intended. Likewise, listen closely to the wide cross section of music contained herein and it's obvious that, from Mulligan and Pepper right through to Edwards and Criss, there's much more depth than the whole movement was first credited with.
This Compilation was inspired by the books "California Cool" by Graham Marsh and Glyn Callingham, and "The Hip" by Roy Carr. *(from the liner notes)*
Cool jazz from the west coast — mostly from the 50s, and mostly from EMI-related catalogs, like Blue Note, Aladdin, Liberty, and Capitol. There's a nice mix of vocalists and instrumentalists on the set — and the overall feel is that of a warm LA night, set in black and white, driving down to Central Ave with the top down and a bottle under the seat. Titles include "Mambo De La Pinta" by Art Pepper, "Jimmy's Theme" by Chet Baker, "Route 66" by Bobby Troup, "Black Nightgown" by Gerry Mulligan, "Ironic" by Jimmy Giuffre, "This Could Be The Start Of Something" by Mark Murphy, "The Squimp" by Chico Hamilton, "I Hear Music" by Hampton Hawes, "Hey Bellboy" by Gloria Woods, "Two Can Play" by Bob Gordon & Jack Montrose, and "Our Love Is Here To Stay" by Teddy Edwards. *Dusty Groove, Inc.*
1- This Could Be The Start Of Something New
(Allen)
Mark Murphy (vocal); Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli (trumpets); Bill Holman (tenor sax);
Jimmy Rowles (piano), Bobby Gibbons (guitar), Joe Mondragon (bass), Mel Lewis (drums).
Los Angeles, May 28,1959
2 - Main Title From "The Man With The Golden Arm"
(E. Bernstein, Fine)
Billy May and his Orchestra:
Conrad Gozzo, Dick Cathcart, Mickey Mangano, Mannie Klein (trumpets);
Ed Kusby, Si Zentner, Murray McEachern, Tommy "Pullman" Pederson (trombones);
Skeets Herfurt, Wilbur Schwartz (clarinet ,alto sax) Ted Nash, Jules Jacobs (clarinet, tenor sax);
Bob Dawes (baritone sax); Paul Smith (piano); Al Hendrickson (guitar);
Joe Comfort (bass) Tommy Romersa (drums); Billy May (arranger, leader).
Los Angeles, January 31, 1956
3 - Black Nightgown
(J. Mandel)
Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax), Bud Shank (altosax), Art Farmer (trumpet),
Frank Rosolino (trombone), Pete Jolly (piano), Red Mitchell (bass), Shelly Manne (drums).
Los Angeles, May 24, 1958
4- The Squimp
(Katz)
The Chico Hamilton Quintet:
Chico Hamilton (drums), Buddy Collette (flute),
Jim Hall (guitar), Fred Katz (cello), Carson Smith (bass).
Los Angeles, February 10, 1956
5 - But Not For Me
(G. and I. Gershwin)
Chet Baker Quartet:
Chet Baker (vocal, trumpet), Russ Freeman (piano),
Carson Smith (bass), Bob Neel (drums).
Los Angeles, February 15, 1954
6 - Iranic
(J. Giuffre)
Jimmy Giuffre (clarinet), Jack Sheldon (trumpet),
Ralph Peña (bass), Artie Anton (drums).
Los Angeles, January 31, 1955
7 - I Hear Music
(F. Loesser, B. Lane)
Hampton Hawes (piano), Red Mitchell (bass), Mel Lewis (drums).
Los Angeles, May 2, 1955
8 - Loverman
(Davis, Sherman)
Lee Konitz (alto sax), Gerry Mulligan (baritone sax),
Chet Baker (trumpet), Carson Smith (bass) Larry Bunker (drums).
Los Angeles, January 23, 1953
9 - Hey, Bellboy!
(Candoli, Mack)
Gloria Wood with Pete Candoli And His Orchestra:
Gloria Wood (vocal); Pete Candoli, Conte Candoli, Ray Linn, Manny Klein (trumpets);
Milt Bernhart, Si Zentner, Tommy Pederson (trombones);
Skeets Herfurt (alto sax); Wilbur Schwartz (alto sax, clarinet);
Ted Nash (tenor sax); Gene Cipriano (tenor sax);
Chuck Gentry (barítono sax); Paul Smith (piano); Barney Kessel (guitar);
Joe Mondragon (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums); Pete Rugolo (arranger).
Los Angeles, November 11, 1953
10 - Diablo's Dance
(Rogers)
Art Pepper with Shorty Rogers Nine:
Don Fagerquist (trumpet), Stu Williamson (valve trombone), Red Callender (tuba),
Art Pepper (alto sax), Bill Holman (tenor sax), Bud Shank (baritone sax),
Russ Freeman (piano), Monty Budwig (bass), Shelly Manne (drums).
Los Angeles, August 12, 1957
11 - Our Love Is Here To Stay
(G. and I. Gershwin)
Teddy Edwards (tenor), Les McCann (piano),
Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Ron Jefferson (drums).
Los Angeles, August 1959
12 - Route 66
(Troup)
Bobby Troup (vocal), Buddy Collette (tenor sax), Bob Enevoldsen (trombone),
Red Norvo (vibes), Jimmy Rowles (piano), Al Viola (guitar), Mike Rubin (bass), Don Heath (drums).
Los Angeles, November 7, 1956
13 - Two Can Play
(Gurvitz, Lironi)
Bob Gordon (baritone sax), Jack Montrose (tenor sax),
Paul Moer (piano), Joe Mondragon (bass), Billy Schneider (drums).
Los Angeles, May 27, 1954
14 - Take Five
(Desmond)
Bud Shank, Bill Perkins (alto saxes); Bob Hardaway, Bob Cooper (tenor saxes);
Jack Nimitz, John Lowe (baritone saxes); Dennis Budimir (guitar);
Ray Brown (bass); Larry Bunker (drums).
Los Angeles, December 1966
15 - Jimmy's Theme
(Stevens)
Chet Baker with Bud Shank Orchestra:
Chet Baker, Don Fagerquist, Ray Linn (trumpets); Milt Bernhart (trombone);
Bud Shank, Charlie Mariano, Herbie Steward (alto saxes); Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca (tenor saxes);
Pepper Adams (baritone sax); Claude Williamson (piano); Monty Budwig (bass);
Mel Lewis (drums); Mike Pacheco (bongos); Johnny Mandel (arranger).
Los Angeles, November 8, 1956
16 - Something Cool
(Barnes)
June Christy (vocal), Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Rogers, Jimmy Zito (trumpets);
Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, Tommy Pederson, George Roberts (trombones);
Gus Bivona, Bud Shank (alto saxes); Bob Cooper, Ted Nash (tenor saxes);
Chuck Gentry (baritone sax); Jeff Clarkson (piano); Barney Kessel (guitar);
Joe Mondragon (bass); Frank Carlson (drums); Pete Rugolo (arranger).
Los Angeles, August 14, 1954
17 - Mambo De La Pinta
(Art Pepper)
Art Pepper (alto sax), Jack Sheldon (trumpet),
Russ Freeman (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Shelly Manne (drums).
Los Angeles, August 1956
18 - Do I Love You?
(Cole Porter)
Peggy Lee With George Shearing:
Peggy Lee (vocal), George Shearing (piano), Warren Chaisson (vibes), Toots Thielemans (guitar),
James Bond (bass), Roy Haynes (drums), Armando Peraza (congas).
Miami, April 28, 1959
19 - Katanga
(Ike Turner)
Curtis Amy (tenor sax), Dupree Bolton (trumpet), Jack Wilson (piano),
Ray Crawford (guitar), Vic Gaskin (bass), Doug Sides (drums).
Los Angeles, March 1963
20 - A Handful Of Stars
(Lawrence, Shapiro)
Serge Chaloff (baritone), Sonny Clark (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums)
Los Angeles, March 14, 1956
21 - West Coast Blues
(Sonny Criss)
Sonny Criss (alto sax), Kenny Drew (piano),
Barney Kessel (guitar), Bill Woodson (bass), Chuck Thompson (drums).
Los Angeles, February 24, 1956
