Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Allen Eager, Brew Moore - The Brothers

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:50
Size: 102,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:12) 1. Five Brothers
(3:36) 2. Five Brothers (Alternate Take)
(3:54) 3. Battle Of The Saxes
(3:48) 4. Four And One Moore
(3:33) 5. Four And One Moore (Alternate Take)
(3:23) 6. Battleground
(3:17) 7. Battleground (Alternate Take)
(4:35) 8. The Red Door
(4:22) 9. Zootcase
(4:28) 10. Tangerine
(5:37) 11. Morning Sun

The music on this LP recalls the airy "Four Brothers" sound that tenor saxophonists Stan Getz, Zoot Sims and Herbie Steward, and baritone saxophonist Serge Charloff, plied in Woody Herman's band of 1947. For this outing, Steward and Charloff exit, and four become five with the addition of tenor luminaries Al Cohn, Brew Moore, and Allen Eager. The set appropriately kicks off with Gerry Mulligan's "Five Brothers," a tune reminiscent of Jimmy Giuffre's original "Four Brothers" in its fluid and bouncy arrangement.

Three other attractive and similarly disposed originals (one more by Mulligan and two by Cohn) complete the saxophone session from 1949, all featuring swinging statements by each soloist. A 1952 sextet date led by Sims and Cohn is also included, offering up another round of original and buoyantly swinging cuts, bolstered by lively contributions from trombonist Kai Winding and solid rhythmic support by pianist George Wallington, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Art Blakey. A fine release that nicely showcases the cool, proto-West Coast bop forged by both these soloists and Miles Davis.~ Stephen Cook https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brothers-mw0000652734

Personnel: Piano – George Wallington, Walter Bishop, Bass – Gene Ramey , Percy Heath; Drums – Art Blakey, Charlie Perry; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Allen Eager, Brew Moore, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims; Trombone – Kai Winding

The Brothers

---

George Wallington Quintet - At The Bohemia

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:29
Size: 106,3 MB
Art: Front

(8:28) 1. Johnny One Note
(7:02) 2. Sweet Blanche
(6:47) 3. Minor March
(5:58) 4. Snakes
(8:43) 5. Jay Mac's Crib
(8:28) 6. Bohemia After Dark / The Peck

Superb album with George Wallington playing at the Café Bohemia in New York on September 9, 1955. The all-star lineup consists of the following: George Wallington on piano, Jackie McLean (says McClean on the back slick. Well, he sure does play clean), Donald Byrd on trumpet, Paul Chambers on double bass and Art Taylor on drums. Doesn't get much better. The sound on this is suprisingly good for a live recording from the 50's. But you don't expect less from Rudy Van Gelder who recorded this wonderful album.

This original 1st pressing is very rare to say the least. Extremely hard to find, and you almost never see it for sale. Happy of course to have it in the collection. Just listened to it, and it's a nice set of tunes on this. Favorites are "Jay Mac's Crib" and "Minor March". An energy filled performance which makes you wanna go back in time and sit there at The Bohemia, sip a drink and enjoy some magic. You should definitely check this one out if it's new to you. An original is maybe too hard to acquire, for it's rarity and price tag, but this music should make it's way into your collection, original, reissue or in another format. Superb stuff. http://www.fwrarejazzvinylcollector.com/blog/2015/3/29/george-wallington-quintet-at-the-bohemia-progressive-1001

Personnel: George Wallington on piano, Jackie McLean, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Paul Chambers on double bass, Art Taylor on drums.

At The Bohemia

---

Frank Foster & George Wallington - Here Comes

Styles: Saxophone And Piano Jazz
Year: 1954
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:07
Size: 156,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:55) 1. Little Red
(5:01) 2. How I Spent The Night
(3:49) 3. Blues for Benny
(3:37) 4. Out Of Nowhere
(4:15) 5. Gracias
(3:48) 6. The Heat's On
(4:19) 7. How I Spent The Night (alt. take)
(4:08) 8. Frankie and Johnnie
(4:03) 9. Baby Grand
(3:39) 10. Christina
(3:55) 11. Summertime
(4:01) 12. Festival
(3:51) 13. Bumpkins
(4:06) 14. Frankie and Johnnie (alt. take)
(3:55) 15. Summertime (alt. take)
(3:53) 16. Festival
(3:43) 17. Bumpkins (alt. take)

This double reissue combines saxophonist Frank Foster's first U.S. recording and a session led by pianist George Wallington that took place one week later with Foster sitting in. Recorded for Blue Note in Hackensack, NJ, on May 5, 1954, Here Comes Frank Foster (also issued as New Faces, New Sounds) was only Foster's second album as a leader. His debut album was recorded one month earlier for the Vogue label in Paris, France. Here Comes Frank Foster fits neatly with other albums from the mid-'50s Blue Note catalog. Foster shares the spotlight with trombonist Benny Powell, and the rhythm section of Gildo Mahones, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke is superb. On tracks eight through 17, Foster is heard as a member of the George Wallington Showcase band, recorded for Blue Note on May 12, 1954. This solid little organization included James Moody's ace trumpeter Dave Burns, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, baritone saxophonist Danny Bank, bassist Oscar Pettiford, and, once again, drummer Kenny "Klook" Clarke. Arrangements were scored by Quincy Jones. This straight-ahead hard bop is tasty and stimulating. Use the four alternate takes for a chaser.

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone – Frank Foster; Piano – George Wallington, Gildo Mahones; Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank; Bass – Oscar Pettiford, Percy Heath; Drums – Kenny Clarke; Flute – Danny Bank; Trombone – Benny Powell , Jimmy Cleveland; Trumpet – Dave Burns

Here Comes

---

George Wallington Quintet - The Prestidigitator

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:31
Size: 88,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:59) 1. In Salah aka In Shalah
(5:46) 2. Composin' at the Composer
(6:01) 3. Jouons
(4:30) 4. Rural Route
(5:43) 5. Promised Land
(4:54) 6. August Moon
(6:35) 7. The Prestidigitator

Sicilian-born pianist "George Wallington" (his given name was Giacinto Figlia) had more than ethnicity in common with Dodo Marmarosa. Both men were active in the burgeoning bop scene of the early and mid-'40s, both made important contributions to the evolution of modern jazz, and both withdrew from public activity for protracted periods of time. Most importantly, both of these excellent pianists left enough great music in their wake to warrant a reappraisal of their legacies. Wallington named Mel Powell, Al Haig, and Bud Powell as his favorite contemporaries; primary influences were Art Tatum, Count Basie, and especially Earl Hines. He collaborated and consulted with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Pettiford, and Max Roach during bop's formative years; later he would befriend young Mose Allison and help him to get established as both recording artist and jazz essayist.

Recorded in early April 1957 and released on the East West label the following year, Wallington's album The Prestidigitator is an excellent example of his creative approach to the art of jazz. His quintet/quartet on this album consisted of bassist Teddy Kotick, drummer Nick Stabulas, Detroit-born tenor saxophonist J.R. Monterose, and bass trumpeter Jerry Lloyd, who sounds for all the world like a valve trombonist. Three of the seven pieces were composed by Mose Allison, two by Monterose, one by Lloyd, and only one the quirkily titled "Composin' at the Composer" by Wallington himself. This was the first time that anyone besides Mose Allison recorded Mose Allison's original compositions.

Even Allison hadn't yet recorded "Rural Route" when Wallington worked it into this pleasantly bop-based album of early modern jazz. Allison's "Promised Land" is particularly soulful and straight-ahead. Stylistically, this stuff lands somewhere amongst Art Blakey's early Jazz Messengers, Hank Mobley, Sonny Stitt, Johnny Griffin, and some of that mid-'50s Mingus with John LaPorta. That means it's really good and maybe you ought to check it out. For those who are squinting at a digitally condensed thumbnail reproduction of the album cover and trying to decipher what's going on, it depicts a magician (or prestidigitator) as seen from upstage rather than from the audience's point of view. As he prepares to pull a rabbit out of his inverted hat, the animal is clearly visible inside of a wooden box on a collapsible stand, held in readiness by a child or midget concealed within.~ arwulf arwulf https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-prestidigitator-mw0000565954

Personnel: Piano – George Wallington; Bass – Teddy Kotick; Drums – Nick Stabulas; Tenor Saxophone – J. R. Monterose; Trumpet – Jerry Lloyd

The Prestidigitator

---

George Wallington - Variations

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1954/2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:08
Size: 108,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:28)  1. Before Dawn
(2:50)  2. If I Love Again
(3:04)  3. Your Laughter
(3:20)  4. Morning Dew
(2:37)  5. Busman's Holiday
(4:36)  6. My Funny Valentine
(4:20)  7. Ever Loving Blues
(5:23)  8. Variations
(3:45)  9. Autumn In New York
(4:25) 10. Marcel The Furrier
(3:19) 11. Invitation
(3:24) 12. Moonlight In Vermont
(2:31) 13. Alone Together

George Wallington was one of the first and best bop pianists, ranking up there with Al Haig, just below Bud Powell. He was also the composer of two bop standards that caught on for a time: "Lemon Drop" and "Godchild." Born in Sicily, Wallington and his family moved to the U.S. in 1925. He arrived in New York in the early '40s and was a member of the first bop group to play on 52nd Street, Dizzy Gillespie's combo of 1943-1944. After spending a year with Joe Marsala's band, Wallington played with the who's who of bop during 1946-1952, including Charlie Parker, Serge Chaloff, Allan Eager, Kai Winding, Terry Gibbs, Brew Moore, Al Cohn, Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, and Red Rodney. He toured Europe with Lionel Hampton's ill-fated big band of 1953, and during 1954-1960 he led groups in New York that included among its up-and-coming sidemen Donald Byrd and Jackie McLean (the latter succeeded by Phil Woods). Then, in 1960, Wallington gave up on the music business altogether and retired to work in his family's air-conditioning company. 24 years later he re-emerged, recording three albums of original material before time ran out. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-wallington-mn0000645514/biography

Personnel: George Wallington (piano); Curly Russell (bass); Art Taylor (drums); Joseph Livoisi (violin);  David Uchitel (viola);  William Eder (cello);  Clyde Lombardi (bass)

Variations

---

George Wallington - Virtuoso

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:59
Size: 114,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:18)  1. Moon Flower
(4:26)  2. Clearness of View
(5:44)  3. Beautiful Eyes
(4:11)  4. Melody
(6:22)  5. Virtuoso
(3:23)  6. Temporal
(6:08)  7. Beautiful to Behold
(3:29)  8. Heart of Hearts
(6:58)  9. Oh Foolish Leaf
(4:55) 10. Sociability

After 24 years off the scene, pianist George Wallington surprised many who had forgotten by him by recording this solo CD, the first of three. Although all ten of the selections are Wallington originals, his boppish style was largely unchanged from the 1950s, and some of the tunes are based on the chord changes of more common standards. However, the melodies are fresh, Wallington's improvisations are full of joyful swing, and the overall results (available as a Japanese import through Denon) are quite appealing. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/virtuoso-mw0000649772

Virtuoso

---

George Wallington - Knight Music

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:35
Size: 84,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:18)  1. Godchild
(3:05)  2. Serendipity
(3:05)  3. Billie's Tune
(3:46)  4. The Ghostly Lover
(2:40)  5. Up Jumped the Devil
(2:56)  6. It's All Right with Me
(3:47)  7. The End of a Love Affair
(3:02)  8. Will You Still Be Mine
(4:45)  9. In a Sentimental Mood
(3:14) 10. World Weary
(2:51) 11. One Night of Love

The fine bop pianist George Wallington hasn't received the recognition he deserved, possibly because of a two-dozen year gap from 1960-1984 when he was entirely out of the music business. This first-rate trio date for Atlantic has finally come out on CD and should help gain him some posthumous attention. One of his two greatest compositions, "Godchild" (which appears on the classic Miles Davis release The Birth of the Cool), opens the disc with a flourish, but there are many strong originals present. The lively stair-stepping "Serendipity" and the furious "Up Jumped the Devil" are worthy of comparison to Bud Powell. Wallington also covers several standards such as "Will You Still Be Mine?" and "It's All Right With Me" with finesse and imagination. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/knight-music-mw0000058916

Personnel: George Wallington (piano); Teddy Kotick (bass); Nick Stabulas (drums).

Knight Music

---

Bobby Jaspar - With George Wallington and Idrees Sulieman

Styles: Flute And Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1957

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 45:58

Size: 105,5 MB

Art: Front

(9:00)  1. Seven Up

(6:01)  2. My Old Flame

(5:55)  3. All Of You

(6:52)  4. Doublemint

(6:14)  5. Before Dawn

(5:40)  6. Sweet Blanche

(6:13)  7. The Fuzz

This CD reissue, which adds "The Fuzz" to the original six-song LP, is a fine showcase for Bobby Jaspar and acts as an excellent introduction to his playing. A mellow-toned tenor and a fluent flutist who was quite bop-oriented, Jaspar is featured with pianist George Wallington, bassist Wilbur Little, drummer Elvin Jones, and (on three numbers) trumpeter Idrees Sulieman. The majority of the tunes (other than "My Old Flame" and "All of You") are originals by group members, straight-ahead tunes with good blowing changes. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/bobby-jaspar-with-george-wallington-mw0000279813

Personnel: Bobby Jaspar (flute, tenor saxophone); Idrees Sulieman (trumpet); George Wallington (piano); Elvin Jones (drums).

With George Wallington and Idrees Sulieman

---

George Wallington - Jazz at Hotchkiss

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:08
Size: 92,1 MB
Art: Front

( 6:53)  1. Dance of the Infidels
( 8:46)  2. Strange Music
( 5:57)  3. Before Dawn
(10:35)  4. Ow
( 7:57)  5. 'S Make 'T

This LP-length CD reissue features pianist George Wallington and his 1957 quintet (which consists of trumpeter Donald Byrd, altoist Phil Woods, bassist Knobby Totah and drummer Nick Stabulas) stretching out on five numbers. 

The repertoire is highlighted by Bud Powell's "Dance of the Infidels" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Ow." Both Woods and Byrd (two up-and-coming players) are in excellent form, making this an enjoyable outing for bop fans. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-at-hotchkiss-mw0000237669

Personnel: George Wallington (piano), Phil Woods (alto saxophone), Donald Byrd (trumpet), Knobby Totah (bass), Nick Stabulas (drums).

Jazz at Hotchkiss

---

George Wallington - The New York Scene

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:17
Size: 90,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:27)  1. In Salah
(6:14)  2. Up Tohickon Creek
(4:55)  3. Graduation Day
(7:12)  4. Indian Summer
(8:05)  5. 'Dis Mornin'
(7:21)  6. Sol's Ollie

Before he retired from music in 1960, pianist George Wallington led a series of excellent bop-based quintet albums. For this particular CD (a reissue of a date originally put out by New Jazz), Wallington heads a group featuring altoist Phil Woods, trumpeter Donald Byrd, bassist Teddy Kotick and drummer Nick Stabulas. With the exception of the standard "Indian Summer," the repertoire is pretty obscure (with now-forgotten originals by Byrd, Woods and Mose Allison in addition to "Graduation Day") but of a consistent high quality. The emphasis is on hard-swinging and this set should greatly please straightahead jazz fans. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-new-york-scene-mw0000707494

Personnel: George Wallington (piano); Donald Byrd (trumpet); Phil Woods (alto saxophone); Teddy Kotick (bass); Nick Stabulas (drums).

The New York Scene

---

George Wallington - Live! At Cafe Bohemia

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:12
Size: 122,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:29)  1. Johnny One Note
(7:03)  2. Sweet Blanche
(6:49)  3. Minor March
(5:59)  4. Snakes
(8:44)  5. Jay Mac's Crib
(8:26)  6. Bohemia After Dark
(7:39)  7. Minor March (alternate)

This live set, although led by pianist George Wallington, is most significant for giving listeners early examples of the playing of trumpeter Donald Byrd and altoist Jackie McLean; bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor complete the quintet. The music, although comprised mostly of group originals (other than "Johnny One Note" and Oscar Pettiford's "Bohemia After Dark"), is essentially a bebop jam and it is particularly interesting to hear just how much McLean was influenced by Charlie Parker at this point (although his sound was already quickly recognizable). This was a solid if short-lived group and their brand of hard bop will be enjoyed by straightahead jazz fans. The CD reissue adds a second version of "Minor March" to the original program. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/live!-at-cafe-bohemia-prestige-ojc-mw0000617315

Personnel: George Wallington (piano); Jackie McLean (alto saxophone); Donald Byrd (trumpet); Paul Chambers (bass); Arthur Taylor (drums).

Live! At Cafe Bohemia

---

George Wallington Trio - The Complete Sessions 1949-1956 (2-Disc Set)

George Wallington (p), Curley Russell, Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Pierre Michelot, Teddy Kotick (b), Charlie Perry, Max Roach, Jean-Louis Viale, Art Taylor, Nick Stabulas (d). 24-Bit Digitally Remastered

George Wallington, accomplished pianist, composer, and arranger, had been closely associated with the progressive jazz movement since the mid-40s when this new phase of American music was being nurtured in New York’s Harlem and along 52nd St. He was, in fact, the pianist with Dizzy Gillespie’s first bop band at the Onyx club in 1944, where his contributions reflected his innate creative ability, a talent that established him as one of the best composers in the progressive field.

Wallington’s astonishing, fast-moving eloquence as a pianist, contrasted strangely with his introvert, laconic manner as a person. He has too long been taken for granted, but these trio sessions prove he was one of the most incisive and creative of pianists who helped write an important new chapter in jazz.

Album: The Complete Sessions 1949-1956 (Disc1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:59

Size: 178.6 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 2011

[2:17] 1. Racing

[2:45] 2. Fairyland

[2:58] 3. Fine And Dandy

[2:28] 4. I'll Remember April

[2:19] 5. Twins

[2:50] 6. Polka Dot

[2:45] 7. High Score

[2:36] 8. Hyacinth

[2:14] 9. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

[2:20] 10. Joy Bell

[2:49] 11. Love Beat

[2:41] 12. Summer Rain

[2:37] 13. Escalating

[2:53] 14. Laura

[2:55] 15. Tenderly

[2:31] 16. When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New

[2:40] 17. Red, White And Blue

[2:24] 18. Arrivederci

[2:54] 19. Among Friends

[2:36] 20. My Nephew And I

[2:16] 21. Squeezer's Breezer

[4:30] 22. Variations

[2:27] 23. Ours

[2:28] 24. I Married An Angel

[2:23] 25. Cuckoo Around The Clock

[2:39] 26. Fairyland

[2:38] 27. Woody'n You

[3:00] 28. Just One Of Those Things

[2:52] 29. Honeysuckle Rose

---

Album: The Complete Sessions 1949-1956 (Disc2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 75:00

Size: 171.7 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[4:00] 1. Star Eyes

[4:32] 2. Ny

[2:39] 3. A Day In Paris

[2:34] 4. These Foolish Things

[3:24] 5. Before Dawn

[3:20] 6. A Night In Tunisia

[2:46] 7. If I Love Again

[3:00] 8. Your Laughter

[3:15] 9. Thoroughbred

[2:47] 10. Without Reservation

[3:18] 11. Morning Dew

[2:36] 12. Busman's Holiday

[3:20] 13. Godchild

[3:04] 14. Serendipity

[3:08] 15. Billie's Tune

[3:46] 16. The Ghostly Lover

[2:41] 17. Up Jumped The Devil

[2:55] 18. It's All Right With Me

[3:46] 19. The End Of A Love Affair

[3:02] 20. Will You Still Be Mine

[4:46] 21. In A Sentimental Mood

[3:15] 22. World Weary

[2:54] 23. One Night Of Love

The Complete Sessions 1949-1956 (Disc1),(Disc2)  

---

George Wallington Quintet - Jazz For The Carriage Trade

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 35:46
Size: 81.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1991/2012
Art: Front

[5:32] 1. Our Delight
[5:27] 2. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[5:03] 3. Foster Dulles
[6:47] 4. Together We Wail
[7:07] 5. What's New
[5:48] 6. But George

During 1956-57 trumpeter Donald Byrd and altoist Phil Woods (both important up-and-coming players) were regular members of pianist George Wallington's quintet. For this CD reissue, bassist Teddy Kotick and drummer Art Taylor complete the group on a program that includes three standards ("Our Delight," "Our Love Is Here to Stay" and "What's New"), a pair of Woods originals ("Together We Wail" and "But George") and Frank Foster's "Foster Dulles." The music falls between bebop and hard bop with Woods sounding quite strong while Byrd comes across as a promising (but not yet mature) youngster. A fine example of this somewhat forgotten but talented group, easily recommended to bop collectors. ~Scott Yanow

Jazz For The Carriage Trade

---