The Capp-Pierce Juggernaut Feat.Joe Williams - Live At The Century Plaza

Styles: Jazz, Bop
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:40
Size: 98,1 MB
Art: Front

( 3:57) 1. Fiesta In Brass
( 5:42) 2. Basie's Deep Fry
( 4:35) 3. Souvenir
( 5:08) 4. Capp This!
( 5:02) 5. Tarragon
( 4:44) 6. Swing Shift
(10:51) 7. Joe's Blues
( 2:39) 8. What The World Needs Now Is Love

The packaging for this reissue CD could be better (it leaves out the personnel listing and even the recording date) but the Capp/Pierce Juggernaut is heard throughout the live session in fine form. The main soloists in the 1978 version of the 17-piece orchestra are pianist co-leader Nat Pierce, trumpeter Al Aarons, trombonist Buster Cooper, tenors Bob Cooper and Herman Riley, and altoist Marshall Royal; the other co-leader, Frank Capp, has a drum feature on "Capp This."

The Count Basie sound-alike band (which sounds surprisingly like Duke Ellington's on "Fiesta in Brass") performs Pierce's arrangements with swing and spirit. An added plus is that Joe Williams sits in for "Joe's Blues" (during which he sings some of his favorite blues stanzas) along with a throwaway version of "What the World Needs Now Is Love." By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-live-at-the-century-plaza-mw0000187957

Personnel: Drums – Frankie Capp; Piano – Nat Pierce; Bass – Chuck Berghoffer; Guitar – Ray Pohlman; Saxophone – Bob Cooper, Herman Riley, Lanny Morgan, Marshal Royal*, Bill Green; Trombone – Alan Kaplan, Britt Woodman, Buster Cooper, Garnett Bown; Trumpet – Al Aarons, Bill Berry, Bobby Shew, Frank Szabo; Vocals – Joe Williams

Live At Century Plaza

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Jo Jones - The Essential Jo Jones

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:28
Size: 180,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:55)  1. Shoe Shine Boy (first take)
(6:33)  2. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
(4:50)  3. Georgia Mae
(4:01)  4. Caravan
(7:50)  5. Lincoln Heights
(6:44)  6. Embraceable You
(5:54)  7. Satin Doll
(5:22)  8. Little Susie
(4:48)  9. Spider Kelly's Blues
(4:03) 10. Cubano Chant
(4:55) 11. Splittin'
(4:42) 12. Sweet Lorraine
(2:40) 13. Bicycle for Two
(6:44) 14. Old Man River
(3:26) 15. Sometimes I'm Happy

Jo Jones, one of the most influential drummers of the swing era, did not lead that many recording sessions of his own during his career. Producer John Hammond gave him his first two dates when he was working for Vanguard and, with the exception of a second take of "Shoe Shine Boy," all of the music from the two LPs is on this single-CD reissue. The first session is very much in the spirit of Count Basie's band; in fact, Basie himself makes a guest appearance on "Shoe Shine Boy." The other swing-oriented players include trumpeter Emmett Berry, guitarist Freddie Green, tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson, and (on one song apiece) trombonist Lawrence Brown and clarinetist Rudy Powell. The later date is quite a bit different: a trio session with pianist Ray Bryant and bassist Tommy Bryant. There is a liberal amount of drum soloing but the early versions of Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant" and "Little Susie" are of greatest interest. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-essential-jo-jones-mw0000644547

Personnel:  Drums – Jo Jones;  Bass – Tommy Bryant, Walter Page;  Clarinet – Rudy Powell;  Guitar – Freddie Green;  Piano – Count Basie, Nat Pierce, Ray Bryant;  Tenor Saxophone – Lucky Thompson;  Trombone – Benny Green, Lawrence Brown;  Trumpet – Emmett Berry    

The Essential Jo Jones

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Capp-Pierce Orchestra - Juggernaut Strikes Again

Styles: Big Band, Vocal
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:36
Size: 96,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:47) 1. Little Pony
(4:19) 2. One For Marshal
(4:22) 3. I Remember Clifford
(3:36) 4. New York Shuffle
(4:42) 5. Chops, Fingers And Sticks
(3:06) 6. You Are So Beautiful
(6:24) 7. Parker's Mood / Word From Bird
(4:20) 8. Charade
(4:56) 9. Things Ain't What They Used To Be

The 1981 edition of the Frank Capp/Nat Pierce Juggernaut sticks to its vision of being Count Basie soundalike big band. The repertoire is a bit farther reaching than on its previous releases including Pierce's "One for Marshal" (featuring altoist Marshall Royal), "I Remember Clifford," Buck Clayton's then-recent "Chops, Fingers and Sticks" and a medley of Charlie Parker tunes. among the key soloists are Royal, pianist Pierce, tenors Pete Christlieb and Bob Cooper, trombonist Buster Cooper and flugelhornist Al Aarons. Ernie Andrews helps out with two vocals. A typically swinging Juggernaut album; all are recommended.~Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/juggernaut-strikes-again-mw

Personnel: Vocals – Ernie Andrews; Alto Saxophone – Jackie Kelso, Joe Roccisano, Marshal Royal; Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Bill Green; Bass – Bob Maize; Drums – Frankie Capp; Guitar – Ray Pohlman; Piano – Nat Pierce; Tenor Saxophone – Bob Cooper, Bob Efford, Pete Christlieb; Trombone – Alan Kaplan, Buster Cooper, George Bohanon, Mel Wanzo; Trumpet – Al Aarons, Bill Berry, Frank Szabo, Johnny Audino, Snooky Young, Warren Luening

Juggernaut Strikes Again

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Rosemary Clooney - With Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:31
Size: 93,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:13)  1. Just The Way You Are
(5:05)  2. The Way We Were
(4:57)  3. Alone At Last
(4:55)  4. Come In From The Rain
(3:51)  5. Hello Young Lovers
(4:48)  6. Meditation
(3:21)  7. Just In Time
(5:12)  8. Tenderly
(3:06)  9. Will You Still Be Mine

Rosemary Clooney sings both old and new songs on this 1980 Concord album. With the emphasis on ballads (including "Just the Way You are," "The Way We Were," "Hello Young Lovers" and "Tenderly"), there is less variety on this set than usual although a swinging rendition of "Will You Still Be Mine" is a fine closer. Clooney is heard in prime voice as usual and there are some fine concise solos by tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, cornetist Warren Vache, guitarist Cal Collins, pianist Nat Pierce and guest vibraphonist Cal Tjader. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/with-love-mw0000191616

Personnel:   Vocals – Rosemary Clooney; Tenor Saxophone – Scott Hamilton;  Vibraphone [Vibes] – Cal Tjader;  Bass – Bob Maize;  Drums – Jake Hanna;  Flugelhorn, Cornet – Warren Vaché;  Guitar – Cal Collins;  Piano – Nat Pierce. 

With Love

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Johnny Hodges - Triple Play

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:47
Size: 109.4 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1967/2015
Art: Front

[3:38] 1. Take 'em Off, Take 'em Off, Pt. 1
[2:55] 2. Take 'em Off, Take 'em Off, Pt. 2
[3:45] 3. The Nearness Of You
[3:52] 4. Monkey On A Limb
[4:53] 5. A Tiny Bit Of Blues
[3:01] 6. For Jammers Only (A.K.A. Wild Onions)
[2:51] 7. On The Way Up
[3:19] 8. Big Boy Blues
[2:48] 9. The Very Thought Of You
[6:21] 10. Fur Piece
[3:18] 11. Sir John
[2:38] 12. Figurine
[4:20] 13. C-Jam Blues

Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney; Bass – Aaron Bell, Joe Benjamin, Milt Hinton; Cornet – Ray Nance; Drums – Gus Johnson, Oliver Jackson, Rufus Jones; Guitar – Billy Butler, Les Spann, Tiny Grimes; Leader, Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges; Piano – Hank Jones, Jimmy Jones, Nat Pierce; Piano – Jimmy Jones; Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves; Trombone – Benny Powell, Buster Cooper, Lawrence Brown; Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Roy Eldridge; Vibraphone – Bill Berry.

Altoist Johnny Hodges is heard in three different settings on this reissue CD. Such top swing stars as trumpeters Ray Nance, Cat Anderson and Roy Eldridge, trombonists Buster Cooper, Lawrence Brown and Benny Powell, tenors Paul Gonsalves and Jimmy Hamilton, baritonist Harry Carney, pianists Hank Jones and Jimmy Jones (the latter two sometimes together), guitarists Tiny Grimes, Les Spann and Billy Butler, bassists Milt Hinton, Aaron Bell and Joe Benjamin and drummers Gus Johnson, Rufus Jones and Oliver Jackson are heard in nonets with the great altoist. Despite the many changes in personnel, the music is pretty consistent, with basic swinging originals, blues and ballads all heard in equal proportion. As usual, Johnny Hodges ends up as the main star. ~Scott Yanow

Triple Play mc
Triple Play zippy

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Pee Wee Russell & Coleman Hawkins - Jazz Reunion

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:36
Size: 105,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:29)  1. If I Could Be With You One Hour
(8:56)  2. Tin Tin Deo
(7:18)  3. Mariooch
(7:33)  4. All Too Soon
(7:26)  5. 28th And 8th
(7:52)  6. What Am I Here For

This LP (whose contents have been reissued on CD) features a reunion between tenor-saxophonist Coleman Hawkins and clarinetist Pee Wee Russell; they revisit "If I Could Be with You," a song they had recorded together in a classic version back in 1929. Russell was beginning to perform much more modern material than the Dixieland music associated with the Eddie Condon players and on this set (which also features trumpeter Emmett Berry, valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Jo Jones), he plays a couple of Duke Ellington tunes, two originals and "Tin Tin Deo." Hawkins is also in fine form and this somewhat surprising program is quite successful. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-reunion-mw0000195279

Personnel: Pee Wee Russell (clarinet); Coleman Hawkins (tenor saxophone); Emmett Berry (trumpet); Bob Brookmeyer (trombone); Nat Pierce (piano); Milt Hinton (bass); Jo Jones (drums).          

Jazz Reunion

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Ruby Braff - Hi-Fi Salute To Bunny

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:49
Size: 124,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:31)  1. Keep Smiling At Trouble
(6:10)  2. I Can't Get Started
(7:23)  3. It's Been So Long
(6:05)  4. I'm Coming Virginia
(4:46)  5. Marie
(6:29)  6. Downhearted Blues
(4:21)  7. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
(6:46)  8. Somebody Else Is Taking My Place
(5:16)  9. Did I Remember

Ruby Braff's 1957 tribute to trumpet great Bunny Berigan is only appropriate, as he has long since gone on to establish himself as one of the modern masters of swing. His band includes pianist Nat Pierce, guitarist Steve Jordan, clarinetist Pee Wee Russell, trombonist Benny Morton, tenor saxophonist Dick Hafer, bassist Walter Page (in one of his last recordings prior to his death), and drummer Buzzy Drootin. Braff's passionate, always-melodic solos contrast with Russell's rather distinctive approach to the clarinet, while the rhythm section is dominated by Page's fat-toned bass. The leader's approach to "I Can't Get Started," a song forever associated with Berigan, remains fresh decades later. Most of the selections were reissued on the since-deleted Bluebird CD This Is My Lucky Day, so finding a copy of this valuable music remains somewhat challenging. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/hi-fi-salute-to-bunny-mw0000497315

Ruby Braff, trumpet; Benny Morton, trombone; Pee Wee Russell, clarinet; Dick Hafer, tenor sax; Nat Pierce, piano; Steve Jordan, guitar; Walter Page, bass; Buzzy Drootin, drums.

Hi-Fi Salute To Bunny

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LaVern Baker - Sings Bessie Smith

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:47
Size: 95.7 MB
Styles: R&B/Blues/Jazz vocals
Year: 1958/1988
Art: Front

[3:06] 1. Gimme A Pigfoot
[3:36] 2. Baby Doll
[3:12] 3. On Revival Day
[2:50] 4. Money Blues
[4:03] 5. I Ain't Gonna Play No Second Fiddle
[4:41] 6. Back Water Blues
[4:50] 7. Empty Bed Blues
[2:41] 8. There'll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight
[3:55] 9. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
[3:08] 10. After You've Gone
[2:49] 11. Young Woman's Blues
[2:50] 12. Preaching The Blues

Baritone Saxophone – Jerome Richardson, Sahib Shihab; Bass – Wendell Marshall; Drums – Joe Marshall; Guitar – Danny Barker; Piano – Nat Pierce; Tenor Saxophone – Paul Quinichette; Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Vic Dickenson; Vocals – LaVern Baker. This record was recorded in January, 1958 and previously released as Atlantic 1281 (20th of October 1958).

This is an album that should not have worked. LaVern Baker (a fine R&B singer) was joined by all-stars from mainstream jazz (including trumpeter Buck Clayton, trombonist Vic Dickenson, tenor-saxophonist Paul Quinichette and pianist Nat Pierce) for twelve songs associated with the great '20s blues singer Bessie Smith. Despite the potentially conflicting styles, this project is quite successful and often exciting. The arrangements by Phil Moore, Nat Pierce, and Ernie Wilkins do not attempt to re-create the original recordings; Baker sings in her own style (rather than trying to emulate Bessie Smith), and the hot solos work well with her vocals. ~Scott Yanow

Sings Bessie Smith

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The Nat Pierce Orchestra - Big Band At The Savoy Ballroom

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:40
Size: 109.1 MB
Styles: Big band, Swing
Year: 1962/2009
Art: Front

[11:40] 1. Stompin' At The Savoy
[ 3:21] 2. 7th Avenue Express
[ 3:12] 3. Love Letters
[ 4:26] 4. Pepper Green
[ 6:17] 5. Whaddaya Know
[ 6:47] 6. Moody Chant
[ 4:42] 7. After Glow
[ 7:11] 8. Middle Man

Nat Pierce had a long, distinguished, somewhat low-profile career as a champion of latter-day big-band swing, serving as the co-leader of Los Angeles' crack Frank Capp-Nat Pierce Juggernaut and an arranger for several well-known big bands and solo artists. His scores created an irresistible force when allied with a swinging, pushing drummer like Capp, often hewing tightly to the loping drive and tight ensemble of the post-'50s Count Basie orchestra. Likewise, Pierce's spare, tasty piano style not only has been compared to that of Basie, he also subbed very capably -- indeed, almost indistinguishably -- for the great man off and on from the late '50s until Basie's death in 1984.

Pierce studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music back home in Massachusetts, worked with local Boston bands, and ran his own part-time big band featuring Charlie Mariano from 1949 to 1951. Having already started shopping arrangements to Basie and Woody Herman, he joined Herman's Third Herd in 1951 as pianist/arranger, remaining until 1955. Afterward, Pierce settled in New York City, where he became a busy freelance arranger, recording pianist, and occasional leader of bands, working with Ruby Braff, Lester Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russell, and Lester Young. Two of his most famous projects took place in 1957 -- writing the arrangements for The Sound of Jazz television show, and playing piano with the Basie rhythm section on the first ear-opening Lambert, Hendricks & Ross album Sing a Song of Basie. In 1961, Pierce rejoined Herman and played a major role in lifting the band into one of its peak periods, serving as chief arranger, road manager, and talent scout until 1966. Afterward, he resumed his freelancing ways, arranging for Anita O'Day, Carmen McRae, Earl Hines, and others, working with the bands of Louie Bellson and Bill Berry, reuniting with Herman, and substituting for Basie and Stan Kenton on occasion. In 1975, four years after a move to Los Angeles, Pierce joined forces with Capp to form the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, which drew its personnel from the best Los Angeles session players out to decompress from their studio gigs. The band recorded a number of swinging albums for the Concord Jazz label, sometimes with guest vocalists like Joe Williams and Ernestine Anderson. Pierce continued to co-lead the Juggernaut off and on until his death, while also making a brief appearance in the 1977 film New York, New York, touring Europe in 1980 and 1984 as a member of the Countsmen, and recording frequently for Concord as a sideman for Scott Hamilton, Jake Hanna, and others. ~bio by Richard S. Ginnell

Big Band At The Savoy Ballroom

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Roy Eldridge Sextet - The Nifty Cat

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1970
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:26
Size: 90,6 MB
Art: Front

(9:45)  1. Jolly Hollis
(4:55)  2. Cotton
(6:02)  3. 5400 North
(3:59)  4. Ball Of Fire
(7:49)  5. Wineola
(6:53)  6. The Nifty Cat

One of only two Eldridge-led studio sessions from the 1961-1974 period, this CD reissue of a set originally recorded for Master Jazz matches the great swing trumpeter with Budd Johnson (who doubles on tenor and soprano), trombonist Benny Morton, pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Tommy Bryant, and drummer Oliver Jackson. All six of the jump tunes are by Eldridge with "5400 North" and "Ball of Fire" being the best-known. For this album, the veteran trumpeter had a very rare opportunity to call his own shots on a recording date, and the generally inspired playing makes this CD a fine example of small-group swing from the early '70s.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/nifty-cat-mw0000188075

Personnel:  Roy Eldridge (vocals, trumpet);  Budd Johnson (soprano & tenor saxophones);  Benny Morton (trombone);  Nat Pierce (piano);  Tommy Bryant (bass);  Oliver Jackson (drums).

The Nifty Cat

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Nat Pierce And His Orchestra - The Boston Bust-Out

Styles: Piano Jazz, Big Band, Swing
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:22
Size: 152,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:05)  1. What Can I Say (After I'm Sorry)
(2:46)  2. What's New?
(2:29)  3. You Were Meant For Me
(2:46)  4. Paradise
(2:57)  5. King Edward The Flatted Fifth
(2:16)  6. Pat
(3:05)  7. That's The Kinda Girl
(3:17)  8. Sheba
(3:01)  9. Babylon
(2:43) 10. Indian Summer
(2:41) 11. King For A Day
(2:43) 12. Oh You Crazy Moon
(3:46) 13. Body And Soul
(2:27) 14. All The Things You Are
(3:04) 15. Boppin' In Boston
(3:48) 16. I Cover The Waterfront
(3:47) 17. Is This The Thing?
(3:50) 18. Indian Summer
(3:15) 19. You May Not Love Me
(3:33) 20. Lonesome Crowd
(2:51) 21. Oh You Crazy Moon

Boston had a strong but greatly underpublicized bop scene in the late '40s. This Hep CD, which adds a previously unreleased session plus one extra cut to the original LP, features pianist/arranger Nat Pierce, altoist Charlie Mariano and trombonist Sonny Truitt both in big bands and combos. 

The other personnel is mostly pretty obscure although baritone great Serge Chaloff is showcased on two numbers and there are three fairly straight vocals by Teddi King. The rare studio recordings range in influences from Dizzy Gillespie to Claude Thornhill and the Miles Davis Nonet; highly recommended for bop collectors. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-boston-bust-out-mw0000613971

Personnel: Nat Pierce (piano); Mert Goodspeed (vocals, trombone); Teddi King (vocals); David Chapman , Charlie Mariano (alto saxophone); Randy Henderson, George Hamilton Green (tenor saxophone); George Meyers, Serge Chaloff (baritone saxophone); Lennie Johnson, Bill Adams, Billy Adams, Dud Harvey, Don Stratton, Perry Wilson (trumpet); Sonny Truitt, Joe Laconi, Ace Lane, Bob Carr (trombone); Ralph Burns (piano); Country Joe McDonald, Pete DeRosa (drums).

The Boston Bust-Out

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Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Sing A Song of Basie

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:14
Size: 109,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Everyday
(2:30)  2. It's Sand, Man!
(2:46)  3. Two for the Blues
(3:04)  4. One O'Clock Jump
(2:32)  5. Little Pony
(2:13)  6. Down for Double
(3:18)  7. Fiesta in Blue
(3:01)  8. Down for the Count
(3:02)  9. Blues Backstage
(3:05) 10. Avenue C
(3:10) 11. Four Brothers
(2:41) 12. Cloudburst
(2:26) 13. Standin' on the Corner (Whistlin' at the Pretty Girls)

Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross are pioneers of a unique singing style called vocalese, which involves replacing instrumental jazz with sung lines and invented lyrics. The method was first used by artists such as King Pleasure, who with a rhythm section backing him added lyrics to a Charlie Parker solo in a version that Parker hated. Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross took it to the logical next step, which was to duplicate an entire instrumental arrangement for voices; in this case, Count Basie's charts. Their first attempts involved an entire choir and were largely unsuccessful, mainly because Lambert had trouble locating enough singers that could swing the parts. They then decided to do all the parts themselves, using multiple overdubs, building each track from the ground up. This was probably the best way to do it anyway, since doubling and tripling up on parts makes the individual voices blend together well and cuts down on the clutter.

The results are instantly appealing and downright fun; the Basie charts are enjoyable enough as played by the orchestra, but gain a new level of excitement and a different spirit in these vocalized versions. The lyrics are written not only to communicate the feeling of each song, but also for the rhythm and sound of each word. Some clever interplay is created through the back and forth banter of individual voices, harkening back to the original source of call-and-response. 

The singing is impressive; some of these lines were difficult enough as instrumental solos, but singing them adds another degree of challenge. Hendricks in particular seems to have a knack for tongue-twisting, rapid lines delivered in huge intervals. Annie Ross has an impressive range as well; she can mimic the high register trumpet lines with ease. The smartest move of all was to include Basie veterans in the rhythm section; they keeps things firmly grounded in the spirit of the Basie orchestra and add the right amount of swing and authenticity to ensure a great delivery. Vocals are always more. 

~ David Rickert  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/sing-a-song-of-basie-lambert-hendricks-and-ross-verve-music-group-review-by-david-rickert__5314.php

Personnel: Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross, vocals; Nat Pierce, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Eddie Jones, bass; Sonny Payne, drums

Sing A Song of Basie

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Nat Pierce - Fun

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:36
Size: 178,2 MB
Art: Front

( 7:07)  1. Stomp It Off
( 3:01)  2. Seventh Avenue Express
( 4:31)  3. Constance
(10:38)  4. Stompin' At The Savoy
( 2:10)  5. Look Who's In Love
( 2:56)  6. Love Letters
( 3:59)  7. Pepper Green
( 5:47)  8. Blues Yet?
( 1:58)  9. Lazy
( 2:24) 10. Love Look Away
( 5:39) 11. Whaddaya Know?
( 6:09) 12. Moody Chant
( 2:52) 13. You Are Beautiful
( 5:39) 14. Why Not?
( 4:12) 15. After Glow
( 1:58) 16. My Girl Is Just Enough Woman For Me
( 6:28) 17. Middle Man

Nat Pierce (July 16, 1925 – June 10, 1992) was an American jazz pianist and arranger born in Somerville, Massachusetts, perhaps best known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 1951–1955. Pieces by Pierce were predominantly created for use in big bands. Following schooling at the New England Conservatory and working as an amateur musician in the Boston area, Pierce then led his own band which featured Charlie Mariano from 1949-1951. After working with Woody Herman from 1951–1966 as chief arranger and assistant road manager, Nat took residence in New York City and freelanced with musicians such as Pee Wee Russell, Lester Young, Emmett Berry and Ruby Braff, to name a few. From 1957-1959 Pierce led a band off and on which featured Buck Clayton, Gus Johnson and Paul Quinichette. He recorded with a number of other well-known musicians as well, including Quincy Jones, Coleman Hawkins and Pee Wee Russell. Pierce was noted for his ability to play piano in the Basie style and appeared on many releases by Basie sidemen. Pierce also arranged the music for The Sound of Jazz, a 1954 CBS television special hosted by John Crosby. Pierce died of complications from an abdominal infection in Los Angeles, California. ~ Bio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_Pierce

Fun

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Nat Pierce - 5400 North

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 53:14
Size: 121.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1978/1996
Art: Front

[7:41] 1. 5400 North
[7:16] 2. Pee Wee's Blues
[3:16] 3. Loverman/If I Had You
[3:41] 4. Detour Ahead
[5:13] 5. Love Begins
[2:48] 6. Sweet Lorraine
[4:24] 7. Sweet And Lovely
[7:53] 8. Blue Lou
[7:20] 9. There Will Never Be Another You
[2:49] 10. A Foggy Day
[0:48] 11. Sign Off

Recorded at a live outdoor concert, this date features pianist Nat Pierce leading a quintet that includes drummer Frank Capp (his co-leader with the Juggernaut big band), tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins, the talented but rarely heard trumpeter Dick Collins and bassist Bob Saravia. Mary Ann McCall, a veteran of the Woody Herman Orchestra, made very few recordings this late in her career, so it is a pleasure to hear the singer interpreting a few numbers (most notably "If I Had You" and "Detour Ahead"). Perk, Collins and Pierce are in fine form throughout the date, which includes three additional selections unearthed for the 1996 CD reissue. Highlights include Roy Eldridge's jumping blues "5400 North," Pierce's moody "Pee Wee's Blues" and "Blue Lou." ~Scott Yanow

5400 North

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