SLIM GAILLARD – 1947-1951 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1221 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Multi-instrumentalist and gloriously irrational vocalist Slim Gaillard marked 1947 as his last year of steady activity on the West Coast. Popular with the public but rather notorious among record company executives and nosy narks, Gaillard managed to squeeze out a series of records for MGM before relocating to New York City where three more titles apparently fulfilled his contractual obligations with that company in 1949. Gaillard also landed a small piece of work with Mercury in March 1951 and even managed to line up a session with Norman Granz for the Clef label two months later. The first 13 tracks on this peculiar compilation represent the Slim Gaillard/Bam Brown L.A. hipster novelty routine taken to its inevitable extreme. On one session someone named Jim Hawthorne even barks like a dog ("Serenade to a Poodle") and keeps up an irritating refrain of "Hoo-hoo-hoo-Hogan!" ("The Hogan Song"). Discographical rumors persist that the pianist on October 1, 1947, might have been Dodo Marmarosa, but this is almost certainly not the case. The session that took place on December 22, 1947, yielded a surprisingly palatable version of "Down by the Station" and "Communications," a very hip paean to various 20th century modes of keeping in touch. With "Puerto Vootie," Gaillard continued his ongoing tendency to tap into Caribbean and Latin American traditions as fuel for his seemingly endless slaphappy shenanigans. "Money, Money, Money" is one of the best "Cuban" numbers Gaillard ever recorded. The 1949 MGM session brought in bongos, congas, and a very gutsy tenor sax to fortify the old vaudeville standby "When Banana Skins Are Falling." This group dishes out a fiery Cubano bop ritual in "Bongo Cito" and tears up with the brisk "Organ-Oreenie," a vehicle for Gaillard's maniacal manhandling of the electric organ. The Mercury date, with the band billed as Slim Gaillard's Peruvians, had the very versatile Dick Hyman at the piano and bassist Ernie Shepard, fated to become an important ingredient in the Duke Ellington ensemble. "Genius," a previously unissued third title from this obscure date, has a lot more going on in it than the discography discloses, with trombone, saxophone, vibraphone, and tap dancing all clearly audible over the organ and "vout"-infested vocals. On May 25th, Slim Gaillard & His Internationally Famous Orchestra were in the recording studio, singing "Oh, Lady Be Good" in well-rehearsed harmony and diving back into the Gulf of Mexico with "Sabroso," "Babalu," and "Yo Yo Yo." The real gem in this ensemble was none other than Count Basie's star tenor saxophonist, Buddy Tate. Anyone searching for songs inspired by the trials and tribulations of a unionized musician should check out the previously unreleased "Federation Blues," peppered with pointed references to James C. Petrillo and his American Federation of Musicians. Small wonder Granz decided not to issue this one. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Boip! Boip!    2:50
2    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    The Bartender's Just Like A Mother    2:49
3    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Arabian Boogie    2:47
4    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Tip Light    2:51
5    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Momma's In The Kitchen    2:38
6    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    A Ghost Of A Chance With You    3:02
7    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Little Red Riding Woods    2:55
8    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Puerto Vootie    2:37
9    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Money, Money, Money    2:45
10    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    The Hogan Song    2:35
11    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Serenade To A Poodle    2:16
12    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Down By The Station    2:20
13    Slim Gaillard And His Trio–    Communications    2:27
14    Slim Gaillard Sextet–    When Banana Skins Are Falling    2:49
15    Slim Gaillard Sextet–    Bongo Cito    2:43
16    Slim Gaillard Sextet–    Organ-Oreenie    2:40
17    Slim Gaillard And His Peruvians–    Laughing In Rhythm    2:57
18    Slim Gaillard And His Peruvians–    Soony-Roony    2:04
19    Slim Gaillard And His Peruvians–    Genius (Ride, Slim, Ride)    2:49
20    Slim Gaillard And His Internationally Famous Orchestra–    Oh, Lady Be Good    2:30
21    Slim Gaillard And His Internationally Famous Orchestra–    Sabroso    2:30
22    Slim Gaillard And His Internationally Famous Orchestra–    Babalu    3:36
23    Slim Gaillard And His Internationally Famous Orchestra–    Yo Yo Yo    2:46
24    Slim Gaillard And His Internationally Famous Orchestra–    Federation Blues    3:40
Credits :    
Bass – Clyde Lombardi (tracks: 20 to 24)
Bass Guitar – Slim Gaillard (tracks: 14 to 16)
Bass, Vocals – Ernie Shepherd (tracks: 17 to 19), Bam Brown (tracks: 1 to 13)
Bongos – Pepe Benque (tracks: 17 to 24)
Congas, Percussion – Armando Peraza (tracks: 14 to 16)
Drums – Charlie Smith (tracks: 20 to 24), Herbie Lovelle (tracks: 17 to 19), Bam Brown (tracks: 5 to 8, 12, 13)
Guitar – Slim Gaillard (tracks: 1 to 13, 17 to 24)
Organ – Slim Gaillard (tracks: 16)
Piano – Cyril Haynes (tracks: 14 to 16), Dick Hyman (tracks: 17 to 19), Maceo Williams (tracks: 20 to 24), Slim Gaillard (tracks: 1 to 4, 9 to 11)
Piano [probably] – Dodo Marmarosa (tracks: 5 to 8)
Speech [barks] – Jim Hawthorne (tracks: 11)
Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Tate (tracks: 20 to 24)
Vocals – Slim Gaillard

ART FARMER - Early Art (1954-2006) RM / MONO / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Two of trumpeter Art Farmer's earlier sessions as a leader are reissued on this CD in the OJC series. Farmer teams up with an all-star quintet (which includes tenor-saxophonist Sonny Rollins, pianist Horace Silver, bassist Percy Heath and drummer Kenny Clarke) for four songs and dominates a quartet (with pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Addison Farmer and drummer Herbie Lovelle) on six other tunes. Farmer's sound is lyrical even on the uptempo pieces and he is heard throughout in his early prime. Highlights include "Soft Shoe," "I'll Take Romance," "Autumn Nocturne" and an uptempo "Gone with the Wind." One should note that the programming differs from what is listed, with "Soft Shoe" (which should have been the opener) actually appearing fifth and the songs listed as appearing second through fifth moving up to first through fourth. Despite that flaw, the music is quite enjoyable and a must for 1950s bop collectors. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Soft Shoe 3:54
Art Farmer
2 Confab In Tempo 4:57
Art Farmer
3 I'll Take Romance 4:32
Oscar Hammerstein II / Ben Oakland
4 Wisteria 4:05
Art Farmer
5 Autumn Nocturne 4:59
Kim Gannon / Josef Myrow
6 I've Never Been In Love Before 3:49
Frank Loesser
7 I'll Walk Alone 3:55
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
8 Gone With The Wind 4:07
Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel
9 Alone Together 3:59
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
10 Pre Amp 3:35
Art Farmer
Credits :
Bass – Addison Farmer (tracks: 5 to 10), Percy Heath (tracks: 1 to 4)
Drums – Herbie Lovelle (tracks: 5 to 10), Kenny Clarke (tracks: 1 to 4)
Piano – Horace Silver (tracks: 1 to 4), Wynton Kelly (tracks: 5 to 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Sonny Rollins (tracks: 1 to 4)
Trumpet – Art Farmer