John W. Johnnie Pate (born December 5, 1923, Chicago Heights, Illinois)
enjoyed a notable career as a bassist from the late 40s up until the
early '60s in the Chicago area, gaining a solid reputation as a strong
player in the Oscar Pettiford mold and enlightened composer. On these
1954-1956 sessions for the Talisman and Gig labels, he leads a trio
featuring Ronnell Bright, who was a swift, resourceful young pianist
whose style recalls the early Oscar Peterson. With drummer Charles
Walton, this bright, polished and swinging trio began to be recognized
while working first at the London House and then at the Blue Note, where
they were the house band in 1954-1955 accompanying great singers such
as Lurlean Hunter, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Audrey Morris and
Carmen McRae.
With a smoothly flowing, relaxed sound, the groups aim was to combine
pleasure with stimulation, and in these terms it largely succeeded. In
two tracks here, vocalist Gwen Stevens contributes delightful
performances of Pates pretty ballad, I Was a Fool, and Dont Worry About
Me, revealing a quiet, warmly expressive voice.
Despite his considerable experience, Pate, unlike Ronnell Bright as a
pianist, never received praise commensurate with his talents as a bass
player, mainly because his jazz career turned too soon to a different
musical direction, when in the 1960s he became a music arranger/producer
and a leading figure in the Chicago soul and pop/R&B scenes. www.freshsoundrecords
Tracklist :
1. Oo, Youre a Livin Doll (Johnny Pate) 2:08
2. Midnight Sun (Hampton-Burke) 3:10
3. Montoona (Bright-Walton-Pate) 2:50
4. A Foggy Day (George & Ira Gershwin) 2:45
5. For the Love of Mike (Pate) 3:03
6. I Cant Go Through Life (Without You) (Johnny Pate) 2:50
7. Easy Livin (Wright-Forrests) 2:44
8. This Cant Be Love (Rodgers-Hart) 2:33
9. Danny Boy (Weatherly) 2:36
10. Will You Still Be Mine (Adair-Dennis) 2:36
11. Nancy (Silvers-Van Heusen) 1:57
12. Jeff (Ray Crawford) 3:19
13. Sometimes Im Happy (Caesar-Youmans) 3:01
14. Mood for Milt (Cal Tjader) 2:37
15. The Real McCoy (Johnnie Pate) 2:45
16. Ive Got a Crush on You (George & Ira Gershwin) 2:58
17. Things Aint What They Used to Be (Ellington-Ellington-George) 2:56
18. The Continental (Madison-Conrad) 2:32
19. I Was a Fool (Johnnie Pate) 3:00
20. Thou Swell (Rodgers-Hart) 2:38
21. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning (Elliot-James) 2:32
22. Dont Worry About Me (Marcel-Wilkins) 2:55
23. Stay in the Know (Johnnie Pate) 2:55
24. Oo, Youre a Livin Doll (Johnnie Pate) 3:00
Personnel:
JOHNNIE PATE TRIO
Ronnell Bright (piano), Johnnie Pate (bass), and Charles Walton (drums)
Bright, Pate & Walton (vocals on #1,11,24), Gwen Stevens (vocals on #19, 22).
Recorded in Chicago 1955 (#1-8), and January 28 (#9-24), 1956
Sources:
Tracks #1-8, originally issued on the 10 album
"Johnnie Pate Trio" (Talisman TLP-1)
Tracks #9-20, originally issued on the 12 album
"Subtle Sounds" (Gig GLP-100)
Tracks #21 & 24, from the 7 single (Gig 200)
Tracks #22 & 23, from the 7 single (Gig 225)
