Columbia Small Group Swing Sessions 1953-1962

A Real Golden Age of Jazz

Mention of a so-called “golden age” is nothing new in the arts. As a creed it says, in brief, that at some time in the remembered recent past things seemed good, even better in every way than they are now. It satisfies the longing that seems to live in every breast, for a simpler time when basic rules were clear and everybody worked comfortably within them.

Imagine, a Wednesday afternoon call at the 802 union floor, with Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster or Illinois Jacquet among the available tenor players. No stars, these, at least not to bandleaders. Just guys available to do gigs, needing the money — some things, naturally, never change — and happy for the work.

Now all three are gone. But that was New York in the late ’50s, in every important respect a golden age, when just about everyone was available, and could be hired with a phone call. Performers were at their best, audiences numerous and avid, for what they did, with money to be earned. Opportunities to record, additionally, came up frequently, with producers who invariably understood their music and allowed them lots of leeway, muscle room, for stretching.

Ben Webster & Harry “Sweets” Edison

Harry “Sweets” Edison (tp), Ben Webster (ts), Hank Jones (p), George Duvivier (b), Clarence Johnson (d).

Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC, June 6, 1962

Mike Berniker was the face behind the glass for the successful pairing of ex-Basie Trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison with Ben Webster, the smoldering tiger of the tenor sax. It’s a good union, producing some outstanding quintet jazz. Edison’s economical style pairs well with Webster’s combination of up-tempo garrulity and ballad restraint.

Both men solo long and well on both takes of Did You Call Her Today?  a variant on Rose Room changes. Sweets seems at his most comfortable on material like this, tuneful but with strong blues accents, and delivers an especially powerful chorus on the issued version. – Richard Sudhalter, liner notes

Dixieland, swing, bebop, experimental “third stream” music — the labels meant next to nothing when it came to playing together, or meeting after hours to jam together at some residential building in the flower district.  It was a time which would welcome Thelonious Monk playing with PeeWee Russell. Dizzy Gillespie and Bobby Hackett hanging out together at the home of Louis Armstrong, whom both trumpeters revered. 

True, the heady days when big dance bands were the vehicle bearing popular music trends were, by this time, long gone. But New York musicians were for the most part men who had learned their music in Charlie Barnet’s brass section or Benny Goodman’s reeds. Their powers undiminished, they still made the right sounds, created the atmosphere, night after night.

Moreover, on a summer Saturday evening you could turn on the TV and see an all-star Dorsey Brothers orchestra, with Charlie Shavers and Lee Castle in the brass section, playing Dippermouth Blues and sounding more or less the way they sounded on stage at the Glen Island Casino or Frank Dailey’s Meadowbrook. 

A 26-year-old trumpeter named Reuben Braff could come to New York after establishing a solid reputation in Boston and win critical acclaim on records with Vic Dickenson, Buck Clayton and Bud Freeman. Work wasn’t always forthcoming — his moment might not have arrived quite yet — but no one denied his distinctive style, an amalgam of old and new influences which set him apart from his more bebop contemporaries.

At Columbia Records, John Hammond didn’t want to handle jazz reissues of older material. Instead, that work fell to a Yale undergraduate named George Avakian. Avakian rose through the ranks at Columbia, and began supervising live sessions. Though his official duties included the popular and international departments, he had a great deal of latitude in recording jazz artists. Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Eddie Condon, Dave Brubeck, Erroll Garner, and Miles Davis were among the label’s additions in this period.

Other labels were similarly active. Good jazz Lps could be counted on from RCA, Capitol, Decca, and many independents, from Good Time Jazz through the stylishly modern Contemporary and Blue Note labels. But Columbia, with Avakian and John Hammond, somehow led the field with regular high-quality releases.

This collection picks up one-session issues the label did between 1953 and 1962. The sessions aren’t coordinated in any way, and apart from Buck Clayton and Ruby Braff, few sidemen — perhaps excepting tenorist Jean-baptiste “Illinois” Jacquet — show up with any regularity.

Ruby Braff’s All Stars

Ruby Braff (tp), Dave McKenna (p), Steve Jordan (g), Buzzy Drootin (d).

Columbia Studios, NYC, June 26, 1956

In general, Braff’s dates show the greatest preparation, both in the complexity of arrangements and the musicians’ willingness to play to a high degree of performance. Sidemen, as Ruby himself said, were chosen “simply because I like them,” and sometimes surprisingly. To find vibraphonist Don Elliott and baritone saxophonist Ernie Caceres on the same date, for example, was rare — unless you realize that both were admired Braff colleagues.

“He was always up,” said Avakian. “Maybe a little on edge, but not unpleasantly, never past the point where he had full control of what was going on around him. It was a kind of sharp alertness that many musicians don’t have. In all, a joy to have in the studio and record. No trouble at all — especially not the kind of temperament that later became such a part of him.

“I was basically a traffic director on these sessions with him — and a happy listener. He just cared about the music, and that’s all he thought about. He was a very organized person, and the sessions went off perfectly.” – liner note excerpt Mosaic Records: Columbia Small Group Swing Sessions 1953-1962

Columbia Small Group Swing Sessions

Discography

(A) RUBY BRAFF’S ALL STARS: Ruby Braff (tp), Dave McKenna (p), Steve Jordan (g), Buzzy Drootin (d).
Columbia Studios, NYC, June 26, 1956
CO 56413 As Long As I Live Philips (E) BBE 12123
CO 56414 Blue Turning Grey Over You Epic LN 3377
CO 56415 If I Had You Philips (E) BBE 12123
CO 56416 It’s Been So Long Epic LN 3377
CO 56417 I’m Shooting High Philips (E) BBE 12123
CO 56418 Star Dust Epic LN 3377
CO 56419 How Long Has This Been Going On –
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(B) RUBY BRAFF’S ALL STARS: Ruby Braff (tp), Lawrence Brown (tb), Coleman Hawkins (ts), Ernie Caceres (bari), Don Elliott (vib), Nat Pierce (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Buzzy Drootin (d).
Columbia Studio A, NYC, June 28, 1956
CO 56443-4 Here’s Freddie Epic LN 3377
CO 56444-2 You’re Lucky To Me (alt tk) previously unissued
CO 56444-3 You’re Lucky To Me Epic LN 3377
CO 56445-3 Just One More Chance –
CO 56446-1 ‘S Wonderful (alt tk) previously unissued
CO 56446-2 ‘S Wonderful Epic LN 3377
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(C) RUBY BRAFF’S ALL STARS: Ruby Braff (tp), Don Elliott (vib), Nat Pierce (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b), Buzzy Drootin (d).
Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC, July 10, 1956
CO 56311-4 Indian Summer Epic LN 3377
CO 56312-3 Moon Glow (alt tk) Philips (E) BBE 12123
CO 56312-4 Moon Glow Epic LN 3377
CO 56313-1 When My Dreamboat Comes Home –
CO 56314-5 Too Marvelous For Words –
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(D) RUBY BRAFF: Ruby Braff (tp), James Welch (v-tb), Pee Wee Russell (cl), Dick Hafer (as, ts, bari), Sam Margolis (ts), Nat Pierce (p), Steve Jordan (g), Walter Page (b), Buzzy Drootin (d).
Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC, April 9, 1957
CO 57099-4 No One Else But You
CO 57100-1 How Can You Face Me
CO 57100-2 How Can You Face Me
CO 57599-2 I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say
CO 57599-3 I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say
Same as above Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC, April 11, 1957
CO 57600-4 Keep Young And Beautiful
CO 57600-5 Keep Young And Beautiful
CO 57601-2 Oh, Lady Be Good
CO 57645-1 Falling In Love With You
CO 57645-2 Falling In Love With You
Note: All titles previously unissued.
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(E) BUCK CLAYTON AND THE MARLOWE MORRIS TRIO: Buck Clayton (tp), Marlowe Morris (org), Jerome Darr (g), Les Erskine (d).
Columbia Studio A, NYC, February 18, 1953
CO 49002-12 I Want A Little Girl OK 6968 (78)
CO 49003-2 Blue Moon –
CO 49004/5-6 Basic Organ Blues (Pt.1 & 2) Epic EG 7009 (EP)
CO 49006-12 Hammond Stomp previously unissued
CO 49007/8-? ‘S Wonderful (Pt.1 & 2) Epic EG 7009 (EP)
CO 49009- It’s Only A Paper Moon unissued, no longer exists
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(F) BUCK CLAYTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Buck Clayton, Emmett Berry (tp), Dickie Wells (tb), Eddie Barefield (cl, as), Budd Johnson (ts), Willard Brown (ts, bari), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Steve Jordan (g), Aaron Bell (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Rushing, Ada Moore (vcl).
Columbia Studios, NYC, August 18, 1955
Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (#1) (AM-vcl)
Pretty Little Baby (JR-vcl)
I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling (AM-vcl)
If I Could Be With You (JR, AM-vcl)
Ain’t She Sweet (inst.)
Same Columbia Studios, NYC, August 19, 1955
You’re My Thrill (AM-vcl)
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (AM-vcl)
Gee, Baby, Ain’t I Good To You (JR-vcl)
All titles issued on Columbia CL 778.
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(G) BUCK CLAYTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Same as ( ) except Ken Kersey (p) replaces Thompson, Milt Hinton (b) replaces Bell and Osie Johnson (d) replaces Jones.
Columbia Studios, NYC, August 23, 1955
Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (#2) (AM-vcl)
Cool Breeze Woman (JR-vcl)
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (inst.)
The Blues (inst.)
Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home (#3) (AM-vcl)
After You’ve Gone (JR-vcl)
Conclusion
Note: All titles issued on Columbia CL 778.
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(H) BUCK CLAYTON AND HIS ALL STARS: Buck Clayton (tp), Vic Dickenson (tb), Buddy Tate (ts), Dick Katz (p), Walter Page (b), Bobby Donaldson (d).
Columbia Studios, NYC, October 4, 1957
CO 59022-? Jive At Five
CO 59023-? Cookin’ Joe C
CO 59024-2 Lovedrop
CO 59025-3 Wooster-Shire

Same Columbia Studios, NYC, October 8, 1957
CO 59030-4 Thou Swell
CO 59031-? I Hadn’t Anyone Till You
CO 59032-5 At Sundown
CO 59033-? Makin’ Whoopee
CO 59034-1 You Can’t Fight The Satellite Blues
Note: All titles issued on Philips (E) BBL 7217.
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(I) BUCK CLAYTON AND HIS ALL-STARS: Buck Clayton, Emmett Berry (tp), Dickie Wells (tb), Earl Warren (cl, as), Buddy Tate (ts), Al Williams (p), Gene Ramey (b), Herbie Lovelle (d).
Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC, November 25, 1958
CO 61795-4 Sunday
CO 61796-3 Swingin’ Along On Broadway
CO 61797-7 Night Train
CO 61798-5 Buckini
CO 61799-6 Moon Glow
CO 61800-5 Swingin’ At The Copper Rail
CO 61801-4 Mean To Me
CO 61802-3 Outer Drive
Note: All titles issued on Columbia CL 1320.
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(J) MARLOWE MORRIS: Matthew Gee (tb), Buddy Tate (ts), Marlowe Morris (org), Jo Jones (d), Ray Barretto (bgo).
Columbia Studio A, NYC, June 29, 1961
CO 67675/6-5 On The Trail (Pts.1 & 2) Col CL 1819 / CS 8619
CO 67677-2 Play The Thing – –
CO 67678-7 Sympathetic Blues – –
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(K) MARLOWE MORRIS: Same as ( ) except Gus Johnson (d) replaces Jones.
Columbia Studios, NYC, January 31, 1962
CO 69335-12 Up, Down and Around Col CL 1819 / CS 8619
CO 69336-4 I Loves You, Porgy –1 – –
CO 69337-10 Stompy Jones (alt version) previously unissued
CO 69338 Jitterbug Waltz rejected
-1 omit tb, bgo.
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(L) MARLOWE MORRIS: Buck Clayton (tp), Edmond Hall (cl), Buddy Tate (ts), Marlowe Morris (org), Jo Jones (d), Ray Barretto (bgo).
Columbia Studios, NYC, February 8, 1962
CO 69380-4 No No No
CO 69381-5 Moonlight In Vermont
CO 69382-2 I Loves You Porgy (short take ) –1 rejected
CO 69383-1 Stompy Jones
CO 69384-2 Marlowe’s Blues
CO 69385-1 Jitterbug Waltz -2
-1 omit tp, cl, bgo.
-2 organ and drums only.
All titles, except CO 69382, issued on Columbia CL 1819 / CS 8619.
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(M) ILLINOIS JACQUET AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Ernie Royal, Roy Eldridge (tp), Matthew Gee (tb), Illinois Jacquet (ts), Leo Parker (bari), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Kenny Burrell (g), Jimmy Rowser (b), Jimmy Crawford (d), Jimmy Mundy, Ernie Wilkins (arr).
Columbia Studios, NYC, February 5, 1962
CO 69366-9 Satin Doll (EW-arr) Epic LA 16033 / BA 17033
CO 69367-12 Pucker Up (JM-arr) – –
Note: An alternate take of Satin Doll (69366-5) was issued on the CD of this album (EK-64654), but is a very flawed musical performance and not included here.
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(N) ILLINOIS JACQUET AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Roy Eldridge (tp), Illinois Jacquet (as, ts, arr), Charles Davis (bari), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Barry Galbraith (g), George Duvivier (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Mundy (arr).
Columbia Studios, NYC, March 28, 1962
CO 69976-14 Ydeen-O
CO 69977-6 Banned In Boston (JM-arr)
CO 69978-3 Indiana
CO 69979-2 Reverie (IJ-vcl) -1
-1 omit Eldridge and Davis.
All titles issued on Epic LA 16033 and BA 17033. Note: An alternate take of Ydeen-o (69976-11) was issued on the CD of this album (EK-64654), but is a very flawed musical performance and not included here.
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(O) ILLINOIS JACQUET AND HIS ORCHESTRA: Roy Eldridge (tp), Matthew Gee (tb), Illinois Jacquet (ts), Cecil Payne (bari), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Kenny Burrell (g), George Duvivier (b), Jo Jones (d), Jimmy Mundy (arr).
Columbia Studio A, NYC, May 21, 1962
CO 75356-12 How Now?
CO 75357-5 Frantic Fanny (JM-arr)
CO 75358-5 Stella By Starlight -1
CO 75359-1 Imagination -1
-1 omit Eldridge, Gee and Payne.
All titles issued on Epic LA 16033 and BA 17033.
Note: Alternate takes of How Now? (75356-8), Frantic Fanny (75357-3) and Stella By Starlight (75358-3) were issued on the CD of this album (EK-64654), but is a very flawed musical performance and not included here.
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(P) KENNY BURRELL WITH ILLINOIS JACQUET: Illinois Jacquet (ts), Kenny Burrell (g), Hank Jones (p), Major Holley (b), Osie Johnson (d).
Columbia Studio A, NYC, November 21, 1961
CO 68734-10 Mambo Twist (alt tk) Euphoria 189 (CD)
CO 68734-13 Mambo Twist Columbia FC 38507
CO 68735-5 The Switch (alt tk) previously unissued
CO 68735-6 The Switch Columbia FC 38507
Note: On Columbia FC 38507, the titles of Mambo Twist and The Switch were flip-flopped.
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(Q) KENNY BURRELL WITH ILLINOIS JACQUET: Illinois Jacquet (ts), Kenny Burrell (g), Hank Jones (p), Major Holley (b), Jimmy Crawford (d).
Columbia Studio A, NYC, November 29, 1961
CO 68764-5 Funk Junction Euphoria 189 (CD)
CO 68765-1 Mood Indigo Columbia FC 38507
CO 68767-1 The Squeeze –
CO 69740-3 How Could You Euphoria 189 (CD)
Note: CO 68763 Bye And Bye from this session does not include Illinois Jacquet.
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(R) COLEMAN HAWKINS – CLARK TERRY: Clark Terry (tp), Coleman Hawkins (ts), Tommy Flanagan (p), Major Holley (b), Dave Bailey (d).
Columbia Studio D, NYC, December 10, 1962
CO 76785-9 Just Squeeze Me (But Don’t Tease Me) CL 1991/CS 8791
CO 76786-4 Squeeze Me –
CO 76787-9 A Tune For The Tutor –
CO 76788-1 Michelle –1 –
CO 76789-5 Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me –2 –
CO 76790-4 Feedin’ The Bean –
CO 76791-1 Ain’t Misbehavin’ Col FC 38509
CO 76782-2 Tommy’s Blues –3 previously unissued
-1 omit Terry.
-2 omit Hawkins.
-3 omit Terry and Hawkins.
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(S) HERB ELLIS ALL-STARS: Frank Assunto (tp), Buddy Tate (ts), Ray Bryant (p), Herb Ellis (g), Jimmy Rowser (b), Gus Johnson (d).
Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC June 12, 1962
CO 75523-3 Harper’s Ferry (John Brown’s Body)
-1 previously unissued
CO 75524-2 It Makes No Difference Now -1 Epic LA 16034 / BA 17034
CO 75525-4 Herb’s Here Columbia KG 33566
CO 75526-2 Poor Darlin’ Nellie -2 Epic LA 16034 / BA 17034
CO 75527-2 I Won’t Love You previously unissued
CO 75528-3 Willow Weep For Me -3 Epic LA 16034 / BA 17034
-1 omit Assunto.
-2 omit Tate.
-3 omit Assunto and Tate.
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(T) HERB ELLIS ALL-STARS: Frank Assunto (tp), Buddy Tate (ts), Ray Bryant (p), Herb Ellis (g), Jimmy Rowser (b), Gus Johnson (d).
Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC June 13, 1962
CO 75534-3 You’d Better Know It previously unissued
CO 75535-3 Symphony Epic LA 16034 / BA 17034
CO 75536-4 Things Ain’t What They Used To Be –
CO 75537-2 Too Bad Euphoria 176 (CD)
CO 75538-3 Old Folks -1 Epic LA 16034 / BA 17034
-1 omit Assunto and Tate.
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(U) HERB ELLIS ALL-STARS: Roy Eldridge (tp), Buddy Tate (ts), Ray Bryant (p), Herb Ellis (g), Israel Crosby (b), Gus Johnson (d).
Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC June 14, 1962
CO 75548-4 Roy Showed Epic LA 16034, BA 17034
CO 75549-3 Gravy Waltz – –
CO 75550-3 Broadway – –
CO 75551-1 It Don’t Mean A Thing – –
CO 75552-4 Alicia -1 Euphoria 176 (CD)
-1 omit Eldridge and Tate.
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(V) BEN WEBSTER & HARRY “SWEETS” EDISON: Harry “Sweets” Edison (tp), Ben Webster (ts), Hank Jones (p), George Duvivier (b), Clarence Johnson (d).
Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC, June 6, 1962
CO 75227-5 Did You Call Her Today Col CL 1891 / CS 8691
CO 75227-6 Did You Call Her Today (alt tk) previously unissued
CO 75228-3 Kitty (alt tk) –
CO 75228-4 Kitty Col CL 1891 / CS 8691
CO 75229-4 Embraceable You -1 – –
Same as above Columbia 30th Street Studio, NYC, June 7, 1962
CO 75233-3 How Long Has This Been Going On –2 Col CL 1891 / CS 8691
CO 75233-10 How Long Has This Been Going On (alt tk) –2 previously unissued
CO 75234-3 Better Go Col CL 1891 / CS 8691
CO 75235-9 My Romance – –
-1 omit Webster
-2 omit Edison.
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PRODUCER’S NOTE:
While Mosaic Records likes to present music in the most complete form possible, we have taken exception with the five alternate takes that appeared on the 1995 CD version of Illinois Jacquet. Releasing these was ill advised as there are many flaws in the ensembles and the solos are lackluster and often flawed as well. Listening to them brought us back to the experience of sitting with Illinois in Malcolm Addey’s studio going through the entire Complete Illinois Jacquet Sessions 1945-50 Mosaic set. When we came to the track Don’t Push Daddy, his joy turned to disgust; he felt the track was sloppy and had nothing happening and pointed out that Aladdin released it after he left the label. At his request, we deleted the track. In the same spirit, we have excluded these inferior performances.

Album Index:
EPs
Phillips (E) BBE 12123 Ruby Braff All Stars
Epic EG 7009 Buck Clayton-Marlowe Morris Trio – Jammin’ with Buck

LPs
Epic LN 3377 Ruby Braff – Braff!! Columbia CL 1819 (mono) Marlowe Morris Quintet – Play the Thing
Columbia CS 8619 (stereo) Marlowe Morris Quintet – Play the Thing
Columbia CL 778 Buck Clayton-Ada Moore-Jimmy Rushing – Cat Meets Chick
Philips (E) BBL 7217 Buck Clayton – Buck Clayton Special
Columbia CL 1320 Buck Clayton – Songs For Swingers
Columbia CL 1991 (mono) Coleman Hawkins-Clark Terry – Back In Bean’s Bag
Columbia CS 8791 (stereo) Coleman Hawkins-Clark Terry – Back In Bean’s Bag
Columbia FC 38509 Various – Almost Forgotten
Columbia CL 1891 (mono) Ben Webster-Sweets Edison – Ben And Sweets
Columbia CS 8691 (stereo) Ben Webster-Sweets Edison – Ben and Sweets
Epic LA 16033 (mono) Illinois Jacquet – Illinois Jacquet
Epic BA 17033 (stereo) Illinois Jacquet – Illinois Jacquet
Epic LA 16034 (mono) Herb Ellis – The Midnight Roll
Epic BA 17034 (stereo) Herb Ellis – The Midnight Roll
Columbia KG 33566 Various Artists – 50 Years of Jazz Guitar
Columbia FC 38507 Kenny Burrell – Bluesin’ Around

CDs
Euphoria 176 Herb Ellis – Gravy Waltz-The Best of Herb Ellis
Euphoria 189 Kenny Burrell – Moten Swing!

Original sessions produced by George Avakian (A-E), Irving Townsend (F-I), John Hammond (J-Q, S-U) and Mike Berniker (R & V).
Recorded by Fred Plaut (C, I, K & V), Harold Chapman (D), Anthony Janak (E), George Kneurr (J, O-Q & S-U), Frank Laico (L) and Stan Tonkel (R).

Produced for released by Scott Wenzel and Michael Cuscuna

Sessions A-H transferred from the original mono masters and session I-V remixed from the original three-track masters by Andreas Meyer.

Special thanks to Michael Brooks, the Institute Of Jazz Studies, Dan Morgenstern, Vincent Pelote, George Avakian, Reinier van Bevervoorde.

This compilation (p) 2005 Sony Music Entertainment Inc./Manufactured by Sony Music Custom Marketing Group, 550 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022-3211/”Columbia” and “Sony” Reg. U.S. Patent & TM Office/Marca

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