Classic Jazz At The Philharmonic Jam Sessions 1950-1957 (#275 – 10 CDs)

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A Defining Event For a Lifetime
Norman Granz Wanted Everyone to Experience It.

That time a special, unannounced guest climbed onto the bandstand.

That time a newcomer surprised you with unexpected originality.

That moment of  clarity when you felt the power of a master.

That performance of artistic beauty when you became a true believer.

A First-Ever Collection
JATP 1950s Jam Sessions

JATP concerts from the 1940s were documented in 1998 on a 10-CD Verve boxed set. But until now, the 1950s concerts have been passed over for a retrospective. In fact, since the CD era began very little of the material from that span has been available at all.

Mosaic is proud to correct that oversight with our 10-CD release, Classic Jazz at the Philharmonic Jam Sessions (1950-1957), a defining set that documents the energy and invention of these phenomenal musicians and the adoring response from long-time fans.

Masters rising to the occasion
As the JATP events and tours had begun years earlier, many of the musicians Granz booked were old hands at delivering the excitement crowds wanted. In the main, these were the greatest soloists of the time delivering everything from volcanic exchanges to moments of breathtaking beauty. Most of the musicians were at the height of their talent and influence.

Features:
• A version of “Indiana” from the first session of the collection, with Flip Phillips, Harry Edison, Bill Harris, Lester Young, Hank Jones, and Buddy Rich delivering a stark bolt of lightning
• A now-famous drum battle by Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich in the 1952 version inaugurates their professional rivalry on stage in what Granz called “one of the most thrilling things I have ever heard.”
• There are exquisite ballad medleys like the all reed performance from the Shrine in 1957 with Sonny Stitt, Illinois Jacquet, Lester Young and Flip Phillips.

And historic pairings:
• Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie trumpet battle
• Buddy Rich squaring off against Lionel Hampton in a once-in-a-lifetime event
• The jaw dropping tandem of Stan Getz along with J.J. Johnson.

Other performances are peppered by Coleman Hawkins, Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown, J.C. Heard, Charlie Shavers, Willie Smith, Ben Webster, Louie Bellson, Jo Jones, John Lewis, Percy Heath and Connie Kay.

The Mosaic Treatment
The 10 CDs include 90 tracks, including 5 unreleased tracks, all recorded for Granz’s various labels from 1950 to 1957, when he stopped having active participation in the concerts and tours.

Our exclusive booklet includes an introduction by Granz biographer Tad Hershorn, extensive historical notes and a track-by-track analysis by writer, jazz historian, and educator John McDonough, and many hard-to-find photographs from the concerts.

Like all of our box sets, the release will be extremely limited and when the sets are sold out, this music will never be available again in this form. We hope you’ll order your set early so you don’t miss out on owning this testament to the power of live jazz in the hands of true masters.

“There was no single star holding it together, but an ensemble in which each musician was a star for five choruses. Horns would shout. The audience would shout back. And the whole house would shiver in a frenzied collective roar.”Tad Hershorn

Selected Audio Clips

 John McDonough, liner note excerpts
John McDonough teaches Jazz History at Northwestern University in Evanston. He has written for Down Beat magazine since 1968, and contributed to NPR and The Wall Street Journal, 1985-2015. A three-time Grammy nominee for Album Notes, he was among the annotators for The Complete Jazz at the Philharmonic on Verve 1944-1949.

Flying Home

Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as), Flip Phillips, Ben Webster, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Gene Krupa, J.C. Heard (d). Carnegie Hall, NYC, September 19, 1953

Gene Krupa sets a strong pulse with his foot pedal. Webster falls in on top of it, not even giving the tune eight bars of acknowledgement before tearing lose. Phillips comes next. It mostly belongs to Krupa, Webster and Phillips with the others riffing madly behind them. They are raising hell in front of a crowd that is slathered in pure Dionysian delight by what is happening in front of them.

This is the wild heart and soul of the jazz id, organized by and for Norman Granz and made to his desires and specifications.  He liked his music loud, stormy, emotional, untidy, unkept, spontaneous, but always exciting, always fun, and like this finale, even breathtaking. The wonder was that two or three months a year he could make it happen just about every night, sometime twice. It was a kind of Golden Age, although no one seemed to know it until it was all gone.

Stompin’ At The Savoy

Benny Carter (as), Oscar Peterson (p), Gene Krupa (d). Carnegie Hall, NYC, September 19, 1953

This year the Gene Krupa Trio is filled out with Benny Carter and Oscar Peterson and this tour was the first in which Peterson had actually worked in a Krupa group. Hearing him, he seems to take on an alternate personality. He uses his left hand in almost a stride posture and seems to be walking in Teddy Wilson shoes at more relaxed tempos.

Stompin’ At The Savoy is Krupa’s principal drum feature and he showcases a similar repertoire of linguistics to his 1952 Drum Boogie. Krupa was a drummer with a sound. No one could strike a series of rim shots that had the ring that Krupa could put on them.

Body And Soul

Buddy DeFranco (cl), Lionel Hampton (vib, d), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).

Granz had started recording Buddy DeFranco in April 1953 and managed to book him as a second attraction to Oscar Peterson in Chicago’s Blue Note late that month and into May. DeFranco was already well known. He had come up in the ‘40s with the bands of Krupa, Tommy Dorsey and by 1950 Count Basie. That was also the first year that he bested Benny Goodman in the Down Beat Readers poll, a formidable feat. In April 1954 Granz recorded DeFranco with Peterson and Lionel Hampton for the first and only time in the studio. That fall Granz arranged for him to join the JATP Quintet for a one-shot guest appearance.

This performance delivers much wonderful DeFranco and Peterson in his most poised Teddy Wilson-Mel Powell mode. The tempo picks up a bit when Hampton solos, and the crowd appreciates his reference to Over The Rainbow.

Crazy Rhythm

Stan Getz (ts), J.J. Johnson (tb), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d). Shrine Auditorium, LA, October 9, 1957

the pairing of Stan Getz and J.J. Johnson was fully appreciated from the start and has not suffered over time. “Here is a meeting to remember,” Down Beat’s John Tynan wrote. “It is one of those all too rare occasions when everything seems just right.” Getz and Johnson had met before and would team again, but only twice as two horn front line – first, on this tour; and second, 31 years later at  the Chicago Jazz Festival in a 1988 recreation of this occasion

Crazy Rhythm must have been a favorite of Getz’s, having recorded it for Norgran with Bob Brookmeyer in 1953. He plays with tremendous drive. Johnson picks up on his little descending figure and the two go head-to-head before suddenly shifting into a calming final chorus.

Norman Granz
A personal passion becomes a legacy

Granz was among the greatest impresarios in the history of jazz, whose labels Clef, Norgran, Verve, and Pablo employed dozens and dozens of top names in the business. His albums aside, Granz is best known for his long series of concerts produced under the banner Jazz At The Philharmonic.

The concerts were for the most part jam sessions, a format Granz loved from his earliest days of appreciating music in the clubs along Central Avenue in Los Angeles. JATP brought great artists together in the competitive spirit of the jam session on ballad medleys, improvised blues and old warhorses that they all loved to play.

The shows were enormously popular at home and abroad as JATP became the brand, not the venue. (These sets were recorded at Carnegie Hall, Bushnell Memorial Auditorium in Hartford, The Civic Opera House in Chicago, The Hollywood Bowl, and Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.) This touring phenomenon accomplished Granz’s goal of exposing an “uptown” audience to music he felt deserved more attention.

When LPs were introduced and the concert material received commercial release, even devoted record listeners were treated to the excitement generated by musicians encouraging and inspiring each other.

Limited Edition: 5000
(#275- 10 CDs)

Order Now!

CLASSIC JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC JAM SESSIONS
(1950-1957) 1o CDs

This set brings together the jam sessions by non-regular working groups on tour with the Jazz At The Philharmonic that were recorded from 1950 to 1957 (the last year that Granz had actively produced JATP performances) and released on Clef, Mercury, Norgran and Verve.

Not included in this package are releases on various labels including Europa Jazz (Italy), Hall Of Fame (USA), Jazz Band (France), Jazz Greats (USA), Kangourou (F), Moon (Italy), Pablo (USA), Sound Hills (Japan) and others since they are not owned by Universal Music.

DISC I
1. Introduction by Norman Granz (A) 1:34
2. Norgran Blues (A) 8:08
(improvisation)
3. Oh, Lady Be Good (A) 10:36
(G & I Gershwin)
4. A Ghost Of A Chance (A) 9:08
(Crosby-Washington-Young)
5. Indiana (A) 8:55
(J. Hanley-B. MacDonald)
6. Yesterdays (B) 3:55
(O. Harbach-J. Kern)
7. Hawk’s Tune (B) 4:51
(Coleman Hawkins)
8. Stuffy (B) 6:47
(Coleman Hawkins)
9. Carnegie Blues (Air Mail Special) (C) 7:01
(Goodman-Christian-Mundy)
10. Introduction by Norman Granz (D) 1:39
11. Jam Session Blues (D) 16:32
(improvisation)

DISC II
1. The Trumpet Battle (D) 7:00
(improvisation)
2. The Ballad Medley (D) 11:07
I Can’t Get Started
(V. Duke-I. Gershwin)
Summertime
(G. Gershwin-D. Heyward)
Sweet Lorraine
(C. Burwell-M. Parish)
It’s The Talk Of The Town
(Levinson-Symes-Neiburg)
Cocktails For Two
(A. Johnston-S. Coslow)
3. Cotton Tail (D) 5:48
(Duke Ellington)
4. Introduction by Norman Granz (E) 0:40
5. Idaho (E) 6:44
(Jesse Stone)
6. Sophisticated Lady (E) 4:39
(Ellington-Parish-Mills)
7. Flying Home (E) 6:00
(B. Goodman-L. Hampton)
8. Drum Boogie (E) 9:04
(R. Eldridge-G. Krupa)
9. The Drum Battle (F) 3:36
(improvisation)
10. Perdido (G) 5:01
(Juan Tizol)
11. On stage conversations, warm-ups, concert instructions from Norman
Granz and The National Anthem (H) 5:43
12. Introduction by Norman Granz (H) 2:00

DISC III
1. Concert Blues (Pt. 1) and (Pt. 2) (H) 22:01
(improvisation)
2. Introduction by Norman Granz (I) 1:40
3. Cool Blues (I) 23:34
(improvisation)
4. Ballad Medley (I) 17:46
September Song
(M. Anderson-K. Weill)
Someone To Watch Over Me
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
Flamingo
(E. Anderson-T. Grouya)
I Can’t Get Started
(V. Duke-I. Gershwin)
Makin’ Whoopee
(W. Donaldson-G. Kahn)
Young Man With A Horn
(DeLange-Jenny-Lake)
Embraceable You
(G. Gershwin-I Gershwin)
5. The Challenges (Cotton Tail) (J) 13:09
(improvisation)

DISC IV
1. The Drum Solo (J) 4:11
(Improvisation)
2. Introduction by Norman Granz (K) 0:30
3. Lester’s Blues (Up N’ Adam) (K) 4:14
(Lester Young)
4. I Cover The Waterfront (K) 2:49
(J. Green-E. Heyman)
5. Lester Gambols (Lester Leaps In) (K) 4:30
(Lester Young)
6. One O’ Clock Jump (L) 14:52
(Count Basie)
7. Introduction by Norman Granz (M) 0:34
8. Indiana (M) 3:38
(J. Hanley-B. MacDonald)
9. Somebody Loves Me (M) 4:44
(DeSylva-MacDonald-Gershwin)
10. Laura (M) 4:03
(D. Raksin-J. Mercer)
11. Stompin’ At The Savoy (M) 4:08
(Goodman-Razaf-Sampson-Webb)
12. Flying Home (N) 8:00
(B. Goodman-L. Hampton)
13. Introduction by Norman Granz (O) 1:35
14. Jazz Concert Blues (O) 15:35
(improvisation)

DISC V
1. The Challenges (O) 13:37
(improvisation)
2. Ballad Medley (O) 12:55
The Man I Love
(G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
Tenderly
(Lawrence-Plante-Gross)
Imagination
(J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)
I’ll Never Be The Same
(Kahn-Malneck-Signorelli)
Star Dust
(H. Carmichael-M. Parish)
3. Drum Solo (O) 7:14
(improvisation)
4. Introduction by Norman Granz (P) 0:22
5. It’s Only A Paper Moon (P) 3:56
(Arlen-Harburg-Rose)
6. Easy Living (P) 6:00
(L. Robin-R. Rainger)
7. I’ll Remember April (P) 4:00
(Raye-DePaul-Johnson)
8. Autumn Leaves (P) 4:53
(Mercer-Prevert-Kozma)
9. Now’s The Time (P) 3:07
(Charlie Parker)
10. Air Mail Special (P) 7:52
(Goodman-Christian-Mundy)
11. How High The Moon (Q) 2:54
(N. Hamilton-M. Lewis)
12. Body And Soul (Q) 7:23
(Green-Heyman-Eyton-Sour)

DISC VI
1. Flying Home (Q) 10:52
(B. Goodman-L. Hampton)
2. Introduction by Norman Granz (R) 1:25
3. The Blues (R) 19:00
(improvisation)
4. Introduction by Norman Granz (S) 0:25
5. The Modern Set (S) 7:00
(improvisation)
6. The Swing Set (T) 5:33
(improvisation)
7. Ballad Medley (U) 13:06
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was
(R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
All Of Me
(G. Marks-S. Simon)
Tenderly
(Lawrence-Plante-Gross)
I Can’t Get Started
(V. Duke-I. Gershwin)
My Old Flame
(S. Coslow-A. Johnston)
8. Buddy Rich’s Explosion (U) 9:00
(improvisation)

DISC VII
1. Introduction by Norman Granz (V) 1:40
2. Honeysuckle Rose (V) 12:11
(F. Waller-A. Razaf)
3. The Ballad Medley (V) 8:11
I Can’t Get Started
(V. Duke-I. Gershwin)
If I Had You
(Campbell-Connelly-Shapiro)
I’ve Got The World On A String
(H. Arlen-T. Koehler)
4. Jumpin’ At The Woodside (V) 8:40
(Count Basie)
5. Drum Solo (V) 5:30
(Buddy Rich)
6. The Slow Blues (W) 11:27
(improvisation)
7. Introduction by Norman Granz (W) 1:05
8. Merry-Go-Round (W) 11:43
(improvisation)

DISC VIII
1. Ballad Medley (W) 6:13
Robbins Nest
(Jacquet-Russell-Thompson)
Polka Dots And Moonbeams
(J. Van Heusen-E. De Lange)
Can’t We Be Friends
(P. James-K. Swift)
2. Drum solo (W) 5:55
(improvisation)
3. Bean Stalkin’ (X) 7:58
(Coleman Hawkins)
4. The Nearness Of You (X) 2:51
(H. Carmichael-N. Washington)
5. Time On My Hands (X) 2:27
(Adamson-Gordon-Youmans)
6. The Walker (X) 7:18
(C. Hawkins-R. Eldridge)
7. Tea For Two (X) 6:00
(V. Youmans-I. Caesar)
8. Blue Moon (X) 2:23
(L. Hart-R. Rodgers)
9. Cocktails For Two (X) 2:19
(A. Johnston-S. Coslow)
10. Kerry (X) 7:55
(C. Hawkins-R. Eldridge)
11. Billie’s Bounce (Y) 10:15
(Charlie Parker)
12. My Funny Valentine (Y) 7:40
(R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
13. Crazy Rhythm (Y) 7:36
(Meyer-Kahn-Caesar)

DISC IX
1. It Never Entered My Mind (Y) 3:46
(R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
2. Blues In The Closet (Y) 6:08
(Oscar Pettiford)
3. Stuffy (Z) 10:55
(Coleman Hawkins)
4. Stompin’ At The Savoy (AA) 5:14
(Goodman-Razaf-Sampson-Webb)
5. The Slow Blues (BB) 10:49
(improvisation)
6. Introduction by Norman Granz (BB) 1:22
7. Merry-Go-Round (BB) 11:01
(improvisation)
8. The Ballad Medley (BB) 7:54
This Is Always
(H. Warren-M. Gordon)
Robbins Nest
(Jacquet-Russell-Thompson)
Polka Dots And Moonbeams
(J. Van Heusen-E. De Lange)
Can’t We Be Friends
(P. James-K. Swift)
9. Drum solo (BB) 6:59
10. Bean Stalkin’ (CC) 7:27
(Coleman Hawkins)
11. I Can’t Get Started (CC) 2:36
(V. Duke-I. Gershwin)

DISC X

1. Time On My Hands (CC) 2:12
(Adamson-Gordon-Youmans)
2. The Walker (CC) 7:23
(C. Hawkins-R. Eldridge)
3. Billie’s Bounce (DD) 7:57
(Charlie Parker)
4. My Funny Valentine (DD) 8:28
(R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
5. Crazy Rhythm (DD) 7:47
(Meyer-Kahn-Caesar)
6. Yesterdays (DD) 3:42
(O. Harbach-J. Kern)
7. It Never Entered My Mind (DD) 3:52
(R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
8. Blues In The Closet (DD) 6:18
(Oscar Pettiford)
9. Stuffy (EE) 15:04
(Coleman Hawkins) Michael Goldsen Inc.
10. Stompin’ At The Savoy (FF) 7:15
(Goodman-Razaf-Sampson-Webb)
11. Oh, Lady Be Good (FF) 4:24
(G & I Gershwin)

For the purposes of this discography, only the first release of each matrix is listed and shown as originally released on LP or CD.

The following reference materials used for this discography came from The Jazz Discography by Tom Lord (Lord Music Reference, Inc.); The Clef/Verve Labels: A Discography by Michel Ruppli (Greenwood Press 1986). Other information came from logs found inside the original Norgran, Clef and Verve label tape reel boxes.

The matrix numbers shown below are how they appear on the original LPs and not how they appear on the master tapes. Introductions by Norman Granz are not shown on the labels of the original releases and therefore are not part of this discography. They are, however, presented as a separate track on the CDs and in the track listing.
_____________________________________________________________
(A) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Harry Edison (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Flip Phillips, Lester Young (ts), Hank Jones (p), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Carnegie Hall, NYC, September 16, 1950
JC-1 Norgran Blues Norgran MG JC #1 – Side I
JC-1 Lady Be Good –
JC-1-Side-2 I Don’t Stand A Ghost
Of A Chance With You -1 Norgran MG JC #1 – Side II
JC-1-Side-2 Indiana –

-1 omit Phillips.

Note: The original tape log indicates that these were initially recorded on acetate discs with transfers onto tape dubbed on June 24, 1954. Norgran Blues made up sides 1 & 2; Lady Be Good on sides 3 & 4; I Don’t Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You on sides 5 & 6; and Indiana on sides 7 & 8.
_____________________________________________________________
(B) THE COLEMAN HAWKINS SET: Coleman Hawkins (ts), Hank Jones (p), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
same concert as (A).
JC-1-Side-4 Yesterdays Norgran MG JC #1 – Side IV
JC-1-Side-4 Hawk’s Tune (Disorder At The Border) –
JC-1-Side-4 Stuffy –

Note: According to the Verve LP re-issue of this material, Bob Porter notes that three other titles might have been recorded but they no longer exist.
________________________________________________________________________
(C) THE BUDDY RICH TRIO: Hank Jones (p), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
same concert as (A).
JC-1-Side-4 Carnegie Blues (Air Mail Special) Norgran MG JC #1 – Side IV
________________________________________________________________________
(D) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Benny Carter (as), Flip Phillips, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Carnegie Hall, NYC, September 13, 1952
MGC 1064 1F Jam Session Blues Clef / Mer MG Vol. 15 – Pt. I
MGC 1065 1F The Trumpet Battle Clef / Mer MG Vol. 15 – Pt. II
MGC 1065 1F The Ballad Medley:
I Can’t Get Started (LY)
Summertime (CS)
Sweet Lorraine (FP)
It’s The Talk Of The Town (RE)
Cocktails For Two (BC) –
MGC 1066 1F Cotton Tail Clef / Mer MG Vol. 15 – Pt. III
________________________________________________________________________
(E) THE GENE KRUPA TRIO: Willie Smith (as), Hank Jones (p), Gene Krupa (d).
same concert as (D).
MGC 1068 1F Idaho Clef / Mer MG Vol. 15 – Pt. V
MGC 1068 1F Sophisticated Lady –
MGC 1068 1F Flyin’ Home –
MGC 1069 1F Drum Boogie Clef / Mer MG Vol. 15 – Pt. VI
________________________________________________________________________
(F) THE DRUM BATTLE: Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich (d).
same concert as (D).
MGC 1069 1F The Drum Battle Clef / Mer MG Vol. 15 – Pt. VI
________________________________________________________________________
(G) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Benny Carter (as), Flip Phillips, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa (d), Ella Fitzgerald (vcl).
same concert as (D).
MGC 1069 1F Perdido (EF-vcl) Clef / Mer MG Vol. 15 – Pt. VI

Note: The original release of Clef Vol. 15 had edited Ella Fitzgerald’s vocal on Perdido since she was still under contract to Decca at the time. The complete performance was issued for the first time in 1999 on The Drum Battle released on Verve 314-559-810-2 (CD).
________________________________________________________________________
(H) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as), Flip Phillips, Ben Webster (ts), Oscar Peterson (p, org), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Gene Krupa (d).
Bushnell Memorial Auditorium,
Hartford, Ct., prob. September 11, 1953
Talk and National Anthem previously unissued
Vol-16-PT-7 Concert Blues (Pt. I) Clef MG Vol. 16 (10”)
Vol-16-PT-8 Concert Blues (Pt. II) –

Note: This 10” LP was a “bonus” LP within the Vol. 16 boxed set. The on-stage chatter and instructions with Norman Granz and various musicians plus the playing of the National Anthem, as noted, are previously unreleased and are heard at the end of Disc II.
________________________________________________________________________
(I) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as), Flip Phillips, Ben Webster (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), J.C. Heard (d).
Carnegie Hall, NYC, September 19, 1953
Vol-16-Side-1 Cool Blues Clef MG Vol. 16 – Pt. I
Vol-16-Side-2 Ballad Medley: Clef MG Vol. 16 – Pt. II
September Song (BH)
Someone To Watch Over Me (BW)
Flamingo (BC)
I Can’t Get Started (RE)
Makin’ Whoopee (FP)
Young Man With A Horn (WS)
Embraceable You (CS)

Note: Some discographies list Imagination as one of the ballad numbers but this has not surfaced on tape and is suspect to have even been performed.
________________________________________________________________________
(J) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Flip Phillips, Ben Webster (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), J.C. Heard (d).
same concert as (I).
Vol-16-Side-3 The Challenges (Cotton Tail) Clef MG Vol. 16 – Pt. III

Note: Although listed as a separate title on the label, The Drum Solo is basically J.C. Heard’s drum solo from The Challenges and not a new track. Some discographies list The Drum Solo as The Drum Battle.
________________________________________________________________________
(K) LESTER YOUNG QUINTET: Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), J.C. Heard (d).
same concert as (I).
Vol-16-Side-5 Lester’s Blues (Up N’ Adam) Clef MG Vol. 16 – Part V
Vol-16-Side-5 I Cover The Waterfront –
Vol-16-Side-5 Lester Gambols (Lester Leaps In) –
________________________________________________________________________ (L) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as), Flip Phillips, Ben Webster, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), J.C. Heard (d).
same concert as (I).
Vol-16-Side-5 One O’ Clock Jump Clef MG Vol. 16 – Part V

Note: Some discographies add Gene Krupa to One O’Clock Jump.

At about 0:10 into this track, there is a rough edit and what sounds like Ella Ftizgerald’s voice. It is very possible that this is another one of the edits Norman Granz had to perform since Fitzgerald still was under a contractual obligation to Decca Records.
________________________________________________________________________
(M) GENE KRUPA TRIO: Benny Carter (as), Oscar Peterson (p), Gene Krupa (d).
same concert as (I).
Vol-16-Side-6 Indiana Clef MG Vol. 16 – Part VI
Vol-16-Side-6 Somebody Loves Me –
Vol-16-Side-6 Laura –
Vol-16-Side-6 Stompin’ At The Savoy –
________________________________________________________________________
(N) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as), Flip Phillips, Ben Webster, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Gene Krupa, J.C. Heard (d).
same concert as (I).
Vol-16-Side-6 Flying Home Clef MG Vol. 16 – Part VI

Note: Listed in discographies is a performance titled The Blues (with Eldridge, Webster, Peterson, Ellis, Brown and Krupa) that was issued on Vol. 16. However, it is not on the original Clef set.
________________________________________________________________________
(O) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Flip Phillips, Ben Webster (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Louie Bellson (d).
Bushnell Memorial Auditorium,
Hartford, Ct., September 17, 1954
Vol-17-PT 1 Jazz Concert Blues Clef MG Vol. 17 – Side 1
Vol-17-2 The Challenges Clef MG Vol. 17 – Side 2
Vol-17-2 Ballad Medley:
The Man I Love (RE)
Tenderly (BW)
Imagination (BH)
I’ll Never Be The Same (FP)
Star Dust (DG) –
Vol-17-PT 3 Drum Solo -1 Clef MG Vol. 17 – Side 3

-1 Louis Bellson’s drum solo is preceded by Dizzy Gillespie’s composition Ow although it is not noted on the original Clef LP.
________________________________________________________________________
(P) THE JATP QUINTET: Buddy DeFranco (cl), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
same concert as (O).
Vol-17-P 4 It’s Only A Paper Moon Clef MG Vol. 17 – Side 4
Vol-17-Pt. 4 Easy Living –
Vol-17-Pt. 5 I’ll Remember April Clef MG Vol. 17 – Side 5
Vol-17-Pt. 5 Autumn Leaves –
Vol-17-Pt. 5 Now’s The Time –
Vol-17-Pt. 5 Air Mail Special –
________________________________________________________________________
(Q) THE JATP SEXTET: Buddy DeFranco (cl), Lionel Hampton (vib, d), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
same concert as (O).
Vol-17-Pt. 6 How High The Moon Clef MG Vol. 17 – Side 6
Vol-17-Pt. 6 Body And Soul –
Vol-17-Pt. 6 Flying Home –
________________________________________________________________________
(R) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Opera House, Chicago, October 2, 1955
11,646 The Blues Clef MG Vol. 11 – Side 1

Note: For the entire Chicago Opera House concert, discographies list Clef MG Vol. 18 as the initial release. However, this set was never issued.
________________________________________________________________________
(S) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
same concert as (R)
11,646 The Modern Set Clef MG Vol. 11 – Side 1
________________________________________________________________________
(T) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge (tp), Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
same concert as (R)
11,647 The Swing Set Clef MG Vol. 11 – Side 2
________________________________________________________________________
(U) NORMAN GRANZ’ JAZZ AT THE PHILHARMONIC: Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie (tp), Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
same concert as (R).
11,647 Ballad Medley:
I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (LY)
All Of Me (FP)
Tenderly (IJ)
I Can’t Get Started (RE)
My Old Flame (DG) Clef MG Vol. 11 – Side 2
11,647 Buddy Rich’s Explosion -1 –

-1 The riff that starts off Buddy Rich’s Explosion is Count Basie’s The King.
________________________________________________________________________
(V) JAM SESSION: Roy Eldridge, Harry “Sweets” Edison (tp), Flip Phillips, Illinois Jacquet (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d).
Hollywood Bowl, LA, August 15, 1956
50,384 Honeysuckle Rose Verve MG V-8231-2 – Side 1
50,384 The Ballad Medley: –
I Can’t Get Started (RE)
If I Had You (HE)
I’ve Got The World On A String (FP)
50,385 Jumpin’ At The Woodside Verve MG V-8231-2 – Side 2
50,385 Drum Solo –
________________________________________________________________________
(W) JATP ALL STARS: Sonny Stitt (as), Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Jo Jones (d).
Civic Opera House, Chicago, September 29, 1957
The Slow Blues previously unissued
Merry-Go-Round –
SR 1284 Ballad Medley:
Robbins Nest (IJ)
Polka Dots And Moonbeams (LY)
Can’t We Be Friends (FP) Verve 825 101-1
Drum solo previously unissued

Note: Discographies list Verve MGVS-6029 (LP), a Stereo release of The JATP All Stars At The Opera House, as being released with the contents of the above. However, a copy of this LP has yet to be confirmed to exist and is suspect to have ever been released.

Verve 825 101-1 dates this as October 19, 1957.
________________________________________________________________________
(X) COLEMAN HAWKINS-ROY ELDRIDGE: Roy Eldridge (tp), Coleman Hawkins (ts), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d). same concert as (W).
Bean Stalkin’ Verve MGVS 6028
The Nearness Of You -1 –
Time On My Hands -2 –
The Walker –
Tea For Two Verve MGV 8266
Blue Moon -1 –
Cocktails For Two -2 –
Kerry –

-1 omit Hawkins
-2 omit Eldridge

Note: Although MGV 8266 was released in Mono, the original tapes are in Stereo.
________________________________________________________________________
(Y) THE STAN GETZ AND J.J. JOHNSON SET: Stan Getz (ts), J.J. Johnson (tb), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Connie Kay (d).
same concert as (W).
Billie’s Bounce Verve MGVS 6027
My Funny Valentine –
Crazy Rhythm –
It Never Entered My Mind -1 –
Blues In The Closet –

-1 omit Johnson.
______________________________________________________________________
(Z) JATP ALL STARS: Roy Eldridge (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Ray Brown (b), Connie Kay (d).
same concert as (W).
Stuffy previously unissued
________________________________________________________________________
(AA) ELLA FITZGERALD: Roy Eldridge (tp), J. J. Johnson (tb), Sonny Stitt (as), Lester Young, Illinois Jacquet, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Flip Phillips (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Connie Kay (d), Ella Fitzgerald (vcl).
same concert as (W).
Stompin’ At The Savoy (EF-vcl) Verve MGVS 6026
________________________________________________________________________
(BB) JATP ALL STARS: Sonny Stitt (as), Illinois Jacquet, Flip Phillips, Lester Young (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Ray Brown (b), Jo Jones (d).
Shrine Auditorium, LA, October 9, 1957
The Slow Blues Verve MGV 8267
Merry-Go-Round –
The Ballad Medley:
This Is Always (SS)
Robbins Nest (IJ)
Polka Dots And Moonbeams (LY)
Can’t We Be Friends (FP) –
Drum solo –

Note: Earliest editions of Verve MGV 8267 had The Slow Blues and Merry-Go-Round on Side-A and The Ballad Medley in addition to the Jo Jones drum solo on Side-B. The more commonly found release, also from 1958, coupled The Slow Blues and Merry-Go-Round on Side-A with Stuffy on Side-B.
________________________________________________________________________

(CC) COLEMAN HAWKINS-ROY ELDRIDGE: Roy Eldridge (tp), Coleman Hawkins (ts), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d).
same concert as (BB).
Bean Stalkin’ Verve MGV 8266
I Can’t Get Started -1 –
Time On My Hands -2 –
The Walker –

-1 omit Hawkins
-2 omit Eldridge
________________________________________________________________________
(DD) THE STAN GETZ AND J.J. JOHNSON SET: Stan Getz (ts), J.J. Johnson (tb), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (el-g), Percy Heath (b), Connie Kay (d).
same concert as (BB).
Billie’s Bounce Verve MGV 8265
My Funny Valentine –
Crazy Rhythm –
Yesterdays -1 –
It Never Entered My Mind -2 –
Blues In The Closet –

-1 omit Getz
-2 omit Johnson
________________________________________________________________________
(EE) JATP ALL STARS: Roy Eldridge (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins (ts), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Jo Jones (d).
Same concert as (BB).
Stuffy Verve MGV 8267
________________________________________________________________________
(FF) ELLA FITZGERALD: Roy Eldridge (tp), J. J. Johnson (tb), Sonny Stitt (as), Lester Young, Illinois Jacquet, Coleman Hawkins, Stan Getz, Flip Phillips (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), Jo Jones (d), Ella Fitzgerald (vcl).
same concert as (BB).
Stompin’ At The Savoy (EF-vcl) Verve MGV 8264
Oh, Lady Be Good (EF-vcl) –
________________________________________________________________________
Album Index:

10” LP
Concert Blues is a “bonus” LP as part of the Clef MG Vol. 16 shown below.

12” LP
Clef MG Vol. 11 (2 LP) Norman Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic # 11
Clef MG Vol. 15 (3 LP) Norman Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic # 15
Clef MG Vol. 16 (4 LP) Norman Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic # 16
Clef MG Vol. 17 (3 LP) Norman Granz’ Jazz at the Philharmonic # 17
Norgran MG JC-1 (2 LP) Norman Granz’ Jazz Concert # 1
Verve MG V-8231-2 (2 LP) Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl
Verve 825-101 Lester Young – Carnegie Blues
Verve MGVS 6026 (Stereo) Ella Fitzgerald At The Opera House
Verve MGV 8264 (Mono) Ella Fitzgerald At The Opera House
Verve MGVS 6027 (Stereo) Stan Getz and J.J. Johnson At The Opera House
Verve MGV 8265 (Mono) Stan Getz and J.J. Johnson At The Opera House
Verve MGVS 6028 (Stereo) Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge At The Opera House
Verve MGV 8266 (Mono) Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge At The Opera House
Verve MGV 8267 The JATP All Stars At The Opera House

Original concerts produced by Norman Granz.

Produced for release by Scott Wenzel
Executive Producer: Michael Cuscuna
Original concept by Bob Porter

Tape transfers: Brett Zinn

Sound restoration and mastering by Andreas Meyer and Nancy Conforti

24 bit technology was utilized at all stages of the production of this Mosaic release.

Special thanks to: Tom Cunniffe, Tad Hershorn, The Institute of Jazz Studies, Richie Noorigian, Scott
Ravine, Ricky Riccardi, Andy Skurow, Ben Young and the late Bob Porter and the late Phil Schaap.

Vault research: Andy Skurow and Scott Wenzel.

All tracks courtesy of The Verve Music Group.

This compilation (p)2022 Universal Music Enterprises, a Division of UMG Recordings Inc., Santa Monica, CA 90404-U.S.A. Manufactured by Universal Music Enterprises. Warning: All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.
Printed in the U.S.A.
©2022 Mosaic Records L.L.C., Box 113475, Stamford, CT 06911. All rights reserved.
Phone: 203-327-7111/e-mail: info@mosaicrecords.com. Web site: www.mosaicrecords.com.

Producer’s note:
We are indebted to the late Bob Porter for not only steering us in the direction of issuing this boxed set but for providing us with the previously unissued performances from the September 29, 1957 performances from the Civic Opera House in Chicago.

For an excellent in-depth analysis of the “At The Opera House” series we suggest reading Tom Cunniffe’s article in his website www.jazzhistoryonline.com .

Scott Wenzel

“Remastered to the highest standards, pressed on top-quality vinyl or CD, and sumptuously packaged, these editions are designed to please the most demanding of collectors.”

Richard Cook/Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz