MG-20285: I Love John Frigo He Swings / John Frigo

	Label Type :	black Mercury type A
	Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	MG 20285A-1    M1    MSI    A
		SIDE-B	MG 20285B-1    M1    MSI    A

Comments

Cover suffered with medium stains, but not so serious. The disc itself is in great condition.

Inside The Groove

A swingy session bassist John Frigo's famous album on which he plays violin.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

John Frigo spent most of his life with a bass, as a professional musician. For example, he was a bassist of Jimmy Dorsey band in the 1940s; he was a member of the Soft Winds (Lou Carter on piano, Herb Ellis on guitar, and John Frigo on bass).

However, the very first instrument he played was a violin. Furthermore, he switched back to his first instrument violin in the 1980s. This album, recorded in 1957, was a famous exception - John Frigo recorded his own album as a violinist.

Not so boppish, but all tracks are nothing but swingy in every way. And it must be noted such jazz greats as Ray Brown and Herb Ellis appears on this album...

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

7 out of 10

Track Listing

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

A-4, B-4, B-5:
John Frigo (violin), Dick Marx (p), Ray Brown (b), Norm Jeffries (ds).
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL in 1957.

A-3, B-2:
Same personnel as A-4, except:
add Mike Simpson (fl, ts),
add Herb Ellis (g).
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL in 1957.

A-1, A-2, A-5, B-1:
Same personnel as A-4, except:
add Cy Touff (b-tp),
add Vic Val (ts).
Phil Faieta (ds) replaces Norm Jeffries (ds).

B-3:
John Frigo (vln), Dick Marx (p).
Recorded at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL in 1957.