Mercury Records Collection: MG-25075: Alto Sax Artistry

MG-25075: Alto Sax Artistry / Willie Smith

Label Type :	black/gold Mercury type A
Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	MG25075A
	SIDE-B	MG25075B

Comments

1st release issued on Mercury label - will be re-issued as EmArcy MG-26000 (with two tunes replaced).

paper sleeve type jacket.

Inside The Groove

A swingy but unique mainstream session, of original Keynote recording.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

Highly-ranked alto saxophonist (at least in the 1930s and around) Willie Smith was a very unique, one-and-only stylist. His alto timbre can be easily identified among many other alto players.

This album, a compilation of his Keynote sessions, also sounds very unique. May 1945 session sounds much attractive, for such members as Billy May (tp, arr) or Les Paul (g) were joining in. Another May 1945 session can be identified with the name of legendary Dodo Marmarosa (p). On the other hand, 1946 session captures a true relaxed nice mainstream session.

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

8 out of 10

Track Listing

SIDE-A
A-1	HL90-2	September In The Rain	-
A-2	HL93-2	Willie, Weep For Me	-
A-3	HL122-4	The Way You Look Tonight	-
A-4	HL123-2	Airiness A La Nat	-
SIDE-B
B-1	HL92-5	Moten Swing	-
B-2	HL91-5	You Ought To Be In Pictures	-
B-3	HL94-3	What Is This Thing Called Love	-
B-4	HL95-3	Minor Blues	-

Personnel

A-1, A-2, B-1, B-2:
Billy May (tp, arr), Murray McEachern (tb), Willie Smith (as),
Arnold Ross (p), Les Paul (g), Ed Mihelich (b), Nick Fatool (ds).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on May 2, 1945.

B-3, B-4:
Emmett Berry (tp), Willie Smith (as), Corky Corcoran (ts),
Dodo Marmarosa (p), Allan Reuss (g), Ed Mihelich (b), Nick Fatool (ds),
Johnny Thompson (arr).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on May 15, 1945.

A-3, A-4:
Willie Smith (as), Nat King Cole (p), Red Callender (b), Jackie Mills (ds).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA on February 16, 1946.