(Mercury no number): The Jazz Scene

	Label Type :	custom brown “The Jazz Scene” label
	Matrix Number :	DISC 1 SIDE-A	2077-1 -X    S    IIIII
		DISC 1 SIDE-B	2078-5    I
		DISC 2 SIDE-A	2071-5 xxx
		DISC 2 SIDE-B	2072-6    IIIII
		DISC 3 SIDE-A	2080-1 -X    2198    S    IIIII
		DISC 3 SIDE-B	2073-1 -X    S    IIIII
		DISC 4 SIDE-A	2075-5 x    II
		DISC 4 SIDE-B	2076-7    II
		DISC 5 SIDE-A	2081-4 X65 x
		DISC 5 SIDE-B	2074-8 x
		DISC 6 SIDE-A	2172 · 4
		DISC 6 SIDE-B	2199 · 2 · 12 · ·

Norman Granz himself signs his name with limited number (1933rd copy out of 5000)

Enclosed postcard by Jazz at the Philharmonic, Inc.

Comments

A gorgeous cloth-bound album which contains 12-inch 78rpms as well as many b/w photos (taken by Gjon Mili).

This copy is exceptionally in beautiful condition, with all 78rpms virtually unplayed.

Inside The Groove

A dream album - capturing a true gem of “The Jazz Scene” in the late 1940s by Norman Granz.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

This famous 78rpm album, released in 1949, was one of the two gorgeous albums Norman Granz ever produced (the other was “The Astaire Story” 4LP cloth-bound album). It definitely was the product of “Norman Granz' dream”.

The album consists of 12 tracks of various styles, from great mainstream sessions such as Lester Young Trio and Willie Smith Quintet; Duke Ellington's small combo session with strings; Neal Hefti's huge orchestra with Charlie Parker's alto sax overdubbed; Coleman Hawkins's magnificent tenor solo; Machito's latin ensemble; Charlie Parker's awesome quartet session; Bud Powell Trio's yet another fine performance; to avant-garde/abstract big-band by Ralph Burns, George Handy...

What makes this album so special (as well as superb quality of every performance) is the well-manufactured cloth-bound album itself, and dozen of great b/w photographs by Gjon Mili. This album itself surely represents what the Jazz scene was like in the 1940s, from Norman Granz' own perspective.

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

10000 (or even more) out of 10

Track Listing

Personnel

2077, 2078: Duke Ellington and his Orchestra
Harry Carney (bs),
Billy Strayhorn (p), Fred Guy (g), Oscar Pettiford (b), Sonny Greer (ds),
unidentified strings section.
Duke Ellington (arr),
Recorded in New York City, 1949.

2071, 2072: Neal Hefti's Orchestra
Doug Mettome (tp), Al Porcino (tp), Ray Wetzel (tp),
Bill Harris (tb), Bart Varsalona (tb), Vincent Jacobs (frh),
John LaPorta (cl),
Charlie Parker (as overdubbed on 2071),
Sonny Salad (as), Murray Williams (as),
Pete Mondello (ts), Flip Phillips (ts), Manny Albam (bs),
Manny Fidler (vln), Sid Harris (vln), Sam Kaplan (vln), Harry Katzman (vln), Gene Orloff (vln),
Ziggy Smirnoff (vln), Nat Nathanson (vla), Fred Ruzilla (vla), Joe Benaventi (vlc),
Tony Aless (p), Curly Russell (b), Shelly Manne (ds),
Diego Iborra (cga, bgo), Neal Hefti (arr, cond).
Recorded in New York City, December 1947
(Charlie Parker's overdub recorded in Autumn 1948).

2193: Lester Young Trio
Lester Young (ts), Aye Guy (aka Nat King Cole) (p), Buddy Rich (ds).
Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA in March or April, 1946.

2073: Coleman Hawkins Solo
Coleman Hawkins (unaccompanied tenor sax solo).
Recorded in 1948 (or January 1945).

2075: Ralph Burns and his Orchestra
Sonny Berman (tp), Conrad Gozzo (tp),
Bill Harris [1] (tb), Ollie Wilson (tb), Vincent De Rosa (frh),
Harry Klee (as, cl, fl), Hal McKusick (as, cl, fl),
Herbie Steward (ts), Lucky Thompson (ts), Chuck Gentry (bs),
Dodo Marmarosa (p), Arvin Garrison (g), Red Callender (b), Don Lamond (ds),
Ralph Burns (arr, dir).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, October 1946.

2076: George Handy and his Orchestra
Sonny Berman (tp), Pete Candoli (tp), Conrad Gozzo (tp),
Al Killian (tp), Dale Pearce (tp),
Bill Harris (tb), Ed Kusby (tb), Ollie Wilson (tb),
Vincent De Rosa (frh), Evan Hall (frh)
Harry Klee (fl, cl, as), Hal McKusick (as),
Julius Jacobs (oboe), Robert Swanson (bassoon), Arthur Fleming (contrabassoon),
Herbie Steward (ts), Lucky Thompson (ts), Chuck Gentry (bs, b-cl),
Harry Bluestone (vln), Robert Jamison (vln), Carl Walker (vln), Arthur Krafton (vlc),
Dodo Marmarosa (p), Arvin Garrison (g), Red Callender (b), Don Lamond (ds),
Jackie Mills (per), Jimmy Pratt (per), George Handy (arr, dir).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA, October 1946.

2081: Charlie Parker Quartet
Charlie Parker (as), Hank Jones (p), Ray Brown (b), Shelly Manne (ds).
Recorded in New York City on February 10, 1949.

2074: Willie Smith Quintet
Willie Smith (as),
Dodo Marmarosa (p), Barney Kessel (g), Red Callender (b), Jo Jones (ds).
Recorded in Los Angeles, CA circa November 1947.

2172: Machito and his Orchestra
Mario Bauza (tp), Frank “Paquito” Davilla (tp), Bob Woodlen (tp),
Gene Johnson (as), Fred Skerritt (as),
Jose Madera (ts), Flip Phillips (ts), Leslie Johnakins (bs),
Rene Hernandez (p), Roberto Rodriguez (b),
Luis Miranda (cga), Jose Mangual (bgo), Ubaldo Nieto (tim),
Machito (arr, cond).
Recorded in New York City, January 1949.

2199: Bud Powell Trio
Bud Powell (p), Ray Brown (b), Max Roach (ds).
Recorded in New York City circa February 1949.