Lester Young  Norgran Records  David Stone Martin illustration!

Roy Eldridge “Collates”  Mercury Records (Supervised by Norman Granz) Illustration by David Stone Martin.

Instead of other Collates series, this album is NOT a collection of Roy Eldridge’s previously-released 78rpm/45rpm single tracks, but two different sessions aimed for this LP album.

Roy Eldridge (tp) Buddy Tate (ts) Teddy Brannon (p) Clyde Lombardi (b) Charlie Smith (d)  NYC, August, 1951

Roy Eldridge (tp) George Williams (dir) unidentified orchestra  NYC, December, 1951

** also issued on Clef MGC 113

“Mr. Swing”  Harry “Sweets” Edison  Verve Records   I admit it.  I love Sweets!  Can’t get enough.  Illustration by David Stone Martin.  Here’s a classic Sweets Edison.  This and the Verve album “The Swinger”, both recorded during the same 1958 session has tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest joining Edison in the quintet’s frontline while pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Joe Benjamin, drummer Charlie Persip, and rhythm guitarist Freddie Greene make up the rhythm section. (You can get both LP’s on a single Verve CD.)  Edison (who died of prostate cancer on July 27, 1999, at 83 years of age) was one of the acknowledged masters of swing trumpet.  His trumpet was a recognizable voice in the Count Basie Orchestra from 1938 until it broke up in 1950.  During that period, he was featured on many records, appeared in the 1944 short “Jammin’ the Blues” and gained his nickname “Sweets” (due to his tone) from Lester Young.  In the 1950s, Edison toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic, settled in Los Angeles, and was well-featured both as a studio musician (most noticeably on Frank Sinatra records) and on jazz dates. He had several reunions with Count Basie in the 1960s and by the ’70s was often teamed with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis; Edison also recorded an excellent duet album for Pablo with Oscar Peterson. One of the few swing trumpeters to be influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, Sweets led sessions through the years for Pacific Jazz, Verve, Roulette, Riverside, Vee-Jay, Liberty, Sue, Black Blue, Pablo, Storyville, and Candid among others. Although his playing faded during the 1980s and ’90s, Edison could still say more with one note than nearly anyone.

“Mr. Piano Man” The Music of Joe Sullivan. Down Home Records. Bold illustration from the master David Stone Martin!

Norman Granz’ JAZZ CONCERT #1. Norgran Records. David Stone Martin illustration. Jazz represents both the highest level of artistry and sophistication as well as humor, whimsy and wit. DSM captured that playful, inside joke of the music with his fun and and equally sophisticated style.

“Swinging with Flip” Flip Phillips and his Orchestra on Clef Records. Illustration by David Stone Martin.

Lionel Hampton BIG Band. David Stone Martin illustration. Clef Records. Produced by Norman Granz.

Cool David Stone Martin on Norgran.  Johnny Hodges “Dance Bash” (1952) Supervised by Norman Granz.

Coleman Hawkins. A beautiful, early 1950’s David Stone Martin illustration on this Stinson 10″.

A 78 album cover by David Stone Martin on the DISC label.  A collection of traditional jazz legends.