One of my favorite covers and one of my favorite saxophonists (and on this session with one of my favorite piano players). Go Man! It’s “Sonny Criss” and Modern Jazz Imperial Records. Sonny Criss (as) Sonny Clark (p) Leroy Vinnegar (b) Lawrence Marable (d) Los Angeles, CA, July 10, 1956 (No, that’s not Criss on the motorbike)

(39 votes, average: 4.44 out of 5)

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I’ve always loved this cover and title! I’ve seen Ralph Sharon accompany Tony Bennett a half dozen times, the most memorable being opening night of the Newport Jazz Festival 1990 or 1991. The gala concert and party was held at the Tennis Hall of Fame and I sat at the side of the stage with Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Perhaps also aptly Mr. and Mrs. Jazz.

Sue and Ralph Sharon “Mr. & Mrs. Jazz” Bethlehem

J.R. Monterose (ts) Eddie Costa (vib) Ralph Sharon (p, vo) Joe Puma (g) Milt Hinton (b) Jo Jones (d) Sue Ryan (vo ) NYC, November, 1956 1. It Don’t Mean A Thing 2. A Fine Romance 3. I Could Have Told You 4. Mynah Lament 5. Just You, Just Me 6. That Goldblatt Magic 7. A Nightingale Can Sing The Blues 8. Hugette Waltz 9. A Trout No Doubt 10. With The Wind And The Rain

(17 votes, average: 4.06 out of 5)

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Charlie “Bird” Parker (Dial 202)   From Vintage Vanguard — an amazing source of jazz album photos and information.

Three 10″ LP’s were issued in 1949- “Charlie Parker Quintet” vols 1, 2, and 3. (Dial LP’s 201, 202 and 203). Dial also released “Charlie Parker Sextet” (207) in 1950.

(21 votes, average: 3.81 out of 5)

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“Sliding Easy” with the CURTIS FULLER SEXTET.   What an amazing line up:   LEE MORGAN. HANK MOBLEY. TOMMY FLANAGAN. PAUL CHAMBERS. ELVIN JONES.   Arrangements by:   BENNY GOLSON & GIGI GRYCE.     United Artists.   (1959)

1. Down home
2. C.T.A.
3. When lights are low
4. I wonder Where our love has gone
5. Bongo bop
6. Bit of heaven

(28 votes, average: 3.39 out of 5)

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The Gerry Mulligan Quartet “Reunion” with Chet Baker. World Pacific Records

Mulligan (BS), Baker (T), Henry Grimes (B), Dave Bailey (D) (1957)

The Mulligan-Baker group of 1952-53 was one of the best and most popular jazz ensembles of the fifties (even without a piano!). This reunion session was one of the few times the two leaders recorded together afterwards.

(21 votes, average: 4.19 out of 5)

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

(34 votes, average: 4.62 out of 5)

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Milt Hinton, Wendell Marshall and Bull Rather.   Released in 1955.

Songs: Prelude to a Kiss, Fump, I Hear a Rhapsody, Moon Over Miami (Arr: Al Cohn); How Blue Was My Bass, Tenderly, The Continental, Careless (Arr: Billy Byers); Begin the Beguine, Bull in a China Shop, I Poured My Heart Into a Song, Crazy She Calls Me (Arr: Manny Albam). Other performers include Al Cohn, Danny Banks, Billy Byers, Joe Newman, Barry Galbraith, Osie Johnson, Hal McKusick, Jimmy Nottingham, Gene De Novi, and Al Hall. Liner notes by Bill Zeitung.

(14 votes, average: 3.64 out of 5)

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The album’s a real classic from Dexter’s first big “comeback” period (1961)– and represents the strength of his Blue Note years at their best! (This is his second on the label.)   Gordon’s rich, full tone isn’t diminished a bit here — and his inventive blowing is given free reign on a set of quartet numbers recorded with Kenny Drew, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. The album’s got a few strong originals from Gordon including pieces from Gordon’s score for the Los Angeles production of “The Connection,” “Soul Sister”, “Ernie’s Tune”, and “I Want More — plus the very sweet Kenny Drew tracks “Modal Mood” and “Clear The Dex” and the standards “The End Of A Love Affair” and “Smile” (written by Charlie Chaplin!). This album and the session that produced “Doin’ Alright” were held just days apart while Gordon was visiting stateside after becoming an expatriate in Europe.

This has all the pedigree and credentials of the landmark hard bop recording it is, including Blue Note owner Alfred Lion producing; partner Francis Wolf‘s cover photo; Rudy Van Gelder engineering; and Leonard Feather liner notes.

(36 votes, average: 4.44 out of 5)

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The debut record of Curtis Fuller as a session leader, “New Trombone” (1957) with Red Kyner (Sonny Red), Hank Jones, Doug Watkins and Louis Hayes. Prestige. Cover design by Reid Miles. Liner notes by Ira Gitler. Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.

(18 votes, average: 4.78 out of 5)

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Another from Uncle Gil.

(14 votes, average: 4.50 out of 5)

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