Personnel:
John Payne, Hal Posey, Joe Bovello (tp), Earl Swope, Rob Swope (tp), Al Seibert, Ted Efantis (ts), Joe Davis (bs), Bill Potts (p, arr), John Beal (b), Freddy Merkle (d)
Reference: 74321 61111 2
Bar code: 743216111121
Featuring the original compositions and arrangements of Bill Potts.
Tracklisting:
01. Proto Cool 5:14
-Solo order: John Beal, Joe Davis, Ted Efantis, Bill Potts
02. Pottsville, U.S.A. 3:50
-Solo order: Al Seibert, Earl Swope, Bill Potts, John Beal
03. White House 3:35
-Solo order: John Payne, Joe Davis, Earl Swope, Al Seibert
04. Pernod 806 4:00
-Solo order: Al Seibert, Earl Swope, Bill Potts
05. 555 Feet High 4:28
-Solo order: Rob Swope, Earl Swope, Al Seibert, Joe Bovello
06. Happy Daze 5:10
-Solo order: Al Seibert, Earl Swope, Bill Potts
07. Aide De "Comp" 4:19
-Solo order: Bill Potts, Ted Efantis, Al Seibert, Hal Posey, Earl Swope, Joe Bovello
08. Shhhhhh! 4:53
-Solo order: Al Seibert, Ted Efantis, Rob Swope, John Payne, Earl Swope
09. D.C. Current 3:29
-Solo order: Ted Efantis, Rob Swope, John Payne, Earl Swope
10. Lunch Box 3:19
-Solo order: Earl Swope, Al Seibert, Bill Potts
Total time: 42:32 min.
Originally issued as Vik (a subsidiary of RCA) LX-1114
A High fidelity Recording
Freddy Merkle Ensemble (#1,3,5,7 & 9):
John Payne, Hal Posey, Joe Bovello (tp); Earl Swope, Rob Swope (tb); Al Seibert, Ted Efantis (ts); Joe Davis (bs); Bill Potts (p, arr); John Beal (b); Freddy Merkle (d).
Freddy Merkle Quintet (#2,4,6,8 & 10):
Earl Swope (tb); Al Seibert (ts); Bill Potts (p, arr); John Beal (b); Freddy Merkle (d).
Recorded at RCA Victor Studio No. 3, in New York City, May 10, 1957
Session directed by Bob Rolontz
Liner notes: Willis Conover
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[...] "In 1957, Potts wrote and arranged every number and played piano on the VIK LP, Jazz Under the Dome, by drummer Freddy Merkle's eleven-piece group, supplying such gems as "555 Feet High," "Proto Cool," "White House," "D.C. Current," "Shhhhh!" and "Aide de 'Comp'." Like "555 Feet High" (the height of the Washington Monument) uses one of Potts' favorite devices, the fugue or rondo, in which one section of the band (usually the reeds) states the melody, then is joined by another and another in variations of the main theme, with trumpets, trombones and saxophones playing breathtaking counterpoint until brought together by a dramatic and dynamic coda."
Jack Bowers (March 4, 2005)
All About Jazz
