George Wallington, accomplished pianist, composer, and arranger, had been closely associated with the progressive jazz movement since the mid-40s when this new phase of American music was being nurtured in New Yorks Harlem and along 52nd St. He was, in fact, the pianist with Dizzy Gillespies first bop band at the Onyx club in 1944, where his contributions reflected his innate creative ability, a talent that established him as one of the best composers in the progressive field.
Wallingtons astonishing, fast-moving eloquence as a pianist, contrasted strangely with his introvert, laconic manner as a person. He has too long been taken for granted, but these trio sessions prove he was one of the most incisive and creative of pianists who helped write an important new chapter in jazz.
Tracklist
Total time: 155:42 min.
CD 1
01. Racing (George Wallington) 2:19
02. Fairyland (George Wallington) 2:48
03. Fine and Dandy (Swift-James) 3:01
04. I'll Remember April (Raye-Depaul) 2:30
05. Twins (George Wallington) 2:21
06. Polka Dot (George Wallington) 2:52
07. High Score (George Wallington) 2:48
08. Hyacinth (George Wallington)2:38
09. I Didn't Know What Time It Was (Rodgers-Hart) 2:16
10. Joy Bell (George Wallington) 2:22
11. Love Beat (George Wallington) 2:51)
12. Summer Rain (George Wallington) 2:44
13. Escalating (George Wallington) 2:34
14. Laura (Mercer-Raskin) 2:55
15. Tenderly (Gross-Lawrence) 2:58
16. When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New (Douglas-Salieri-McCarthy) 2:34
17. Red, White and Blue (George Wallington) 2:43
18. Arrivederci (George Wallington) 2:26
19. Among Friends (George Wallington) 2:56
20. My Nephew and I (George Wallington) 2:39
21. Squeezer's Breezer (George Wallington) 2:20
22. Variations (George Wallington) 4:34
23. Ours (Leonard Feather) 2:30
24. I Married an Angel (Rodgers-Hart) 2:31
25. Cuckoo Around the Clock (George Wallington) 2:26
26. Fairyland (George Wallington) 2:41
27. Woody'n You (Dizzy Gillespie) 2:40
28. Just One of Those Things (Cole Porter) 3:03
29. Honeysuckle Rose (Razaf-Waller) 2:54
CD 2
01. Star Eyes (Raye-DePaul) 4:02
02. N.Y. (George Wallington) 4:34
03. A Day in Paris (George Wallington) 2:41
04. These Foolish Things (Marvel-Strachey-link) 2:37
05. Before Dawn (George Wallington) 3:26
06. A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie-Paparelli) 3:22
07. If I Love Again (Murria-Oakland) 2:48
08. Your Laughter (Patty McGovern) 3:02
09. Thoroughbred (George Wallington) 3:18
10. Without Reservation (George Wallington) 2:49
11. Morning Dew (George Wallington) 3:20
12. Busman's Holiday (George Wallington) 2:38
13. Godchild (George Wallington) 3:20
14. Serendipity (George Wallington) 3:04
15. Billie's Tune (George Wallington) 3:08
16. The Ghostly Lover (George Wallington) 3:47
17. Up Jumped the Devil (George Wallington) 2:41
18. It's All Right with Me (Cole Porter) 2:55
19. The End of a Love Affair (Edward C. Redding) 3:46
20. Will You Still Be Mine (Matt Dennis) 3:02
21. In a Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington) 4:46
22. World Weary (Noel Coward) 3:15
23. One Night of Love (Schertzinger-Kahn) 2:55
Album details
Sources CD 1:
Tracks #1-2, from the 7" EP, Savoy XP 8112
Tracks #3-10, from the 10" LP Progressive LP-3001
Tracks #1-10, reissued on the 12" LP, Savoy MG-12081, which featured two octet tunes that are not on this CD set.
Tracks #11-18, from the 10" LP, Prestige PRLP-136
Tracks #19-25, from the 10" LP, Prestige PRLP-158
Tracks #26-29, from the 10" LP, Vogue LD-171
Sources CD 2:
Tracks #1-4, from the 10" LP, Vogue LD-171
Tracks #5-12, from the 10" LP, Norgran MGN-24
Tracks #13-23, from the 12" LP, Atlantic LP 1275
Personnel on CD 1:
Tracks #1-2: George Wallington (piano), Curley Russell (bass), Charlie Perry (drums).
Recorded in New York City, May 9, 1949
Tracks #3-10: George Wallington (piano), Curley Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums).
Recorded in New York City, November 21, 1951
Tracks #11-14: George Wallington (piano), Charlie Mingus (bass), Max Roach (drums), Chuck Wayne (mandola only on #11).
Recorded in New York City, September 4, 1952
Tracks #15-18: George Wallington (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Max Roach (drums).
Recorded the same date as the previous session.
Tracks #19-25: George Wallington (piano), Curley Russell (bass), Max Roach (drums).
Recorded in New York City, May 25, 1953
Tracks #26-29: George Wallington (piano), Pierre Michelot (bass), Jean-Louis Viale (drums).
Recorded in Paris, September 24, 1953
Personnel on CD 2:
Tracks #1-4: George Wallington (piano), Pierre Michelot (bass), Jean-Louis Viale (drums).
Recorded in Paris, September 24, 1953
Tracks #5-12: George Wallington (piano), Curley Russell (bass), Art Taylor (drums).
Recorded in New York City, June 10, 1954
Tracks #13-23: George Wallington (piano), Teddy Kotick (bass), Nick Stabulas (drums).
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey, September 4 & 5, 1956
These sessions were originally handled by
CD 1: Tracks #1-2 supervised by Ozzie Cadena. Tracks #8-10 supervised by Gus Grant. Tracks #11-18 produced by Bob Weinstock. Tracks #19-25 supervised by Ira Gliter. Tracks #26-29 produced by Henri Renaud.
CD 2: Tracks #1-4 produced by Henri Renaud. Tracks #5-12 produced by Norman Granz. #13-23 supervised by Nesuhi Ertegun.
This CD compilation produced by Jordi Pujol.
© 2010 by Fresh Sound Records
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