Personnel:
Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers (tp), Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as), Lester Young, Flip Phillips (ts), Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones (p), Barney Kessel, Irving Ashbyl (g), Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Max Roach (d), Billie Holiday (vcl)
Reference: FSRCD 600
Bar code: 8427328606004
Includes comprenhensive 40-page booklet with accurate recording details, extensive notes, rare photos, plus a reproduction of the original program that was handed during JATP's 12th tour.
The Jazz at the Philharmonic show that was recorded in Carnegie Hall in New York City on September 13, 1952, has taken on legendary and epic proportions over the years. Bits and pieces of the concert have surfaced on vinyl and CD in slapdash fashion through the seasons but this is the first time the original recordings have been issued in their entirety, with the added plus of some newly discovered material.
The concert presented in this package was billed at Norman Granz Jazz at the Philharmonic 12th National Tour. Most of the advance publicity focused on one segment of the show: A drum battle between Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. But, as you can see here, they were not the only stars on hand that evening.
"In a day when most jazz artists play in clubs seating 40-150, it’s hard to believe that at one time hard bopping players performed before packed auditoriums without sacrificing any style or substance. Thanks to the vision of producer Norman Granz who put together the famed package tours of Jazz At The Philharmonic, legends of the swing and bebop era are captured on recordings as they were supposed to be recorded, blowing their brains out in ecstatic sounds. Here's a box set that show how “live” music can actually sound “alive”.
The September 13, 1952 is one for the books, with an overflowing amount of superstars I would pay hundreds of dollars to see today. Roy Eldridge-Charlie Shavers/tp, Benny Carter-Willie Smith/as, Lester Young/Flip Phillips/ts, Hank Jones-Oscar Peterson/p, Barney Kessel-Irving Ashby/g, Ray Brown/b and Buddy Rich-Gene Krupa-Max Roach/dr all bless the stage. Oh, and did I mention that Billie Holday comes on for a glorious read of “Lover Man”? Just thought I’d bring it up, for the record.
The JATP All Star Jam include a “Jam Session Blues” that has everyone getting a chance at the mic, while a trumpet battle has Eldridge and Shavers chasing each other like a dog and his tail. A “Ballad Medley” includes Young fawning over “I Can’t Get Started” and Carter cooing on “Cocktails For Two” with Rich getting a spotlight on the jam of “Cottontail”. Oscar Peterson’s trio of Kessel and Brown swing the daylights out of “C Jam Blues” with Krupa’s team of Smith and Jones digging into a two stepping “Idaho”. An extra bonus is a collection of material from germany and France of the same year, with Krup and Rich going into a spark flying “Drum Battle” and Young swooning on “I Cover The Waterfront”, as well as Phillip’s patented pre-rock and roll rocking on the tenor during “Perdido”. “Essential” is an understatement.
If you want to know what’s missing in today’s music, play this a few times and your questions will all be answered. Many aspire, few attain."
—George W. Harris (October 7, 2024)
https://www.jazzweekly.com
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"Norman Granzs Jazz At The Philharmonic during 1944-57 in the US (and for a few additional years in Europe) were traveling jazz shows that featured all-star jam sessions along with sets by rather notable artists. The entire show from Feb. 29, 1956, which had only previously been partly available in piecemeal fashion, is released on Fresh Sounds two-CD set.
Actually the music probably is from two performances on that day since three of the numbers by the JATP All Stars are repeated. The All-Stars are comprised of trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge, tenors Flip Phillips and Illinois Jacquet, pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Gene Krupa. They perform two explosive versions apiece of Jam At JATP (based onHoneysuckle Rose) and The Modern Set (based on It Dont Mean A Thing), a four-song ballad medley and a feature for Gene Krupa on Drum Boogie.
In addition, Gillespie is showcased on two renditions of My Man. The solos are heated, competitive and exciting if sometimes overshadowed by the even more explosive background riffs played by the other horns. Each of the musicians is heard in prime form, Diz and Roy battle it out, and the results are quite stirring.
Also on this twofer are six rousing numbers by the Oscar Peterson Trio (with Ellis and Brown), and nine selections by Ella Fitzgerald backed by the Trio plus Gene Krupa. Ellas set is highlighted by Hard Hearted Hannah, Lullaby Of Birdland, a version of I Cant Give You Anything But Love that has her expertly imitating Rose Murphy and Louis Armstrong, and the climatic Lady Be Good which finds her joined by the full JATP band. In addition to the music, this box includes a replica of the original JATP program plus another booklet with pictures and liner notes."
—Scott Yanow (April, 2012)
Los Angeles Jazz Scene
