In the early Fifties Pete Rugolo was best known for his work as Stan Kenton's chief arranger. After that, he spent five years arranging music for singers and writing Hollywood film scores. Then, in January 1954, he signed on with Columbia Records as an important part of their plans to expand both their dance and jazz divisions. "As I got going with the writing and recording, I became enthusiastic about the possibilities of the sound I could have with my own band," said Pete, after gathering a band of 20 men made up by the top-rated sidemen in the Hollywood studios.
This CD set includes the complete songbook Pete Rugolo managed to record with his orchestra between 1954 and 1955. We can hear instrumentation including French horn, oboe, flute, piccolo, celesta, tympani, timbales, bongos and tuba in addition to the regular complement. There are accordingly some unusual voicings and resultantly pleasant tone colors that reflect the Milhaud influence. Yet, these are the very particular musical adventures of an accomplished, imaginative and successful writer. In them, Rugolo skilfully incorporates the essence of jazz and sprays it with his ever-present sense of humor.
Tracklist
Total time: 121:33 min.
CD 1
01. That old Black Magic
02. Laura
03. Early Stan
04. Come Back Little Rocket
05. You Stepped Out of a Dream
06. California Melodies
07. Bazaar
08. 360 Special
09. Theme from the Lombardo Ending
10. Mañana
11. Good Evening Friends Boogie
12. King Porter Storm
13. In the Shade of the Old Apple
14. Jingle Bells Mambo
15. Poinciana
16. My Funny Valentine
17. Rugolo Meets Shearing
18. Mixin the Blues
19. 4.20 AM
20. Latin Nocturne
CD 2
01. There will Never Be Another You
02. Conversation
03. You are Too Beautiful
04. Heres Pete
05. Shave and a Haircut
06. Sidewalks of New York
07. Manhattan Mambo
08. Sambamba
09. When Your Lover has Gone
10. Everything I have is Yours
11. Gone with the Wind
12. Hornorama
13. Little White Lies
14. Bobbin with Bob
15. Quiet Village (Cha cha cha)
16. Bongo Dance
17. Intermezzo
18. Montevideo
19. In a Sentimental Mood
20. Me Next!
Album details
Sources CD-1:
Tracks #1-10 & 13, from "Introducing Pete Rugolo and his Orchestra"
(Columbia CL 635)
Tracks #11,12 & 14-18, from "Adventures in Rhythm (Columbia CL 604)
Track #19 from, "Rugolomania" (Columbia CL 689)
Track #20 from "New Sounds by Pete Rugolo" (Harmony HL 7003)
Sources CD-2:
Tracks # 1-4 & 8, from "Adventures in Rhythm" (Columbia CL 604)
Tracks # 10-14, 16-20 & 22, from "Rugolomania" Columbia CL 689)
Tracks # 5,7,9,15 & 21, from "New Sounds by Pete Rugolo"
(Harmony HL 7003)
Track # 6 from, "Introducing Pete Rugolo and his Orchestra"
(Columbia CL 635)
Personnel in CD 1:
Tracks #1-4: Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, John Halliburton (tb), Fred Fox, John Grass (frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Harry Klee (piccolo, as), Bud Shank (fl, as), Bob Cooper (oboe, ts), Jimmy Giuffre, (ts, bs), Bob Gordon (bs), Claude Williamson (p, celeste), Howard Roberts (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d), Bernie Mattison (tympani and percussion). Recorded in Hollywood, on February 8, 1954.
Tracks #5-8: Same but Joe Eager (frh) replaces Graas. Recorded in Hollywood, on February 24, 1954.
Tracks #9-11: Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, Bob Fitzpatrick (tb), Fred Fox, Bill Hinshaw (frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Harry Klee (piccolo, as), Bud Shank (fl, as), Bob Cooper (oboe, ts), Jimmy Giuffre, (ts, bs), Bob Gordon (bs), Claude Williamson (p, celeste), Howard Roberts (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d), Bernie Mattison (tympani and percussion). Recorded in Hollywood, on April 28, 1954.
Tracks #13-16: Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, Buddy Childers (tp), Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, George Roberts, Bob Fitzpatrick (tb), Vince DeRosa, Sinclair Lott (frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Ethmer Rotten (piccolo, as), Bud Shank (fl, as), Bob Cooper (oboe, ts), Jimmy Giuffre, (ts, bs), Bob Gordon (bs), Claude Williamson (p, celeste), Howard Roberts (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d), Bernie Mattison (tympani and percussion). Recorded in Hollywood, on April 29, 1954.
Tracks #17-20: Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Milt Bernhart, George Roberts, John Halliburton, Herbie Harper (tb), John Cave, Sinclair Lott (frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Harry Klee (piccolo, as), Bud Shank (fl, as), Bob Cooper (oboe, ts), Jimmy Giuffre, (ts, bs), Bob Gordon (bs), Claude Williamson (p, celeste), Howard Roberts (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d), Bernie Mattison (tympani and percussion). Recorded in Hollywood, on May 10, 1954.
Personnel in CD 2:
Tracks #1-5: Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, Don Paladino (tp), Milt Bernhart, Bob Fitzpatrick, John Halliburton, Herbie Harper (tb), John Cave, Sinclair Lott (frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Harry Klee (piccolo, as), Bud Shank (fl, as), Bob Cooper (oboe, ts), Jimmy Giuffre, (ts, bs), Bob Gordon (bs), Claude Williamson (p, celeste), Laurindo Almeida (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d), Bernie Mattison (tympani and percussion). Recorded in Hollywood, on June 21, 1954.
Tracks #6-8: Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, Mickey Mangano (tp), Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Bob Fitzpatrick, Herbie Harper (tb), John Graas, Sinclair Lott (frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Ethmer Roten, Bud Shank (fl, as), Bob Cooper (oboe, ts), Jimmy Giuffre, (ts, bs), Bob Gordon (bs), Claude Williamson (p, celeste), Howard Roberts (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d), Ralph Hensel (xyl), Frank Guerrero (timbales), Joe Guerrero (bgo, perc), Lynn Franklyn (vcl #7). Recorded in Hollywood, on July 8, 1954.
Tracks #9-12: Larry Klein, Leon Merian, Doug Mettome, John Wilson (tp), Eddie Bert, Kai Winding, Milt Gold, Frank Rehak (tb), Stan Paley, Julius Watkins (frh), Bill Barber (tuba), Herbie Mann (fl, piccolo, as), Dave Schildkraut (as, cl), Chasy Dean (ts, cl), Joe Megro (ts), Marty Flax (bs), Gordon Brown (p), Perry Lopez (g), Whitey Mitchell (b), Jerry Segal (d), Teddy Sommer (perc). Recorded in NYC, on October 11, 1954.
Tracks #13-16: Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Childers, Uan Rasey, Shorty Rogers (tp), Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts, Bob Fitzpatrick, Herbie Harper (tb), John Graas, Vince DeRosa (frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Harry Klee (piccolo, as), Bud Shank (fl, as), Bob Cooper (oboe, ts), Jimmy Giuffre, (ts, bars), Bob Gordon (bars), Russ Freeman (p, celeste), Howard Roberts (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d), Bernie Mattison (tympani, perc), Jack Costanzo (bgo). Recorded in Hollywood, on February 22, 1955.
Track #17: Bud Shank (fl, as), Harry Klee (fl, piccolo, as), Bob Cooper (oboe, ts), Jimmy Giuffre, (ts, bs), Bob Gordon (bs), Russ Freeman (p, celeste), Howard Roberts (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d). Recorded in Hollywood, on February 22, 1955.
Tracks #18-20: The Rugolettes: Milt Bernhart (tb), John Graas (frh), Paul Sarmento (tuba), Bud Shank (fl), Bob Cooper (oboe), Howard Roberts (g), Harry Babasin (b), Shelly Manne (d). Recorded in Hollywood, on February 23, 1955.
Original recordings supervised by Paul Weston
This CD release produced by Jordi Pujol
Photos: Fresh Sound Archives
Digitally Remastered
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Dedicated to the memory of Pete Rugolo (1915-2011)
