Joe Castro

Lush Life - A Musical Journey (JAZZ)

View larger

Display all pictures

Remove this product from my favorite's list.
Add this product to my list of favorites.
Share on Facebook!
Print

LABEL CODE SSC 1391

Title Lush Life - A Musical Journey

Author Joe Castro

Label Sunnyside

EAN 016728139120

Reference JZD 147679

STYLE JAZZ

DISCS NUMBER 6

Currently unavailable

Notify me when available

• SIX FULL LENGTH COMPACT DISCS OF NEVER BEFORE HEARD PRIVATE RECORDINGS OF PIANIST JOE CASTRO IN A VARIETY MUSICAL SETTINGS FROM TRIO TO BIG BAND FROM 1955-1966.

The legacy of Joe Castro was passed down in hours of invaluable recordings of interviews and his music, including jam sessions with some of the leading musicians of his generation and long lost, never released recordings from Clover. Sunnyside Records has collaborated with the Castro estate to have the musical recordings mastered and compiled for release on the new boxset Lush Life – A Musical Journey.

The recordings provide an intriguing view of Castro’s eclectic musical world and that of the musicians he befriended along the way. Listeners will hear the tremendous contributions of legendary musicians, like Stan Getz, Chico Hamilton, Teddy Edwards, Zoot Sims, Oscar Pettiford, Lucky Thompson, Leroy Vinnegar, Paul Motian and Billy Higgins.

There are recordings of casual jam sessions that were held at either of Doris Duke’s residences, Falcon Lair in Beverly Hills, California or Duke Farms in New Jersey. There are also studio sessions from small groups and large ensembles led by Castro and Teddy Edwards that were initially recorded for release on Clover.

The project was taken on under the lead of Castro himself from his Nevada home. After he passed in 2009, researcher Daniel Richard and Castro’s son James worked closely together to find photos, gather reminiscences and mix the audio material, mostly left on analog tape. Further in depth research by Richard at Duke Libraries at Duke University and regular trips to New York and Nevada have uncovered a remarkable treasure trove of unique and unheard material, most presented here for the first time.

THE ALBUMS INCLUDED

DISC 1: JOE CASTRO'S JAM SESSIONS: ABSTRACT CANDY
Jam sessions recorded at Duke’s Falcon Lair home which feature trumpeter John Anderson, woodwind expert Buddy Collette, drummer Chico Hamilton and bassists Buddy Woodson and Bob Bertaux.

DISC 2: JOE CASTRO'S FRIENDS: FALCON BLUES - TEDDY WILSON'S JAM SESSIONS
Three sessions, two from July 1955 and one from January 1956 at Falcon Lair, that feature the great Teddy Wilson on piano and feature saxophonists Stan Getz and Zoot Sims.

DISC 3: JOE CASTRO'S JAM SESSIONS: JUST JOE
Two sessions from February 1956 provide a look at Castro’s own playing with the illustrious lineup of trombonist Sonny Truitt, saxophonists Zoot Sims and Lucky Thompson, bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Ron Jefferson.

DISC 4: JOE CASTRO: FEELING THE BLUES
The Quartet Sessions – Castro leads his tremendous working quartet of saxophonist Teddy Edwards, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Billy Higgins at Falcon Lair in January 1959

DISC 5: JOE CASTRO BIG BAND: REFLECTION
Initially recorded for Castro’s own Clover label but never released, theJoe Castro Big Band’s music was the leader’s most ambitious project. The Band performs pieces by Castro and friends Leroy Vinnegar andTeddy Edwards with aplomb and features some of the West Coast’s most legendary musicians, including Al Porcino, Conte Candoli, Frank Rosolino, Bob Cooper and Stan Levey

DISC 6: TEDDY EDWARDS TENTET: ANGEL CITY
Another project that went unreleased on Clover sees the great saxophonist Teddy Edwards leading his own midsized ensemble of Los Angeles based greats.