Benny Bailey

Benny Bailey (tp), Ake Persson (tb), Arne Domnerus (as), Bernt Rosengren, Bjarne Nerem (ts), Lennart Jansson (bs), Gösta Theselius, Lennart Grunnell (p), Kurt Lindgren, Sture Nordin, Gunnar Johnson (b), Herbert Katz (g), Egil Johansen, Joe Harris (d)

Tracklisting:

01. You Go To My Head
02. Don’t Blame Me
03. Benny’s Blues
04. It’s You Or No One
05. Sonny Man
06. Confirmation
07. I Can’t Get Started
08. Now’s The Time
09. Fallen Feathers
10. Jones Beach
11. The Golden Touch
12. Plenty, Plenty Soul
13. I’m Gone
14. Meet Benny Bailey

Total time: 72:18 min.

Tracks #1 & 2 from 45 rpm 7" EP "Benny Bailey" (Gazell GEP 12).
Tracks #3 & 4 from 45 rpm 7" EP "Benny Bailey in Sweden" (Sonet SXP 2512).
Tracks #5 & 6 from 45 rpm 7" EP "Benny Bailey Quintet Featuring Bernt Rosengren" (Sonet SXP 2515).
Tracks #7 & 8 from 45 rpm 7" EP "Benny Bailey Suomessa" (Parlophone PAR 407).
Tracks #9-14 from 12" LP "Quincy - Here We Come" (Metronome MLP 15030).

Personnel:
Tracks #1 & 2: Benny Bailey (tp), Lennart Grunnell (p), Kurt Lindgren (b) and Egil Johansen (d).
Recorded at Europa Film Studios, Stockholm, on March 4, 1957.

Tracks #3 & 4: Benny Bailey (tp), Nils Lindberg (p), Sture Nordin (b) and Joe Harris (d). Recorded in Stockholm, on February 20, 1958.

Tracks #5 & 6: Benny Bailey (tp), Bernt Rosengren (ts), Ingmar Westberg (p), Sture Nordin (b) and Joe Harris (d). Recorded in Stockholm, on March 4, 1959.

Tracks #7 & 8: Benny Bailey (tp), Teuvo Suojarvi (p), Herbert Katz (g), Erik Lindstrom (b) and Erkki Valaste (d). Recorded in Helsinki, Finland, on May 15, 1959.

Track #9: Benny Bailey (tp), Gösta Theselius (p), Gunnar Johnson (b) and Joe Harris (d). Recorded at Millessalen Studios, Hotel Foresta, Stockholm, on October 8, 1959.

Track #10: Benny Bailey (tp), Arne Domnerus (as), Gösta Theselius (p), Gunnar Johnson (b) and Joe Harris (d). Recorded at Millessalen Studios, Hotel Foresta, Stockholm, on October 8, 1959.

Track #11: Benny Bailey (tp), Ake Person (tb), Lennart Jansson (bs), Gunnar Svensson (p), Gunnar Johnson (b) and Joe Harris (d). Recorded at Millessalen Studios, Hotel Foresta, Stockholm, on October 8, 1959.

Tracks #12-14 Benny Bailey (tp), Arne Domnerus (as on #13-14), Bjarne Nerem (ts), Lennart Jansson (bs), Gösta Theselius (p), Gunnar Johnson (b) and Joe Harris (d). Recorded at Millessalen Studios, Hotel Foresta, Stockholm, on October 8, 1959.


Trumpeter Benny Bailey (1925-2005) had the rare combination of a brassy, powerful attack and a lyrical, melodic line. He was a true successor of Freddie Webster, Fats Navarro and Clifford Brown. In 1948 he joined the ground-breaking Dizzy Gillespie band and, as a member, paid his first visit to Sweden shortly after.

He joined Lionel Hampton’s orchestra one year later and stayed for five. In 1954 he went back to Europe, this time as a member of the Freddy Mitchell band, but left after a few chaotic months in Italy and returned to Sweden to play with Seymor Österwall’s band. He remained in Sweden, where he became one of the most in-demand jazz soloists, and appeared on several record dates as leader and sideman, all before leaving to join the Quincy Jones band for its European 1959-60 winter tour. Quincy, who wrote the song “Meet Benny Bailey” and admired him for his marvelous breath control and remarkable range, said Bailey’s technique was “most perfect”. As a trumpeter himself, he should know.