Oscar Pettiford

A VERITABLE FEAST OF MOSTLY UNISSUED OSCAR PETTTIFORD BROADCASTS

The newly appeared 2-CD Uptown set OSCAR PETTIFORD -NEW YORK 1955-1958 (UPCD 27.86/87) presents the inimitable leader in Birdland and Op's Black Pearl broadcasts featuring an array of stars, including Donald Byrd, Johnny Coles, Art Farmer, J. R. Monterose, Gigi Gryce, and Hank Jones.

The groups go from sextets to nonets and big band performances, and with the sole exception of one of the Birdland shows (which only appeared on a long unavailable Spotlite LP), are all previously unissued, not even being (yet) listed on the Tom Lord Discography!

The broadcasts are all in good sound quality and showcase rarely heard formations by such a brilliant artist as Pettiford, whose groups unfortunately were not as frequently recorded as they should have been (Pettiford unexpectedly died in Copenhagen in 1960 from a virus closely related to polio at the age of 37). This amazing set, showcasing more than one hour and a half of music, makes then a worthy addition to his catalog.

COLLECTIVE PERSONNEL:

DONALD BYRD, JOHNNY COLES, RAY COPELAND, ART FARMER, JOE WILDER, trumpet
EDDIE BERT, JIMMY CLEVELAND, trombone
DAVID AMRAM, JIM BUFFINGTON, ED LONDON, flugelhorn
GIGI GRYCE, GENE QUILL, alto sax
J.R. MONTEROSE, tenor sax
JEROME RICHARDSON, tenor sax, flute
DANNY BANK, DAVID KURTZER, baritone sax
SAHIB SHIHAB, alto & baritone sax, flute
HANK JONES, DICK KATZ, HOD O'BRIEN, piano
BETTY GLAMANN, harp
CARL PRUITT, bass
OSCAR PETTIFORD, cello, bass
OSIE JOHNSON, EARL "BUSTER" SMITH, SHADOW WILSON, drums

Arragements by:
Benny Golson, Gigi Gryce, Oscar Pettiford, Lucky Thompson, Ernie Wilkins

DISC 1 [1-5] Birdland, New York, September 17, 1955.
DISC 1 [6-14] Birdland, New York, May 18, 1957
DISC 1 [15-20] Birdland, New York, May 26, 1957
DISC 1 [21-25] Birdland, New York, March-June, 1957
DISC 2 [1-13] Birdland, New York, May 1957
DISC 2 [14-23] OP's Black Pearl, New York, March 1958

DISC 1:

01. Bohemia After Dark
02. Kamman's A'Comin'
03. You'd be So Nice To Come Home To
04. Jack The Bear
05. Bohemia After Dark
06. The Gentle Art of Love
07. Nica's Tempo
08. Seventh Heaven
09. Perdido
10. Announcer: Arthur Godfrey Time Promo
11. Two French Fries
12. He's My Guy
13. Smoke Signal
14. The Gentle Art of Love
15. Announcer/ Leonard Feather
16. The Gentle Art of Love
17. Speculation
18. The Gentle Art of Love
19. The Pendulum At Falcon's Lair
20. Smoke Signal
21. The Gentle Art of Love
22. Aw! C'mon
23. Harp Capers
24. Nica's Tempo
25. Smoke Signal

DISC 2:

01. The Gentle Art of Love
02. Nica's Tempo
03. I Remmenber Clifford
04. Not So Sleepy
05. Laura
06. The Pendulum at Falcon's Lair
07. Smoke Signal
08. The Gentle Art of Love
09. Nica's Tempo
10. Seventh Heaven
11. He's My Guy
12. Sunrise-Sunset
13. The Pedulum At Falcon's Lair
14. Bohemia After Dark
15. 45 Degree Angle
16. Willow Weep For Me
17. Now See How You Are
18. Battle Axe
19. Bohemia After Dark
20. Bohemia After Dark
21. Stablemates
22. Laura
23. Battle Axe