Louis Bellson

This is the stellar Louis Bellson big band in full flow at The Summit night club in Hollywood in 1962, with the leader consistently tasteful, commanding and propulsive without being obtrusive. Though the band is showcased rather than the players – the fine arrangements come from the cream of West Coast writers like Marty Paich, Shorty Rogers and Banny Carter - there are high-class solo contributions from Conte Candoli, Joe Maini, Bill Perkins, Lou Levy, Jimmy Zito and Carrington Visor throughout. Particularly memorable are Paich’s swinging St. Louie, the power Carter achieves with the full band in Amoroso, and a 3/4 work by Shorty Rogers, With Bells On. The great sound engineer, Wally Heider, the musician’s friend and a master of the electronic esthetics of on-the-spot, big-band recordings, delivered superb recording quality.

No less interesting are Bellson’s previously unreleased small band sides recorded at Hollywood’s United Recorders studio during the two days following the live performances at The Summit. Featured in a set of arrangements by Marty Paich are key soloists of the big band, with the addition of the extraordinary trombonist, Frank Rosolino, on a refreshing, disciplined and buoyantly swinging session.

PERSONNEL:

[1-12] from the Roulette album Big Band Jazz from The Summit:

JOHN AUDINO, JIMMY ZITO, CONTE CANDOLI, FRANK HUGGINS, RAY TRISCARI, UAN RASEY & AL PORCINO, trumpet
ARTHUR MAEBE, frecnh horn
NICK DI MAIO, MIKE BARONE, trombone
ERNIE TACK, bass trombone
RED CALLENDER, tuba
JOE MAINI, WILLIE GREEN, alto sax
BILL PERKINS, CARRINGTON VISOR, tenor sax
TEDDY LEE, baritone sax
GENE ESTES, vibraphone
TONNY RIZZI, guitar
LOU LEVY, piano
JIMMY BOND, bass
LOUIS BELLSON, drums

Live at The Summit, Hollywood, January 22 - 24, 1962.

[13-19] Small Band Unreleased Studio Session:

CONTE CANDOLI, JIMMY ZITO, trumpet
FRANK ROSOLINO, trombone
JOE MAINI, alto sax
CARRINGTON VISOR, tenor sax on 15-20
BILL PERKINS, baritone sax
LOU LEVY, piano
JIMMY BOND, bass
LOUIS BELLSON, drums
Arrangements by Marty Paich.

Hollywood, January 25 & 26, 1962.

TRACKS:

01. Who’s Who
02. Cool
03. Amoroso
04. Prelude
05. Gumshoe
06. Blitzen
07. St. Louie
08. Moon Is Low
09. Doozy
10. Lou’s Blues
11. With Bells On
12. The Diplomat Speaks
13. Chop Chop Waltz
14. The Dipsy Doodle
15. Blowing the Blues
16. Opus de Funk
17. Cotton Tail
18. Walkin’
19. Moanin’
20. Don’cha Go ‘Way Mad