George Wallington

Featuring: George Wallington (p), Curley Russell, Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Pierre Michelot, Teddy Kotick (b), Charlie Perry, Max Roach, Jean-Louis Viale, Art Taylor, Nick Stabulas (d)


George Wallington, accomplished pianist, composer, and arranger, had been closely associated with the progressive jazz movement since the mid-40s when this new phase of American music was being nurtured in New York’s Harlem and along 52nd St. He was, in fact, the pianist with Dizzy Gillespie’s first bop band at the Onyx club in 1944, where his contributions reflected his innate creative ability, a talent that established him as one of the best composers in the progressive field.


Wallington’s astonishing, fast-moving eloquence as a pianist, contrasted strangely with his introvert, laconic manner as a person. He has too long been taken for granted, but these trio sessions prove he was one of the most incisive and creative of pianists who helped write an important new chapter in jazz.


Sources CD 1:
Tracks #1-2 from the 7" EP, Savoy XP 8112
Tracks #3-10 from the 10" LP Progressive LP-3001
Tracks #1-10 reissued on the 12" LP, Savoy MG-12081, which featured two octet tunes that are not on this CD set.
Tracks #11-18 from the 10" LP, Prestige PRLP-136
Tracks #19-25 from the 10" LP, Prestige PRLP-158
Tracks #26-29 from the 10" LP, Vogue LD-171

Sources CD 2:
Tracks #1-4 from the 10" LP, Vogue LD-171
Tracks #5-12 from the 10" LP, Norgran MGN-24
Tracks #13-23 from the 12" LP, Atlantic LP 1275


Personnel on CD 1:

Tracks #1-2: George Wallington (p), Curley Russell (b) and Charlie Perry (d). Recorded in New York City, on May 9, 1949.

Tracks #3-10: George Wallington (p), Curley Russell (b) and Max Roach (d). Recorded in New York City, on November 21, 1951.

Tracks #11-14: George Wallington (p), Charlie Mingus (b) and Max Roach (d). Recorded in New York City, on September 4, 1952.

Tracks #15-18: George Wallington (p), Oscar Pettiford (b) and max Roach (d). Recorded the same date as the previous session.

Tracks #19-25: George Wallington (p), Curley Russell (b) and Max Roach (d). Recorded in New York City, on may 25, 1953.

Tracks #26-29: George Wallington (p), Pierre Michelot (b) and Jean-Louis Viale (d). Recorded in Paris, on September 24, 1953.


Personnel on CD 2:

Tracks #1-4: George Wallington (p), Pierre Michelot (b) and Jean-Louis Viale (d). Recorded in Paris, on September 24, 1953.

Tracks #5-12: George Wallington (p), Curley Russell (b) and Art Taylor (d). Recorded in New York City, on June 10, 1954.

Tracks #13-23: George Wallington (p), Teddy Kotick (b) and Nick Stabulas (d). Recorded in Hackensack, N.J. at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, September 4 & 5, 1956.


These sessions were originally handled by CD 1: Tracks #1-2 supervised by Ozzie Cadena. Tracks #8-10 supervised by Gus Grant. Tracks #11-18 produced by Bob Weinstock. Tracks #19-25 supervised by Ira Gliter. Tracks #26-29 produced by Henri Renaud.
CD 2: Tracks #1-4 produced by Henri Renaud. Tracks #5-12 produced by Norman Granz. #13-23 supervised by Nesuhi Ertegun.


Tracklisting:

CD 1

01. Racing
02. Fairyland
03. Fine and Dandy
04. I'll Remember April
05. Twins
06. Polka Dot
07. High Score
08. Hyacinth
09. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
10. Joy Bell
11. Love Beat
12. Summer Rain
13. Escalating
14. Laura
15. Tenderly
16. When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New
17. Red, White and Blue
18. Arrivederci
19. Among Friends
20. My Nephew and I
21. Squeezer's Breezer
22. Variations
23. Ours
24. I Married an Angel
25. Cuckoo Around the Clock
26. Fairyland
27. Woody'n You
28. Just One of Those Things
29. Honeysuckle Rose

CD 2

01. Star Eyes
02. N.Y.
03. A Day in Paris
04. These Foolish Things
05. Before Dawn
06. A Night in Tunisia
07. If I Love Again
08. Your Laughter
09. Thoroughbred
10. Without Reservation
11. Morning Dew
12. Busman's Holiday
13. Godchild
14. Serendipity
15. Billie's Tune
16. The Ghostly Lover
17. Up Jumped the Devil
18. It's All Right with Me
19. The End of a Love Affair
20. Will You Still Be Mine
21. In a Sentimental Mood
22. World Weary
23. One Night of Love

Total time: 155 min


24-Bit Digitally Remastered