Willie Thomas

[Vincent, Paris]

I was browsing some old Down Beat issues and found the following mention in the "ad lib" column :

“Vee Jay Records recorded furiously in October. The company cut sessions by blind pianist Chris Anderson’s trio, the MJT+3, Lee Morgan, Frank Strozier and Willie Thomas (MJT+3 trumpeter). Eddie Higgins was signed by the expanding Chicago Negro-owned company and is set to record is first date this fall.” (11/24/1960, vol. 27, n°24, page 48).

I did some research and found the following :

- Chris Anderson trio session is "My Romance" (recorded on October 12, according to AMG)

- the MJT+3 is "Message From Walton Street" (recorded on October 20)

- Lee Morgan session is "Expoobident" (recorded on October 14, according to Mosaic)

- Frank Strozier session is "Cool, Calm and Collected" (recorded on Oct. 13)

- Eddie Higgins did record an album for Vee Jay, in November 1960, "The Eddie Higgins Trio".

- Also to be mentioned is Wayne Shorter "Second Genesis" (recorded on October 11).

I cannot locate any date by trumpeter Willie Thomas as a leader.

Now, as far as I know, the Wayne Shorter date remained unreleased until 1974, the Strozier date until 1993 and the MJT+3 date until 2000 when it was finally issued by Koch. Could it be that the Willie Thomas is still on the shelves ? Was Down Beat report wrong ? Anyone knows anything about it ? Has this been discussed before ?

Some interesting links : Frank Strozier Discography by Noal Cohen

Eddie Higgins discography

Vee Jay story & discography

Edited July 21, 2003 by Vincent, Paris

[Michael Fitzgerald]

The Willie Thomas session is listed in discographies (October 10, 1960) - it has Bunky Green on alto, Chris Anderson on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Walter Perkins on drums. Willie is sending a copy of at least some of this material to me as we speak.

Mike

[Vincent, Paris]

Thanks Mike. I bet you would know.

So, was it ever released by Vee Jay (or anyone else) or is Willie Thomas sending you a private tape from his personal collection ?

Do you have any idea why so many of these albums remained unpublished for years ?

Vincent.

Edited July 22, 2003 by Vincent, Paris

[Michael Fitzgerald]

It's a tape from his collection. It has never been issued.

Vee Jay went through a lot of craziness in the 1960s, legally and financially. I guess maybe their priorities were on the Four Seasons and The Beatles rather than jazz at that point.

Mike