Urbie Green Bethlehem East Coast Jazz Volume 6

[AndrewHill]

Ok, so when I was searching for Urbie Green last night, I got side-tracked with the 10 inch Conn series. So I want to seek your esteemed opinion: is this Bethlehem date worth picking up? Its from the now deleted Avenue Jazz series and its new for $10. I guess, I'm also wondering, what are the chances that Shout Factory or anyone (Fresh Sound?) will re-release this date? This particular store also has Dexter Gordon's Daddy Plays the Horn on Avenue Jazz too for $13 new. Should I just grab these and be done with it?

Thanks in advance,

HG

[J.A.W.]

I had the Japanese Bethlehem CD issue of the Urbie Green date and wasn't impressed, it sounded very uninspired to me. I sold the disc.

[Larry Kart]

Depends on what kind of stuff you like, but if that's the one with Doug Mettome and Al Cohn on bass clarinet, I found it to be very nice. Not a date of pulse-pounding excitement, but that's not Green's thing anyway. The Fresh Sound repackaging of Green's two ABC-Paramount LPs is definitely worthwhile. The big band date has John Carisi arrangements, including the first setting of Carisi's "Springsville."

[AndrewHill]

Depends on what kind of stuff you like, but if that's the one with Doug Mettome and Al Cohn on bass clarinet, I found it to be very nice. Not a date of pulse-pounding excitement, but that's not Green's thing anyway. The Fresh Sound repackaging of Green's two ABC-Paramount LPs is definitely worthwhile. The big band date has John Carisi arrangements, including the first setting of Carisi's "Springsville."

Thank you for the replies so far. If I recall, the Urbie Green does not have Al Cohn on it (but honestly I don't recall; a name that big should've stood out). But it is a sort of biggish band, maybe almost a tentet. I remember that Osie Johnson is one of the drummers (there are two).

Also, what are anyone's thoughts on the Dex date? (I know that was not the main topic of discussion)

[Big Beat Steve]

That Bethlehem (BCP-14) LP by Urbie DOES have Al Cohn on tenor, bass clarinet and flute.

That "Ike Horowitz" is just pseudonym for Al (one might almost have guessed ).

See here:

http://www.jazzdiscography.com/fitzgera/pseudo.htm

As for the music, just like Larry Kart said: Depends on what you're after. Diehard hard bop aficinonados will probably find it all too conventional but if you're in the market for some of the younger "Mainstream" or "Middle jazz" heroes of the 50s then this is for you. And wouldn't be Fresh Sounds's reissue of the Bethlehem, Blue Note and Vanguard LP's on ONE disc metioned in that other BN 10" Conn thread be the best buy (never mind that single track missing from the Bethlehem LP)? That is, unless you have the other two already anyway.

[Fer Urbina]

The big band date has John Carisi arrangements, including the first setting of Carisi's "Springsville."

There's an earlier recording from two months earlier, also with Urbie Green on board but with a smaller ensemble, for a John Carisi album that wasn't released at the time. It's in the "RCA Victor Jazz Workshop - The Arrangers" compilation (it also has a new take on Carisi's "Israel").

F

[JohnS]

I had the Japanese Bethlehem CD issue of the Urbie Green date and wasn't impressed, it sounded very uninspired to me. I sold the disc.

I agree with Hans, but I still have the vinyl.

[J.A.W.]

This is the only Urbie Green Bethlehem album:

East Coast Jazz, Vol.6 - Bethlehem BCP-14 (original LP catalog number)

Recorded in NYC, January 12, 1955

Personnel:

Doug Mettome - trumpet, mellophone

Urbie Green (leader) - trombone

Al Cohn - tenor saxophone

Danny Bank - baritone saxophone

Jimmy Lyon - piano

Oscar Pettiford - bass

Jimmy Campbell - drums

Tracks:

Mutation

Green Dolphin Street

How About You?

Assafras

Recorded in NYC, January 19, 1955

Personnel:

Doug Mettome - trumpet

Urbie Green (leader) - trombone

Al Cohn - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

Danny Bank - clarinet, flute, baritone saxophone

Jimmy Lyon - piano

Oscar Pettiford - bass

Osie Johnson - drums

Tracks:

Sneaky Pete

Just One of Those Things

Love Locked Out

Melody in B-flat

Three Little Words

When Your Lover Has Gone

Edited September 15, 2007 by J.A.W.

[J.A.W.]

Also, what are anyone's thoughts on the Dex date? (I know that was not the main topic of discussion)

The Dexter Gordon Bethlehem date is one of two sessions he recorded in the mid-1950s, the other one being Dexter Plays Hot and Cool (Dootone). It's nice, but not essential, at least not to my ears. Here are the details:

Daddy Plays the Horn - Bethlehem BCP-36 (original LP catalog number)

Recorded in Hollywood, September 18, 1955

Personnel:

Dexter Gordon (leader) - tenor saxophone

Kenny Drew - piano

Leroy Vinnegar - bass

Lawrence Marable - drums

Tracks:

Daddy Plays the Horn

Confirmation

Darn That Dream

Number Four

Autumn in New York

You Can Depend on Me

Edited September 15, 2007 by J.A.W.

[AndrewHill]

That Bethlehem (BCP-14) LP by Urbie DOES have Al Cohn on tenor, bass clarinet and flute.

That "Ike Horowitz" is just pseudonym for Al (one might almost have guessed ).

See here:

http://www.jazzdiscography.com/fitzgera/pseudo.htm

As for the music, just like Larry Kart said: Depends on what you're after. Diehard hard bop aficinonados will probably find it all too conventional but if you're in the market for some of the younger "Mainstream" or "Middle jazz" heroes of the 50s then this is for you. And wouldn't be Fresh Sounds's reissue of the Bethlehem, Blue Note and Vanguard LP's on ONE disc metioned in that other BN 10" Conn thread be the best buy (never mind that single track missing from the Bethlehem LP)? That is, unless you have the other two already anyway.

Oh, I didn't know that was a pseudonym for Al Cohn! I do dig the 'middle jazz' of the 50's and it doesn't have to be groundbreaking or anything like that. Concerning the fresh Sound, I think I misunderstood what was on that disk. I thought it only had one tune off the Bethlehem, I didn't realize that it had all three albums less one tune. So yes, you're right that would be the better buy.

[AndrewHill]

Also, what are anyone's thoughts on the Dex date? (I know that was not the main topic of discussion)

The Dexter Gordon Bethlehem date is one of two sessions he recorded in the mid-1950s, the other one being Dexter Plays Hot and Cool (Dootone). It's nice, but not essential, at least not to my ears. Here are the details:

Daddy Plays the Horn - Bethlehem BCP-36 (original LP catalog number)

Recorded in Hollywood, September 18, 1955

Personnel:

Dexter Gordon (leader) - tenor saxophone

Kenny Drew - piano

Leroy Vinnegar - bass

Lawrence Marable - drums

Tracks:

Daddy Plays the Horn

Confirmation

Darn That Dream

Number Four

Autumn in New York

You Can Depend on Me

Thanks. I do have Dexter Blows Hot and Cool and I enjoy it quite a bit.

[Larry Kart]

The big band date has John Carisi arrangements, including the first setting of Carisi's "Springsville."

There's an earlier recording from two months earlier, also with Urbie Green on board but with a smaller ensemble, for a John Carisi album that wasn't released at the time. It's in the "RCA Victor Jazz Workshop - The Arrangers" compilation (it also has a new take on Carisi's "Israel").

F

I know that "Springsville" too (it's great); just assumed that the Green came first and didn't check. Both performances definitely need to be heard, though; they're different in tone and detail.

[Peter Friedman]

I picked up an inexpensive copy of the Urbie Green quite a few months ago. I found it very dull and boring and disposed of it.

The Dexter Gordon session is very nice. I have had it forever -originally on LP and now on CD. It is, in my opinion, one you should purchase.