Harry James personnel
Greg M
I just got the 3-cd Collectables compilation "Crazy Rhythm" which
reissues 6 old Columbia LPs by Harry James. Some are themselves
reissues of the classic 40s material; others are "newly" recorded (in
the early 50s). As usual with Collectables, there is no personnel and
the liners aren't very helpful. I'm pretty sure Willie Smith played on
many of the 50s tracks. Can anyone point me to a good internet site
where I can get detailed personnels for these things? AMG is no help.
Greg M.
Steve Cooper
refer to good discographies such as those by Brian Rust and Walter
Bruyninckx. I don't believe this information is available on the Internet.
"Greg M" <gmon...@eou.edu> wrote in message
news:1111299113....@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
Hans Christian Dörrscheidt
news:1111299113....@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...
> Hi there,
>
> I just got the 3-cd Collectables compilation "Crazy Rhythm" which
> reissues 6 old Columbia LPs by Harry James. Some are themselves
> reissues of the classic 40s material; others are "newly" recorded (in
> the early 50s). As usual with Collectables, there is no personnel and
> the liners aren't very helpful. I'm pretty sure Willie Smith played on
> many of the 50s tracks.
True. I also have the box and took the following personnel from Lord:
Harry James (tp) and his orchestra, unless otherwise noted
At the Hollywood Palladium (CL 562)
Nick Buono, Art Depew, Everett McDonald, Ralph Osborn (tp) Ziggy Elmer, Lew
McGreary, Dave Robbins (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb,arr) Herbie Steward, Mascagni
"Musky" Ruffo (as) Polly Polifrani (cl,ts) Bill Massingill (ts) Bob Poland
(bar) Tommy Todd (p) Buddy Hayes (b) Buddy Rich (d,vcl) Sam Donahue, Neal
Hefti, Jack Mathias (arr)
"Hollywood Palladium", January 22 & 23, 1954
RHCO10804-1 Bye bye blues
RHCO10805-1 Please take a letter Miss Brown
RHCO10806-1 Ain't she sweet ? (br vcl)(hj on drums)
RHCO10807-1 Sugarfoot stomp
RHCO10808-1 How could you do a thing like that to me
RHCO10809-1 Palladium party (sd arr)
RHCO10810-1 Moonlight bay (nh arr)
RHCO10811-1 Midnight sun (nh arr)
RHCO10812-1 Moanin' low (nh arr)
RHCO10813-1 Flash (jm arr)
Trumpet After Midnight (CL 553)
Nick Buono, Phil Cook, Everett McDonald, Stan Fishelson (tp) Ziggy Elmer,
Dave Robbins, Lee O'Connor (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb) Willie Smith, Mascagni
"Musky" Ruffo (as) Corky Corcoran, James Cook (ts) Bob Poland (bar) Bruce
McDonald (p) Sam Herman (g) Bob Stone (b) Jackie Mills (d) Paul Villepique
(arr)
New York, June 19, 1950
CO 43945-1A Theme for Cynthia (pv arr)
Nick Buono, Phil Cook, Everett McDonald, Ralph Osborn (tp) Ziggy Elmer,
Jimmy Palmer, Tom Greco (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb) Willie Smith, Mascagni
"Musky" Ruffo (as) Corky Corcoran, Jimmy Cook (ts) Bob Poland (bar) Mike
Russell, George Kast, Samuel Cytron, Dan Lube, David Frisina, Jacques
Gasselin, Felix Slatkin, Walter Edelstein, Sam Middleman (vln) Maurice
Perlmutter, Stanley Spiegelman, David Sterkin (viola) Bruce McDonald (p) Bob
Bain (g) Norman Seelig (b) Louie Bellson (d)
Hollywood, January 5, 1951
RHCO4415-1 The moon of Manakoora
Nick Buono, Phil Cook, Everett McDonald, Ralph Osborn (tp) Lewis McGreery,
Dave Wells, Gene Norton, Ray Conniff (tb) George Bujie (tuba) Herbie
Steward, Mascagni "Musky" Ruffo (as) Polly Polfrani (cl,ts) Corky Corcoran
(ts) Bob Poland (bar) Bruce McDonald (p) Bob Bain (g) Tony Reyes (b) Jackie
Mills (d)
Hollywood, November 7, 1951
RHCO10027-1 Moanin' low (nh arr)
Nick Buono, Art Depew, Everett McDonald, Ralph Osborn (tp) Ziggy Elmer,
Lewis McGreery, Dave Robbins (tb) Herbie Steward, Mascagni "Musky" Ruffo
(as) Polly Polfrani (cl,ts) Bill Massingill (ts) Bob Poland (bar) Tommy Todd
(p) Buddy Hayes (b) Buddy Rich (d)
Chicago, October 5, 1953
CCO 5458-1 Lush life
Nick Buono, Art Depew, Everett McDonald, Ralph Osborn (tp) Ziggy Elmer,
Lewis McGreery, Dave Robbins (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb) Herbie Steward, Mascagni
"Musky" Ruffo (as) Polly Polfrani (cl,ts) Bill Massingill (ts) Bob Poland
(bar) Tommy Todd (p) Allen Reuss (g) Buddy Hayes (b) Buddy Rich (d) 12
strings
Hollywood, December 14, 1953
RHCO10658-1 Autumn leaves
Hollywood, December 15, 1953
RHCO10689-1 Symphony
RHCO10690-1 How deep is the ocean ?
RHCO10691-1 If I loved you
Hollywood, December 21, 1953
RHCO10692-1 Bess, you is my woman now
RHCO10693-1 I never knew [I could love anybody like I'm lovin' you]
RHCO10694-1 I had the craziest dream
RHCO10695-1 Judy
Dance Parade (CL 6088)
Jack Schaeffer, Claude Bowen, Jack Palmer (tp) Russell Brown, Truett Jones,
Dalton Rizotto (tb) Dave Matthews, Claude Lakey (as) Bill Luther, Drew Page
(ts,bar) Jack Gardner (p) Brian "Red" Kent (g) Thurman Teague (b) Ralph
Hawkins (d)
New York, August 31, 1939
CO 25287-1 Feet draggin' blues (hj arr)
Bruce Squires (tb) for Brown, Mickey Scrima (d) for Hawkins, add Jack
Mathias (arr)
Hollywood, November 8, 1939
LA 2044-A Flash (cl,hj arr)
LA 2045-A Cross country jump (jm arr)
Hollywood, November 30, 1939
LA 2054-A Back beat boogie (jm,hj arr)
Claude Bowen, Al Stearns (tp) Hoyt Bohannon, Dalton Rizzotto, Barry Rogers
(tb) Claude Lakey (tp,as) Vido Musso (ts) Sam Marowitz (ts) Chuck Gentry
(bar) Al Lerner (p) Ben Heller (g) Thurman Teague (b) Mickey Scrima (d) Dave
Matthews, Gray Rains (arr)
New York, April 12, 1941
CO 30331-1 Jeffrie's blues (dm arr)
CO 30332-1 Sharp as a tack (gr arr)
add Nick Buono (tp), Johnny Fresco (ts) for Musso
New York, June 30, 1941
CO 30750-1 Record session (gr arr)
Claude Bowen, Nick Buono, Al Cuozzo (tp) Hoyt Bohannon, Dalton Rizzotto,
Barry Rogers (tb) Claude Lakey, Sam Marowitz (as) Corky Corcoran (ts) Clint
Davis (bar) Sam Caplan, John DeVoodgt, Leo Zorn (vln) Bill Spears (viola) Al
Friede (cello) Al Lerner (p) Ben Heller (g) Thurman Teague (b) Mickey Scrima
(d) LeRoy Holmes (arr)
New York, February 24, 1942
CO 32475-1 Crazy rhythm (lrh arr)
Your Dance Date (CL 6138)
Nick Buono, Pinky Savitt, Everett McDonald, Ralph Osborn (tp) Ziggy Elmer,
Dave Robbins, Lee O'Connor (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb) Willie Smith (as) Eddie
Rosa (cl,as,fl) Corky Corcoran, Jimmy Cook (ts) Bob Poland (bar) Bruce
McDonald (p) Tony Rizzi (g) Bob Stone (b) Alvin Stoller (d) Neal Hefti
Hollywood, December 28, 1949
RHCO3981-1 In a mist (nh arr)
Nick Buono, Phil Cook, Everett McDonald, Stan Fishelson (tp) Ziggy Elmer,
Dave Robbins, Lee O'Connor (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb) Willie Smith, Mascagni
"Musky" Ruffo (as) Corky Corcoran, James Cook (ts) Bob Poland (bar) Bruce
McDonald (p) Sam Herman (g) Bob Stone (b) Jackie Mills (d) Paul Villepigue,
Neal Hefti (arr)
New York, June 19, 1950
CO 43946-1 Sweet Jenny Lou (pv arr)
CO 43947-1 New two o'clock jump (nh arr)
CO 43948-1 Squatty roo
New York, July 10, 1950
CO 44084-1 These foolish things (nh arr)
CO 44085-1 Deep purple
CO 44086-1 Big John's special
Juke Box Jamboree (CL 615)
Harry James with Paul Weston and his Orchestra:
George Kast, Samuel Cytron, Felix Slatkin, Mike Russell, Harry Bluestone,
Jacques Gasselin, Sam Middleman, Paul Shure, Al Nieman (vln) David Sterkin,
Stan Spiegelman (viola) Cy Bernard, Armand Kaproff (cello) Leonard Hartman,
Hal Lawson, Matty Matlock, Babe Russin, Fred Stulce (sax) Buddy Cole (p)
George Van Eps (g) Jack Ryan (b) Nick Fatool (d) Paul Weston (arr,cond)
Hollywood, November 12, 1953
RHCO 10637-1 O mein papa (chorus vcl)
RHCO 10638-1 Serenata (chorus vcl)
Nick Buono, Art Depew, Everett McDonald, Ralph Osborn (tp) Lewis McGreery,
Dave Robbins (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb,arr) Willie Smith (as,vcl) Herb Lorden
(cl,as) Corky Corcoran, Jimmy Cook (ts) Bob Poland (bar) Ray Acri (p) Buddy
Hayes (b) Buddy Rich (d)
Chicago, June 18, 1954
CCO 5515-1 Hernando's hideaway
CCO 5516-1 Three coins in the fountain
CCO 5517-1 The high and the mighty
CCO 5518-1 Little things mean a lot
Nick Buono, Art Depew, Conrad Gozzo, Ralph Osborn (tp) Lew McGreary, Dave
Robbins (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb,arr) Willie Smith (as,vcl) Herb Lorden (cl,as)
Corky Corcoran, Bill Massingill (ts) Bob Poland (bar) Larry Kinnamon (p)
Allen Reuss (g) Buddy Hayes (b) Louie Bellson (d,arr) Neal Hefti (arr)
Hollywood, September 22, 1954
RHCO33223-1 Smile
RHCO33224-1 The touch
RHCO33225-1 Oop shoop
RHCO33226-1 I need you now
RHCO33226-1 Muskrat ramble
Jazz Session (CL 669)
Nick Buono, Art Depew, Conrad Gozzo, Ralph Osborn (tp) Lewis McGreery, Dave
Robbins (tb) Juan Tizol (v-tb,arr) Willie Smith (as) Herb Lorden (cl,as)
Bill Massingill, Pat Chartrand (ts) Bob Poland (bar) Larry Kinnamon (p)
Allen Reuss (g) Buddy Hayes (b) Louie Bellson (d,arr) Neal Hefti, Shorty
Rogers (arr) Gordon Polk (vcl), Latin percussion added on (1).
Hollywood, December 30, 1954
RHCO33289-1 One for my baby (and one more for the road) (nh arr)
RHCO33290-1 [Get your kicks on] Route 66 (gp vcl)
RHCO33291-1 Bali Hai (1)(nh arr)
RHCO33292-1 Moonlight fiesta (1)(lb arr)
RHCO33293-1 Stealin' apples
RHCO33294-1 I'll remember April (1) (HJ and rhythm only)
Hollywood, February 15, 1955
RHCO33326-1 Perdido (lb arr)
RHCO33333-1 Queen of the mambo
RHCO33334-1 Tenderly (nh arr)
RHCO33335-1 Marchin' (lb arr)
RHCO33336-1 Anything (sr arr)
RHCO33337-1 Concerto for clarinet (hl arr)
Greg M
thank him for posting it. There really is some wonderful music on this
3-disc set, however badly it is documented. James was a great
trumpeter and had some very fine bands. The material from 1954 ("Jazz
Session") in particular is excellent.
Greg M.
j_ns...@msn.com
A Harry James collection I was really impressed with is _All Star
Parade 1943-1949_ on Jazz Unlimited. Personally I think James's '40s
recordings (studio and "live") are a real mixed bag as far as
interesting jazz content -- I've always kind of struggled to get
excited about them, from a jazz perspective, the way it's easy for me
to get excited about say Lionel Hampton's and Claude Thornhill's '40s
recordings. But the total number of existing '40s recordings of James
is huge, and the compiler of this 2-CD Jazz Unlimited set, Chris Pirie,
really cherry-picked some of Harry's great jazz.
Joseph Scott
Greg M
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll have a look. No doubt that
James's music is always a mixed bag--great jazz stuff interspersed with
the most syrupy ballads. I like the material on the Mosaic set that
combines his and Gene Krupa's Capitol stuff. Didn't Miles claim to
admire Harry James at some point? ('Course, even if he did, one never
knows with Miles whether he was putting us on or not.)
Greg M.
j_ns...@msn.com
with the most syrupy ballads."
I really like straightforward ballads, and Helen Forrest and Kitty
Kallen were two of the best straightforward ballad singers around imo
-- "I've Heard That Song Before" 7/31/42 and "I'll Buy That Dream"
5/30/45 for instance. It's the James stuff that stylistically is
neither first-rate adventurous jazz nor first-rate pop, kind of a third
category, that I find disappointing, and from my point of view, he
spent a ton of his time in the '40s on that third category. For
instance, imo too often (certainly not always) there was a tendency to
take a well-known jazz tune, give it a
let's-not-go-over-the-heads-of-the-widest-possible-public arrangement,
have the rhythm section (generally excellent jazz musicians, when they
were allowed to be) play quite ploddingly, and then have James,
Corcoran, etc. play perfectly good short jazz solos over that mediocre
backing (mediocre as '40s big bands in general go).
For me it's all a lot like Jimmy Dorsey -- I love Bob Eberle's non-jazz
pop singing, I love Jimmy at his most adventurous such as "One O'Clock
Jump," and it's all the stuff "in between" that I find more disposable.
That okay but unmemorable "in between" stuff was focused on a lot more
by some bands than others, I think.
I'm not saying mixing jazz with pop was always a bad thing, by any
means. Just that some of the "safest" approaches to mixing jazz with
pop (e.g. a bit of real jazz trumpet over plodding drums, but not _too
much_ real jazz trumpet) seem pretty boring in retrospect compared to
so much other music of the era we can listen to, including the best of
the era's non-jazz straightforward pop.
Joseph Scott
jwra...@aol.com
because James was always serious and didn't embarrass himself to try to
ingratiate himself with his audience. I read an interview where he
unfavorably compared Al Hirt to James in this respect.
Greg M
Ferguson's ability to play high notes.
Greg M.
