Manny Albam/The Jazz Workshop CD - Import

2006 two-on-one CD features the first two albums Manny Albam recorded under his own name. Many outstanding figures participated on the sessions including Joe Newman, Thad Jones, Conte Candoli, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn, Milt Hinton, Urbie Green, Jimmy Cleveland, Hank Jones, Freddie Green, Eddie Costa and Osie Johnson. Albam's recording career spanned seven decades, beginning in 1944 (on his first sessions he was more of a baritone sax player than an arranger) and ending in 1999. 18 tracks total. Lonehill Jazz.

Includes 6 bonus tracks.
Personnel: Freddie Green (guitar); Jerry Sanfino, Hal McKusick, Raymond Beckenstein, Sam Marowitz (alto saxophone); Al Epstein, Al Cohn (tenor saxophone); Joe Ferrante, Conte Candoli, Ernie Royal, Joe Newman Quartet , Bernie Glow, Thad Jones, Nick Travis, Jimmy Nottingham (trumpet); John Barrows, James Buffington (French horn); Fred Ohms, Tom Mitchell Jr., Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Billy Byers, Chauncey Welsch (trombone); Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone); Eddie Costa (piano, vibraphone); Hank Jones (piano); Marty Wilson (vibraphone); Don Lamond, Gus Johnson, Osie Johnson, Todd Sommer (drums).
Liner Note Author: Leonard Feather.
Recording information: New York, NY (12/24/1955-03/07/1956).
Arrangers: Ernie Wilkins; Manny Albam.
As an arranger and bandleader, the works of Manny Albam seem better appreciated by jazz musicians than by record labels and the jazz-buying public. This RCA Victor LP collects three separate octets recorded over the span of a few days in December 1955, divided evenly between Albam's swinging originals and imaginative charts of standards ("Anything Goes") and oldies like "Black Bottom" and "Charmaine." The band is anchored by bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Osie Johnson, with a rotating cast of soloists who include Bob Brookmeyer, Urbie Green, Hank Jones, Al Cohn, Hal McKusick, and Joe Newman, among others. At least French RCA Victor made this valuable date available on LP for a time during the 1970s, but it has long since lapsed from print, and will be tough to locate, like far too many records by Manny Albam. ~ Ken Dryden
As an arranger and bandleader, the works of Manny Albam seem better appreciated by jazz musicians than by record labels and the jazz-buying public. This RCA Victor LP collects three separate octets recorded over the span of a few days in December 1955, divided evenly between Albam's swinging originals and imaginative charts of standards ("Anything Goes") and oldies like "Black Bottom" and "Charmaine." The band is anchored by bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Osie Johnson, with a rotating cast of soloists who include Bob Brookmeyer, Urbie Green, Hank Jones, Al Cohn, Hal McKusick, and Joe Newman, among others. At least French RCA Victor made this valuable date available on LP for a time during the 1970s, but it has long since lapsed from print, and will be tough to locate, like far too many records by Manny Albam. [The 2006 CD reissue includes the six-track "Drum Suite" as a bonus.] ~ Ken Dryden