In 1954, when Decca began to issue 12-inch pop LPs, it suddenly had a vast pipeline to fill with new releases. To load up the schedule of LPs, Decca producers on the East and West coasts turned to jazz studio players to crank out recordings. Not only could these musicians compose and arrange songs fast, they were crack sight readers who could get the job done fast in the studio with few re-takes, if any.
In Hollywood in 1954, Decca producer Tom Mack captured an astonishing group assembled by French hornist and session arranger John Graas. Recorded in June 1954, Jazz Studio 2 From Hollywood featured Don Fagerquist (tp), Milt Bernhart (tb), John Graas (fhr), Herb Geller (as), Jimmy Giuffre (cl,ts,bar), Marty Paich (p), Howard Roberts (g), Curtis Counce (b) and Larry Bunker (d).
Those familiar with West Coast jazz know what an incredible group this is. Don Fagerquist is easily my favorite West Coast trumpeter, with a gorgeous improvisational style that became the model for the Hollywood sound. Milt Bernhart was a first-call trombonist and played on many of Frank Sinatra's Capitol recordings. John Graas was a superb jazz French hornist and a solid arranger and studio musician. Herb Geller was a beautiful alto saxophonist with a yearning sound and at his best here, joined by the smooth reeds of Jimmy Giuffre. Marty Paich was a terrific pianist and a superb arranger. And Howard Roberts, Curtis Counce and Larry Bunker were the cream of the studio time-keepers out West then.
Together, they created a gorgeous, relaxed jazz album influenced by the warm Los Angeles weather, endless highways, the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, the glamour of the movie industry and promise of unfolding suburbs. This is West Coast jazz at its best.
Here's Jazz Studio 2, From Hollywood without ad interruptions...
Other ad-free Backgrounders in my series:
- Zoot Sims Plays Bossa Nova, go here.
- Lee Morgan: Lee-Way, go here.
- Bossa Nova for Swinging Lovers, go here.
- Leon Spencer: Louisiana Slim, go here.
- Bossa Nova Modern Quartet: Bossa Nova Jazz Samba, go here.
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- Sonny Stitt: Sonny Stitt Plays, go here.
- Sonny Stitt with Bennie Green: My Main Man, go here.
- Johnny Hodges and Earl Hines: Stride Right, go here.
- Lionel Hampton: Bossa Nova Jazz, go here.
- Johnny Hodges & Ben Webster: Cellar Session, go here.
- Bill Evans: Solo Sessions Vol. 1, go here.
- Frank Wess: Trombones & Flute, go here.
- Presenting the Buddy DeFranco & Tommy Gumina Quartet, go here.
- Ernest Ranglin: Wranglin', go here.
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- Roberto Menescal: A Nova Bossa, go here.
- Count Basie: Have a Nice Day, go here.
- Freddie Green: Mr. Rhythm, go here.
- Leny Andrade: Leny Andrade, go here.
- Johnny Alf: Ele é Johnny Alf, go here.
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- Eumir Deodato Plays Marcos Valle, go here.
- Horace Parlan; Movin' & Groovin', go here.
- Russ Garcia: Four Horns and a Lush Life, go here.
- Vic Lewis: Plays Bossa Nova at Home and Away, go here.
- Buddy Collette's Swinging Shepherds, go here.
- Dizzy Gillespie: Gillespiana, go here.
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- Nelson Riddle: Changing Colors, go here.
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- Benny Golson and the Philadelphians, go here.
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- Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis: Lock, the Fox, go here.
- Tony Bennett: The Movie Song Album, go here.
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- James Moody: Return From Overbrook, go here.
- Barry Galbraith: Guitar and the Wind, go here.
- Count Basie: With Quincy Jones and Neal Hefti, go here.
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- John Graas: French Horn Jazz, go here.
- Eddie Lockjaw Davis & Johnny Griffin: Tough Tenor Favorites, go here.
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- Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery, go here.
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- Sonny Rollins Plus 4, go here.
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- The Marty Paich Quartet, Featuring Art Pepper, go here.
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- Ray Bryant: Alone With the Blues, go here.
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- Jimmy McGriff: Step 1, go here.
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- Oliver Nelson: Taking Care of Business, go here.
- Quincy Jones: Americans in Paris, go here.
- Sonny Stitt: Tune-Up!, go here.
- Herbie Mann: Yardbird Suite, go here.
- Quincy Jones: Twilight Time, go here.
- Lou Levy Quartet: Jazz in Four Colors, go here.
- Johnny Alf: Rapaz de Bem, go here.
- Hank Mobley: Poppin', go here.
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- Larry Young: Into Somethin', go here.
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- Sonny Stitt: Night Crawler, go here.
- Maynard Ferguson: Around the Horn, go here.
- Frank Rosolino: Franky Speaking!, go here.
- Ben Webster: King of the Tenors, go here.
- Kenny Dorham: Una Mas, go here.
- Gigi Gryce: Nica's Tempo, go here.
- Charlie Parker With Strings: The Master Takes, go here.
- The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr., go here.
- The Complete Chet Baker Sings, go here.
- Shorty Rogers Courts the Count, go here.
- Miles Ahead: Miles Davis +19, go here.
- Kenny Burrell, Jazzmen - Detroit, go here.
- Bill Watrous, In Love Again, go here.
- Gene Ammons, Boss Tenor, go here.
- Roy Eldridge: The Strolling Mr. Eldridge, go here.
- Clifford Brown and Max Roach with Sonny Rollins, go here.
- Fats Navarro: Nostalgia, go here.
- Hank Mobley: Hank Mobley Quintet, go here.
- Sandy Mosse: Relaxin' With..., go here.
- Maynard Ferguson: A Message From Newport, go here.
- Jimmy Raney: Two Jims and Zoot, go here.
- Zoot Sims Plays 4 Altos, go here.
- Jimmy Forrest: Out of the Forrest, go here.