Wardell Gray - The Wardell Gray Story '2003

Tracks list

In keeping with high standards set by the U.K.s Proper label, Proper Box 55
easily qualifies as the finest single-package anthology ever devoted to the
works of tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray (1921-1955). His best recordings, which
are well represented throughout this four-CD set, reveal the combined influences
of Lester Young and Charlie Parker. Born in Oklahoma City, he was raised and
schooled in Detroit, where he played his first professional engagements in the
company of trumpeter Howard McGhee and saxophonist Big Nick Nicholas. In 1943,
Gray was hired by Budd Johnson to play in the Earl Hines Orchestra. The first
five tracks represent Grays adventures with this exciting big band during 1945
and 1946. A more thorough sampling that reaches back to his first appearances on
record in October of 1944 was released under Grays name on the French import
Masters of Jazz label in 1999, while two volumes in the Earl Hines portion of
the Classics chronological series covered similar ground with comparable
precision. After touring with the Hines band, Gray moved to Los Angeles and
spent the years 1946-1947 recording for multiple labels as a rising star of the
West Coast bop scene. This segment of Grays career is invoked by his
interactions with Howard McGhee, pianist Dodo Marmarosa, and saxophonists Dexter
Gordon and Sonny Criss.

A cross section of recordings made in New York and L.A. during 1948 and 1949
include several collaborations with pianist Al Haig, a Blue Note date with the
Tadd Dameron Sextet, and records made with assorted bands both big and small
under the leadership of Benny Goodman. The next phase of Grays bebop odyssey is
evidenced by material from two Prestige studio sessions and a nine-minute live
jam on Scrapple from the Apple, followed by some breathtaking examples of what
he sounded like with bands led by Count Basie. Rather than pursuing Gray through
his final sessions in 1953 and 1955, Proper devotes the entire fourth disc to
choice cuts from the year 1952. These include the widely admired date with Art
Farmer and Hampton Hawes, three hot numbers credited to Louis Bellsons Just Jazz
All Stars, and a reunion of sorts with Dexter Gordon. This session features a
rocking version of Dave Bartholomews I Hear You Knockin, which is a very
enjoyable example of how well this saxophonist fit into the rhythm & blues bag.

Gladys Bentley sings Jingle, Jangle Jump, a rather conventional Christmas song
stretched over the prerequisite bop framework. Its interesting to note that
Bentley made her first recordings back in the 20s as a vaudevillian male
impersonator. Additional vocalists who pop up here and there amongst the
instrumentals in this set are Billy Eckstine, Buddy Stewart, Buddy Greco, and
Terry Swope. Propers Wardell Gray Story closes with four tunes recorded live in
Hollywood in September 1952 at a modified bungalow on Wiltshire Boulevard known
as The Haig. Carrying 77 vintage swing and bop tracks and upholstered with
exacting session data and insightful notes by Dutch jazz singer Joop Visser,
Proper Box 55 is strongly recommended as a portrait of a gifted improviser and
an action-packed survey of mid-20th century jazz.


Tracks:



CD1 - Blue Lou

01. At the El Grotto (3:01)
02. Straight Life (2:46)
03. Lets Get Started (3:04)
04. Bamby (2:58)
05. Blue Keys (2:54)
06. Dells Bells (2:58)
07. One for Prez (3:11)
08. The Man I Love (3:19)
09. Easy Swing (3:04)
10. The Great Lie Pts 1 & 2 (4:42)
11. Blue Lou (5:45)
12. Backbreaker (16:08)
13. Shes Got Blues for Sale (3:04)
14. Groovin High (6:39)
15. Hot House (6:20)
16. Bebop (7:15)



CD2 - The Chase

01. The Chase (6:51)
02. The Creep (3:29)
03. Out of Nowhere (2:48)
04. Blue n Boogie (3:31)
05. Semi-Quiet (Sonnys Bop) (3:26)
06. Blue Lou (2:48)
07. How High the Moon (6:12)
08. C Jam Blues (3:52)
09. Light Gray (2:37)
10. Stoned (2:56)
11. Matter and Mind (2:46)
12. The Toupe (2:38)
13. Cookin on Up (4:05)
14. Swedish Pastry (3:33)
15. Marys Idea (3:13)
16. Bye Bye Blues Bop (3:50)
17. Stealin Apples (3:10)
18. Jahbero (3:04)
19. Ladybird (2:53)
20. Symphonette (3:07)
21. Shawn (2:36)
22. The Hucklebuck (3:26)



CD3 - Twisted

01. Five Star (2:53)
02. Sugar Hill Bop (2:31)
03. In a Pinch (3:06)
04. Its the Talk of the Town (3:08)
05. Bedlam (3:07)
06. In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee (3:23)
07. Blue Lou (3:02)
08. Egg Head (2:49)
09. Twisted (3:08)
10. Southside (3:25)
11. Easy Living (4:29)
12. Sweet Lorraine (4:10)
13. A Sinner Kissed an Angel (3:12)
14. Blue Gray (2:47)
15. Grayhound (3:06)
16. Treadin with Treadwell (3:49)
17. Scrapple from the Apple (9:09)
18. Song of the Islands (2:53)
19. One OClock Jump (2:57)
20. Tootsie (2:52)
21. Nails (3:32)
22. Little Pony (2:33)



CD4 - Farmers Market 

01. April Skies (3:07)
02. Bright Boy (2:49)
03. Jackie (2:35)
04. Farmers Market (2:50)
05. Sweet and Lovely (3:18)
06. Loverman (2:23)
07. The Jeep Is Jumpin (3:08)
08. Johnny Come Lately (2:49)
09. Punkin (3:24)
10. The Rubaiyat (3:01)
11. I Hear You Knockin (2:36)
12. Jingle, Jangle, Jump (2:27)
13. Citizens Bop (2:54)
14. Bernies Tune (7:08)
15. The Squirrel (9:58)
16. Taking a Chance on Love (8:04)
17. Get Happy (7:47)

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