JamesAHarrod

Hey Chewy, As Big Beat Steve has indicated the First Pressings series ran eight or nine volumes, format 8.5" x 11" roughly, paperback, no 1940s coverage unfortunately. Published in the late 1980s and early 1990s, now OP sadly, perhaps Gart ran afoul of copyright problems with Billboard which was the source for these books. You can check copies on Amazon, Abebooks, Alibris, etc., some can be had for a reasonable price, but most are five or six times the original price. Sadly many libraries did not pick up these books when they were available. I believe that the UCLA library has most of them available, non-circulating, plus some of Gart's other books. As I recall they also have Billboard on microfilm. Too bad Google offers the issue scans at such a low resolution, hard to read, and they block printing copies. Speaking of copyright problems, you probably saw the coverage in Billboard where English Decca who had a "Rex" label lodged a lawsuit to block the use of the "Rex" name in the U.S. -- perhaps this was the basis for the name change on the label to "Rex of Hollywood" - just guessing here. Good luck in finding any Rex 78s out there! Here are some details from Lord's Jazz Discography: Benny Bailey (tp) Teddy Edwards (ts) Dudley "Duke" Brooks (p) Addison Farmer (b) Roy Porter (d) Los Angeles, July, 1947 Bird legs Rex 25056 Out of nowhere - - Roy's boy Rex 25057 Steady with Teddy - - Rexology Rex 25058 Three bass hit - - R.B.'s wig Rex 25059 Body and soul - - Herbie Harper (tb) Teddy Edwards (ts) Hampton Hawes (p) Iggy Shevak (b) Roy Porter (d) Hollywood, CA, October, 1948 Wonderful work Rex 26025 Teddy's tune - - Fairy dance Rex 26026 It's the talk of the town (hh out) - - Jay McShann's Orchestra: John Anderson (tp) Jewell Grant, Frank Sleets (as) Maxwell Davis, Buddy Floyd (ts) Floyd Turnham (bar) Jay McShann (p) Mitchell "Tiny" Webb (g) Ralph "Chuck" Hamilton (b) Jesse Sailes (d) Los Angeles, c. mid/late 1950 That's crazy Rex Hollywood 28000 Way out - - - Jay's blues (part 1) Rex Hollywood 28005 Jay's blues (part 2) - - - Charles Mingus And His 22 Piece Bebop Band (Stan Kenton's Sideman): Buddy Childers, John Anderson, Hobart Dotson, Eddie Preston (tp) Britt Woodman, Jimmy Knepper, Marty Smith (tb) poss. 1 or 2 unknown (tp) , Eric Dolphy (as,fl,cl) Art Pepper (as,cl) Herb Caro (ts,cl) William Green (ts,cl,fl) Jewel Grant (as,cl) Gene Porter (bar,cl) Russ Freeman (p) unknown (g), Red Callender (b) Roy Porter (d) Johnny Berger (perc) Charles Mingus (dir,comp) Hollywood, CA, spring 1949 The story of love (1) Rex Hollywood 28002 Inspiration (pt 1) Rex Hollywood 28014 Inspiration (pt 2) - - - Roy Porter And His Orchestra: Art Farmer, Ruben McFall, Robert Ross, Kenny Bright (tp) William Willington, Jimmy Knepper, Danny Horton (tb) Eric Dolphy, Joe Maini (as) Joe Howard, Hadley Caliman (ts) Bob Gordon (bar) Russ Freeman (p) Harold Grant (g,vcl) Addison Farmer (b) Roy Porter (d) Alvy Kidd (cga,bgo,perc) Los Angeles, spring 1949 Frantic dream Rex Hollywood 28001 Everything's cool - - - Roy Porter And His Orchestra: prob. same pers. Los Angeles, spring 1949 Don't blame me Rex Hollywood 28002 Ray Vasquez Ray Vasquez And His Be-Boppers: prob. Ray Vasquez (as) Lucky Thompson (ts) unknown (p), (b), (d) Los Angeles, c. 1947-1948 Snake den Rex 25099 Clutching hand - - Jinnie's Packard Rex 26000 Home run - - Jim

the only thing i know about this label is they released that one Teddy Edwards 10". i have never even seen the cover or title of it. but i know its true. does anyone know more abouyt the jazz releases-- are there others? If you do a google search in Billboard for "Teddy Edwards Rex Records" check the April 16, 1949 edition, page 48, for an ad for Rex Records. It gives several Teddy Edwards releases under BOP-COMBO. Many of these tracks were issued on LP on the ONYX label as Central Avenue Breakdown, Vols 1 & 2. Here is the link: http://tiny.cc/qTTbu Jim

What I've read is that the concert was recorded in Carmel by a serviceman from Ft. Ord, Will Thornbury, later the well-known DJ, who wanted to play it for his buddies. If so, Friedwald has confused from Ft. Ord with at Ft. Ord. Again, if so, it wouldn't be a first time for him.

I agree that it is nice to see more jazz coverage in the WSJ. I am puzzled at the information conveyed by Friedwald regarding the concert. I no longer have my copy of Columbia CL 883 but recall that the liner notes clearly indicated that the concert was taped at the Sunset Auditorium in Carmel where Jimmy Lyons hosted a series of concerts featuring artists who were also performing at the Monterey Jazz Festival. Do they employ fact checkers at the WSJ?

One could have the resume of Barack Obama and not legally own the copyright to these photos. What does this resume prove?

I have listed below the matrix numbers for the Fantasy 78s in my collection. I do not see any cohesive pattern that would indicate how they assigned matrix numbers. Perhaps the crossword wizard at the NYT can figure it out! 3006/3008 501 DAVE BRUBECK 3010/3025 502 DAVE BRUBECK 3039/3042 503 DAVE BRUBECK J-103-A & COR554/J-103-B & COR553 504 DAVE BRUBECK J-104-A & COR551/J-104-B & COR552 505 DAVE BRUBECK 6037/6048 506 DAVE BRUBECK 3029/6034 507 DAVE BRUBECK 6031/6045 508 DAVE BRUBECK 7013/7031 509 DAVE BRUBECK 7027/7036 510 DAVE BRUBECK 7042/7047 511 DAVE BRUBECK 7021/7052 512 DAVE BRUBECK 11015/11036 513 DAVE BRUBECK 10004/11010 514 DAVE BRUBECK 10010/10026 515 DAVE BRUBECK 10020/10041 516 DAVE BRUBECK 8127/8137 517 DAVE BRUBECK 8130/8134 518 DAVE BRUBECK 11113/11119 519 DAVE BRUBECK 11103/11133 520 DAVE BRUBECK 4203/4204 521 DAVE BRUBECK 9258/9261 522 GERRY MULLIGAN 9205/9232 523 DAVE BRUBECK 9239/9250 524 DAVE BRUBECK 9266/9273 525 GERRY MULLIGAN 9252/9253 526 DAVE BRUBECK 9217/9244 527 DAVE BRUBECK 1318/1326 528 GERRY MULLIGAN 1315/1327 529 GERRY MULLIGAN 1501/1502 530 DAVE BRUBECK 1504/1505 531 CAL TJADER 1506/1507 532 CAL TJADER 1508/1509 533 CAL TJADER 1510/1511 534 CAL TJADER 1502/1503-D2 535 DAVE BRUBECK FAN-1518-D1/FAN-1519-D1 536 CAL TJADER Circle Records used the same metal stampers for the Coronet and Fantasy issues of Coronet 104/Coronet 103 and Fantasy 504/Fantasy 505. Assigning matrix numbers is not rocket science. Much of my recent research has been devoted to the Modern label established by the Bihari brothers in Los Angeles in the mid 1940s. They assigned a new matrix number, in sequence, to each tune recorded within a session, and then a "dash-one, dash-two, etc., to each take of that tune. Exceptions to this system seem to be limited to stuff they licensed from other labels as well as things that Modern did not record like the jazz things from the Gene Norman Presents concerts. In a 1994 interview Gene Norman stated that when he began his concerts in 1947 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium they had to have a dedicated phone line from Pasadena to Radio Recorders in Hollywood where they made 16" acetates live as the concert was presented. Jim

Thanks for the clarification. I should have asked about the dates before making that last post. Jim

Wow, this thread is evolving fast. A day ago you were doing a book with Pujol, now you aren't, but Jordi is also doing a book? I am sure the details are lurid and won't ask. I was going to suggest Norman Saks but see he has already joined the thread. If you do not have Norman's book you should get in touch with Phil Schaap and pick up a copy. Also you should get in contact with Ted Gioia regarding Marcel Fleiss' photos of Birdland. I hope you have a healthy budget for photos. Jim

It's reassuring to confirm that the brains cells devoted to memory are still functional. The photo by Carole Reiff that I referenced is indeed in the booklet for the recent Chet Baker Barclay sessions. It is on page 61 and is a nice photo of Chet boarding the Pan Am propeller clipper at Idelwild Airport, September 4, 1955. The Carole Reiff Photography archive is in good hands with a professional in the jazz photography field, Kati Meister. Here are the details regarding her credentials: ******************** KATI MEISTER KATI MEISTER produces in film, television, and theatre. She is currently a Producer on Unnatural History, an animated children's TV series in development with Thirteen/WNET. She recently produced Lights! Action! Music! (a WLIW public television documentary on music scoring for the movies) and was the Associate Producer on two other PBS programs: a documentary (BBC co-production) entitled The World of Jewish Humor and the pioneering, interactive children's series, I'll Do It. 

 Kati's extensive film credits as a Supervisor of Research, Rights and Clearances include Dear America: Letters Home From Vietnam (HBO); Saturday Night Live (NBC); The Original Max Talking Headroom Show (Cinemax); John Hammond: From Bessie Smith to Bruce Springsteen (PBS); Children of Woodstock (ITV, UK); Inside the Actors Studio (Bravo); Nichols and May: Take Two (PBS); A Comic Life: Steve Martin (Comedy Central); Atlantic: Hip to the Tip (Channel Four, UK); Tom Dowd and the Language of Music (Palm Pictures); The Argonomist and Man from Plains (Jonathan Demme); and Beah: A Black Woman Speaks (HBO). Kati has also lent her expertise to many feature films such as Woody Allen's Zelig, Broadway Danny Rose, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and Alice; Greg Hoblit's Frequency and Hart's War; Jonathan Demme's The Manchurian Candidate; Bill Condon's Kinsey; and Mel Brooks's The Producers—The Movie Musical. 

 In addition, Kati supervised Picture Research on the 565-page pictorial history of Atlantic Records, What’d I Say—The Atlantic Story, 50 Years of Music. She has shepherded several books to publication, including The Jazz Image, a history of jazz photography published by Abrams Books. She is also the Manager of the Carole Reiff Photo Archive, a collection of extraordinary jazz photos from the 1950s and 60s. 
 After graduating from Mount Holyoke College, Kati taught dance and then went on to become the first Executive Director of the Northern Berkshire Council of the Arts, where she was responsible for designing, promoting, and running a wide variety of arts programs for fifteen diverse towns in Northern Berkshire County. 

 In New York, Kati is on the Advisory Board of Dancing With Horses, a unique dance company creating dances for horses, equestrians and dancers. In 2003, she was a Producer on the First Annual Nightlife Awards, given for the best NYC nightclub performances in Cabaret, Comedy, and Jazz. Kati was the Co-Producer of the Theatre World Awards in 2006 and 2007. ******************** I noticed a new thread on this forum regarding a new book in the planning stages to be published by Jordi Pujol who owns Fresh Sound Records. Obviously, the Reiff archive contains numerous photos of Birdland which would add greatly to this book. I hope that Jordi has established a generous budget for photos. Jim

I recall seeing a Carole Reiff photograph recently, it was taken at one of the New York airports with Chet Baker posed at the boarding ramp as he prepared to visit Europe for the first time. I believe that the photo was in the booklet for the recent eight CD set of all of Chet’s Barclay recordings. I won’t be able to check and verify until I return home next week. Currently enjoying some of the finest big band jazz one could wish: Les Hooper, Frankie Capp, John Altman, Ann Patterson, Chris Walden, Roger Neumann, Gordon Goodwin,etc. All at the Los Angeles Jazz Institute’s four festival at LAX, A SWINGING AFFAIR. Jim P.S. No, it was not the Claxton photo that was used on the cover of PJ-1218 using models. If the Reiff photo is in the Chet set that means someone had access to her archive and licensed the photo for use in the booklet.

No, the Babasin has not been reissued. N&N is a discography journal based in the Netherlands. Drop me an email off board and I will send a copy to your snail address. Jim (jaharrod@cox.net)

Very good question. I have about three dozen of the first 78s from 501 through 536, all of the 10" LPs, and around sixty of the EP releases on 45. I have never examined the matrix numbers on these releases, but checking some of them just now I would have to answer . . . whatever! Release 9.0 of the Lord discography lists matrix numbers for these first 78s... 501 uses 3006 and 3008 502 uses 3010 and 3025 503 uses 3039 and 3032 504 uses the Coronet matrices COR-553 and COR-554* 505 uses the Coronet matrices COR-551 and COR-552* 506 uses 6037 and 6048 507 uses 3029 and 6034 508 uses 6031 and 6045 and so on... later the numbers jump to 7000 and 10000 sequences? I have some of the early Galaxy 78s as well... 701 uses 7103 and 7107 702 uses 8109 and 8114 703 uses 11160 and 11150 When I get a spare moment with nothing else pressing I will tabulate the matrix numbers on everything in my collection and see if any system emerges. Once again, great question. Jim *Brubeck's first releases were on the Coronet label.

Jim Thanks for the above info - great addition to my PJ database What are the two titles from the Al Haig 78? (were they released on the Esoteric or Period 10" LP's). How is progress on your Pacific Jazz text/discography - is it near publication

There were a total of 27 Pacific Jazz 78 releases. GERRY MULLIGAN GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-601 GERRY MULLIGAN GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-602 HARRY BABASIN HARRY BABASIN QUARTET FEATURING AL HAIG PJ - 78 RPM PJ-603 GERRY MULLIGAN GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-604 CHET BAKER CHET BAKER QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-605 GERRY MULLIGAN GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-606 GERRY MULLIGAN GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-607 MULLIGAN-BAKER-KONITZ GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET WITH LEE KONITZ PJ - 78 RPM PJ-608 MULLIGAN-BAKER-KONITZ GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET WITH LEE KONITZ PJ - 78 RPM PJ-609 CHET BAKER CHET BAKER QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-610 GERRY MULLIGAN GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-611 HARRY EDISON HARRY EDISON QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-612 HARRY EDISON HARRY EDISON QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-613 CHET BAKER CHET BAKER QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-614 CHET BAKER CHET BAKER QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-615 GERRY MULLIGAN GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-616 CHICO HAMILTON CHICO HAMILTON TRIO PJ - 78 RPM PJ-617 CHET BAKER CHET BAKER ENSEMBLE PJ - 78 RPM PJ-618 CHET BAKER CHET BAKER QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-619 SHANK-ALMEIDA ALMEIDA-SHANK QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-620 MONTROSE-GORDON GORDON-MONTROSE QUINTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-621 JOHNNY HOLIDAY JOHNNY HOLIDAY AND RUSS GARCIA ORCHESTRA PJ - 78 RPM PJ-622 BUD SHANK BUD SHANK & THREE TROMBONES PJ - 78 RPM PJ-623 CHET BAKER CHET BAKER SEXTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-624 BOB BROOKMEYER BOB BROOKMEYER QUARTET PJ - 78 RPM PJ-625 AL HAIG AL HAIG TRIO PJ - 78 RPM PJ-626 CLIFFORD BROWN CLIFFORD BROWN ENSEMBLE PJ - 78 RPM PJ-627 Perhaps the rarest among these is the Al Haig Trio PJ-626 as the 10" LP release was cancelled. I found a copy of this 78 from a Canadian seller on Ebay a few years back. There are two other 78 releases, one using the Pacifica label and one released using a Drum City label. Many of the alternate takes that have appeared on CD reissues were originally released on PJ 78s and 45s. Jim Harrod

Add Jean Pierre Leloir, Burt Goldblatt and Lee Friedlander to that list (there are others of course); Stock is one of the best. Also nice to see you Jim; I remember buying jazz cd's from the UC Irvine bookstore through you. You had great taste in ordering jazz cd's.

I also recently pulled this book off the shelf and savored each and every photo via a slow page by page perusal. My copy used to belong to Ray Avery. Picked it up from Arthur Newman who handled the sales of many of Ray's books for his daughter after his passing. I rank Stock's work right up there with the best of Gottlieb, Herman and Claxton. Jim

I wrote an article for Names & Numbers (issue 42) that traced the history of the initial recordings of the Lighthouse All Stars, BIG BOY Parts 1 & 2, being the first commercial release of the LHAS on a Skylark 78. The owner of Skylark/Tampa reissued BIB BOY numerous times on various formats, 45 single, 45 EP, 10" LP, 12" LP, etc. Jim

Thanks. So I was right about that after all? Interesting... That again is a bit odd, since at least on my CD copy of "Swinging Sounds" it clearly says "Vol. 4". Maybe that wasn't anywhere to be seen on the LP? It's not part of the cover artwork at least. Once again you are confusing 10" LP issues with later 12" LP issues on vinyl. Email me off line at jaharrod@uci.edu if you need additional clarification. Jim

As Chuck Nessa has mentioned the transition from 10" to 12" LPs caused some confusion, especially with the Lighthouse All Stars LPs where Volume One was actually on the Lighthouse label originally, as a 12" LP. Then the first Lighthouse LP on the Contemporary label was a 10" LP, C-2501, and labelled Volume 2. Volume One of Shelly Manne and His Men was C-2503. Volume Two was C-2511. Volume Three was C-2516. All of these were 10" LPs. Volume Three is not with Shelly Manne and His Men, it is with Shorty Rogers and Jimmy Giuffre. The fourth 10" LP with Shelly was C-2518 and simply labelled "Shelly Manne & Russ Freeman" - both later combined on a 12" LP as "The Three and The Two." I hope that helps. Jim