Hal McKusick Quartet

[Durium]

Hal McKusick

Hal McKusick will be for a lot of us an unknown name and that is obvious because he hasn't made any record under his own name since the late 1950s when he made these great sides.

In the mid 1950s he made some albums. These recordings were imporant because Hal experimented with a quartet without a piano, like Gerry Mulligan's pianoless quartet and the guitar of Barry Galbraith and Hal's alto saxophone gave a lot of musical possibilities, which were specified by arrangers like Manny Albam or Al Cohn.

Hal McKusick Quartet

Keep swinging

Durium

[BillF]

This one I don't know, but am very impressed by Lonehill's Art Farmer & Hal McCusick Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings.

[Dave James]

If you're interested in learning more about Hal McKusick, who, BTW, is still with us, check out jazzwax.com. The moderator posted his conversation with Mr. McKusick in four parts, so it's actually quite substantial and very informative. This guy is a really wonderful player who seems to have spent his career flying under the radar.

Up over and out.

[JohnS]

This a very nice set. The only downside is that the fake applause (or so it sounds to me) is still present on Jazz At The Academy.

Edited August 18, 2008 by JohnS

[Fer Urbina]

We discussed those McKusick reissues a while back here.

F