Duke Pearson's Bags Groove

[mjzee]

Bags Groove, which was last seen on Black Lion...what was its original issue? And was it available as mono? The stereo separation is too strict; Pearson's piano is only on the right channel.

[J.A.W.]

All I could find is a European Polydor LP Angel Eyes (583 723) that was recorded in NYC on August 1, 1961. Some discographies also mention a January 12, 1962 date.

Personnel:

Duke Pearson - piano

Thomas Howard - bass

Lex Humphries - drums

Tunes (not necessarily in this order):

Angel Eyes

I'm an Old Cowhand

Bags' Groove

Say You're Mine

Jeannine

Le Carrousel Blues

Exodus

(edit) The Black Lion CD reissue omits Angel Eyes and adds three alternate takes.

Edited May 4, 2009 by J.A.W.

[sidewinder]

The Polydor 'Angel Eyes' is a rare (and pricey) item I think - especially sought after in Japan. Don't believe that too copies were pressed.

[JSngry]

http://www.dustygroove.com/item.php?id=mzg...p%3Bincl_cs%3D1

A rare pre-Blue Note session from Duke Pearson -- very mellow, very soulful, and with a quality that's unlike most of his later work! The album's a trio side, recorded for the Jazzline label, and it features Pearson on piano, Thomas Howard on bass, and Lex Humphries on drums -- the last of whom brings in some wonderfully lyrical lines on the kit, very much in the manner of the free, dancing rhythms used on records with Donald Byrd. Pearson's piano has a sharper edge than usual -- these dark, moody tones that are totally great -- almost a rougher version of his later sound, with a great sense of depth. Bob Cranshaw's bass and Walter Perkins' drums are featured on one number -- and titles include a killer take on "Jeannine", plus "Say You're Mine", "Le Carrousel", "Bags Groove", and "Exodus". Plus, the CD features 3 alternate bonus takes!

[mjzee]

That can't be the original cover, though - it looks too late-'60s. Unless that's when it was first issued.

[J.A.W.]

That can't be the original cover, though - it looks too late-'60s. Unless that's when it was first issued.

As stated above the recordings were done for JazzLine, but they were never issued on that label. The European Polydor LP was the first release, so I guess the cover shown above was the one used by Polydor.

The JazzLine label only existed from 1961 to around 1963.

Edited May 4, 2009 by J.A.W.

[Dan Gould]

A rare pre-Blue Note session from Duke Pearson

Didn't Pearson's Blue Note trio LPs come out in the late 50s? So this wouldn't be "pre-BN" but "Blue Note interregnum", right?

[sidewinder]

That can't be the original cover, though - it looks too late-'60s. Unless that's when it was first issued.

The JazzLine cover art looks the same as that on the original Polydor LP.

[clifford_thornton]

There were two on JazzLine, right?

[J.A.W.]

There were two on JazzLine, right?

Yep, the second one was a trio/quaret/quintet date, recorded in NYC on January 12, 1962. It was released as Hush!

Personnel:

Donald Byrd - trumpet

Johnny Coles - trumpet

Duke Pearson - piano

Bob Cranshaw - bass

Walter Perkins - drums

Tunes:

Hush!

Child's Play

Angel Eyes (trio)

Smoothie

Sudel

Friday's Child (Byrd out)

Out of This World (trio)

This track was only issued on a European Polydor LP (423224) and was included on the CD reissue:

Groovin' for Nat

The CD reissue added alternate takes of these tracks:

Hush!

Child's Play

Sudel

Edited May 4, 2009 by J.A.W.

[mjzee]

A rare pre-Blue Note session from Duke Pearson

Didn't Pearson's Blue Note trio LPs come out in the late 50s? So this wouldn't be "pre-BN" but "Blue Note interregnum", right?

Duke Pearson - Profile (Gene Taylor, bass, Lex Humphries, drums), recorded 10/25/59

Duke Pearson - Tender Feelin's (Taylor, Humphries), recorded 12/16/59

One trio track (Israel Crosby, bass, Vernel Fournier, drums), recorded 6/26/60, appeared on The Lost Sessions

[Daniel A]

Hi guys!

Duke Pearson himself later said that the producer, Fred Norsworthy, sold the trio session to Polydor without Pearson's consent and that he didn't get paid for it.

There was another album recorded by Norsworthy for Jazzline as a feature for trombonist Willie Wilson (by suggestion from Pearson) - it didn't get released until 1970 as "Dedication" on Prestige with Pearson as leader.

All I could find is a European Polydor LP Angel Eyes (583 723) that was recorded in NYC on August 1, 1961. Some discographies also mention a January 12, 1962 date.

The track 'Angel Eyes' was recorded on January 12, 1962 during the session for Hush (and also released on the Jazzline album Hush), all other titles are from a session on August 1, 1961.

Edited May 5, 2009 by Daniel A

[J.A.W.]

All I could find is a European Polydor LP Angel Eyes (583 723) that was recorded in NYC on August 1, 1961. Some discographies also mention a January 12, 1962 date.

The track 'Angel Eyes' was recorded on January 12, 1962 during the session for Hush (and also released on the Jazzline album Hush), all other titles are from a session on August 1, 1961.

Yep, I posted the details of the January 12, 1962 date in post #10

Edited May 5, 2009 by J.A.W.

[Daniel A]

Sorry for being unprecise! What I wanted to point out was that the title track on Angel Eyes is identical to 'Angel Eyes' from Hush. Even the redoubtable Michael Fitzgerald seems to have missed that in his otherwise very accurate Duke Pearson discography.

Edited May 5, 2009 by Daniel A

[J.A.W.]

Sorry for being unprecise! What I wanted to point out was that the title track on Angel Eyes is identical to 'Angel Eyes' from Hush. Even the redoubtable Michael Fitzgerald seems to have missed that in his otherwise very accurate Duke Pearson discography.

You're not being imprecise. There's only one Angel Eyes, the tune that was recorded on January 12, 1962, and you were right to emphasize that in order to avoid any misunderstandings.

Edited May 5, 2009 by J.A.W.

[Rooster_Ties]

Isn't there another cover (or two) too?

[Daniel A]

You're not being imprecise. There's only one Angel Eyes, the tune that was recorded on January 12, 1962, and you were right to emphasize that in order to avoid any misunderstandings.

If Duke Pearson may be considered obscure, 'Angel Eyes' is probably his most obscure date as a leader, so maybe this is of limited interest, but since someone brought it up...

Edited May 5, 2009 by Daniel A

[clifford_thornton]

The Jazzline/Jazztime discog is pretty knotty.

It seems like that rare Freddie Hubbard Groovy! on Dutch Fontana was also a Jazzline release. I've also seen mention of a Polydor pressing of Hush! but never saw an actual LP version offered.

[JSngry]

This is actually the Willie Wilson session.

Edited May 5, 2009 by JSngry

[J.A.W.]

This is actually the Willie Wilson session.

Yep. It was also reissued as:

Freddie Hubbard - Minor Mishap - Black Lion (with alternate takes)

and Duke Pearson - Dedication! - Prestige (no alternates)

Edited May 5, 2009 by J.A.W.

[sidewinder]

There were two on JazzLine, right?

Yep, the second one was a trio/quaret/quintet date, recorded in NYC on January 12, 1962. It was released as Hush!

Personnel:

Donald Byrd - trumpet

Johnny Coles - trumpet

Duke Pearson - piano

Bob Cranshaw - bass

Walter Perkins - drums

Tunes:

Hush!

Child's Play

Angel Eyes (trio)

Smoothie

Sudel

Friday's Child (Byrd out)

Out of This World (trio)

This track was only issued on a European Polydor LP (423224) and was included on the CD reissue:

Groovin' for Nat

The CD reissue added alternate takes of these tracks:

Hush!

Child's Play

Sudel

There was a 60s UK LP issue of this called 'Child's Play' with a picture of Byrd on the front. I have a copy in the racks somewhere.

'Groovy' released in the UK also as a Fontana LP with this cover art.

This is actually the Willie Wilson session.

Edited May 5, 2009 by sidewinder

[clifford_thornton]

Cool, so Groovy! = Dedication (far more common).

[J.A.W.]

Cool, so Groovy! = Dedication (far more common).

Correct. As I posted above Dedication! doesn't have any alternates, though; it has "only" 7 tracks.

Edited May 5, 2009 by J.A.W.

[clifford_thornton]

I think I've only seen one copy of the Fontana offered on eBay ever. At least to my recollection.

[sidewinder]

I think I've only seen one copy of the Fontana offered on eBay ever. At least to my recollection.

I think I passed one in the racks for a few £ a while ago - and passed on it (thinking it was just a compilation)