Sal Salvador

[Tom 1960]

I've been listening to this collection of fantastic music, a recent purchase of mine and can't believe why this guy didn't more notoriety? Fantastic. Anyone else dig this guy? Any other albums I should be checking out?

[J.A.W.]

Any other albums I should be checking out?

Yep, the Bethlehem albums:

• Frivolous Sal; 1956 quartet recordings

• Shades of Sal Salvador; 1956-1957 quartet/quintet/septet recordings

• A Tribute to the Greats; 1957 quartet recordings

which were all issued on CD in Japan. They're great.

His late 1950s Decca big-band album Colors in Sound is also excellent.

Edited March 18, 2010 by J.A.W.

[John L]

A number of his recordings also feature some fine piano work from Eddie Costa. I believe that one of the Spanish labels issued a double CD not long ago of all of their collaborations.

[brownie]

My favorite Sal Salvador is the Capitol LP that was part of the Kenton Presents series

That was the first Sal Salvador/Eddie Costa collaboration. It included a splendid 'Yesterdays' - one of Costa's favorite tune - in a Bill Holman arrangement.

Understand it is part of one of the Spanish double CD that John L mentions (never saw that one!).

[AndrewHill]

Regret selling the 10inch Conn.

[J.A.W.]

My favorite Sal Salvador is the Capitol LP that was part of the Kenton Presents series

That was the first Sal Salvador/Eddie Costa collaboration. It included a splendid 'Yesterdays' - one of Costa's favorite tune - in a Bill Holman arrangement.

Understand it is part of one of the Spanish double CD that John L mentions (never saw that one!).

Kenton Presents: Sal Salvador is part of the Connoisseur CD Sal Salvador Quintet/Quartet Tom 1960 started this thread with, that's why I didn't mention it in my post above.

Edited March 18, 2010 by J.A.W.

[Tom in RI]

I like Sal Salvador's more recent (1984) date on Stash,Plays Gerry Mulligan which features Nick Brignola and Randy Brecker. I have the lp, the cd fills out with another date which also has Brignola on it I believe.

[Fer Urbina]

The LoneHill double CD has all the quartet recordings with Costa (1 Capitol, 3 Bethlehems), plus the recordings with Frank Socolow (also on Bethlehem - all those Bethlehem recordings have been reissued in Japan, the Capitol was part of the Blue Note Connoisseur series, c. 1998). I underline "quartet", because only part of Shades of Salvador was recorded with the quartet. The rest has horns too (Eddie Bert, Phil Woods, etc), or Costa is absent.

Fresh Sound reissued the Colors In Sound (original Decca).

Personally, I think that in those 1950s recordings with Costa, Salvador had immaculate technique but relied too much on certain licks, and could be a bit repetitive.

Salvador started the quartet with Costa in late 1953, after he left Kenton. First recordings were in the summer of 1954.

F

PS Edit to add that the small group arrangements by Bill Holman and Manny Albam are very interesting. "Yesterdays", as pointed out by Brownie, is especially good, with Salvador and Costa playing different lines in different directions (Salvador down, Costa, on vibes, up).

PPS Spotify users can listen to the whole set here.

Edited March 18, 2010 by Fer Urbina

[JohnS]

What about the two albums on Beehive, Starfingers and Juicy Lucy? Both fine sets.

[BillF]

I've been listening to this collection of fantastic music, a recent purchase of mine and can't believe why this guy didn't more notoriety? Fantastic. Anyone else dig this guy? Any other albums I should be checking out?

You're right about him lacking notoriety, Tom! All I can recall of him is his appearance with Sonny Stitt at the Newport Jazz Festival, a highlight of the movie, Jazz on a Summer's Day.

[brownie]

My favorite Sal Salvador is the Capitol LP that was part of the Kenton Presents series

That was the first Sal Salvador/Eddie Costa collaboration. It included a splendid 'Yesterdays' - one of Costa's favorite tune - in a Bill Holman arrangement.

Understand it is part of one of the Spanish double CD that John L mentions (never saw that one!).

Kenton Presents: Sal Salvador is part of the Connoisseur CD Sal Salvador Quintet/Quartet Tom 1960 started this thread with, that's why I didn't mention it in my post above.

Thanks for pointing this out. Was unaware of that reissue.

Another BN Conn that has eluded me. Never saw it!

I have this date on the BN 10-incher that came out in 1975 when BN/UA rereleased the BLP5000 series in exact replica.

[Fer Urbina]

My favorite Sal Salvador is the Capitol LP that was part of the Kenton Presents series

That was the first Sal Salvador/Eddie Costa collaboration. It included a splendid 'Yesterdays' - one of Costa's favorite tune - in a Bill Holman arrangement.

Understand it is part of one of the Spanish double CD that John L mentions (never saw that one!).

Kenton Presents: Sal Salvador is part of the Connoisseur CD Sal Salvador Quintet/Quartet Tom 1960 started this thread with, that's why I didn't mention it in my post above.

Thanks for pointing this out. Was unaware of that reissue.

Another BN Conn that has eluded me. Never saw it!

I have this date on the BN 10-incher that came out in 1975 when BN/UA rereleased the BLP5000 series in exact replica.

Very good reissue. Crisp sound plus liner notes include an interview with Salvador, not long before he died. Discographical info on it has been corrected in latest Ruppli Capitol discography (on CD-ROM, released by Names&Numbers).

Amazon.com sells it as a CD-R.

F

PS Incidentally, I have this as an AFRS 16-inch disc...

Edited March 18, 2010 by Fer Urbina

[Tom in RI]

Juicy Lucy (quartet w/Billy Taylor) is still available on lp from Cadence.

[Jim R]

My favorite was his Roulette album from 1964, "Music To Stop Smoking By", which I've never seen on CD...

Also issued as "Stop Smoking Or Else Blues"...

Edited March 18, 2010 by Jim R

[sheldonm]

The two on Beehive are nice. Jim Neumann who produced these sessions thought a lot of Sal.

m~

[BruceH]

I also really dig the Conn. 10", Tom. A friend was good enough to burn me a copy of Frivolous Sal.

[Alexander]

I only own the Conn, but I love it...

[king ubu]

Yes, I have the Conn, it's excellent.

Also have a vinyl of Fresh Sound's reissue of "A Tribute to the Greats".

Should look for the other Bethlehems, too!

[Tom 1960]

The LoneHill double CD has all the quartet recordings with Costa (1 Capitol, 3 Bethlehems), plus the recordings with Frank Socolow (also on Bethlehem - all those Bethlehem recordings have been reissued in Japan, the Capitol was part of the Blue Note Connoisseur series, c. 1998). I underline "quartet", because only part of Shades of Salvador was recorded with the quartet. The rest has horns too (Eddie Bert, Phil Woods, etc), or Costa is absent.

From what I see that Lonehill release is pretty much my only alternative right now, since the single version issues far exceed my price range.