Favorite Uptown Releases

[Tom 1960]

At present I own a few releases from this label. One's that immediately spring to mind are Charlie Parker in Boston, Charlie and Dizzy at Town Hall, Charlie Rouse/Red Rodney Social Call, Philly Joe Jones Dameronia, Doin' The Gigi by Gigi Gryce, Hank Mobley Newark 1953 and An Uptown Christmas. What are some other releases by this label you would recommend exploring?

[jazzbo]

My favorite is the Mingus release. Get it!

I'd also recommend the Allen Eager. And the Dodo Marmoroso.

Edited December 19, 2012 by jazzbo

[brownie]

Uptown is one of those rare labels whose releases are ALL worth investigating. Not a bad one in their lot.

Beside those mentioned, I am a great fan of the Jimmy Gourley, Carl Fontana (both), Don Joseph, Sonny Clark, Lucky Thompson, Kenny Dorham 'Flamboyan', Pepper Adams (both).

To make it simple, I recommend all Uptowns.

[Big Beat Steve]

The one Uptown release that impressed me most was the FIRST I ever bought:

SERGE CHALOFF!

What impressed me most about it at the time (of course this is a standard set by all the Uptown releases) is the ability of this label to REALLY fill gaps in discographies, its extremely thorough liner notes, and of course the music (which in this case struck even more of a chord with me because it was something way off the modern jazz reissue/resurrection rut of the umpteenth hard bop item ).

I am very, very satisfied with all the other Uptowns I have since bought, but my favorite ones are those by Dodo Marmarosa, Allen Eager and Sonny Clark.

Bird and Diz at Town Hall are a class by itself, the Mingus is fine (but as some tracks had been around elsewhere before it wasn't quite that much of a totally new experience), and I must admit I haven't dug deeply into the Hank Mobley CD yet.

Edited December 19, 2012 by Big Beat Steve

[John Tapscott]

Only a moment to answer and will add a few more later

but # 1 for me is Philly Joe Jones "Look, Stop and Listen". I love that CD.

Edited to add: Every Uptown release that I own is worthy but some of my favorites include Pepper Adams, the Chet Baker in Boston, the recently re-issued Frank Wess/Johnny Coles date, Dexter Gordon's recent Ballad CD, and the above mentioned Serge Chaloff. The Don Sickler CD is good too, though I haven't heard it in a while. Oh, and the Carl Fontana , as well.

Edited December 19, 2012 by John Tapscott

[Peter Friedman]

I agree with Brownie, they are all very good. Two of my favorites that have not been mentioned are the Barry Harris and the Tommy Flanagan CDs.

[paul secor]

The Mingus is a classic reissue - done perfectly. Chuck did some yeoman work helping to compile this one.

Relistened to the Allen Eager recently and enjoyed it a lot.

The Don Joseph is a fine LP. I believe it may be reissued on CD at some point

All of these are the sort of things that other companies rarely or never do and don't do as well.

[mjzee]

I've been very impressed with the packaging of Uptown CDs, especially the booklets. This is one label where the CDs are vastly superior to the downloads.

[Brad]

It's hard to say which one is better but standouts for me are Pepper Adams, Social Call and the Philly Joe Jones discs. The new Green one is outstanding.

[ElginThompson]

Bird and Diz at Town Hall. Historically significant and sounds great. Love that Big Sid Catlett joined the group at the end of the set.

[Quasimado]

Bird and Diz at Town Hall. Historically significant and sounds great. Love that Big Sid Catlett joined the group at the end of the set.

Right - there's something special about great Swing-to-bop - to these ears ...

Q

[Joe]

Always been a fan of this one...

[Justin V]

The Don Joseph is a fine LP. I believe it may be reissued on CD at some point.

I checked with Bob Sunenblick a year or two ago, and he does plan on reissuing the Don Joseph LP.

One of my favorite Uptown albums is Charlie Parker's Montreal 1953. It was recorded around the same time as Bird's The Washington Concerts. It's great to hear Bird in fine form with a young Paul Bley, the obscure Valdo Williams and the even more obscure Steep Wade. Apparently, there's a book documenting Bird's visit to Montreal, which could make for an interesting read.

[Tom 1960]

The Don Joseph is a fine LP. I believe it may be reissued on CD at some point.

I checked with Bob Sunenblick a year or two ago, and he does plan on reissuing the Don Joseph LP.

One of my favorite Uptown albums is Charlie Parker's Montreal 1953. It was recorded around the same time as Bird's The Washington Concerts. It's great to hear Bird in fine form with a young Paul Bley, the obscure Valdo Williams and the even more obscure Steep Wade. Apparently, there's a book documenting Bird's visit to Montreal, which could make for an interesting read.

Glad to hear that! I saw the Parker date on Amazon and was very curious if it was worth the purchase.

[AllenLowe]

just listening to the Dodo this week; well presented, sound is fine, but musically very depressing; he just had lost not only the spark, but the creativity,

[JETman]

just listening to the Dodo this week; well presented, sound is fine, but musically very depressing; he just had lost not only the spark, but the creativity,

I thought the Charlie Christian was still your fave!

[AllenLowe]

well, that lost the AUDIO spark.

[JETman]

well, that lost the AUDIO spark.

Yes, I know. Hence my comment. Make up with Dr. Bob yet?