Live At Carmelo’s (2-cd Set) + Unreleased Tracks
Don Menza
Featuring: Sam Noto (tp, flh), Don Menza (as, bs), Sal Nistico (ts), Frank Strazzeri (p), Andy Simpkins (b), Shelly Manne (d)
REFERENCE: FSRCD 883_2
BAR CODE: –
These live performances at Carmelo’s were a great experience for me. It was a chance to play with some of my favorite players and, as time has proven, they have become jazz legends. Because of the time limitations of LP’s, we had to choose from 2 nites of recording and only six tunes were picked for the original LP release. Here are some of the other tunes played on that historic live recording. Sam Noto was in town with the Bob McConnell Big Band. Sal Nistico flew in from N.Y.C. and the rest of us were here in L.A.
Thanks to the efforts of the late Herb Wong (my good friend) we had the opportunity to record the music of Frank Strazzeri and some of my charts. These charts were originally written for trumpet-tenor-trombone, but after the untimely death of Frank Rosolino everything was put on hold. On these recordings I played the trombone parts on baritone and some on alto.
It was curious that all the players on these recordings are from the East coast, and yet everyone considered us “West coasters” (always thought of as the cool school). As you will hear, these takes are anything but cool. My thanks to Jordi and Fresh Sound for re-releasing these recordings.
—Don Menza, Los Angeles, October 2015
Tracklisting:
CD 1
01. The Third Eye (Strazzeri) 7:39
02. Opals #1 (Strazzeri) 9:46
03. I Don’t Stand a Ghost of a Chance
(Crosby-Washington-Young) 5:21
04. Don’t Scuffle, Just Shuffle (Strazzeri) 11:18
05. Why the Dreams (Strazzeri) 5:28
06. Hip Pocket (Strazzeri) 9:28
07. Steppin’ (Menza) 7:38
CD 2
01. These Are the Things I Love
(Barlow-Harris) 8:04
02. Opals #2 (Strazzeri) 12:46
03. Quasimodo (Parker) 6:22
04. From the Hip (Strazzeri) 6:38
05. Winter of My Discontent (Wilder) 5:20
06. Tenor Madness (Rollins) 20:44
Source:
Tracks #1,2,6 & 7 on CD 1, and #3 & 5 on CD2, were previously issued only on the Palo Alto Jazz LP “Hip Pocket – Live at Carmelo’s” (PA 8010). All other tracks appear for the first time on this CD.
Personnel:
Sam Noto, trumpet & flugelhorn; Don Menza, alto
& baritone sax; Sal Nistico, tenor sax; Frank Strazzeri, piano; Andy Simpkins, bass; Shelly Manne, drums.
Recorded live at Carmelo’s, Sherman Oaks, California, October 2 & 3, 1981
Original recordings produced by Herb Wong
Engineered by Biff Dawes, Wally Heider Recording Studio, Hollywood, California
Mixed by Jim Mooney, Sage & Sound, Hollywood, California
This CD compilation by Don Menza
Newly remastered by Joe Sidore, Shadow Hills, CA
Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
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Review:
-Hip Pocket
„Don Menza tried a change of pace on this album, doubling on alto and baritone instead of his usual tenor. He has had the misfortune to record the majority of his dates for now-defunct labels, and this LP will be a bit hard to find. Menza teams up with tenorman Sal Nistico, trumpeter Sam Noto, pianist Frank Strazzeri, bassist Andy Simpkins and drummer Shelly Manne for music that is as swinging as one would expect from these players. They perform Strazzeri’s originals, Menza’s „Steppin‘,“ an Alec Wilder obscurity, and Charlie Parker’s „Quasimodo.“ Fine modern bop music.“
Scott Yanow -All Music Guide
Quelle:
http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/live_at_carmelos_2-cd_set_+_unreleased_tracks-cd-6363.html
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"Don't play what the public want. You play what you want and let the public pick up on what you doin' -- even if it take them fifteen, twenty years." (Thelonious Monk) | Meine Sendungen auf Radio StoneFM: gypsy goes jazz, #163: Neuentdeckungen aus dem Katalog von CTI Records (Teil 2), 13.5., 22:00 | Slow Drive to South Africa, #8: tba | No Problem Saloon, #30: tba