There are certainly a lot of record producers who drink a lot of Java, but only one who was from Java -- Harry Lim, who produced a number of jazz records for Keynote Records in the mid-40s, and then started his own short-lived label in 1949--Harry Lim Records. Their initial release was the Al Haig all-star session introducing a young Blossom Dearie. I'm not sure how many more there were, but not many. The Prestige re-release was considerably later, well into their 7000 series, along with other early Al Haig / Stan Getz waxings. I'm still looking for the Blossom Dearie cuts.
Showing posts with label Blossom Dearie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blossom Dearie. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Listening to Prestige Records Part 12: Missing Al Haig/Blossom Dearie
The first time I've struck out, and it's a shame. The session was July 28, 1949, and the group was billed as the Al Haig Sextet. Personnel Kai Winding (trombone), Stan Getz (tenor saxophone), Al Haig (piano), Jimmy Raney (guitar -1,2, guitar, vocals -3,4),Tommy Potter (bass) Roy Haynes (drums). All of which would be enough to make it interesting, but here's the kicker: Blossom Dearie (vocals -3,4).
Is this Blossom Dearie's first recording? It could be. She sang in vocal groups with Woody Herman and Alvino Rey in the 40s, but her career didn't really start until she went to Paris and formed the Blue Stars, and that was 1952. Her classic "Lullabye of Birdland" wasn't recorded till 1954.
And I can't find these cuts anywhere except British iTunes, which I can't access. The two Blossom Dearie cuts are on album called "Little Jazz Bird," which is only available in England. The titles are distinctive - the two instrumentals are "Pinch Bottle" and "Earless Engineering." The two with Blossom are "Be Still, TV" and "Short P not LP." You can find a brief clip of "Be Still, TV" on Allmusic.com (with the added info that it was written by Jimmy Raney), but it cuts out before the vocal.
If anyone has this on mp3 and would like to send it to me, I'd be delighted.
Is this Blossom Dearie's first recording? It could be. She sang in vocal groups with Woody Herman and Alvino Rey in the 40s, but her career didn't really start until she went to Paris and formed the Blue Stars, and that was 1952. Her classic "Lullabye of Birdland" wasn't recorded till 1954.
And I can't find these cuts anywhere except British iTunes, which I can't access. The two Blossom Dearie cuts are on album called "Little Jazz Bird," which is only available in England. The titles are distinctive - the two instrumentals are "Pinch Bottle" and "Earless Engineering." The two with Blossom are "Be Still, TV" and "Short P not LP." You can find a brief clip of "Be Still, TV" on Allmusic.com (with the added info that it was written by Jimmy Raney), but it cuts out before the vocal.
If anyone has this on mp3 and would like to send it to me, I'd be delighted.
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