Tag: 1960s
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Nina Simone, Let It All Out, 1966 on Philips
Yes, back in the day Philips (who you likely know more now as the maker of Sonicare toothbrushes) was also a reputable jazz and classical label. Though the copyright was 1965 they put out this album in 1966. Simone switched to Philips in 1964 and was there (putting out seven LPs) until switching to RCA…
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Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins On Impulse!, 1965 on Impulse
Classic album, featuring Rollins with Walter Booker (bass), Mickey Roker (drums), and Ray Bryant (piano). Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in the summer of 1965. Sadly Rollins passed this May (2026) in Woodstock NY. My copy—via Mystery Train Records in Gloucester MA—is the 2021 Acoustic Sounds Series reissue, supervised by Chad Kassem, cut by Ryan…
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Mose Allison, Mose Allison Sings, 1963 on Prestige
Compilation of tracks from Allison’s first albums which had been released on Prestige between 1957 and 1959. Though he was first known as a pianist, he gradually sang more and more. This was the first compilation in which he sang on every track. All were recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, and Ira Gitler wrote the…
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Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited, 1965 on Columbia
Dylan’s sixth studio album, following the infamous Dylan-goes-electric Newport Folk Festival and following Bringing It All Back Home. A masterpiece from start to finish, including “Like a Rolling Stone,” “Ballad of a Thin Man,” “Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues,” and “Desolation Row.” Dylan just turned 85 recently—his birthday is just 2 days (and many years)…
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Bill Evans and Jim Hall, Intermodulation, 1966 on Verve
This was a follow-up to 1962’s Undercurrent, which also featured Hall and Evans. Produced by Creed Taylor and recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in two sessions in April and May 1966. It’s just Evans on piano and Hall on guitar, starting with two standards (“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “My Man’s Gone Now”)…
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Herbie Hancock, My Point of View, 1963 on Blue Note
Hancock’s sophomore album as a leader, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Englewood Cliffs NJ. Hancock joined by Donald Byrd (trumpet), Gracham Moncur III (trombone), Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Grant Green (guitar), Chuck Isreals (bass), and Anthony Williams (drums). Herbie Hancock is a master, and it is wonderful to find the early Blue Note albums…
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Lou Rawls, Live!, 1966 on Capitol
Fantastic early Lou Rawls live album, with a nearly six minute “Tobacco Road” and a couple of monologues. If you don’t know mid-sixties Lou Rawls you are missing out. My copy—via Big Fun Records in Beverly MA—is a later reissue pressed by Capitol Los Angeles (with * in the runouts).
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Leo Kottke, 6-and 12-String Guitar, 1969 on Takoma
Kottke’s second album, following 12-String Blues, and what would become reportedly the best-selling LP on John Fahey’s Takoma Records. Writing his own liner notes, Kottke writes “All that is left to be said is that Kottke’s voice does not appear on this album. His guitar does.” My copy—via Salem Flea Marketplace—has the gold and tan…
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Art Pepper, Gettin’ Together, 1960 on Contemporary Records
Pepper joined here by Paul Chambers (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums), Wynton Kelly (piano) and Conte Candoli (trumpet, on three tracks). That makes this another LP with Miles Davis’ rhythm section, as the earlier Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section was. Rounding out for now my recent Art Pepper pickups (say Art Pepper Pickups five times…
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Art Pepper, Intensity, 1963 on Contemporary Records
Recorded in 1960 but released in 1963, this has Pepper joined by Dolo Coker (piano), Jimmy Bond (bass), and Frank Butler (drums). A critical part of any west coast jazz library. That cover photo makes me think of the moment in Lost in Translation where the translator turns a series of long directions in Japanese…
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Art Pepper + Eleven, “Modern Jazz Classics,” 1960 on Contemporary Records
Classic west coast jazz from Contemporary Records – sometimes just gets call Art Pepper + Eleven, sometimes Modern Jazz Classics. Not sure if 12 people counts as a big band – Wikipedia says “a small big band.” Marty Paich did the arranging. Songs composed by Dizzy Gillespie, Horace Silver, Charlie Parker, Gerry Mulligan, and Sonny…
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The Blues Box, 1966 on Verve Folkways.
3xLP box set featuring Lightnin’ Hopkins, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee, and Jimmy Witherspoon. On a couple of sides Hopkins plays with Terry & McGhee. The recordings were all made in Los Angeles – the first two LPs are taken from the Ash Grove on July 6th and 7th, 1960, and the third LP says…
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Bill Evans, Evans in England, 2019 on Resonance
Another late sixties (December 1969) set from Evans, Eddie Gomez, and Marty Morell, recorded at Ronnie Scott’s. (Live at Ronnie Scott’s, released in 2020, came from recordings made in July of 1968). Great production and packaging. My copy—via private sale—is the Record Store Day 2019 2xLP deluxe edition, numbered and limited.
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Horace Silver Quintet, Silver’s Serenade, 1963 on Blue Note
The quintent here is Silver joined by Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Junior Cook (tenor sax), Gene Taylor (bass), and Roy Brooks (drums). Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Englewood Cliffs, with Alfred Lion producing. My copy—via Amazon—is another Blue Note Tone Poet Series reissue from 2024. Yes, I realize there are other jazz labels and other…
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Freddie Roach, Good Move!, 1964 on Blue Note
Freddie Roach’s third album as a leader, recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Englewood Cliff with Blue Mitchell (trumpet), Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Eddie Wright (guitar), and Clarence Johnston (drums). Tunes include “It Ain’t Necessarily So” (Gerswhin) and Pastel (Garner) as well as “T’Ain’t What You Do (It’s The Way That You Do It).” Great…
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Big John Patton, Let ‘Em Roll, 1966 on Blue Note
Patton joined by Otis Finch (drums), Grant Green (guitar), and Bobby Hutcherson (vibes), and recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Fantastic Hammond B3 driven mid-sixties Blue Note jazz – can’t go wrong. My copy—direct from Amazon, which often has deals on these—is the Blue Note Tone Poet series reissue from 2023, with…
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Lou Donaldson, Midnight Creeper, 1968 on Blue Note
Donaldson joined here by Leo Morris (drums), George Benson (guitar), Lonnie Smith (organ) and Blue Mitchell (trumpet). Very groovy soul-jazz LP from late sixties Blue Note. Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Englewood Cliffs and produced by Francis Wolff. My copy—via Amazon—is the Blue Note Tone Poet reissue from 2024, mastered by Kevin Gray and…
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The Grateful Dead, Aoxomoxoa, 1969 on Warner Bros
This was the third studio LP from The Grateful Dead, and was one of the first albums recorded in 16 tracks on an Ampex MM-1000. It was remixed by Garcia and Lesh in 1971. “China Cat Sunflower” and “St. Stephen” remain among my favorite Dead tunes, though I find it hard to get through “What’s…