LES BROWN & HIS BAND OF RENOWN - The Complete Song Books
Phono 870247
Tracks 1 to 12
Jazz Song Book
Collective personnel
Wes Hensel ( tpt / arr ) Dick Collins ( tpt ) Jerry Kadowitz ( tpt ) Mickey McMahan ( tpt ) Don Fagerquist ( tpt ) Al Porcino ( tpt ) Dick Kenney ( tmb ) Roy Main ( tmb ) Frank Rosolino ( tmb ) Jim Hill ( bass tmb ) Stumpy Brown ( bass Tmb / vocal ) Les Brown ( clt / alto / arr )Ralph La Polla ( alto ) Matt Utal ( alto / flute ) Ronnie Lang ( alto / bar / flute ) Buddy DeFranco ( clt ) Billy Usselton ( tnr ) Abe Aaron ( tnr / bar ) Zoot Sims ( tnr )Butch Stone ( bar ) Terry Gibbs ( vibes ) Tony Rizzi ( gtr ) Don Trenner ( pno ) Bob Burteaux ( bass ) Jack Sperling ( drs ) Bob Neal ( drs ) Mel Lewis ( drs ) Bill Holman ( arr ) Frank Comstock ( arr )
Recorded Hollywood, March 1959 to May 1959
Tracks 13 to 24
Swing Song BookWes Hensel tpt / arr ) Frank Beach ( tpt ) Dick Collins ( tpt ) Jerry Kadowitz ( tpt ) Micket McHanan( tpt ) Dick Kenney ( tmb )Roy Main ( tmb ) Jim Hill ( bass tmb / arr ) Stumpy Brown ( bass tmb / arr ) Les Brown ( clt / alto / arr ) Abe Most ( clt ) Abe Aaron ( sop / tnr / bar ) Ralph La Polla ( clt / alto ) Matt Utal ( alto / flute ) Billy Usselton ( tnr ) Butch Stone ( bar / vocal ) Howard Roberts ( gtr ) Alan Reuss ( gtr ) Tony Rizza ( gtr ) Don Treener ( pno ) Bob Burteaux ( bass ) Jack Sperling ( drs ) Laurie Johnson ( vocal ) Frank Comstock ( arr ) Bob Higgins ( arr ) Skip Martin ( arr ) Ben Homer ( arr ) Billy May ( arr )
Recorde Hollywood, January 1959
After leaving Duke University Les Brown moved to New York in 1937 where in wrote arrangements for a number of bands including Jimmy Dorsey and Isham Jones.
He was invited to form a band foor the Hotel Edison and included in the deal was recording deal but in 1940 he formed a new band and secured a gig at the New York Arcadia Ballroom and also deputised for the Charlie Barnet band at the Lincoln Hotel..
He engaged a young singer for the band who was working with the Bob Crosby band called Doris Day who stayed with the band until she married for the first time but she was persuaded to return to the band in 1943 when they recorded “Sentimental Journey” which became a hit and boosted the bands reputation.
Helped by Frank Comstock’s arrangements and hit with Skip Martin’s arrangement of “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” the band went from strength to strength but with the downturn of the band business he again disbanded in 1946. He was forced to reform in March 1947 to fulfil a one off gig and from this he was offered the chance to be hired for the weekly Bob Hope radio show.
These recordings are from a later period but much of the earlier band is still present and with a roster of fine arrangers such as Frank Comstock, Billy May, Bill Holman and Ben Homer this superior dance music with lots of jazz content.
“The Jazz Song Book” has a number of guest soloists from the jazz scene including Buddy De Franco, Frank Rosolino and Zoot Sims who solo on various tracks.
The opening track “King Phillip Stomp” is Buddy De Franco all the way backed by some scintillating brass and the whole piece swings along nicely.
Trombonist Frank Rosolino gets his chance to shine on “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and his fluent style is a joy to listen to.
The brass section fairly bristles behind Zoot Sims hard swinging tenor on “Let’s Get Away From It All” spurred along by the superb drumming of Jack Sperling.
“The Swing Song Book” is just as good with numbers like “How High The Moon” and “Pick Yourself Up” with plenty of good section work and intriguing solos from members of the band.
This is a well drilled band but loosee enough to create a genuine jazz feeling with solos to match. We have a tendency to forget how much jazz content existed in a number of the big bands and it is only now we are beginning to appreciate this.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Phono 870247
Tracks 1 to 12
Jazz Song Book
Collective personnel
Wes Hensel ( tpt / arr ) Dick Collins ( tpt ) Jerry Kadowitz ( tpt ) Mickey McMahan ( tpt ) Don Fagerquist ( tpt ) Al Porcino ( tpt ) Dick Kenney ( tmb ) Roy Main ( tmb ) Frank Rosolino ( tmb ) Jim Hill ( bass tmb ) Stumpy Brown ( bass Tmb / vocal ) Les Brown ( clt / alto / arr )Ralph La Polla ( alto ) Matt Utal ( alto / flute ) Ronnie Lang ( alto / bar / flute ) Buddy DeFranco ( clt ) Billy Usselton ( tnr ) Abe Aaron ( tnr / bar ) Zoot Sims ( tnr )Butch Stone ( bar ) Terry Gibbs ( vibes ) Tony Rizzi ( gtr ) Don Trenner ( pno ) Bob Burteaux ( bass ) Jack Sperling ( drs ) Bob Neal ( drs ) Mel Lewis ( drs ) Bill Holman ( arr ) Frank Comstock ( arr )
Recorded Hollywood, March 1959 to May 1959
Tracks 13 to 24
Swing Song BookWes Hensel tpt / arr ) Frank Beach ( tpt ) Dick Collins ( tpt ) Jerry Kadowitz ( tpt ) Micket McHanan( tpt ) Dick Kenney ( tmb )Roy Main ( tmb ) Jim Hill ( bass tmb / arr ) Stumpy Brown ( bass tmb / arr ) Les Brown ( clt / alto / arr ) Abe Most ( clt ) Abe Aaron ( sop / tnr / bar ) Ralph La Polla ( clt / alto ) Matt Utal ( alto / flute ) Billy Usselton ( tnr ) Butch Stone ( bar / vocal ) Howard Roberts ( gtr ) Alan Reuss ( gtr ) Tony Rizza ( gtr ) Don Treener ( pno ) Bob Burteaux ( bass ) Jack Sperling ( drs ) Laurie Johnson ( vocal ) Frank Comstock ( arr ) Bob Higgins ( arr ) Skip Martin ( arr ) Ben Homer ( arr ) Billy May ( arr )
Recorde Hollywood, January 1959
After leaving Duke University Les Brown moved to New York in 1937 where in wrote arrangements for a number of bands including Jimmy Dorsey and Isham Jones.
He was invited to form a band foor the Hotel Edison and included in the deal was recording deal but in 1940 he formed a new band and secured a gig at the New York Arcadia Ballroom and also deputised for the Charlie Barnet band at the Lincoln Hotel..
He engaged a young singer for the band who was working with the Bob Crosby band called Doris Day who stayed with the band until she married for the first time but she was persuaded to return to the band in 1943 when they recorded “Sentimental Journey” which became a hit and boosted the bands reputation.
Helped by Frank Comstock’s arrangements and hit with Skip Martin’s arrangement of “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm” the band went from strength to strength but with the downturn of the band business he again disbanded in 1946. He was forced to reform in March 1947 to fulfil a one off gig and from this he was offered the chance to be hired for the weekly Bob Hope radio show.
These recordings are from a later period but much of the earlier band is still present and with a roster of fine arrangers such as Frank Comstock, Billy May, Bill Holman and Ben Homer this superior dance music with lots of jazz content.
“The Jazz Song Book” has a number of guest soloists from the jazz scene including Buddy De Franco, Frank Rosolino and Zoot Sims who solo on various tracks.
The opening track “King Phillip Stomp” is Buddy De Franco all the way backed by some scintillating brass and the whole piece swings along nicely.
Trombonist Frank Rosolino gets his chance to shine on “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and his fluent style is a joy to listen to.
The brass section fairly bristles behind Zoot Sims hard swinging tenor on “Let’s Get Away From It All” spurred along by the superb drumming of Jack Sperling.
“The Swing Song Book” is just as good with numbers like “How High The Moon” and “Pick Yourself Up” with plenty of good section work and intriguing solos from members of the band.
This is a well drilled band but loosee enough to create a genuine jazz feeling with solos to match. We have a tendency to forget how much jazz content existed in a number of the big bands and it is only now we are beginning to appreciate this.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
