Bobby Troup and Howard Roberts (photo taken from a 1960 Gibson catalogue but
probably taken much earlier)
Recordings With Howard Roberts As Sideman, 1950-1959
Jazz Superstars: Jam Session Record No. 101
1952 - Jam Session JS-101.
Selections: Lady Bird, Out of Nowhere, Keen and Peachy, Donna Lee.
Personnel:
tenor - Wardell Gray,
trumpet - Art Farmer, piano - Amos Trile (first two), Hampton Hawes (last two),
bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Shelly Manne,
guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: Recorded live Sept. 9, 1952 at the Haig in L.A.
Comments: Nice recording, H.R. plays great. Thanks to Bill Hunter for this.
Jazz Superstars: Jam Session Record No. 102
1952 - Jam Session JS-102.
Selections: Tiny's Blues, I Cover the Waterfront/I'm in the Mood
for Love, Out of Nowhere,
Our Delight, Lullaby of the Leaves,
Blues.
Personnel:
On Tiny's Blues, I Cover the Waterfront and I'm in the Mood for Love: tenor sax - Gerry Mulligan,
Dave Pell, trumpet - Ted Ottison, piano - Paul Smith,
bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Bill Wilson.
On the remaining tracks: baritone sax - Gerry Mulligan,
piano - Jimmy Rowles,
bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Tommy Rundell,
guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: Recorded live May 27, 1952 at the Haig in L.A.
Comments: H.R. solos only on Our Delight. The recording is not of high
fidelity and he is under-recorded relative to the other instruments.
He plays well but with with a fairly distorted tone.
Probably the amp had to be turned up to be heard.
As far as I know, this is H.R.'s first recording.
Thanks to Gérard Dugelay of Metz,
France for this.
Wardell Gray Quintet - Live at The Haig 1952
1952 - Fresh Sound Records, FSR-CD 157 - 1991 reissue.
Selections: Bernie's Tune (B. Miller), The Squirrel (T. Dameron),
Pennies From Heaven (Johnston-Burke), Donna Lee (C. Parker), Taking A Chance
On Love (Duke-Latouche), Jackie (H. Hawes), Get Happy (Arlen-Koehler),
Keen And Peachy (S. Rogers), Lady Bird (T. Dameron).
Personnel: tenor sax - Wardell Gray, trumpet - Art Farmer, piano -
Hampton Hawes, Amos Trice,
bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Shelly Manne, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: September 9, 1952 at the Haig in L.A.
Comments: H.R. is on the last two tracks only.
H.R. plays with a somewhat distorted tone very unlike what he later developed.
These selections also appear on Out of Nowhere - the Wardell Gray Sextet,
Straight Ahead Jazz, SAJ-1003.
Bobby Troup
1953 - Capitol T484H484.
Selections:
Chicago (Fisher), Hungry Man (Troup), I Can't Get Started (Duke-Gershwin),
Where You At (Segel-Handy), My Blue Heaven (Donaldson-Whiting),
The Three Bears (Troup), Dinah (Akst-Lewis-Young), Lemon Twist (Troup),
'Deed I Do (Rose-Hirsch), The Girl Friend (Rodgers-Hart),
You're Looking at Me (Troup),
Five Days, Six Hours and Thirteen Minutes (Springer-Hirsch).
Personnel: piano and vocal - Bobby Troup, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Harry Babasin, drums - Don Heath, trombone - Bob Enevoldsen,
Newcomb Rath, Jack Dulong, Bill McDougal, baritone sax, Don Davison.
Session: Los Angeles, August 1953.
Comments: The first 8 tunes were first issued on a 10" lp Capitol H484.
Some nice guitar on
The Girl Friend and 5 Days, 6 Hours and 13 Minutes.
The album cover
(this is the cover of the 10") has some
pictures of the trio in action. You can make out H.R. in some of these.
June Christy - Something Cool
1954 - Capitol, reissued on CD in 1991, CDP 7 96329.
Selections with H.R.: Lonely House (Weill-Hughes),
I Should Care (Weston-Stordahl-Cahn), It Could Happen To You (van Heusen-Burke),The First Thing You Know, You're In Love (Torme),
A Stranger Called the Blues (Torme-Wells),
I'll Take Romance (Oaksland-Hammerstein II), Look Out Up There (Raskin-Rugolo),
Softly As In a Morning Sunrise (Romberg-Camacho-Hammerstein II),
Out of Somewhere (Unknown), Love Doesn't Live Here Any More (Unknown).
Personnel: Pete Rugolo's Orchestra,
arranger and conductor - Pete Rugolo, trumpet - Maynard Ferguson,
Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Rogers, trombone - Milt Bernhart, Harry Betts,
Tommy Pederson, alto sax - Harry Klee, Bud Shank, tenor sax - Bob Cooper,
Ted Nash, Baritone sax - Chuck Gentry, piano - Russ Freeman,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Shelly Manne.
Session: L.A. January 18, 19, 1954.
Comments: Mainly just comping but some nice guitar on I'll Take
Romance.
Bob Cooper Sextet - Group Activity
1954 - Capitol reissued on Affinity together with Bill Holman Octet, Aff 65.
Selections with H.R.: The Way You Look Tonight (Kern-Fields),
Polka Dots and Moonbeams (van Heusen-Burke), Solo Plight (Cooper),
Lisbon Lady (Cooper), She Didn't Say Yes(Kern-Harbuch),
When the Sun Comes Out (Arlen-Koehler), Excursion (Cooper).
Personnel: tenor sax - Bob Cooper, piano - Claude Williamson
bass - Joe Mondragon, Curtis Counce, drums - Shelly Manne, Stan Levy,
guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: Hollywood, May 14 and July 30, 1954.
Comments: Excellent album and wonderful guitar.
Jazz Studio Two
1954 - Jasmine JASM 1029.
Selections: Laura (Raskin-Mercer), Here Come The Lions (Graas),
Paicheck (Paich), Graas Point (Graas),
Darn That Dream (Van Heusen-Delange), Do It Again (Gershwin).
Personnel : guitar - Howard Roberts, tenor saxophone - Jimmy Giuffre,
piano - Marty Paich, trumpet - Don Fagerquist, trombone - Milt Bernhart,
french horn - John Graas, alto saxophone - Herb Geller,
bass - Curtis Counce, drums - Larry Bunker.
Session : L.A. June 4, 1954.
Comments: Beautiful guitar on this. It should be reissued.
Here is a picture
of the musicians from the album cover with H.R. in the back row.
Many thanks to Dave Gould for this.
Dave has an extensive collection of jazz guitar recordings.
Dave has published discographies titled "Wes Montgomery on CD" and
"Django Reinhardt on CD".
Bob Enevoldsen Quintet
1954 - Nocturne NLP6. Jazz in Hollywood Series.
Selections: Fast Buck (M. Paich), My Old Flame (A. Johnston-S. Coslow),
Danza To Brasil (M. Paich), Lulu's Back In Town (H. Warren-A. Dubin),
Bob White (J. Mercer-B. Hanighen), Where Did The Gentleman Go? (B. Troup),
Snootie Little Cutie (B. Troup).
Personnel : trombone - Bob Enevoldsen, guitar - Howard Roberts,
piano - Marty Paich, bass - Harry Babasin, drums - Don Heath.
Session: Western Recorders, Hollywood, July 14 and 18, 1954.
Comments: Great playing by Howard Roberts on this. This is part of
a recently released (March, 1998)
3 CD set from Fresh Sound called "The Complete Nocturne
Recordings, Jazz in Hollywood Series - Volume 1". Other albums included
are by Bud
Shank, Herbie Harper, Harry Babasin, Lou Levy, Jimmy Rowles and Virgil
Gonsalves. Excellent set with great documentation and photos.
Here is a
picture of H.R. from this session.
Introducing Pete Rugolo
1954 - Col 40194 reissued on the CD, Pete Rugolo and his Orchestra,
Sony #A-28821.
Selections: That Old Black Magic (Mercer-Arlen), Early Stan (Rugolo),
Bazaar (Khatchaturian: arr. Rugolo), California Melodies (Rose),
You Stepped Out of a Dream (Kahn-Brown), 360 Special (Rugolo), Laura (Mercer-Raksin), Come Back Little Rocket (Rugolo),
In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree (Williams-Van Alstyne),
Sidewalks of New York Mambo (arr. Rugolo), Theme from the Lombardo Ending (Rugolo), Manana (Lee-Barbour).
Personnel : arranger - Pete Rugolo,
trumpet - Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Shorty Rogers,
trombone - Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, John Haliburton, Herbie Harper, Bob Fitzpatrick,
french horn - Fred Fox, John Graas, Joe Eger , Bill Hinshaw
tuba - Paul Sarmento,
alto sax - Bud Shank, Harry Klee, Ethmer Roten,
tenor sax - Bob Cooper, Jimmy Giuffre,
baritone sax - Bob Gordon,
piano - Claude Williamson,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Harry Babasin,
drums - Shelly Manne,
percussion - Bernie Mattison.
Session: L.A. Feb. 8, 1954.
Adventures In Rhythm - Pete Rugolo and his Orchestra
1954 - Col 40194 reissued on the CD, Pete Rugolo and his Orchestra,
Sony #A-28821.
Selections: Here's Pete (Rugolo), My Funny Valentine (Hart-Rodgers),
Mixin' The Blues (Rugolo), Poinciana (Bernier-Simon),
Rugolo Meets Shearing (Lunham-Saunders-Rugolo), Sambamba (Baxter),
King Porter Stomp (Morton), You Are Too Beautiful (Hart-Rodgers),
Jingle Bells Mambo (Rugolo), The Will Never Be Another You (Gordon-Warren),
Conversation (Ferrer), Good Evening Friends Boogie (Rugolo).
Personnel : arranger - Pete Rugolo,
trumpet - Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Childers, Shorty Rogers,
Don Paladino,
trombone - Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, Bob Fitzpatrick,
french horn - Fred Fox, Bill Hinshaw, John Cave
tuba - Paul Sarmento,
alto sax - Bud Shank, Harry Klee, Ethmer Roten,
tenor sax - Bob Cooper, Jimmy Giuffre,
baritone sax - Bob Gordon,
piano - Claude Williamson,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Harry Babasin,
drums - Shelly Manne,
percussion - Bernie Mattison.
Session: L.A. Feb. 22, April 29, May 10, June 21 1954.
Leonard Feather Presents: Best from the West - Volume 1
1954 - Blue Note BLP5059 - reissued by Fresh Sound.
Selections: Santa Anita (M. Rogers), Santa Monica (B. Collette),
The Blindfold Test No. 1 (M. Rogers), Culver City (M. Rogers),
The Blindfold test No. 2 (M. Rogers), Hooray for Hollywood (Whiting-Mercer).
Personnel:
trumpet - Harry Edison, Conte Candoli,
alto sax - Herb Walsh (Geller), Charlie Mariano, Buddy Collette, trombone - Bob Enevoldsen,
piano - Lorraine Geller, Marty Paich, Gerry Wiggins,
bass - Joe Mondragon, Monty Budwig, Curtis Counce, drums - Larry Bunker, Stan Levey,
french horn - John Graas,
tenor, baritone sax and clarinet - Jimmy Giuffre, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: L.A., Dec. 31, 1954.
Comments: H.R. is on Santa Monica (nice solo) and The Blindfold Test
No. 2.
Leonard Feather Presents: Best from the West - Volume 2
1954 - Blue Note BLP5060 - reissued by Fresh Sound.
Selections: Van Nuys Indeed (J. Graas), Here's Pete (P. Rugolo),
The Blindfold Test No. 3 (M. Rogers), Burbank Bounce (M. Rogers),
Arcadia (M. Rogers), No Love, No Nothing (Warren-Robin).
Personnel:
trumpet - Harry Edison, Conte Candoli,
alto sax - Herb Walsh (Geller), Charlie Mariano, Buddy Collette, trombone - Bob Enevoldsen,
piano - Lorraine Geller, Marty Paich, Gerry Wiggins,
bass - Joe Mondragon, Monty Budwig, Curtis Counce, drums - Larry Bunker, Stan Levey,
french horn - John Graas,
tenor, baritone sax and clarinet - Jimmy Giuffre, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: L.A., Dec. 31, 1954.
Comments: H.R. is on Here's Pete and No Love, No Nothing. Beautiful solo on the latter.
It seems these two albums were initially issued as "a musical blindfold test";
i.e. the listener had to guess who the players were.
Terry Pollard
1955 - Bethlehem BCP-1015 and reissued by Toshiba EMI as TOJJ-1015
in 10" format in 2000.
Selections: Fedi (Pollard), Laura (Raskin), Where Or When (Rodgers-Hart),
Autumn Serenade (DeRose-Gillespie), Scrapple From The Apple (Parker),
Emaline (Little-McHugh), The More I See You (Warren-Gordon),
Almost Like Being In Love (Loewe-Lerner).
Personnel: trumpet - Don Fagerquist, piano - Terry Pollard,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Herman Wright, drums- Frank DiVito.
Session: L.A., January 10, 1955.
Comments: Excellent recording with some fine contributions from
H.R.
Tommy Traynor/ Peggy Connelly Sings
1955? - Nocturne Records reissued on Fresh Sound FSR-607.
Selections with H.R.:
Married An Angel (Rodgers-Hart), Neath The Willow Tree (Ray Gilbert),
Livin' With Love (Ray Gilbert), Am I Blue (Harry Akst-Grant Clarke).
Personnel : piano - Arnold Ross,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Harry Babasin.
Session:
Comments: It seems this recording lead to the founding of Nocturne
Records (according to the liner notes).
H.R. plays on the Tommy Traynor selections and makes some nice
contributions.
Many thanks to jazz record collector
C.C. Weijman of Utrecht, Netherlands for this.
Rugolomania - Pete Rugolo And His Orchestra With The Rugolettes
1955 Columbia CL 689.
Selections : Gone With The Wind, In A Sentimental Mood,
Bobbin' With Bob, 4:20 A.M., Little White Lies, Me Next, Bongo Dance,
Intermezzo, Montevideo, I've Had My Moments, Everything I Have Is Yours,
Hornorama.
Personnel : arranger - Pete Rugolo,
trumpet - Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Childers, Shorty Rogers, Uan Rasey,
trombone - Harry Betts, Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, Bob Fitzpatrick,
French horn - Vince DeRosa, John Graas,
tuba - Paul Sarmento,
alto sax - Bud Shank, Harry Klee,
tenor sax - Bob Cooper, Jimmy Giuffre,
baritone sax - Bob Gordon,
piano - Claude Williamson,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Harry Babasin,
drums - Shelly Manne,
percussion - Bernie Mattison Jack Costanzo.
Session: Los Angeles, May 10, Oct. 11 1954, Feb. 22, 23 1955.
Comments: Many good guitar contributions on this.
The Rugolettes were a subgroup of the orchestra.
I believe Milt Bernhart, John Graas, Paul Sarmento, Bud Shank,
Bob Cooper, Howard Roberts, Harry Babasin, Shelly Manne and Pete Rugolo
comprised The Rugolettes.
Many thanks to jazz record collector
C.C. Weijman of Utrecht, Netherlands for this.
New Sounds by Pete Rugolo
1955 Harmony HL7003.
Selections : Shave And A Haircut, Latin Nocturne, Conversation
(The Shrike) (Ferrer),
Poinciana (Bernier-Simon), Manhattan Mambo, Quiet Village,
When Your Lover Has Gone,
When You're Smiling, Come Back Little Rocket (Rugolo),
You Stepped Out Of A Dream (Kahn-Brown).
Personnel: Various from Introducing Pete Rugolo, Adventures In Rhythm
and Rugolomania.
Session: L.A. Feb. 8, 22, April 29, May 10, June 21, July 8, Oct. 11 1954 and
Feb. 22, 23 1955.
Comments: Unmistakable H.R. on When You're Smiling. Beautiful!
Many thanks to jazz record collector
C.C. Weijman of Utrecht, Netherlands for this.
Jazz Studio 3 - John Graas
1955 - Decca DL 8104
Selections: Mulliganesque (Graas), My Buddy (Kahn-Donaldson),
6/4 And Even (Graas), Charleston (Mack-Johnson), Rogeresque (Graas),
Jazz Selections from "Symphony No. 1 In F Minor) (Graas),
12th Street Rag (Razaf-Bowman).
Personnel :
trumpet - Don Fagerquist, Conte Candoli,
french horn - John Graas,
alto sax - Charlie Mariano,
tenor sax - Zoot Sims,
baritone sax - Gerry Mulligan, Jimmy Giuffre,
piano - Andre Previn, Marty Paich,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Red Mitchell, Curtis Counce,
drums - Larry Bunker.
Session: L.A. Dec. 16, 1954 and Jan. 6, 1955.
Comments A great album with lots of contributions from H.R.
Many thanks to Ron Benson (designer of the Benson amplifier) for this.
John Graas - Jazz Lab-1
1955 Decca DL 8343.
Selections: Minor Call (John Graas-George Liberace), Mozartesque (John
Graas), Le Chasse (Ed Loe), Friar Tuck (John Graas), Canaon Ball (John Graas),
Pick Yourself Up (Jerome Kern), Andante (John Graas), Allegretto (John Graas),
Softly the Horn Blows (Shorty Rogers), Lighthouse 6/4 (John Graas).
Personnel: french horn - John Graas, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass -
Curtis Counce, tenor - Dave pell, alto - Bert Herbert, Ronnie Lang,
drums - Larry Bunker, trumpet - Don Fagerquist,
piano - Claude Williamson, Marty Paich, vibes - Red Norvo, clarinet -
Jimmy Giuffre, trombone - Bob Enevoldsen.
Session: L.A., Nov. 28, 1955.
Comments : Great record with lots of guitar. Similar in content to Jazz
Studio Two as both seem to be experiments in giving jazz a somewhat "classical" feel and context.
John Graas - Jazz Lab-2
1955 Decca DL 8478.
Selections with H.R.: Be My Guest (Shorty Rogers).
Personnel: french horn - John Graas, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass -
Curtis Counce, tenor - Dave Pell, alto - Bert Herbert,
drums - Larry Bunker, trumpet - Don Fagerquist,
vibes - Red Norvo, clarinet -
Jimmy Giuffre.
Session: L.A., Nov. 28, 1955.
Comments : No guitar to speak of on this one track but the album
is generally quite good.
World's Greatest Jazz Jam Session featuring Jack Millman
1955 - reissued on Stack-O-Hits Records in 1981.
Selections with H.R.: Just a Pretty Tune (J. Millman), Pink Lady (Jack
Millman).
Personnel: fluegelhorn - Jack Millman, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass -
Red Mitchell, piano - Claude Williamson,
tenor - Jimmy Giuffre, alto - Herb Geller,
baritone sax - Bob Gordon, valve trombone - Bob Enevoldsen,
drums - Shelley Manne, trumpet - Don Fagerquist,
vibes - Red Norvo,
bongas - Mike Pacheco, congas - Jack Costanzo.
Session: June, 1 1955, L.A.
Comments : An album of compositions by Jack Millman. H.R. plays a
short solo on Pink Lady. These selections also appeared on the CD
Jack Millman and the Hollywood All Stars Vol. #1. Many thanks to
Ed Barr of Valdosta State University for this.
The selections on the album seemed to have been issued on many
different recordings. Lord lists two more selections
from this recording session; namely Groove Juice and Bolero de Mendez,
but also gives information that contradicts that given on the album
and what I hear. See entry on Jack Millman and his Allstars on Fresh
Sound below as well.
Jack Millman and his Allstars
1955 - Fresh Sound FSR-CD.
Selections with H.R.: Pink Lady (Jack Millman), Bolero de Mendez (Jack
Millman).
Personnel: fluegelhorn - Jack Millman, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass -
Red Mitchell,
tenor - Jimmy Giuffre, alto - Herb Geller, flute - Buddy Collette,
baritone sax - Bob Gordon,
claves - Bob Enevoldsen,
drums - Shelley Manne, trumpet - Don Fagerquist,
vibes - Red Norvo,
bongos - Mike Pacheco, congas - Jack Costanzo.
Session: June, 1 1955, L.A.
Comments: Groove Juice, Pink Lady, Bolero de Mendez and Just a Pretty
Tune also appear on Jazz Studio Four, Decca DL8156. Groove Juice and
Pink Lady also appear on the CD, Jack Millman All Stars - Shades of Things
to Come, Progressive Records PCD-7098, 2002, where H.R. is listed
(inappropriately) as playing on Groove Juice but not Pink Lady.
Jazz Reflections: Jack Millman's All Star Jazz Orchestra
195? - reissued as Tootsie Records AW 14307 in 1979
Selections: (All compositions by Jack Millman)
Going South, Baja, Two Suites For Love, Subtle Hype, Easy Groove,
Allright, On The Up Side, Cool School, View From The Top,
Down Home.
Personnel: fluegelhorn - Jack Millman, guitar - Howard Roberts,
Barney Kessel, Dan Overburg, bass - Curtis Counce,
Red Mitchell,
tenor - Jimmy Giuffre, Jack Montrose, alto - Herb Geller,
flute - Buddy Collette,
baritone sax - Bob Gordon,
claves - Bob Enevoldsen,
drums - Shelley Manne, Chico Hamilton, trumpet - Don Fagerquist, Maynard Ferguson,
vibes - Red Norvo,
piano - Claude Williamson, Gerald Wiggins,
bongos - Mike Pacheco, congas - Jack Costanzo.
Session: Probably 1955, L.A.
Comments: Nice album. The guitar solo on Subtle Hype
sounds like H.R.
Frank Morgan
1955 - GNPD 9041.
Selections: Bernie's Tune (B. Miller), My Old Flame (Coslow-Johnson),
I'll Remember April (Raye-DePaul-Johnson), Neil's Blues (Morgan),
The Champ (Gillespie), Chooch (Morgan),
The Nearness of You (Carmichael-Washington), Whippet (Morgan), Milt's Tune
(Jackson), Get Happy (Arlen-Koehler), Crescendo Blues (J. Sheldon), "Huh",
Autumn Leaves (Kozma-Mercer-Prevert), Well You Needn't (T. Monk),
B.T. (B. Timmons).
Personnel : alto sax - Frank Morgan, tenor sax - Wardell Gray,
James Clay,
organ - Wild Bill Davis, trumpet - Conti Candoli, Jack Sheldon,
guitar - Howard Roberts, piano - Carl Perkins, Bobby Timmons,
bass - Leroy Vinnegar, drums - Lawrence Marable.
Comments : Good guitar work on a couple of tracks and
in particular on The Nearness of You. Here is a great
photo ,
from the collection of Ray Avery, that could be from this recording session.
Helen Carr - Why Do I Love You
1955 - Bethlehem BCP45.
Selections: Then You've Never Been Blue (Lewis-Young-Fiorito),
Summer Night (Dubin-Warren),
Got a Date With An Angel (Tunbridge-Waller-Grey-Miller),
Why Do I Love You (Kern-Hammerstein II), Do I Worry (Cowan-Worth),
I'Ve Got A Feelin' You're Foolin' (Freed-Brown), Be Careful It's My Heart (Berlin), My Kind of Trouble Is You, Lonely Street (Villepegue-Carr),
Symphony (Alstone-LAwrence), You're getting To Be A Habit With Me (Dubin-Warren), Bye Bye Baby (Robin-Styne).
Personnel : vocal - Helen Carr, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Mitchell, trumpet - Cappy Lewis.
Session : Nov. 11, 1955.
Comments : Interesting format with only guitar for harmonic support
and no drums. As usual H.R. plays amazingly well. This together with the Julie
London album prove he was a master of this genre. This album was reissued
with some additional material on the CD Helen Carr The Complete Bethlehem Collection.
Pete Jolly Trio and Sextet - Jolly Jumps In
1955 - reissued On RCA/Spain 74321125822.
Selections with H.R.: Jolly Jumps In (Giuffre), Pete's Meat (S. Rogers),
Why Do I Love You? (Kern-Hammerstein), I Get A Kick Out Of You (Porter).
Personnel : accordion - Pete Jolly,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Curtis Counce,
trumpet - Shorty Rogers, baritone saxophone - Jimmy Giuffre,
drums - Shelly Manne, bass - Curtis Counce.
Session : March 6, 1955.
Comments : Pete Jolly on accordion! There are some trio sessions on
this as well where Pete Jolly plays piano. Some nice guitar but not too much.
Noteworthy is a fine solo on I Get A Kick Out Of You - see Music
for another great H.R. solo on this song.
Pete Jolly Quartet - Hyacinth
1956 - reissued on various compilations.
Personnel: accordian - Pete Jolly, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Bob Bertaux, drums - Bob Neal.
Session: ABC Studios, Hollywood, June 3, 1956.
Comments: This tune has been released on several Pete Jolly
compliations and is available on iTunes.
Bobby Troup Plays Johnny Mercer
1955 - Bethlehem - released on Affinity in 1987.
Selections: Jamboree Jones (Mercer), Midnight Sun (Hampton-Burke-Mercer),
Come Rain Or Come Shine (Arlen-Mercer), Laura (Raskin-Mercer), That Old
Black Magic (Arlen-Mercer), One For My Baby (Arlen-Mercer),
Cuckoo In The Clock (Donaldson-Mercer), Day In, Day Out (Bloom-Mercer),
Jeepers, Creepers (Warren-Mercer), (Love's Got Me In A) Lazy Mood
(Miller-Mercer), Skylark (Carmichael-Mercer), I'm With You (Troup-Mercer).
Personnel: piano and vocal - Bobby Troup, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Red Mitchell, drums - Don Heath, trombone - Bob Enevoldsen.
Session: Los Angeles, January 28, 1955.
Comments: Bobby Troup's vocals are an acquired taste but I've grown
to like them. The guitar playing on this and the next
two Bobby Troup recordings is outstanding! This has been reissued on CD
West Side WESA 854.
The Distinctive Style of Bobby Troup
1955 - Bethlehem BCP-35
Selections: Mountain Greenery (Rodgers-Hart), It Still Suits Me
(Hammerstein-Kern), Little Girl Blue (Rodgers-Hart), Manhattan (Rodgers-Hart),
You Are Too Beautiful (Rodgers-Hart), They Can't Take That Away From Me (I.
Gershwin-G. Gershwin), I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Berlin),
Gypsy In My Soul (Jaffe-Boland), The Boy Next Door (Martin-Blane),
Love Is Here To Stay (I. Gershwin-G. Gershwin), Have You Met Miss Jones
(Rodgers-Hart), The Lady Is A Tramp (Rodgers-Hart).
Personnel: piano and vocal - Bobby Troup, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Bob Enevoldsen , drums - Don Heath.
Session: Hollywood, August, 1955.
Comments: Thanks to Bill Harter for this. Fabulous guitar especially
on Have You Met Miss Jones! This has been reissued on CD West Side WESA 855.
Bobby Troup and his trio
1955 - Liberty LRP 3002.
Selections: Thou Swell (Rodgers-Hart),
I've Got A Crush On You (Gershwin), Old Devil Moon (Harburg-Lane),
That's All (Haymes), The Hucklebuck (Alfred-Gibson), Yes Sir, Thats My Baby
(Kahn-Donaldson) , I Get A Kick Out Of You Porter),
My Funny Valentine (Rodgers-Hart), They Didn't Believe Me (Kern),
Dream Of You (Lunceford-Oliver-Moran),
I've Got You Under My Skin (Porter), Let's Get Away From It All (Dennis).
Personnel: piano and vocal - Bobby Troup, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Bob Enevoldsen , drums - Don Heath.
Session: Celebrity Room, Hollywood, 1955.
Comments: Thanks to Bill Harter for this. Recorded at the Celebrity Room
in Hollywood, CA. Great guitar playing.
Bobby Troup - The Feeling of Jazz
1955 - a number of performances from the 50's and 60's released on the
Starline CD SLCD-9009 in 1994.
Selections with H.R.: Midnight Sun (Burke-Hampton-Mercer), Lullaby
of Birdland (Shearing-Weiss), I Get a Kick Out of You (Porter),
Daddy (Troup),
Moonlight in Vermont (Blackburn-Suessdorf), The Three Bears (Troup), Route 66 (Troup), That Old Black Magic (Arlen-Mercer), There She Goes
(Troup), Learnin' the Blues (Silvers).
Personnel: piano and vocal - Bobby Troup, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Bob Enevoldsen , drums - Don Heath.
Session: Recorded on 9/17/55, 9/24/55 and 10/1/55 at the Bacchante
Room, Huntington-Sheraton Hotel, Pasadena, CA.
Comments: Excellent CD generally and H.R.'s playing is wonderful.
The CD also has selections with Herb Ellis, John Collins and Bucky Pizzarelli.
Bethlehem's Girlfriends - Julie London, Carmen McRae, Chris Connor
1955 - Bethlehem BCP 6006.
Selections with H.R.: A Foggy Day (Gershwins), Don't Worry About Me (Koehler-Bloom),
Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (P.D.), You're Blase (Hamilton-Siever).
Personnel: vocal - Julie London,
piano - Bobby Troup, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Bob Enevoldsen , flute - Buddy Collette and others unlisted.
Session: Estimated to be 1955 sometime.
Comments: Compilation album and excellent. Supposedly these
are Julie London's first recordings predating the Julie Is Her Name
albums. Some excellent music on the entire album and some nice
contributions from H.R.
Here is link to a
Julie London website.
The Chico Hamilton Trio
1955 - Pacific Jazz 10" recording.
Album front
and back
with a nice picture of Howard Roberts.
Selections: Broadway (Wood-Macrea-Boyd), What Is There To Say,
Street of Drums (C. Hamilton),
Nuttye (J. Cheatham), Buddy Boo, We'll Be Together Again (Fisher-Laine),
Uganda (Hamilton-Duvivier), Lollypop (Wiggins-Hamilton).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - George Duvivier, drums - Chico Hamilton.
Session: Hollywood, December 6, 1953 and Los Angeles, October 2, 1954.
Comments : Excellent record. This recording led
to H.R. winning a down beat Guitar - New Star award in The Third Annual
Jazz Critics Poll in 1955 ( The Critics Choices, down beat, Aug. 24, 1955, p.10 ).
This recording together with some recordings made with Jim Hall in 1956 have been released on
CD Fresh Sound FSR-CD 471 in 2007. This recording is discussed in the book
Bassically Speaking: An Oral History of George Duvivier, by Edward Berger, Studies in Jazz
No. 17, Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers, 1993. On page 169 Duvivier is quoted as saying
"That same year 1956, I did a very challenging recording with Chico Hamilton. We were both working
with Lena Horne in Los Angeles when Dick Bock of Pacific Jazz approached us to a trio album with Jim Hall.
... Chico and I both wrote some originals and Jimmy Cheatham, the trombonist brought in a thing of his
called Nuttye. We concentrated on making each track completely different. The guitar parts were awesome.
Howard Roberts, who subbed for Jim Hall in places, came in and sight-read those things!"
Although, Duvivier (who organized the session together with Chico Hamilton) indicated that it was supposed
to be a session with Jim Hall, there is no explanation for how tracks made with H.R. in 1953 wound
up on the record.
(Many thanks to Mike Kremer
and to Adrian Pellew for helping to straighten out some details.)
The Chico Hamilton Trio
1956 - Pacific Jazz.
Selections: Blues On the Rocks (G. Duvivier), Street of Drums (C. Hamilton), We'll Be Together
Again (Fisher-Laine), Skinned Strings (Hamilton-Duvivier), Nuttye (J. Cheatham), Porch Light (G, Duvivier), Broadway (Wood-Macrea-Boyd),
Autumn Landscape (G. Duvivier),
Uganda (Hamilton-Duvivier), Lollypop (Wiggins-Hamilton).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts and Jim Hall,
bass - George Duvivier, drums - Chico Hamilton.
Comments : This is a reissue of most of the material on the above 10"
recording together with some additional cuts featuring Jim Hall. In
particular, Jim Hall is on Blues On The Rocks, Autumn Landscape, and Porch Light
and neither guitarist plays on Skinned Strings. Many thanks to Dave Gould
for this (see above under Jazz Studio Two) and to Mike Kremer and Adrain Pellew
for helping me sort out who played on what.
3 Roads to Jazz
1956 American Recording Atrists ALP-100.
Selections: Top O' the Mark (Jerry Vaughn).
Personnel: leader - Jerry Vaughn, accordion - Marty Paich,
alto sax - Herb
Geller, drums - Chico Hamilton, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Bob
Enevoldsen.
Session: L.A., January, 1956.
Comments: H.R. as a part of the Jerry Vaughn Quintet doing one song.
Tommy Tedesco is the guitarist on the remaining tunes on the record by this
group. Nice solo by H.R.
Also included on the recording are selections by Zep Meissner's
Dixieland Allstars and Van Alexander and the Mills Blue Rhythm Band.
Pete Rugolo: Music For Hi-Fi Bugs
1956 - Emarcy Mg-36082.
Selections:
For Hi-Fi Bugs (P. Rugolo), Once In A While (B. Green-M. Edwards),
Fawncy Meeting You (N. Hefti),
These Foolish Things (Holt-Marvell-Link-Stackney), Later Team (P. Rugolo), Oscar and Pete's Blues (O. Peterson-P. Rugolo),
Dream Of You (S. Oliver), Snowfall (C. Thornhill).
Personnel: arranger - Pete Rugolo, trumpet - Buddy Childers
Don Paladino, Maynard Ferguson, Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist,
trombone - Frank Rosolino, Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, George Roberts,
french horn - John cave, Vince Cave, Vince De Rosa, tuba - Clarence Karella,
saxes - Ronnie Lang, Harry Klee,Ddave Pell, Gene Cipriano, Chuck Gentry,
piano - Russ freemna, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Joe Mondragon,
drums - Shelly Manne, vibes and percusion - Larry Bunker.
Session: L.A., July 9 and 10, 1956.
Comments: Nice chord solo on These Foolish Things.
Some songs also issued on Rhythm Meets Rugolo, Mercury MG 36115
and Music From Out Of Space, Mercury SR 60118, both of which also contain
tracks from Out On A Limb.
Out On A Limb - Pete Rugolo and His All-Stars
1956 - Emarcy MG 36115.
Selections with H.R.: Don't Play the Melody (Rugolo), In A Modal Tone (Rugolo),
Early Duke (Rugolo), The Boy Next Door (R. Blane-H. Martin), Cha-Lito Linda (Rugolo),
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (J. Kern-O. Harbach).
Personnel: arranger - Pete Rugolo, trumpet - Buddy Childers
Don Paladino, Maynard Ferguson, Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist,
trombone - Frank Rosolino, Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, George Roberts,
french horn - John cave, Vince Cave, Vince De Rosa, tuba - Clarence Karella,
saxes - Ronnie Lang, Harry Klee,Ddave Pell, Gene Cipriano, Chuck Gentry,
piano - Russ freemna, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Joe Mondragon,
drums - Shelly Manne, vibes and percusion - Larry Bunker.
Session: L.A., July 9 and 10, 1956.
Comments: H.R. is featured on The Boy Next Door. There are four more unlisted tracks where Barney Kessel replaces H.R.
Some songs also issued on Rhythm Meets Rugolo, Mercury MG 36115
and Music From Out Of Space, Mercury SR 60118, both of which also contain
tracks from Music For Hi-Fi Bugs..
Pete Rugolo: An Adventure In Sound - Brass
1956 Mercury SR60044.
Selections with H.R.: Can't We Talk It Over (N. Washigton-V. Young).
Personnel: trumpet - Don Palladino, Ray Linn, Pete Candoli,
Maynard Ferguson, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Joe Mondragon,
drums - Shelly Manne, piano - Russ Freeman.
Session: Los Angeles, July 10, 1955.
Comments: Some nice guitar work on this. Barney Kessel is on the
remaining tracks. This track also appears on
Maynard Ferguson - Jazz Masters 52.
Corky Hale Plays Gershwin and Duke
1956 - GNP - Crescendo GNP9035.
Selections: A Foggy Day (G. and I. Gershwin), Soon (G. and I. Gershwin),
What Is There To Say (Duke-Harburg), There's An Island In The West Indies (Duke), I Can't Get Started (Duke-Gershwin), Autumn In New York (Duke),
Somebody Loves Me (Gershwin-DeSylva-McDonald), But Not For Me (G. and I.
Gershwin), Taking A Chance On Love (Duke-Latouche), April In Paris (Harburg-Duke), Cabin In The Sky (Duke-Latouche), London In July (Duke-Cahn).
Personnel: harp, piano and flute - Corky Hale, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Red Mitchell, Bob Enevoldsen, drums - Chico Hamilton, Don Heath,
flute and tenor - Buddy Colette, vibes - Larry Bunker.
Session : L.A., 1956.
Comments : Nice album with lots of guitar.
Jazz For Relaxation - Marty Paich
1956 - Tampa - released in 1995 on V.S.O.P.
Selections: Dool's Blues (M. Paich), Jump For Me (C. Basie),
There'll Never Be Another You (Jacobs-Tinturin), The Lamp Is Low
(DeRose-Shefter-Parish), What's New (Haggart-Burke), Theme From Lighthouse (M. Paich),
Lullaby Of The Leaves (Young-Petkere), I'll Remember April (Raye-DePaul-Johnson).
Personnel: piano - Marty Paich, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass -Joe Mondragon, drums - Larry Bunker.
Session : Hollywood, CA.
Comments: Excellent guitar on Lullaby Of The Leaves and I'll Remember
April.
Broadway Showcase - Buddy DeFranco and His Orchestra
1956 - Verve - MGV-2033.
Selections: Speak Low (K. Weill-O. Nash), Who Cares (G. and I. Gershwin),
Autumn in New York (V. Duke), Have You Met Miss Jones (Rogers-Hart),
Mad About the Boy (N. Coward), Almost Like Being In Love (Lerner-Loew),
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Kern-Hammerstein), That Old Debbil Moon (Lane-Harburg), Makin' Whoopee (Donaldson-Kahn), In the Still of the Night (C. Porter),
Come rain or Come Shne (Mercer-Arlen), Heat Wave (I. Berlin).
Personnel: arranger - R. Garcia, clarinet - Buddy De Franco,
guitar - Howard Roberts, piano - Sonny Clarke and no other information.
Session: L.A., August 27-28, 1956.
Comments: Good album with lots of guitar.
Caution Men Swinging - Dennis Farnon
1956 - RCA LPM 1495.
Selections: Caution Men Swinging (Farnon),
Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year (Loesser),
Lover Come Back To Me (Hammerstein-Romberg), Shoo Shoo Baby (Moore),
Just You, Just Me (Greer-Klages), Isle Of Capri (Grosz-Kennedy),
South Of the Border (Beresford-Kennedy),
It Don't Mean A Thing (Ellington-Mills), Why Don't You Do Right (McCoy),
Three Little Words (Ruby), Resume Speed (Farnon).
Personnel: arranger - Dennis Farnon, guitar - Howard Roberts,
trumpet - Conte Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Frank Beach, Paul Gell,
trombone - Tommy Pederson, Joe Howard, Bob Enevoldsen, George Roberts,
alto sax - Jack Dumont, Brian Farnon,
tenor sax - Ted Nash, Gene Cipriano,
baritone sax - Chuck Gentry,
bass - Cliff Hills,
drums - Alvin Stoller,
piano - Jimmy Rowles, Lou Levy.
Session: Los Angeles, 1956.
Comments : Thanks to Dave Gould (see Jazz Studio Two above) for this.
H.R. plays a couple of nice solos on Just You, Just Me and Spring Will Be a
Little Late This Year.
Our New Nellie - Nellie Lutcher with Russ Garcia and His Orchestra
1956 - Liberty LRP 3014.
Selections with H.R.: Have You Ever Been Lonely (De Rose-Brown),
(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings (Rome-Herpin-Jamblin),
Rose Colored Glasses (Steiger-Malie), Ole Buttermilk Sky (Carmichael-Brooks).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts, Ulysses Livingston,
bass - Mike Rubin, drums - Bill Richmond, trumpets - Buddy Childers,
Frank Beach, Bob Fowler, trombones - Lloyd Ulyate, Dick Nash, Si Zentner,
Murry MacEachren, bass and baritone sax - Ryland Weston.
Session : April 12, 1956 in Los Angeles.
Comments: Some nice guitar on this album. Barney Kessel is on some of
the remaining tracks.
The Misty Miss Christy - June Christy
1956 - Capitol.
Selections: That's All (Brandt-Haymes), I Didn't Know About You (Ellington-Russell), Dat-Dream (Ellington-Strayhorn-LaTouche),
Sing Something Simple (H. Hupfeld), Maybe You'll Be There (Bloom-Gallop),
Dearly Beloved (Kern-Mercer), Round Midnight (Hanighen-Williams-Monk),
A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening (McHugh-Adams), The Wind (Freeman-Gladstone),
This Year's Kisses (I. Berlin), For All We Know (Coots-Lewis), There's
No You (Hopper-Adair-Durgom), You Took Advantage Of Me (Rodgers-Hart),
Intrigue (Durand-Drake).
Personnel : arranger - Pete Rugolo,
piano - Claude Williamson, Barry Aronov,
trumpet - Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo,
French horn - John Graas,
guitar - Laurindo Almeida, Howard Roberts,
trombone - Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Herbert Harper, George Roberts, Harry Betts
flute - Bud Shank, Harry Klee,
baritone saxophone - Bob Gordon, Chuck Gentry,
tenor saxophone - Bob Cooper,
drums - Lawrence Bunker, Shelley Manne, Alvin Stoller,
bass - Harry Babasin, Joe Mondragon,
harp - Corky Hale.
Session:July 28, 1955, Jan 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 23, 1956.
Blues and Brass - Elmer Bernstein
1956 - Decca DL8686.
Selections: (All compositions by Elmer Bernstein)
Blues at Five, Jubilation, Exotica, The Poor People of Brazil, Central
park - 4 AM, Wild and Crazy, Hop, Skip But Jump, Smooth,
Lament in Five, Just a Little Jazz, Nightcap, Return of the Man.
Personnel: Conductor - Elmer Bernstein, guitar - Howard Roberts,
Jack Marshall, Vito Mumolo,
bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Shelly Manne, piano - Ernest Hughes, Andre Previn,
sax - Philip Sobel, Skeets Herfurt, Robert Cooper, Chuck Gentry, Bud Shank,
Bill Holman, Dave Pell,
trumpet - Pete Candoli, Maynard Ferguson, Ray S. Linn, Mannie Klein,
Conrad Gozzo, Conte Candoli,
trombone - Lloyd Ulyate, Marshall Cram, Milt Bernhart, Joe Howard,
flute - Martin Ruderman, Sylvia Ruderman, clarinet - Mitchell Lurie.
Session: L.A. 1959.
Comments: Great music and a few nice contributions from H.R.
Modern Jazz Gallery
1956 - Kapp KXL-5001.
Selections with H.R.:
As part of the Russ Garcia And His Orchestra:
Music City (Garcia), Fishtail (Garcia), Smoggy Day (Garcia),
Los Angeles River (Garcia), Number Four (Garcia).
As part of the John T. Williams Quartet:
Caribe (Towner), Spring Is Here (Rodgers-Hart), Anything Goes (Porter),
Aunt Orsavella (Towner).
Session: With Russ Garcia - Hollywood, November 2, 1956 and with the
John T. Williams Quartet - Hollywood, November 2, 1956.
Comments: H.R. is only comping on the Russ Garcia selections.
The Russ Garcia Orchestra also recorded
Out of Nowhere, Coquette and I Cover the Waterfront as part of these sessions
and these were issued on the recording The Johnny Ever Greens ABC-147 (see below).
H.R.'s soloing as part of the John T. Williams Quartet is outstanding and
similar to his work on the John Towner Touch - 1957.
Pinky Winters - Lonely One
1956 - Creative/Argo (No. 604).
Selections: Lonely One, Polka Dots And Moonbeams, Cheek To Cheek,
It Never Entered My Mind, You Smell So Good, Easy Living,
Jeeper's Creepers, I've Got Plenty Of Love, Gone With The Wind,
October's Dream, Pennies From Heaven, My Heart's A Child.
Personnel: vocal - Pinky Winters, drums - Chico Hamilton,
piano - Gerald Wiggins, bass - Jim Wolf, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Comments: This is excellent recording. Pinky Winters is a *great*
singer and H.R. makes some nice contributions. Many thanks to George
Ziskind for procuring me a copy.
The Johnny Ever Greens - Russ Garcia and his Orchestra
1956 - ABC-Paramount ABC-147.
Selections: Body and Soul (Green-Heyman-Sour),
Who Do You Think You Are (Green-Heyman), Living In Dreams (Green),
Out Of Nowhere (Green-Heyman), I Wanna Be Loved (Green-Heyman),
Steam Is On The Beam (Green-Marion), The Trembling Of A Leaf (Green-Lawrence),
Easy Come, Easy Go (Green-Heyman), I Cover The Waterfront (Green-Heyman),
Coquette (Green-Kahn-Lombardo), You're Mine You (Green-Heyman),
Not Bad (Green-Dyrenforth), Hello My Lover Goodbye (Green-Heyman),
There's A Ring Around The Moon (Green-Mercer), I'm Yours (Green-Harburg),
With You With Me (Green-Mercer).
Personnel: arranger and leader - Russ Garcia,
piano - John T. Williams, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Joe Comfort, drums - Alvin Stoller, Bill Richmond,
trombone - Tommy Pederson, Milt Bernhart, Lloyd Ulyate, Dick Nash, Joe
Howard,
trumpet - Don Fagerquist, Cappy Lewis, Buddy Childers,
french horn - Vince De Rosa,
xylophone - Ralph Hensell,
vocals - Sue Allen, Eddie Robertson, Jud Conlon Rhythmaires, strings - not named.
Session: L.A., CA 1956.
Comments : Good big band style comping by H.R. This is an album of
tunes associated with Johnny Green.
Walter Gross plays his own great songs - Russell Garcia and his Orchestra
1956 - ABC-Paramount ABC-153.
Selections: Tenderly (Gross-Lawrence), Please Remember (Gross-Troup),
Sit Down (Gross), Voice In The Wind (Gross-Frees), There Isn't Anybody Like
You (Gross-Russell), After Summer (Gross), Once We Were Young (Gross),
Mexican Moon (Gross), Dear To My Heart (Gross-Stanley), Gypsy (Gross-Rinker),
Concerto For Broken Heart And Orchestra (Gross), The Birthday Song (Gross),
You're Not In Love (Gross), Find Me I'M Lost (Gross), Theme From "Big City".
Personnel: arranger and leader - Russ Garcia,
piano - Walter Gross, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Joe Comfort, drums - Jack Sperling, Alvin Stoller,
trombone - Tommy Pederson, Lloyd Ulyate, Dick Nash,
trumpet - Don Fagerquist, Cappy Lewis, Ray Linn, Don Fagerquist, Manny Klein,
french horn - Richard Perisi,
clarinet and flute - Harry Klee, ted Nash,oharp - Stella Catelluci,
vocals - Ginger Hall, Sylvia Reid, Loulie Jean Norman, Eddie Robertson, Jud Conlon Rhythmaires, strings - not named.
Session: L.A., CA 195?.
Comments : Similar to the Johnny Ever Greens. Some nice contributions by H.R. but no solos.
Ray Gardner and His Quintet
1957 - Normandy Records 45 RPM Extended Play 100-A
Selections: If I Had You (Shapiro-Campbell-Connelly),
Dancing On The Ceiling (Rodgers-Hart), Roses of Picardy (Wood-Weatherly),
Almost Like Being In Love (Lerner-Loewe).
Personnel:
clarinet - Ray Gardner, accordion - Ernie Felice,
vibes - Larry Bunker, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Rolly Burdock,
drums - Bill Richmond.
Session: L.A., January, 1957.
Comments : Interesting recording. The accordion contributes
a nice touch and H.R. is quite prominent. Great music!
The Brothers Candoli
1957 - Dot DLP 3062.
Selections: Disc-location, Beautiful Love, Crazy Rhythm, My Funny
Valentine, Exodus in Jazz, Fascinating Rhythm, Love Your Spell is Everywhere,
It Never Entered My Mind, Pe-Con, Twilight on the Trail, Rockin' Boogie.
Personnel: trumpets - Pete and Conte Candoli,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Alvin Stoller,
piano - Jimmy Rowles.
Session: May 6 and May 13, 1957 in L.A.
Comments : Lots of good contributions from H.R. on this good album.
Includes H.R. playing 50's style rock guitar on Rockin' Boogie.
Many thanks to Ed Barr of Valdosta State University for this.
Tony Perkins
1957 - Epic LN 3394, reissued on Fresh Sound Records.
Selections: April Fool (G. Davis), Just Friends (Klenner-Lewis),
Hit the Road to Dreamland (Mercer-Arlen), This Time the Dream's on Me
(Mercer-Arlen), How Long Has This Been Going On (G. and I. Gershwin),
But Beautiful (Burke-Van Heusen), Why Shouldn't I (Porter),
I Wish I Knew (Gordon-Warren), Accidents Will Happen (Burke-Van Heusen),
Gone With the Wind (Wrubel-Magidson), Better Luck Next Time (Berlin),
How About You (Freed-Laine).
Personnel:The Marty Paich Orchestra,
vocal - Tony Perkins,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Buddy Clark, drums - Mel Lewis,
piano - Marty Paich, trumpet - Don Fagerquist, alto sax - Herb Geller,
tenor sax - Bill Perkins.
Session: 1957 in Hollywood.
Comments : Anthony Perkins of Psycho fame singing. Good
instrumental contributions although not too much from H.R.
Sessions, Live
1957 - Calliope CAL 3015.
Selections with H.R.: Fascinating Rhythm, I Loves You Porgy,
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams,
Memphis in June (Carmichael), Concerto for Heartbeat and Machine.
Personnel: vocals - Lucy Ann Polk, guitar - Howard Roberts, piano -
Marty Paich, bass - Ralph Pena, drums - Frank De Vito.
Session: April 7, 1957, Stars of Jazz TV show, Los Angeles.
Comments: Nice solos by HR.
This was also issued as Art Pepper/Buddy DeFranco Sessions, Live,
and contains sessions from the same television show by Art Pepper
(with Russ Freeman). The album cover
only identifies H.R. as backing Lucy Ann Polk. Another
discography lists the guitar and piano players on
the Buddy DeFranco tracks as being Tal Farlow and Sonny Clark,
respectively. This seems unlikely, however, as the guitarist
sounds like H.R. and all these tracks are from the same television show.
The tracks with Buddy DeFranco have been reissued on a Buddy DeFranco CD called Wailers. This CD contains the tracks of the original album (with Barney Kessel
on guitar) together with 3 bonus tracks from the TV show
which again make the mistake
of crediting Tal Farlow as being on guitar. Interestingly the third
track is a great version of Now's the Time and the guitar
playing is very characteristic of H.R. at this time. Many thanks
to Mitch Seidman for telling me about the Wailers CD.
Benny Carter Quartet and Quintet Take The "A" Train
1957 - issued on Fresh Sound FSR-CD 306 in 1997.
Selections with H.R.: Take The "A" Train (Strayhorn),
Laura (D. Raksin), This Can't Be Love (Rodgers-Hart).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Bob Bertaux, drums - Bob Neel, piano - Pete Jolly, alto sax - Benny
Carter.
Session : Hollywood, June 3 1957.
Comments : Excellent guitar on these 3 selections from the
Stars of Jazz television show.
Lena Horne - Stormy Weather
1957 - originally issued on RCA 45rpm EP EPA-4098 reissued on Bluebird CD in 2002.
Selections with H.R.: The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (Rodgers-Hammerstein II).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - George Duvivier, drums - Shelley Manne, piano - Gene DiNovi.
Session : Radio Recorders, Los Angeles, July 3 1957.
Comments : Just comping.
Showcase for Modern Jazz - Featuring Outstanding Westcoast Jazzmen -
Directed by Howard Lucraft
1957 - Decca, DL8679.
Selections with H.R.: Blue Moon (Rodgers-Hart),
I May Be Wrong Sullivan-Ruskin), Smog A La Mode (Lucraft).
Personnel:
guitar - Howard Roberts,
alto sax - Bud Shank, baritone sax -Buddy Collette, bass - Red Mitchell,
drums - Mel Lewis.
Session: L.A. June, July 1957.
Commnets: The guitarist on these selections is identified
as "John Doe" while the guitarist on other selections
is identified as Howard Lucraft. The Lord Discography identifies
John Doe as H.R. and I definitely agree. Beautiful playing by H.R.
and very typical of this period in his playing.
Billy Daniels - You Go To My Head
1957 - Verve MGV2072.
Selections with H.R.: Blue Skies (I. Berlin),
Blues Prelude (Jenkins-Bishop), It's Delovely (Porter),
You Turned The Tables On Me (Alter-Mitchell), Comes Love (Brown-Stept-Tobias),
Hallelujah (Youmans-Robin-Grey).
Personnel: vocals - Billy Daniels, arranger - Benny Carter, drums - Milt Holland, Frank Carlson, bass - Joe Comfort, guitar - Howard
Roberts, piano - Benny Payne, Jimmy Rowles, trumpets - Pete Candoli,
Buddy Childers, Harry Edison, Shorty Sherock, trombones - Milt Bernhart,
Tommy Pederson, Bill Schaeffer, George Roberts, reeds - Willie Smith,
Morris Bercou, Buddy Collette, Chuck Gentry, Ben Webster.
Session: L.A., June 12, 1957.
Comments: Some nice comping and a small solo on Blue Skies.
Four Freshmen - Voices in Latin
1957 - Capitol T922
Selections with H.R.:
Yesterdays (Kern-Harbach), Mine (G. & I. Gershwin), Again (Newman-Cochran),
What's New (Haggart-Burke), Star Eyes (Raye-DePaul).
Personnel: vocals - Ken Albers, Bob Flanigan, Ross Barbour, Don Barbour,
arranger and conductor - Pete Rugolo,
trombone - Frank Rosolino, John Halliburton,
Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper, bass trombone - George Roberts,
tuba - Clarence Karella, piccolo, flute and alto flute - Herbie Mann,
guitar - Howard Roberts, piano - Jimmy Rowles,
bass - Red Mitchell, drums - Shelly Manne,
vibes and percussion - Bernie Mattinson,
percussion - Milt Holland, bongos and percussion - Chico Guerrero.
Session: July 12, 1957, Los Angeles.
Comments: Just comping. The remaining tracks have Laurindo Almeida
on guitar.
Rusty Bryant Plays Jazz
1957 - DOT DLP 3079
Selections with H.R.: That Old Black Magic (Arlen-Mercer), Mr. Wonderful
(Bock-Holofcener-Weiss).
Personnel: tenor sax - Rusty Bryant, guitar - Howard Roberts, piano - Gerald
Wiggins, bass - Red Callender, drums - Max Albright.
Session: Aug. 6, 8 1957, L.A.
Comments: No solos by H.R. but he plays some nice obligatos
behind Bryant and an interesting picture of H.R. on the back.
Other selections have Jack Marshall and John Collins
on guitar. Generally a pretty nice album.
Here is a great picture from the session.
America's Greatest Jazz - Rusty Bryant
1957 - DOT DLP 25353
Selections: My Shining Hour (Mercer-Arlen),
I Should Care (Cahn-Stordahl-Weston), Susie (Bryant-Mack),
Why Was I Born (Kern-Hammerstein), This Time's the Dream's on Me (Mercer-Arlen),
I Cover the Waterfront (Green-Heyman),
Blue Lou Sampson-Mills), Frances' Dream (Bryant),
It's a Blue World (Forrest-Wright), Street of Dreams (Young-Lewis),
Almost Like Being in Love (Loewe-Lerner), When Your Lover Has Gone (Swan).
Personnel: tenor sax - Rusty Bryant, guitar - Howard Roberts, piano - Gerald
Wiggins, bass - Red Callender, drums - Shelly Manne, Max Albright,
Alvin Stoller.
Session: Aug. 6, 8 1957, L.A.
Comments: Although recorded at the same session that produced
Rusty Bryant plays jazz these recordings weren't released until 1961.
No personnel are listed on this record.
Generally nice recording with a great H.R. solo on My Shining Hour.
Teach Me Tonight - The de Castro Sisters
1957 - released on BCD 16381 (Bear Company) in 1999
Selections with H.R.: That Little Word Called Love (Colman),
Old Timer's Tune (Raye-Dennis).
Personnel: vocals - Peggy, Cherie and Babette de Castro,
guitar - Jack Marshall, Bob Bain, Howard Roberts, piano - Herbert Dell,
bass - Red Callender, drums - Irving Cottler,
clarinet - Ted Nash, trombone - Milt Bernhart, trumpet - Ray Linn.
Session: Aug. 17 1957, Radio Recorders Annex, Hollywood.
Comments: Sounds like Jack Marshall on the solos.
Herbie Harper/6
1957 - Mode - released in 1995 on V.S.O.P.
Selections: Jay's Tune (J. Core), Little Orphan Annie (Kahn-Sanders),
Chloe (Moret-Kahn), Let's Fall In Love (Arlen-Koehler), Skylark (Carmichael-Mercer), Long Ago And Far Away (Gershwin-Kern), That's For Sure (Frankie-Capp).
Personnel: piano - Marty Paich, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Red Mitchell, drums - Frankie Capp or Mel Lewis, trombone - Herbie Harper,
tenor saxophone - Jay Core.
Session: Hollywood, CA.
Comments : Excellent guitar throughout.
Buddy DeFranco and the All Stars - Wholly Cats
1957 - Verve released on CD Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10282.
Selections with H.R.: Medley: Dancing in the Dark (Schwartz-Dietc)<
Moonglow (Hudson-DeLange-Mills) and Time on My Hands (Adamson-Gordon-Youmans),
Summit Ridge Drive (Artie Shaw).
Personnel: clarinet - Buddy Defranco, guitar - Howard Roberts, trumpet - Ray Linn, bass - Joe Mondragon, piano and harpsichord - Irving Garner, drums -
Milt Holland.
Session: Oct. 31, 1957, Los Angeles.
Comments: Some of these tunes also appeared on
Buddy DeFranco Plays Artie Shaw, 1957 - Verve MGV 2108.
That album credits H.R. as being on Summit Ridge Drive while this album
credits him with this tune plus the medley Dancing in the Dark, Moonglow and
Time on my Hands and also Indian Love Call. The guitar on all the remaining
tracks is credited to Barney Kessel. I don't think it is H.R. on
Indian Love Call but I agree with the others.
Closed Session - Buddy DeFranco and his orchestra
1957 - Verve 2632 and reissued on Polygram in 1981 as UMV 2632.
Selections with H.R.:
My Blue Heaven (Donaldson-Whiting), S' Wonderful (G. & I. Gershwin),
Temptation (Freed-Brown),
Softly as in a Morning Sunrise (Romberg-Hammerstein II).
Personnel: clarinet - Buddy DeFranco, trumpet - Ray Linn, piano
and harpsichord - Paul Smith, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Joe Mondragon,
drums - Milt Holland.
Session: L.A. November 1, 1957.
Comments : Excellent recording and some very nice guitar.
I have the Polydor reissue and there are no personnel listed. Another
discography lists Barney Kessel as the guitarist. Willie Borgschulte
has a Verve (Japan) issue of this record which lists H.R. as the guitarist on
these selections and Barney Kessel as the guitarist on the remaining tracks.
Axidentals - Hello, We're the Axidentals!
1957 - ABC-Paramount ABC-138.
Selections: I Lead A Charmed Life (Garcia-Russell),
June Is Bustin' Out All Over (Rodgers-Hammerstein), You And The Night And
The Music (Schwartz-Dietz), I Can't Give You Anything But Love (McHugh-Fields),
Hello (Towner-Russell), Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody (Schwartz-Young-Lewis),
I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (McHugh-Gaskill),
Quiet Wind (Sumners-Chapman), Look For The Silver Lining (Kern-DeSylva),
Love Is Sweeping The Country (Gershwin-Gershwin),
For Me And My Gal (Goetz-Leslie-Meyer), What A Difference A Day Made (Grever-Adams), Hey Ma! I'm In Love (Elliott-Allen).
Personnel:
vocals - Ann Winters, Milt Chapman, Sandy Rogers, Bob Sumners,
arranger and leader - Russ Garcia,
piano - Steve Atkin, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Joe Comfort, drums - Shelly Manne, Alvin Stoller or Mel Lewis,
bongos - Ramon Rivera,
trombone - Harry Betts, George Roberts, Tommy Pederson, Milt Bernhart,
Lloyd Ulyate, Bob Pring Jr., Ray Klein,
trumpet - Maynard Ferguson, Don Fagerquist, Pete Candoli, Buddy Childers,
Ray Linn,
strings - William Kurasch, William Miller, Lou Raderman, Aamerigo Rickey Marino.
Session: L.A., , January 1957.
Comments : Just comping.
The John Towner Touch - John Towner
1957 - Kapp KL1055.
Selections: While We're Young (Engvick-Wilder-Palitz),
Zigeuner (Coward), Wait Till You See Her (Rodgers-Hart),
Bess, Oh Where's My Bess (Gershwin-Gershwin), One Love (Robin-Rose),
The Most Beautiful Girl In The World (Rodgers-Hart),
Diane (Rapee-Pollack), I'll Take Romance (Hammerstein-Oakland),
Dear To My Heart (Gross), Hello (Williams), Tenderly (Lawrence-Gross),
In a Little Spanish Town (Wayne-Lewis-Young).
Personnel : piano - John Towner, drums - Jack Sperling, bass - Joe Mondragon, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Comments : Some very nice contributions from H.R.
The pianist is actually John Towner Williams
(see here ) of
movie soundtrack fame. Thanks to Jay Smith for this.
June Christy - June Fair and Warmer!
1957 - Capitol.
Selections:
I Want to be Happy, Imagination,
I've Never Been in Love Before, Irrestible You, No More,
Better Luck Next Time, Let There Be Love, The Best Thing For You,
Bewarre My Heart, I Know Why, Its Always You.
Personnel: Arranger and conductor - Pete Rugolo,
flute and alto sax - Bud Shank, tuba - Clarence Karella,
french horn - Vincent DeRosa, trumpet - Don Fagerquist,
trombone - Frank Rosolino,
tenor sax - Bob Cooper, baritone sax - Dave Pell,
vibes - Larry Bunker, piano - Benny Aronov,
guitar, Howard Roberts,
bass - Red Mitchell, drums - Shelly Manne.
Session: Los Angeles, January 3, 15, 21, 1957.
Comments: Many thanks to C.C. Weijman of Utrecht for this.
Very nice recording.
June Christy - Gone For The Day
1957 - Capitol T902.
Selections:
It's So Peaceful in the Country (A. Wilder),
When the Sun Comes Out (Arlen-Koehler), It's a Most Unusual Day (McHugh-Adamson),
Interlude (Rugolo), Love Turns Winter to Spring (Dennis-Killduff),
When You Awake (Nemo), Lazy Afternoon (LaTouche-Moross),
When the World Was Young (Philippe-Gerard-Mercer),
Gone For The Day (Cooper-Russell), Lost in a Summer Night (Raskin-Previn),
Give Me the Simple Life (Bloom-Ruby), (Love's Got Me in a) Lazy Mood (Miller-Mercer).
Personnel: Arranger and conductor - Pete Rugolo,
6/18/57: French horn - John Cave, flute - Bud Shank, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Red Callender, drums - Irv Cottler, plus a "Large String Section"
7/2/57: trombones - Milt Bernhart, Herbie Harper,
Tommy Pederson, Frank Rosolino, bass trombone - George Roberts,
vibraharp - Bernie Mattison, piano - Benny Aronov,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Mitchell, drums - Alvin Stoller
7/15/57: flute - Bud Shank, oboe - Bob Cooper, bass clairinet - Marty Berman,
piano - Benny Aronov, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Mitchell, drums -
Shelly Manne, plus a "Smaller String Section and Woodwind Group".
Session: June 18 and July 2 and 15, 1957 - Los Angeles.
Comments: H.R. provides some nice guitar backgrounds. Overall a good
album. Also issued as June Christy - Interlude, Discovery DS-911.
Many thanks to Alan Weissman for the additional information on the sessions.
Kirby Stone Four - Man I Flipped
1957 - Cadence Records CLP-1023.
Selections: S'Wonderful (Gershwins), Juke Box Dream (Stone-Gardner),
It Could Happen To You (Burke-van Heusen), Bluebeard (Hall-Cloth),
Reasonably Ugly Chick (Stone-Gardner), Outer Space (Donavan-McKellar-Mulcahy),
Get Out Of Town (Porter), Lovable In The Dark (Mooney-Stone),
Only Thirty-Three (Stone-Gardner),
When You're Cheatin' On Your Baby (Barr-Meyers), Twice As Nice (Lester),
I'd Give A Thousand Dollars (Stone-Gardner).
Personnel: vocals - Kirby Stone, Mike Gardner, Eddie Hall, Larry Foster,
trombones - Joe Howard, Milt Bernhardt, George Roberts,
woodwinds - Chuck Gentry, Skeets Herfurt, Ted Nash, Harry Klee,
Howard Terry, drums - Tommy Romersa, Jack Sperling, vibes and xylophone -
Red Norvo, Larry Bunker, bass - Joe Comfort, Rolly Bundock, piano -
John Towner, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: 1957, L.A.
Comments: Excellent comping with some nice contributions.
Dave Garroway - Matt Dennis - Red Norvo - Some of My Favourites
1957 - RCA-Victor NL 45973, LPM1449 and reissued on RCA/Spain ND 74403.
Selections with H.R.: There's A Small Hotel (Rodgers-Hart),
Lush Life (Strayhorn), The End Of A Love Affair (Redding),
Hi-Fi Baby (Dennis-Seckler).
Personnel: arrangers - Dennis Farnon, Marty Paich,
vocal - Matt Dennis, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Clifford Hils, drums - Alvin Stoller, piano - Jimmy Rowles,
vibes - Larry Bunker, trumpet - Don Fagerquist.
Session: L.A., Jan. 15, 1957.
Comments : H.R. is part of a group backing up Matt Dennis (composer
of Angel Eyes). Not too much guitar - one solo and some ensemble work.
CD also has some Red Norvo recordings on it.
Frances Faye - Frances Faye Sings Folk Songs
1957 - Bethlehem BCP-6017, reissued on CD in 1999 on Bethlehem Archives.
Selections: Frankie and Johnny, Greensleeves, Skip To My Lou,
Lonesome Road, Medley (Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen, Deep River,
Goin Home), Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier, St. James Infirmary,
Go 'Way From My Window, The Three Ravens, Clementine,
Medley (Oif'n Pripitchik, Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Come Back To Sorrento),
John Henry.
Personnel: Russ Garcia arranging and conducting,
guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Max Bennett, drums - Mel Lewis, trombone - Herbie Harper,
Frank Rosolino, Lloyd Ulyate, Milt Berhart,
trumpet - Don Fagerquist, Maynard Ferguson, Jimmy Salko and a string section.
Session: February and March, 1957 in Hollywood, CA.
Comments : A very interesting recording. I didn't expect to
like this album but its great. Frances Faye was an excellent singer
and the guitar is quite prominent. On some of the selections it is the
singer, a string quartet, a chorus and the guitar - beautiful. H.R.
does a fabulous job. The original recording was reissued on CD in 1999
with 5 additional tracks that are alternate takes of
Frankie and Johnny, Lonesome Road, Go 'Way From My Window, Clementine
and John Henry. Many thanks to John Paul Hoppe for the CD.
Tasty Dish - Buddy Collette quartet and quintet
1957 - reissued on Fresh Sound 1996
Selections with H.R.: Tasty Dish (B. Collette), I Still Love You
(B. Collette), Mrs. Potts (E. Wright), You Better Go Now (R. Graham-B. Reichner).
Personnel: tenor sax, clarinet and flute - Buddy Collette,
guitar - Howard Roberts, piano - Gerald Wiggins, bass - Eugene Wright,
drums - Bill Richmond.
Session: Radio Recorders Studio, Hollywood, May 14, 1957.
Comments: Excellent.
West Coast Rock and Roll - Volume 1
1957 - Tampa - a collection of early rock and roll released in 1994
on V.S.O.P.
Selections with H.R.: Coquette (Kahn-Lombardo-Green).
Personnel: vocal - Billy Devroe, guitar - Howard Roberts.
The Magic Flute of Herbie Mann
1957 - Verve MGV-8247
Selections with H.R.: Moonlight Serenade (Miller-Parish),
Body and Soul (Green), Oodles of Noodles (Dorsey),
Stardust (Carmichael-Parish).
Personnel: flute - Herbie Mann, piano - Jimmy Rowles,
bass- Buddy Clark, guitar - Howard Roberts, drums - Mel Lewis,
arranger - Frank DeVol,
violins - Israel Baker, David Frisina, Alfred Lustgarten, Warren Miller,
viola - Robert Ostrawsky, Milton Thomas, cello - Justin DiTullio,
Edgar Lustgarten.
Session: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, August 9, 1957.
Comments: Nice guitar solo on Moonlight Serenade.
Otherwise just comping but nicely done. Oodles of Noodles and
Stardust also appear on the albums Big Band Mann VSP-21, released in 1957,
and the CD Herbie Mann - Jazz Masters 56, released in 1996.
Moonlight Serenade also appears on the album Big Band Mann.
Stardust also appears on the album the Sound of Mann.
Big Band Mann - Herbie Mann
1957 - VSP/VSP-21.
Selections with H.R.: Moonlight Serenade (Miller-Parish),
Stardust (H. Carmichael), Contrasts (Oodles of Noodles) (J. Dorsey).
Personnel: piano - Jimmie Rowles, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Buddy Clark, drums - Mel Lewis, arranger - Frank DeVol,
violins - Israel Baker, David Frisina, Alfred Lustgarten, Warren Miller,
viola - Robert Ostrawsky, Milton Thomas, cello - Justin DiTullio,
Edgar Lustgarten.
Session: August 9, 1957, Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Comments : Three tunes from The Magic Flute of Herbie Mann.
Herbie Mann - Jazz Masters 56
1957 - released on CD in 1996.
Selections with H.R. : Oodles of Noodles (J. Dorsey), Stardust (H. Carmichael-M. Parish).
Personnel: piano - Jimmie Rowles, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Buddy Clark, drums - Mel Lewis, arranger - Frank DeVol,
violins - Israel Baker, David Frisina, Alfred Lustgarten, Warren Miller,
viola - Robert Ostrawsky, Milton Thomas, cello - Justin DiTullio,
Edgar Lustgarten.
Session: August 9, 1957, Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA.
Comments : Two tracks from The Magic Flute of Herbie Mann.
Flute 'N Oboe Bud Shank & Bob Cooper
1957 - World Pacific Records WP-1226.
Selections : The Didn't Believe Me (Kern-Rourke), Gypsy In My Soul (
Boland-Jaffe), In The Blue Of The Evening (D'Artega-Adair), I Want To Be Happy (
Youmans-Caesar), Tequila Time (B. Cooper), I Can't Get Started (Duke-Gershwin),
Blues For Delilah (B. Cooper), Sunset And Wine (B. Cooper), What'll I Do (I. Berlin)
Personnel : oboe - Bob Cooper, flute - Bud Shank, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Don Prell, drums - Chuck Flores, violins - Eudice Shapiro, Ben Gill,
viola - Milt Thomas, cello - Ray Kramer.
Comments : Nice album with some great guitar on several cuts.
Gypsy in My Soul, I Want To Be Happy, What'll I Do are part of the release
Blowin' Country, Bud Shank and Bob Cooper, Pacific Jazz, 1998.
Jazz West Coast - An Anthology of California Music Volume III
1957 - Pacific Jazz
Selections with H.R. : Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie-Casey-Pinkard).
Personnel : This selection is by the Bud Shank - Bob Cooper Quintet
comprised of: arranger - Bob Cooper, flute - Bud Shank, oboe - Bob Cooper,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Don Prell, drums - Chuck Flores.
Comments : Similar to the music on Flute N'Oboe. Excellent comping
and solo by H.R. Thanks to Adrian Pellew for finding this one.
This selection is part of a new release Blowin' Country, Bud Shank and
Bob Cooper on Pacific Jazz, 1998.
Buddy DeFranco - Helen Forrest "Black Magic"
1957 - Shamrock Records LP 1801 (on tape).
Selections: Billie's Bounce, September Song, I Had The Craziest Dream,
That Old Feeling, Them There Eyes, Taking A Chance On Love, Black Magic,
Thou Swell, Falling In Love With Love, Soft Winds, From This Moment On,
Who Cares, You Turned The Tables On Me, I Don't Want To Walk Without You,
Stella By Starlight.
Personnel : clarinet - Buddy DeFranco, piano - Jimmy Rowles, drums - Frank Devino, bass - Bob Bertel,
guitar - Howard Roberts, vibes - Victor Feldman.
Session: L.A., May 1957.
Comments: Good.
Buddy Rich Just Sings
1957 - Verve, reissued 1998.
Selections : Cathy (M. Torme),
Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (H. Arlen-T. Koehler).
It's Alright With Me (Porter), Over The Rainbow (Arlen-Harburg),
You Took Advantage Of me (Rodgers-Hart), Can't We Be Friends (James-Swift),
It's Only A Paper Moon (Arlen-Rose-Harburg), Melancholy Baby (Norton-Webster-Burnett),
Cheek To Cheek (Berlin), It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (Ellington-Mills), I Hadn't Anyone Till You (Noble), That Old Feeling (Brown-Fain).
Personnel : vocal - Buddy Rich, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Joe Mondragon, drums - Alvin Stoller, trumpet - Harry "Sweets" Edison,
tenor sax - Ben Webster, piano - Paul Smith.
Session : Jan. 31, 1957.
Comments : This is a good recording with lots of great contributions
from H.R. and others. An alternate take of Between The Devil And The
Deep Blue Sea was issued on Buddy Rich in the Compact Jazz Series in 1987.
Collections - Joe Morello
1957 - Score SLP-4031 (on tape).
Selections: Sweet Georgis Brown, Little Girl, Have You Met Miss Jones?,
Ghost Of A Chance, I've Got The World On A String.
Personnel: drums - Joe Morello,
bass - Ben Tucker, piano - Gerald Wiggins, vibes - Red Norvo,
guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session : L.A. Jan. 3, 1957.
Comments: A fabulous record with some wonderful guitar. It reminds
me of the Red Norvo-Tal Farlow recordings. Thanks to Dave Gould for this.
Recording also includes some tunes with Art Pepper playing with Red Borvo
(these selections were released on the Art Pepper CD Straight Life) but
H.R. is not playing on these. These tunes have been released on the
Fresh Sound CD FSR-CD 478 Mr. Roberts Plays Guitar, January 2008.
Julie London - Boy on a Dolphin
1957 - London 45-HLU.8414.
Selections: Boy on a Dolphin (Friedhofer-Webster).
Personnel: vocals - Julie London, and the Howard Roberts
Orchestra.
Session : L.A., 1957.
Comments: A lovely recording, just Julie and what sounds
like two guitars (the Orchestra). This was the theme song to the
movie of the same name starring Alan Ladd and Sophia Loren.
Many thanks to Keen Butterworth for this.
Ricky/Ricky Nelson
1957 and 1958 - Liberty and rereleased on a single CD by BCD Records BGOCD440 in 1999
Selections on Ricky: Honeycomb (Merrill), Boppin' The Blues (Griffin-Perkins),
Be-Bop Baby (Lendhurst), Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? (Wiseman),
Teenage Doll (Lendhurst-Lendhurst),
If You Can't Rock Me (Jacobs), Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On (Williams),
Baby I'm Sorry (Scott), Am I Blue? (Askt-Clarke), I'm Confessin' (Dougherty-Reynolds-Neiburg),
Your True Love (Perkins), True Love (Porter).
Selections on Ricky Nelson:
Shirley Lee (Trammell), Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You) (Hodges),
There's Good Rockin' Tonight (Brown), I'm Feelin' Sorry (Clement),
Down The Line (Orbison), Unchained Melody (North-Zaret),
I'm In Love Again (Domino-Bartholomew), Don't Leave Me This Way (Nelson),
My Babe (Dixon), I'll Walk Alone (Styne-Cahn), There Goes My Baby (Kirkland-Burton),
Poor Little Fool (Sheeley).
Personnel: vocals and guitar - Ricky Nelson, guitar - James Burton, Howard Roberts,
Joe Maphis, Bob Bain, James Kirkland, piano - Ozzie Nelson, Roger Renner, Gene Garf,
Don Ferris, bass - George "Bud" DeNaut, Ray Siegel, drums - Earl Palmer, Richie Frost,
background vocals - Jordanaires.
Session: 1957 and 1958 respectively in L.A.
Comments: H.R. not really identifiable and session players are
not documented.
The Swing's to TV Bob Cooper and Bud Shank
1958 - World Pacific WPM-411.
Selections with HR: When You Wish Upon a Star (Washington-Harline),
Put Your Dreams Away (Mann-Weiss-Lowe),
Tenderly (Gross-Lawrence),
Danny Boy (traditional).
Personnel: flute and alto sax - Bud Shank,
oboe, tenor sax and arranger - Bob Cooper, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass -
Don Prell, drums - Shelly Manne, violins - Eudice Shapiro,
Bob Sushel, Jack Pepper, viola - Milt Thomas, cello - Ray Kramer.
Session: January 21, 1958, Capitol Studios, L.A.
Comments: The remaining cuts on this album were also issued
on an album called Blowin' Country that did not include H.R. The material
from Flute 'N Oboe, Blowin' Country, and the Swing's to TV (plus some other
albums that do not include H.R.) have all been
reissued on a Mosaic box set Bud Shank & Bob Cooper, Mosaic 10 Select, B2-95069.These four selections all contain some nice contributions from H.R.
Larry Williams - Bad Boy
1958 Specialty SP626, SP634 and reissued on Specialty SPCD 7002, 1988
Selections with H.R.: Dizzy, Miss Lizzy (Williams),
Heebie-Jeebies (Jackson-Marascalco), Hootchy-Koo (Williams).
Personnel: piano and vocals - Larry Williams,
guitar - Rene Hall, Howard Roberts, baritone sax - Jewell Grant,
tenor sax - Plas Johnson, bass - Ted Brinson, drums - Earl Palmer.
Session: February, 19, 1958, Radio Recorder, Hollywood.
Comments: I think the solos are played by Rene Hall, including the
characteristic lick on Dizzy, Miss Lizzy.
Perez Prado - Prez
1958 - RCA 74321 26052 (reissued on CD in 1995).
Selections with H.R.: Fireworks (king Guion),
Leyenda Mexicana (Prado), Adios Mi Chaparrita (Stewart-Esperon),
Leo's Special (Acosta), Maria Bonita ((Lara).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts, Irving Ashby, Vince Terri, Howard Heitmeyer,
bass - Tony Reyes, drums - Leo Acosta, piano - Perez Prado,
trombone - Ernie Tack,
trumpet - Ollie Mitchell, Louis Valizan, Bob McKenzie, Tony Facciuto,
Homer Salinas, alto sax - Rene Bloch, tenor sax - Ignacio Maez, Frank Vasquez, baritone sax -
Don Robinson, conga - Modesto Duran, bongo - Carlos Vidal.
Session : Hollywood, June 28, 1957.
Comments : Four guitars playing unison lines on these recordings with
the King of the Mambo.
Julie Is Her Name - Volume II - Julie London
1958 - Liberty
Selections: Blue Moon (Rodgers-Hart), What Is This Thing Called
Love (Porter), How Long Has This Been Going On (Gershwin-Gershwin),
Too Good To Be True (Boland), Spring Is Here (Rodgers-Hart),
Goody Goody (Mercer-Malneck), The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else
(Jones-Kahn), I'm Lucky (Myrow-De Lange), Hot Toddy (Flanagan),
Little White Lies (Donaldson), I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan
(Schwartz-Dietz), I Got Lost In His Arms (Berlin).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Mitchell.
Comments : Great vocals and fantastic guitar work.
Jazz City Presents ...
1958 - BCP-80
Selections with H.R.: I'm Glad There's You (Maderia-Dorsey).
Personnel:Leader - Russ Garcia, trumpet - Don Fagerquist,
violon - Ricky Mariano, Bill Kurasch, viola - Stan Harris, cello - Fred Katz,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Bob Enevoldsen,
drums - Don Heath.
Comments : Beautiful solos by H.R. and Don Fagerquist on this. Album
also contains contributions from Frank Rosolino and a group called "The
Swingers". The album was recorded at a club called Jazz City which
was closing.
Olay! The New Sound of Ruth Olay
1958 - Emarcy MG 36125
Selections: Singin' In The Rain (Brown-Freed), Slow But Sure (Carter-Hanson), Lover Man (Davis-Ramirez-Sherman), When The Sun Comes Out (Arlen-Koehler),
Lucky day (DeSylva-Brown-Henderson), It Never Entered My Mind (Rodgers-Hart),
You Make Me Feel So Young (Myrow-Gordon), I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
(Ellington-Nemo-Mills-Redmond), Love For Sale (Porter), I'm Glad There Is You
(Madeira-Dorsey), After You've Gone (Creamer-Layton), I Wanna Be Loved
(Green-Rose-Heyman).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Mitchell,
drums - Larry Bunker, flute - Bud Shank, cello - Ed Lustgarten,
piano - Bud Motsinger, trombone - Milt Bernhart, George Roberts, Sy Zentner,
trumpet - Don Fagerquist, vibraphone - Red Norvo.
Comments : Some nice music on this but not much guitar.
Peggy Lee - Things Are Swingin'
1958 - Capitol ST-1049 (LP).
Selections:
It's A Wonderful World (Harold Adamson-Jan Savitt-Johnny Watson),
Things Are Swingin' (Peggy Lee-Jack Marshall),
Alright, OK, You Win (Mayme Watts-Sid Wyche), Ridin' High (Cole Porter),
It's Been A Long, Long Time (Sammy Cahn-Jule Styne),
Lullaby In Rhythm (Benny Goodman-Walter Hirsch-Clarence Profit-Edgar Sampson),
Alone Together (Harold Dietz-Arthur Schwartz),
I'm Beginning To See The Light (Duke Ellington-Don George-Johnny Hodges-Harry
James), It's A Good, Good Night (Peggy Lee),
You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me (Al Dubin-Harry Warren),
You're Mine, You (Johnny Green-Edward Heyman),
Life Is For Livin' (Sammy Cahn-Jimmy Van Heusen).
Personnel:
conductor - Jack Marshall, saxes - Justin Gordon, George Smith,
trumpet - Don Fagerquist, Conrad Gozzo, Manny Klein,
trombone - Milt Bernhardt, valve trombone- Bob Enevoldsen,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Joe Mondragon, piano - Joe Harnell,
drums - Shelly Manne.
Session: May 19 and 25 and 27 and 30, 1958, Los Angeles.
Comments: H.R. is only comping but it is discernible and nicely
done. Overall a nice recording.
Also recorded during these sessions, but not included in the original LP were
Fever (Eddie Cooley-Johnny Davenport, Peggy Lee) on May 19 and
You Don't Know (Walter Spriggs) on May 25.
Fever does not include guitar, but You Don't Know does.
In addition to the original 45 (Capitol F 3998, with "Fever" on the A side), the song has turned on Peggy's LP "All Aglow Again (T 1366, rel. 1960) and in the CD "Bewitching-Lee!: Peggy Lee Sings Her Greatest Hits" (DCC 179, rel. 1999).
Many thanks to Ivan Santiago for this information.
According to Mitch Holder they were initially going to use the guitar
on Fever but for some reason that didn't work so they had H.R. do the
finger snaps instead!
Skål - Bert Dahlander Quartet
1958 - Verve MGV-8253.
Selections: How Do You Do (Dahlander), Johnson's Wax (Gibbs),
When Lights Are Low (Carter-Williams),
Hip Soup (Swenson), But Not For Me (G. and I. Gershwin), Emma (Dahlander), Room 608 (Silver),
Ballad Medley: Everything Happens To Me (Adair-Dennis),
Moonlight in Vermont (Suesdorf-Blackburn), Flamingo (Grouya-Anderson).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Curtis Counce,
drums - Bert Dahlander, vibes - Victor Feldman.
Session: L.A., Sept. 16-17, 1957.
Comments : Thanks to Dave Gould (see Jazz Studio Two above) for this.
Great guitar and music generally. A real find! Perhaps his best outing
as a bebop jazz guitarist.
Jazz Loves Paris - Buddy Collette
1958 - Specialty - CD - reissued in 1991.
Selections: I Love Paris (C. Porter), Pigalle (G. Ulmer-G. Konyn-
C. Newman , La Vie En Rose (E. Piaf-M. David-Louiguy), Darling,
Je Vous Aime Beaucoup (A. Sosenko), Mam'selle (M. Gordon-E. Goulding),
C'est Si Bon (A. Hornez-J. Seelen-H. Betti), Domino (J. Plante-D. Raye-
L. Ferrari),
Song from the Moulin Rouge (Where Is You Heart) (Auric-Engvick),
The Last Tim I Saw Paris (O. Hammerstein-J. Kern),
Under Paris Skies (J. Drejac-K. Gannon-H. Giraud),
Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup, (Take 1-alternate),
Mam'selle (Take 2 Alternate),
The Last Time I Saw Paris (Take 3 - alternate), La Vie En Rose (Take 1 -
alternate).
Personnel: alto and tenor sax - Buddy Collette, trombone - Frank
Rosolino, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Mitchell, drums -
Bill Richmond, Bill Douglass, tuba - Red Callender.
Session: L.A. Jan. 24, 1958.
Comments: Great guitar!
Shorty Rogers Swings
1958 - Bluebird - CD - reissued in 1990.
Selections: Chances Are (A. Stillman-R. Allen), No Such Luck (A.
Stilman-R. Allen), It's Not For Me To Say (A. Stilman-R. Allen), Lilac
Chiffon (P. Hayes-R. Allen), I Just Don't Know (R. Allen-J. Stone),
Who Needs You (A. Stilman-R. Allen), Everybody Loves A Lover (R. Allen-R. Adler), Come To Me (R. Allen-P.Hayes), My Very Good Friend In The Looking Glass (A.
Stilman-R. Allen), You Know How It Is (A. Stilman-R. Allen), A Very Special
Love (R. Allen), Teacher, Teacher (A. Stilman-R. Allen), My Shining Hour (
J. Mercer-H. Arlen), Get Happy (T. Koehler-H. Arlen), Blues In The Night (
J. Mercer-H. Arlen), Lets Fall In Love (T. Koehler-H. Arlen), That Old Black
Magic (J. Mercer-H. Arlen).
Personnel: trumpet - Shorty Rogers, Pete Condoli, Conti Condoli, Al Porcino, Don Fagerquist, Oliver Mitchell, Ray Triscari, Buddy Childers, Carrol Lewis,
Ray Linn,
alto sax - Bud Shank, Paul Horn,
tenor sax - Bob Cooper, Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca, Herb Geller,
baritone sax - Charles Gentry,
trombone - Harry Betts, David Wells, Ken Shroyer, Bob Enevoldsen, Richard Nash, Frank Rosolino, Marshall Cram,
clarinet - Jimmy Giuffre,
guitar - Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts, bass - Joe Mondragon,
drums - Mel Lewis,
piano - Pete Jolly,
vibes - Larry Bunker, Red Norvo.
Comments: Howard Roberts is on cuts 5-12. There are some good guitar
solos. Barney Kessel is on the remaining cuts.
Sessions, Live: Terry Gibbs, Pete Jolly and Red Norvo
1958 - Calliope CAL3010.
Selections with H.R.:
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Red Eye, Fascinating Rhythm.
Personnel:
alto sa and flute - Bud Shank, vibes - Red Norvo, guitar -
Howard Roberts, bass - unknown, drums - Shelly Manne.
Session: Los Angeles, CA, April 21, 1958.
Comments: This is from the TV show Stars of Jazz. Thanks
to Dave Gould for this. Jim Harrod, whose information is sound, has informed
me that guitarist on this is LP is Jimmy Wyble and not H.R.
Jack Kane - Kane is Able
1958 - Coral 57219.
Selections: St. Louis Blues (W.C. Handy), I'm Getting Sentimental
Over You (N. Washington-G. Bassman), Clare's Tune (J. Kane), Carioca (G. Kahn-
V. Youmans-E. Eliscu), Wouldn't It Be Loverly (A. Lerner-F. Loewe),
The Sound Of The Blues (J. Kane), Lazy River (H. Carmichael-S Arodin) with an
interploation of Tea For two (V. Youmans-I. Caesar), Some Of These Days (S. Brooks), Jane's Jump (J. Kane), It's A Lonesome Old Town (H. Tobias-C. Kisco),
The Alfern Song (J. Kane), Poor Butterfly (R. Hubbell-J. Golden).
Personnel: conductor and arranger - Jack Kane,
trumpet - Conrad Gozzo, Don Fagerquist, Frank Beach, Don Palladino,
Uan Rasey, saxes - Bud Shank, Herb Geller, Georgie Auls, Justin Gordon,
Chuck Gentry, Phil Sobel, Jack Dumont, Red Nash, Ronnie Lang, Champ Webb, Vic
Garber, trombones - Tommy Pederson, Joe Howard, George Roberts, P. Tanner,
F. Rosolino, Sy Zentner, french horn - John Graas, tuba - Red Callender,
flutes - Jules Kinsler, Gene Cipriano, bassoon - Lloyd Hildebrand,
clarinet - F. Falensky, bass - Red Mitchell, drums - A. Stoller,
piano - P. Smith, vibes - Larry Bunker, guitar - Howard Roberts,
percussion - L. Singer and also 24 strings.
Session: L.A., Oct. 30, Nov. 2, 1958.
Comments: Excellent album. H.R. makes some nice contributions.
Jack Kane was from Toronto and graduated with a degree in Music from the
University of Toronto. He was well-known in Canada during the late 50's
as he had a popular show on the CBC called the Music Makers. Some of this
is documented in They Loved to Play, Memories of the Golden Age
in Canadian Music by Murray Ginsberg, Eastend Books, 1998 which
discusses the history of the Canadian music industry. Kane went
to work as a music director for a Edie Gorme-Steve Lawrence television show
which is when this recording was made. He died quite young in 1961.
The Jack Kane composition The Sound of the Blues is particularly good.
I got this recording on tape from the
National Library of Canada with the kind permission of Universal Music.
Allan Kane, the son of Jack Kane, supplied me with the information that
this recording was nominated for a Grammy in 1958 in the
category Best Orchestra Performance.
Merrill Moore - Boogie My Blues Away
1958 - only issued in 1990 on Bear Family Records as a double CD.
Selections: South, Sentimental Journey, Shanty In Old Shanty Town,
Sweet Georgia Brown, Moore Blues, Nobody's Sweetheart, Jumpin' At The
Woodside, Somebody Stole My Gal, Lazy River.
Personnel: piano - Merrill Moore, guitar - Howard Roberts, bass -
Morty Korb, drums - Ted Kovar.
Comments: I've only listed the selections where Howard Roberts
plays.
Claude Williamson mulls the Mulligan with his twin Jazz Pianos and Trio
1958 - Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 54.
Selections : All compositions by Gerry Mulligan. Walkin' Shoes, Limelight, Westwood Walk, A Ballad, Utter Chaos, Bark For Barksdale, Simbah, Blue At The
Roots, Apple Core, Line For Lyons, Ontet.
Personnel : piano - Claude Williamson, guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Red Mitchell, drums - Stan Levey.
Comments : A very nice album.
Harry Belafonte Sings the Blues
1958 - RCA LOP-1006.
Selections with H.R.: Losing Hand (Calhoun) Cotton Fields (Carter),
God Bless the Child (Smith), Sinner's Prayer (Fulson), Mary Ann (Charles),
Hallelujah I Love Her So (Charles), A Fool For You (Charles).
Personnel: vocal - Harry Belafonte, trumpet - Don Fagerquist, trombone -
Milt Berhart, tenor sax - Bumps Meyers, Plas Johnson,
piano - Jimmy Rowles, guitar -
Millard Thomas, Laurindo Almeida,
electric bass - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Callender,
drums - Jack Sperling.
Session: Hollywood, June 5 and 7, 1958.
Comments: H.R. on electric bass.
Moviesville Jazz - Heinie Beau and His Hollywood Jazz Stars
1958 - Coral CRL 57247.
Selections with H.R.: All compositions by Heinie Beau,
Scotland Yardbird, In Your Private Eye,
The Man With The Golden Embouchure,
The Tattooed Street Car Named Baby, Under The Blowtop,
The Cool Tin Roof Story.
Personnel: trumpet - Don Fagerquist, French horn - John Graas,
clarinet, alto sax, flute - Heinie Beau,
flute, tenor sax, clarinet - Buddy Collette,
bass sax, baritine sax, bass clarinet - Chuck Gentry,
guitar - Howard Roberts, bass - Red Mitchell, drums - Bill Richmond.
Session: L.A. June 30, 1958.
Comments: Some nice solos by H.R. on this one.
The Diamonds Meet Pete Rugolo
1958 - Mercury 20368.
Selections : Wrap Your Trouble In Dreams, Baby Won't You Please Come
Home, The Best Things In Life Are Free, Ain't Misbehavin', Until The
Real Thing Comes Along, I'll Always Be In Love With You, Will You Still
Be Mine, Tenderly, For All We Know, One For My Baby, Lulu's Back In Town,
You'll Never Walk Alone.
Personnel : The Pete Rugolo Orchestra but no personnel are listed
on the album. According to one of the
Diamonds (Mike Douglas), who communicated this information to Barry Worrell,
Howard Roberts was a member of the orchestra for this recording.
Comments : The Diamonds were a famous, popular singing group
during the 50's perhaps best known for their hit Little Darlin. They hailed
from Ontario. For a web-site on the Diamonds see
Barry Worrell, who also
supplied this tape. On this album they sing jazz songs and do a pretty good
job. H.R. can be heard One For My Baby.
Chet Atkins in Hollywood
1958 - reissue of the original RCA recording by Classic Compact Disc LSPDC 1993.
Selections : Armein's Theme, Let it be Me, Theme from Picnic,
Theme from a Dream, Estrellita, Jitterbug Waltz, Little Old Lady,
Limelight, The Three Bells, Santa Lucia, Greensleeves,
Meet Mr. Callaghan.
Personnel : Chet Atkins and the Dennis Farnon Orchestra,
guitar - Chet Atkins, Howard Roberts,
violin - Jacques Gasselin, Sam Albert, Eudice Shapiro, Gerlad Vinci,
Jack Shulman,
viola - Cecil Figelski, Joseph DiFiore, Milton Thomas, Virginia Majewski,
Alexander Neiman,
cello - Edger Lustgarten, Victor Gottlieb harp - Kathryn Julye,
horn - John Cave, piano - Geoffrey Clarkson,
bass - Cliff Hills, George Calender,
drums - Jack Sperling, Larry Bunker.
Session: October 23, 1958.
Comments : This photo
shows Chet with H.R. at the session. H.R. is only comping although it is quite
noticeable on Jitterbug Waltz.
Keely Smith - Politely
1958 - Capitol ST 1073.
Selections:
Sweet and Lovely (Arnheim-Tobias-Lemare), Cocktails for Two (Johnston-Coslow),
The Song is You (Kern-Hammerstein II), I'll Get By (Ahlert-Turk),
Lullaby Of The Leaves (Petkere-Young),
On the Sunny Side of the Street (McHugh-Fields),
East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) (Bowman),
I Can't Get Started (Duke-Gershwin),
I'll Never Smile Again (Ruth Lewis), S'posin (Denniker-Razaf),
All the Way (Cahn),
I Never Knew (I Could Love Anybody Like I'm Loving You) (Pitts-Egan-Marsh).
Personnel:
vocal - Keely Smith, leader - Billy May, contractor - David Klein ,
producer - Voyle Gilmore,
guitar - Howard Robert, bass - Ralph Pena, percussion - Larry Bunker,
drums - Irving Cottler, piano - Paul T. Smith, harp - Veryle Mills,
saxophone - Justin Gordon, saxophone - Jules Jacob, saxophone - Harry Klee,
saxophone - Wilbur Schwartz, trombone - Francis Howard, trombone - Ed. Kusby,
trombone - Murray McEachern, trombone - Sy Zentner, trumpet - Uan Uasey,
cello - Edgar Lustgarten, cello - Kurt Reher, viola - Alvin Hinken,
viola - Paul Robyn, violin - Victor Arno, violin - Israel Baker,
violin - Ben Gill, violin - Dan Lube, violin - Erno Neufeld,
violin - Lou Raderman, violin - Paul Shure, violin - Marshall Sosson.
Session: June 30th. 1958. (6.00pm./9.30pm.) Capitol Tower,
1750 North Vine Street, Hollywood.
Comments: Not much guitar but great vocals.
Invitation - Guitars Inc.
1958 - Warner Bros. B-1206.
Selections: Lets Get Away From It All (Gennis-Adair),
The Bad and The Beautiful (Raskin),
Lullaby Of Broadway (Dubin-Warren), Lullaby Of the Leaves (Petkere-Young),
Darn That Dream (Van Heusen-DeLange), My Heart Belongs To Daddy (Porter),
Invitation (Kaper), All The Things You Are (Kern-Hammerstein II),
Chloe (Kahn-Morel), Pick Yourself Up (Kern-Fields),
`Tis Autumn (Nemo), The Guitars Inc. (Corb).
Personnel : guitar - Howard Roberts, Bob Bain, Tom Tedesco,
Al Hendrickson, Tony Rizzi, Dano bass - Bill Pitman.
Session: 1958.
Comments: Nice record. Thanks to Mitch Holder for this.
Ernestine Anderson - Toast of the Nation's Critics
1958 - Mercury SR 60074
Selections:
Runnin' Wild (Gibbs-Grey-Wood),
Stardust (Carmichael-Parish),
Heat Wave (Berlin),
My Ship (Weil-Gershwin),
Azure-Te (Davis-Wolf),
Welcome to The Club (Torme),
There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York (Gershwin-Gershwin),
Social Call (Gryce-Hendricks),
There Will Never be Another You (Warren-Gordon),
A Sleepin' Bee (Arlen-Capote),
Interlude (Rugolo-Russell).
Personnel: Orchestra arranged and conducted by Pete Rugolo,
alto sax and flute - Bud Shank, flute - Buddy Collette,
guitar - Howard Roberts, drums - Shelly Manne and many others.
Session: L.A., 1958.
Comments: A few nice guitar solos on this.
Troyce Key
1958-59 Warner Bros. 5007.
Selections: Drown In My Own Tears (Glover),
Baby Please Don't Go (Gardner-Key).
Personnel: vocal - Troyce Key, guitar - Howard Roberts, Eddie Cochran,
drums - Earl Palmer.
Session: L.A.
Comments: Nice solo on Baby Please Don't Go but I don't think
this is H.R. (too rockabilly) probably Eddie Cochran.
Soft and Subtle - Guitars Inc.
1959 - Warner Bros. B-1246.
Selections: El Cumbanchero (Rafael Hernandez),
Hajji Baba (Tiomkin-Washington), Lazy Afternoon (Moross-La Touche),
In an Eighteenth Century Drawing Room (Lawrence-Scott),
Nature Boy (Ahbez), Get Happy (Arlen-Koehler),
Snowfall (Thornhill), It Don't Mean a Thing (Ellington-Mills),
Oasis (Corb), Our Waltz (Rose), Paganini's Progress (Harris),
Good-bye (Jenkins).
Personnel : guitar - Howard Roberts, Tom Tedesco,
Al Hendrickson, Bobby Gibbons, bass - Bill Pitman.
Session: 1959
Comments: H.R. is identified as Bob Howe on this!
Excellent record.
Guitars Inc. - Guy Dad, It's Early
1959 - Warner Bros. 9-5049 45rpm.
Selections: Guy Dad, It's Early (M. Corb), El Cumbanchero
(Rafael Hernandez).
Personnel : guitar - Howard Roberts, Tom Tedesco,
Al Hendrickson, Bobby Gibbons, bass - Bill Pitman.
Session: 1959
Comments: El Cumbanchero also appears on the album Soft and Subtle
but Guy Dad, It's Early isn't on any of the Guitars Inc. albums.
Guitars at Christmas - Guitars Inc.
1959 - Warner Bros. B-1340.
Selections: Jingle Bells, First Noel,
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Gillespie-Coots),
Caroling, Caroling (Hutson-Burt), God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,
The Star Carol (hutson-Burt), Deck The Halls,
Winter Wonderland (Smith-Bernard),
O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Sleigh Ride (Parish-Anderson), Silent Night,
Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer (J. Marks),
Some Children See Him (Hutson-Burt), Come, Dear Children (Hutson-Burt),
Come All Ye Faithful, White Christmas (I. Berlin).
Personnel : guitar - Howard Roberts, Tom Tedesco,
Al Hendrickson, Bobby Gibbons, bass - Bill Pitman.
Session: 1959
Comments: Thanks to Jay Smith for this.
Clarinet Portrait - Jerry Fuller Sextet
1959 Andex A 3008.
Selections:
I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (Bassman-Washington),
That's A Plenty (Pollack-Gilbert), Minor Epic (Estes)
On Green Dolphin Street (Kaper-Washington), Judy (Carmichael-Lerner),
Somebody Loves Me (Gershwin-MacDonald-De Silva),
Makin' Whoopee (Donaldson-Kahn),
Raz-Ma-Tazz (Florence), Benny's Idea (Fuller), Georgia on My Mind (Carmichael-Gorrell).
Personnel: clarinet - Jerry Fuller, guitar - Howard Roberts,
piano - Bob Florence, drums - Frank Capps, vibes - Gene Estes,
bass - Mel Pollan.
Session: L.A., Rex Productions, March 17, 19, 20 1958.
Comments: Music like Benny Goodman. Quite good and
excellent contributions from H.R.
Gary Crosby - The Happy Bachelor
1959 - Verve MV 2664.
Selections: The Happy Bachelor (Mercer-DePaul),
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (Berlin), Manana (Lee-Barbour),
I'll Never Be Free (Weiss-Benjamin),
Old Buttermilk Sky (Carmichael-Brooks), You Won't Be Satisfied Until You
Break My Heart (James-Stock), Side by Side (Woods), Undecided (Shavers-Robin),
I'm Begining to See the Light (James-Ellington-Hodges-George),
Glow Worm (Linck-Mercer),
Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall (Roberts-Fisher),
This Little Girl of Mine (Charles).
Personnel: vocals - Gary Crosby, trumpet - Pete Candoli,
vibes - Gene Estes, piano - Paul Smith, bass - Joe Mondragon, guitar - Howard
Roberts,
drums - Larry Bunker, Bill Richmond.
Session: L.A. April 8, 9, 10, 1959.
Comments: Some excellent contributions by H.R. on this.
Ricky Nelson - Ricky Sings Again
1959 - Imperial LP - 9061
Selections with H.R.: It's All In The Game (Dawes-Sigman),
Restless Kid (Johnny Cash).
Personnel: vocals and guitar - Rick Nelson, guitar - James Burton,
Howard Roberts, Billy Strange, piano - Gene Garf, bass - George "Bud" DeNaut,
drums - Earl Palmer, background vocals - Jordanaires.
Session: September 2, 1958 at Master Recorders, Los Angeles.
Comments: This album was released again on CD (Capitol 72435-32451-2-2)
along with the album
Songs by Ricky. James Burton plays some great guitar. H.R. is not really
discernible.
Bobby Enevoldsen Smorgasbord
1959 - Liberty LJH 6008.
Selections: Ding, Dong The Witch Is Dead (Arlen-Harburg),
Swingin' On A Star (Burke-Van Heusen), Swinger's Dream (Mac Dougald),
My Ideal (Robin-Whiting-Chase), How Low The Tune (Troup-Enevoldsen),
John's Jumble (Enevoldsen), You're In Love (B. Troup),
Thinking Of You (Kalmar-Ruby), No Time For Love (Davidson),
Mr Know It All (B. Troup), Oh! Look At Me Now (John DeVries),
Bob's Boy (Bob Gordon).
Personnel: guitar - Howard Roberts,
bass - Bob Enevoldsen, Red Mitchell , drums - Don Heath, Larry Bunker,
piano - Marty Paich, Red Mitchell,
tenor sax and valve trombone - Bob Enevoldsen.
Session: L.A. Nov. 25, 29 1959.
Comments: Nice album and good guitar. H.R. plays a nice solo on
Ding, Dong The Witch Is Dead reaffirming my belief that he could
solo effectively on almost anything.
Rugolo Plays Kenton
1959 - Mercury MG-C36143.
Selections: Eager Beaver (Kenton), Painted Rhythm (Kenton), Minor Riff
(Kenton), Concerto For Doghouse (Kenton), Sunset Tower (Kenton),
Concerto To End All Concertos (Kenton), Artistry In Rhythm (Kenton),
Opus In Pastels (Kenton), Theme To The West (Kenton-Rugolo),
Artistry In Boogie (Kenton-Rugolo), Capitol Punishment (Kenton-Rugolo)
Personnel: trumpets - Al Porcino, Ollie Mitchell, Buddy Childers, Don
Fagerquist; trombones - Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Harry Betts, Kenny
Shroyer; saxes - Bud Shank, Harry Klee, Bob Cooper, Dave Pell, Chuck
Gentry; bass - Red Callender; piano - Claude Williamson; drums - Shelly
Manne; guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: L.A. Oct. 25, 26, Nov. 15, 24, 1958.
The Jazz Sound From Peter Gunn
1959 - RCA but reissued on Fresh Sound FSCD 2009.
Selections: (all compositions by H. Mancini), Peter Gunn,
Blue Steel, The Brothers Go To Mother's, Session At Pete's Pad,
Walkin' Bass, Dreamsville, The Little Man Theme, Sorta Blue,
Goofin' At The Coffee House, A Quiet Gass, A Profound Gass, Fallout!,
Lightly, Soft Sounds, Odd Ball, The Floater, Blues For Mother's,
Brief And Breezy, Joanna, My Manne Shelly, Spook!, A Ball For John,
Goofin' At The Coffee House (2nd), Not From Dixie.
Personnel: arranged by Maxwell Davis, Pete Candoli, Bob Florence,
trumpets - Pete Candoli, Conte Candoli, Don Fagerquist
trombones - Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, Dave Wells,
saxes - Bud Shank, Ted Nash, Ronnie Lang, Dick Nash,
bass - Red Mitchell,
piano - Henry Mancini, Jimmy Rowles, John T. Williams, Russ Freeman,
drums - Shelly Manne, Frank Capp,
percussion - Emil Richards,
guitar - Howard Roberts, Tony Rizzi, vibes - Larry Bunker.
Session:
Comments: Excellent album with many contributions from H.R.
Many thanks to jazz record collector
C.C. Weijman of Utrecht, Netherlands for this.
Homage - The Georgie Auld Sextet with Howard Roberts
1959 - released on CD Xanadu 1994.
Selections: Good Enough To Keep, On The Alamo (Kahn-Jones),
Seven Come Eleven (Goodman-Christian), Soft Winds (Goodman-Henderson),
Wholly Cats (B. Goodman), Flying Home (B. Goodman-L. Hampton),
Benny's Bugle (B. Goodman-J. Bushkin), Rose Room (Hickman-Williams),
A Smooth One (B. Goodman-C. Christian-Mundy),
Sweet Lorraine (Burwell-Parish), I Found A New Baby (Palmer-Williams),
Scarecrow (B. Goodman).
Personnel : guitar - Howard Roberts, tenor saxophone - Georgie Auld,
trumpet - Don Fagerquist, piano - Lou Levy, vibes - Larry Bunker, bass -
Leroy Vinegar, drums - Mel Lewis.
Session: Sept. 5, 1959.
Comments: Great playing! Interesting to hear H.R. play some
Charlie Christian licks! Many thanks to Dave Gould for this (see above
under Jazz Studio Two).
Googie René presents Romesville
1959 - Class CS-LP-5003 (also as Rendezvous S-1313)
Selections:
Romesville (L. René-R. René),
Cool It at the Coliseum (R. René),
Serenade in the Night (Bixio Cherubini),
Flippin' the Pizza (R. René),
Come Back to Sorrento (E. and G.B. Curtis),
Caesar's Pad (L. René-R. René),
Cafe Roman Candle (R. René),
Rebecca (Jeanne Vikki), Cherry Ferrari (R. René),
Farewell To Rome (L. René).
Personnel: trumpets - Gerald Wilson, Conrad Gozzo, Mickey Mangano,
John Audino, John Anderson, trombones - John Ewing, Vern Friley, Lester
Robinson, reeds - Buddy Collette, Plas Johnson, Jackie Kelso, Floyd Turnham,
Willies Smith, vibes - Larry Bunker, piano - Rafael Googie Rene,
guitar - Howard Roberts, mandolin - Al Viola, Al Hendrickson,
bass - Red Callender,
drums - Earl Palmer, percussion - Milt Holland, Modesto Duran, Jack Costanzo,
arranger - Rene Hall.
Session: 1959, L.A.
Comments: A concept album where the "concept" seems to be a beatnik
interpretation of Rome. So lots of bongos! Still not a bad record and H.R.
solos on Flippin' the Pizza (backed by Jack Costanzo on bongos) and on
Cherry Ferrari.
Two for the Money - Brothers Candoli
1959 - Mercury MG 20515 (on tape).
Selections: Splanky (Hefti), Soak Yo' Sally (Candoli), A-Lue-Cha (Parker),
Rifts For Rosie (Candoli), Caravan (Tizol-Ellington-Mills), Take The A
Train (Strayhorn), Doodlin (Silver), Willow Weep For Me (Ronell),
Blueing Boogie (Gillespie), Richard Diamond Blues (Rugolo)
Personnel : Pete Candoli, Conte Candoli (trumpet), Jimmy Rowles (piano)
Max Bennett (bass), Frank Capp (drums), Howard Roberts (guitar).
Session: L.A., 1959.
The Four Freshmen and Five Guitars
1959 - Capitol ST1255, reissued by EMI in 1998 on CD together with The Four
Freshmen and Five Saxes.
Selections: Rain, The More I See You, This October, Don't Worry 'Bout Me,It's A Pity To Say Goodnight, Oh Lonely Winter, It All Depends On You,
Nancy (With The Laughing Face), I Never Knew, Invitation, I Understand,
Come Rain Or Come Shine.
Personnel : arranger - Jack Marshall, vocals - Dick Reynolds,
Ross Barbour, Don Barbour, Ken Albers, Bob Flanigan,
guitars - Al Hendrickson, Howard Roberts, Bobby Gibbons, Tommy Tedesco,
Bill Pitman, George van Eps, Al Viola, Herb Ellis, Barney Kessel,
vibes - Larry Bunker, bass - Red Mitchell, drums - Shelly Manne,
Jack Sperling.
Session: June 16, 17 1959, Los Angeles.
Comments : The five guitars used varied by track. The album doesn't
even list the players. This information came from the book
Now You Know - The Story of the Four Freshmen
by Ross Barbour, Balboa Books .
It's All Right With Me - Cathy Hayes
1959 - HIFI Record reissued on Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 55 1989.
Selections: The Angels Sing, Blue Moods, You Smell So Good,
Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe, Wonder Why, Tangerine,
If I Were A Bell, Last Night When We Were Young, Down In The Depths,
You Don't Know What Love Is, My Old Flame, You And The Night And The Music.
Personnel : arranger - Barney kessel, vocals - Cathy Hayes,
guitars - Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts,
vibes - Larry Bunker, bass - Monte Budwig, drums - Shelly Manne, Mel Lewis,
trumpet - Conte Candoli, alto sax - Bud Shank, tenor sax - Bill Perkins
and Ted Nash, Baritone sax - Justin Gordon, piano - Jimmy Rowles.
Session : L.A., 1959.
Comments : H.R. comps and Barney does the leads, fills etc.
Nice album and interesting to have H.R. and Barney Kessel on the same recording.
Swing Song Book - Les Brown and his Band Of Renown
1959 - Coral CRL 757300.
Selections: Swing Book Blues (J. Hill), How High The Moon (N. Hamilton-M. Lewis, Early Autumn (R. Burns-W. Herman-J. Mercer),
King Porter Stomp (Jellyroll Morton), Lullaby of Birdland (G. Shearing),
Moten Swing (B. Moten-B. Moten), Just In Time (J. Styne-B. Comden-A. Green),
I Want To Be Happy (V. Youmans-I. Caesar), Take The ``A" Train (B. Strayhorn),
I'm Begining To See The Light (H. James-D. Ellington-J. Hodges-D. Georges),
Pick Yourself Up (J. Kern-D. Fields), Lean Baby (B. May-R. Alfred).
Personnel: arrangers - Jim Hill, Wes Hensel, Billy May,
trumpets - Wes Hensel, Dick Collins, Jerry Kadowitz, Clinton McMahan,
Frank Beach,
trombones - Dick Kenney, Roy Main, J. Hill, Clyde Brown,
reeds - Matt Utal, Ralph La Polla, Bill Usselton, Abe Aaron, Butch Stone,
piano - Donn Trenner, bass - Jules Berteaux, drums - Jack Sperling.
guitar - Howard Roberts, Tony Rizzi, Allan Reuss.
Session: L.A., Jan. 22, 1959.
Comments: Good big band rhythm guitar.
Les Brown and His Band of Renown
1959 - Coral 9-62085 (45 rpm).
Selections: Boola (R. Sweetwater), Say It With Music (I. Berlin).
Personnel: None listed but probably similar to Swing Song Book as
listed above.
Session: Feb. 9-11, 1959, L.A.
Comments: Excellent rhythm playing by H.R.
Marx Makes Broadway "with flute and friends" - Dick Marx
195? - Omega - released on V.S.O.P. in 1985.
Selections: Joey, Joey (F. Loesser), Why Can't You Behave (C. Porter),
All Of You (C. Porter), Cool (L. Bernstein),
Too Close For Comfort (Holofocner-Weiss), If I Were A Bell (F. Loesser),
Baubles, Bangles And Beads (Forrest-Wright), A Sleepin' Bee (F. Loesser),
Guys And Dolls (F. Loesser), Just In Time (Comden-Green-Styne).
Personnel : piano - Dick Marx, flute - Buddy Collette, drums - Frank Capp, bass - Red Mitchell and Carson Smith,
guitar - Howard Roberts and Irving Ashby.
Comments : Excellent album. H.R. is on 3 cuts and Irving Ashby on 5.
The album notes don't identify which are which but my guess is H.R. on
All Of You, If I Were A Bell and Just In Time.
Swingin' Hi ... Fi - Al Anthony, Wizard of the Organ
195? - Liberty LST 7021.
Selections: Vanessa (Fisher-Fisher), Carmelita (P. Faith),
I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me (McHugh-Gaskill),
Camptown races (Foster), Tropical Merengue (Munoz), Baia (Golbert-Barrosa),
Sabre Dance (Khatchaturian), You're Driving Me Crazy (Donaldson),
Ebb Tide (Maxwell), Everything I've Got (Belongs To You) (Rodgers-Hart),
Swingin' Hi (Al Anthony), Eleanora (Arendo).
Personnel : organ - Al Anthony, drums - Mel Lewis, bass - Buddy Clark,
guitar - Howard Roberts.
Comments : H.R. contributes a bit.
Listen to the Music of Russell Garcia and His Orchestra
195? Kapp Records KL-1050.
Selections: Worry-Go-Round (Garcia), Carefree (Heyman-Henderson),
Palo Alto (Garcia), Aren't You Glad You're You? (Burke-van Heusen),
One Love (Robin-Rose), Good Humor (Garcia), When I Go, I Go All the Way (Russell-Garcia), Coronado (Garcia), The Boy Next Door (Martin-Blane),
I'm Confessin' That I Love You (Dougherty-Raynolds-Neiburg),
Never, Never Land (Comdon-Green-Styne), I Lead a Charmed Life (Russell-Garcia).
Personnel: drums - Alvin Stoller,
bass - Curtis Counce, Max Bennett, bongos - Jack Costanza,
sax - Herb Geller, trumpet - Don Fagerquist, Buddy Childers, Wes Hensel,
Maynard Ferguson, Carroll Lewis,
clarinet - Bill Ulyate, Frank Howard,
trombone - Murray McEachern, Harry Betts, James Henderson,
piano - John T. Williams, vibes - Red Norvo, guitar - Howard Roberts.
Comments: This album features Herb Geller, Don Fagerquist,
Murray McEachern, John T. Williams, Red Norvo and Howard Roberts.
H.R. is featured on Aren't You Glad You're You and I Lead a Charmed Life.
He also plays some interesting solos on some other selections
and there is some very nice big band comping throughout.
Excellent recording.
Bobby Crocker Quartet - Doing the Town
195? - PIV 5000.
Selections: Cool Street (Rasch), Blvd. of Pearls (Rasch),
42nd Street (Dubin-Warren), Easy Street (Jones), Lullabye of B'wayi (Dubin-Warren),
Cotton Pickin Alley (Rasch), Bongo Square (Rasch), Basin Street (Williams),
Lakeshore Drive (Rasch), Hollywood Freeway (Rasch), Street of Dreams (Young).
Personnel: drums Bobby Crocker, piano - Ray Rasch, bass - Teddy Stevens,
guitar - Howard Roberts.
Session: Los Angeles.
Comments: Contains some excellent examples of Howard Roberts'
playing from this period. My copy is seriously warped so I'm looking for a
better version of this. Interestingly the album cover indicates
that H.R. was used courtesy of Norman Granz Productions.
June Christy - The Jazz Sessions
1956-60 - Capitol - selections from a number of recordings 1949-1968 released on
CD in 1996.
Selections with H.R.: I Want To Be Happy (I. Caesar-V. Youmans) from
the album Fair and Warmer recorded Jan. 21, 1957;
Looking For a Boy (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin) from the album The Cool School
recorded Jan., 1960,
Day Dream (Ellington-Strayhorn-LaTouche) from the album The Misty Miss Christy
recorded Jan. 16, 1956,
It's A Most Unusual Day (J. McHugh-H. Adamson). from the album Gone For The Day, recorded July 2, 1957.
Personnel : guitar - Howard Roberts and the Pete Rugolo Orchestra on
these albums except for The Cool School which was with the Joe Castro Quartet
composed of: piano - Joe Castro, bass - Leroy Vinnegar, drums - Larry Bunker,
guitar - Howard Roberts.
Comments : Interestingly Howard Roberts appears under the pseudonym
"Gib Fender" as a member of the Joe Castro Quartet. The guitar is quite
prominent on this selection.
Deno Kannes - The Kid From Salt Lake City
195? - Coral CRL57205.
Selections: Dancing on the Ceiling (Rodgers-Hart),
Stars Don't Fall (Rogers-Kimmel), I Wish I Knew (Warren-Gordon),
Skylark (Mercer-Carmichael), They Say (Mann-Weiss-Heyman),
The More I See You (Warren-Gordon),
Can't Get Out of This Mood (McHugh-Loesser), Imagination (Van Heusen-Burke),
Why Try to Change Me Now (Coleman-McCarthy),
But Beautiful (Burke-Van Heusen),
It's the Sentimental Thing to Do (Alfred-Fisher), Oh! You Crazy Moon
(Burke-Van Heusen).
Personnel: vocal - Deno Kannes, piano - Marty Paich, Jimmy Rowles,
bass - Carson Smith, guitar - Howard Roberts, cello - Fred Katz,
alto sax and flute - Ronnie Lang, trombone and conductor -
Bob Enevoldson.
Session: 195?, L.A.
Comments: Excellent contributions from H.R.
Jimmie Maddin - L.A. History Book
195? - released in 2001 on Neighbourhood Sound records
Selections with H.R.: I'm Studying You (Ray Sherman), Shirley Purly.
Personnel: vocals and tenor sax - Jimmie Maddin, guitar - Howard Roberts,
Barney Kessel, drums - Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer, vocals Johnny Mann Singers.
Session: L.A., 195?
Comments: Pretty convincing rockabilly style solo by H.R. on Shirley Purly.
Bill Black - Down in the Depths
195? - released in 2006(?) on Cellar Door Records CD YKCJ-304
Selections: Down In The depths On the 90th Floor (Porter),
Laugh, Clown, Laugh (Lewis-Fiorito), Little Toy Train (Stein),
Spring Is Here (Hart-Rodgers), So It's Spring (Wolf),
Love And I Are Partin' (?), Listen Little Boy (Stonum),
Nobody's Heart (Hart-Rodgers), Where Are You (Adamson-McHugh),
Gloomy Sunday (Lewis-Seress), I'll Never Be The Same (Kahn-Malneck-Signorelli),
Blame It On My Youth (Heyman-Levant).
Personnel: vocals - Bill Black, otherwise none is given but it
is definitely Howard Roberts on guitar and an unknown bass player.
Session: L.A., 195?
Comments: This recording was never released until about 2006 by
Bill Read who acquired the original acetate from Bill Black. This is
a wonderful recording and H.R. plays brilliantly.
Don Robertson - Songs for Elvis
195? - released in 2003 on Bear Family Records BCD 16654 AR
Selections:
Stand In (Robertson-Blair), They Remind Me Too Much of You (Robertson),
Anything That's Part of You (Robertson), Hummingbird(Robertson),
You Don't Need Me Anymore (Robertson-Blair), The Image of Your Face (Robertson-Blair),
Here Comes Heartache Again (Robertson-Blair), Starting Today (Robertson),
There's Always Me (Robertson), Your Happiness Means Everything to Me (Robertson-Blair),
Love Me Tonight (Robertson), Love Finds a Way (Robertson-Blair), My Side of the Story (Robertson-Blair),
Faithful Forever (Robertson-Blair), Hi Lee Hi Lo (Robertson), I Met Her Today (Robertson-Blair),
What Now, What Next, Where To (Robertson-Blair), Not One Minute More (Robertson-Blair-Dinning),
Road to Heartbreak (Robertson-Blair), I Hurt (Robertson-Blair),
Darling Lets Go Home (Robertson-Robertson), I'm Counting On You (Robertson),
Does He Mean That Much To You (Robertson-Rollins), I've Come To Say Goodbye (Robertson-Blair),
Feather In The Wind (Robertson-Blair), Road to Heartbreak (Robertson-Blair).
Personnel: vocals - Don Robertson, guitar - Jack MArshall, Billy Strange,
Howard Roberts, Tiny Timbrell, Bob Bain, Tommy Tedesco, Earnest (Red) Varner,
Al Hendrickson, Joe Maphis, Carol Kaye, bass - Red Callender, Lloyd Lunham,
Cliff Hils, Marty Corb, baritone sax - Jackie Kelso, bass clarinet and
alto sax - Howard Dieterman, drums - Chico Hamilton, Jerry Williams,
Shelley Manne, Hal Blaine, Earl Palmer, Richie Frost, keyboards - Don
Robertson, accordion - Bud Stewart, trumpet - Jimmy Zito, vocal
groups - The Jack Halloran Singers, The Carol Lombard Singers.
Session: L.A., 195?
Comments: Demo recordings that Don Robertson made mostly for Elvis, in the 1950's.
H.R. is not discernible.
Warren Barker Is In
Warner Bros. Records 1331
Selections:
Flute Route (Warren Barker),
Cappuccino (Warren Barker),
Harlem Nocturne (Earle Hagen),
Cafe Espresso (Warren Barker),
Black Coffee (Webster-Burke),
Love Me or Leave Me (Kahn-Donaldson),
Midnight Sun (Burke-Hampton),
There Will Never Be Another You (Gordon-Warren),
Satin Doll (Ellington-Strayhorn),
Robbins Nest (Thompson-Jacquet),
Hit the Road to Dreamland (Arlen-Mercer),
No Moon at All (Evans-Mann).
Personnel: Don Fagerquist, Frank Beach, Stu Williamson, trumpets; Vince De Rosa, Bill Hinshaw, Dick Perisi,
Jim Decker, French horns; Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, trombones; Ed Rosa, flute & clarinet; Ted Nash,
Ronny Lang, flutes & alto saxes; Justin Gordon, flute & baritone sax; Chuck Gentry, baritone sax; Victor Feldman,
piano & vibes; Gene Estes, vibes; Jerry Friedman, xylophone; Howard Roberts, Barney Kessel, guitars; Red Mitchell, bass;
Shelly Manne, drums.
Session: Recorded at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, May 29, June 3 & 10, 1959.
Comments: Mostly fills by H.R. but nice ones.
