OK, so technically the two albums on this cd are not from movies, but TV shows in the early 60s. Still, you’re gonna thank Fresh Sound Records for continuing to dig up these treasures that I’m sure NO ONE has ever heard from. These sessions were from the day that jazz artists had the easy life of playing in the studio in the daytime, racking in the money, and then going to places like The Lighthouse or Shelly’s Manne Hole and jamming away the night hours. Were we born in the wrong era?
Gerald Fried wrote and arranged the music for the Western, with the 1959 LA orchestra including Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist/tp, Dick Nash/tb, Abe M ost/cl, Johnny Williams/p, Red Mitchell/b, Shelly Manne/dr, Gus Bivona/as-cl and Tony Rizzi/gThe 11 songs are short, sweet and filled with excitement, with Bivona searing through “Saddle Swing” and thw whole brass section wailing on the “Shotgun Slade (Theme.” A mix of Western and Noir pop up on “Weary” and y ou’re gonna want to look for a revival band that will take on “Danger Trail.” Oh, Yeah!
The Burke’s Law orchestra from 1964 includes Nash along with Plas Johnson-Bill Green/ts, Buddy Collette/as, Red Callender/b, Earl Palmer/dr and Bob Edmondson/tp. Collette sears through “Bridget” and “Burke’s Law Blues” while the cheesy vocal intro to the “Burke’s Law Theme” turns into a wailing white knuckler ride. Hip moods abound with the sections creating a misty on “Blues for a Dead Chick” and Palmer gets a fun moment on “Drum Madness.” Trust me; get this one and all the sound tracks and even your most anti-jazz fan will become a convert, or at least will want to buy a sharkskin suit.
Fresh Sound Records