At one time, Los Angeles/Hollywood was the hub of jazz. Back in the 1950s-60s, with TV and radio soaring in popularity, studios were filled with jazz musicians playing things like the theme song to “Leave It To Beaver” and living a comfortable middle class life. Local clubs were packed, and even restaurants had piano bars with musicians like Johnny Guarnieri or Page Cavanaugh.
One of the stars of the 88s w as Jimmy Rowles, best known for his work with Stan Getz. This pair of sessions from 1954 and 56 have him in a trio with Red Mitchell/b and Art Mardigan/dr and a quartet with the addition of Al Hendrickson/b and Goodman drummer Nick Fatool/dr with Joe Mondragon/b and a last trio with Ben Tucker/b and Mel Lewis/dr.
The trio collection includes standards with a dash of bop, as on “All The Things You Are”, but the joy of Rowles is the more mellow swing, as on “Chloe” and “Let’s Fall In Love” all filled with classy lyricism. He is bouncy on “Let’s Fall In Love” and has fun with “Topsy” and goes into a couple obscurities as in “So Far So Good” and “I Wouldn’t Change You For The World”.
The quartet session includes a romantic “We’ll Be Together Again” while the trio with Lewis digs into the obscure “Sonny Speaks”. The real reward is a pair of solo takes that takes you into Rowles’ mind with lovely read of “That Ole Devil Called Love” and a shadey “The Blues”. This is when LA was LA!