Spain-based label Fresh Sound Records shows that there are periods of Western Civilization when art is at a peak, and other times at a nadir. The mid 1950s had such a surfeit of great sounds and bands that it was impossible to keep up with all of them. Thankfully, we have the chance to finally catch up with what really happened musically during the Eisenhower years on these pair of discs, each holding two rewarding yet obscure albums.
First up is a 1956 unit by trombonist Paul Severson with Kenny Soderbloom/ts-bs, Mel Schmidt/b and Bob Tilles. The team is California Cool with Soderbloom’s tenor in vintage Stan Getz fashion on the easy swing of “Too Much” and Mulligan misty for his baritone work on “Gone With The Wind”. Severson’s brash glows on the warm “I Could Write A Book” and creates rich harmonies on the fun “One More Mambo”, getting hipper than Dumbo on “I Only Have Eyes For You”.
Tenorist Chuz Alfred sounds like a mix of Lester Young and Dexter Gordon on his quintet with proto bopping drummer Kenny Clarke, Ola Hanson/tb, Chuck Lee/p and Vinnie Burke/b on a slick 1955 session. Alfred is long and tall as he saunters on “A Message From Home” and blueses up “Manta Wray”. Alfred is in a Prez mood for a foggy “I Can’t Get Started” and is nimble with Clark on “Chuz Duz” . How did we miss these guys?
The next album has trumpeter Johnny Glasel in a light sounding session with Dick Garcia-Perry Lopez/g, Whitey Mitchell/b and Basie-ite Osie Johnson/dr on a cool toned 1956 outing. Garcia sounds like a mix of Johnny Smith and Herb Ellis , bopping on the muscular “Harvey Not Walter” with the bel canto leader, snapping on “Tow For The Show” with Glasel in open glory, and sublimely cooing with Glasel’s muted horn on “Three to Make Ready”. Glasel does a rich calypso with Johnson and Mitchell on “Star Eyes” and gives an aria for “The Party’s Over”. A forgotten treasure
Trumpeter Mel Davis has a big and bold Harry James of a tone, filling the room with his team of Joe Sgro-Barry Galbraith/g, Milt Hinton/b, Osie Johnson/dr and Phil Bodner/fl for a collection of 1956 sessions. His big vibrato is gorgeous on “Jeepers Creepers” of all things, stately on “I Should Care” and struts out “Roses of Picardy” He has fun with flutist Bodner on the sextet take of the schmaltzy “You’re AN Old Smoothie” and is dark with Sgro on “You’ve Changed”. Glorious horns.
All the albums have wonderful liner notes giving lots of background information. You’ll get started on a treasure hunt for more of the same by these guys.