Bethlehem -- All Categories — CDs (LPs, CDs, Vinyl Record Albums) -- Dusty Groove is Chicago's Online Record Store
Skip navigation
Scripting is disabled or not working. dustygroove.com requires JavaScript to function correctly.
Style sheets are disabled or not working. dustygroove.com requires style sheets to function correctly.

All Categories — CDs

$




Items/page

Bethlehem Edit search

 
Sort by
Exact matches: 7
Exact matches1
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Chris ConnorAll About Ronnie – The Bethlehem Recordings 1953 to 1955 ... CD
Bethlehem/Acrobat (UK), Mid 50s. Used ... Just Sold Out!
... CD

Exact matches2
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Teddy CharlesVibraphone Players Of Bethlehem (aka Salute To Hamp) ... CD
Bethlehem, 1958. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
More straight ahead than some of Charles' other work from the time – most of which is fairly modernist – but still a strong batch of tracks, and one that has a lot more edge than the work of Lionel Hampton, to whom it was recorded as a "salute". Teddy's on vibes throughout – working in different groups that include players like Hank Jones, Zoot Sims, Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, Ed Thigpen, and Addison Farmer. Tracks are all Hamp standards – including "Airmail Special", "Midnight Sun", "Flyin Home", "Stardust", and "Blue Hamp". CD also features some bonus alternate takes! CD
(Out of print, punch through barcode.)

Exact matches3
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Carmen McRae & Julie LondonBethlehem Girl Friends ... CD
Bethlehem (Japan), Mid 1950s. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A split album that features 13 tracks by Carmen McRae with the Mat Mathews quartet, plus 4 more obscure numbers by Julie London, recording with the quartet of Tony Scott. The McRae material is some of her best jazz work from the time – cut in that perfect small group vocal mode that was one of Bethlehem's strongest points in the 50s. Titles on those tunes include "Easy To Love", "I'm Lucky", "Last Time For Love", "Misery", and "Too Much In Love To Care". The Julie London material features backing by Scott on clarinet and Dick Katz on piano, which makes for a very different sound than some of her work for Liberty during the same time. Tunes include "A Foggy Day", "Don't Worry 'Bout Me", and "You're Blase". CD
(Includes obi!)

Exact matches4
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Audrey Morris & Paula CastleGirls Of Bethlehem Volume 1 ... CD
Bethlehem, 1956. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A great set that brings together rare work by two lost female jazz vocalists from the 50s! Both Audrey Morris and Paula Castle recorded for the Bethlehem label during the time – in a cool, icy style that was similar to work by the label's more famous singer, Chris Connor – and both Audrey and Paula had a similar simple jazz-based approach that makes their work well worth tracking down if you're a fan of female singers. Audrey's represented here by 12 tracks – including "What More Women Do", "If Love Were More", "Blue Turning Gray", "If You Could See", and "I Go For That". Paula gets 8 tracks on the set – lifted from a rare 10" LP – and featuring the titles "Shooting High", "Yesterday's Gardenias", "Lost Love", and "Love Is A One Way Street". CD
(Out of print.)

Exact matches5
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ John ColtraneJohn Coltrane – The Bethlehem Years (Winner's Circle/Art Blakey Big Band) ... CD
Bethlehem, 1957. Used 2 CDs ... Out Of Stock
The complete recordings done by John Coltrane for Bethlehem Records – mostly cut during December of 1957, and issued on the albums The Winner's Circle and Art Blakey Big Band! Both albums were a bit unusual for the label – in that The Winner's Circle was sort of a blowing/jam session type record, cut with some of the big poll winners of the year, but with shorter tracks than the usual Prestige-styled set of that nature. The lineup includes Donald Byrd, Al Cohn, Eddie Costa, Oscar Pettiford, and Philly Joe Jones – and Coltrane's a bit buried in the group, but gets out some nice licks from time to time. The second set of tracks was recorded for a unique big band session led by Art Blakey – featuring a core group with Coltrane, Donald Byrd, Walter Bishop Jr, and Wendell Marshall on some tracks – plus a larger lineup on a number of others. The CD brings together a whopping 27 tracks from these sessions, including some great alternate takes – and titles include "Midriff", "Tippin", "The Outer World", "The Kiss Of No Return", "Pristine Take", and "Oasis" – a previously unreleased track! CD

Exact matches6
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Dexter GordonDexter Plays – The Bethlehem Years ... CD
Fresh Sound (Spain), 1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
With Leroy Vinnegar on bass, Lawrence Marable & Stan Levey on drums, Kenny Drew & Lou Levy on piano, Dextor Gordon on tenor saxophone & Frank Rosolino on trombone. CD

Exact matches7
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ VariousYasukuni Terashima Presents Bethlehem ... CD
Bethlehem (Japan), 1950s. Used ... Out Of Stock
Music from Chris Connor, Jimmy Knepper, Frank Rosolino, Charlie Mariano, Herbie Harper, Mel Torme, Terry Morel, Stu Williamson, Red Mitchell, Betty Blake, Bob Hardaway, Joe Derise, Hank D'Amico, and more. CD
 
Close matches: 47
Close matches8
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorChris Connor Sings Lullabys Of Birdland ... CD
Bethlehem, Mid 50s. Used ... Just Sold Out!
A great set of tracks that represents some of Chris Connor's first recordings as a solo act – culled from earlier ep and 10" releases, and issued here on a full LP with a total of 15 tracks. Backing is by three groups – the Ellis Larkin Trio, Vinnie Burke's Quartet, and Sy Oliver's Orchestra – and Chris is in fine fine form, vocalizing with that icy tone we love so much, a bit sad, and a bit mellow, but always heartfelt, without the forced emotion of other singers of her generation. Titles include "Stella By Starlight", "Goodbye", "Spring Is Here", "Ask Me", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "He's Coming Home". CD

Close matches9
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Dexter GordonDaddy Plays The Horn ... CD
Bethlehem/Shout Factory, 1955. Used ... $3.99
One of Dexter Gordon's proudest moments of the 50s – a rock-solid session for Bethlehem – easily one of the best-remembered hardbop sides from the label's California years! The album's got a relaxed, free-blown sound that's quite nice – with Dex in the lead on tenor, supported by the trio of Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawrence Marable on drums. Gordon's perhaps not as fully imaginative as he would become in the 60s, but his sound and control is still great throughout – and the rhythm section really helps knock this one out of the park. Titles include versions of "Darn That Dream", "Autumn In New York", "You Can Depend On Me", and "Confirmation", plus two originals "Number Four" and "Daddy Plays The Horn". CD
(Out of print, punch through case and rear tray card.)

Close matches10
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Teal JoyTed Steele Presents Miss Teal Joy (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Bethlehem/Solid (Japan), 1955. Used ... Just Sold Out!
A great little album from this overlooked singer – an east coast vocalist from the 50s, working here on one of the few sessions she ever recorded! Teal's got an exotic look on the cover, but the presentation of the music is right up there in the best mainstream jazz modes of the time – and unlike some of the other small combo vocal work on Bethlehem in the 50s, this album has the fuller feel of the sorts of records you might hear on a label like Capitol or Verve at the time. Ted Steele handles the arrangements – and is also credited with discovering Teal in Atlantic City – and the backings are a mix of jazzy flourishes and larger strings – never poppy or overdone. Titles include "Autumn Leaves", "El Cumbanchero", "Deed I Do", "For You My Love", "Who's Sorry Now", "Let's Fall In Love", and "Easy To Remember". CD also features three bonus alternate takes! CD
(2013 Japanese pressing – still sealed with obi!)

Close matches11
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Jimmy KnepperSwinging Introduction To Jimmy Knepper (Japanese pressing) ... CD
Bethlehem (Japan), 1957. Used ... $11.99
Great work from one of the most compelling trombonists of the 50s! Jimmy Knepper is probably best known for his excellent work on some of Charles Mingus' best records – but this set from 1957 shows that Knepper was also an extremely capable (if under-recorded) leader in his own right! The album is one of the rarest Bethlehem sides – and it features Knepper leading a crack group that includes Bill Evans, Gene Quill and drummer Dannie Richmond, making a rare non-Mingus appearance here! The tracks are shortish, and a number of them are standards, but the group swings nicely, and Knepper's tone is nice and edgey on most tracks. Titles include "Avid Admirer", "Close As Pages In A Book", "Ogling Ogre", and "Idol Of The Flies". CD
(2006 Japanese pressing.)

Close matches12
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Stan LeveyThis Time The Drum's On Me (Japanese pressing) ... CD
Bethlehem/Toshiba (Japan), 1955. Used ... $12.99
A nice little bit of bop from LA – a tightly-crafted mid 50s date for the Bethlehem label – featuring drummer Stan Levey at the head of a great group of horn players! The album features some standout work from Dexter Gordon on tenor – making a rare appearance here as a sideman – and the frontline of the sextet also features Conte Candoli on trumpet and Frank Rosolino on trombone – both well-matched players, especially at this point in their careers. The group's completed by Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Lou Levy on piano – and there's a bit more bite on some tracks than the usual Bethlehem set. Titles include "Diggin For Diz", "Ruby My Dear", "Tune Up", "Stanley The Steamer", and "This Time The Drum's On Me". CD
(1999 Japanese pressing – includes obi.)

Close matches13
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Charlie MarianoCharlie Mariano Plays (Charlie Mariano Plays/Sapphire) (Jazz City pressing) ... CD
Bethlehem/Fresh Sound (Spain), 1954. Used ... $9.99
Brilliant early work from Charlie Mariano – key proof of his genius, and one of the main albums we'd recommend by him! The album has Charlie coming of his years in the Boston scene – boppish at some level, but blowing with a raspy soulfulness that really opens up his horn into new territory – not Charlie Parker, not Lee Konitz, but a whole new space and sound of expression for the alto sax! There's a deftness here that's undeniable – but the album also has a sense of soul and personality that goes way deeper than simply sharp soloing – a quality that easily puts Charlie up there next to Lou Donaldson and Sonny Stitt in the 50s! The CD features work from dates recorded in Hollywood in 1953 and 1955 – all for Bethlehem (under the titles Charlie Mariano Plays and Sapphire, by Stu Williamson) – with 5 tracks that feature a core group with Stu Williamson on trumpet, Claude Williamson on piano, Frank Rosolino on trombone, Max Bennett on bass, and Stan Levey on drums – then 13 more that drop out either Rosolino or Stu for quintet formation. Titles include "Green Walls", "Chloe", "S'Nice", "You Go To My Head", "Slugger", "Just Max", "TK", "Rubberneck", "Jeepers Creepers", and "Strike Up The Band". CD

Close matches14
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Charles MingusEast Coasting (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Bethlehem, 1957. Used ... $4.99
One of Charles Mingus' excellent albums for the Bethlehem label – recorded during that magical year of 1957, a real turning point in his career! There's a sharpness here to Mingus' musical vision that hadn't shown up in previous years – a refinement of ideas expressed for Savoy and Prestige on previous sessions, drawn with tighter tension, and a bolder sense of spirit and emotion throughout. The group's a well-chosen batch of modernists – with Shafi Hadi on alto and tenor, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, Clarence Shaw on trumpet, and the surprising addition of Bill Evans on piano – sounding a fair bit bolder here than elsewhere. Titles are almost all Mingus originals with a great balance of modern structures and freer solo moments – and tracks include "Conversation", "West Coast Ghost", "Fifty First Street Blues", "East Coasting", and the sublime "Celia", which Mingus and Hadi performed in the film Shadows by John Cassavettes. CD reissue also features bonus alternate takes of "East Coasting" and "Memories Of You". CD
(Sealed copy!)

Close matches15
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Red MitchellHappy Minors ... CD
Bethlehem/Solid (Japan), 1955. Used ... $18.99
A hell of a cooker from bassist Red Mitchell – a set that's got a sound that's way more mature and modern than you might guess from the image on the cover! Red's at the helm of a hip combo that also features sharp tenor from Zoot Sims and beautiful work on valve trombone from Bob Brookmeyer – working here at that cool compressed height of his 50s style we love so much. Conte Candoli's in the group on trumpet, giving things a surprising sort of bite – and rhythm is completed by Claude Williamson on piano and Stan Levey on drums – players who can be bold one minute, and carefully quiet the next. Titles include "Kelly Green", "Once In A While", "Bluesology", "Happy Minor", and "Long Ago & Far Away". CD

Close matches16
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mel Torme, Francis Faye, Johnny Hartman, & OthersPorgy & Bess – Highlights From The Opera ... CD
Bethlehem, 1956. Used ... $2.99
One of our favorite recordings ever of George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess – done by Bethlehem Records in the mid 50s, and featuring nearly every one of the label's great talents at the time! The choice of the lead characters is a bit odd – as Mel Torme plays Porgy and Francis Faye plays Bess – but both singers are actually pretty darn great for the set, and really bring a lot out of the tunes. Plus, the other artists on the set really keep things interesting – as the collection features vocal performances by Johnny Hartman, Frank Rosolino, Betty Roche, Bob Dorough, and Sallie Blair. Plus, the whole thing's presented as Gershwin wrote it – complete with narration by Al Jazzbo Collins, and a number of strong instrumental passages. Music is performed by groups led by Russ Garcia, Duke Ellington, Pat Moran, and Stan Levy – and players are an array of the best of both the New York and LA scenes at the time! CD
(80s pressing.)

Close matches17
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Mal WaldronLeft Alone (Dedicated To Billie Holiday) ... CD
Bethlehem/Rhino, 1960. Used ... $4.99
A beautiful album by Mal Waldron – recorded in 1960, after the passing of Billie Holiday, and a very loving tribute by Waldron, who was her accompanist for a number of years. The set moves way past the usual "Holiday songbook" mode, and features instead a dark batch of tracks, two written by Waldron – "Minor Pulsation" and "Cat Walk" – a third written by him and Holiday, the famous tune "Left Alone". Jackie McLean plays some fantastic alto sax on the CD's version of "Left Alone", and the rest of the tracks are trio tracks played by Waldron, Julian Euell, and Al Dreares. The set also features one very strange track – "Mal Waldron: The Way He Remembers Billie Holiday" – which is an interview with Waldron about Billie! And sure, there were many cash-in records after Billie Holiday died, but this is one of the best, and it comes from a very legitimate source! CD
(Barcode has a cutout hole, back cover of booklet has a gold promo stamp.)

Close matches18
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Claude WilliamsonRound Midnight ... CD
Bethlehem, 1956. Used ... $3.99
One of the greatest albums ever from west coast pianist Claude Williamson – from the cool image on the cover, right down to the freely swinging grooves on the vinyl! Williamson's working here in trio formation with Red Mitchell on bass and Mel Lewis on drums – mostly on familiar tunes, but done in ways that have a really personal sort of approach. The album often has Claude taking his time on the intros to the tunes – setting things up in broad flourishes in a near-solo mode, before letting the bass and drums come into play – and this style creates a nicely moody feel that matches the late nite image of the cover. Titles include "Hippy", "Stella By Starlight", "I'll Know", "Tea For Two", "Love Is Here To Stay", and "The Song Is You". CD
(1996 pressing – still sealed with a small cutout hole through the case.)

Close matches19
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Jerri WintersSomebody Loves Me ... CD
Bethlehem/Solid (Japan), 1957. Used ... $18.99
Jerri Winters gets some hip backings here – thanks to help from the Al Belletto Sextet, who almost share the star spotlight on the record as much as Jerri! The combo are perhaps best known for their 50s work on Capitol, but they sound equally great here – stepping out with a tight sound that must have made them a great act to catch live in a club! And in addition to the combo's instrumentation – which includes alto sax, piano, trombone, and trumpet – the group also harmonize a bit behind Jerri's vocals – supporting her with a sound that's sort of a groovy 50s update on the older 40s mode of matching a female lead with a male harmony group. Don't let all this praise of the Belletto group take away from Winters, though – because she steps out strongly too – and really makes the album sparkle with a personal take on some lesser-remembered standards. Titles include "In Other Words", "Crazy In The Night", "Kind Of Moody", "Ridin On The Moon", "Dark Shadows", "Sometimes I'm Happy", and "It's Always You". CD
(Out of print, includes obi.)

Close matches20
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Milt BucknerNew World Of Milt Buckner ... CD
Bethlehem/Solid (Japan), 1962/1963. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
One of the coolest albums ever from organist Milt Buckner – a set that not only features his own great work on Hammond, but also some excellent vibes from Gene Redd! This isn't the Redd that was a member of Kool & The Gang, but his pops – and Gene works with Buckner here on arrangements to craft a sound that's much hipper and more soulful than usual for Milt – quite a change from some of his dates for other labels, especially some of the overseas ones. The rest of the group features Bill Willis on bass and Phil Paul on drums – and tunes are awash in cool tones and unusual sounds – handled very differently than in other versions. The album includes nice versions of "Take Five", "Fly Me To The Moon", "All Blues", and "Why Don't You Do Right" – all with a lot more of a soul jazz groove than you'd expect! CD
(Sealed, 2013 pressing. Obi is included.)

Close matches21
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorChris ... CD
Bethlehem, Mid 50s. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
An excellent LP that brings together a dozen tracks from some of Chris' lesser-known recordings for the Bethlehem label – originally released as eps and early 10" LPs. Backing on the set is by The Ellis Larkins Trio, The Vinnie Burke Quartet, The Ralph Sharon combo, and Sy Oliver's orchestra – and the set features tracks that include "All About Ronnie", "In Other Words", "A Good Man Is A Seldom Thing", "I Hear Music", "Out Of This World", and "Lush Life". CD
(Out of print.)
Also available Chris ... LP 19.99

Close matches22
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorThis Is Chris ... CD
Bethlehem, Mid 50s. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Beautifully icy vocals from the amazing Chris Connor – the kind of record that set a new standard for vocal jazz back in the 50s! The session's a small group one – with Chris singing intimately alongside backing from Herbie Mann on flute and tenor, Kai Winding and JJ Johnson on trombones, Joe Puma on guitar, and Ralph Sharon on piano – all lightly arranged to allow Connor's vocals prime placement in the record, while shading in the spaces with some nicely modern colors. Titles are mostly familiar, but wonderfully transformed into Connor's own personal statements – and tracks include "Ridin High", "It's All Right With Me", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart", "All This & Heaven Too", "Trouble Is a Man", "Blame It On My Youth", and "The Thrill Is Gone". CD
(Out of print.)

Close matches23
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Stan LeveyGrand Stan ... CD
Bethlehem (Japan), 1956. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
One of the few sessions ever cut as a leader by LA drummer Stan Levey – as tight a set of west coast bop as you'll ever find on the Bethlehem label – recorded with a really cooking sextet that includes Conte Candoli on trumpet, Richie Kamuca on tenor, Frank Rosolino on trombone, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Sonny Clark on piano – getting his start on wax here before his more famous Blue Note sessions in New York! The presence of Clark really gives the set a great deal of energy – of the sort that Sonny brought to his other key west coast contributions of the time – and both Kamuca and Rosolino serve up some especially sharp solos. Tracks are mostly all over five minutes long – and titles include "Hit That Thing", "Tiny's Tune", "Blues At Sunrise", "Grand Stan", and "Angel Cake". CD
(1999 Japanese pressing – includes obi.)

Close matches24
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Booker LittleBooker Little & Friend (remastered – with bonus tracks) ... CD
Bethlehem/Avenue, 1961. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A fantastic sextet session recorded in 1961, shortly before Booker Little's death – and filled with all the promise and power he ever packed into his playing! There's a sharp, angular groove to many of the numbers here – that mix of modern and hardbop that was cresting best in the early 60s Blue Note generation – and which echoes some of the work that Little had done with Max Roach in the years before this date. The lineup's filled with great players to help Book realize his strongest musical vision – Julian Priester on trombone, George Coleman on tenor, Don Friedman on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – and although the set's issued on the sometimes-staid Bethlehem label, it's got all the sharper edges of an early 60s date on a label like Impulse or Candid! Titles include "Matilde", "Booker's Blues", "Forward Flight", and "Victory and Sorrow". This CD reissue contains 2 alternate takes, too – for a total of 9 cuts in all! CD
(2000 Bethlehem Archives/Avenue Jazz pressing.)

Close matches25
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Claude WilliamsonRound Midnight ... CD
Bethlehem/Avenue, 1956. Used ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
One of the greatest albums ever from west coast pianist Claude Williamson – from the cool image on the cover, right down to the freely swinging grooves on the vinyl! Williamson's working here in trio formation with Red Mitchell on bass and Mel Lewis on drums – mostly on familiar tunes, but done in ways that have a really personal sort of approach. The album often has Claude taking his time on the intros to the tunes – setting things up in broad flourishes in a near-solo mode, before letting the bass and drums come into play – and this style creates a nicely moody feel that matches the late nite image of the cover. Titles include "Hippy", "Stella By Starlight", "I'll Know", "Tea For Two", "Love Is Here To Stay", and "The Song Is You". CD
(Out of print 2000 Avenue Jazz pressing with a punch through barcode.)
Also available Round Midnight ... CD 3.99

Close matches26
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Australian Jazz QuintetAustralian Jazz Quintet At The Varsity Drag ... CD
Bethlehem/Rhino, 1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
Weird winds make this a mighty nice record – a blend of the tenor and bassoon of Errol Buddle and alto and flute of Dick Healy – all set to piano from Bryce Rhode, and vibes from the great Jack Brokensha! All players have a very strong sense of tone and color – and move together at a level that might be influence by the experiments of the Modern Jazz Quartet, but which also takes on a much more expressive feel with the presence of the reeds. Tracks are short and tightly arranged – and tunes include "So Nice", "Few Get It", "That Old Feeling", "Koala", and "Lover Man". CD
(2000 Avenue Jazz pressing. Barcode has a cutout hole, booklet has a gold promo stamp.)

Close matches27
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Dexter GordonDaddy Plays The Horn ... CD
Bethlehem/Avenue, 1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of Dexter Gordon's proudest moments of the 50s – a rock-solid session for Bethlehem – easily one of the best-remembered hardbop sides from the label's California years! The album's got a relaxed, free-blown sound that's quite nice – with Dex in the lead on tenor, supported by the trio of Kenny Drew on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Lawrence Marable on drums. Gordon's perhaps not as fully imaginative as he would become in the 60s, but his sound and control is still great throughout – and the rhythm section really helps knock this one out of the park. Titles include versions of "Darn That Dream", "Autumn In New York", "You Can Depend On Me", and "Confirmation", plus two originals "Number Four" and "Daddy Plays The Horn". CD
(2000 Bethlehem Archives pressing. Barcode has a cutout, back cover of booklet has a gold promo stamp.)
Also available Daddy Plays The Horn ... CD 3.99

Close matches28
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Charles MingusEast Coasting (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Bethlehem/Avenue, 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of Charles Mingus' excellent albums for the Bethlehem label – recorded during that magical year of 1957, a real turning point in his career! There's a sharpness here to Mingus' musical vision that hadn't shown up in previous years – a refinement of ideas expressed for Savoy and Prestige on previous sessions, drawn with tighter tension, and a bolder sense of spirit and emotion throughout. The group's a well-chosen batch of modernists – with Shafi Hadi on alto and tenor, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, Clarence Shaw on trumpet, and the surprising addition of Bill Evans on piano – sounding a fair bit bolder here than elsewhere. Titles are almost all Mingus originals with a great balance of modern structures and freer solo moments – and tracks include "Conversation", "West Coast Ghost", "Fifty First Street Blues", "East Coasting", and the sublime "Celia", which Mingus and Hadi performed in the film Shadows by John Cassavettes. CD reissue also features bonus alternate takes of "East Coasting" and "Memories Of You". CD
(Remastered Bethlehem Archives/Avenue Jazz pressing with 2 bonus tracks.)
Also available East Coasting (with bonus tracks) ... CD 4.99

Close matches29
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Herbie Nichols TrioLove, Gloom, Cash, Love ... CD
Bethlehem, 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the few albums ever recorded by pianist Herbie Nichols – an incredible player with a sound and sense of modern expression that rivaled the best 50s work of Thelonious Monk and Elmo Hope! This session is Herbie's only one for the Bethlehem label – but it stands nicely next to his better-known sides for Blue Note – with a stark, sharp modernist approach that grabs you from the very first note! Nichols has a sharp and edgey sound throughout – and an incredible sense of invention that never fails to delight us, no matter how many times we return to the record! Titles include "Every Cloud", "S'Crazy Pad", "45 Degree Angle", "Beyond Recall", "Portrait of Ucha", and the beautiful title track "Love Gloom Cash Love". CD
(1994 CD pressing.)

Close matches30
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Oscar Pettiford & Vinnie BurkeBass By Pettiford/Burke ... CD
Bethlehem/Rhino, 1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
A split album that combines work from 2 different early 10" LPs on Bethlehem – both led by some of the best bassists to record for the label at the time! The first 6 tracks are classic work by Oscar Pettiford – some of his best as a leader, and cut with a hip group that includes Charlie Rouse on tenor, Duke Jordan on piano, and Julius Watkins on French horn. The tracks swing nicely with a strong modernist bop influence – and titles include "Cable Car", "Tricotism", "Oscar Rides Again", and "Golden Touch". The other 8 tracks are a bit mellower, but still quite modern – and with a really fresh approach. Recorded by Vinnie Burke's quartet, they feature a very unusual lineup of bass, clarinet, accordion, and guitar – the latter of which is played by the enigmatic Joe Cinderella, of Gil Melle group fame, and who gives the record a similar feeling to Melle's strange work for Blue Note. Titles include "For All We Know", "Time Out", "On The Alamo", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". CD
(1999 pressing.)

Close matches31
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Sal SalvadorFrivolous Sal (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD
Bethlehem (Japan), 1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
Guitarist Sal Salvador made few albums as a leader during his day – but all of them are a treat, especially this one! The set's a mid 50s outing that features Sal's guitar in a quartet with Eddie Costa on piano and vibes – and grooving in a lightly swinging style that has some traces of east coast chamber jazz of the time, but which also displays Salvador's unique fascination with tone, sound, shape, and color! Salvador has a way of approaching the electric guitar that's like few other players in jazz – sometimes coming on full swing, other times laying back and letting the strings and their sounds shape the progression of tunes on the set. Titles include "Salaman", "I Love You", "Handful Of Stars", "Frivolous Sal", "Tangerine", "You Could Swing For That", and "All The Things You Are". CD
(Out of print. Includes obi – and still sealed!)

Close matches32
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mel TormeSings Fred Astaire ... CD
Bethlehem, 1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
A wonderful little album by Mel Torme – easily one of his best albums of the 50s, despite the tighter focus implied in the title! Although the set's a tribute to Fred Astaire. the album's got a very similar feel to Mel's classic album with Marty Paich's Dek-Tette for Bethlehem – arranged by Paich, and done in a similar style of small-orchestra jazz – with great lines and solos from key west coast players who include Herb Geller on alto, Bob Enevoldsen on trombone, Jack Montrose on tenor, and Don Fagerquist and Pete Candoli on trumpet. There's a smooth, warm brilliance to the album that's undeniable – and although many of the tunes are older ones from Fred Astaire movies from decades back, they're updated beautifully by Marty Paich's arrangements! Titles include "The Piccolino", "Nice Work If You Can Get It", "A Foggy Day", "They All Laughed", and "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off". CD
(Out of print.)

Close matches33
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Paul Chambers & Tommy FlanaganMotor City Scene – Complete Recordings ... CD
Bethlehem/United Artists/Lonehill (Spain), 1959/1960. Used ... Out Of Stock
2 classic albums of late 50s jazz – both showcasing the rich talents of players from Detroit! First up on the disc is the album Motor City Scene – recorded for United Artists under the leadership of Thad Jones in 1959. The set features Thad at his best – late 50s, and working with an excellent group of hometown players! The album's more open and rough than some of Thad's excellent Blue Note sides from the time – in a really great way, one that makes for the kind of session that you rarely get to hear from Thad. Other players include Tommy Flanagan, Al Grey, Paul Chambers, Elvin Jones, and the great Billy Mitchell – whose tenor work on Jones' albums from the time is worth the price of admission alone! Titles include "Like Old Times", "Minor On Top", "Let's Play One", and "No Refill". The next 5 tracks on the set are from a 1960 session for Bethlehem – also titled Motor City Theme, recorded under the leadership of Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams. The two of them groove nicely here with a sextet that includes guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer "Hey" Lewis (another name for Louis Hayes!) The band is very tight, and the tracks are long enough that everybody gets in some good licks on the solos. Titles include "Trio", "Philson", "Libeccio", and "Bitty Ditty". Way harder than most of the west coast sessions on Bethlehem too! CD

Close matches34
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorChris Connor Sings Lullabys Of Birdland ... CD
Bethlehem, Mid 50s. Used ... Out Of Stock
A great set of tracks that represents some of Chris Connor's first recordings as a solo act – culled from earlier ep and 10" releases, and issued here on a full LP with a total of 15 tracks. Backing is by three groups – the Ellis Larkin Trio, Vinnie Burke's Quartet, and Sy Oliver's Orchestra – and Chris is in fine fine form, vocalizing with that icy tone we love so much, a bit sad, and a bit mellow, but always heartfelt, without the forced emotion of other singers of her generation. Titles include "Stella By Starlight", "Goodbye", "Spring Is Here", "Ask Me", "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Try A Little Tenderness", and "He's Coming Home". CD

Close matches35
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Booker ErvinBook Cooks ... CD
Bethlehem, 1960. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the greatest albums on the Bethlehem label – and one of the first albums as a leader by the legendary Booker Ervin! At the time of the set, Ervin had come off a great stint with the Charles Mingus group – one that inflected his rootsy Texas tenor tones with a sharper modern edge – heard to perfection on this great little session, which is equal parts hard swinging soul jazz and dark-tinged early 60s modern! Zoot Sims joins Booker in the front line, and the two of them trade tenor solos throughout on the album's long compositions – grooving with a great sextet that includes Tommy Turrentine on trumpet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Mingus' drummer Dannie Richmond on the kit! Cuts include "Largo", "The Book Cooks", "The Blue Book", and "Git It". CD

Close matches36
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Johnny HartmanAll Of Me ... CD
Bethlehem, 1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
Although the world always remembers Johnny Hartman best for his Impulse recordings with Coltrane, we've always dug some of his earlier stuff – like this album – because the sound's a bit rawer, and the style's got more of a kick! The magical Hartman voice is presented in two great settings – one a small orchestra directed by Frank Hunter, the other an even cooler group headed by Ernie Wilkins – with great horn work from players who include Anthony Ortega, Howard McGhee, Jerome Richardson, and Lucky Thompson! The tracks are familiar, but done with that dusky Hartman style – and titles include "I Could Make You Care", "The Lamp Is Low", "Stella By Starlight", "All Of Me", and a very haunting rendition of "The End Of A Love Affair". CD

Close matches37
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Johnny HartmanSongs From The Heart (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Bethlehem, 1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
A nice little album from Johnny Hartman – recorded back in the mid 50s for Bethlehem, in the years before he recorded his more famous dates for the Impulse label! The set has Johnny singing nice and mellow – with backing by a group led by pianist Ralph Sharon, one of Tony Bennett's longtime accompanists, with added trumpet by Howard McGhee – which creates some nicely moody interplay in the relatively spare setting of the session. Hartman's vocals are a dream, as always – and tracks include "What Is There To Say", "Moonlight In Vermont", "I'll Remember April", "Down In The Depths", "I Fall In Love Too Easily", and "We'll Be Together Again". CD features a number of bonus tracks too! CD

Close matches38
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ JJ Johnson & Kai WindingNuf Said ... CD
Bethlehem, 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
A great mid 50s recordings by one of the greatest pairings in popular jazz of the time – the twin-trombone lead work of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding, both players who'd come from differing backgrounds, but who created a wonderful new sound together! The interplay between the trombones on thesession is wonderful – a strongly pronounced mini-horn section – yet one that's fluid enough to work at a nice boppish pace, especially when paired with a rhythm section of Dick Katz and Al Harewood. Titles include "Thou Swell", "Gong Rock", "Out Of This World", "Lope City", "Mad About The Boy", "That's How I Feel About You", "Stolen Bass", and "It's All Right With Me". CD
Also available Nuf Said ... LP 24.99

Close matches39
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Booker LittleBooker Little & Friend ... CD
Bethlehem/Avenue, 1961. Used ... Out Of Stock
A fantastic sextet session recorded in 1961, shortly before Booker Little's death – and filled with all the promise and power he ever packed into his playing! There's a sharp, angular groove to many of the numbers here – that mix of modern and hardbop that was cresting best in the early 60s Blue Note generation – and which echoes some of the work that Little had done with Max Roach in the years before this date. The lineup's filled with great players to help Book realize his strongest musical vision – Julian Priester on trombone, George Coleman on tenor, Don Friedman on piano, Reggie Workman on bass, and Pete LaRoca on drums – and although the set's issued on the sometimes-staid Bethlehem label, it's got all the sharper edges of an early 60s date on a label like Impulse or Candid! Titles include "Matilde", "Booker's Blues", "Forward Flight", and "Victory and Sorrow". This CD reissue contains 2 alternate takes, too – for a total of 9 cuts in all! CD

Close matches40
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Booker LittleBooker Little Featuring George Coleman – Complete Recordings (Booker Little & Friend/Booker Little 4 & Max Roach) ... CD
Bethlehem/United Artists/Lonehill (Spain), 1958/1961. Used ... Out Of Stock
2 of the best studio albums from the legendary trumpeter Booker Little – back to back on 1 CD! The first 7 tracks on the set are from the Bethlehem album Booker Little & Friend – a fantastic sextet session recorded in 1961, shortly before Booker Little's death, and filled with all the promise and power he ever packed into his playing! The lineup includes Julian Preister, George Coleman, and Pete La Roca, and the groove is tight modern hard bop all the way through. An excellent album, and one of the best recordings ever on Bethlehem – with tracks that include "Matilde", "Booker's Blues", "Forward Flight", and "Victory and Sorrow". Next up are 6 tracks from the album Booker Little 4 & Max Roach – recorded for United Artists in 1958, at a time when Little was in the Max Roach band. The album is virtually a Max Roach session, as it features regular Roach group members Coleman and Little – plus bassist Art Davis and pianist Tommy Flanagan – all of whom fall perfectly into line behind Roach's masterful drumming on tracks like "Rounder's Mood", "Dungeon Waltz", and "Jewel's Tempo". 13 tracks in all. CD

Close matches41
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Charlie MarianoCharlie Mariano Plays Alto & Tenor (aka Charlie Mariano) ... CD
Bethlehem/Fresh Sound (Spain), 1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
Insanely wonderful early work from Charlie Mariano – some of the freshest, cleanest alto sax work of its time! The album's one of Charlie's strongest early efforts – a no-nonsense quartet session that features rhythm by the trio of John Williams, Max Bennett, and Mel Lewis. Charlie's tone is impeccable – somewhere between Lee Konitz and Charlie Parker, with that back bay Boston blend of soul and modernism, making the city one of the best scenes for alto players in the 50s. Titles include "Blues", "Floormat", "I Heard You Cried Last Night", "Johnny One Note", and "King For A Day". CD

Close matches42
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Charles MingusEast Coasting (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Bethlehem, 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of Charles Mingus' excellent albums for the Bethlehem label – recorded during that magical year of 1957, a real turning point in his career! There's a sharpness here to Mingus' musical vision that hadn't shown up in previous years – a refinement of ideas expressed for Savoy and Prestige on previous sessions, drawn with tighter tension, and a bolder sense of spirit and emotion throughout. The group's a well-chosen batch of modernists – with Shafi Hadi on alto and tenor, Jimmy Knepper on trombone, Clarence Shaw on trumpet, and the surprising addition of Bill Evans on piano – sounding a fair bit bolder here than elsewhere. Titles are almost all Mingus originals with a great balance of modern structures and freer solo moments – and tracks include "Conversation", "West Coast Ghost", "Fifty First Street Blues", "East Coasting", and the sublime "Celia", which Mingus and Hadi performed in the film Shadows by John Cassavettes. CD reissue also features bonus alternate takes of "East Coasting" and "Memories Of You". CD
Also available East Coasting (with bonus tracks) ... CD 4.99

Close matches43
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Pat Moran QuartetPat Moran Quartet/While At Birdland ... CD
Bethlehem, 1956/1957. Used 2 CDs ... Out Of Stock
A 2CD set that features both albums cut for Bethlehem by the Pat Moran Quartet – a groovy little combo that harmonized vocally while they were grooving on their instruments! The group's led by Pat on piano and lead vocals – and singer Bev Kelly is also with the group – and one album features the quartet on their own, and the other includes additional backings by Nat Pierce, with players that include Anthony Ortega and Sam Most. The four part harmony mode is in the Hi-Los mode, but the twist is that it's half-male, half-female – making for a lighter sound that's as groovy as 50s work by Jackie & Roy. There's a total of 27 tracks in all – with titles that include "This Can't Be Love", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Gone With The Wind", "Sunday Kind Of Love", "Lullaby Of The Leaves", "I'll Be Around", "Jordu", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", and "Mother Macree". CD

Close matches44
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Herbie Nichols TrioLove, Gloom, Cash, Love (Avenue Jazz pressing) ... CD
Bethlehem/Avenue, 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the few albums ever recorded by pianist Herbie Nichols – an incredible player with a sound and sense of modern expression that rivaled the best 50s work of Thelonious Monk and Elmo Hope! This session is Herbie's only one for the Bethlehem label – but it stands nicely next to his better-known sides for Blue Note – with a stark, sharp modernist approach that grabs you from the very first note! Nichols has a sharp and edgey sound throughout – and an incredible sense of invention that never fails to delight us, no matter how many times we return to the record! Titles include "Every Cloud", "S'Crazy Pad", "45 Degree Angle", "Beyond Recall", "Portrait of Ucha", and the beautiful title track "Love Gloom Cash Love". CD

Close matches45
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Betty RocheTake The A Train ... CD
Bethlehem, 1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the few small group sessions from vocalist Betty Roche – a singer who was known for her work with Duke Ellington, but who sounds even better in this setting! Betty's got a style that's warmly raspy – a bit more edge than some of the cooler vocalists on the Bethlehem label at the time, but still backed with a group that's slightly modern – in keeping with other dates on the label. The combo features Eddie Costa on vibes, Donn Trenner on piano, Conte Candoli on trumpet, Whitey Mitchell on bass, and Davey Williams on drums – all grooving gently with Betty on a set of tracks that includes "Take The A Train", "Something To Live For", "All My Life", "All Too Soon", "You Don't Love Me Any More", "Go Away Blues", and "September In The Rain". CD

Close matches46
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mel TormeIt's A Blue World ... CD
Bethlehem, 1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the most beautiful albums ever from the great Mel Torme – and a set that's a bit different than his other work for the Bethlehem label too! The set features Mel singing to lush backings from arranger Al Pellegrini – who brings in a mode that definitely lives up to the blue tones promised in the title – with enough melancholy moments in the mix to rival the sound of Frank Sinatra's classic Wee Small Hours album. The voice of the Velvet Fog is perfect in such a setting – and Torme's all serious, all classic, all the way through – no gimmicks or tricks or goofy moments at all. Titles include "How Long Has This Been Going On", "It's A Blue World", "Polka Dots & Moonbeams", "I Got It Bad & That Ain't Good", "All This & Heaven Too", "Wonderful One", and "Stay As Sweet As You Are". CD

Close matches47
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mel TormeLulu's Back In Town (aka Mel Torme & The Marty Paich Dek-Tette) ... CD
Bethlehem/Rhino, 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
An incredible album from Mel Torme – easily his best set ever, and a record that helped raise the bar for all other singers back in the 50s! A key part of the success of the set is the presence of Marty Paich as an arranger – as Marty swings the whole thing with a fluid groove that's really amazing, and which is a style that hadn't ever been done on record this well before. The group is filled with hip west coast players like Pete Candoli, Jack Montrose, Bob Cooper, and Bud Shank – all of whom really soar together, and elevate Mel's vocals from the older velvet fog mode, into a leaner, hipper style that's really tremendous! Titles include "The Blues", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Lulu's Back In Town", "The Carioca", "Sing For Your Supper", and "Lullaby Of Birdland". CD

Close matches48
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mel TormeMel Torme At The Crescendo ... CD
Bethlehem, 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
A great little live set from Mel Torme – and one that features the same jazzy style as his studio albums for the Bethlehem label from the 50s! The combo behind Mel is a smallish one – Marty Paich on piano and arrangements, Larry Bunker on vibes, Don Fagerquist on trumpet, Max Bennett on bass, and Mel Lewis on drums – and the arrangements here all have that great mix of sensitivity and swing that Paich was first showing at the time – an approach that really helped Torme hit new levels in his music! Tracks include "Love Is Just A Bug", "Just One Of Those Things", "The Tender Trap", "I'm Beginning To See The Light", and "One For My Baby". CD
Also available Mel Torme At The Crescendo ... LP 4.99

Close matches49
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorAll About Chris ... CD
Bethlehem/Five Four (UK), 1954/1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
Sublime vocal work from the lovely Chris Connor – a collection of her key mid 50s recordings for Bethlehem Records, all tracks that really helped redefine the sound of the voice in jazz at the time! Before working at Bethlehem, Chris was mostly known as the singer in the big bands of Stan Kenton and Claude Thornhill – but on these recordings, the label wisely set her up in small group format – giving Connor a newly sensitive setting that produced tracks that are still some of her greatest ever! Backings are by the Ellis Larkin Trio, The Vinnie Burke Quartet, and the Ralph Sharon Group – and the CD features 21 tracks that include "All About Ronnie", "Lush Life", "Why Shouldn't I", "Ridin High", "All This & Heaven Too", "Fly Me To The Moon", "Trouble Is A Man", "Stella By Starlight", "He's Coming Home", "Goodbye", and "A Cottage For Sale". CD

Close matches50
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorChris (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD
Bethlehem/JVC (Japan), 1953/1954/1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
An excellent LP that brings together a dozen tracks from some of Chris Connor's lesser-known recordings for the Bethlehem label – originally released as eps and early 10" LPs. Backing on the set is by The Ellis Larkins Trio, The Vinnie Burke Quartet, The Ralph Sharon combo, and Sy Oliver's orchestra – and the set features tracks that include "All About Ronnie", "In Other Words", "A Good Man Is A Seldom Thing", "I Hear Music", "Out Of This World", and "Lush Life". Chris herself is singing in that moody, icy style that we love so much – sounding especially nice on the sparer tunes, which seem to wallow in lost love and distant longing. CD

Close matches51
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorChris (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD
Bethlehem (Japan), Mid 50s. Used ... Out Of Stock
An excellent LP that brings together a dozen tracks from some of Chris' lesser-known recordings for the Bethlehem label – originally released as eps and early 10" LPs. Backing on the set is by The Ellis Larkins Trio, The Vinnie Burke Quartet, The Ralph Sharon combo, and Sy Oliver's orchestra – and the set features tracks that include "All About Ronnie", "In Other Words", "A Good Man Is A Seldom Thing", "I Hear Music", "Out Of This World", and "Lush Life". Chris herself is singing in that moody, icy style that we love so much – sounding especially nice on the sparer tunes, which seem to wallow in lost love and distant longing. CD

Close matches52
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Charles MingusNew York Sketchbook – Including The Complete East Coasting Session ... CD
Bethlehem/Affinity (France), 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
With BillEvans on piano. CD

Close matches53
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Frank RosolinoI Play Trombone (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD
Bethlehem (Japan), 1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the best albums ever cut by trombonist Frank Rosolino – an open-ended quartet session that really lets him do his thing! The tracks are long, with plenty of room for solo space, and Frank's working with a really great quartet that includes the legendary Sonny Clark on piano – a key force on the west coast scene during his stay in the late 50s – plus Wilfred Middlebrooks on bass, and Stan Levey on drums. Rosolino's tone is tremendous – a perfect tone, but never too polished – and although Clark doesn't play with the same sense of fire as on his Blue Note sessions, his presence is still strongly felt on the date. 3 of the album's tracks are over 7 minutes long – quite rare for a Bethlehem session – and titles include "Doxy", "My Delux", "Flamingo", "I May Be Wrong", and "Frieda". CD

Close matches54
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Charlie Rouse & Paul QuinichetteChase Is On (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD
Bethlehem (Japan), 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
A killer – and one of the greatest records ever cut on Bethlehem! Charlie Rouse and Paul Quinichette go head to head in a hard-blown session that's very different than most of the work on Bethlehem – grooving in a free-wheeling "chase" mode, as you might guess from the title – with lots of heavy tenor in the lead, cooking at a level that's more like a Prestige or Savoy session from the 50s! The group's as tight as can be – with some killer drum work from Ed Thigpen, and piano by either Wynton Kelly or Hank Jones. Titles include "The Chase Is On", "You're Cheating Yourself", "Knittin", "Tender Trap", and "When The Blues Come On". CD
 
Possible matches: 22
Possible matches55
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
Chris ConnorWitchcraft (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD
Atlantic (Japan), 1959. Used ... $18.99
A lovely side by Chris Connor for Atlantic, recorded not too long after her stint at Bethlehem – where she'd perfected an icy cool style of singing that's still to be matched to this day! The album features larger arrangements by Richard Wess – but still has a light jazzy feel, intimate in approach, despite the larger musical backings. Chris' voice is at once personal and removed – a razor's edge of emotion, repressing some impulses, and opening up surprisingly at other moments. Titles include "Skyscraper Blues", "The Lady Sings The Blues", "Come Rain Or Come Shine", "When Sunny Gets Blue", "Just In Time", "Baltimore Oriole", and "How Little We Know". CD
(Out of print – and includes obi!)
Also available Witchcraft ... LP 4.99

Possible matches56
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Charles MingusMingus Ah Um (with bonus tracks) ... CD
Columbia, 1959. Used ... Just Sold Out!
One of Charles Mingus' true classics – and an essential album in any jazz collection! This 1959 gem was recorded by Mingus at a key point in his career – when he was rising from the jazz underground into the ranks of America's elite jazzmen, penning some of the most challenging work of his career, and working with incredible younger players that interpreted his work with a great deal of fire! The tracks are a bit more tightly arranged than work on some of Mingus' previous work for labels like Atlantic and Bethlehem, but that also gives them a razor-sharp emotional edge that's carried off perfectly by players who include John Handy and Shafi Hadi on alto saxes, Booker Ervin on tenor, Willie Dennis and Jimmy Knepper on trombones, Horace Parlan on piano, and Dannie Richmond on drums. The album is filled with key Mingus classics – like "Better Git It In Your Soul", "Boogie Stop Shuffle", "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", and "Fables of Faubus" – plus "Self Portrait In Three Colors", "Open Letter To Duke", and "Bird Call". CD features 3 rare bonus tracks – "GG Train", "Girl Of My Dreams", and "Pedal Point Blues" – and also features 4 tracks presented here in their full versions, not the edited ones that appeared on the original LP. CD
(1998 pressing.)

Possible matches57
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Conte Candoli & FriendsCoast To Coast (Sincerely Conte/Powerhouse Trumpet/West Coast Wailers ... CD
Fresh Sound (Spain), 1955/1956. Used 2 CDs ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A brilliant tribute to one of the greatest jazz trumpeters of the 50s – featuring 3 full albums of material, plus some bonus tracks as well! Conte Candoli is a name that's appeared on countless sessions as a sideman or studio player, but here, Conte really sparkles as a leader – setting fire amidst some great small group lineups that include the players Bill Holman, Lou Levy, Lawrence Marable, Leroy Vinnegar, Max Bennett, Stan Levey, and Ira Sullivan. The set features material from 2 Bethlehem albums by Conte – Sincerely Conte and Powerhouse Trumpet – plus an Atlantic album, West Coast Wailers – and a rare 78rpm session for the Chicago-based Chance label, and a few additional tunes from a New York session in 1956 with Hank Jones! Conte's never sounded better – and with all this material in one place, the 2CD set is a great bargain overall. 30 tracks in all – with titles that include "Mambo Junior", "Flamingo", "TNT", "Thank You Judge", "Comes Love", "Tune For Tex", "Fine & Dandy", "Night Flight", "Toot Sweet", "Jazz City Blues", "Four", "Groovin Higher", "Lover Man", "Pete's Alibi", "Cheremoya", and "Jordu". CD

Possible matches58
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Bev KellyLove Locked Out ... CD
Riverside/OJC, 1959. Used ... Out Of Stock
The first Riverside album by Bev Kelly – an obscure ice-blond singer from the late 50s, with a sound that's much more in keeping with some of the vocalists on the Bethlehem label, than the few singers who cut sides for Riverside. Bev's got the great fortune to be working here with Jimmy Jones, who's done some great work for Sarah Vaughn over the years – and the small group backing on the album includes strong players like Kenny Burrell, Jerome Richardson, Milt Hinton, Roy Haynes, and Jones himself. Titles include "My Ship", "Lonelyville", "Lost April", "Love Look Away", "Thursday's Child", "Love Locked Out", and "Gloomy Sunday". A nice sad one – in case you couldn't guess by the titles! CD
(1992 OJC pressing.)

Possible matches59
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Peggy LeeBlack Coffee ... CD
Decca/Verve, 1953/1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
A pivotal album in the career of Peggy Lee, and one that marked her turning from a singer of pop and swing material, to a sensitive interpreter of jazz material. The album's one of the best-ever by Peggy, and features the kind of material that's not easy to find amidst the bulk of her pop-oriented work – a moving set of ballads and torchy numbers, recorded in small-combo fashion, in a style that's similar to some of Chris Connor's later Bethlehem work. The combo includes Cootie Chesterfield on trumpet, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Max Wayne on bass, and Ed Shaughnessy on drums. A real treasure – with titles like "A Woman Alone With The Blues", "Love Me Or Leave Me", "Easy Living", and "Black Coffee". This reissue features all 12 tracks from the full-length LP. CD
(2004 Verve Master Edition – in a three panel digipack.)
Also available Black Coffee With Peggy Lee ... LP 29.99

Possible matches60
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Peggy LeeBlack Coffee And Other Delights – Decca Anthology (2CD set) ... CD
Decca, Mid 50s. Used 2 CDs ... Out Of Stock
Brilliant work by Peggy Lee – very different than most of her later more pop-oriented recordings! Peggy signed to Decca as a solo act right after working with bigger bands in the 40s, and her recordings for the label are wonderful – featuring many ballads and torchy numbers, recorded in small-combo fashion, in a style that's similar to some of Chris Connor's later Bethlehem work, plus some larger arrangements that push her even further, and which move into a wealth of interesting styles that show her to be an incredibly talented vocalist. The package features a total of 46 tracks in all – and tracks include "Black Coffee", "Lover", "You Go To My Head", "Let Me Go Lover", "Joey Joey Joey", "My Old Flame", "Street Of Dreams", "Where Flamingos Fly", "Johnny Guitar", "Sisters", "Bouquet Of Blues", "Love Letters", and "Sans Souci". CD
(Out of print.)

Possible matches61
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Neil YoungHomegrown ... CD
Reprise, 1974. Used Gatefold ... Out Of Stock
A never-issued album from Neil Young – recorded during a key 70s stretch, and finally out of the can after decades of being locked away in the vaults! At the time, Neil didn't think the record was as strong as some of his other work – but to us, fans of the man's music, the whole thing is an essential treasure – a nice bridge between a few different modes of his shifting 70s palette, especially since there's some up-close, acoustic numbers that really reveal a personal side of Young, and some of the difficulties he was going through at the time. Titles include "Florida", "Little Wing", "We Don't Smoke It No More", "Separate Ways", "Try", "Mexico", "Star Of Bethlehem", "Vacancy", and "Kansas". CD

Possible matches62
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Shelly ManneMore Swinging Sounds (aka Swinging Sounds In Stereo) ... CD
Contemporary/OJC, 1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the few great records that alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano cut with Shelly Manne – and a heck of a wonderful record that really set a new tone for Shelly's groove at the time! Things here are a bit looser and freer than before – longer tracks with more room for solos to really take flight – yet still a sense of modern arrangement that marked the Manne sound from its inception. The group's a quintet with Stu Williamson on trumpet, Russ Freeman on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass, and Mariano on some especially nice alto solos – and the interplay between Charlie and Stu easily rivals the best Bethlehem recordings by the pair at the time. Titles include the excellent 10 minute "Pint Of Blues", an original by Charlie – plus Bill Holman's extended "Quartet", and versions of "The Wind", "Moose The Mooche", and "Tommyhawk". CD

Possible matches63
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Howard McGheeSharp Edge ... CD
Black Lion, 1961. Used ... Out Of Stock
An obscure Howard McGhee session, but a great one! The 1961 session was recorded during Maggie's great comeback years – at a time when he was doing some great work for labels that included Bethlehem, Contemporary, and United Artists. The spirit of this set is similar to those – sort of an easy-going blend of light bop with some of the gentler swinging tones that McGhee was putting into his horn at the time. The quintet on the set features George Coleman on tenor, Junior Mance on piano, George Tucker on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums – and the whole thing's got an easygoing mellow feel that we really like a lot. Titles include "The Sharp Edge", "Cool", "Shades Of Blue", "Arabee", and "My Delight". CD features some bonus alternate takes, too! CD

Possible matches64
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Helen MerrillNearness Of You/You've Got A Date With The Blues ... CD
Lonehill, 1957/1958/1959. Used ... Out Of Stock
Icy brilliance from a young Helen Merrill – The Nearness Of You – a record that's easily the Mercury equivalent of June Christy's classic work on Capitol or Chris Connor's classics for Bethlehem! Helen's working here with small combo backings on all tracks – carved out with players who include Bobby Jaspar, Bill Evans, Oscar Pettiford, and George Russell – all swinging gently alongside the vocals, but also taking care to shade things in with some of the darker, bluer colors that always worked best for Merrill – and which made her voice echo with a depth that few other singers could match! Titles include "When The Sun Comes Out", "I Remember You", "Summertime", "Let Me Love You", and "All Of You". You've Got A Date With The Blues – maybe our favorite album ever from Merrill – certainly from the early days – and a unique outing cut for MGM's excellent Metrojazz label! The set's got a more laidback sound than Merrill's previous records – and a definite bluesy undercurrent too – one that comes through strongly in the piano and arrangements of Jimmy Jones, and in the tremendous tenor work from Frank Wess – whose playing on the record gives the set a soulful quality we're not used to hearing with Helen! Tunes all follow the theme of the title – but are done in really inventive ways, especially when Wess gets a chance to solo – and titles include "Blues In My Heart", "The Blues", "The Thrill Is Gone", "You've Got A Date With The Blues", "The Meaning Of The Blues", and "Vous M'Ebloussez". CD

Possible matches65
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Charles Mingus/Jimmy KnepperDebut Rarities Vol 1 (Charles Mingus Octet/Jimmy Knepper Quintet) ... CD
Debut/OJC, 1953/1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
Two rare slices of Charles Mingus from the 50s – back to back on a single CD! First up is a Charles Mingus Octet session, originally released as a 10" LP – and a date that shows some of the first complicated orchestrations from the legendary bassist! The music here already has the creatively complex feel of Mingus' better-known mid 50s sessions – like the Jazz Composers Workshop date on Savoy, or the Bethlehem sides – and the interplay between the horn work is really amazing, and worth the price of admission itself! Players include Willie Dennis on trombone, Teo Macero on tenor, Eddie Caine on alto and flute, Ernie Royal on trumpet, and Danny Bank on baritone. Nadi Qamar conducts, and other players include John Lewis on piano, Mingus on bass, and Kenny Clarke on drums – and Janet Thurlow sings on two titles, "Blue Tide" and "Eclipse". Other tracks include "Miss Bliss", "Pink Topsy", and the CD also features 2 alternates too. Jimmy Knepper heads the next date – a rare 10" outing from 1957, with some killer horn work throughout! The group's a quintet – and the album's easily one of Knepper's most hard-burning, thanks in part to some sharp alto lines from the great Joe Maini, a player we can never get enough of! The rest of the group features Bill Triglia on piano, Mingus on bass, and Dannie Richmond on drums – and titles include "Cunningbird", "The Masher", "Latter Day Saint", and "The Jumpin Blues" – plus four more bonus alternate takes. CD

Possible matches66
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Jack NimitzYesterday & Today ... CD
Fresh Sound (Spain), 1957/2007. Used ... Out Of Stock
Two slices of work from Jack Nimitz – one recorded in the 50s, another recorded in the 21st century! The older material leads off the set, and it's a great 1957 date from the Jack Nimitz/Bill Harris Group – an ensemble with Nimitz on baritone sax and Harris on trombone – plus a shifting array of players who include Jimmy Raney on guitar, Oscar Pettiford on bass, and Don Lamond on drums – as well as occasional strings on a few numbers. The sound is great – with great interplay between Nimitz and Harris that's right up there with some of the best RCA or Bethlehem sessions of this nature from the 50s. Titles include "Shine", "You & The Night & The Music", "Long Ago & Far Away", "A Handful Of Stars", and "Lean On Me". The second half of the CD features a 2007 session with both Jack Nimitz and Adam Schroeder on baritone sax – each player handling a different channel of the recording, as a tight rhythm section comes right down the middle! The twin-baritone sound is surprisingly fluid – a nice throwback to the best baritonists of the 50s, but with some occasional warmer touches too – and titles include "More Friends", "Waltz This", "Bernie's Tune", "All You Are", and "Well You Needn't". CD

Possible matches67
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Frank Rosolino QuartetComplete Recordings Featuring Sonny Clark ... CD
Lonehill (Spain), 1953/1955/1956/1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
A great overview of work by west coast trombonist Frank Rosolino – easily the best player on his instrument in the LA scene of the 50s, heard here on an assortment of tunes recorded for the Bethlehem and Capitol labels at the time! The first 6 tracks on the set are from the album I Play Trombone – recorded by Rosolino for Bethlehem with the legendary Sonny Clark on piano – a player who provides a soulful accompaniment that brings out the best in Rosolino – and gives the album a sense of depth that makes it one of Rosolino's best sessions as a leader ever! 4 of the album's 6 tracks are around 7 minutes long – unusual for Bethlehem – and titles include "Doxy", "My Delux", "Flamingo", "I May Be Wrong", and "Frieda". Next up are a variety of tracks recorded for Capitol records in 1953, 1955, and 1957 – issued under the title Frank Rosolino and Frankly Speaking, both as part of the Kenton Presents series. None of these sessions feature Sonny Clark, but that's fine with us, as his presence is more than made up for by a batch of small group players that include Max Bennett, Conte Candoli, Bill Holman, Stan Levey, Charlie Mariano, and Claude Williamson – all coming together in tight Betlehem/Mode small group formation! Mariano's horn is always a treat in such a setting, and he gets in some wonderfully soulful moments that really make the albums sparkle. Titles include "It Had To Be You", "Chloe", "S Nice", "I'll Never Smile Again", "Wigwam", and "Rubberneck". CD

Possible matches68
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Frank SinatraChristmas Songs By Sinatra ... CD
Columbia, Late 40s. Used ... Out Of Stock
Frank Sinatra's first run of Christmas work – material recorded for Columbia Records in the late 40s, but quite similar to his better-known Holiday sides for Capitol in the 50s! As with that work, the style here is quite respectful of the spirit of the season – more reverent than playful, although always with an undercurrent of sadness that makes the tunes especially nice – that Christmas longing that would show up in the best Holiday records, which Sinatra always seemed to get. Heck, even the version of "Jingle Bells" sounds a bit melancholy – and pretty darn nice, too – next to tunes that include "Christmas Dreaming", "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow", "Santa Claus Is Comin To Town", and "White Christmas" – plus a medley of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem/Joy To The World/White Christmas", which begins with a cool spoken introduction. CD

Possible matches69
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Frank SinatraChristmas Songs By Sinatra ... CD
Columbia, Late 40s. Used ... Out Of Stock
Frank Sinatra's first run of Christmas work – material recorded for Columbia Records in the late 40s, but quite similar to his better-known Holiday sides for Capitol in the 50s! As with that work, the style here is quite respectful of the spirit of the season – more reverent than playful, although always with an undercurrent of sadness that makes the tunes especially nice – that Christmas longing that would show up in the best Holiday records, which Sinatra always seemed to get. Heck, even the version of "Jingle Bells" sounds a bit melancholy – and pretty darn nice, too – next to tunes that include "Christmas Dreaming", "Winter Wonderland", "Let It Snow", "Santa Claus Is Comin To Town", and "White Christmas" – plus a medley of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem/Joy To The World/White Christmas", which begins with a cool spoken introduction. CD

Possible matches70
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mel TormeSongs Of New York ... CD
Atlantic, Early 60s. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of Mel's best non-Bethlehem albums, and a record that's as much a loving tribute to New York as any you'll ever buy! Kind of funny, too, because in Mel's California Suite, there's all this stuff about how lousy New York is – but by the time of this early 60s recording, Mel's clearly repented, and he's doing a wonderful job with material like "Let Me Off Uptown", "Autumn In New York", "New York, New York", "Manhattan", and one of the greatest versions of "Sunday In New York" you'll ever hear! Great arrangements, too – with a nice touch of jazz! CD

Possible matches71
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Claude Williamson TrioComplete 1954 to 1955 Kenton Presents Sessions (Kenton Presents/Keys West) ... CD
Capitol/Fresh Sound (Spain), 1954/1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
The complete Capitol recordings of pianist Claude Williamson – a great west coast talent who flourished most strongly on his mid 50s sessions! Williamson was a key figure in the Lighthouse jazz scene of the time – a player who worked nearly every day of the week, and developed an amazingly fluid groove – one that's very much in place on these sides! Rhythm is by Curtis Counce, Max Bennett, and Buddy Clark on bass – and either Stan Levey or Larry Bunker on drums – but the real surprise is Williamson, who's got a more aggressive approach to the keys and bolder tone than on any of his Bethlehem albums, a sound that really makes us reevaluate him as a player! CD features 21 tracks in all – with titles that include "Penny", "Bouncing With Bud", "Salute To Bud", "Obsession", "Indiana", "Bean & The Boys", "Spring Is Here", "The Kerry Dance", and "Yesterdays". CD

Possible matches72
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Betty BennettNobody Else But Me (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD
Atlantic (Japan), 1955. Used ... Out Of Stock
An obscure vocal jazz gem from the LA scene of the 50s – recorded for Atlantic, but done in a style that's a fair bit like the best work for Bethlehem or Mode at the time! Betty Bennett sings here with backings from Shorty Rogers on one side, and Andre Previn on the other – often in a mode that's slightly dark, and subdued – gently moving forth with a nice sense of restraint. Betty's vocals burst out nicely at times – showing a nicely illustrative style, especially on some of the more story-based tunes – and there's a nice choice of material here that's a refreshing change from some of the overdone standards on other vocal albums. Tracks include "Sidewalks Of Cuba", "Island In The West Indies", "Tomorrow Mountain", "This Is The Moment", and "Treat Me Rough". CD

Possible matches73
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorChris Connor ... CD
Atlantic, 1956. Used ... Out Of Stock
The first album in a legendary run of vocal jazz classics on Atlantic Records – and a set that really helped Chris Connor move to a new level of expression in her music! The sound here is much richer than Connor's previous recordings for Bethlehem – and the small combo jazz backings have been replaced by fuller orchestrations by Ralph Burns – done in a cool, edgey sort of way that really pushes Chris into newly sophisticated territory! The sound's on a par with the best June Christy/Pete Rugolo collaborations on Capitol – and the group's filled with some great jazz players, including Zoot Sims, John Lewis, Milt Hinton, and Oscar Pettiford. Titles include "I Get A Kick Out Of You", "My April Heart", "He Was Good to Me", "Where Are You", and "Get Out Of Town". CD
Also available Chris Connor ... LP 6.99

Possible matches74
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Chris ConnorChris In Person (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD
Atlantic (Japan), 1959. Used ... Out Of Stock
A nice little live set from Chris – recorded at the Village Vanguard with a group that includes Kenny Burrell on guitar, Eddie De Haas on bass, Bill Rubenstein on piano, and Lex Humphries on drums. The setting of the album is similar to some of Chris' work at Bethlehem – very small combo and jazzy, save for the fact that there's a bit more "room" in the recording than on the very close-miked Bethlehem sessions. The approach is a great one to open up another new side of Connor's talents – and the album has a bit tighter feel than Chris' other live album from the same period. Titles include "Round Midnight", "All About Ronnie", "Fine & Dandy", "Misty", "Senor Blues", and "Angel Eyes". CD

Possible matches75
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mel TormeMel Torme Swings Shubert Alley ... CD
Verve, 1960. Used ... Out Of Stock
Mel Torme takes on the sound of Broadway at the start of the 60s – but he does so in a very groovy way, thanks to hip backings from the amazing Marty Paich! The style here is as swinging and jazzy as the work that Mel and Marty cut together on the Bethlehem label in the late 50s – and the tracks have a nice sort of groove, and an overall lean feel – a sound that takes the music far from its Broadway roots! Players include Art Pepper on alto, Stu Williamson on trumpet, Bill Perkins on tenor, and Frank Rosolino on trombone – all bringing a nice sense of themselves to the set. Titles include "Lonely Town", "Whatever Lola Wants", "Old Devil Moon", "Hello Young Lovers", "Too Close For Comfort", and "Just In Time". CD

Possible matches76
CD, LP, Vinyl record album cover art
✨✧ Mel TormePrelude To A Kiss ... CD
Tops/Fresh Sound (Spain), 1957. Used ... Out Of Stock
One of the best-ever Mel Torme jazz vocal albums – right up there with his best Bethlehem recordings! The set was recorded with Marty Paich's Dek-tette, who set the tone perfectly for the warmly perfect style of The Velvet Fog – and who, like Mel, manage to be totally polished, yet also still swing with a fair bit of emotion. The result is a swinging batch of standards that lets Mel shine at his best – including titles like "I've Got The World On A String", "I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You", "Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea", and "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart". CD
 
 
! Didn't find what you're looking for? You can set a product alert and we'll notify you of new matches.
 



⇑ Top