Gerald Wiggins Swingin' With Wig, Classic Trio Sessions 1956-1957 (2-CD)

Description: Personnel: Gerald Wiggins (p), Gene Wright, Joe Comfort (b), Bill Richmond, Bill Douglass (d), Jackie Mills (d, perc) Gerald Wiggins (1922-2008), also known as Jerry Wiggins or affectionately as “Wig,” was a long-respected but often overlooked jazz pianist. He greatly esteemed for his accompaniment work with luminaries like Lena Horne, Helen Humes, and Kay Starr, rather than his substantial jazz prowess. Being an exceptional accompanist for singers required the sort of sensitivity, the type of warm and helpful personality, the courage to sublimate that personality momentarily in the interests of a good performance. He was the kind of jazz musician who is unspectacular, who was not a brash innovator nor in any sense a flamboyant character. Yet it was musicians like him who provide the great body of jazz music with its virtues. His idol was Art Tatum, and he held a strong affection for both Teddy Wilson and Oscar Peterson. His playing also resonates with echoes of modernists and stylists, including Erroll Garner and Duke Ellington. His variety of jobs in the profession ranged from accompanying singers to playing in big bands, including those of Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter, Gerald Wilson, Jerry Fielding, and Harry James. Wiggins showcased his versatility in trio and solo performances in small clubs, leaving his mark on various recording dates in different roles. This is precisely the sort of jazz musician Gerald Wiggins was. The essence of Wiggins’ music lies in its powerful swing, infused with sensitivity and a delightful sense of fun. These Trio Sessions from 1956-1957, aim to spark a broader appreciation for Wiggins’ talent, offering jazz for every emotion, mood, degree of concentration, and listening preference, inviting listeners on an enjoyable musical journey. —Jordi Pujol TRACKLIST CD 1 01. Criss Cross (Gerald Wiggins) 4:21 02. Gray Skies (Gerald Wiggins) 3:20 03. X-15 (Gerald Wiggins) 3:38 04. Gerald's Train (Gerald Wiggins) 5:11 05. Lights Out (Gerald Wiggins) 3:33 06. Narcissus (Ethelbert Nevin) 6:37 07. Frankie and Johnny (Traditional) 5:35 08. One for My Baby (Arlen-Mercer) 4:44 09. The Lady Is A Tramp (Rodgers-Hart) 4:25 10. Serenade in Blue (Warren-Gordon) 4:03 11. My Heart Stood Still (Rodgers-Hart) 3:25 12. Just Squeeze Me & Satin Doll (Duke Ellington) 5:56 13. Blue Wig (Gerald Wiggins) 7:01 14. A Fifth for Frank (Wiggins-Tjader) 2:56 15. How Long Has This Been Going On? (G.& I.Gershwin) 1:59 16. In My Merry Oldsmobile (Gus Edwards) 3:00 CD 2 01. Love for Sale (Cole Porter) 4:02 02. I Don't Know What Kind of Blues I Got (Duke Ellington) 6:32 03. De Sylva Wig (Gerald Wiggins) 4:31 04. Laura (Raksin-Mercer) 3:30 05. Surrey with the Fringe on Top (Rodgers-Hammerstein II) 2:42 06. Dinah (Akst- Lewis-Young) 3:30 07. All That's Good (Gerald Wiggins) 5:41 08. The Man That Got Away (Arlen-Gershwin) 5:49 09. Three Little Words (Ruby-Kalmar) 3:28 10. Three O'Clock in the Morning (Robledo-Morse) 3:49 11. Oh, You Beautiful Doll (Nat D. Ayer) 2:46 12. Used To Love You (Harry Von Tilzer) 3:11 13. Dear Old Girl (Buck-Morse) 2:51 14. Trail of the Lonesome Pine (Harry Carroll) 3:10 15. Ma! She's Making Eyes at Me (Con Conrad) 4:31 16. That Old Gang of Mine (Rose-Henderson-Dixon) 3:46 17. They Didn't Believe Me (Kern-Rourke) 2:31 18. In My Merry Oldsmobile—Part 1 (Gus Edwards) 1:59 19. In My Merry Oldsmobile—Part 2 (Gus Edwards) 3:13 Sources CD 1: Tracks #1-5, from the album “Gerry Mulligan-Chet Baker; Chico Hamilton; Buddy Collette-Gerald Wiggins” (Crown CLP 5289) Tracks #6-13, from the album “Relax and Enjoy It!” (Contemporary S7595) Tracks #14-16, from the “Stars of Jazz” TV Show Sources CD 2: Tracks #1-9, from the album “Wiggin’ with Wig” (Dig J-102) Tracks #10-18, from the album “Reminiscin’ with Wig” (Motif ML-504) Track #19, from the reel-to-reel Audio Arts tape "In My Stereoldsmobile" (Stereotape ST-16) The Gerald Wiggins Trio CD 1 tracks #1-5: Gerald Wiggins, piano; Gene Wright, bass; Bill Richmond, drums. Recorded at Modern Records Studio, Los Angeles, February 24, 1956 CD 1 tracks #6-13: Gerald Wiggins, piano; Joe Comfort, bass; Jackie Mills, drums. Recorded at Contemporary Studio, Los Angeles, October 10, 1956 CD 1 tracks #14-16: Gerald Wiggins, piano; Gene Wright, bass; Bill Douglass, drums; Plus Jackie Mills, bongos. Recorded live at Stars of Jazz TV Show, Los Angeles, May 6, 1957 CD 2 tracks #1-9: Gerald Wiggins, piano; Joe Comfort, bass; Bill Douglass, drums. Recorded at Capitol Studio, Los Angeles, October 15, 1956 CD 2 tracks #10-19: Gerald Wiggins, piano; Gene Wright, bass; Bill Douglass, drums. Recorded at Audio Arts Studio, Los Angeles, March 6 & 7, 1957 Sound Engineers: Roy Du Nann (Contemporary), John Kraus (Dig), George Fields (Motif) Cover photo © Dave Pell–Fresh Sound Archives New liner notes by Jordi Pujol Original recordings produced by Maxwell Davis (CD-1, #1-5), Lester Koenig (CD-1, #6-13), Jimmie Baker (CD-1, #14-16), Sleepy Stein and Johnny Otis (CD-2, #1-9) and David Axelrod (CD-2, #10-19) This compilation produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

Price: 24.99 USD

Location: Berkeley, California

End Time: 2024-10-10T22:49:35.000Z

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