Curtis Counce - Complete Studio Recordings: The Master Takes

Complete Studio Recordings: The Master Takes Review

 

by Scott Yanow

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Bassist Curtis Counce led one of the top hard bop groups to be based on the West Coast during the mid-'50s, a quintet with trumpeter Jack Sheldon, tenor saxophonist Harold Land (shortly after he left the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet), pianist Carl Perkins and drummer Frank Butler. Nearly all of that group's recordings are on this two-CD set. Reissued are the contents of the Contemporary LPs Landslide, You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce and Carl's Blues except for three alternate takes and three selections with pianist Elmo Hope that were issued years after the original LPs. Gerald Wilson takes Sheldon's place on three selections from the band's final date. Also not here is the group's obscure Dooto LP from 1958 which has Elmo Hope and trumpeter Rolf Ericson joining Land, Butler and Counce. In its place are three numbers from the band's appearance on the Stars of Jazz television series. On these 26 selections, the Curtis Counce Quintet features an attractive mixture of jazz standards and group originals with plenty of passionate and colorful solos from Sheldon, Land and Perkins. This was an excellent band, so collectors who do not have their Contemporary sets will certainly want to pick up this attractive two-fer.

Curtis Counce Complete Studio Recordings: The Master Takes

1-1 Landslide 00:00 1-2 Time After Time 08:37 1-3 Mia 15:10 1-4 Sarah 20:06 1-5 A Fifth For Frank 31:44 1-6 Big Foot 38:59 1-7 Sonar 48:05 1-8 Stranger In Paradise 55:34 1-9 Woody'n You 01:02:39 1-10 Pink Lady 01:08:57 1-11 Counceltation 01:13:38 2-1 Love Walked In 01:19:43 2-2 Too Close For Comfort 01:24:41 2-3 How Deep Is The Ocean? 01:30:20 2-4 Complete 01:36:57 2-5 Nica's Dream 01:42:49 2-6 How Long Has This Been Going On 01:50:51 2-7 Mean To Me 01:54:09 2-8 I Can't Get Started 01:58:41 2-9 LaRue 02:06:43 2-10 Carl's Blues 02:11:47 2-11 A Night In Tunisia 02:17:42 2-12 Love Walked In 02:26:01 2-13 Sophisticated Lady 02:28:56 2-14 A Fifth For Frank 02:33:06 2-15 The Butler Did It 02:35:03 Bass, Liner Notes – Curtis Counce Piano – Carl Perkins (4) Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land Trumpet – Gerald Wilson (tracks: 2-9 to 2-11), Jack Sheldon Drums – Frank Butler Recorded: Tracks 1-1 to 1-6: October 8, 1956. Tracks 1-7 to 1-9: October 15, 1956. Tracks 1-10 to 2-2: April 22, 1957. Tracks 2-3, 2-4: May 13, 1957. Tracks 2-5, 2-6: August 29, 1957. Track 2-7: September 3, 1957. Tracks 2-8 to 2-11, 2-15: January 6, 1958. Track 15 is a drum solo. Tracks 2-12 to 2-14: TV Show, November 12, 1956.