BLP 5012

Howard McGhee's All Stars

Released - 1952

Recording and Session Information

Apex Studios, NYC, October 11, 1948
Howard McGhee, Fats Navarro, trumpet; Ernie Henry, alto sax; Milton Jackson, vibes, piano; Curley Russell, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums.

BN337-1 Boperation
BN336-3 The Skunk

WOR Studios, NYC, January 23, 1950
Howard McGhee, trumpet; Jay Jay Johnson, trombone; Brew Moore, tenor sax; Kenny Drew, piano; Curley Russell, bass; Max Roach, drums.

BN370-2 Lo-Flame
BN371-1 Fuguetta
BN372-0 Fluid Drive
BN373-0 Meciendo
BN374-0 Donnellon Square
BN375-1 I'll Remember April

Track Listing

Side One
Title	Author	Recording Date
Meciendo	Howard McGhee	January 23 1950
Lo-Flame	Kenny Drew	January 23 1950
Fluid Drive	Kenny Drew	January 23 1950
Boperation	Fats Navarro	October 11 1948
Side Two
I'll Remember April	DePaul-Reye	January 23 1950
Fuguetta	Kenny Drew	January 23 1950
Donnellon Square	Kenny Drew	January 23 1950
The Skunk	McGhee-Navarro	October 11 1948

Liner Notes

...

1998 Connoisseur Reissue Liner Notes

HOWARD McGHEE'S first professional associations (Lionel Hampton, Andy Kirk, Charlie Barnet and Count Basie) predate the rise of bebop. In fact, it was Louis Armstrong's playing that inspired him to switch from clarinet to trumpet in high school. But by the time he moved to California with Coleman Hawkins in 1944 (and made those great Hawkins Capitol sessions), the new music was his language. In Los Angeles, he led his own combo, the high point of which was the addition of Charlie Parker in early 1947 for a stint at the Hi-De-Ho and several Dial recording sessions. Later that year, McGhee co-led a wonderful Clef session with Flip Phillips and joined the ever-touring Jazz At The Philharmonic.

By 1948, McGhee was famous enough to cut sides in Chicago for Savoy, in Paris for Vogue and co-lead a Blue Note date with Fats Navarro in New York. His next session as a leader included the six tunes (and now one alternate take) that comprise the beginning of this CD. J.J. Johnson, the under-recorded Brew Moore, Curly Russell and Max Roach were all young but established artists on the bebop scene. The odd man out was 21-year-old Kenny Drew, who was not only making his recording debut in such heavy company, but also wrote two thirds of the repertoire!

Drew would gig with Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Charlie Parker before making an impression on the jazz world in the Buddy DeFranco Quartet that also included Art Blakey. His debut as a leader is this 1953 trio date with bandmate and Blue Note regular Blakey on drums. Ironically, the young composer puts the emphasis on standards rather than originals. The alternate takes of "Yesterdays" and "Everything Happens To Me" were selected for a 78 rpm single that was never issued.

—MICHAEL CUSCUNA 1998