AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic album series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Herb Geller, complete with original artwork and liner notes.
“Plays”; “Sextette”; “Fire In The West” and “Plays Selections From Gypsy”
Another musician lucky enough to be born into a musical family, Herb’s mother played piano for silent movies in Hollywood. A friend of the family brought him his first alto sax at age 8 and two years later he was also playing the clarinet. At his school Dorsey High he played in the band alongside future sax and flute genius Eric Dolphy. By the age of 16 Herb began his professional career playing alto in the Joe Venuti band. By 21 he had heard the music of Charlie Parker and had moved to New York to play with, amongst others, Claude Thornhill and Paul Desmond. Herb was influenced by Charlie Parker, Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges and would go on to play with countless great jazz men during his long and illustrious career. A few names to mention would be Chet Baker, Benny Goodman, Clifford Brown, Billy May, Shorty Rogers, Max Roach and Quincy Jones. Along the way Herb also learnt to play the piccolo, flute, oboe and English horn.
CD1
1-12: ‘Plays’
1. Love Is Like A Turtle
2. Sweet Vinegar
3. Sleigh Ride
4. Silver Rain
5. Alone Together
6. Happy Go Lucky
7. Days I Never Knew
8. Domestic Harmony
9. Breaking Through The Sound Barrier
10. Kahagon
11. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
12. A Room With A View
13-20: ‘Sextette’
13. Outpost Incident
14. Crazy He Call Me
15. Gin For Fuguelhorns
16. Tardi At Zardi’s
17. Vone Mae
18. Rockin’ Chair
19. Owl Eyes
20. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To
CD2
1-7: ‘Fire In The West’
1. S’Pacific View
2. Jitterbug Waltz
3. The Fruit
4. Here’s What I’m Here For
5. Marable Eyes
6. An Air For An Heir
7. Melrose And Sam
8-15: ‘Plays Selections from Gypsy’
8. Everything’s Coming Up Roses
9. You’ll Never Get Away From Me
10. Together
11. Little Lamb
12. Some People
13. Mama’s Talkin’ Soft
14. Cow Song
15. Small World
