Al Cohn & His Orchestra - Mr. Music (1954 victor).... plus.... Al Cohn _ Shorty Rogers - East Coast-West Coast Scene, 1954 RCA

Al Cohn & His Orchestra Mr. Music, 1954 victor

(a) Al Cohn - Tenor; Joe Newman - Trumpet; Billy Byers - Trombone; Gene Quill - Alto; Sol Schlinger - Baritone; Sanford Gold - Piano; Buddy Jones - Bass; Osie Johnson - Drums. Recorded December 1954.

(b) as (a) Milt Hinton - Bass replaces Jones; Add Frank Rehak - Trombone; Hal McKusick - Alto; Billy Bauer - Guitar. Recorded 22nd December 1954.

(c) as (b) Jimmy Raney - Guitar replaces Bauer. Recorded 23rd December 1954.

1. Something For Lisa (c)
2. Count Every Star (c)
3. Cabin In the Sky (a)
4. Move (b)
5. Never Never Land (b)
6. La Ronde (c)
7. This Reminds Me Of You (a)
8. Breakfast With Joe (a)
9. Cohn My Way (a)

Recorded in New York City, 1954

This LP release is a further indication of Cohn's growing stature as an arranger and soloist. Unlike many of his West Coast contemporaries Cohn never allows the arrangement to get in the way of the soloist and it usually provides a suitable framework for individual improvisation. Joe Newman and Milt Hinton shine on this record, with the former taking eight dazzling choruses on Breakfast With Joe. The leader's Something For Liza is an attractive theme, with excellent solos from Cohn himself, Newman and Byers. The last mentioned is now getting some long overdue attention and is proving to be a soloist of real merit.

The only possible criticism one can make of this record is that the thematic material, even though it is by different composers, comes out with a certain sameness of performance which speaks of a latent formalism that has blighted so much of the Californian output. However, this is in every way a pleasant and enjoyable record and those who like their music to have heart and beat will not be disappointed.

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Al Cohn _ Shorty Rogers - East Coast-West Coast Scene, 1954 RCA

Al Cohn
1 Inside Out 6:49
2 Autumn Leaves Kosma, Mercer, Prevert 6:11
3 Serenade For Kathy 7:00

Shorty Rogers
4 Cool Sunshine 10:34
5 Loki 6:49
6 Elaine's Lullaby 9:43

click to can read credits & notes

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Well, if you have this two albums, then you also will have this new release from Fresh Sound Recods, except Lullaby of Birdland, which appeared in an LP of that name issued in 1955.

Al Cohn & His Charlie's Tavern Ensemble, 1954 Rca_ fresh sound

from East-Coast West-Coast Scene:

01. Inside Out 6'45
02. Autumn Leaves 6'05
03. Serenade For Kathy 6'57


from Mr. Music:

04. Move 7'16
05. Never Never Land 5'29
06. Something For Lisa 6'26
07. Count Every Star 3'06
08. La Ronde 2'45
09. Breakfast With Joe 4'06
10. This Reminds Me Of You 3'12
11. Cabin In The Sky 3'04
13. Cohn My Way 2'56

From other album:

12. Lullaby Of Birdland 2'20 - NOT INCLUDED IN THIS POST, SORRY


Recorded in New York City, 1954

Al Cohn was something special, a gem among musicians. Writer, arranger,performer, leader—he was one of those rare creative artists gifted with unlimited imagination and technical resources, with magnificent taste and an unerring insight into the expressiveness of East Coast jazz. In the 50s, the personnel he assembled for the four sessions that make up this CD often relaxed in Charlie’s Tavern, a congenial watering hole on Broadway across from Birdland, “the jazz corner of the world”. Despite slight personnel changes, each group was power-packed and, unlike many such outfits, married outstanding individuality to collective cohesiveness. With them, Cohn emphatically demonstrated the allembracing brilliance of the many-faceted talents that earned him the title “Mr. Music”.


review by Roger A. Mailhot
Consumers need to take a close look at this release. The album is actually a compilation of two re-released RCA albums. Al Cohn's Mr.Music and the Cohn portion of Al Cohn / Shorty Roger's East Coast - West Coast Scene. While this fact is made clear in the liner notes, it is not apparent at the ordering level. If you own Mr Music and East Coast Scene the only addition to your library would be one track - Lullaby of Birdland, which appeared in an LP of that name issued in 1955.

The music itself is good enough, although I prefer Al's smaller group performances of this same time period. The ensembles have some very good players, Joe Newmwn, Frank Rehack, Hank Jones, Osie Johnson, pretty much stalwarts of the Jack Lewis RCA lineup of the period. Arrangements are by Cohn, Manny Albam and a rarity by John Carisi.

If you own both Mr. Music and East/West Scene you will probably want to pass on this release, if not it's a good example of the New York Scene in 1954.