A Charlie Ventura Concert, Live in Pasadena 1949, DECCA-MCA

This is all rest recordings from great concert in Pasadena.

Review by Scott Yanow
Tenor saxophonist Charlie Ventura's 1949 concert at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium was fully recorded and documented in part by both Decca and GNPCrescendo; both releases are completely different. The Decca half, made available on this CD by MCA, features Ventura with a septet that includes trumpeter Conte Candoli, trombonist Benny Green, altoist Boots Mussuli, pianist Roy Kral, bassist Kenny O'Brien, drummer Ed Shaugnessy, and the vocals of Jackie Kain and Roy Kral. This was one of Ventura's finest groups, as can be heard on such numbers as Euphoria, a bizarre I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles, How High the Moon, and Lou Stein's classic East of Suez. In addition, Candoli is featured on Fine and Dandy, Ventura plays baritone on If I Had You, and Green's humorous style is showcased on Pennies From Heaven. This is a near-classic set that should greatly interest bop collectors. The GNP release is also quite rewarding.

1 Introduction and Theme Music: Yesterdays/The Peanut Vendor Harbach, Kern, Simons 3:40
2 Euphoria Kral, Ventura 6:21
3 Fine and Dandy James, Swift 2:50
4 East of Suez Stein, Ventura 3:18
5 If I Had You Campbell, Connelly, Shapiro 2:30
6 I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles Brockman, Kellette, Kendis, Vincent 2:27
7 Pennies from Heaven Burke, Johnston 2:15
8 How High the Moon Hamilton, Lewis 8:36

charlie ventura- ts
bennie green- tb
conte candoli- t
boots mussulli- as, bs
jackie cain- vcl
roy kral- vcl, p
ed shaughnessy- d
kenny o'brien- b