I was filing away the Junior Mance LP’s I just posted when I stumbled upon this Capitol LP from Holland (M-11031) called “Capitol Jazz Classics – Volume 6″. All of side-B features Bellson’s Just Jazz All Stars from an excellent Los Angeles session from February 1952.
The session includes Clark Terry with Juan Tizol, trombone; John Graas, french horn; Willie Smith, alto sax; Wardell Gray, tenor sax; Harry Carney, baritone sax; Billy Strayhorn, piano; Wendell Marshall, bass; Louis Bellson, drums.
The “Sticks” solo by Bellson is incredible. 1952 is not a year you expect to hear thundering double-bass, but there it is right in your face. Bellson is credited with pioneering the use of two bass drums and his drumkit layout was later adopted by many hard rock and psychadelic era drummers, including Ginger Baker of Cream. You can hear more great drumming by Bellson on The Oscar Peterson Big Six at Montreux Jazz Festival 1975. More on Bellson on wikipedia.org.
Track Listing:
1) The Jeep is Jumpin’
2) Passion Flower
3) Johnny Come Lately
4) Sticks
5) Punkin’
6) Eyes
I am the creator and site administrator at The Basement Rug. I have been collecting LP's and CD's for more than 30 years. I