Shorty Rogers

Shorty Rogers & The Lighthouse All Stars – Early Skylark and Tampa Eps (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · September 1, 2023 · Comments off

The three mono recordings that make up this program were originally released on the Skylark and/or Tampa Records labels in the early to mid-1950s under various names including Shorty and Paul Nero. The first recordings consist of material that feature The Lighthouse All Stars and Vivien Garry. ‘M. B. B. ‘ or More Big Boy is the first track, followed by a medley featuring Vivien Garry. The second set features Maynard Ferguson with Paul Nero, Bob Cooper, Abe Most, Paul Smith, and others in two extended jam session numbers. The original of ‘Big Boy, Part 1 and 2’ is included next. The final set is by Charlie Shavers, accompanied by Tommy Dorsey band mates recorded in late 1946 or early 1947.

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Shorty Rogers & The Giants – You Shorty, Me Tarzan! (2010/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · September 1, 2023 · Comments off

2010 release, the fourth installment in the Giant Steps label’s series of classic recordings by legendary modernists Shorty Rogers & The Giants. Assembled is the rare percussive soundtrack to Tarzan The Ape Man that featured the likes of Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Frank Rosolino and other famed West Coasters. Said Shorty: “At first, I was slightly apprehensive when MGM approached me to write and record the soundtrack for a Tarzan movie, but I needn’t have concerned myself. They just said, make it exciting with plenty of drumming, and left me alone to get on with it. So I approached it as if I was really making a new Giants album, which is what it really was. I don’t want to sound discourteous, but the album we made was much better that the actual movie”. Also included is an equally rare ‘live’ appearance by the Big Band version of The Giants from an appearance on the TV show The Stars Of Jazz. Giant Steps

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Shorty Rogers & His Giants – Wherever The Five Winds Blow (1957/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · September 1, 2023 · Comments off

Wherever the Five Winds Blow is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers, released by RCA Victor in 1957.

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Shorty Rogers & His Giants – The Big Shorty Rogers Express (1956/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · September 1, 2023 · Comments off

I certainly agree with the other reviews here with regard to the landmark status of this album. It’s neat to see that a sort of micro-revival of Shorty Rogers seems to be occuring (at least judging from the number of CD listings and reviews here.)

However, I would caution that the sound quality on this one reflects the age of the originals – strictly mono and a little opaque. The re-release of “Portrait of Shorty”, which I’ve always viewed as a later companion-piece to this one, has a really brilliant stereo mix. For someone who doesn’t know Shorty’s big band work, I’d recommend “Portrait” first. Then, if you want to explore further, this and “Courts the Count” would be the next steps.

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Shorty Rogers & His Giants – Jazz Waltz (1963/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · September 1, 2023 · Comments off

Jazz Waltz is an album by American jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger Shorty Rogers, released on the Reprise label in 1963.

On All About Jazz Dave Rickert said “the novelty of ¾ time in music is still fresh even today and Joe Mondragon and Mel Lewis create a seemingly infinite variety of ways to swing in waltz time. Rogers contributes a few catchy melodies (in particular the title track) and creates lovely charts”. Allmusic noted “Shorty Rogers’ Jazz Waltz is exactly that, an exploration of ten compositions played in waltz settings. Only these big-band charts are hardly the waltzes heard on Lawrence Welk’s long-running television series”.

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Shorty Rogers – The Wizard Of Oz & Other Harold Arlen Songs (1959/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · September 1, 2023 · Comments off

The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing songs composed by Harold Arlen including several from The Wizard of Oz. The album was issued by RCA Victor in 1959.

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Shorty Rogers – The Fourth Dimension In Sound (1961/2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Studio Masters By admin · September 1, 2023 · Comments off

The Fourth Dimension in Sound (subtitled A Musical Experiment in the Adaptation of Instruments to Modern Electronics) is an album by bandleader and arranger Shorty Rogers recorded in late 1961 and released on the Warner Bros. label. The album was produced principally as a stereo test and demonstration record to be used by hi-fi enthusiasts to test the performance of their audio systems.

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