1953 - September 26

Gigi Gryce Ensemble – September 26 1953

Leased from Vogue Records

Down Beat 16 November 1955 Volume 22 Issue 23 This is Vol. 2 of Blue Note’s Jazztime Paris and was recorded there when the Hampton band toured Europe in the latter part of 1953. The soloists are Clifford Brown, tenor Clifford Soloman, Jimmy Cleveland, Gigi on alto, guitarist Jimmy Gourley, pianist Henri Renaud, altoist Anthony Ortega, and trumpeter Art Farmer. Brownie wrote the first; Gigi is responsible for Hello and Paris while Chez Moi is by Misraki. The soloists, except for Ortega, are good but Brown, Gryce, Cleveland, and Farmer have played better on other records. Gigi’s originals, however, are characteristically fresh. The ensembles are raggedy and there is an air of haste to the proceedings as if there weren’t much rehearsal time or actual recording time for that matter. But there are kicks to be had, particularly from the two trumpet players. The rhythm section, especially the drummer, could be considerably better. Recording balance and sound quality are medium-fi. (Blue Note LP 5050)

July 1955

Leonard Feather: 1955 Encyclopedia of Jazz GRYCE, Gigi, alto sax, flute, arranger; b. Pensacola, Fla., 11/28/27. Raised in Hartford, Conn., where he attended music school. Studied later at Boston Conservatory, majoring in classical composition. Started on clarinet, later took up flute, alto, piano. Worked with local bands from '46, leading his own 23-piece group (incl. Horace Silver) at auditorium in Hartford. Studied on a Fulbright Scholarship in Paris, '52. Returning from Paris, he gigged in NYC with Max Roach, Howard McGhee, worked in Atlantic City w. Tadd Darneron, then spent six months w. Lionel Hampton's band, with which he toured Europe. An excellent arranger and gifted modern soloist. Favs.: Parker, Carter, Konitz. Comp. Wildwood, Hymn To The Orient. LPs: Blue Note 5024 (Howard McGhee), 5032. 5048 (Clifford Brown), 5049 (Own big band), 5051 (own combos); Em. 26030 (Art Blakey); Pres. 181 (Art Farmer). Addr: 2010 7th Avenue, New York 27, N.Y.

Cover illustrations by Gil Melle.

Session Information 

Jimmy Cleveland, trombone; Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Anthony Ortega, alto sax, flute; Clifford Solomon, tenor sax; William Boucaya, baritone sax; Henri Renaud, piano; Pierre Michelot, bass; Alan Dawson, drums; Quincy Jones, arranger. 

Paris, France, September 26, 1953 

53V4650-1, Paris The Beautiful, Blue Note BLP 5050 

53V4651-1, Purple Shades 

 

Art Farmer, trumpet; Jimmy Cleveland, trombone; Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Anthony Ortega, alto sax, flute; Clifford Solomon, tenor sax; Quincy Jones, piano, arranger; Pierre Michelot, bass; Alan Dawson, drums. 

53V4652-1, La Rose Noire (aka Summertime), Blue Note BLP 5049

53V4652-2, La Rose Noire (alt), unissued 

 

Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Henri Renaud, piano; Jimmy Gourley, guitar; Pierre Michelot, bass; Jean-Louis Viale, drums. 

53V4653, I Can't Get Started, unissued 

Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Henri Renaud, piano; Jimmy Gourley, guitar; Pierre Michelot, bass; Alan Dawson, drums. 

53V4654-1, Anne Marie, unissued 

53V4654-2, -, unissued