Curtis Counce Exploring the Future 1958

Curtis Counce
Exploring the Future

Tracks
1 So Nice (Hope) 6:42
2 Angel Eyes (Brent, Dennis) 4:03
3 Into the Orbit (Hope) 4:47
4 Move (Williams) 2:34
5 Race for Space (Hope) 4:36
6 Someone to Watch over Me (Gershwin, Gershwin) 3:45
7 Exploring the Future (Williams) 6:18
8 The Countdown (Hope) 4:05
9 Foreplay [#/*] 6:40
10 Move [Unedited Version of Master] (Williams) 4:21
11 The Countdown [Unedited Version of Master] (Hope) 5:37

Personnel
Curtis Counce - b
Harold Land - ts
Rolf Ericson - tp
Elmo Hope - p
Frank Butler - dr

Recorded in 1958

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PW: melanchthon

Although he lived for another five years after this session, this seems to be bassist Curtis Counce's last date as a leader. His quintet was in fine form playing originals by band member Elmo Hope and tenor saxophonist Harold Land, also playing standards like "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Angel Eyes" with convincing chops. Swedish trumpeter Rolf Ericson, who became better known to jazz fans while with Duke Ellington in the '60s, fits in beautifully with the cool-sounding hard bop style of this tight unit. Originally released on the long-defunct Dootone label, this highly sought-after record was finally reissued as a CD on the English label Boplicity in 1996.
Ken Dryden
Source : toptenreviews

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The Curtis Counce Group - Carl's Blues 1957

The Curtis Counce Group
Carl's Blues

Tracks
1 Pink Lady (Jack Sheldon) 4:36
2 I Can't Get Started (Duke, Gershwin) 7:59
3 Nica's Dream* (Silver 7:58
4 Love Walked In (Gershwin, Gershwin 4:58
5 Larue** (Clifford Brown) 4:59
6 The Butler Did It (Frank Butler) 4:38
7 Carl's Blues** (Carr Perkins) 5:54

Personnel
Curtis Counce - b
Jack Sheldon* - tp
Gerald Wilson** - tp
Harold Land - ts
Carl Perkins - p
Frank Butler - dr

Rec. at Contemporary Records' Studio in LA ; April 22, 1957 (#1, 4) ; August 29, 1957 (#3) ; January 6, 1958 (#2, 5, 6, 7)

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PW: melanchthon

Although the Curtis Counce Quintet was not a commercial success, their four Contemporary albums (which have been reissued on CD) were all timeless in their own way, undated examples of high-quality hard bop from the late '50s. This set features the bassist-leader, either Jack Sheldon or Gerald Wilson on trumpet, tenor saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Carl Perkins and drummer Frank Butler interpreting both jazz standards (including "Love Walked In" and Clifford Brown's "Larue") and originals (such as the drummer's "The Butler Did It"). Excellent music that still sounds fresh four decades later.
Scott Yanow
Source : toptenreviews


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Curtis Counce

Curtis Counce
(January 23, 1926 – July 31, 1963)

photo - William Claxton

Curtis Counce - Complete Studio Recordings - 1958

Curtis Counce
Group
Complete Studio Recordings
The Master Takes

Cd 1
1 Landslide (Land) 8:37
2 Time After Time (Cahn, Styne) 6:32
3 Mia (Perkins) 4:55
4 Sarah (Sheldon) 11:38
5 A Fifth for Frank (Tjader, Wiggins) 7:14
6 Big Foot (Parker) 9:07
7 Sonar (Clarke, Wiggins) 7:28
8 Stranger in Paradise (Borodin, Forrest, Wright) 7:04
9 Woody'n You (Gillespie) 6:18
10 Pink Lady (Sheldon) 4:41
11 Counceltation (Counce, Curtis) 6:05

Cd 2
1 Love Walked In (Gershwin, Gershwin) 4:56
2 Too Close for Comfort (Block, Holofcener, Weiss) 5:38
3 How Deep Is the Ocean? (Berlin) 6:37
4 Complete (Counce) 5:52
5 Nica's Dream (Silver) 8:00
6 How Long Has This Been Going On (Gershwin, Gershwin) 3:20
7 Mean to Me (Ahlert, Ahlert, Turk) 4:31
8 I Can't Get Started (Duke, Gershwin) 8:01
9 Larue (Brown) 5:04
10 Carl's Blues (Perkins) 5:54
11 A Night in Tunisia (Fuller, Gillespie) 8:17
12 Love Walked In [*] (Gershwin, Gershwin) 2:55
13 Sophisticated Lady [*] (Ellington) 4:10
14 A Fifth for Frank [*] (Tjader, Wiggins) 1:56
15 The Butler Did It [*] (Butler ) 4:39

Personnel
On all tracks
Jack Sheldon - tp
Harold Land - ts
Carl Perkins - p
Curtis Counce - b
Frank Butler - dr
Except [cd 2 # 9-11]
Gerald Wilson - tp replaces Sheldon

Recorded in Los Angeles between October 8, 1956 & January 16, 1958

disc 1
1 . 2 . 3
disc 2
1 . 2 . 3

artwork


PW: melanchthon

Bassist Curtis Counce led one of the top hard bop groups to be based on the West Coast during the mid-'50s, a quintet with trumpeter Jack Sheldon, tenor saxophonist Harold Land (shortly after he left the Clifford Brown/Max Roach Quintet), pianist Carl Perkins and drummer Frank Butler. Nearly all of that group's recordings are on this two-CD set. Reissued are the contents of the Contemporary LPs Landslide, You Get More Bounce with Curtis Counce and Carl's Blues except for three alternate takes and three selections with pianist Elmo Hope that were issued years after the original LPs. Gerald Wilson takes Sheldon's place on three selections from the band's final date. Also not here is the group's obscure Dooto LP from 1958 which has Elmo Hope and trumpeter Rolf Ericson joining Land, Butler and Counce. In its place are three numbers from the band's appearance on the Stars of Jazz television series. On these 26 selections, the Curtis Counce Quintet features an attractive mixture of jazz standards and group originals with plenty of passionate and colorful solos from Sheldon, Land and Perkins. This was an excellent band, so collectors who do not have their Contemporary sets will certainly want to pick up this attractive two-fer.
Scott Yanow
Source : allmusic.com


Thanks to Melanchthon - Sic Vos Non Vobis

Curtis Counce - Sonority

Curtis Counce
Sonority

Tracks
1 Woody 'N You (Gillespie) 6:23
2 How Long Has This Been Going On? (Gershwin, Gershwin) 3:20
3 Landslide [alternate take] (Land) 9:03
4 Sonor [alternate take] (Clark, Wiggins) 5:18
5 So Nice (Hope) 5:25
6 Origin (Hope) 4:43
7 Bella Rosa (Hope) 6:11
8 A Night in Tunisia (Gillespie, Paparelli) 8:20
9 A Drum Conversation [CD Only] (Butler) 2:22

Personnel
[#5, 7 & 8]
Gerald Wilson - tp
Harold Land - ts
Carl Perkins - p (#8)
Elmo Hope - p (#5 & 7)
Curtis Counce - b
Frank Butler - dr
Recorded January 6, 1958.

All other selections
Jack Sheldon - tp
Harold Land - ts
Carl Perkins - p
Curtis Counce - b
Fank Butler - dr
Recorded October 15, 1956.

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PW: melanchthon


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You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce!

Curtis Counce
You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce !

Tracks
1 Complete (Counce) 5:51
2 How Deep Is the Ocean ? (Berlin) 6:35
3 Too Close for Comfort (Bock, Holofcener, Weiss) 5:36
4 Mean to Me (Turk, Ahlert) 4:31
5 Stranger in Paradise (Borodin, Wright, Forrest) 7:03
6 Counceltation (Counce) 6:01
7 Big Foot (Parker) 9:02
8 Woody 'n You [*] (Gillespie) 6:14

Personnel
Curtis Counce - bass
Jack Sheldon - trumpet
Harold Land - tenor saxophone
Carl Perkins - piano
Frank Butler - drums

Recorded at Contemporary's Studio in LA October 9, 1956 (#7) ; October 15, 1956 (#5 & 8) ; April 22, 1957 (#3 & 6) ; May 13, 1957 (#1 & 2) ; and September 3, 1957 (#4).

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PW: melanchthon

Although the title and even the cover photo have been changed, this CD reissue has the same music as was earlier issued as Counceltation; the "bonus cut" "Woody 'n You" has also been reissued on Sonority. In any case, the program features the underrated but talented Curtis Counce Quintet of 1956-1957, a group consisting of the bassist/leader, trumpeter Jack Sheldon, tenor saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Carl Perkins, and drummer Frank Butler. Counce contributed two originals but otherwise the band sticks to jazz standards, with some of the best moments being on "Too Close for Comfort," "Mean to Me," and Charlie Parker's "Big Foot."
Scott Yanow
Source : toptenreviews


Thanks to Melanchthon - Sic Vos Non Vobis

Curtis Counce

by William Claxton