Pablo recommendations

[BlueMiles]

Every now and then I really dig into the music put out on Pablo records. For instance, lately I’ve been getting into Oscar Peterson and also Count Basie—particularly the jams and small groups, including the meetings with Peterson. Both of these greats sure put out a lot of recordings on this label. So did Joe Pass. Many others did very fine work for the label, such as Zoot Sims and Dizzy Gillepsie. Zoot’s Gershwin Brothers albums is a real gem, perhaps in part for having Pass and Peterson in the group.

Of course, you had quite a roster of musicians who would frequently appear on sessions by others—seems rather similar to Blue Note practice.

The musicians tended to be veterans, perhaps a bit past their primes. It’s true that there was no innovation going on and even a limited amount of adventure. Still, there were plenty of musicians here who could really swing and groove and even bebop.

Just wondering if people had much to say about favorite Pablo albums or individual tracks.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

The Art Tatum albums are GREAT, solos and groups!

[Chris D]

"Basie and Zoot" is not to be missed.
Pass' "Virtuoso" (the original) is a tour de force.
Dizzy's "Bahaina" was a double LP, with two guitarists. Very nice.

[Brian Olewnick]

Duke Ellington/Ray Brown - This One's for Blanton

[Nate Dorward]

Any of the Zoot Sims/Jimmy Rowles albums.

[Dr Dave]

The late Tommy Flanagan at Montreux, 1977. This was the first Pablo album to have original cover art.

[Chris D]

Yes. Montreux '77 was of rich vintage in many ways: the Basie jams with Little Jazz, Benny Carter and Zoot; Lockjaw Davis with OP, Ray Bryant....

[john williams]

My favorite is Afro-Blue Impressions by Coltrane. Not a great recording but I like the energy of the quartet on this record and they were in front of a very appreciative European audience.

Favorite moments:
Lonnie's Lament is very different to the Crescent version.
Spiritual is always a favorite of mine and was the track by Coltrane that first turned my head. I like this version although not as much as the various VV versions.
Afro-Blue is great as always.

[stonemonkts]

Ron Affif - 52nd Street (nice guitar trio jazz)
Clark Terry - Memories of Duke
Zoot Sims - And The Gershwin Brothers (very good "west coast" style album with Sims, Joe Pass, George Mraz, Grady Tate, and Oscar Peterson)

Emusic has a CD called "Best of Lester Young" on Pablo.

[Robert de St. Loup]

Duke Ellington - In the Uncommon Market --- excellent!

[BFrank]

This is an excellent album:


"How Long Has This Been Going On?"

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

Emusic has a CD called "Best of Lester Young" on Pablo.

That's from the 1956 D.C. dates. Pres was in excellent form for his later years during that engagement.

[BlueMiles]

Wow, I forgot about the several Coltrane albums on Pablo--I think they're all concert material. "Afro Blue Impressions" is essential Trane, in my view.

Some others I've been enjoying;

"Dizzy's Big Four"

"Tivoli Gardens''--Grapelli, Pass, Pederson

"Live"--Oscar Peterson w. Joe Pass

I think the Ron Affif tribute to Miles is on Pablo.

[Tom Marcello]

Al Gafa - Leblon Beach

Kenny Barron (p) Al Gafa (el-g) Ben Brown (b) Al Foster (d) Azzedin "Niles" Weston (per)
NYC, April 8, 1976
Barcelona
Abre Alas
Land of the Living Dead
Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Lose
Affirmation
Con Alma
* Al Gafa - Leblon Beach (Pablo 2310-782)

A really great record that has never been re-issued on cd.