Lee Konitz - 'Chicago‘N All That Jazz!'

Friday 50s, an album from 1975, a half-century ago.... 😊

"Saxophonist Lee Konitz performs John Kander and Fred Ebb's songs from the Broadway musical Chicago....with surprisingly pleasing perfomances." Wikipedia. Konitz's regular nonet is augmented for this little-big-band project, which includes saxophonist Joe Farrell. Album Discogs. This album had several covers.

Lee Konitz was an alto saxophone giant from ~1945 to 2018, with over 200 albums released. He developed his big band chops with the Stan Kenton Orchestra in the 1950s.  Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Lee Konitz, Chicago‘N All That Jazz!, full album: YouTube ; Spotify 

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1975 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎 

Slide Hampton & Joe Haider Orchestra - 'Give Me A Double'

Friday 50s, an album from 1975, a half-century ago.... 😊

Details are scarce for this excellent live performance recorded in Munich, Germany, in early 1974. Saxophonist Dexter Gordon guests. Album Discogs.

Trombonist/composer/arranger/bandleader Slide Hampton was a big band stalwart. He played in the big and small bands of Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson, Art Blakey, Tadd Dameron, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis and Max Roach. Slide also led ~50 albums from ~1961 - 2008. Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Pianist/bandleader Joe Haider has led ~29 albums since ~1970, and is still very active in Germany at a seemingly young age of 89. His current big band played a tribute concert to Slide and this album in ~April '23. He tours with a quintet that includes saxophonist Toni Lakatos this March in a Miles Davis tribute. He plans a final big band tour in January '26. Go Joe! Website ; Wikipedia ; Discography.

Slide Hampton & Joe Haider Orchestra, Give Me A Double, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1975 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎

Louis Bellson - 'The Louis Bellson Explosion'

Friday 50s, an album from 1975, a half-century ago.... 😊

"A fine mid-'70s date that was both a showcase for Bellson's bombastic drumming and also a nice straight-ahead date with great contributions from" trumpeters Blue Mitchell, Snookey Young, Cat Anderson and Bobby Shew, saxophonists Pete Christlieb and Don Menza, and others. Ron Wynn/Allmusic. Album Wikipedia ; Discogs.

Louis Bellson released >100 albums from ~1952 to 1998, with >300 compositions and 9 Grammy nominations, mainly with big bands. Louis pioneered the use of double bass kick drums, developed new technology for and was vice-president of Remo drums, and was the husband and musical director for singer Pearl Bailey. Louis' Website ; Wikipedia ; Allmusic ; Discogs.

Louis Bellson, The Louis Bellson Explosion, full album: YouTube ; Spotify

This is on the Jazz Best Albums 1975 playlist at Spotify/Jazz Todayish.  😎