RED NORVO FEAT HELEN HUMES FOUR CLASSIC ALBUMS (DANCING ON THE CEILING / RED NORVO IN STEREO / RED PLAYS THE BLUES / MUSIC TO LISTEN TO RED NORVO BY) (2CD) AVID

AVID Jazz presents four classic Red Norvo albums including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD.
“Dancing On The Ceiling”, “Red Norvo In Stereo”, “Red Plays The Blues” and “Music To Listen To Red Norvo By”
We kick things off with “Dancing On The Ceiling” recorded across 1952 and 1953 in Los Angeles and New York respectively and featuring alongside vibesman Red Norvo, Tal Farlow on guitar and Red Mitchell on bass from ’52, with Jimmy Raney replacing Farlow in ’53! “Red Norvo In Stereo” moves us ahead to 1958 where we find Red with his Orchestra accompanied by amongst others, Don Fagerquist on trumpet, Bud Shank and Bill Perkins on reeds, Jimmy Rowes on piano and Helen Humes on vocals, with arrangements by Eddie Sauter. This album is something of a return to his big band days of the thirties when he toured the Mr and Mrs Swing Band with his wife, the singer Mildred Bailey. With Helen Humes taking Ms Baileys place the band return to the good humoured swinging days of the thirties. A pretty heavyweight line up takes us into our next offering “Red Plays The Blues” with Red joined by Willie Smith and Harold Land on reeds, Jimmy Rowles on piano, Ray Sims on trombone, Mel Lewis on drums, Helen Humes on vocals. The four tracks featuring Harry Edison on trumpet, Ben Webster on tenor sax, Bob Carter on bass and Bill Douglas on drums are described in the original liner notes as “among the most durable jazz recordings released this year”……and quoting from Bob Brookmeyer “ while referencing Webster and Edison…”when they put their instruments to their lips…………..they have become extensions of their horns”. And finally……”Music To Listen To Red Norvo By” has Red’s name on the front cover but is rather a showcase for the extended works of clarinettist and music scholar Bill Smith. His four part movement Divertimento takes elements of classical and jazz composition, a movement that was becoming popular at the time with musicians such as Gunther Schuller, George Russell and Jimmy Guiffre. Musicians include Red Norvo on vibes, Buddy Collette on flute, Bill Smith on clarinet, Barney Kessel on guitar, Red Mitchell on bass and Shelly Manne on drums.
All four albums have been digitally re-mastered

CD1
1-8: ‘Dancing On The Ceiling’
1. Dancing On The Ceiling
2. Lover, Come Back To Me
3. I Remember You
4. Skylark
5. Good Bait
6. Strike Up The Band
7. The Spider’s Web
8. Tenderly
9-20: ‘Red Norvo In Stereo’
9. I Hadn’t Anyone Till You
10. Says My Heart
11. You Leave Me Breathless
12. My Last Affair
13. Garden Of The Moon
14. They Can’t Take That Away From Me
15. Why Do I Love You
16. It’s Wonderful
17. I Was Doing All Right
18. (I’ve Been) Saving Myself For You
19. I See Your Face Before Me
20. Some Like It Hot
21-22: ‘Red Plays The Blues’
21. Britt’s Blues
22. The Night Is Blue

CD2
1-5: ‘Red Plays The Blues’
1. Shed No Tears
2. Easy On The Eye
3. Just A Mood
4. I Sing The Blues
5. Sunrise Blues
6-14: ‘Music To Listen To Red Norvo By’
6. Poeme
7. Red Sails
8. The Red Broom
9. Rubricity
10. Paying The Dues Blues
11. Divertimento – 1st Movement
12. Divertimento – 2nd Movement
13. Divertimento – 3rd Movement
14. Divertimento – 4th Movement