Russ Freeman (pianist) - Trio & Quartet (2010) (flac)

While other West Coast jazz pianists during the Fifties and early Sixties cut their share -- and some perhaps more than that -- of albums for a variety of recording firms, Russ Freeman’s output of records under his own name was nowhere near enough to reflect his enormous talent. Thanks to his involvement in the groups of such standard bearers as Howard McGhee, Dexter Gordon, Art Pepper and Wardell Gray, he developed rapidly and when Chet Baker made his first quartet recordings in December 1952, he chose Freeman as pianist, composer and musical director. Freeman’s reputation also earned him a place with the Lighthouse All-Stars, Shorty Rogers Giants and, for ten years from 1955, with Shelly Manne and his Men.

This CD is dedicated to the memory of Russ Freeman (1926-2002), an extraordinary but too often underrated jazz pianist who deserves a place among the greatest.

All tracks recorded in Hollywood, California from 1952 to 1959.

Tracks 1 - 3: Russ Freeman (piano); Bob Whitlock (bass); Bobby White (drums)
Tracks 4 - 11: Russ Freeman (piano); Joe Mondragon (bass); Shelly Manne (drums)
Tracks 12 - 14: Bud Shank (alto sax & flute); Russ Freeman (piano); Carson Smith (bass); Shelly Manne (drums)
Tracks 15 - 21: Russ Freeman (piano); Monty Budwig (bass); Shelly Manne (drums); Stu Williamson (trumpet)
Track 22: Russ Freeman (piano); Billy Bean (guitar); Monty Budwig (bass); Mel Lewis (drums)

1. Lullaby in Rhythm
2. East of the Sun
3. Steeplechase
4. Laugh Cry
5. At Last
6. You Stepped Out of a Dream
7. Yesterday’s Gardenias
8. Bock’s Tops
9. Don’t Worry ’Bout Me
10. Backfield in Motion
11. The Eye Opener
12. Bojangles of Harlem
13. It’s a New World
14. Blues in the Night
15. The Party\'s Over
16. Joey, Joey, Joey
17. Woody’s Dot
18. Namely You
19. Love in a Home
20. Progress Is the Root of All Evil
21. Independent
22. Invitation to the Blues