The label’s “Gold Series” focused on reissuing classic bebop works that included historic performances.
Don Schlitten purchased the recording of minor labels and individual recordings.
He was newly reissued many historic performances such as Bud Powell, Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines, Roy Eldridge, Jack Teagarden, Art Tatum and many more.
The label’s “Silver Series” focused on new recordings by such as Barry Harris, Al Cohn, Jimmy Raney, Dolo Coker, Charles McPherson and others.
Last year Elemental Music has begun to reissue more than two dozen of the Silver Series as ‘Xanadu Master Edition Series’. GO here
Left to Right: Zev Feldman, Don Schlitten, Jordi Soley
Here is ” Barry Harris Plays Tadd Dameron”
Recorded:June 4, 1975
Tony Fruscella (tp), Herb Geller (as), Phil Urso (ts), Gene Allen (bs),Bill Triglia (p), Red Mitchell (b), Howie Mann (ds) Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, February 16, 1952
In 1956 and 1957 Paul Chambers participated in nearly 100 recordings, including such as Thelonious Monk’s Brilliant Corners, the Sonny Rollins Quartet’s Tenor Madness.
Clark Terry (trumpet) Sonny Rollins (tenor sax) Thelonious Monk (piano) Paul Chambers (bass) Max Roach (drums) December 7, 1956
Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane (tenor sax), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums) May 24, 1956
In November 1956, he recorded first album ‘Chambers’ Music’ on the Jazz West label.
His first leader work was recorded in two hours for Jazz West, a small Los Angeles label.
Also Curtis Fuller played his debut recording on this session.
Three months later, he recorded secnd album ‘Whims Of Chambers’ on Blue Note label.
Vee Jay label LP ‘1st Bassman’ was his final work as a leader.
This record was recorded May 12, 1960.
He never overstepped his boundaries and he could be a very subtle player.
But he had been addictions to both alcohol and heroin.
Also today I want to post about Miles’ anger against Paul Chambers.
Paul Chambers was a heavy drinker and could not stay away from women.
According to Davis’ autobiography,
Anyway, on this trip to Rochester, Paul is drinking zombies. I ask him, “Why do you drink shit like that? Why you drink so much, Paul?”
And he says, “Aw, man, I can drink all I want. I can drink ten of these and it wouldn’t bother me.”
“Drink ‘em and I’ll pay for them,” I told him. And he said, “Okay.”[…]
The only downer for me, really, during this entire first trip was that Paul Chambers was staying with Bird’s ex-wife, Doris Sydnor, in her hotel room at the Sutherland Hotel. […] So he kept her to himself while we were there. I think he was a little disappointed that I didn’t like Doris, though. He probably figured she was a catch, a feather in his cap, being Bird’s former old lady.
Nevertheless Miles had to trust about Paul’s performance.
Fortunately he became a legend by two recordings during March 2 to May 5 in 1959.
The first was ‘Kind Of Blue.’
Chambers played the six-tone keynote on “So What.”
The second was Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps.’
Coltrane paid specific tribute to his bassist on “Mr. P.C.”