Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com
One of the prettiest and least known recordings by Zoot Sims and Al Cohn is their tribute to songwriter Hoagy Carmichael. Recorded in 1957, the album was released on the Jass Twelve label only in the 1980s. I have no idea why it wasn't recorded for a mainstream label then or why its released was delayed for so many years. I also have no idea what the Jass Twelve label was or how it ended up with the masters to release. [Pictured above, from left, Al Cohn and Zoot Sims]
The album is Happy Over Hoagy and was the idea of Elliot Lawrence, who led the septet session. The arrangements were written by Bill Elton, a studio trombonist in New York who worked closely with Lawrence when Lawrence began his Broadway years in the 1960s.
Elton was in the horn section when Miles Davis appeared on the Robert Herridge Theater on CBS in 1959 with the Gil Evans Orchestra, performing The Duke, Blues for Pablo and New Rhumba. He also recorded with many major jazz artists. [Photo above, the call board for the Gil Evans Orchestra on CBS]
The personnel on the Hoagy album is wonderful: Nick Travis (tp), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Zoot Sims (ts,cl), Al Cohn (bar,cl), Elliot Lawrence (p), Milt Hinton (b), and Osie Johnson (d). As you can see, we even get a taste of Cohn and Sims on clarinet and Cohn on baritone saxophone. A shame they didn't record 10 more like this covering Broadway shows of the era. [Photo above, Nice Travis]
Hopefully, I'll hear from someone who can shed light on why this rare gem sat on a shelf for so long. I'm guessing it was recorded privately by Lawrence but ran into trouble on the rights side since the artists were likely signed to other labels.
JazzWax tracks: Happy Over Hoagy is sadly out of print but can found in different formats here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Skylark, with solos by Nick Travis and Elliot Lawrence...
Here's Up A Lazy River, with Cohn and Sims on clarinets and then saxophones...
A special thanks to David Langner.
Used with permission by Marc Myers
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