Phil Urso & the Jomar Dagron 4

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

In 1959, tenor saxophonist Phil Urso recorded a terrific album for the Legacy label with the Jomar Dagron Quartet in Louisville, Colo. Jomar Dagron wasn't a transplanted Scandinavian jazz trumpeter. In fact, there was no such person named Jomar Dagron. It was a first-name amalgam of drummer Jo Jo Williams, baritone saxophonist Marvin Halliday, organist Dag Walton and tenor saxophonist Ron Washington. All were from Colorado and played there.

By the time of this recording session, however, Halliday had left to join Woody Herman, and Phil replaced him. Bassist Gene Klingman also was added. Interestingly, Billboard in June 1957, while reviewing the Jomar Dagron Quartet's Rocky Mountain Jazz album, noted the group needed a bassist. Phil had spent time in Colorado gigging with the quartet on tenor and baritone until 1964, when he returned to New York and rejoined Chet Baker for a few albums. Despite the personnel changes, the group remained the Jomar Dagron Quartet.

The music is spectacular for several reasons. Walton's Hammond organ here adds a groovy big-band feel while Phil cooks away, often in double time, with a Lester Young feel. On several tracks, he switches to baritone sax, which he plays just as artfully. To amp up the format, Phil engages in smart tenor battles with Washington throughout, and there's never a dull note. And Phil playing off the Walton's organ is a gorgeous sound. Best of all is Phil's swinging soul. Every single measure is tasteful and beautifully articulated. Phil is an underrated tenor saxophone great, and this album proves it beyond a doubt. Phil died in 2008. 

JazzWax tracks: You'll find The Jomar Dagron Quartet Featuring Phil Urso (Blue Moon) here. Or the album is part of The Philosophy of Urso (Fresh Sound), a terrific new two-CD compilation of the tenor saxophonists' 1953-1959 sessions (go here).

JazzWax note: To read my obit of Phil Urso (including interviews with Phil and his brother Joe), go here.

JazzWax track: Here's the album's coup de grâce, Line for Lyons. Absolutely killer!

Line for Lyons

Used with permission by Marc Myers

Phil Urso and Carl Saunders

Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com

One of the finest albums of the early 2000s is Phil Urso and Carl Saunders Salute Chet Baker. Recorded in 2002 for the Jazzed Media label, the album featured tenor saxophonist Phil Urso and trumpeter Carl Saunders (above) backed by Keith Waters (p), Colin Gieg (b) and Paul Romaine (d). The album recaptured the pairing of Urso and Baker in 1956 and in the mid-1960s, in particular songs from what is perhaps their best album together—Playboys, also known as Picture of Heath, recorded in November '56.

Carl Saunders may not be familiar to you. Trombonist Carl Fontana once referred to him as the "best trumpeter you've never heard," largely because Saunders spent a chunk of his career in Las Vegas, where he played in show bands. In 1984, he moved to Los Angeles and played with Bill Holman's orchestra. There also were stints with Supersax, the Dave Pell Octet and his own big band along.

Carl is still on the scene today (go here). Phil (above) died in 2008 (to read my JazzWax interview with Phil's brother, go here).

JazzWax tracks: You'll find Phil Urso and Carl Saunders Salute Chet Baker here.

JazzWax clip: Here's the entire album...

Used with permission by Marc Myers