V.S.O.P. #130  Skylark  THE BOB TULLEY QUINTET

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The Bob Tully Quintet comprised of Bob Tulley on trumpet, Nash Maez on tenor sax, Hunky Page on piano, Paul Binning on bass, and Hank Milo on drums is a bit of a mystery group. Almost certainly recorded some time in 1954, it does not appear on the AFof M logs for Skylark Records. The liner notes for the two EPs, Skylark EPs 106 and 107 credit most of the group's noteworthiness to the "arrangements" created by tenor sax man and arranger Willie Maiden, a name better known to most than any of the other members of the group.

In fact, the liner notes indicate that this group was working with Maynard Ferguson around Hollywood and Los Angeles at the time the recording date takes place. While this is possible, Maynard Ferguson was in Los Angeles during most of 1954, there are no recordings which feature any of these players with Maynard Ferguson at any time (with the exception of Willie Maiden, who does not actually play on this recording).

We know very little about Bob Tulley, himself. He is not credited on any other recordings. Bob Scherman, in his liner notes, uses many superlatives, so he was certainly impressed. The other members of the group are a tad less obscure. Nash Maez, after Willie Maiden, the best known musician on the date, had played and recorded with Perez Prado, both before and after this date, where he most likely came to know Willie Maiden. He also played with Rene Bloch's Orchestra after this date. He went on to play with various Latin groups and was on Danny Beher's 1992 California Salsa album released on his Sea Breeze label.

Paul Binning and Hank Milo are more obscure. They both appear on an Earl Hines date for Nocturne Records from July/August, 1954 which helps date this recording since it is referred to in the liner notes. Willie Maiden was the arranger for Hines' Los Angeles recording session. Binning and Milo also accompany Earl Hines on the trio portion of the Nocturne Records session that takes place in New York on August 21, 1954. However, apart from that session or group of sessions, nothing exists other than the instant recording as evidence of their musical history.

Hunky Page is a bit more famous, though he may not have recorded even as extensively as Paul Binning and Hank Milo. Hunky Page is best known for being the house pianist at the American Hotel for over 20 years in Sag Harbor, NY, and for teaching actor Chevy Chase how to play jazz piano. He seems to have had an outstanding reputation as a jazz pianist.

The original liner notes suggest that the leader in fact is Willie Maiden. He seems to have arranged all of the tunes and composed the originals. Most of the original liner notes are about him and he is described as a member of the group. His career included writing and playing for Perez Prado, an extensive career with Maynard Ferguson, a stint during the mid-60's with Charlie Barnet, and several years with Stan Kenton during the 1970's. He never recorded as leader.

The selections are all straight ahead, relatively short pieces, that do showcase the arrangements. The set includes four original compositions and four standards. All perform well, with some exuberance on the part of Bob Tulley leading to unintended turnarounds and minor clams. Nevertheless, this is a pretty nice set with some choice 1954 West Coast jazz similar in style and feel to other hi-fi recordings released by Skylark, Nocturne, Pacific Jazz and other small Hollywood labels.

(This title is offered as a budget friendly EP on both ITunes and Amazon.)

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