V.S.O.P. #39 MODE 119 HARRY BABASIN AND THE JAZZPICKERS

Harry Babasin (cello), Terry Gibbs (vibes), Dempsey Wright (guitar), Ben Tucker (bass), Bill Douglass (drums).

• Thou Swell (Rodgers, Hart)
• Wingo (Harry Babasin)
• Basin Street Blues (Spencer Williams)
• Pee Wee (Harry Babasin)
• De Ge (Harry Babasin)
• Hoppy (Harry Babasin)
• These Foolish Things (Link, Strachey, Maschwitz)
• On Bear Hill (Harry Babasin)

All Arrangements by Harry Babasin
Recorded, July, 1957 at Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Engineer: Bones Howe
Liner Notes: Joe Quinn
Producer: Red Clyde
Cover Design: Eva Diana

Mode producer Red Clyde was always open to innovative jazz ideas, so when Downbeat editor John Tynan suggested that he record Harry Babasin's experimental group, it was only a matter of time before the Jazzpickers were assembled at Radio Recorders for this recording date.

Harry Babasin began experimenting with creating a group that featured the cello in a jazz setting while producing great recordings for Nocturne Records in 1954, when he formed the Jazzpickers. The concept behind the Jazzpickers was that it was to be pianoless and consist of string and percussion instruments only. For this recording date, Harry brought together Terry Gibbs, guitarist Dempsey Wright, bassist Ben Tucker and drummer Bill Douglass to perform five of his original compositions and three standards.

The interplay between Harry Babasin's pizzicato solos and Terry Gibbs' vibes makes this session thoroughly satisfying, not only because of the instrumentation, but also because of the melodic West Coast jazz sound that is a quintessential element of Harry Babasin's style.

  Download:itunes.apple.com/us/album/harry-babasin-jazz-pickers/id63590025

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  Other sources for CD:  City Hall Records

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