George Wallington

wallington
  1. Knockout notes
  2. Igloo notes
 savoy
Jerry Floyd, Brew Moore, Gerry Mulligan, Charlie Perry, Curly Russel, Buddy Stewart (vo on Knockout), George Wallington, Kai Winding

May 9, 1949

 LINER NOTES

IT IS CERTAIN that Signer Figlia, an opera singer, never dreamed that the 1-year old son he brought with him from Palermo, Italy, in 1925 would grow up to be an emissary with a message! Spreading the gospel of jazz has been George Wallington's forte since he quit high school at the age of 15 to gig with local NY units. One of the most prolific writers of modern jazz "standards" and a top keyboard attraction since the early '40s' George has earned his "bread" with the top groups. His first major jazz gig was in 1944 at the Onyx Club with Dizzy Gillespie. The job came about only because a club-owner objected to Billy Taylor's playing two competing and adjoining clubs simultaneously. Result . . . Billy stayed at the deuces and George joined Diz! Since then he has played with Red Rodney, many of the late Charlie Parker's groups, Alien Eager, and a multitude of others. Recent years have been limited to trio performances at the Composer and other NY clubs. Although he is unskilled at actual arranging technique, George's tunes and outlines have formed the basis for countless big bands playing the modern sounds, as well as charts and lines for innumerabIe modern combos. Many of his tunes have become the "Stardusts" or "Honeysuckle Roses" for today's young jazz neophytes to wean themselves on! The bands of Woody Herman, Chubby Jackson, Miles Davis and Stan Kenton have performed George's "LEMON DROP", "GODCHILD" among others. As a pianist, he is best distinguished by a heavily percussive attack and fleet right hand. The ability to perform concisely and clearly at frantic speeds is an asset few pianists can claim. It is almost as if an arranger is composing and a soloist expounding simultaneously. Accompanying George on these tracks is a multi-talented grouping. Long-time friend from High School days Max Roach sparkles on 8 tunes, soloing on brushes during the very up-tempoed FINE AND DANDY. Stellar bass star Curley Russell is on all tracks, soloing effectively with beautiful intonation and line on FAIRYLAND. Curley is a graduate of the middle 'forties and the Tadd Dameron, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Dizzy Gillespie groups. His big sound is once again "on the scene" today, making vital contributions. On KNOCKOUT and IGLOO a large group "blows" some interesting material. The first is George's tune and features the late Buddy Stewart scatting melody and, laterm, solo voice. Buddy worked many years with Vocal coach Dave Lambert as a team with Gene Krupa, Charlie Venture and others. IGLOO is a Jerry Floyd score and allows plenty of room for individual expression. Everyone solos in turn . . . Brew on a cloud, Kai growling slightly, Gerry rumbling, and all charmed in and out by the clever scoring.