Johnny Williams Rhythm In Motion – So Nice (CD)

Personnel: Johnny Williams (p, arr, cond), Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Johnny Audino, Cappy Lewis (tp), Bob Enevoldsen, Dick Nash, Milt Bernhart (tb), George Roberts (b-tb), Ronny Lang, Ted Nash, Bill Holman (reeds), Jimmy Rowles (p), Bob Bain, Bill Pitman (g), Larry Bunker (vib), Buddy Clark, Joe Mondragon (b), Shelly Manne (d), Johnny Desmond (vcl) · Collectors Edition · Issued in Digipack · 2 Original LPs on 1 CD · Original Cover Art and Liner Notes · Stereo Recordings · Newly Remastered in 24-Bit Long before John Williams (then known as Johnny) scored and conducted some of the most unforgettable film themes of the last four decades, he was a young and highly in demand session pianist in the Hollywood entertainment and recording scenes of the Fifties. He started getting jobs arranging music and then as a composer, work for which his classical background, as well as his impressive feeling for jazz and diverse experience in the studios, equipped him extremely well and accounted for his popularity as both arranger and pianist in the jazz and pop fields. In 1961, he scored the modern and sophisticated brass arrangements of the carefully chosen standards included in the album Rhythm in Motion. He skillfully blended the powerful brass sections and the most mellow saxophone colours into a unique sonic cocktail that exploited the full sonorities of the orchestra. Before this well-crafted instrumental album though, in 1958 he had already brought the Williams touch to bear on another fine album, So Nice!, featuring the rich, baritone voice of Johnny Desmond. Conducted by Williams himself, the excellent arrangements come from the pens of Williams and Bill Holman. Distinctive, individual and, as always, beautifully crafted, they give a consistently swinging mood to the whole session. The last three tracks were recorded early 60s, and are examples of the versatile talent of the young Johnny Williams in his more pop-oriented vein. TRACKLIST: 01. Fascinatin’ Rhythm (G. & I. Gershwin) 2:45 02. The Varsity Drag (DeSylva-Brown-Henderson) 2:42 03. Surrey with the Fringe on Top (Rodgers-Hammerstein II) 3:06 04. Let’s Do It (Porter) 2:45 05. Put On a Happy Face (Adams-Strouse) 2:10 06. Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets) (Adler-Ross) 3:39 07. Johnny One Note (Rodgers-Hart) 2:12 08. An Occasional Man (Martin-Blane) 3:20 09. My Heart Belongs to Daddy (Porter) 3:12 10. Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries (Brown-Henderson) 2:51 11. Sunny Disposish (Charig-Gershwin) 2:22 12. Buckle Down Winsocki (Martin-Blane) 2:55 13. All of You (Porter) 2:18 14. The Last Time I Saw Paris (Kern-Hammerstein II) 2:13 15. I Can’t Get Started (Duke-Gershwin) 2:50 16. I Got Plenty o’ Nuttin’ (G. & I. Gershwin) 2:41 17. It’s the Talk of the Town (Levinson-Symes-Neiburg) 2:37 18. You’d Be So Nice to Come Home (Porter) 2:17 19. It Ain’t Necessarily So (G. & I. Gershwin) 2:19 20. Tenderly (Gross-Lawrence) 2:37 21. This Can’t Be Love (Rodgers-Hart) 2:06 22. Old Devil Moon (Lane-Harburg) 1:58 23. My Happy Time (Desmond) 2:20 24. There’s a Small Hotel (Rodgers-Hart) 2:13 25. Tuesday’s Theme (Williams) 2:19 26. The Black Knight (Williams) 2:07 27. Augie’s Great Piano (Williams) 1:50 Sources: Tracks #1-12, from the 12″ LP “Rhythm in Motion” (Columbia CS8467) Tracks #13-24, from the Venise LP “So Nice! – Johnny Desmond” (V-10013) Track #25, from the Columbia single 4-42516 Tracks #26 & 27, from then Columbia single 4-42777 Personnel on Rhythm in Motion: JOHNNY WILLIAMS and His Orchestra Pete Candoli, Ray Triscari, Joe Triscari, Frank Beach (tp); Vince De Rosa, Dick Perissi, John Cave (Frh); Dick Nash, Lloyd Ulyate, Dick Noel, Milt Bernhart, Dick Noel (tb); Sam Rice (tuba); Harry Klee, Ted Nash, Ronny Lang (as, fl); Justin Gordon, Gene Cipriano (ts, fl); Chuck Gentry (bs); Jimmy Rowles (p); Bob Bain (g); Dorothy Remsen (harp); Joe Mondragon (b); Jerry Williams, Shelly Manne (d); Larry Bunker, Frank Flynn, John F. Williams (perc). Columbia Records Studio, Hollywood, April 28, May 2 & 4, 1961 Personnel on So Nice!: JOHNNY DESMOND, vocals, with Johnny Williams Orchestra Frank Beach, Don Fagerquist, Johnny Audino (tp); Joe Howard, Ray Sims (tb); Bob Enevoldsen (v-tb); George Roberts (b-tb); Ronnie Lang, Herman Gunkler (cl, as); Bill Holman, Gene Cipriano (ts); Marty Berman (bar); Tom Tedesco (g); Johnny Williams (p); Larry Bunker (vib); Buddy Clark (b); Frank Capp (d). Arrangements: Johnny Williams & Bill Holman Radio Recorders, Hollywood, February 24, 1958 Personnel on Bonus Tracks: JOHNNY WILLIAMS and His Orchestra Maurie Harris, Cappy Lewis (tp); Dick Noel, Lloyd Ulyate (tb); Johnny Williams (p); Bill Pitman (g); Joe Mondragon (b); Shelly Manne (d). Recorded at Columbia Records Studio, Hollywood, 1962; and February 11, 1963 Original recordings produced by Jim Harbert (Columbia) and Dave Pell (Tops/Venise) Compiled for CD release by Jordi Pujol Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered