acoustic bass Israel Crosby
acoustic bass Max Wayne
alto horn Dom Carone
baritone saxophone Dan Handby
bassoon Wilbur Simpson
chanter Shelby Davis
drums Mickey Simonetta
flute Larry Molinelli
flute Martin Lerner
french horn Christopher Leuba
french horn Leon Mendelshon
french horn Ralph Macciocchi
french horn Ralph Meltzer
guitar Bob Leshner
oboe Robert Mayer
piano Eddie Baker
piano Lloyd Lifton
tenor saxophone Bill Trujillo
tenor saxophone Kenny Mann
trombone Bill Porter
trombone Bill Russo
trumpet Gail Brockman
tuba Clyde Bachand
The Bill Russo Ensemble (tracks 1-8): Gail Brockman (tp) Bill Russo, Bill Porter (tb) Chris Leuba, Ralph Meltzer (Fr-h) Clyde Bachand (tuba) Dom Carone (as) Kenny Mann (ts) Dan Handley (bs) Lloyd Lifton (p) Bob Leshner (g) Max Wayne (b) Mickey Simonetta (d) Shelby Davis (vcl)*, Chicago, August 15 1951 : An Esthete on Clark Street / S'posin'*
Bill Russo Quintet - Same session, Bill Russo (tb) Kenny Mann (ts) Lloyd Lifton (p) Max Wayne (b) Mickey Simonetta (d) only : Cathy / Cookie
The Bill Russo Orchestra (tracks 5-8), same session: Gail Brockman (tp) Bill Russo (tb) Chris Leuba, Ralph Meltzer, Ralph Macciocchi, Leon Mendelshon (Fr-h) Clyde Bachand (tuba) Martin Lerner, Larry Molinelli (fl) Robert Mayer (oboe) Wilbur Simpson (bassoon) Dom Carone (as) Kenny Mann (ts) Dan Handley (bs) Lloyd Lifton (p) Bob Leshner (g) Max Wayne (b) Mickey Simonetta (d) Shelby Davis (vcl)* : Ennui / Gloomy Sunday* / Vignette / Strange Fruit*
Shelby Davis (tracks 9-10), same session, Lloyd Lifton (p) Bob Leshner (g) Max Wayne (b) Mickey Simonetta (d) Shelby Davis (vcl) only : I Can't Get Started / My Man
The World of Alcina (tracks 17-21)
Bill Russo Septet: Bill Russo (v-tb) Bill Porter (tb) Bill Trujillo, Sandy Mosse (ts) Eddie Baker (p) Israel Crosby (b) Mickey Simonetta (d) Chicago, April 18 1955: Under the Greenwood Tree / The First Saturday in May / Speculum
Bill Russo Quintet: Bill Russo (v-tb) Bill Trujillo(ts) Eddie Baker (p) Israel Crosby (b) Mickey Simonetta (d) Chicago, April 19 1955 : Bill's Blues / L'affaire Bugs / For My Sister
Bill Russo Orchestra: John Howell, Al Mueller, Porky Panico, Dom Geraci, Dave Mulholland (tp) Tommy Shepare, Paul Grumbaugh, Paul Severson, Marc McDunn, Earl Hoffman (tb) Philip Farkas, Frank Brook (Fr-h) Don Hagner (tuba) Ronnie Kolher, Lennie Druss, Hobart Grimes, Vito Price, Mike Simpson, Gus Jean, Phil Wing, Kenny Soderblom (saxes and woodwinds) Eddie Baker (p) Mel Schmitt (b) Earl Bakus (g) Mickey Simonetta (d) Bill Russo (conductor) Chicago, May 6 1956 : Five Dances from The World of Alcina: Solo of Girl / Solo of Boy / Chorus and Solo of Girl / Duet for Boy and Girl / Chorus, Solo of Boy, Solo of Girl, Ensemble
Bill Russo first came to the attention of the jazz media in the late forties when he was leading an experimental rehearsal band in Chicago. His early attempts to present his music to the public were disappointing and resulted in neither critical nor popular acclaim. He persevered, however, and in 1951 came to the attention of Dave Usher of DeeGee records which resulted in a ten inch LP for that label (later reissued on Savoy) entitled A Recital of New American Music. This LP is the source the first ten tracks on this CD.
The musicians involved in this project were, I presume, all Chicago locals and the only ones familiar to me are the fluent trumpeter Gail Brockman, best remembered for his participation in early recordings by Gene Amnions, pianist Lloyd Lifton and bassist Max Wayne. …



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