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1953 |
Wardell
Gray Chronology |
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Created by Leif
Bo Petersen |
Last updated: December
14, 2024. |
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Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
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Probably early
1953 |
Various Artists Release of Savoy MG 9020. Hollywood Jazz Session vol. 1 10” 33 rpm. record Re-issue of Savoy 962–64. Hollywood Jazz Concert Recorded July 6, 1947. MG-9020 A Byas-A-Drink Part 1 MG-9020 B Byas-A-Drink Part 2 |
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Probably
January |
Wardell Gray Release of Prestige 759 and 760. 10” 78 rpm. discs. Wardell Gray All Stars Recorded August 27, 1950 759 A Kiddo Part 1 759 B Kiddo Part 2 760 A Kiddo Part 3 760 B Kiddo Part 4 |
“Record Reviews” Metronome, February
1953, 25: negative review: Kiddo: B (mediocre). |
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Probably
January |
Wardell Gray Release of Prestige 778 and 779. 10” 78 rpm. records. Wardell Gray All Stars Recorded August 27, 1950 778 A Jazz on Sunset Part 1 778 B Jazz on Sunset 2 779 A Jazz on Sunset Part 3 779 B Jazz on Sunset Part 4 |
“Record Reviews” Metronome, February
1953, 25: negative review: Jazz on Sunset: B (mediocre). |
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January |
Wardell Gray Release of Prestige PRLP 128. Jazz concert with Wardell Gray All
Stars. 10” 33 rpm LP Reissue of Prestige 759, 760, 778, and
779. Wardell Gray All Stars Recorded August 27, 1950 PRLP 128 A Jazz at Sunset PRLP 128 B Kiddo |
“Album and LP Reviews: Popular,” Billboard, January 17, 1953,
58: Reserved review:. Positive mention of Wardell Gray. Overall rating: 60. |
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January |
Dexter Gordon Release of Swing Time 323 10” 78 rpm. record. 7” 45 rpm single record. Dexter Gordon Recorded June 9, 1952. 323A My Kinda Love 323B Citizen Bop |
”Record Reviews: Rhythm & Blues,” Billboard,
January 17, 1952, 57: Friendly review. |
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January 1 |
Wardell Gray Sextet Clef, Los
Angeles, CA. January 1–mid March. Sunday Jazz Concerts. 3 pm. February 24: A recording exists. January 10: Wardell Gray Sextet,
metronome and Down Beat All Stars. February 14: Dexter Gordan, Wardell
Gray, Hampton Hawes, and Art Pepper. March 7: Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray,
and others. March 14: Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, and others. |
Cafes and Night Spots, Los Angeles
Evening Herald Express. January 2, 1953, A-7: Playing here. Ad in Mirror, January 10, 1953, 14:
Sunday Jazz Concert: Wardell Gray Sextet, Metronome and Down Beat All Stars. Ad in Mirror, February 14, 1953, 14:
Sunday Jazz Concert: Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, Hampton Hawes, and Art
Pepper. Ad in Mirror, February 21, 1953, 16. Ad in Mirror, February 28, 1953, 14. Ad in Mirror, March 5, 1953, 55. Ad in Mirror, March 7, 1953, 16: Sunday Jazz Concert: Dexter Gordon,
Wardell Gray, and others. Ad in Mirror, March 12, 55. Ad in Mirror, March 14, 1953, 16:
Sunday Jazz Concert: Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray, and others. http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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January mid |
Gene Norman’s Just Jazz Release of RCA Victor LPM 3102. Gene Norman Presents “Just Jazz” featuring
Les Thompson and His Harmonica. 10” 33 rpm. record Wardell Gray and Dexter Gordon only
appear on Stardust, Robbin’s Nest, and Take the A Train. Gene Norman presents Just Jazz Recorded February 2, 1952 LPM 3102 A Stardust Robbin’s Nest I’m in the Mood for Love Take the A Train Victor LPM 3102 B Undecided Hot Harmonica Boogie Over the Rainbow Lady Be Good |
Ad for RCA Victor, Billboard,
January 24, 1952, 31: This Week’s New Releases. “Jazz Reviews,” Down Beat, May 6, 1953,
14: Review with reservations: 2 stars (fair). “Record Reviews,” Metronome, July
1953, 25: positive review: (fair). |
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February 7 |
Gala Jazz Concert Dinah Washington Arthur Prysock Joe Houston and Orchestra Wardell Gray Joe Adams Ray Robinson (mc) Municipal Auditorium, Long Beach, CA. |
Ad in Long Beach Independent,
February 7, 1953, B-8. |
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February 20 |
Teddy Charles West Coasters Frank
Morgan (as); Wardell Gray (ts); Teddy Charles (vib); Sonny Clark (p); Dick
Nivison (b); Lawrence Marable (d). Unknown studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for Prestige. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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February 24 |
Wardell Gray -Dexter Gordon Quintet Wardell Gray,
Dexter Gordon (ts); Russ Freeman (p); Clarence Jones (b); Lawrance Marable
(). The Clef, Los
Angeles, CA. recording
exists. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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March |
Various Artists Release of Savoy MG 9027, Hollywood
Jazz Session vol. 2. 10 “ 33 rpm. record. Hollywood Jazz Concert Recorded July 6, 1947. MG-9031 A The Hunt MG-9031 B What Is This thing Called Love |
”The New Pop Albums,” San Francisco
Chronicle, March 29, 1953. |
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March mid |
Wardell Gray Quintet The Clef, Los
Angeles, CA. Sunday Jazz Concerts 3 pm. March mid–? |
Ad in Los Angeles Mirror, March
18, 53. |
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March late |
Wardell Gray Release of Prestige 840. 10” 78 rpm. record. Prestige 45-840 7” 45 rpm. single record. Wardell Gray LA Stars Recorded January 21, 1952. 840 A 45-840 A Bright Boy 840 B 45-840 B April Skies |
Review of This Week’s New Records,” Billboard,
March 28, 44: positive review. “Down Beat Record Reviews: Jazz,” Down
Beat, April 22, 1953, 20: positive review: 3 stars (good), |
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May 3 |
Wardell Gray House of Sunset, Los Angeles, CA, May Day Frolic. Douze Migonettes (prod). |
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May mid |
Wardell Gray Music Town, Los Angeles, CA. |
“Peoples and Places,” California Eagle,
May 21, 13. |
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May 24 |
Jam Session Wardell Gray The Robins Ginger Smock Fletcher Lutcher Strollers Club, Long Beach, CA. Sunday Afternoon Jam Session, 3:30 pm. |
Ad in Long Beach Independent, May
23, 1953, 9. |
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June |
Wardell Gray Release of Wardell Gray, Prestige PRLP 147. 10” 33 rpm LP record. Wardell Gray – Los Angeles All Stars Recorded January 21, 1952 PRLP 147 A April Skies Bright Boy Jackie PRLP 147 B Sweet and Lovely Lover Man Farmer’s Market |
“Jazz Reviews,” Down Beat, June 3.
1953, 22: Friendly review: 2 stars (fair). “Record Reviews,” Metronome, July
1953, 25: negative review: Album rating C (mediocre). |
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Probably June |
Wardell Gray Release of Prestige 853. 10” 78 rpm. record. Wardell Gray L. A. Stars Recorded January 21, 1952. 853 A Jackie 853 B Sweet and Lovely |
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June 19 |
Jam session Wardell Gray
(ts); Gerald Wiggins (p); John Simmons
(b); Jimmy Pratt
(d). Sanford
Overton (mc) Pico Dilly,
Los Angeles, CA. |
Ad in Los Angeles Tribune, June
19, 1953, 20, |
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June 26 |
Jam session Wardell Gray
(ts); Gerald Wiggins (p); John Simmons
(b); Jimmy Pratt
(d). Sanford
Overton (mc) Pico Dilly,
Los Angeles, CA. |
Ad in Los Angeles Tribune, June 26,
1953, 20, |
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June late |
Oscar Pettiford Band Including
Wardell Gray (ts)‚ Oscar Pettiford (cello); John Simmons (b). Cable Car
Village, San Francisco, CA. One week. |
“On and Off the Record,” San
Francisco Chronicle, July 5, 1953, The World 19. |
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Probably 1953 mid |
Various Artists Release of Savoy MG-9031, Hollywood
Jazz Session vol. 3. 10” 33 rpm. record Hollywood Jazz Concert Recorded July 6, 1947. MG-9031 A Back Breaker Part 1 MG-9031 B Back Breaker Part 1 |
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July |
Louis Bellson and His Orchestra Harry
Sweets Edison, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn (tp); Hoyt Bohannon,
Herb Harper, Tommy Pederson (tb); Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as) Wardell
Gray, Bumps Myers (ts); Bob Lawson (bar); Jimmy Rowles (p); Barney Kessel
(el-g); John Simmons (b); Louis Bellson (d). Unknown studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for Clef. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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August |
Helen Humes Decca 28802 10” 78 rpm. record. Helen Humes. Recorded February 2, 1952. 28802 A Mean Way of Lovin’ 28802 B I Cried for You |
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August |
Oscar Pettiford Band Allan Smith (tp); Frank Morgan (as);
Wardell Gray (ts); Oscar Pettiford (b); Unidentified (d). Down Beat Club, San Francisco, CA. |
Otto Flückiger's Wardell Gray
Discography in Jazz Podium, June
1955. |
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August |
Teddy Charles Release of Prestige 889. The B side has material from another
Teddy Charles Session) 10” 78 rpm. Prestige 889 -X45 7” 45 rpm. single record. Teddy Charles West Coasters. Recorded February 20. 1953 889 A 889 -X45 A So Long Broadway Teddy Charles New directions Unidentified recording date 889 B 889 -X45 B Nobody’s Heart |
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August |
Teddy Charles Release of Prestige prep 1307, Teddy
Charles West coasters. 7” 45 rpm. EP. Teddy Charles West Coasters Recorded February 20. 1953 prEP 1307A The Man I Love Lavonne prEP PREP 1307 B So Long Broadway (Prestige 889 B) Paul’s Cause |
Ad for J. B. Penney Music Co., Ventura
County Star-Free Press, August 6, 1953, 40: lists this EP. “Jazz Reviews,” Down Beat,
November 18, 1953, 14: Review with reservations: 2 stars (fair). “Record Reviews,” Metronome,
September 1953, 22–23: Review with reservations: C+ (fair). |
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August 18 |
Norman Granz Jam Session Harry
Edison (tp); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as); Stan Getz,
Wardell Gray (ts); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); John Simmons (b); Buddy
Rich (d). Radio Recorder’s Studio, Los Angeles,
CA. August 18, 1953. Commercial recordings for Clef. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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September |
Jam Sessions Wardell ay and
others Pico dilly,
Los Angeles, CA. Monday night
Jam sessions. September
–October. |
“On the Beat,” Los Angeles Tribune,
September 18, 1953, 22. Photo and caption in Los Angeles Tribune
October 9, 1952, 23: Monday night jam session at Pico Dilly. Wardell Gray
(ts), Fran Morgan (as), David Bryant (b) |
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September 4 |
Wardell Gray Hotel
cosmopolitan, Los Angeles, CA. Apollons Dance. |
“People and Places,” California Eagle,
September 3, 1953, 6. |
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September 6 |
Wardell Gray Diane
Ballroom, Los Angeles, CA. Pre-Labor
Swing Session. Royal Syndicators (prod). |
“Syndicators Hold Pre-Labor Day Dance,” California
Eagle, September 3, 1953, 8: has September 8. “People and Places,” California Eagle,
September 3, 1953, 6: has September 6. |
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September 20 |
Concert Dizzy Gillespie Billy Eckstine Ruth Brown Shorty Rogers All Stars 16 pieces: Including Conrad Gozo (tb);
Wardell Gray (ts); Lorraine Geller (p). Don Howard & Gene Norman (prod). Russ Auditorium, San Diego, CA. |
“First of KSDO’s Jazz Concerts Opens at
Russ,” San Diego Union, September
21, 1953, a-12. |
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October 9 |
Wardell Gray Combo Zodiac Room,
Hotel Cosmopolitan, Los Angeles, CA. Convention
Ball, |
“Brotherhood Takes Over Hotel
Cosmopolitan,” California Eagle October 8, 1953, 7. |
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October late |
Louis Bellson and His Orchestra Release of Clef 89083 10” 78 rpm. record. Louis Bellson and His Orchestra Recorded July 1953. 89083 A Phalanges 89083 B Caxton Hall Swing |
Ad in Billboard, October 31, 1953. ”Review of This Week’s New Records,”
Billboard, November 21, 1953, 54: positive review. “Jazz Reviews,” Down Beat,
December 30, 1953, 13: positive review: Caxton Hall Swing. 3 stars (good);
Phalanges: 2 stars (fair). |
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October 30 |
Little Willie Littlefield Wardell
Gray (ts); Little Willie Littlefield (p, voc); Jesse Irvin (g); Mario
Delagarde (b); Bill Douglas (d) Unidentified studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for Federal. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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November 12 |
Devil’s Daughter (Doreen Coecquette) (dance) Scatman Carothers (voc, mc) Arnold Dover (impressionist) Sylvia Moon (voc) Gerry Moore (mc) Wardell Gray’s Orchestra Club Oasis,
Los Angeles, CA. November 12–December 3. |
“Nite Life,” Los Angeles Mirror, November
12, 1953, 49. Ad in Los Angeles Tribune,
November 13, 1953, 23. “Small Talk,” Los Angeles Tribune,
November 20, 1953, 14: Review of the show. |
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December late |
Various artists Release of MG C-4003, Jam Session #
3. 10” 33 rpm. record. Jam Session Recorded August 18, 1953. MG C-4003 A Apple Jam MG C-4003 B Ballad Medley |
Ad for Clef, Billboard, January
2, 1953. “Turk Murphy’s Jazz and Claire Austin’s
Vocals,” San Francisco Examiner, January 10, 1954, 10: release of Jam Session
records December late. “Jazz Reviews,” Metronome, March 1954,
24: Positive review with reservations: Apple Jam: C (mediocre) Ballad medley: Indian summer: B (good) Willie Smith
feature. Willow Weep for Me: B+ (very god) Stan
Getz feature. If I had You: B (good) Harry Edison
feature. Ghost of a Chance: B (good) Wardell Gray
feature. Love Walked In: B+ (very good) Arnold
Ross feature. Body and soul: B (good) John Simmons
feature. Nancy: A- (excellent) Buddy De Franco feature. I Hadn’t Anyone ‘Till You: B+ (very
good) Benny Carter feature. |
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December late |
Various artists Release of MG C-4003, Jam Session #
4. 10” 33 rpm. record. Recorded August 18, 1953. MG C-4004 A Oh, Lady Be Good MG C-4004 B Blues for the Count |
Ad for Clef, Billboard, January
2, 1953. “Turk Murphy’s Jazz and Claire Austin’s
Vocals,” San Francisco Examiner, January 10, 1954, 10: release of Jam Session
records December late. “Jazz Reviews,” Metronome, March
1954, 24: Positive review with reservations: Lady Be Good: B (good) Blues for the Count: B (good) |
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December 4 |
Sugar Hill Revue The Robins (voc) Slappy White (comedy) Gene Bell (dance) Oasis chorus Cuties Wardell Gray All Stars December 4, 1953–January 14, 1954. |
Ad in Los Angeles Mirror, December 3, 1953,
66. “Sugar Hill Review Opening Tonight at
Oasis,” Los Angeles Mirror, December 3, 1953, 66. Ad in Los Angeles Mirror, January
14, 1954, 41: Sugar Hill Revie 2nd edition opens tomorrow; Johnny Andersson
Orchestra. Wardell Gray stopped early in January.
See January 8, 1954. |
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December 23 |
Billy Eckstine acc. by Lou Bring and His Orchestra Including:
Harry Sweets Edison (tp); Wardell Gray (ts); Billy Eckstine (voc); Nelson
Riddle (arr); Lou Bring (cond). Unidentified
studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for MG. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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December 23 |
Billy Eckstine acc. by Lou Bring and His Orchestra Including:
Harry Sweets Edison (tp); Wardell Gray (ts); Billy Eckstine (voc); Nelson
Riddle (arr); Lou Bring (cond). Unidentified
studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for MG. |
For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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December 30 |
Down Beat Band Poll Tenor Sax: 1. Stan Getz 2. Flip Philips 3. Lester Young 4. 4. Dave Pell, 5. Charlie Ventura Wardell Gray
is not listed. |
“Here Are the Final Results of 17the Annual down Beat Poll,” Down Beat,
December 30, 1953, 7–8. |