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Wardell Gray Chronology |
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Created by Leif Bo Petersen |
Last updated: December 15, 2024. |
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Date |
Event |
References/Further Details |
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Probably
1954 |
Wardell
Gray - Dexter Gordon Release
of Savoy XP 8115, Hollywood Jazz
Session vol 2 7”
45 rpm. EP record Re-release
of BOP 101 and 102 Hollywood
Jazz Session Recorded
July 6, 1947. XP
8115 A Rock N’ Shoals Savoy
XP 8115 B Rock N’ Shoals |
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January
early |
Little
Willie Littlefield Release
of Federal 12163. 10”
78 rpm. record. Federal
45-12163. 7 “
45 rpm. single record Little
Willie Littlefield. Recorded
October 30, 1953. 12163
A 45-12163
A Please Don’t Go (O-o-o-oh) 12163
B 45-12163
B Don’t Take My Heart, Little Girl |
”Review
of This Week’s New Records: Rhythm & Blues,” Billboard, January 9, 1943, 22: positive
review. |
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January early |
Wardell
Gray and Dexter Gordon Release
of Decca DL 7025, The Chase and Steeplechase 10”
33 rpm. LP. Wardell
Gray and Dexter Gordon Recorded
February 2, 1952. DL
7025 A The Chase DL
7025 B Steeplechase |
Packaged
Record Review Ratings: Popular albums: Jazz,” Billboard, January 2,
1954, 26: Rating 73. “Record
Reviews,” Metronome, February 1954, 23: Review with reservations: The
chase: C+ (fair); The steeplechase. B- (fairly good). |
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January
8 |
Wardell
Gray Nob
Hill, Chicago, IL. January
8–late. |
“Strictly
Ad Lib: Chicago,” Down Beat, January 27, 1954, 3; Wardell Gray at Nob Hill
from January 8 for a month. |
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January
31 |
Modern Sounds Wardell Gray, Red Callender, Buddy Collette, Al
Bartee, Carl Perkins, John Ewing, and others. Pastel Room, Los Angeles, CA. 4–8 p.m. |
“Modern Sounds At Pastel Room Sunday at Four,” California Eagle, January 28, 1954, 9. |
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February
4 |
Tour George Shearing Quintet Including: Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Cal
Tjader (vib); George Shearing (p); Al McKibbon (b); Bill Clark (d). Just Jazz All Stars Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims accompanied
by local bands. February
4–12. Gene
Norman (prod). 8
one-niters: Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, San Francisco, Eugene,
Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. |
“Norman
Sets Shearing for 1-Niter Tour, Billboard,
January 30, 1954, 26. “Shearing
appears With New Quintet,” San Diego
Union, February 8, 1954, a-13. |
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February
4 |
George Shearing Quintet Just Jazz All Stars Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims – Stan Getz accompanied
by Sauter-Finegan Orchestra Rendezvous
Ballroom, Balboa, CA. Gene
Norman (prod). |
“Clef
Dwellers,” Variety, January 28,
1954, 15: Gene Norman has added another date to the Sauter-Finegan Southern
California Stretch. Band will have a one-niter at the Rendezvous Ballroom,
Balboa, a week from tonight. “Package
$7,415 on HWD. 1-Niter,” Billboard,
February 20, 1954, 17. |
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February
5 |
George Shearing Quintet Just Jazz All Stars Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims – Stan Getz accompanied
by Sauter-Finegan Orchestra Embassy
Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA. Two
Shows: 8:00 and 10:45 pm. Gene
Norman (prod). |
“On
the Upbeat,” Variety, February 3,
1954, 54. “Sauter-Finegan
Concert Tonight at Embassy Hall,” Valley Times, February 5, 1954, 8. “Package
$7,415 on HWD. 1-Niter,” Billboard,
February 20, 1954, 17. |
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February
6 |
George Shearing Quintet Just Jazz All Stars Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims – Stan Getz accompanied
by Roger
Fleming (p), Buddy Woodson (b), Lawrence Marable (d). Coliseum,
San Diego, CA. Gene
Norman (prod). |
“Shearing
appears With New Quintet,” San Diego
Union, February 8, 1954, a-13. |
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February
8 |
George Shearing Quintet Just Jazz All Stars Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims – Stan Getz accompanied
by Gerald Wilson Orchestra San
Francisco Veteran’s Memorial. CA. Gene
Norman (prod). Recordings
exist. |
For
details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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February
10 |
George Shearing Quintet Just Jazz All Stars Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims – Stan Getz accompanied
by: Bob Alcivar (p; Larry Rockwell (b); Bill Kotick (d). MacArthur
Court, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR. Gene
Norman (prod). |
“Shearing
Unit om OU Campus,” Register- Guard
(Eugene, OR.) February 7, 1944, 4B: Shearing Quintet at MacArthur Court,
University of Oregon, February 10, 7:30. Ad
in Register- Guard (Eugene, OR.),
February 10, 1954, 5B: the ad only mentions the Shearing quintet. “At
Oregon,” Oregon Statesman (Salem,
OR.), sec. 2, 11: Mention both Shearing and a Battle of Saxes. “Roots:
Seattle Drummer Bill Kotick,” Earshot Jazz, January 20, 2019, 7: give
All Star rhythm personnel. |
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February
11 |
George Shearing Quintet Just Jazz All Stars Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims – Stan Getz accompanied
by: Bob Alcivar (p; Larry Rockwell (b); Bill Kotick (d). Benson
High School Auditorium, Portland, OR. Gene
Norman (prod). |
“Blind
Pianist Due,” Oregonian, February
11, 1954, 8. |
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February
12 |
George Shearing Quintet Just Jazz All Stars A Battle of Saxes Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims accompanied
by: Bob Alcivar (p; Larry Rockwell (b); Bill Kotick (d). Metropolitan
Theatre, Seattle, WA. 9:30
p.m. Gene
Norman (prod). Stan
Getz had been arrested in the morning for an abortive drug store robbery. |
Ad
in Seattle Times, February 12,
1954, 24: The ad has not Stan Getz. D.
L. Maggin, Stan Getz – A Life in
Jazz (1996), 131–33. |
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February
13 |
George Shearing Quintet A Battle of Saxes Wardell Gray – Zoot Sims Probably
accompanied by: Bob Alcivar (p; Larry Rockwell (b); Bill Kotick (d). Georgia
Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 8:30
p.m. Gene
Norman (prod). |
Ad
in Vancouver Sun, February 6, 1954, 46: The ad has Stan Getz. |
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February
21 |
Wardell Gray Knights & Dawn Trio Garden
of Allah, San Diego, CA. 2–7
p.m. Sunday
Jazz presented by Don Howard. |
Ad
in San Diego Union, February 20, 1954,
a-8. |
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March |
Little
Willie Littlefield Release
of Federal 12174. 10”
78 rpm. record. Federal
45-12174. 7 “
45 rpm. single record Recorded
October 30, 1953. Little
Willie Littlefield. 12174
A F
45-12174 A Goofy Dust Blues 12174
B Federal
45-12174 B Falling Tears |
”Review
of This Week’s New Records: Rhythm & Blues,” Billboard, March 27, 1943, 36: positive
review. |
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March |
Billy
Eckstine Release
of M-G-M 11694. 10”
78 rpm. recording. M-G-M
K-11694. 7”
45 rpm. single recording. Wardell
Gray appears only on 11694 B Billy
Eckstine accompanied by Lou Bring and His orchestra Recorded
January 4, 1954.. M11694
A K-11694
A Lost in Loveliness Billy
Eckstine with the Pied Pipers Recorded
December 29, 1953. accompanied
by Lou Bring an His Orchestra 11694
B K-11694
B Don’t Get around Much Anymore |
Ad
for Clef, Billboard, March 27, 1954, 26. |
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April
18 |
Wardell Gray Pershing
Ballroom, Chicago, IL. |
"Rhythm n' Blues Ramblings," Cash Box,
Music, April 24, 1954, 25. |
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May
11 |
Jazz a la Carte Dave Brubeck Quartette Anita O’Day Shorty Rogers and His Giants Wardell Gray, Zoot Sims, Harry
Edison, Shelly Manne, Arnold Ross, Jackie Mills, Joe Comfort, and Barney Kessel. Embassy
Auditorium, Los Angeles, CA. May
11, 1954, 8:15 p.m. Irving
Granz (prod.) Jazz
ala Carte featuring Down Beat Award Winners. |
Ad in Daily
Trojan, Friday, May 7, 1954, 2. “Irv Granz’ Jazz Series Gets off to a Big Start,” Down
Beat, June 16, 2: review. |
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July |
Wardell Gray Combo Planning
a combo including drummer Chuck Thompson for touring in California. |
“Return
of the Thin Man,” Melody Maker,
July 51, 1954, 3. |
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July
early |
Wardell Gray Swing Sextet Including Bert Dale [Dahlander] (d); Norman
Simmons (dir). Bee Hive, Chicago, IL July 7 : Audience recordings exist. |
“Swing
Row Is My Beat,” Kansas City Call, July 30, 1954, 8. For
details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html |
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July
late |
Louis
Bellson Release
of Norgran 108. 10”
78 rpm. record. Wardell
Gray only appears on 108 A Louis
Bellson and His Orchestra Recorded July 1953. Norgran
108 A For Europeans Only Louis
Bellson Quintet. Recorded March 1954. Norgran
108 B Loris |
Other
Records Released This Week,” Billboard, July 31, 1954, 40. |
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July
late |
Louis
Bellson Probably
July late. Release
of Norgran MG N 14, The Exiting Mr. Bellson. 10”
33 rpm LP recording. The
Exiting Mr. Bellson and His Band. Recorded
July 1953 MG
N 14-A Skin Deep Recorded March 1954. Loris Recorded
July 1953 MG
N 14-B For Europeans Only Phalanges Caxton Hall Swing |
“Jazz
Reviews,” Down Beat, July 28, 1954, 13: friendly review: 3 stars
(good). “Record
Reviews,” Metronome, September 1954, 25: Friendly review: Skin
Deep: B- (fairly good). For
Europeans Only: B- (Fairly good). Phalanges:
B good). Caxton
Hall Swing: C+ (fair). |
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July
30 |
Wardell
Gray Jimmie
Richardson and His Band Blue
Bird Inn, Detroit, MI. July
30–August 17. |
Ad
in Michigan Chronicle, July 31, 1954, 10: Opening July 30. Returning August
18: Sonny Stitt. |
|
August |
Count
Basie Release
of: Epic EG 7029. 7”
45 rpm. EP. Count
Basie & His Orch. Recorded
April 10, 1951. EG
7029 A Nails November
3, 1950. I’ll Remember April EG
7029 B Recorded
April 10, 1951. Howzit Little White Lies |
“Reviews
of Some Recent Albums,” San Francisco Chronicle, August 15, 1954, This
World 21. |
|
August
mid |
Wardell Gray Combo Leading
own combo in the middle West. |
“Swinging
the News,” Chicago Defender, August
14, 1954, 19. |
|
September |
Billy
Eckstine Release
of M-G-M E257, I Let a Song Go out
of My Heart 10”
33 rpm LP. M-G-M
X257 7”
45 rpm. EP double album Billy
Eckstine accompanied by Lou Bring an His Orchestra Recorded
December 29, 1953. MGM
E257 MGM
X257 A I Let a Song Go out of My Heart Don’t Get around Much Anymore MGM
X257 B Solitude Prelude to a Kiss MGM
E257 MGM
X257 C Mood Indigo Do Nothin’ ‘till you Hear from Me MGM
X257 D I Got It Bad Sophisticated Lady |
”Reviews
of New Popular Records,” Billboard, October 16, 1954, 34: positive review. |
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September |
Release
of M-G-M 11845 10” 78 rpm. recording. M-G-M K 11845 7” 45 rpm. single recording.
Billy
Eckstine accompanied by Lou Bring an His Orchestra Recorded
December 29, 1953. 11845 A K 11845 Mood Indigo 11845 B K 11845 Do
Nothin’ ‘till you Hear from Me |
Reviews and Ratings of Some New Popular
Records,” Billboard, September 11, 1954, 30: Very positive review. “Record Reviews, Metronome,
December 1954, 33: Positive review:
Mood Indigo B?+ (very good); Down Nothing Till You Hear From Me: B (Good). |
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September
3 |
Ira Sullivan-Wardell Gray Ira
Sullivan, Wardell Gray. Bee
Hive Lounge, Chicago, IL. September
3–23?. Extra
Monday Night Session. |
Ad
in Chicago Daily Sun-Times, September 3, 1954, 34. Ad
in Chicago Daily Sun-Times, September 18, 1954, 48. Ads
in Chicago Defender, September 18
and 25, 1954, 15 and 25. |
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September
27 |
Wardell Gray and Jo Jones Trio Wardell
Gray (ts); Duke Jordan (p); Tommy Potter (b); Jo Jones (d). Scale’s,
New York, NY. September
27–October 3. |
“Cool
School Offers Drums,” Milwaukee Journal,
September 28, 1954, part 2, 11. |
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October |
Billy
Eckstine Release
of MGM 11845. 10”
78 rpm. recording. 7”
45 rpm. Single recording. Recorded
December 29, 1953. Billy
Eckstine accompanied by Lou Bring an His Orchestra MGM
11845 A Mood Indigo MGM
11845 B Do Nothin’ ‘till you Hear from Me |
Reviews
and Ratings of Some New Popular Records,” Billboard, September 11, 1954, 30:
Very positive review. |
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October/ November |
Wardell Gray Engagements
as single. Baltimore,
MD. |
Wardell
Gray letter to Dorothy Gray dated Toronto October 19. http://faculty.hampshire.edu/aravett/ftenor/index.html |
|
October
mid? |
Wardell Gray New
York, NY. Without
work. |
Wardell
Gray letter to Dorothy Gray dated Toronto October 19. http://faculty.hampshire.edu/aravett/ftenor/index.html |
|
October
25 |
Wardell Gray – Eddie Chamblee Loop
Lounge, Cleveland, OH. October
25–31. Battle
of Saxes. |
Ad
in Cleveland Plain Dealer, October
24, 1954, 59-D: Wardell gray: starting tomorrow. Ad
in Cleveland Plain Dealer, October
31, 1954, 65-D: Wardell Gray: Last time tonight. |
|
November
early |
Wardell Gray 2
weeks without a gig. |
Wardell
Gray letter to Dorothy Gray dated Toronto December 8. |
|
November
late |
Wardell Gray Detroit,
MI. One
week. |
Wardell
Gray letter to Dorothy Gray dated Toronto December 8. http://faculty.hampshire.edu/aravett/ftenor/index.html |
|
November
late |
Wardell Gray Boston,
MA. One
week. |
Wardell
Gray letter to Dorothy Gray dated Toronto December 8. http://faculty.hampshire.edu/aravett/ftenor/index.html |
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December
early |
Wardell Gray Probably
accompanied by Bill Goddard Quartet. Metropole
Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. One
week. |
Wardell
Gray letter to Dorothy Gray dated Toronto December 8. http://faculty.hampshire.edu/aravett/ftenor/index.html Photo showing Dorham at the Metropole has a poster
on the wall mentioning Gray as future guest.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kenny_Dorham.jpg |
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December
10 |
Wardell Gray Al
Hibbler, Wardell Gray. Bee
Hive Lounge, Chicago, IL. December
10–January early.. |
Ad
in Chicago Sun-Times, December 10, 1954, 70- Ad
in Chicago Defender, December 18, 1954, 15. Wardell
Gray letter to Dorothy Gray dated Toronto December 8. http://faculty.hampshire.edu/aravett/ftenor/index.html |