Debut Records
Debut Records was the first American music label to be owned by musicians . It was founded in 1952 by bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach . It lasted until 1957. The debut recordings have since appeared in the Fantasy Records catalog .
History of the label
In order to be able to produce without commercial concessions to the jazz producers of the big labels and to have control over their own records, Charles Mingus founded the debut label with drummer Max Roach in April 1952 . "We decided early on to start our own record company because people didn't break the door to convince us that we should make records under our own name," Roach later summed up the situation. Mingus raised the money for the first record productions; Mingus also convinced the cigar dealer William J. Brandt to participate as a silent partner in the company. Mingus and Roach acted as the directors and producers. The label had problems with distribution from the start. Debut released 26 long-playing records between 1952 and 1957, 17 of them "small" LPs (10 inch diameter). Singles and EPs were also released there.
Mingus and Roach not only recorded their own projects on the label, but also involved a wide variety of musicians in order to record the various then current directions of modern jazz , cool jazz ( Lee Konitz ), bebop ( Charlie Parker , Dizzy Gillespie and Bud Powell ), vocal numbers ( Jackie Paris ) and experimental jazz by the various members of the Jazz Composers Workshop . The recordings of Mingus 'own jazz workshop ( Mingus At The Bohemia, + Max Roach ) point to Mingus' later work.
Charles Mingus had the most lasting influence on the debut label, as a bassist, composer, band leader, arranger and producer. In addition to taking pictures as a leader ( Mingus At The Bohemia ), he dedicated himself entirely to his discoveries. The spectrum that the musicians played on the label's sound carrier ranged from bar music to avant-garde; Mingus played in many of his productions and let his colleagues do their thing. Among them were the singing group The Gordons with Honi Gordon , the pianist John Dennis and the trumpeter Thad Jones .
The debut recordings show Charles Mingus at an early stage of his development in the years just before his breakthrough. Especially the live recordings of December 23, 1955 with Max Roach ( Mingus at the Bohemia , The Charles Mingus Quintet Plus Max Roach ) capture the moment when Mingus found his unmistakable style.
As early as 1955, the label was producing recordings that focused on Alonzo Lonnie Levister's talent for arranging , that were no longer discussed with Max Roach and probably snubbed him. In 1956, there was only one recording session for the label, unlike in 1957. By 1956 at the latest, the label moved away from the basic idea of the musician's own company, which primarily publishes its own productions: Mingus also found other record labels for its own recordings. Maybe the recordings at other companies also had something to do with the fact that the label, with its initially very ambitious release program, was in a deep economic crisis. This was exacerbated by the fact that the musicians' union AFM caused Debut to give up its license because the label had not paid its outstanding royalties.
Organizationally, Celia Nielson, Mingus' wife, was in charge of the label together with Margo Ferraci, Roach's partner. After their marriage ended, Celia Nielson moved to the West Coast and worked for Fantasy . In this respect, she remained responsible for the fate of the recordings, some of which were published there again from 1962.
However, some of the historic debut publications became sought-after collectibles since the 1950s, as they were not reissued for a long time. Others appeared not only in the Fantasy catalog , but also on the French America label and were available in stores for most of the time. Some of the last recordings, such as Jimmy Kneppers New Faces, were supposed to appear as DEB-129, but were no longer released in the USA due to the dissolution of the label and only appeared on the Danish sister label.
The 12-CD compilation The Complete Debut Recordings (1990) is a (albeit incomplete) documentation of the Debut label. It contains - with a focus on Charles Mingus - most of the sessions that the label owners recorded between 1951 and 1957/58. However, there are no recordings that Teo Macero , John LaPorta or Alonzo Levister made under their own name and released on their debut .
The recording sessions
April 1951
While in California, Mingus had recorded standards such as Body and Soul , Yesterdays , Darn That Dream , Jeepers Creepers with the pianist Spaulding Givens (later Nadi Qamar ) for Discovery Records . This session was released on the debut EP: Strings and Keys (DLP 1). The title Body and Soul contains the first longer bass solo that Mingus released on record. With the bass - piano line- up, Mingus establishes a relationship with bassist Jimmy Blanton , who recorded the piece in a duo with Duke Ellington . The duo recordings with Spaulding Givens also appeared on the single CD The Charles Mingus Duo & Trio - Debut Rarities, Volume 2 (OJCCD1808-2)
April 12, 1952
Lee Konitz in a quintet or sextet line-up (with Phyllis Pinkerton (p), George Koutzen (cello), Mingus (b) and Al Levitt (dr)) records four Mingus titles for the debut label. The song I've Lost my Love sings Bob Benton , Portrait sings Jackie Paris . Sound engineer was the pianist Lennie Tristano . Extrasensory Perception almost sounds like a typical piece from the Tristano school.
September 16, 1952
Another session in a sextet with Mingus and Roach with the singer Jackie Paris (three Mingus titles Make Believe, Montage, Paris in Blue are recorded ).
April 14, 1953
Spaulding Givens plays in a trio with Mingus and Roach.
April 21, 1953
The Max Roach Quartet, Featuring Hank Mobley with Walter Davis junior (p) and Franklin Skeete (kb) released under DLP 13.
April 29, 1953
A trio session with Hank Jones and Max Roach , expanded to include the vocal quartet The Gordons , to which Honi Gordon was a member.
May 15, 1953
Mingus releases the legendary Jazz at Massey Hall concert on his label , which was recorded in Toronto, Canada. After the trio Bud Powell , Mingus and Max Roach, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker play bebop classics such as Salt Peanuts , Wee , A Night in Tunisia , All the Things You Are , Hot House and 52nd Street Theme . ( The Complete Debut Recordings includes both the originally recorded version and a second version where Mingus' bass part is remixed and better heard than in the first version.)
Summer 1953
Trio of Billy Taylor , Max Roach and Mingus ( Bassically Speaking ).
September 18, 1953
The Four Trombones session with J. J. Johnson , Bennie Green , Willie Dennis and Kai Winding .
October 28, 1953
Jazz Workshop -Band around the singer Janet Thurslow (" Eclipse ", Blue Tide ), with Ernie Royal , Teo Macero , John Lewis , Kenny Clarke and the cellist Jackson Willey.
November 30, 1953
Paul Bley Trio - LP: Introducing Paul Bley . The Canadian pianist's record debut with Art Blakey and Mingus.
5th December 1953
Teo Macero: Explorations with Lenny Dijay (accor), Louis Lubella (b), Charles Mingus (b, cello) and Ed Shaughnessy (dr) (published as DLP 6)
5th December 1953
Kenny Dorham Quintet with Jimmy Heath (ts, bars) Walter Bishop Jr. (p) Percy Heath (b) Kenny Clarke (dr); published as DLP 9.
December 23, 1953
The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet with Julius Watkins (early), Phil Urso (ts), Walter Bishop , (p) Oscar Pettiford (cello or double bass) Charles Mingus (b) Percy Brice (d); published as DLP 8.
December 29, 1953
Sam Most Sextet with Doug Mettome (tp, arr), Urbie Green (tb), Bob Dorough (p, arr), Percy Heath (b), Louie Bellson (d) published as DLP 11.
March 9, 1954
John LaPorta Quintet with Louis Mucci (tp), Wally Cirillo (p), Richard Carter (b), Ed Shaughnessy (d) published as DLP 10.
June 27, 1954
Jazz workshop with the singer Ada Moore and John La Porta, Wally Cirillo, Tal Farlow , Oscar Pettiford and Osie Johnson . The arrangements are by Mingus and Alonzo Levister (initially published as DLP 15).
August 11, 1954
Session led by Thad Jones , with Frank Wess , Hank Jones, Kenny Clarke.
Unknown date 1954
Further recording session under the direction of John LaPorta with Louis Mucci (tp), cl) Barry Galbraith (g) Richard Carter (b) Charlie Perry (d) (published as Three Moods (DEB 122).
January 21, 1955
Hazel Scott Trio: Relaxed Piano Moods (with the label owners as a rhythm section).
March 10, 1955
Under the title Thad Jones / Charles Mingus - Jazz Collaborations, Vol. 1 , four titles (compositions by Jones and Standards) are recorded with a quartet around Thad Jones and published as DLP 17 (later made accessible again under the title The Fabulous Thad Jones ) . Presumably Rudy Van Gelder recorded the rhythm section as the John Dennis Trio ( New Piano Expressions ) with Roach and Mingus at the same session .
July 9, 1955
Miles Davis - Blue Moods With the record for Debut , the trumpeter paid off debts to Mingus. Other contributors include vibraphonist Teddy Charles , trombonist Britt Woodman and drummer Elvin Jones .
September 19, 1955
Session with arrangements by Alonzo Levister around the singer Don Senay.
December 23, 1955
Mingus at the Bohemia with Max Roach, Eddie Bert , George Barrow , Mal Waldron live recordings (published as Mingus At The Bohemia , The Charles Mingus Quintet Plus Max Roach ). The Bohemia recordings were to be Mingus' last important recordings for Debut .
August 1956
Alonzo Levister: Manhattan monodrama with Louis Mucci (tp) John LaPorta (as, cl) Lorin Bernsohn (from left to right) Arne Gold (xyl, per) Teddy Charles (vib, per) Alonzo Levister (p, arr) Morris Lang (timp) Jackson Wiley (cond) (DEB 125)
July 10, 1957
Session by Jimmy Knepper , Mingus and Dannie Richmond , u. a. Published as New Faces on the Danish sister label as DEB 129 and under DL 101 as "Jazz Workshop Presents Jimmy Knepper". (On CD under Debut Rarities, Vol 1 ; OJCCD 1807-2)
September 1957
Jazz workshop session with Clarence Shaw , Shafi Hadi , Pepper Adams , Dannie Richmond and others a. as the "forerunner" of the later Mingus bands (these recordings were no longer released on debut ).
The last, nor for Debut provided piece Untitled percussion Composition (September 1957 or early 1958, treated with Shafi Hadi , Dannie Richmond , Clarence Shaw , Jimmy Knepper , Horace Parlan or Phineas Newborn on piano) was originally conceived as soundtrack for the first John Cassavetes - Film Shadows was intended but not used.
These sessions were re-released or first released in the 12-CD box The Complete Debut Recordings .
The Danish debut label
The Danish debut label was founded in 1957 by Ole Vestergaard, who owned a bookstore in the Danish town of Brande and continued the American debut catalog after the US label ran out of money. There some records of the American label were re-released, such as the Jimmy Knepper debut album from 1957, which was no longer on the market in the USA . Furthermore, a triosession by Oscar Pettiford was released there as the first self-production , then the album The Charles Mingus Quintet: Chazz , but also Oscar Pettiford's sextet recording as My Little Cello , a recording from the Essen Jazz Festival with Coleman Hawkins , Bud Powell , Oscar Pettiford and Kenny Clarke or the 30th Anniversary Album by Don Byas . In the 1960s, this label also opened up to free jazz and documented Cecil Taylor Live at the Cafe Montmartre or Albert Ayler with Ghosts and Spirits . It also released jazz music by Danish musicians such as Hugh Steinmetz , Bent Axen , Bent Jædig , Jørn Elniff and Allan Botschinsky .
Discography
78s / singles
| Title, A-side | Title, B-side | Label, number | Date of recording | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precognition | portrait | Debut M 101 |
Apr 12, 1952 | Charles Mingus with Lee Konitz , Phyllis Pinkerton , George Koutzen , Al Levitt , Jackie Paris (2) |
| Paris in blue | Make Believe | Debut M 102 |
16 Sep 1953 | Charles Mingus with Paige Brook , Jackson Wiley , John Mehegan , Max Roach, Jackie Paris |
| Assembly | Extrasensory perception | Debut M 103 |
Apr 12, 1952 | same but without Jackie Paris |
| Confidentially | Mitch's blues | Debut M 104 |
Jan. 1953 | Hal Mitchell with Allen Harris , George Duvivier , Kenny Clarke |
| Orientation | Mobleyzation | Debut M 105 |
Apr 10, 1953 | Max Roach with Idrees Sulieman , Leon Comegys , Gigi Gryce , Hank Mobley , Walter Davis junior , Franklin Skeete |
| Glow worm | Sfax | Debut M 106 |
Apr 10, 1953 | dto. |
| Just One of Those Things | Drum conversation | Debut M 107 |
Apr 21, 1953 | Max Roach Quartet with Hank Mobley , Walter Davis junior , Franklin Skeete |
| Kismet | Chi Chi | Debut M 108 |
Apr 21, 1953 | Max Roach Quartet (dto.) |
| I'm a fool to want you | Chou-Manchi-Chou | Debut M 109 |
Apr 21, 1953 | Max Roach Quartet (dto.) |
| Can You Blame Me | Bebopper | Debut M 110 |
Apr 29, 1953 | The Gordons with Mingus, Max Roach and Hank Jones |
| Cupid | You and Me | Debut M 111 |
Apr 29, 1953 | The Gordons (dto.) |
| The Edge of Love | Fanny | Debut M 112 |
17 Sep 1954 | Debut 108 |
| Voila | No fools-no fun | Debut BAB0001 / 02 |
1954 | Single from Babs Gonzales , with James Moody , Pee Wee Moore , Jimmy Boyd , John Lathan , Clarence Johnston |
25 cm LPs
| Musician | title | Label, number | Date of recording | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Mingus / Spaulding Givens | Strings and Keys | DLP-1 | Apr. 1951 | |
| Charlie Parker et al. a. | Quintet of the Year | DLP-2 | May 15, 1953 | Quintet session with Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, Max Roach in Toronto |
| Charles Mingus / Bud Powell | Bud Powell Trio | DLP-3 | May 15, 1953 | Trio recordings from a concert in Toronto |
| Charlie Parker et al. a. | Quintet of the Year [Vol. 2] | DLP-4 | May 15, 1954 | |
| Jazz workshop | Trombone Rapport | DLP-5 | Sep 18 1953 | Live recording from the Putnam Central Club , Brooklyn with Willie Dennis , JJ Johnson , Kai Winding , Bennie Green , John Lewis , Charles Mingus, Art Taylor |
| Teo Macero | Exploration | DLP-6 | Dec 12, 1953 | Teo Macero with Orlando DiGirolamo , Louis Labella , Charles Mingus, Ed Shaughnessy |
| Paul Bley | Introducing Paul Bley | DLP7 | Nov 30, 1953 | Debut LP by the pianist, with Mingus and Art Blakey |
| Oscar Pettiford | The New Oscar Pettiford Sextet | DLP8 | Dec 29, 1953 | Pettiford with Julius Watkins , Phil Urso , Walter Bishop junior , Charles Mingus, Percy Brice |
| Kenny Dorham | Kenny Dorham Quintet | DLP-9 | Dec 15, 1953 | Kenny Dorham with Jimmy Heath , Walter Bishop Jr., Percy Heath , Kenny Clarke |
| John LaPorta | John LaPorta Quintet | DLP10 | 9 Mar 1954 | LaPorta with Louis Mucci , Wally Cirillo , Richard Carter , Ed Shaughnessy |
| Sam Most | Sam Most Quartet Plus Two | DLP11 | Dec 29, 1953 | Sam Most with Doug Mettome , Urbie Green , Bob Dorough , Percy Heath , Louie Bellson (as Blue Bells ) |
| Thad Jones | The Fabulous Thad Jones | DLP12 | Aug 11, 1954 | Thad Jones with Frank Wess , Hank Jones , Charles Mingus, Kenny Clarke |
| Max Roach | Max Roach Quartet | DLP13 | Apr 21, 1953 | Max Roach Quartet with Hank Mobley , Walter Davis, Jr., Franklin Skeete |
| Jazz workshop | Trombone Rapport [Vol. 2] | DLP-14 | Sep 18 1953 | Live recording from the Putnam Central Club , Brooklyn with Willie Dennis , JJ Johnson , Kai Winding , Bennie Green , John Lewis , Charles Mingus, Art Taylor |
| Ada Moore | Jazz Workshop, Vol. 3 | DLP15 | June 27, 1954 | The singer Ada Moore with John LaPorta, Wally Cirillo, Tal Farlow , Oscar Pettiford, Osie Johnson , Alonzo Levister (arr), Charles Mingus (arr) |
| Hazel Scott | Relaxed piano moods | DLP16 | Jan. 21, 1955 | Hazel Scott with Mingus and Max Roach |
| Thad Jones | Jazz Collaboration, Vol. 1 | DLP17 | 10 Mar 1955 | Thad Jones with John Dennis , Mingus and Roach |
30 cm LPs
| Musician | title | Label, number | Date of recording | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miles Davis | Blue Moods | DEB 120 | July 9, 1955 | |
| John Dennis | New Piano Explorations | DEB 121 | 10 Mar 1955 | John Dennis with Mingus and Roach |
| John LaPorta | Three moods | DEB 122 | June 1955 | LaPorta with Barry Galbraith , Richard Carter , Charlie Perry |
| Charles Mingus | Mingus at the Bohemia | DEB 123 | 23 Dec 1955 | |
| The quintet | Jazz at Massey Hall | DEB 124 | May 15, 1953 | |
| Alonzo Levister | Manhattan monodrama | DEB 125 | Aug 1956 | with Louis Mucci , John LaPorta, Arne Gold, Teddy Charles , Alonzo Levister, Lorin Bernsohn, Morris Lang, Jackson Wiley |
| JJ Johnson et al. a. | Four trombones | DEB 126 | Sep 18 1953 | New edition of the live recordings |
| Thad Jones | Thad Jones | DEB 127 | Aug 11, 1954 | Thad Jones with Frank Wess, Hank Jones, Mingus, Kenny Clarke |
| Charles Mingus | Chazz! | DEB 128 | 23 Dec 1955 | The recordings remained unpublished at the time. |
| Jimmy Knepper | New faces | DEB 129 | July 10, 1957 | The recordings remained unpublished at the time. |
literature
- Horst Weber , Gerd Filtgen: Charles Mingus. His life, his music, his records . Oreos, Gauting-Buchendorf o. J., ISBN 3-923657-05-6
- Ira Gitler : Bass-ically speaking . In: The Complete Debut Recordings . 1990
- Brian Priestley : Mingus: A Critical Biography . Palladin, London 1985, ISBN 0-586-08478-9
- Marcus Woelfle : Liner Notes for Charles Mingus - 80th Birthday Celebration
- Uwe Weiler: The Debut Label. A discography . Norderstedt 1994.
Web links
- Debut Records (English)
- Debut Records Catalog: Ten / Twelve Inch series
- Debut Records Catalog: 78 rpm, EP series
Individual evidence
- ↑ cit. n. Gitler: Bass-ically speaking
- ^ Priestley: Charles Mingus , p. 57
- ^ Tears from Metronome , reprinted in the booklet to Charles Mingus, The Complete Debut Recordings
- ↑ According to Ira Gittler ( Bass-ically speaking. In: The Complete Debut Recordings , 1990) Roach was in California at this time to play with the Lighthouse All Stars around Howard Rumsey and to found the quintet with Clifford Brown . Roach's previous partner Margo Ferraci, who organized the debut label together with Celia Mingus, began a liaison with Lonnie Levister and financed this lavish production because she hoped to make Levister a star. See also Priestley: Charles Mingus , pp. 68f.
- ^ Priestley: Charles Mingus , p. 92
- ^ Priestley: Charles Mingus , pp. 141, 166
- ↑ The Debut Records Story (review) ( Memento from February 27, 2005 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Not included on Ch. Mingus The Complete Debut Recordings
- ↑ archive the Albums Cover with Birkajazz