Analogue Productions · The Pablo Series
Pablo.
The late sessions of the jazz legends.
30 records from the label Norman Granz founded in 1973: Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Sarah Vaughan and their friends in the studio.
Every edition is a 180-gram LP at 33⅓ RPM from the original analog tapes, pressed at Quality Record Pressings. At the start, Michael 45 compared them against original pressings and soon stopped, because the new editions were so clearly ahead.
Count Basie
Ella Fitzgerald
Joe Pass
Sarah Vaughan
Oscar Peterson
01 / The house band
The musicians who kept meeting at Pablo
Norman Granz brought the same musicians into the studio again and again. Tap a name to see their records in the catalogue.
IllustrationJoe Pass
guitar
16 records
IllustrationRay Brown
double bass
15 records
IllustrationCount Basie
piano
10 records
IllustrationOscar Peterson
piano
6 records
IllustrationZoot Sims
tenor saxophone
6 records
IllustrationClark Terry
trumpet
5 records
IllustrationElla Fitzgerald
vocals
4 records
IllustrationSarah Vaughan
vocals
4 records
IllustrationDizzy Gillespie
trumpet
4 records
IllustrationFreddie Green
guitar
4 records
IllustrationDuke Ellington
piano
3 records
IllustrationBenny Carter
alto saxophone
3 records
Also often there:
02 / Encounters
Who played with whom?
Pick two musicians. The page shows on which records in the series both play in the same session. The table below counts every encounter between the twelve most frequent names.
Joe Pass and Ray Brown: 8 records together
The Alternate BluesClark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie & Oscar Peterson · 1980
Duke’s Big 4Duke Ellington · 1973
Dizzy Gillespie’s Big 4Dizzy Gillespie · 1974
A Celebration of DukeSarah Vaughan, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims & Quadrant · 1979
How Long Has This Been Going On?Sarah Vaughan · 1978
Portraits Of Duke EllingtonJoe Pass · 1974
Fine and MellowElla Fitzgerald · 1974
Memories Of DukeThe Clark Terry Five · 1980
| Joe Pass | Ray Brown | Count Basie | Louie Bellson | Oscar Peterson | Zoot Sims | Clark Terry | Ella Fitzgerald | Sarah Vaughan | Dizzy Gillespie | Freddie Green | Mickey Roker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Pass | 16 | · | ||||||||||
| Ray Brown | 15 | |||||||||||
| Count Basie | 10 | · | · | · | ||||||||
| Louie Bellson | 9 | · | · | |||||||||
| Oscar Peterson | 6 | · | · | |||||||||
| Zoot Sims | · | 6 | · | · | · | · | ||||||
| Clark Terry | · | 5 | · | · | · | |||||||
| Ella Fitzgerald | · | 4 | · | · | · | · | ||||||
| Sarah Vaughan | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | · | |||||
| Dizzy Gillespie | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | ||||||
| Freddie Green | · | · | · | · | · | 4 | · | |||||
| Mickey Roker | · | · | · | · | · | · | · | 4 |
Each number counts the records on which both play in the same session. The diagonal shows how many records a musician appears on in total. Based on the personnel documented in the product texts.
03 / The session book
Three decades in the studio
All 30 records in the order they were recorded, from Art Tatum & Ben Webster in 1956 to Benny Carter & Oscar Peterson in 1986.
- 1956Quartet
September 11, 1956 · Los Angeles · released 1975
The Tatum Group Masterpieces
Art Tatum, Ben Webster, Red Callender and Bill Douglass
- 1959Orchestra
Recordings from 1959, 1971 and 1972 · released 1976
The Ellington Suites
Duke Ellington, Clark Terry, Paul Gonsalves, Cootie Williams and Wulf Freedman
- 1972Duo
- 1973Large group
Recorded in 1973
The Bosses
Big Joe Turner, Count Basie, Harry „Sweets“ Edison, J. J. Johnson, Eddie „Lockjaw“ Davis, Zoot Sims, Irving Ashby and others
- 1973Quartet
- 1973Duo
- 1973Large group
December 10, 1973 · Los Angeles · released 1975
Basie Jam
Count Basie, Harry „Sweets“ Edison, J. J. Johnson, Eddie „Lockjaw“ Davis, Zoot Sims, Irving Ashby, Ray Brown and Louie Bellson
- 1974Large group
January 8, 1974 · MGM Studios, Los Angeles · released 1979
Fine and Mellow
Ella Fitzgerald, Clark Terry, Harry „Sweets“ Edison, Eddie „Lockjaw“ Davis, Zoot Sims, Tommy Flanagan, Joe Pass and others
- 1974Trio
1974, only weeks after Duke Ellington’s death · released 1975
Portraits Of Duke Ellington
Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Bobby Durham
- 1974Quartet
September 1974 · Los Angeles · released 1975
Dizzy Gillespie’s Big 4
Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Mickey Roker
- 1974Quintet & sextet
December 2, 1974 · Los Angeles
‘Satch’ and ‘Josh’
Count Basie, Oscar Peterson, Freddie Green, Ray Brown and Louie Bellson
- 1975Duo
- 1975Trio
August 28, 1975 · Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles
For The Second Time
Count Basie, Ray Brown and Louie Bellson
- 1976Duo
January 29 and 30, February 8, 1976 · RCA Studios, Los Angeles
Fitzgerald & Pass … Again
Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass
- 1976Quintet & sextet
April 27, 1976 · RCA Studios, Los Angeles
Carter, Gillespie, Inc.
Benny Carter, Dizzy Gillespie, Tommy Flanagan, Joe Pass, Al McKibbon and Mickey Roker
- 1977Quartet
February 3, 1977 · Las Vegas · released 1979
The Gifted Ones
Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Ray Brown and Mickey Roker
- 1978Quartet
February 21 and 22, 1978 · Group IV Studios, Hollywood · released 1983
The Timekeepers
Count Basie, Oscar Peterson, John Heard and Louie Bellson
- 1978Quintet & sextet
April 25, 1978 · Group IV Recording Studios, Hollywood
How Long Has This Been Going On?
Sarah Vaughan, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Louie Bellson
- 1979Large group
Sessions in 1979 and 1980 · released 1980
A Celebration of Duke
Sarah Vaughan, Mike Wofford, Clark Terry, Jack Wilson, Frank Severino, Zoot Sims, Jimmy Rowles and others
- 1979Orchestra
August and December 1979, Los Angeles · May 1980, New York · released 1980
Passion Flower
Zoot Sims, Benny Carter, J. J. Johnson, Britt Woodman, Frank Wess, Buddy Collette, Jimmy Rowles and others
- 1980Large group
Recorded in 1980
The Alternate Blues
Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Bobby Durham
- 1980Quintet & sextet
March 11, 1980 · Los Angeles
Memories Of Duke
Clark Terry, Jack Wilson, Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Frank Severino
- 1981Orchestra
Released in 1981
Send In The Clowns
Sarah Vaughan, George Gaffney, Freddie Green, Andy Simpkins, Harold Jones, Sammy Nestico and Allyn Ferguson
- 1981Quintet & sextet
November 1, 1981 · Las Vegas Recording Studio
Kansas City
Count Basie, Willie Cook, Eddie „Cleanhead“ Vinson, Joe Pass, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and Louie Bellson
- 1982Duo
- 1982Quintet & sextet
March 1 and 2, 1982 · Group IV Studios, Los Angeles
Crazy and Mixed Up
Sarah Vaughan, Roland Hanna, Joe Pass, Andy Simpkins and Harold Jones
- 1982Orchestra
May 4, 1982 · Group IV Studios, Los Angeles
Farmer’s Market Barbecue
Count Basie, Freddie Green, James Leary, Gregg Field, Sonny Cohn, Bobby Plater, Eric Dixon and Booty Wood
- 1983Orchestra
February 1983 · Group IV Studios, Los Angeles
Me And You
Count Basie, Freddie Green, Cleveland Eaton, Dennis Mackrel, Sonny Cohn, Bill Hughes, Danny Turner and others
- 1983Orchestra
May 11 and 12, 1983 · Ocean Way Studios, Hollywood
88 Basie Street
Count Basie, Sammy Nestico, Joe Pass, Bob Summers, Chris Woods, Kenny Hing, Cleveland Eaton and Dennis Mackrel
- 1986Quintet & sextet
November 14, 1986 · Los Angeles
Benny Carter Meets Oscar Peterson
Benny Carter, Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Dave Young and Martin Drew
04 / Heard
What Michael 45 says about the Pablo records
From his videos, each with a link to the moment.
“Pablo is well known for its great-sounding records, and my first thought was of course: let’s hope they can deliver. And of course, they did.”
“I’ve rarely heard Oscar Peterson sound as good on the piano as on these Pablo records. Peterson is unbelievable, in my opinion – and The Timekeepers is of course no exception.”
“Jazz legends at their peak. They know exactly what they’re doing, and you feel it every second.”
“Whenever you see a record with Joe Pass: take a look at it, listen to it. Joe Pass is a killer.”
“If you’re into female vocals, there’s no getting past Sarah.”
“Ella and Oscar in a very intimate setting, voice and piano – and that, you might say, is where both are at their best.”
“What’s so striking about this release is the dynamics: very calm, very smooth passages – and then the drums hit.”
“Those are masters, absolute masters … and that makes this record a masterpiece, in my opinion.”
05 / At the cutting lathe
Who cut the lacquers
According to Analogue Productions, all 30 editions come from the original analog tapes. Four names appear in the credits.
22
Matthew Lutthans
The Mastering Lab
Most of the new cuts in the series, at The Mastering Lab at Analogue Productions in Salina, Kansas.
5
Doug Sax
The Mastering Lab
Basie Jam uses the matrices of the 1995 Analogue Productions edition, and Farmer’s Market Barbecue is pressed from metal parts of Doug Sax’s cut.
2
Kevin Gray
Cohearent Audio
Duke’s Big 4 and 88 Basie Street, cut at Cohearent Audio.
1
Stan Ricker
AcousTech Mastering
Fitzgerald & Pass … Again is made from existing metal parts of his cut.
“Matthew Lutthans masters them at Analogue Productions, and he is in the absolutely amazing position of being able to use Doug Sax’s all-tube mastering system.”
06 / All records
All 30 Pablo records
Filter by musician, group size or mastering. A name on a card shows every record with that musician. Prices and availability come live from the shop.
AAPJ 152Large group
The Alternate Blues
Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie & Oscar Peterson
- Recorded
- Recorded in 1980
- Mastering
- Doug Sax, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- trumpet
- trumpet
- trumpet
- piano
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
The Alternate Blues brings three unmistakable trumpet voices together with Oscar Peterson, Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Bobby Durham.
Have a listen “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams” – a standard in the programme that leads the trumpeters into a more lyrical exchange.
“Pablo is well known for its great-sounding records, and my first thought was of course: let’s hope they can deliver. And of course, they did.”
AAPJ 153Quartet
Duke’s Big 4
Duke Ellington
- Recorded
- January 1973
- Mastering
- Kevin Gray, Cohearent Audio
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
Duke’s Big 4 places Duke Ellington in a quartet with guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Louie Bellson.
Have a listen “The Hawk Talks” – Louie Bellson’s own piece; piano, guitar and bass lock around his accents.
AAPJ 154Duo
This One’s For Blanton
Duke Ellington & Ray Brown
- Recorded
- December 5, 1972 · United Recording, Las Vegas
- Mastering
- Doug Sax, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- double bass
On December 5, 1972, Duke Ellington and Ray Brown entered a Las Vegas studio.
Have a listen “Fragmented Suite For Piano And Bass” – fills the whole of side two – Ellington and Ray Brown as a duo.
AAPJ 155Large group
Basie Jam
Count Basie
- Recorded
- December 10, 1973 · Los Angeles · released 1975
- Mastering
- Doug Sax, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- trumpet
- trombone
- tenor saxophone
- tenor saxophone
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
Los Angeles, December 10, 1973. Count Basie brings seven fellow musicians together for the session later released by Pablo as Basie Jam .
Have a listen “Doubling Blues” – according to the publisher, Basie plays organ here – a good way into following his keyboards on the record.
AAPJ 156Orchestra
- Recorded
- May 11 and 12, 1983 · Ocean Way Studios, Hollywood
- Mastering
- Kevin Gray, Cohearent Audio
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- arrangements and conducting (big-band pieces)
- guitar (small-group pieces)
- Bob Summers trumpet
- Chris Woods alto saxophone
- Kenny Hing tenor saxophone
- Cleveland Eaton double bass
- Dennis Mackrel drums
88 Basie Street was recorded at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood on May 11 and 12, 1983.
Have a listen “Sunday At The Savoy” – Basie’s own piece, more than twelve minutes long, closing the record – with Joe Pass.
AAPJ 157Orchestra
Farmer’s Market Barbecue
Count Basie
- Recorded
- May 4, 1982 · Group IV Studios, Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Doug Sax, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- guitar
- James Leary double bass
- Gregg Field drums
- Sonny Cohn trumpet
- Bobby Plater alto saxophone
- Eric Dixon tenor saxophone
- Booty Wood trombone
Count Basie recorded Farmer’s Market Barbecue at Group IV Studios in Los Angeles on May 4, 1982.
Have a listen “Blues For The Barbecue” – written by trumpeter Sonny Cohn; a little over ten minutes with room for several soloists.
AAPJ 158Quartet
Dizzy Gillespie’s Big 4
Dizzy Gillespie
- Recorded
- September 1974 · Los Angeles · released 1975
- Mastering
- Doug Sax, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- trumpet
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
Los Angeles, September 1974: Dizzy Gillespie brings together Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Mickey Roker for Dizzy Gillespie’s Big 4 .
Have a listen “Tanga” – Gillespie’s own piece opens the LP – with Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Mickey Roker, September 1974 in Los Angeles.
AAPJ 159Duo
Take Love Easy
Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass
- Recorded
- August 28, 1973 · Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- guitar
On Take Love Easy , Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass perform without an additional rhythm section.
Have a listen “Lush Life” – Billy Strayhorn’s own song, on side one.
AAPJ 160Duo
- Recorded
- January 29 and 30, February 8, 1976 · RCA Studios, Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Stan Ricker, AcousTech Mastering
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- guitar
Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass met at RCA Studios in Los Angeles in the winter of 1976.
Have a listen “Solitude” – Ella had sung this song with guitar before – back then Barney Kessel played.
AAPJ 161Quartet
The Gifted Ones
Count Basie & Dizzy Gillespie
- Recorded
- February 3, 1977 · Las Vegas · released 1979
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- trumpet
- double bass
- drums
Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie met in a Las Vegas studio on February 3, 1977, with Ray Brown on double bass and Mickey Roker on drums.
Have a listen “Back To The Land” – on side A, written jointly by Basie and Gillespie.
“Jazz legends at their peak. They know exactly what they’re doing, and you feel it every second.”
AAPJ 162Large group
A Celebration of Duke
Sarah Vaughan, Clark Terry, Zoot Sims & Quadrant
- Recorded
- Sessions in 1979 and 1980 · released 1980
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- Mike Wofford piano
- trumpet
- Jack Wilson piano
- Frank Severino drums
- soprano saxophone
- piano
- Michael Moore double bass
- John Clay drums
- vibraphone
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
A Celebration of Duke appeared on Pablo in 1980, bringing together recordings from several sessions in 1979 and 1980.
Have a listen “Caravan” – Clark Terry plays it with Jack Wilson, Joe Pass, Ray Brown and Frank Severino.
AAPJ 163Quintet & sextet
How Long Has This Been Going On?
Sarah Vaughan
- Recorded
- April 25, 1978 · Group IV Recording Studios, Hollywood
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- piano
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
On April 25, 1978, Sarah Vaughan arrived at Group IV Recording Studios in Hollywood.
Have a listen “How Long Has This Been Going On?” – from the 1928 musical Rosalie, later a standard – and the name of this recording.
AAPJ 164Quartet
The Tatum Group Masterpieces
Art Tatum & Ben Webster
- Recorded
- September 11, 1956 · Los Angeles · released 1975
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- tenor saxophone
- Red Callender double bass
- Bill Douglass drums
Art Tatum and Ben Webster bring markedly different musical personalities to The Tatum Group Masterpieces .
Have a listen “Gone With The Wind” – the Pablo version begins with it – the original Verve album opened with “All The Things You Are”.
AAPJ 165Quartet
The Timekeepers
Count Basie & Oscar Peterson
- Recorded
- February 21 and 22, 1978 · Group IV Studios, Hollywood · released 1983
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- piano
- double bass
- drums
Count Basie and Oscar Peterson recorded The Timekeepers at Group IV Studios in Hollywood on February 21 and 22, 1978.
Have a listen “Rent Party” – more than nine minutes, written jointly by Basie and Peterson.
“I’ve rarely heard Oscar Peterson sound as good on the piano as on these Pablo records. Peterson is unbelievable, in my opinion – and The Timekeepers is of course no exception.”
AAPJ 166Trio
For The Second Time
Count Basie & The Kansas City 3
In stereo for the first time: mixed live from the four-track tape
- Recorded
- August 28, 1975 · Cherokee Studios, Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- double bass
- drums
Count Basie's name can summon an entire orchestra: brass sections arriving together, a rhythm section setting the pace, and arrangements that establish their identity within a few bars.
Have a listen “Sandman” – listen to the bass as a melodic line in its own right – then again for Basie’s responses.
AAPJ 183Large group
The Bosses
Count Basie & Joe Turner
- Recorded
- Recorded in 1973
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- piano
- trumpet
- trombone
- tenor saxophone
- tenor saxophone
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
Count Basie at the piano and Big Joe Turner at the microphone bring long musical histories to The Bosses .
Have a listen “Roll ’Em Pete” – leads back to December 1938, when Turner recorded it with pianist Pete Johnson.
AAPJ 184Trio
Portraits Of Duke Ellington
Joe Pass
- Recorded
- 1974, only weeks after Duke Ellington’s death · released 1975
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
Duke Ellington had died only weeks before Joe Pass recorded this tribute.
Have a listen “Solitude” – Joe Pass plays it entirely on his own, unaccompanied.
AAPJ 185Duo
Ella and Oscar
Ella Fitzgerald & Oscar Peterson
- Recorded
- May 19, 1975 · Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- piano
- double bass (on four pieces)
On May 19, 1975, Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson recorded nine standards in Los Angeles.
Have a listen “Midnight Sun” – here Ray Brown’s double bass joins – the duo becomes a trio.
“Ella and Oscar in a very intimate setting, voice and piano – and that, you might say, is where both are at their best.”
AAPJ 186Quintet & sextet
Carter, Gillespie, Inc.
Benny Carter & Dizzy Gillespie
- Recorded
- April 27, 1976 · RCA Studios, Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- alto saxophone
- trumpet
- piano
- guitar
- Al McKibbon double bass
- drums
Benny Carter and Dizzy Gillespie do not have to conceal their differences to make music together.
Have a listen “A Night in Tunisia” – Gillespie wrote it in 1942 while playing in Benny Carter’s band.
AAPJ 187Orchestra
The Ellington Suites
Duke Ellington
- Recorded
- Recordings from 1959, 1971 and 1972 · released 1976
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- trumpet (earlier recordings)
- Paul Gonsalves tenor saxophone
- Cootie Williams trumpet (later recordings)
- Wulf Freedman double bass
The Ellington Suites appeared in 1976, two years after Duke Ellington’s death.
Have a listen “The Queen’s Suite” – the whole of side one: six movements, recorded across several dates in 1959.
AAPJ 188Duo
Blues For 2
Joe Pass & Zoot Sims
- Recorded
- 1982 · RCA Studios, New York · released 1983
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- guitar
- tenor saxophone
A tenor saxophone and a guitar: Blues for 2 needs no larger ensemble. Joe Pass and Zoot Sims met for the recordings at RCA Studios in New York in 1982, and Pablo released the album in 1983.
Have a listen “Dindi” – introduces another melodic language – listen for when the guitar follows the saxophone’s breathing and when it introduces a thought of its own.
AAPJ 189Quintet & sextet
‘Satch’ and ‘Josh’
Count Basie & Oscar Peterson
- Recorded
- December 2, 1974 · Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano (also organ)
- piano
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
On December 2, 1974, Count Basie and Oscar Peterson met for a studio recording in Los Angeles.
Have a listen “Jumpin’ at the Woodside” – reaches back into Basie’s band history.
AAPJ 190Large group
Fine and Mellow
Ella Fitzgerald
- Recorded
- January 8, 1974 · MGM Studios, Los Angeles · released 1979
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- trumpet
- trumpet
- tenor saxophone
- tenor saxophone
- piano
- guitar
- double bass
- drums
On January 8, 1974, Ella Fitzgerald joined a group in Los Angeles whose names tell a small history of jazz by themselves.
Have a listen “Fine and Mellow” – the title song was written by Billie Holiday – Ella takes on a blues closely tied to another great singer.
“Those are masters, absolute masters … and that makes this record a masterpiece, in my opinion.”
AAPJ 191Quintet & sextet
Crazy and Mixed Up
Sarah Vaughan
- Recorded
- March 1 and 2, 1982 · Group IV Studios, Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- Roland Hanna piano
- guitar
- Andy Simpkins double bass
- Harold Jones drums
On March 1 and 2, 1982, Sarah Vaughan recorded at Group IV Studios in Los Angeles.
Have a listen “Love Dance” – by Ivan Lins and Vitor Martins, performed here with English lyrics.
“If you’re into female vocals, there’s no getting past Sarah.”
AAPJ 192Quintet & sextet
Benny Carter Meets Oscar Peterson
Benny Carter & Oscar Peterson
- Recorded
- November 14, 1986 · Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- alto saxophone
- piano
- guitar
- Dave Young double bass
- Martin Drew drums
Benny Carter Meets Oscar Peterson names a partnership, but five musicians make the record.
Have a listen “Some Kind of Blues” – after six standards – written jointly by Carter and Peterson.
AAPJ 193Orchestra
Me And You
Count Basie
- Recorded
- February 1983 · Group IV Studios, Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- guitar
- Cleveland Eaton double bass
- Dennis Mackrel drums
- Sonny Cohn trumpet
- Bill Hughes trombone
- Danny Turner alto saxophone
- Eric Dixon tenor saxophone
- Johnny Williams baritone saxophone
- Bob Summers trumpet
- Booty Wood trombone
- Chris Woods alto saxophone
- Ernie Wilkins arrangements and conducting
When Count Basie recorded Me and You , the founding of his own orchestra lay almost half a century behind him.
Have a listen “Moten Swing” – reaches back to Bennie Moten and Kansas City, before Basie led his own orchestra.
“What’s so striking about this release is the dynamics: very calm, very smooth passages – and then the drums hit.”
AAPJ 194Orchestra
Passion Flower
Zoot Sims
- Recorded
- August and December 1979, Los Angeles · May 1980, New York · released 1980
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- tenor saxophone
- arrangements and conducting (orchestra, August 1979)
- trombone
- Britt Woodman trombone
- Frank Wess orchestra
- Buddy Collette orchestra
- piano
- Ray Sims trombone
- double bass
- Shelly Manne drums
- Michael Moore double bass
- John Clay drums
A Duke Ellington melody can flourish inside an orchestra and acquire a different intimacy when a small group takes it up.
Have a listen “It Don’t Mean a Thing” – on side one: Zoot Sims as featured soloist with Benny Carter’s orchestra.
AAPJ 195Quintet & sextet
Memories Of Duke
The Clark Terry Five
- Recorded
- March 11, 1980 · Los Angeles
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- trumpet
- Jack Wilson piano
- guitar
- double bass
- Frank Severino drums
Clark Terry knew Duke Ellington’s music from inside the orchestra. He worked with Ellington from 1951 to 1959, following his time with Count Basie.
Have a listen “Everything But You” – according to the publisher, Clark Terry switches to flugelhorn here.
AAPJ 196Orchestra
Send In The Clowns
Sarah Vaughan & The Count Basie Orchestra
- Recorded
- Released in 1981
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- vocals
- George Gaffney piano
- guitar
- Andy Simpkins double bass
- Harold Jones drums
- arrangements and conducting
- Allyn Ferguson arrangements and conducting
Sarah Vaughan can stretch a melody without losing its underlying shape.
Have a listen “If You Could See Me Now” – by Tadd Dameron and Carl Sigman – reaching back to Vaughan’s early successes.
AAPJ 197Quintet & sextet
Kansas City
Count Basie 6
- Recorded
- November 1, 1981 · Las Vegas Recording Studio
- Mastering
- Matthew Lutthans, The Mastering Lab
- Format
- 180 g · 33⅓ RPM · 1 LP
Personnel
- piano
- Willie Cook trumpet
- Eddie „Cleanhead“ Vinson alto saxophone
- guitar
- Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen double bass
- drums
The title points towards Count Basie’s musical roots, but the recording was made in Nevada.
Have a listen “Wee Baby” – connects the session with the blues-singing tradition; written by Pete Johnson and Big Joe Turner.
“Whenever you see a record with Joe Pass: take a look at it, listen to it. Joe Pass is a killer.”
No record matches this selection.
From Michael’s videos
What Michael 45 says about the Pablo Series
“At the start of the series I compared the releases with originals – but they were so superior that I simply stopped.”
“The whole Pablo series is astonishing. Most of the reissues were mastered by Matthew Lutthans, and he did an amazing job.”
“Chad Kassem really skimmed off the cream: the great titles these masters recorded in their later years … You really get the essence of the Pablo catalogue.”
“The musicians on Pablo were so happy to get the chance to go back into the studio – and they gave it everything.”
“The whole Pablo series is a total winner. Wonderful that we get these records.”
The series
Norman Granz and Pablo
A label for the musicians he knew
After selling Verve, Norman Granz founded his new label Pablo in 1973. At first he mainly recorded musicians he managed himself: Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass. Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Milt Jackson and many others followed. Fantasy acquired the label in 1987.
The same faces again and again
The 30 records in the series show how close this circle was: Joe Pass plays on 16 records, Ray Brown on 15, Count Basie on 10 and Louie Bellson on 9. Most sessions took place in Los Angeles and Hollywood, some in Las Vegas and New York. The oldest recording dates from 1956: Art Tatum and Ben Webster, later released by Granz on Pablo.
The Pablo Series by Analogue Productions
Analogue Productions released the series in two rounds, AAPJ 152 to 166 and AAPJ 183 to 197. The first record was The Alternate Blues with Clark Terry, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie and Oscar Peterson. At Michael 45 it sold out on the first or second day.
All 30 editions are 180-gram LPs at 33⅓ RPM, pressed at Quality Record Pressings. Matthew Lutthans cut most of the lacquers at The Mastering Lab; individual titles come from Doug Sax, Kevin Gray and Stan Ricker.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Pablo Series
What is the Pablo Series by Analogue Productions?
A series of 30 reissues from the catalogue of Pablo Records, the label Norman Granz founded in 1973. Every record is a 180-gram LP at 33⅓ RPM from the original analog tapes, pressed at Quality Record Pressings.
Which musicians appear most often?
Joe Pass on 16 records, Ray Brown on 15, Count Basie on 10, Louie Bellson on 9 and Oscar Peterson on 6.
Which duo recordings are there?
This One’s For Blanton (Duke Ellington & Ray Brown), Take Love Easy (Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass), Fitzgerald & Pass … Again (Ella Fitzgerald & Joe Pass), Ella and Oscar (Ella Fitzgerald & Oscar Peterson) and Blues For 2 (Joe Pass & Zoot Sims).
Who mastered the records?
Matthew Lutthans (22), Doug Sax (5), Kevin Gray (2) and Stan Ricker (1).
Do the Pablo records play at 33⅓ or 45 RPM?
All 30 records in the series play at 33⅓ RPM, one LP each.
Where does Michael 45 ship?
Throughout the EU, to Switzerland, Norway and the UK.
Recording dates and personnel from the product texts at Michael 45; mastering according to Analogue Productions; illustrations from the product texts.
