The Jazz Show Episode November 29, 2021

Baritone Saxophonist Serge Chaloff: "Blue Serge"

9:04pm - 12:24am

Serge Chaloff was only on the planet for 33 years and led a chaotic life blighted by drugs but left an important legacy. He was considered albeit arguably the first important Modern Jazz voice of the baritone saxophone. Perhaps Leo Parker might share the honors but Chaloff was more prominent. He emerged in the mid 1940's and rose to Jazz stardom in the famous Woody Herman Band known as "The Second Herd". Chaloff returned after Herman to his hometown of Boston and in 1955 went to rehab for his drug habit. He emerged clean and sober and made two of his finest albums. We hear the second of those two as tonight's Jazz Feature. The album was called "Blue Serge" and recorded in L.A. in March of 1956, It's a free blowing session that has Serge in front of a hand picked rhythm section of 3 of the finest. Sonny Clark on piano, Leroy Vinnegar on bass and "Philly Joe" Jones on drums. Serge plays well chosen standard tunes that haven't been overplayed plus a couple of Jazz originals , one by his friend Al Cohn and one of his. Sadly Chaloff died the following year from spinal cancer that left him in a wheelchair. He passed away on July 16, 1957. He was just 33. "Blue Serge is considered his masterpiece and is tonight's Jazz Feature. Don't miss it!

Track Listing:

A Handful of Stars
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
The Goof and I
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
Thanks for the Memory
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
All the Things You Are
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
I've Got The World on a String
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
Susie's Blues
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
Stairway to the Stars
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
How About You?
Serge Chaloff · Blue Serge
Hava Na Gila
Harold Land · Jazz Impressions of Folk Music
Freedom Jazz Dance
Miroslav Vitous · Infinite Search
A Woman Alone With The Blues.
Anita O'Day · All The Sad young Men
All The Sad Young Men.
Anita O'Day · All The Sad Young Men
Do Nuthin' Till You Hear from Me.
Anita O'Day · All The Sad Young Men
One More Mile
Anita O'Day · All The Sad Young Men
It's You or No One.
Lee Konitz · The Unissued Motion Sessions.
Out of Nowhere
Lee Konitz · The Unissued Motion Sessions
All The Things You Are
Lee Konitz · The Unissued motion Sessions
Indiana
Lee Konitz · The Unissued Motion Sessions
La Grande Sauve Majeure
The Jazzlab Orchestra · LOGUSLABUSMUZIKUS
Speak Low
Grant Green · I Want To Hold Your Hand
Juggernaut
Gene Ammons · Gene Ammons All-Star Jam Session