Johnny Smith - The Complete Roost Small Group Sessions (2002)

Johnny Smith is an exquisite jazz guitarist known mostly to fellow musicians and serious jazz fans. This beautifully packaged and expertly annotated eight-CD limited-edition boxed set from Mosaic includes his complete small-group recordings for Roost, most of which have languished out of print for decades. Smith's unique voicings on his instrument set him apart from other players, yet he maintains a lush, crystal-clear tone no matter the tempo or setting.

Smith draws from a wide range of sources within the 22 featured sessions, ranging from show tunes and standards ("My Funny Valentine," "Yesterdays," "'I'll Remember April," and "Body and Soul") to jazz compositions by Duke Ellington, George Shearing, John Lewis, and Bud Powell, along with a number of his superb originals, which have been unjustly overlooked. The best-known material comes from the three 1952 sessions which made up Moonlight in Vermont, featuring Smith with either Stan Getz or Zoot Sims, and a meeting with some of New York's busiest session musicians (Hank Jones, George Duvivier, and Ed Shaughnessey). Especially rewarding is the first of two solo efforts by Smith, which draws from the vast Jimmy Van Heusen songbook. The guitarist is never disappointing, even on the few dates which fall outside of jazz. Pick up this valuable boxed set right away before you have to resort to paying an exorbitant price through an auction.
Johnny Smith - The Complete Roost Johnny Smith Small Group Sessions (1952-64) {8CD Box Set Mosaic MD8-216 rel 2002}

The world of jazz in the late '40s, '50s, and early '60s was graced with one of the most talented guitar virtuosos of all time: Johnny Smith. Unless you were a budding young jazz guitarist or a lover of guitar at that time, you probably don't own or haven't heard most of the incredible recordings that this great artist produced. Mosaic Records' release of The Complete Roost Johnny Smith Small Group Sessions is exactly that.

This 8-CD box set release contains 178 tracks that cover 15 original LPs and 4 ten-inch sessions in a beautiful digital format, paying due homage to the guitar virtuoso in celebration of his 80th birthday. This set fills a missing piece in the recorded history and legacy of jazz guitar. A large part of Smith's life-work is covered in this volume - and, of course, some of the greatest jazz guitar performances ever heard.

The musicians appearing on the recordings are for the most part Mousey Alexander (drums), George Roumanis (bass), and Bob Pancoast on piano. Hank Jones, George Duvivier, Eddie Safranski, and Don Lamond are also featured, along with Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, and Paul Quinichette. Johnny Rae (vibes and percussion), another great musician, also appears on some of the cuts.


Tracks:


DISC ONE
01. Where Or When (A) 2:24 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
02. Tabu (A) 2:39 Stillman-Russell-Lecuona)
03. Moonlight In Vermont (A) 3:13 (K. Suessdorf-J. Blackburn)
04. Jaguar (A) 2:31 (Johnny Smith)
05. Jaguar (alternate version) (B) 2:27 (Johnny Smith)
06. (I Don't Stand A) Ghost Of A Chance With You (B) 3:08 (Crosby-Washington-Young)
07. Vilia (B) 2:40 (Franz Lehar)
08. My Funny Valentine (B) 2:37 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
09. Sometimes I'm Happy (C) 2:17 (V. Youmans-I. Caesar)
10. Stars Fell On Alabama (C) 3:02 (M. Parish-F. Perkins)
11. Nice Work If You Can Get It (C) 2:23 (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
12. Tenderly (C) 3:24 (Lawrence-Plante-Gross)
13. Yesterdays (E) 2:50 (J. Kern-O. Harbach)
14. Cavu (E) 2:12 (Johnny Smith)
15. I'll Be Around (E) 2:44 (Alec Wilder)
16. Cherokee (E) 2:47 (Ray Noble)
17. Ramona (D) 2:20 (L. W. Gilbert-M. Wayne)
18. The Terry Theme From Limelight (D) 3:13 (Charlie Chaplin)
19. Lullaby Of Birdland (F) 3:03 (George Shearing)
20. My One And Only Love (F) 2:28 (G. Wood-R. Mellin)
21. Stranger in Paradise (H) 2:36 (R. Wright-G. Forrest)
22. Our Love Is Here To Stay (H) 2:16 (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
23. 'S Wonderful (H) 2:23 (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
24. In A Sentimental Mood (H) 2:31 (Duke Ellington)


DISC TWO
01. What’s New (G) 3:04 (B.Haggart-J. Burke)
02. I’ll Remember April (G) 2:46 (Raye-DePaul-Johnson)
03. Sophisticated Lady (G) 3:01 (D. Ellington-M. Parish)
04. Easy To Love (G) 3:14 (Cole Porter)
05. Autumn In New York (H) 2:42 (Vernon Duke)
06. Walk, Don’t Run! (H) 2:46 (Johnny Smith)
07. Lover Man (H) 2:25 (Davis-Ramirez-Sherman)
08. Someone To Watch Over Me (H) 2:14 (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
09. How About You? (H) 2:43 (R. Freed-B. Lane)
10. Dancing On The Ceiling (I) 2:56 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
11. Blues For Birdland (I) 2:37 (Johnny Smith)
12. Have You Met Miss Jones? (I) 2:31 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
13. But Beautiful (J) 2:49 (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)
14. Swinging On A Star (J) 2:35 (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)
15. I Could Have Told You (J) 2:49 (C. Sigman-J. Van Heusen)
16. It Could Happen To You (J) 2:09 (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)
17. Oh You Crazy Moon (J) 2:32 (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)
18. I Thought About You (J) 2:10 (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)
19. Deep In A Dream (J) 2:49 (E. De Lange-J. Van Heusen)
20. So Help Me (J) 2:49 (E. De Lange-J. Van Heusen)
21. Nancy (With The Laughing Face) (J) 3:17 (P. Silvers-J. Van Heusen)
22. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (J) 2:42 (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)
23. Darn That Dream (J) 3:27 (E. De Lange-J. Van Heusen)
24. Imagination (J) 2:34 (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)


DISC THREE
01. Django (K) 5:02 (John Lewis)
02. Wait Till You See Her (K) 2:15 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
03. 0500 Blues (K) 3:45 (Johnny Smith)
04. More Bass (K) 2:28 (George Roumanis)
05. Un Poco Loco (K) 4:25 (Bud Powell)
06. Easy Living (K) 3:16 (R. Rainger-L. Robin)
07. Old Girl (K) 3:52 (George Roumanis)
08. Little Girl Blue (K) 2:47 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
09. Tired Blood (K) 4:16 (Johnny Smith)
10. Spring Is Here (K) 2:44 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
11. It Never Entered My Mind (L) 2:31 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
12. Samba (L) 2:49 (Johnny Smith)
13. Black Is The Color (Of My True Love's Hair) (L) 2:04 (Adapted by Johnny Smith)
14. Pawn Ticket (L) 7:07 (Ray Bryant)
15. 'S Wonderful (L) 4:59 (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
16. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (L) 2:08 (Cole Porter)
17. Blue Lights (L) 4:11 (Basheer Qusim)
18. Montage (L) 4:59 (Johnny. Smith)
19. Bags' Groove (L) 3:18 (Milt Jackson)
20. ‘Round Midnight (L) 3:42 (Monk-Hanighen-Williams)


DISC FOUR
01. Hello, Young Lovers (M) 4:34 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
02. Love For Sale (M) 3:54 (Cole Porter)
03. The Maid With The Flaxen Hair (M) 2:00 (Claude Debussy, adapted by Johnny Smith)
04. Love Letters (M) 2:12 (E. Heyman-V. Young)
05. Tickle Toe (M) 2:47 (Lester Young)
06. Goodbye (M) 2:18 (Gordon Jenkins)
07. Body And Soul (M) 3:20 (Green-Heyman-Eyton-Sour)
08. Lover (M) 3:22 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
09. The Boy Next Door (M) 2:35 (H. Martin-R. Blane)
10. Potter’s Luck (M) 3:37 (Horace Silver)
11. Autumn Nocturne (M) 2:07 (J. Myron-K. Gannon)
12. Band Aid (M) 3:03 (Russ Freeman)
13. Angel Eyes (N) 4:11 (M. Dennis-E. Brent)
14. Deep Night (N) 4:00 (R.Vallee-C. Henderson)
15. These Foolish Things (N) 3:30 (Strachey-Marvell-Link)
16. East Of The Sun (N) 3:09 (Brooks Bowman)
17. There’s A Small Hotel (N) 4:12 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
18. Laura (N) 2:31 (D. Raksin-J. Mercer)
19. Tea For Two (N) 4:39 (V. Youmans-I. Caesar)
20. You Go To My Head (N) 4:30 (J.F. Coots-H. Gillespie)
21. I’m Gettin’ Sentimental Over You (N) 5:08 (N. Washington-G. Bassman)
22. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (N) 5:53 (James F. Hanley)


DISC FIVE
01. Swingin' Shepherd Blues (O) 2:33 (Moe Koffman)
02. Lullaby Of Birdland (O) 2:05 (George Shearing)
03. You Are Beautiful (P) 3:53 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
04. I Enjoy Being A Girl (P) 3:47 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
05. Sunday (P) 2:32 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
06. A Hundred Million Miracles (P) 2:36 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
07. Grant Avenue (P) 2:27 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
08. Love Look Away (P) 3:31 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
09. Like A God (P) 4:03 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
10. Finale (P) 7:13 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
11. When I Fall In Love (Q) 2:45 (Albert Selden)
12. It Might As Well Be Spring (Q) 2:47 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
13. I Didn’t Know What Time It Was (Q) 2:20 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
14. Black Is The Color (Of My True Love's Hair) (Q) 2:30 (Adapted by Johnny Smith)
15. Like Someone In Love (Q) 2:35 (J. Burke-J. Van Heusen)
16. You Don’t Know What Love Is (Q) 2:42 (D. Raye-G. DePaul)
17. Isn’t It Romantic (Q) 2:52 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
18. I Remember The Corn Fields (Q) 2:05 (M. Mayne-H. Ralton)
19. A Foggy Day (Q) 2:59 (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
20. Scarlet Ribbons (Q) 2:42 (E. Danzig-J. Segal)
21. People Will Say We’re In Love (Q) 2:53 (R. Rodgers-O. Hammerstein)
22. The Nearness Of You (Q) 2:32 (H. Carmichael-N. Washington)


DISC SIX
01. Moonlight In Vermont (R) 2:33 (K. Suessdorf-J. Blackburn)
02. My Funny Valentine (R) 3:20 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
03. Little Girl Blue (R) 2:50 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
04. My One And Only Love (R) 2:43 (G. Wood-R. Mellin)
05. Jimmy Van Heusen Medley (R) 4:05
-Darn That Dream (E. De Lange-J. Van Heusen)
-Polka Dots and Moonbeams (E. De Lange-J. Van Heusen)
06. Satin Doll (R) 2:54 (D. Ellington-B. Strayhorn)
07. Blues Backstage (R) 3:55 (Frank Foster)
08. Everything Happens To Me (R) 3:21 (T. Adair-M. Dennis)
09. Pavane (R) 1:30 (Maurice Ravel)
10. Willow Weep For Me (R) 6:04 (Ann Ronnell)
11. Vilia (R) 3:42 (Franz Lehar)
12. Fools Rush In (R) 2:36 (R. Bloom-J. Mercer)
13. I Remember Clifford (R) 4:05 (Benny Golson)
14. The Lady Is A Tramp (R) 2:46 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
15. There Will Never Be Another You (R) 3:07 (H. Warren-M. Gordon)
16. Autumn Leaves (R) 4:02 (Mercer-Prevert-Kozma)
17. Mood Indigo (R) 2:50 (D. Ellington-B. Bigard)
18. Sentimental Journey (R) 3:18 (Brown-Homer-Green)
19. Three Little Words (R) 2:16 (H. Ruby-B. Kalmer)
20. My Romance (R) 2:28 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
21. Sometimes I’m Happy (R) 3:43 (V. Youmans-I. Caesar)
22. I’ll Take Romance (R) 3:03 (B. Oakland-O. Hammerstein)
23. Song For Jimmy Atkins (R) 3:39 (Johnny Smith)


DISC SEVEN
01. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) (S) 2:39 (D. Ellington-P. F. Webster)
02. Let's Fall In Love (S) 2:17 (T. Koehler-H. Arlen)
03. I Can't Get Started (S) 4:56 (V. Duke-I. Gershwin)
04. Some Of These Days (S) 2:26 (Shelton Brooks)
05. You Took Advantage Of Me (S) 2:08 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
06. Over The Rainbow (S) 2:26 (E. Y. Harburg-H, Arlen)
07. Out Of Nowhere (S) 3:34 (E. Heyman-J. Green)
08. Prelude To A Kiss (S) 3:30 (Ellington-Mills-Gordon)
09. Un Poco Loco (S) 3:30 (Bud Powell)
10. Hippo, The Sentimental Hippy (S) 2:58 (G. Roumanis-J. Messner) .
11. It's You Or No One (S) 2:56 (S. Cahn-J. Styne)
12. Come Rain or Come Shine (T) 4:42 (J. Mercer-H. Arlen)
13. Gypsy In My Soul (T) 3:17 (C. Boland-M. Jaffe)
14. Embraceable You (T) 4:51 (G. Gershwin-I Gershwin)
15. Misty (T) 5:26 (E. Garner-J. Burke)
16, As Long As There’s Music (T) 4:02 (S. Cahn-J. Styne)
17. ‘Round Midnight (T) 4:26 (Monk-Williams-Hanighen)
18. This Can’t Be Love (T) 3:18 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
19. Blues Chorale (T) 3:54 (John La Porta)
20. Prelude (T) 1:24 (Alexandre Sciabin, adapted by Johnny Smith)


DISC EIGHT
01. My Romance (U) 2:11 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
02. Little Girl Blue (U) 2:32 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
03. Pavane (U) 1:32 (Maurice Ravel)
04. Prelude (U) 1:30 (Alexandre Scraibin, adapted by Johnny Smith)
05. Black Is The Color (Of My True Love's Hair) (U) 2:44 (Adapted by Johnny Smith)
06. Wait Till You See Her (U) 2:04 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
07. The Maid With The Flaxen Hair (U) 2:56 (Claude Debussy, adapted by Johnny Smith)
08. Shenandoah (U) 2:27 (Adapted by Johnny Smith)
09. Green Leaves Of Summer (U) 2:49 (D. Tiomkin-P. F. Webster)
10. My Funny Valentine (U) 3:13 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
11. Dancing In The Dark (U) 2:37 (H. Dietz-A. Schwartz)
12. Old Folks (U) 2:32 (W. Robison-D. Hill)
13. I Loves You Porgy (U) 2:27 (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
14. Soon (V) 2:21 (G. Gershwin-I. Gershwin)
15. There’ll Be Other Times (V) 4:32 (Marian McPartland)
16. Satin’s Doll (V) 5:04 (Johnny Smith)
17. I’m Old Fashioned (V) 1:54 (J. Kern-J. Mercer)
18. I Remember You (V) 2:47 (J. Mercer-V. Schertzinger)
19. Fitz (V) 4:28 (Gene Roland)
20. Li'l Darlin’ (V) 3:55 (Neal Hefti)
21. Time After Time (V) 3:30 (J. Styne-S. Cahn)
22. You Are Too Beautiful (V) 3:47 (R. Rodgers-L. Hart)
23. Sweet and Lovely (V) 3:29 (Arnheim-Tobins-Lemare)