Friday, November 28, 2008

Monkey business beats no business in this economy...

Having to work for a living is becoming a real drag these days. Guess the financial mess we're in now helps illuninate just how spoiled most of us have been here in the United States. But thankfully, there are some fallbacks to help us through tough times, things like listening to two great guitarists laying down some smooth musings like this next album. Another OOP LP that I found in a record store a couple of years ago. Frankly I was a tad disappointed, it's not exactly challenging, but it is leisurely good listening if you enjoy the expert touch of electric guitarists... like Billy & Johnny on "Makin' It". Not sure what is with the monkey cover here, who was he makin' it with? Especially odd for this mainstream, generally pretty album. But this is good jazz that should be of particular interest to guitar nuts like me. Listen carefully and you will hear some nice stuff, and it should definitely help lower your blood pressure after a day of aggravation at the job...lowering your cholesterol will require turning it up a notch or two, Art Ensemble or Marion Brown perhaps?

MonkeysMakinIt

Johnny Pisano and Billy Bean - Makin' It (Guitar Duets) - 1958

Ill Wind (You're Blowin' Me No Good)
Cirrus
Indian Summer
Little Old Lady
When I Fall In Love
Our Waltz
While The Music Plays On
Flute Cocktail
Symphony
The Song Is You
I See Your Face Before Me
Crazy Head

Partial listing of personnel;
Billy Bean: guitar
Johnny Pisano: guitar
Paul Horn: flute
Gene Estes: vibes, drums
Calvin Jackson: piano
Hal Gaylor: bass
Larry Bunker: drums
Fred Katz: piano
Red Callender: tuba
William Green: clarinet

3 comments:

OldHippieRick said...

What a fabulous Blog for sure.. is there any chance of a re-up on this gem. I do have all but this LP of Billy Bean & Johnny Pisano. Billy stopped recording in 1960's for unknown reasons and much of his recorded work are all gems.

oldhippierick

http://oldhippierick.wordpress.com/

Thanks

Durge & The Oldies said...

Thanks for letting me know that this one croaked OHR. It's renewed on RS this time so should be good to go. Hope you enjoy it.

Craig

OldHippieRick said...

Billy Bean & John Pisano "Makin' It Again" 1958

Tracks
01 Fat Feet* (Bean) [quintet]3:18
02 Room 608* (Silver) [quintet]3:52
03 You Stepped Out of a Dream (Brown, Kahn) [duo]13:29
04 Indian Summer* (Dubin, Herbert) [quintet]5:36
05 Strike up the Band (Gershwin, Gershwin) [duo]7:06
06 Take Your Pick* (Mobley, Pisano) [quintet]3:37
07 Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie, Casey, Pinkard) [quartet]10:03
08 Billy's Beanery* (Bean) [quintet]2:12
09 Safari (Silver) [quartet]7:53
10 Cherokee (Noble) [duo]7:20
11 Fat Feet* [Bonus track] [duo] (Bean)5:56

Personnel
Billy Bean - guitar
John Pisano - guitar
Gene Estes* - vibes
Hal Gaylor - bass
Larry Bunker - drums

Recorded 1956-58 - Various locations, Phil'y clubs all live..

Back in 1958, guitarists John Pisano and Billy Bean teamed up for a pair of Decca albums ("Take Your Pick" and "Makin' It") that also included Gene Estes on vibes, bassist Hal Gaylor, drummer Larry Bunker. your version is way cool

I'll post a yet another "Makin' It Again" also 1958
these Phil'y guitarists were tight for sure..

check out
"Jazz and Blues All Day"
http://oldhippierick.wordpress.com/
real soon for this gem...