Four Freshmen and Five Guitars

[JanBerryFarm]

Does anyone here even LISTEN to the Four Freshmen?
I find it difficult to discover an album by them that I warm up to.

I have the Four Freshmen 'live', where they play their own instruments and that's good.

But my recent discovery is really good!

It's the FOUR FRESHMEN and FIVE GUITARS (I hated their Four Freshmen and trombones album, or whatever it was)

I like guitars to begin with.... so it's a shoe-in.

Take a look at the credits: That's some hot stuff. Al Hendrickson did play on some Beach Boy sessions too.

Don Barbour - vocals
 Ross Barbour - vocals
 Bob Flanigan - vocals
 Kenny Albers - vocals
 Jack Marshall - arranger
 Al Hendrickson - guitar
 Howard Roberts - guitar
 Bobby Gibbons - guitar
 Tommy Tedesco - guitar
 Bill Pitman - guitar
 George Van Eps - guitar
 Al Viola - guitar
 Herb Ellis - guitar
 Barney Kessel - guitar
 Larry Bunker - vibes
 Red Mitchell - bass
 Shelly Manne - drums
 Jack Sperling - drums
 
Recorded: 17, 17 June 1959, Los Angeles.

[guitarfool2002]

That lineup of guitarists, right there, is practically the Hall Of Fame of West Coast studio and jazz guitarists of that era. Amazing to see that level of talent and musicianship on one album. Not surprised to see Jack Marshall either, he was one of Capitol's star producers and arrangers of the late 50's, and the guitarist who brought Howard Roberts into the loop and got him to record those classic solo albums on Capitol (HR Is A Dirty Guitar Player, etc...classics). Great West Coast Jazz-men on those credits.

It would fill many pages listing the legends and stories of those guitarists, each one of them is among the best in jazz. And Shelley Manne on drums...damn! Larry Bunker on vibes...the guy all over Mancini's Peter Gunn soundtrack.

Thanks for posting this, I hope folks will check it out. Honestly I'd listen to a version with just the instrumentals minus the Freshmen in this case, because the backing band(s) is just so good.

[dumbangel76]

I have the Four Freshmen Capitol Collector's Series disc that I love! It is on Itunes.