Saxophonist Vito Price is virtually unknown today. In fact, he was virtually unknown back in January 1958, when he recorded Swinging the Loop for Chicago's Argo label. At the time, Price was 28 and a veteran of a clutch of road bands led by Bob Chester, Art Mooney, Tony Pastor and Chubby Jackson. He moved to Chicago from New York in the summer of '55 to join the staff orchestra of TV station WGN, where he remained for years.
Swinging the Loop is only one of two known leadership sessions recorded by Price. At the time, he was plugged into the Chicago scene and finally came to the attention of Argo through his Chubby Jackson recordings. Swinging the Loop was recorded over two days, on January 20 and January 25.
The first session included Time After Time, Eye Strain, Beautiful Love, Credo and As Long As I Live. When Price heard that Ella Fitzgerald was in town, he cajoled her trio to back him on the session—Lou Levy (p), Max Bennett (b) and Gus Johnson (d). Count Basie guitarist Freddie Green also was in Chicago at the time, so he came along as well. [Photo above of Lou Levy]
The second session included Swinging the Loop, Mousey's Tune, Why Was I Born?, Duddy and In a Mellow Tone. Here, Price added several of his TV orchestra band-mates: John Howell and Bill Hanley (tp); Paul Crumbaugh (tb); Barrett O'Hara (b-tb); Bill Calkins (bar); Lou Levy (p); Remo Biondi (g); Max Bennett (b); Marty Clausen (d) and Bill McRae (arr). Gus Johnson was ill so Clausen stepped in on drums for the second date. [Photo above of Gus Johnson]
Price plays tenor saxophone on all tracks except for In a Mellow Tone, where he plays alto. Price's originals on the album are the title track, Duddy and Eye Strain. [Photo above of Freddie Green]
As we can hear on this album, Price was a smooth exceptional swinger with a jumping sound, sweet improvisational lines and a passion for Lester Young and Zoot Sims. His only other leadership date was on 'S Wonderful in 2003 for a label called Scantalia Productions. I wonder if Price is still around.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Vito Price's Swingin' the Loop here and here.
JazzWax clip: Here's As Long as I Live...
A special thanks to Bruce Klauber
from JazzWax http://ift.tt/21heB83
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