“Melba Liston And Her ’Bones” is an album by Melba Liston, recorded on December 24, 1958, in New York and originally released on MetroJazz Records (E1009). The Jazz Workshop Vinyl reissue as a 180-gram audiophile LP (JW-088) revives this unique record with remastering that highlights the trombones’ rich sound. The lineup features Melba Liston (trombone), Frank Rehak (trombone), Jimmy Cleveland (trombone), Benny Green (trombone), Al Grey (trombone), Slide Hampton (trombone), Ray Brown (bass), Charlie Persip (drums), and Marty Paich (piano). The album includes standards like The Trolley Song and Blue Moon, plus Liston’s originals. The music is swing with hard-bop elements, with the trombones forming a powerful, harmonic ensemble. The Jazz Workshop reissue is valued for its sonic depth and the recording’s rarity. “Melba Liston And Her ’Bones” is a historic record, showcasing Liston’s mastery as a trombonist and arranger.
Melba Liston (January 13, 1926 – April 23, 1999) was an American trombonist, composer, and arranger, one of the few women to gain recognition in 1940s–1950s jazz. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, she began playing trombone at seven. In the 1940s, she worked with Gerald Wilson and Dizzy Gillespie, and in the 1950s with Count Basie and Quincy Jones. Liston was renowned for her arrangements, particularly for Randy Weston, with whom she collaborated for decades. Her trombone playing was warm and expressive, and her arrangements were complex yet melodic. Despite sexism in the industry, Liston became a pioneer, inspiring women in jazz. She later taught at the University of Jamaica, leaving a legacy as a musician and educator.
TRACKLIST
Side One:
1. Blues Melba (Melba Liston) 6:30
2. The Trolley Song (Martin-Blane) 2:31
3. Pow! (Leonard Feather) 4:01
4. Wonder Why (Brodzsky-Cann) 3:58
Side Two:
1. Christmas Eve (Slide Hampton) 4:57
2. Whats My Line Theme (Sascha Burland) 4:18
3. You Don’t Say (Melba Liston) 3:55
4. The Dark Before The Dawn (Feather-Hampton) 3:18
Personnel:
Personnel on Side A #1 & 2, and Side B #3:
Melba Liston, Bennie Green, Al Grey, Benny Powell (trombones), Kenny Burrell (guitar), George Joyner (bass), Charles Persip (drums).
Recorded in New York City, December 22, 1958
Personnel on Side A #3 & 4, and Side B #1,2 & 4:
Melba Liston, Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak (trombones), Slide Hampton (trombone, tuba), Ray Bryant (piano), George Tucker (bass), Frank Dunlop (drums).
Recorded in New York City, December 24, 1958
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.