This album “Crosstown” is a compilation of recordings done in Van Gelder’s studio in 1955. They all took place on three separate dates, May 22nd, May 31st and September 1st and with Eddie Bert on Trombone, JR. Monterose on Tenor, Joe Puma on Guitar, Hank Jones on Piano, either Wendell Marshall or Clyde Lombardi on Bass and Kenny Clarke on Drums. A certain hit with all these greats on board! Enjoy!
About the album:
When trombonist Eddie Bert made these recordings he was at a point in his career where his playing was illustrative of all the eloquence that is representative of that many-dimensioned individual. Eddie had emerged as a major voice on his horn in 1954, when the Metronome Yearbook awarded him as one of the four “Musicians of the Year.” Eddie was one of those musicians on the Jazz scene……Read More
Biography of Eddie Bert:
Eddie Bert had a long career in jazz and in the studios, managing to go almost unnoticed by all but his fellow musicians. A fine and flexible soloist, Bert also played a large part behind the scenes, performing his parts quite capably in orchestras. Among his early teachers were fellow trombonists Benny Morton and Trummy Young. In 1940, when he was 18, Bert joined Sam Donahue’s Orchestra, and two years later cut his first solo on record, “Jersey Bounce,” with Red Norvo’s band. Bert gigged with the orchestras of Charlie Barnet (1943) and Woody Herman, performed at a well-recorded Town Hall concert with Norvo in 1944, where he was extensively featured and, after a stint in the military, he worked during the next decade with such orchestras as Herbie Fields, Stan Kenton (1947-1948 and 1950-1951), Benny Goodman (1948-1949), Woody Herman again, and Les Elgart. From 1952-1955, Bert recorded several dates as a leader for Discovery, Savoy, Jazztone, and Trans-World, showing that he could be a personable bop-based improviser in small groups, too. He worked and recorded with Charles Mingus in late 1955, rejoined Goodman in 1957….. Learn More
