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Bob Brookmeyer, born in 1929, was a jazz trombonist, a renowned exponent of the valve trombone, who came to the fore during the 1950s with the Claude Thornhill Orchestra and in the Stan Getz group, before starting his career leading his own bands, as well as playing with the likes of Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry and others. 

His compositional style drew on contemporary classical writing, incorporating atonality, chromatic harmony and other techniques to develop distinctive themes and structures. 

This 32-track 2-CD set comprises the titles from several of his early albums, on which he is leader, co-leader or featured perfomer. 

They comprise “Teddy Charles New Direction Quartet feat. Bob Brookmeyer” on Prestige (later released on the Prestige LP “The Dual Role Of Bob Brookmeyer”), “Bob Brookmeyer Featuring Al Cohn” on Storyville, “The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet” on Pacific Jazz, “Bob Brookmeyer Plays Bob Brookmeyer” on Clef and “The Bob Brookmeyer Quintet” on Prestige (also part of “The Dual Role Of Bob Brookmeyer”). 

It features performances with Teddy Charles, Teddy Kotick, Ed Shaughnessy, Al Cohn, John Williams, Bill Anthony, Frank Isola, Henri Renaud, Jimmy Gourley, Red Mitchell, Jimmy Rowles, Buddy Clark, Mel Lewis and Jimmy Raney. 

Capturing him in the early years of his career, it’s an enlightening introduction his music and an enjoyable showcase for distinctive style of playing and composing.

Tracks

CD 1
1. REVELATION Teddy Charles New Direction Quartet Feat. Bobby Brookmeyer 
2. STAR EYES Teddy Charles New Direction Quartet Feat. Bobby Brookmeyer 
3. NOBODY'S HEART Teddy Charles New Direction Quartet Feat. Bobby Brookmeyer 
4. LOUP GAROU Teddy Charles New Direction Quartet Feat. Bobby Brookmeyer   
From the album “Teddy Charles New Direction Quartet Feat. Bobby Brookmeyer”  Prestige    PRLP178    1954
5. OPEN COUNTRY Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
6. JIVE AT FIVE Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
7. POLKA DOTS AND MOONBEAMS Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
8. IN THE MODE Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
9. SKYLARK Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
From the album “Bob Brookmeyer Featuring Al Cohn – Storyville Presents Bob Brookmeyer” Storyville STLP305   1954
10. 9.20 SPECIAL Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
11. I NEVER KNEW  Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
12. STEEPLECHASE Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
13. LOVER MAN Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 
From the album “The Bob Brookmeyer Quintet”  Vogue LD216   1954
14. LIBERTY BELLE Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
15. ISN'T IT ROMANTIC Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
16. TRADITIONAL BLUES Bob Brookmeyer Quartet
From the album “The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet”  Pacific Jazz   PJLP-16   1954

CD 2
1. HAVE YOU MET MISS JONES Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
2. DOE EYES Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
3. RED DEVIL Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
4. BODY AND SOUL Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
5. LAST CHANCE Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
From the album “The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet”  Pacific Jazz   PJLP-16   1954
6. YOU TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME Bob Brookmeyer 
7. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU Bob Brookmeyer 
8. WHAT IS THERE TO SAY Bob Brookmeyer 
9. HE AIN'T GOT RHYTHM Bob Brookmeyer 
10. JASMIN Bob Brookmeyer 
11. THE BULLDOG BLUES Bob Brookmeyer 
12. STICKS AND STEMS Bob Brookmeyer 
From the album “Bob Brookmeyer Plays Bob Brookmeyer and Some Others” Clef MGC-644    1955
13. ROCKY SCOTCH Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
14. UNDER THE LILACS Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
15. THEY SAY IT'S WONDERFUL Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 
16. POTREZEBIE Bob Brookmeyer Quartet
From the album “The Bob Brookmeyer Quintet”    Prestige    PRLP214     1956