Pablo Records (2026)

19/08/2025

So nice, they did it twice, but we know that Base & OP got together 4 more additional times on Pablo. They genuinely got along well, both musically & personally, & we get to go along for the ride.

For those not understanding the reference in the name, Satchel Paige & Josh Gibson were two of the greatest baseball heroes in the American Negro Leagues; ol Satch the legendary pitcher who never told his real age, (but we now know pitched into his late 50’s). And Josh Gibson, the powerful slugger who many called, “the Black Babe Ruth” (but some who had seen both Gibson and Ruth play called Babe, “the White Josh Gibson” :)

Basie made the comparison with OP & himself, with a story about Satch pitching to Josh, as in the old guard and the new guard on the field at the same time. For fans of baseball & Jazz history, the analogy is a warm one, linking four much beloved Black heroes. Not only that, but it’s colorful in the most wonderful Basie way, and contains the parallel of PLAY.

This album is FULL OF PLAY; of fun, whimsy, experimentation at the highest level. It’s a delightful follow up record that only continues the celebration of friendship between two giants of the Jazz world.

•Title: …..Again
•Catalog:
•Recorded: 20 September 1977
•Released: #1978
•Personnel:

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•Produced by:  •📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes: Mr.Granz &
•🖌Layout & Design: Mr.Granz &
•🎚Sound Engineer:
•Studio:
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15/08/2025

Happy 100th Birthday to the King, Oscar Peterson!

We’re going to celebrate OP AND Basie together for the next couple weeks as their birthdays are only 6days apart, & also because they enjoyed recording together so much & shared an extremely warm mutual appreciation.

Firstly, what can be said about Mr.Peterson that hasn’t already been said with a firehose? Well, as we’re looking through Pablo-colored glasses, we should start by reiterating that wonderful origin story.

You know that one when Norman Granz, Pablo founder, was in Montreal, riding in a taxi on his way to the airport, & heard OP playing a live local broadcast on the radio. So taken was he that he ordered the cabbie to make a beeline to the venue, skipping his flight altogether. After introducing himself, Granz invited young Oscar to be a surprise guest at an upcoming concert he was holding at Carnegie Hall. Virtually from that meeting in 1948, Granz would act as Oscar’s manager for nearly 40yrs, when Norman finally retired for reals in ‘88.

Mr.Peterson appears on at least 81 albums in the Pablo catalog, & within that oeuvre, Norman put him in every conceivable combination, in every location around the world. Goodwill ambassador to Russia, dueting with trumpet kings, tenor giants, small combos, mid-size groups, big bands, backing Ella & Sassy, hopping on organ, harpsichord, and of course, burning down the house numerous times with Joe & NHØP.

More to come when these two heroes return for the sequel….Satch and Josh….AGAIN!
Stay tuned true Pablovians!

PS. Don’t forget to look inside your 2nd hand vinyl. You might find newspaper clippings about the album◡̈

•Title:
•Catalog:
•Recorded: December 2, 1974
•Released: #1975
•Personnel:

•Produced by:
•📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes: & Mr.Granz
•Studio: , Los Angeles, California
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08/08/2025

Happy birthday to a real foundational architect, yes of the saxophone, but also with his contributions to Jazz at large as a composer, arranger, band leader and multi-instrumentalist; Mr. Benny Carter!
Benny had an extraordinarily long career; over 70yrs, and throughout that time he continued to innovate and stay curious. If you’re a little short on Benny background, do read the liners by our other Benny, Mr. Green, who pens a delightful paean to his lifelong hero. And in doing so lends an insight and appreciation that can only come from a fellow saxophonist. It would be one of the last few liners he would write for Pablo. (Trivia: anyone know the very last one?)

This album was recorded a few years after Norman founded Pablo, but not released for a full 10yrs, in 1986; the year he sold to Fantasy, and the year that Lockjaw sadly passed at 64. It was one of the first 7 albums to be released in the Fantasy era, guided by Norman’s right-hand man, Eric Miller, who with his extensive knowledge of the Granz archive, focused on mining gems like this very album (a trend you’ll notice by taking a glance of the catalog from ‘86 onward).

•Title:
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•Recorded: November, 1976
•Released: #1986
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•Produced by:
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•📝Liner notes:
•🖌Layout & Design: Mr.Granz &
•🎚Engineer:
•🎚Remix Engineer:
•🎚Mastering:
•Studio: RCA Recording Studios, NY
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02/08/2025

ALSO from The Newport Jazz Festival 1957, with his only appearance in the Pablo oeuvre, Mr. Stan Kenton and his orchestra! This was another recording from that swingin Summer in Rhode Island, that Pablo founder, Norman Granz was tasked to produce by festival owners, the Lorillard family.

Granz, then producing for his label Verve, made sure to record in the highest quality, the artists signed to him. But he also recorded a few other artists….just for the heck of it. This and the last post on Sassy are evidence of Granz’ forward thinking, even when he wasn’t sure how he could legally distribute those recordings. In fact, it would take 45yrs, and his right hand producer, Eric Miller, ever the vault digger, to get these 12 wonderful, never before released tracks to the public.

The Kenton Band, by the way, sounds fantastic; tight, creative, bold, sensitive, and full as ever. It’s also a treat to hear Mr. Kenton himself introducing tunes & featured soloists, which we’re only privy to every once in a while from a live recording.

•Title:
•Catalog:
•Recorded: July 5, 1957
•Released: #2002
•Personnel:

•Produced by: &
•🎨Art Direction: Jamie Putnam
•🖌Design: Deb Sibony
•📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes:
•Recording Engineer: Bob Fine
•Digital Editing: Dave Luke
•Mastering: Joe Tarantino
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Have you ever attended Newport Jazz Festival?

01/08/2025

What makes this album special, particularly for the Pablovian who might be more accustomed to hearing Sassy sing from her third act, is the opportunity to go from 1957 to 1982 in under an hour. What a fascinating and beautiful journey we have producer Eric Miller to thank for👏

The first 8 tracks are from Sarah’s set 68yrs ago at The Newport Jazz Festival, which opens today in Rhode Island. The back 8 are alt tracks from Ms.Vaughan’s Pablo years; takes that weren’t selected by Norman to be masters, but who can tell why? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

It’s important to mention who from these recordings are still with us making wonderful music. Among the 18 musicians who lent their talents to these takes, two legends in their mid 80’s remain; drummer Harold Jones (Basie’s favorite!), and pianist Mike Wafford, both of whom have played with the Jazz titans from any list that matters. And both have appeared on 7 albums in the Pablo catalog.

•Title:
•Catalog:
•Recorded: 1957-1982
•Released: #1999
•Personnel:

•RolandHanna

•WaymonReed

•Produced by: , Ms.Vaughan &
•🎨Art Direction:
•📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes:
•🎚Remastering:
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12/07/2025

Now this is something special; both for what’s contained in its grooves & also for who it belonged to…

Mrs. Cecilia Brown, the widow of our bass hero Ray Brown (who himself passed in 2002) died last year, & an estate sale was held in Sherman Oaks 2mo ago, where a trove of goodies from Ray’s personal collection was recently acquired for the Pablo Jazz Records vault. This album you see here is one of them, & over time it’ll be a pleasure to share the rest with you. So welcome to Ray Brown’s own copy of this album!

Now in terms of content what’s on this album is pipping hot in a way that we don’t normally find on Pablo. It’s prime forward-leaning Freddie, & features a young Billy Childs, in one of his 5 Pablo appearances. This album isn’t way out, but with nice & long versions of these numbers & a free & loose approach from each of the men who make up this virtuosic quintet, this album scratches a more modern itch than we often hear in the catalog. That is to say, it’s baaaadass; no wonder it’s in a well-loved condition, Ray must have played the hell out of it.

Stay tuned for more from the Ray Brown Collection!

•Title:
•Catalog:
•Recorded: July 12, 1980
•Released: #1981
•Personnel:
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•Produced by:
•📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes:
•🖌Layout & Design: Mr.Granz &
•🎚Sound Engineer:
•Remix studio: GroupIVStudios, Hollywood, California
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11/07/2025

It’s festival season & we now find ourselves at, as Mr.Granz put it, “one of the most important Jazz festivals in Europe”; The Northsea Jazz Festival, in The Hague, the capital city of the South Holland province of The Netherlands.

On Pablo, T***s is something of a festival feature, with 7 of his 8 appearances being;
-Newport ‘57 with George Shearing/Cannonball Adderley + band (5315-2)
-Montreux ‘75 with this same group + Bags & Bellson (2310-747)
-Montreux ‘80 with Diz & Bernard Pretty Purdie (2308-226)
-Montreux ‘80 with Diz, Mongo + band (2308-229)
-Montreux ‘80 again with Diz, Mongo + band (pablo_5315-2)
-Northsea ‘80 with just Joe & NHØP (2308-233)
-Northsea ‘80 this album

1980 was a busy Summer for Mr.Thielemans. After playing two albums worth at Northsea with OP, JP, & NHØP on July 13th, he bopped over to Switzerland for 2 sets on July 19th with Dizzy, Burdie, & Mongo!

Hot Jazz Summer!

•Title:
•Catalog:
•Recorded: July 13, 1980
•Released: #1981
•Personnel:
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- ***sThielemans
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•Produced by:
•📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes: Mr.Granz
•🖌Layout & Design: Mr.Granz &
•Studio:
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09/07/2025

Continuing to celebrate the ‘77 Pablo at Montreux recordings, we find a promotional “best-of” 2-album release containing 9 takes that WERE NOT included in the individual Jam releases from that Summer’s festival! (but WERE included in the boxset. The boxset has EVERYTHING).

Pablo founder Norman Granz recorded his artist’s sets at the famous Swiss festival in 1975, ‘77, ‘78, ‘79, ‘80, & ‘82, but none did he pour more energy into than 1977, exemplified here by making an extra effort to promote the kind of electric performances Granz loved best; jams.

There were 6 Pablo jam sets that year, all represented here with the exception of Oscar Peterson & the Bassists, (OP, NHØP, & Ray, who all appear on other tracks.)

It’s a great place to start if you’re curious about the energy that was brought to the foot of the Swiss Alps in ‘77. Once you realize you love what you’re hearing (& you will), if you can find it for a nice price, go grab that full boxset of steamin’ hot jams!

•Title:
•Catalog:
•Recorded: July 13 & 14, 1977
•Released: #1977
•Personnel:
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•Produced by:
•📝Liner notes: Mr.Granz
•🖌Layout & Design: Mr.Granz &
•🎚Sound Engineer:
•Studio:
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07/07/2025

It’s easy to get romantic when Pablo founder Norman Granz waxes on the virtues of the jam session. Knights jousting, traveling gunslingers with up and comers itchin’ to take their crack at the fastest guns in the West. With their knowledge of tunes, keys, and mastery of tempos, cats went to war for everything that matters; reputation.

The jam is where youngbloods got their first chance at respect & where their heroes continued to prove they’ve still got it. Even being old pals, when it’s showtime, these cats go to battle. Granz put Clark, Dizzy, & Lockjaw together just to see their lions come out (not to mention the competitiveness of OP).

Time & time again on Pablo, we see a concentrated effort to record not just the greatest players in Jazz, but also the most interesting combinations Granz & Co. could come up with; instrumentally (as with OP & two bass giants), personnel groupings, & group sizes (e.g. Basie playing with a trio).

Granz was passionate about cultivating the talent he believed in, & at this time, he was HEAVY into getting the public to know about Joe Pass & NHØP, 2 generational talents that without his positioning & promoting, would not nearly have had the exposure they enjoyed. And WE would not have been able to enjoy them as much as we do with the plethora of recordings he made a priority to produce (the up & coming Monty Alexander also duly supported by Granz).

This boxset is a treasure, and if you’re a true Pablovian, a cornerstone of your collection.

•Title:
•Catalog:
•Recorded: July 13, 14 & 15, 1977
•Released: #1977
•Personnel:
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•Produced by:
•📸Photography: &
•📝Liner notes: Mr.Granz
•🖌Layout & Design: Mr.Granz &
•🎚Sound Engineer:
•Studio: MountainRecordingStudios
•

27/05/2025

Happy birthday to The Great Dane, The Viking, The Eternal Traveller, Mr. Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen.

NHØP has a serious footprint in the Pablo catalog, appearing no less than 42x, and leading or co-leading 5x. He played with giants as diverse as Basie, Bags, Bellson, Dizzy, Cleanhead, Lockjaw, Previn, Grappelli, Thielemans, and perhaps none more successfully or excitingly than when with Peterson and Pass.

But today we hear him with Ole and Lennart, two fellow countrymen who, till this day, continue to loom large in Denmark’s Jazz culture, and with whom he could make, as Niels said, a truly Danish Jazz album.

There are some cute opening and ending motifs that include paganini, Auld Long Syne, and Niels’ two young daughters singing a piece of a children’s song, but once the Jazz gets started, it’s as tasty & buttery as wienerbrød.

This album isn’t one you can easily find in your local wax dealer’s bins, but if you run across it, pick it up. It’s a treat, especially for the NHØP fan.

•Title:
•Catalog:
•Recorded: June 4, 5, 6, & November 11, 1984
•Released: #1985
•Personnel:
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•Produced by:
•📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes:
•🖌Layout & Design:
•🎚Sound Engineer: , ,
•Studio: , Copenhagen, Denmark
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11/02/2025

Happy birthday to the very talented English drummer, Martin Drew, who appears no less than 13x on the Pablo Catalog, 12 of which are with Oscar, and the single other time, Pass stole him away for a session. OP, JP, & NHØP had a powerhouse trio going for a good long season, and were doing just fine without a drummer. To be chosen by them for that many records says quite a lot about him and his abilities.

This album sadly marks something of an end to an era. Recorded in mid November of ‘86, this looks to be the last time OP & JP recorded together for Pablo. With OP being in Montreal, Joe marrying a German woman and living in Hamburg, and NHØP in Denmark, The Trio had begun to unwind. Here we have Dave Young on bass, who Oscar really started to bring in a lot in ‘86 (says a lot about him too!).

OP Live! features 4/6 tunes penned by Oscar, (the first 3 for The Montreal Bach Festival). It’s a gorgeous concert, dripping with sophistication & class; and they still manage to swing like crazy. If you dig this album, in true Granzian fashion, a second was released a year later, Time After Time ( ), filled with more great cuts from that lovely evening in Westwood, half of which are also OP OGs.

•Title: !
•Catalog:
•Recorded: November 12 & 14, 1986
•Released: #1990
•Personnel:
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•Produced by:
•🎨Art Direction:
•📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes:
•🖌Layout & Design:
•🎚Sound Engineer:
•🎚Recording Assistants: # &
•🎚Remix Engineer:
•🎚Mastering:
•Equipment: , GroupIV
•Location: , Los Angeles, CA
•

07/02/2025

And what a tribute it is! Each of the tracks on this release are only a sampling from of the myriad of brilliant musicians OP played with in his career. Many are tunes he didn’t play too often on his own, so this tribute is him taking pieces from artists he was most close with, and processing them through his powerhouse quartet of Uncle Joe, The Viking, & Dish (a nickname bestowed upon Martin Drew by Cedar Walton, due to his use of a china ride cymbal).

There’s a couple ballads featured here, but most of this album is straight ahead rocket fuel. Maybe the only thing better than the Oscar Peterson Trio (II), is the Oscar Peterson Quartet, which on Pablo, appears twice with Mr.Drew (this album & Hark 2310-915, featuring Buddy DeFranco), and once with Louie Bellson (Night Child 2312-108).

You be the judge which drummer added the right thrust for these three venerated Jazztronauts.

•Title:
•Catalog: ( )
•Recorded: November 8, 1983
•Released: #1984
•Personnel:
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•Produced by:
•📸Photography:
•📝Liner notes: Mr.Granz
•🖌Layout & Design: Mr.Granz &
•🎚Sound Engineer:
•Studio: , Berkeley
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Pablo Records