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Here's a link to a part of a previous JazzWax interview with Chris Connor in which she discusses the recordings with Maynard (curiously, she maintains that the albums were made in 1957, when in fact they were recorded between December 1960 and January 1961):
http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/06/interview-chr-3.html

Here's some discographical data on the sessions (for some reason, the Roulette Two's Company album was not included in the Mosaic box set):

Date: December 5, 1960
Location: New York
Label: ATLANTIC RECORDSChris Connor, Maynard Ferguson (ldr), Nesuhi Ertegun (pdr), Joe Farrell (f, ss, ts), Lanny Morgan (f, as), Willie Maiden (cl, ts), Frank Hittner (bcl, bar), Rolf Ericson, Augustino 'Chet' Ferretti, Rick Kiefer (t), Maynard Ferguson (t, tb, frh), Kenny Rupp, Ray Winslow (tb), Charlie Sanders (b), Jaki Byard (p), Rufus Jones (d), Chris Connor (v)

a.

5215 Master

Lonesome Road

- 4:20 (Gene Austin, Nathaniel Shilkrat) / arr: Don Sebesky
ATLANTIC RECORDS 45: 5014 - {Summertime / Lonesome Road} (1961)
www~ 32 Jazz CD: 32108 - Warm Cool: The Atlantic Years (1999)

b.

5216 Master

Two Ladies In De Shade Of De Banana Tree

- 2:36 (Harold Arlen, Truman Capote) / arr: Don Sebesky

c.

5217 Master

Happy New Year

- 4:23 (Gordon Jenkins) / arr: Don Sebesky

All titles on:

ATLANTIC RECORDS LP: 8049/SD-8049 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (1961)
ATLANTIC RECORDS LP: 90143-1 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (Jazzlore Series #21) (1984)
USA Government's "Basic Music Library" AFRS Series LP transcription: P 7569-7570 - [AFRS] Basic Music Library [LP Double Exposure] (1961)
ATLANTIC RECORDS cassette: 90143-4 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (Jazzlore Series #21) (1984)
yyy~ Fresh Sound CD: FSR CP30 (Spain) - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (1989)
www~ Collectors' Choice CD: CCM 319-2 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (2002)

Bio-Discographical Note: Chris Connor & Maynard Ferguson

Both former disciples of The Stan Kenton Orchestra, Chris Connor and Maynard Ferguson had been touring together since the month that had preceded this session, as part of a concert package known as "Jazz For Moderns." For information about the corporate deal that made possible Ferguson's appearance on Connor's Atlantic sessions, see notes under session dated December 15, 1960, on this page.


Personnel

The front cover of Double Exposure jointly credits Chris Connor and Maynard Ferguson (in that order) as the album's main artist.

Date: December 14, 1960
Location: New York
Label: ATLANTIC RECORDSChris Connor, Maynard Ferguson (ldr), Nesuhi Ertegun (pdr), Joe Farrell (f, ss, ts), Lanny Morgan (f, as), Willie Maiden (cl, ts), Frank Hittner (bcl, bar), Rolf Ericson, Augustino 'Chet' Ferretti, Rick Kiefer (t), Maynard Ferguson (t, tb, frh), Kenny Rupp, Ray Winslow (tb), Charlie Sanders (b), Jaki Byard (p), Rufus Jones (d), Chris Connor (v)

a.

5224 Master

Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

- 4:17 (Tommy Wolf, Fran Landesman) / arr: Willie Maiden

b.

5225 Master

All The Things You Are

- 2:48 (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) / arr: Willie Maiden
www~ 32 Jazz CD: 32108 - Warm Cool: The Atlantic Years (1999)

c.

5226 Master

It Never Entered My Mind

- 5:04 (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) / arr: Don Sebesky
www~ 32 Jazz CD: 32108 - Warm Cool: The Atlantic Years (1999)

d.

5227 Master

Black Coffee

- 3:37 (Joseph F. "Sonny" Burke, Paul Francis Webster) / arr: Don Sebesky
www~ Rhino CD: 8122799391 (England) - Introducing Chris Connor (2008)

All titles on:

ATLANTIC RECORDS LP: 8049/SD-8049 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (1961)
ATLANTIC RECORDS LP: 90143-1 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (Jazzlore Series #21) (1984)
USA Government's "Basic Music Library" AFRS Series LP transcription: P 7569-7570 - [AFRS] Basic Music Library [LP Double Exposure] (1961)
ATLANTIC RECORDS cassette: 90143-4 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (Jazzlore Series #21) (1984)
yyy~ Fresh Sound CD: FSR CP30 (Spain) - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (1989)
www~ Collectors' Choice CD: CCM 319-2 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (2002)

Songs

1. "It Never Entered My Mind"
In her 2008 interview for jazzwax.com , Chris Connor says that this version of "It Never Entered My Mind" has "the most gorgeous arrangement I've ver heard -- and the most difficult I've ever had to sing. From the singer's perspective, with a band that strong and with that kind of arrangement, you couldn't tell which was the right note to hit, especially at the end. The only way you could tell is if the piano played the right note in front. You know, just before the other instruments came in. I made all the chord changes with the help of Jacki Byard. He cued me, and it turned out fantastic." Connor has also enthused about how much she likes "th[e] kind of challenge" posed by the "surprise ending" of her version.

The soundtrack of the 1987 movie Surrender includes a performance of "It Never Entered My Mind," sung by Chris Connor with accompaniment by Maynard Ferguson. I have not been able to locate a copy of this album. Given Ferguson's presence, I am tentatively assuming that the soundtrack performance is the same one listed in this session. Michel Colombier was the movie's composer.


Crossreferences

For general information about Double Exposure material, see session dated December 5, 1960.

Date: December 15, 1960
Location: New York
Label: ROULETTEChris Connor, Maynard Ferguson (ldr), Joe Farrell (f, ss, ts), Lanny Morgan (f, as), Willie Maiden (cl, ts), Frank Hittner (bcl, bar), Bill Berry, Rolf Ericson, Augustino 'Chet' Ferretti (t), Maynard Ferguson (t, tb, frh), Kenny Rupp, Ray Winslow (tb), John Neves (b), Jaki Byard (p), Rufus Jones (d), Chris Connor (v)

a.

15645 Master

New York's My Home

- 4:40 (Gordon Jenkins)

b.

15646 Master

The Wind

- 5:00 (Russ Freeman, Jerry Gladstone)

c.

15647 Master

When The Sun Comes Out

- 3:37 (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler)
yyy~ Phonorama LP: PR 5642 - A Collection Of Maynard Ferguson And Chris Conner (1983)

All titles on:

ROULETTE LP: S/R-52068 - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (1961)
yyy~ Fresh Sound LP: R-52068/RLP-215 (Spain) - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (9999)
ROULETTE Jazz CD: CDP 7243 8 37201 2 5 - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (9999)

Bio-Discographical Note: Chris Connor On ROULETTE Records

Chris Connor's three sessions for Roulette Records were done with Atlantic's consent, as part of a deal struck between the labels. The deal involved the production of twin albums with the same two artists (Atlantic's Chris Connor, Roulette's Maynard Ferguson), one to be released on the instrumentalist's label, the other on the vocalist's label. (See also preceding sessions on this page, starting with the one dated December 5, 1960. )


Dating And Sources

Erik Raben's Jazz Records 1942-1980: A Discography is the source for the Roulette sessions' recording dates. I have followed Raben on matters of dating, but have otherwise kept the personnel listed in the album (see below).


Personnel

1. Main Acts
Maynard Ferguson and Chris Connor (in that order) are jointly credited as the main artist on the cover of the album Two's Company. Both were former disciples of The Stan Kenton Orchestra.

2. Collective Personnel
The back cover of the album Two's Compay gives a collective personnel for the sessions that it comprises (December 15 and 22, 1961; January 30, 1961). A slightly different personnel can be found in Raben's discography. The differences:

Raben: Charlie Saunders on bass, Rick Keifer on trumpet
album: John Neves on bass, Bill Berry on trumpet

I have kept the information given in the album. It is more detailed than Raben's. Case in point: the number of instruments played by each musician. Whereas Raben has each musician playing only one instrument, the album suggests that a few of the musicians alternated instruments during the sessions. Notice also that Raben is listing the same bassist and trumpet player in both tihs session and the earlier, December 5 Connor-Ferguson session for Atlantic. It may well be that Raben or his sources have automatically assumed that those players, regulars from the Ferguson band, were the exact same ones in all the Ferguson-Connor sessions.


Issues And Collectors' Corner

1. A Collection Of Maynard Ferguson And Chris Conner (LP)
I have not been able to inspect this album. The contention that it contains studio recordings (rather than live performances) is thus tentative.

2. Two's Company (Columbia LP)
The British version of the Roulette LP (mono: 33SX.1377; stereo: Columbia SCX 3415) spells the singer's name as "Chris Connors." It does so at the top of the front cover only. (Elsewhere in the cover, the last name is spelled in its more common variation, without the s.)

Date: December 22, 1960
Location: New York
Label: ROULETTEChris Connor, Maynard Ferguson (ldr), Joe Farrell (f, ss, ts), Lanny Morgan (f, as), Willie Maiden (cl, ts), Frank Hittner (bcl, bar), Bill Berry, Rolf Ericson, Augustino 'Chet' Ferretti (t), Maynard Ferguson (t, tb, frh), Kenny Rupp, Ray Winslow (tb), John Neves (b), Jaki Byard (p), Rufus Jones (d), Chris Connor (v)

a.

15648 Master

Guess Who I Saw Today

- 3:31 (Murray Grand, Elisse Boyd)

b.

15649 Master

Where Do You Go?

- 3:44 (Alec Wilder, Arnold Sundgaard)

Both titles on:

ROULETTE LP: S/R-52068 - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (1961)
yyy~ Phonorama LP: PR 5642 - A Collection Of Maynard Ferguson And Chris Conner (1983)
yyy~ Fresh Sound LP: R-52068/RLP-215 (Spain) - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (9999)
ROULETTE Jazz CD: CDP 7243 8 37201 2 5 - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (9999)

Crossreferences

For general information about Two's Company material, see session dated December 15, 1960.

Date: January 23, 1961
Location: New York
Label: ATLANTIC RECORDSChris Connor, Maynard Ferguson (ldr), Nesuhi Ertegun (pdr), Joe Farrell (f, ss, ts), Lanny Morgan (f, as), Willie Maiden (cl, ts), Frank Hittner (bcl, bar), Bill Berry, Rolf Ericson, Augustino 'Chet' Ferretti (t), Maynard Ferguson (t, tb, frh), Kenny Rupp, Ray Winslow (tb), Charlie Sanders (b), Jaki Byard (p), Rufus Jones (d), Chris Connor (v)

a.

5292 Master

I Only Have Eyes For You

- 2:34 (Harry Warren, Al Dubin) / arr: Don Sebesky

b.

5294 Master

Summertime

- 3:11 (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward) / arr: Don Sebesky
ATLANTIC RECORDS 45: 5014 - {Summertime / Lonesome Road} (1961)
ATLANTIC RECORDS CD: 601-2 - Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac of Song (1989)
www~ 32 Jazz CD: 32108 - Warm Cool: The Atlantic Years (1999)
ATLANTIC©Warner CD: 50510 110710 2 7 (England) - [Various Artists] The Leopard Lounge Presents: The Jazz Singers (2005)
www~ Rhino CD: 8122799391 (England) - Introducing Chris Connor (2008)

c.

5295 Master

That's How It Went All Right

- 3:11 (Andre Previn, Dory Previn) / arr: Don Sebesky

All titles on:

ATLANTIC RECORDS LP: 8049/SD-8049 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (1961)
ATLANTIC RECORDS LP: 90143-1 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (Jazzlore Series #21) (1984)
USA Government's "Basic Music Library" AFRS Series LP transcription: P 7569-7570 - [AFRS] Basic Music Library [LP Double Exposure] (1961)
ATLANTIC RECORDS cassette: 90143-4 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (Jazzlore Series #21) (1984)
yyy~ Fresh Sound CD: FSR CP30 (Spain) - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (1989)
www~ Collectors' Choice CD: CCM 319-2 - Double Exposure {Chris Connor, Maynard Ferguson} (2002)

Issues & Songs

1. "Summertime"
Atlantic CD 601-2 (Chris Connor Sings The George Gershwin Almanac Of Song") gives the date January 23, 1961 not only to "Summertime," but also, and erroneously, to a live performance of "Strike Up The Band," whose correct date is instead September 13, 1959.


Crossreferences

For general information about Double Exposure material, see session dated December 5, 1960.

Date: January 30, 1961
Location: New York City
Label: ROULETTEChris Connor, Maynard Ferguson (ldr), Joe Farrell (f, ss, ts), Lanny Morgan (f, as), Willie Maiden (cl, ts), Frank Hittner (bcl, bar), Bill Berry, Rolf Ericson, Augustino 'Chet' Ferretti (t), Maynard Ferguson (t, tb, frh), Kenny Rupp, Ray Winslow (tb), John Neves (b), Jaki Byard (p), Rufus Jones (d), Chris Connor (v)

a.

15650 Master

Something's Coming

- 6:41 (Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim)

b.

15651 Master

Send For Me

- 2:38 (Ollie Jones)

c.

15652 Master

I Feel A Song Coming On

- 2:08 (Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, George Oppenheimer)

d.

15653 Master

Deep Song

- 4:09 (Douglass Cross, George Cory)
yyy~ Phonorama LP: PR 5642 - A Collection Of Maynard Ferguson And Chris Conner (1983)

e.

15654 Master

Can't Get Out Of This Mood

- 2:45 (Jimmy McHugh, Frank Loesser)
CAPITOL©Blue Note cassette: B4-96583 - [Various Artists] Blue Vocals, Volume 2 (1992)
CAPITOL RECORDS cassette: C4-32565 - [Various Artists] I Feel a Song Comin' On: Jimmy McHugh ("Capitol Sings" Series) (1995)
CAPITOL©Blue Note CD: 96583 - [Various Artists] Blue Vocals, Volume 2
CAPITOL RECORDS CD: 7243 8 32565 4 9 - [Various Artists] I Feel a Song Comin' On: Jimmy McHugh ("Capitol Sings" Series) (1995)

All titles on:

ROULETTE LP: S/R-52068 - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (1961)
yyy~ Fresh Sound LP: R-52068/RLP-215 (Spain) - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (9999)
ROULETTE Jazz CD: CDP 7243 8 37201 2 5 - Two's Company {Maynard Ferguson, Chris Connor} (9999)

Crossreferences

For general information about Two's Company material, see session dated December 15, 1960.


Last Edited By: 18MaynardStreet Sep 2 09 9:55 PM. Edited 5 times.