Search - Serge Chaloff :: Complete Small Group Bop

Early, Hard To Find Serge

Donnie The B | USA | 03/17/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Serge Chaloff was one of the Four Brothers in Woody Herman's post-war Herd. As a baritone saxophonist, he was surpassed only by Gerry Mulligan in talent and proficiency, in my opinion. Had he lived a long life like Mulligan, who knows how he might have progressed once he kicked heroin?

This CD contains 23 cuts recorded in the late 1940's. All these have the sound of being mastered from the original acetates - a bit of record noise which does not really distract, but gives you the feeling of spinning a platter. The first 4 cuts may be previously unreleased. Serge's mom was giving lessons at the time to the piano player half of the duet. Next come three rare Dial label sides featuring Herman sidemen in a group headed by Bill Harris.

You'll find Al Cohn, Terry Gibbs, Ralph Burns, Sonny Berman and more featured on the various small groups recorded during Serge's Herman years.

If you were only going to get one CD to represent Chaloff in your collection, I'd probably recommend "Blue Serge". But if you want some rare and early bop - this is your ticket!

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