Margie Anderson (ldr), Duke Anderson (p), unknown (b), Milton Hayes (d, v), Gigi Gryce (con), Margie Anderson (v)

Gigi Gryce (con) on b; Milton Hayes (v) on d.

At the time of this session, Gigi Gryce was a student at Boston Conservatory. Boston-based vocalist Margie Anderson confirmed in an interview that Gryce was present in the studio to oversee the performance of his composition. The personnel are unconfirmed. Hayes sings on track d and is presumed to be the drummer. He and pianist Anderson were musicians in the Newark, NJ area during this period.

Howard McGhee (t), unknown (t, ts, d), Gigi Gryce (as), Bob Wilber (cl), Oscar Pettiford (vc, b), Joe Roland (vib), Duke Jordan, Nat Pierce (p), Tommy Potter (b)

a, b  performed as medley

These are recordings of jam sessions, some tracks of which were to be issued on the Zim label. The tapes are in the possession of Art Zimmerman. The mc is Eddie Curran. The personnel are incomplete and collective, presumably over several dates. Another unidentified trumpet player and a tenor saxophonist (Wilber?) are heard on some tracks. Tracks a and b are not really a medley but rather a merging of the two melody lines. Many titles are incomplete and the sound quality varies. Timings shown include announcements and applause.

In addition to the tracks listed, Zimmerman's records indicate the presence of another version of "Perdido," two tracks whose titles are unknown, one track labeled as "Ad Lib" and two untitled piano solos performed by Gryce. None of these have been auditioned by the authors.

Solos:
a/b - Jordan, Wilber, trumpet (?), Gryce, Pettiford (cello), Jordan, Roland
c - Roland
d - Pettiford (cello - audio problems), Jordan (?), bass (probably Pettiford - drop out during solo), Gryce (track ends during his solo)
e - Pettiford (cello), McGhee, Jordan, Pettiford (cello)
f - McGhee (track starts during his solo), Pierce (?), Gryce, trumpet (?)
g - Gryce, McGhee, Pierce (?), bass (probably Pettiford), Gryce/McGhee four-bar exchanges
h - trumpet (?), Pierce (?), McGhee
i - McGhee
j - Pettiford (bass)
k - McGhee, tenor saxophone (track ends during solo)
l - Pettiford (bass)
m - McGhee, Gryce, track ends chaotically
n - Pettiford (bass), McGhee, Pierce (?)
o - Pettiford (bass)
p - Pierce (?)
r - McGhee, Gryce, Wilber, trumpet (?)
s - Pettiford (bass)

Max Roach (ldr), Idrees Sulieman (t), Leon Comegys (tb), Gigi Gryce (as), Hank Mobley (ts), Walter Davis, Jr. (p), Franklin Skeete (b), Max Roach (d)

Howard McGhee (ldr), Howard McGhee (t), Gigi Gryce (as, f), Tal Farlow (g), Horace Silver (p), Percy Heath (b), Walter Bolden (d)

Gigi Gryce (as) on a-f, (f) on a, d-e.

Tadd Dameron (ldr), Clifford Brown (t), Herb Mullins (tb), Gigi Gryce (as), Benny Golson (ts), Tadd Dameron (p), Percy Heath (b), Philly Joe Jones (d)

According to the liner notes of the CD, these recordings were made by Clifford Brown and are described as rehearsals of what appears to be part of the Tadd Dameron band of the time. The notes do not reveal the source of either the recordings or the information about them. The tracks are mostly fragments and sound more like a jam session than a formal rehearsal. The personnel, location and date are assumptions based on the recordings the Dameron band made for the Prestige label on June 11, 1953. Aural evidence confirms the presence of Brown, Gryce and Golson. The sound quality is very poor and tracks d and e have a different ambiance than the others suggesting that all the titles were not recorded at the same time. Track e is listed as "Bula-Beige Blues."

Tadd Dameron (ldr), Clifford Brown, Idrees Sulieman (t), Herb Mullins (tb), Gigi Gryce (as), Benny Golson (ts), Oscar Estelle (bar), Tadd Dameron (p), Percy Heath (b), Philly Joe Jones (d)

Clifford Brown discographer Bob Weir incorrectly lists the studio as Van Gelder. Doug Hawkins is listed as the engineer and he is known to have worked at WOR.

Art Farmer (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Clifford Solomon (ts), Oscar Estelle (bar), Quincy Jones (p, con), Monk Montgomery (eb), Sonny Johnson (d), unknown (per), Gigi Gryce (con)

unknown (per) on c; Gigi Gryce (con) on d; Quincy Jones (con) on a-c.

In subsequent liner notes, Ira Gitler confirms Gryce was in the studio for this session. A clavé is heard on track c.

Clifford Solomon (ldr), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Clifford Solomon (ts), Oscar Estelle (bar), Wade Legge (p), Monk Montgomery (eb), Max Roach (d), Ernestine Anderson, Gigi Gryce (spk, v)

Ernestine Anderson (spk) on c, (v) on a-b; Gigi Gryce (spk) on d, (v) on a.

September 1, 1953 has also been proposed as the recording date for this session.

Disc Labels:
Street Walkin’
Square Dance Boogie
Li’l Daddee
But Officer

Clifford Brown (ldr), Clifford Brown (t), Gigi Gryce (as, f), Charlie Rouse (ts), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Art Blakey (d)

Gigi Gryce (f) on d, g.

Annie Ross (ldr), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Anthony Ortega (as), Clifford Solomon (ts), Lars Gullin (bar), Quincy Jones (p), Simon Brehm (b), Alan Dawson (d), Gigi Gryce (con), Annie Ross (v)

The studio could be Europa Film Studios, Sundbyerg, Stockholm where Clifford Brown discographer Bob Weir places the Clifford Brown/Art Farmer recording of the following day. Two other tracks were recorded on this date (probably the same session) under the leadership of pianist George Wallington, "Bluebird" (mst. no. 518) and "'Round Midnight" (mst. no. 519), but Gigi Gryce does not participate in those.

Lionel Hampton (ldr), Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Quincy Jones, Walter Williams (t), Jimmy Cleveland, Buster Cooper, Al Hayse (tb), Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega (as), Clifford Scott, Clifford Solomon (ts), Oscar Estelle (bar), Lionel Hampton (vib, v), Billy Mackel (g), George Wallington (p), Monk Montgomery (eb), Alan Dawson, Curley Hamner (d)

d, e  performed as medley

Lionel Hampton (v) on c.

The medley of tracks d and e is titled "Oh, Rock!" Some issues list Sonny Parker and/or Annie Ross as vocalists but they are not heard on any of these tracks. For more information on this and other concerts the Hampton band performed on this tour see Schneeburger, Mario: Names & Numbers, 64, January 2013, p. 34.

Lionel Hampton (ldr), Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Walter Williams (t), Quincy Jones (t, p), Jimmy Cleveland, Buster Cooper, Al Hayse (tb), Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega (as), Clifford Scott, Clifford Solomon (ts), Oscar Estelle (bar), Lionel Hampton (vib, p, d, v), Billy Mackel (g), Monk Montgomery (eb), Alan Dawson (d), Curley Hamner (d, v), Sonny Parker (v)

c, d, e;   k, l;   s, t;   x, y  performed as medleys

Lionel Hampton (p) on j-k, o, w, (d) on r, (v) on u, aa; Quincy Jones (p) on w; Curley Hamner (d) on r, (v) on r, z; Sonny Parker (v) on b, w, y.

This live concert was recorded by Radio Basel. A tape was provided by Otto Fluckiger and most of the recording was subsequently issued commercially. Gigi Gryce arranged track q which is a feature for Clifford Brown. Gryce solos on tracks a and v. For more information on this and other concerts the Hampton band performed on this tour see Schneeburger, Mario: Names & Numbers, 64, January 2013, p. 34.

Gigi Gryce (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Gigi Gryce (as, con), Anthony Ortega (as, f), Clifford Solomon (ts), William Boucaya (bar), Quincy Jones (p, con), Henri Renaud (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Alan Dawson (d)

Art Farmer (t) on b-e; Anthony Ortega (as) on a-b, (f) on a, c-e; Quincy Jones (p) on c-e, (con) on b-e; Henri Renaud (p) on a-b; Gigi Gryce (con) on a.

Although listed as rehearsals, the incomplete takes of "La Rose Noire" were obviously spliced together to produce the issued take. Vogue (Jpn.) DY5903-3 is a bonus LP never sold individually but given to purchasers of volumes 1-4.

Gigi Gryce (ldr), Gigi Gryce (as, f), Jimmy Gourley (g), Henri Renaud (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Alan Dawson, Jean-Louis Viale (d)

Gigi Gryce (as) on c-f, (f) on a-b; Jimmy Gourley (g) on b, e; Alan Dawson (d) on c-f; Jean-Louis Viale (d) on a-b.

Vogue (Jpn.) DY5903-3 is a bonus LP never sold individually but given to purchasers of volumes 1-4. The fragment of "I Can't Get Started" issued on this LP (track a) is the ending of a take, but clearly different from the ending of the complete version available on the CD Vogue (Fr.) 74321 88116 2 (track b). Some sources give the recording date of track f as September 28, 1953.

Gigi Gryce (ldr), Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Fred Gérard, Quincy Jones, Fernand Verstraete, Walter Williams (t), Jimmy Cleveland, Al Hayse, Bill Tamper (tb), Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega (as), Henri Bernard, Clifford Solomon (ts), Henri Jouot (bar), Henri Renaud (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Alan Dawson (d)

Fred Gérard (t) on a-b.

The location comes from Bob Weir's Clifford Brown discography, which has Fred Gérard listed for "Keepin' Up With Jonesy." Three takes of "Strike Up the Band" were recorded at this session (53V4657-1, 2, 3) but Gigi Gryce was not part of that ensemble.

Clifford Brown (ldr), Clifford Brown (t), Gigi Gryce (as), Jimmy Gourley (g), Henri Renaud (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Jean-Louis Viale (d)

Jimmy Gourley (g) on a-d, f.

Contrary to what is reported in some sources, Jimmy Gourley is present on track f. "Blue Concept" is listed as "Conception."

Lionel Hampton (ldr), Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Walter Williams (t), Quincy Jones (t, p), Jimmy Cleveland, Buster Cooper, Al Hayse (tb), Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega (as), Clifford Scott, Clifford Solomon (ts), Oscar Estelle (bar), Lionel Hampton (vib, p, v), Billy Mackel (g), Monk Montgomery (eb), Alan Dawson, Curley Hamner (d), Sonny Parker (v)

c, d, e, f  performed as medley

Lionel Hampton (p) on j-k, (v) on a, n; Sonny Parker (v) on j-k, n-o.

This concert was broadcast on German radio (RIAS). Other titles may have been recorded. For more information on this and other concerts the Hampton band performed on this tour see Schneeburger, Mario: Names & Numbers, 64, January 2013, p. 34 with an update available here.

Tracks m-o have not been auditioned. Tracks c-f comprise a medley 10:55 in duration.

The timings shown do not include applause or announcements.

Lionel Hampton (ldr), Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Walter Williams (t), Quincy Jones (t, p), Jimmy Cleveland, Buster Cooper, Al Hayse (tb), Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega (as), Clifford Scott, Clifford Solomon (ts), Oscar Estelle (bar), Lionel Hampton (vib), Billy Mackel (g), Monk Montgomery (eb), Alan Dawson (d)

According to Mario Schneeberger’s timeline (originally published in Names and Numbers, No. 68, Jan. 2014 - revised 2020-07-05), The Hampton band performed two concerts at Théâtre de Paris on five nights in October 1953: 7th-11th. These titles were most likely recorded at one of those concerts.

Track b is actually a medley where "Stompin’ at the Savoy" segues to another composition and then ends with "When the Saints Go Marching In."

Clifford Brown, Gigi Gryce (ldr), Clifford Brown (t), Gigi Gryce (as), Jimmy Gourley (g), Henri Renaud (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Jean-Louis Viale (d)

Jimmy Gourley (g) on a-e, g-h.

"Salute To Birdland" is listed as "Salute To The Bandbox" on issues from this session.

Gigi Gryce (ldr), Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Quincy Jones, Walter Williams (t), Jimmy Cleveland, Al Hayse, Benny Vasseur (tb), Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega (as), Andre Debonneville, Clifford Solomon (ts), William Boucaya (bar), Henri Renaud (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Jean-Louis Viale (d)

Gigi Gryce (ldr), Gigi Gryce (as), Henri Renaud (p), Pierre Michelot (b), Jean-Louis Viale (d)

Vogue (Jpn.) DY5903-3 is a bonus LP never sold individually but given to purchasers of volumes 1-4. The version of "Anne Marie" on Vogue (Fr.) CD 74321 88116 2 has been shortened to 4:50 by deletion of the 8-bar piano introduction. It is otherwise identical to that on the LP.

Gigi Gryce (ldr), Clifford Brown (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Gigi Gryce (as), Clifford Solomon (ts), William Boucaya (bar), Jimmy Gourley (g), Henri Renaud (p), Marcel Dutrieux (b), Jean-Louis Viale (d)

Jimmy Gourley (g) on a-b.

"No Start No End" is a rehearsal for "(Venez Donc) Chez Moi." Many issues of this selection use only an excerpt rather than the complete nearly 8 minute take. Pierre Michelot is sometimes listed as bassist on this session but it is believed that this is erroneous. Two takes of "Serenade To Sonny" composed by Anthony Ortega were recorded at this session but Gryce is not present on those.

Gigi Gryce (ldr), Gigi Gryce (as), Jimmy Gourley (g), Quincy Jones (p), Marcel Dutrieux (b), Jean-Louis Viale (d)

"Evening In Paris" is sometimes listed as from October 10, 1953. A quartet version of "Yesterdays" (Anthony Ortega (as), Jones, Dutrieux, Viale) was also recorded at this session.

Gigi Gryce (ldr), Clifford Brown (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega (as), Clifford Solomon (ts), William Boucaya (bar), Quincy Jones (p), Marcel Dutrieux (b), Jean-Louis Viale (d)

Henri Renaud (ldr), Bobby Jaspar (ts), Jimmy Gourley (g), Henri Renaud (p), Jean-Marie Ingrand (b), Jean-Louis Viale (d), Gigi Gryce (con)

Henri Renaud confirms that Gryce was present in the studio for this session. It is also likely, but not certain that Gryce wrote the arrangements. "Stupendous-Lee" was issued as "Au Tabou." "Shabozz" was issued as "Schabooz" or "Schabozz." "Eleanor" was issued as "Eleanore."

Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Quincy Jones, Jørgen Ryg (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Gigi Gryce, Anthony Ortega (as), Clifford Solomon (ts), Max Bruel (bar), Jorgen Bengtson, Lionel Hampton (p), Erik Moseholm (b), Ole Jorgensen (d)

The personnel is speculative. Clifford Scott (ts) and Jorgen Lausen (p) may be present. Track d is apparently a Hampton/Bengston piano duet. This is a private tape recording by Chris Albertson. For further information on this jam session, see his blog.

Clifford Brown, Art Farmer, Quincy Jones (t), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Anthony Ortega (as), Guy Combres, Gigi Gryce, Lucky Starway [Lucien Serror] (p), Joe Ford (b), Others Unknown (var)

The date is definitely earlier than November 24, 25 or 26, 1953 which is as listed in Weir's Clifford Brown discography. The Hampton band departed from Paris on November 24, 1953 for New York (via London and Glasgow). Unknown French musicians from Algiers also participated in this session. This tape is lost and the report is based on an anecdotal report from an eyewitness.

Henri Renaud (ldr), Jerry Lloyd (t), J. J. Johnson (tb), Al Cohn (ts), Gigi Gryce (bar), Henri Renaud (p), Curly Russell (b), Walter Bolden (d)

March 7, 1954 has also been proposed as the date of this session.

Art Farmer, Gigi Gryce (ldr), Art Farmer (t), Gigi Gryce (as), Horace Silver (p), Percy Heath (b), Kenny Clarke (d)