Verve vs Blue Note 1955-1965
Zoom Session Presented by Ron Plascow
History of Verve
The Verve Music Group was found in 1956 by Norman Granz absorbing Granz’s earlier labels –Clef Records founded in 1946; Norgran Records founded in 1953, and material that had been licensed to Mercury (EmArcy) Records.
Granz sold Verve to MGM in 1961, in 1977 it became part of Polygram and in 1998 part of Universal.
Granz founded Pablo Records in 1973.
Verve Track List
1. Dinah Washington - Backwater Blues. CD - “ Dinah Sings Bessie Smith”. 1958.
2. Count Basie – Corner Pockets. CD - “April in Paris Count Basie and his Orchestra”. 1955.
3. Ella Fitzgerald – It’s All Right with Me. CD - “ Ella Fitzgerald sings the Cole Porter song book”. 1956.
4. Lester Young – Almost Like Being in Love. CD - “Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio”. 1952.
5. Coleman Hawkins /Ben Webster - Blues for Yolande. CD - “Coleman Hawkins encounters Ben Webster”. 1957.
6. Dizzy Gillespie - Birks Works. CD - “ Dizzy Gillespie -Birks Works- the Verve Big-Band Sessions ”. 1957.
7. Gerry Mulligan - Black Nightgown. CD - “ Gerry Mulligan and the Concert Jazz Band at the Village Vanguard”. 1960.
8. Stan Getz/Bob Brookmeyer. Minuet Circa’61. CD - “ Stan Getz/Bob Brookmeyer Recorded Fall 1961 ”. 1961.
History of Blue Note
Founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion, Max Margulis and Francis Wolff. Originally dedicated to recording traditional jazz and small group swing it switched to modern jazz around 1947. Acquired by Liberty Records in 1965, absorbed eventually into United Artists and EMI.
Blue Note label was phased out 1979-1985, then re-launched. Now operated under Capitol Music Group with Decca records taking over its UK distribution.
Blue Note Track List
1. Sonny Rollins - Namely You. CD – “ Newk’s Time ”. 1957.
2. Art Blakey – Backstage Sally. CD - “Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – Buhaina’s Delight”. 1961.
3. Herbie Hancock - Cantaloupe Island. CD - “ Empyrean Isles “. 1964.
4. Dexter Gordon - Manha De Carnaval. CD - “ Gettin’ Around”. 1965.
5. Horace Silver- Song For My Father. CD - “ Song For My Father “. 1963.
