Sunnyside Records presents the second boxed set of recordings from the archive of pianist Joe Castro, a diverse collection featuring incredible and never heard performances from legends like Paul Bley, Paul Motian, Leroy Vinnegar, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones and many more.
Joe Castro’s love for jazz, and his charming personality, made it possible for the pianist to become intimately involved with musicians of all stripes and abilities. Castro’s relationship with the famous heiress Doris Duke afforded him the financial means to further his relationships with these musicians in jam sessions held at home studios at Duke’s residences, Falcon Lair in California and Duke Farms in New Jersey, and to later record albums of his own work with incredible sidemen and projects led by these acquaintances and friends.
The initial Joe Castro boxed set, Lush Life – A Musical Journey (Sunnyside, 2015), provided an insight into the world of the pianist’s early meetings with the greats of jazz at home recorded sessions. These recordings included Buddy Collette, Chico Hamilton, Teddy Wilson, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims and Lucky Thompson. The box also included a couple of sessions recorded for potential release on Castro and Duke’s Clover label, including a Castro Big Band and the Teddy Edwards Tentet.
The first disc is entitled Trios 1955-1956 – The Artist’s Choice. The program features seventeen tracks recorded at Duke and Castro’s Falcon Lair residence in Beverly Hills, California. All of the tracks feature Castro on piano with the aid of fantastic jazz legends and rhythm men. The ensembles feature combinations of bassists Leroy Vinnegar, Red Mitchell and Paul Chambers and drummers Jimmy Pratt, Lawrence Marable and Philly Joe Jones.
The second disc is Joe Castro’s Friends – At Duke Farms 1956. The disc provides never before heard solo selections from piano great Paul Bley, a full seventeen years before his classic solo recording, Open To Love. There are also pieces performed by Bley with his touring trio of bassist Hal Gaylor and drummer Lennie McBrowne. The other half of the program features recordings for a never realized project of Flo and George Handy, with five tracks of the duo and three with vocalist Flo fronting a twelve piece orchestra directed by composer/arranger George Handy.
The third disc is Joe Castro’s Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings – The Atlantic Album +, which contains the pianist’s first commercial release, Mood Jazz, which was released in 1957, along with previously unissued alternate takes. The album features the arranging of Ray Ellis and Neal Hefti along with musical accompaniment by well-known musicians like drummer Philly Joe Jones, trumpeter Nat Adderley and saxophonist Cannonball Adderley.
The fourth disc is Castro’s Groove Funk Soul – The Atlantic Album +, which is his second Atlantic recording, which was released in 1960, along with a number of previously unissued alternate takes. The ensemble is a fantastic one, featuring saxophonist Teddy Edwards, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Billy Higgins.
The fifth disc is an unreleased Joe Castro Trio session from 1965 entitled The Sidewalks of New York. The recording is special as it highlights the performances of Castro with his longtime friend, drummer Paul Motian. Teddy Kotick is also featured as the Trio’s bassist.
The sixth disc is Remind Me, a project that Castro conceived for Clover Records in 1965, and worked on through 1966, when the label folded. The recordings feature Castro’s trio of bassist Kotick and drummer Motian alone for half of the tracks, which were recorded in New York in April 1965. Castro took the recordings back to Los Angeles where he added horns with the aid of the Bob Cooper Ensemble, featuring trumpeter Al Porcino, woodwind players Gabe Baltzar, Cooper, Bill Holman, Bill Green and Bill Hood on a number of them. Teddy Edwards can be heard on Gaines and Ellington’s “Just Squeeze Me (But Don’t Tease Me)” and the rare piano stylings of Doris Duke, herself, are likely heard on Billy Strayhorn’s “Passion Flower” and Kern and Fields’s “Remind Me.”
1. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 02:51
2. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Blues for Nat 03:23
3. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Minuet In Jazz 03:07
4. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - They Can't Take That Away from Me 03:45
5. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - St. Louis Blues 03:51
6. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Dorshka (for Doris Duke) 04:38
7. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Have You Met Miss Jones? 03:40
8. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Things Ain't What They Used To Be 04:03
9. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Zoot Blues 04:22
10. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Black and Blue (What Did I Do To Be So Black and Blue) 03:26
11. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Jazzbo's Jaunt 02:30
12. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Pennies from Heaven 04:02
13. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Blues In The Closet 02:51
14. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Straight Life 03:52
15. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - It's All Right with Me 03:20
16. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Sometimes I'm Happy 03:46
17. Disc 1 - Joe Castro Trios 1955-1956 - The Artist's Choice - Taking a Chance on Love 03:33
18. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - Blues improvisation in F 04:19
19. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - Ballad-blues improvisation in C 01:23
20. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - Ballad improvisation in F 04:24
21. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - Salt Peanuts 01:41
22. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - A Place In The Sun (Main Title) 03:28
23. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - Willow Weep for Me 05:35
24. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - Time After Time 03:35
25. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - After You've Gone 02:23
26. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - Willow Weep for Me (alternate take) 05:44
27. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Paul Bley - Time After Time (alternate take) 03:42
28. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Flo & George Handy - Forgetful (Master take) 03:12
29. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Flo & George Handy - Will I Ever Learn? 03:56
30. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Flo & George Handy - Leavin' Town (Master take) 04:15
31. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Flo & George Handy - Country Boy (?) 03:40
32. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Flo & George Handy - When You Are Near (?) 03:50
33. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Flo & George Handy - The Trouble with Me Is You 04:04
34. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Flo & George Handy - You Wear Love So Well! 03:18
35. Disc 2 - Joe Castro's Friends / At Duke Farms 1956 - Flo & George Handy - Picnic In The Wintertime 02:45
36. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - J.C. Blues 05:06
37. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - Without You (Tres Palabras) 04:38
38. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - Doodlin' 05:08
39. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - Ev'rything I Love 04:23
40. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - You Stepped Out of a Dream 03:45
41. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - If You Could See Me Now 03:39
42. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - It's You or No One 04:06
43. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - Angel Eyes 04:40
44. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - Caravan 04:06
45. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - Prelude to a Kiss (unissued) 05:26
46. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - How High The Moon (unissued) 03:47
47. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - J.C. Blues (unissued alternate take 1) 04:10
48. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - J.C. Blues (unissued alternate take 2) 04:45
49. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - Doodlin' (unissued alternate take 1) 05:11
50. Disc 3 - Joe Castro / Mood Jazz with Voices & Strings (the Atlantic album +) - Doodlin' (unissued alternate take 2) 05:08
51. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Groove Funk Soul (In & Out) 05:32
52. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Yesterdays 07:21
53. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Day-Dream 07:02
54. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Could Happen To You 03:32
55. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Play Me The Blues 09:17
56. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - That's All 05:28
57. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Yesterdays (unissued alternate take) 07:58
58. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Play Me The Blues (unissued alternate take) 06:24
59. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Lover (unissued) 06:47
60. Disc 4 - Joe Castro / Groove Funk Soul (the Atlantic Album +) - Day In - Day Out 05:08
61. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - Daisy Mae (Whatever) 04:34
62. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - The Sidewalks of New York (East Side, West Side) 08:14
63. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - Here's That Rainy Day 04:51
64. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - My Ship 04:27
65. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - I'm Getting Sentimental Over You 02:28
66. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - One Life To Live 04:38
67. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - That Old Feeling 04:13
68. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - Cheek to Cheek 02:50
69. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - Fascinating Rhythm 04:28
70. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - Funky Blues 07:56
71. Disc 5 - Joe Castro Trio - The Sidewalks of New York - You Don't Know What Love Is 04:41
72. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Things Ain't What They Used To Be 02:38
73. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Sweet Lorraine 02:58
74. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Get Out of Town 05:02
75. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Remind Me 06:21
76. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Satin Doll 02:42
77. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing 04:00
78. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) 02:51
79. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Lush Life 07:04
80. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Passion Flower 03:29
81. Disc 6 - Joe Castro Trio / Remind Me with The Bob Cooper Ensemble - Remind Me 06:20
Joe Castro - piano
Leroy Vinnegar - bass
Jimmy Pratt - drums
Red Mitchell - bass
Lawrence Marable - drums
Philly Joe Jones - drums
Paul Bley - piano
Hal Gaylor - bass
Flo Handy - vocals
George Handy - piano
Lennie McBrowne - drums
Ed Shank - bass
Ray Ellis Orchestra - Orchestra
Gus Johnson - drums
The Neal Hefti Orchestra - Orchestra
Nat Adderley - trumpet
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley - alto saxophone
Teddy Edwards - tenor saxophone
Billy Higgins - drums
Teddy Kotick - bass
Paul Motian - drums
The Bob Cooper Ensemble - ensemble
Al Parcino - trumpet
Gabe Baltazar - flute
Bill Holman - clarinet
Bill Green - saxophones
Bill Hood - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
