78rpm: Congo Blues - Red Norvo All Stars (and his Selected Sextet - Bird, Diz), 1945 - Dial 1035

And so we conclude our delving into one of the rarest recording sessions in jazz history: The Complete Comet Records Session by Red Norvo and his Selected Sextet with an alternate take of the fourth and final officially released cut ("Congo Blues") also entitled "Congo Blues".

Just a one-off session, swing really does meet bop here. :) Same funky groove as the originally released take, but the solos just don't seem as natural & at ease. Still a great listen. ;)

The personnel for this June 6, 1945 session are:

Red Norvo - vibraphone
Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet
Charlie Parker - alto sax
Flip Phillips - tenor sax
Teddy Wilson - piano
Slam Stewart - bass
J.C. Heard - drums

Dig.....

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[hudson1234512345]

Just read about this record in "On the Road".

[SwingMan1937]

I've got the original 12" Comet label 78 of this posted as well, if you're interested in listening to different takes (this is an alternate take).

[wadeharris65]

Any idea which take this is compared to the one released by Comet? I think the solos on this one are probably even better than on the Comet issue.

[SwingMan1937]

Wow - apologies, Wade. Your message must've slipped completely past me.

Yeah, I've no idea what # this take is - the copyright tag says "Take B", but that's about all I know other than it's definitely a different take than what's on the original Comet label 12" 78.

[JempyHuelSe]

haha me too that's why I came here ;)

[theskystretchesblue]

that repeated refrain is about 30 years ahead of its time--I hear it as precursory to the heavy rock guitar riffs of the 70s. Plus I hear a little trip-hop rhythm about a minute into the song. Oh yeah, and it's jumpin!

[theskystretchesblue]

dig up on that.

[John B]

This, and other parts of the Comet session ... were released on a Spotlite (British) LP - SPJ 127.