Al Haig Trio - 03/13/54 One-Day Session: Vogue & Esoteric Recordings

2007 European CD collection.

Al Haig (1924-1982) was still on his twenties when he became one of the first influential bebop pianists, having played in the Forties in groups led by Diz, Bird, Wardell Gray, and Stan Getz among others. Haig's was a singing approach to the piano as well as a swinging one. He played with unusual sensitivity and taste, always lightly energized by an easily flowing pulsation. Al was no stomper, but he was far from fragile.

This long one-day session was originally produced by Henri Renaud, the French jazz pianist, when he visited New York in the very early part of 1954. Al's melodic improvisations get firm, unobtrusive support from drummer Lee Abrams, and bassist Bill Crow. This set was especially valuable because, in the early Fifties, Haig had been all-too-infrequently heard on records and, at 31, he proved he still had an important place in the modern jazz field.

01. Yardbird Suite 3:06
02. Mighty Like A Rose 4:48
03. Just One Of Those Things 3:56
04. Taboo 2:42
05. 'S Wonderful 3:35
06. Just You, Just MeSpotlite 1:50
07. The Moon Is Yellow 2:45
08. Round About Midnight 5:19
09. Autumn In New York 5:13
10. Isnt It Romantic 3:35
11. They Cant Take That Away From Me 2:49
12. Royal Garden Blues 2:39
13. Dont Blame Me 2:43
14. Moonlight In Vermont 3:39
15. If I Should Lose You 3:32
16. April In Paris 2:13
17. All Gods Chillun Got Rhythm 2:17
18. Body And Soul 4:52
19. Gone With The Wind 2:57
20. My Old Flame 2:56
21. On The Alamo 3:34
22. Taking A Chance On Love 3:42 (*) Bonus Track

Personnel on tracks #1-21:
Al Haig (p), Bill Crow (b), Lee Abrams (d)
Recorded in New York City, March 13, 1954

Tracks 13, 16, & 20: Piano Solo

(*) Bonus Track:
Al Haig (p), Harry Babasin (b), Larry Bunker (d).
Recorded in Los Angeles, on September 6, 1952