When the Young at Bop were young of heart, these were among the first really distinctive sides that were recorded. As such, then, this is an album of historical interest as well as musical interest. And while musicians were destroying traditional musical approaches in their attempt to make a new jazz, vocalists were trying their best to adapt their voices and styles to the demands of the new music, That's how the term "Be Bop" was born. For in the no word vocalese which developed, partly because of the speed and facility needed in singing this music, and partly because of a desire to do something different, the emphasis was on vowels. And, by a peculiar set of circumstances the word which described this music, came from that emphasis and because it best described the staccato two-note phrase that seemed to end so many of the rhythmic inventions of that time. Of all the singers who developed along with this new departure in music, Buddy Stewart and Dave Lambert really stand out. Buddy was the vocalist with Gene Krupa just then and Dave was writing arrangements for Gene and Buddy. What was more natural than that Dave and Buddy would sing duets whenever possible. And what was more natural than such records as these which show the two voices with horn and rhythm as part of the group, which was what bop vocalists always strove for. On these first four sides, then, Buddy and Dave combine with trum- peter Red Rodney, pianist Al Haig, Bassist Curley Russell and drummer Stan Levy in some of the brightest examples of this combination of voices and instruments. "Perdido" is the easiest introduction of the new style to the listener because of the familiar melody. Listen to Red's Wonderful solo — even bits of Candy and Jim Never Brings Me Any Pretty Flowers, pop songs of the day, just before Buddy and Dave take over...
(From the original Liner Notes)
The Young at Bop
In Vocal
Tracks
1 A Cent and a Half (Kahn) 2:57
2 Perdido (Tizol) 3:05
3 Charge Account (Lambert) 2:46
4 Gussie G. (Rodney) 2:54
5 I Woke Up Dizzy (Hefti) 3:05
6 Sloppy Joe's (Hefti) 2:51
7 Fine and Dandy (Swift, James [aka Warburg]) 2:44
8 Elevation (Mulligan) 2:57
*
Personnel
[# 1-4]
Red Rodney - tp
Al Haig - p
Curly Russell - b
Stan Levey - dr
Dave Lambert & Buddy Stewart - vcl
Neal Hefti - arr.
Recorded in New York City ; November 23, 1946
[# 5 & 6]
Neal Hefti - tp & arr.
Kai Winding - tb
Charlie Ventura - ts
Tony Aless - p
Billy Bauer - g
Chubby Jackson - b
Alvin Stoller - dr
Recorded in New York City ; December 18, 1946
[# 7 & 8]
Red Rodney - tp
Allen Eager - ts
Serge Chaloff - bs
Al Haig - p
Chubby Jackson - b
Tiny Kahn - dr
Recorded in New York City ; January 29, 1947