Personnel: Tania Maria (vocals, piano, keyboards); Dave Frishberg, Jeannie Cheatham (vocals, piano); Poncho Sanchez (vocals, congas, percussion); Keely Smith, Curtis Stigers, Dennis Rowland, Diane Schuur, Ernestine Anderson, James Darren, Karrin Allyson, Mary Stallings, Mel Torm, Michael Feinstein, Monica Mancini, Nnenna Freelon, Patti Austin, Rosemary Clooney, Susannah McCorkle, Tony Banda, Carmen McRae, Carol Sloane (vocals); Koji Paul Shigihara, Dean Parks, Dennis Budimir, Ed Bickert, Emily Remler, George Barnes, George Van Eps, Herb Ellis, Howard Alden, Jim Hall, Jimmy Bruno, Joe Pass, John Pisano, Kenny Burrell, Pat Metheny, Paul Bollenback, Phil Fest, Phil Upchurch, Ray Pohlman, Reg Schwager, Anthony Wilson , Ron Eschete, Tal Farlow, Timothy May , Barney Kessel, Laurindo Almeida, John Scofield, David Yamasaki, Wayne Wright, Cal Collins, Charlie Byrd (guitar); Jeff Linsky (requinto); Julie Berghofer (harp); Amos Hoffman (oud); Brian Leonard (violin, percussion); Gerald Vinci, Assa Drori, John Wittenberg, Jorge Moraga, James Getzoff, Jennifer Walton, Laurence Greenfield, Harris Goldman, Ken Yerke, James Stark, Christoph Seybold, Russ Cantor, Maurice Dicterow, Dirk Otte, Koenraad Ellegiers, Colin Harrison, Ingmar Pschel, Jody Rubin, Chizuko Takahashi, Manuela Belchoir, Sonja Wiedebusch, Ursula Maria Berg, Adrian Bleyer, Mari Tsumura-Botnick, Johannes Oppelcz, Kristin Fife, Mari Tsumura, Razdan Kuyumjian, Bob Sanov, Robert Brosseau, Henry Ferber, Murray Adler, Gwen Heller, Alan Ellsworth, Chiharu Yuki, Mischa Salevic, Jacqueline Suzuki, Tamsen Beseke, Juliann French, Yoko Matsuda, Israel Baker, Bonnie Douglas, Paul Shure, David Stenske, Gordon Marron Strings, Armen Garabedian, Darius Campo, Endre Granat (violin); Carole Mukogawa, Dan Neufeld, Raymond Tischer, Katja Pschel, Mimi Granat, Bernhard Oll, Wilfried Engel, Stephan Blaumer, Kai Stowasser, John Scanlon, Pamela Goldsmith, Maria Newman, Harry Shirinian (viola); Paula Hochhalter, Dennis Karmazyn, Jodi Burnett, Fred Seykoura, David Shamban, Ray Kramer (cello); Bob Leonard (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); John "Woog" Johnson, Moe Koffman (flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Eugene Amaro (flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone); Bud Shank (flute, alto saxophone); Roger Glenn (flute, percussion); Dave Valentin, Steve Kujala (flute); Hendrik Meurkens (harmonica); Rick Wilkins (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Ken Peplowski, Woody Herman (clarinet); Earl Dumler (English horn); Gene Cipriano (woodwinds, tenor saxophone); Jens Neufang, Harold Rosenstein, Melecio Magdaluyo, Olivier Peters, Heiner Wiberny, Rolf Rmer (saxophone); Steve Wilson (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Christopher Farr (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Jimmie Noone (soprano saxophone); Matt Wallace , Red Holloway (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Sal Lozano, Mike Dubaniewicz, Dan Higgins , Steve Wilkerson & Andrea Baker, Larry Covelli, Andrew Beals, Dick Spencer, Jesse Davis , Joe Roccisano, Marshall Royal, Paquito D'Rivera, Phil Woods, Scott Martin, Branford Marsalis, Charles McPherson (alto saxophone); Curtis Peagler, Don Menza, Jerry Bergonzik, Frank Wess, Randy Russell, Bill Ross , Paul McGinley, Jay Rodriguez , Jeff Rupert, Jerry Weldon, Joshua Redman, Al Cohn, Alex Dean, Mary Fettig, Michael Brecker, Pete Christlieb, Plas Johnson , Scott Hamilton , Terry Harrington, Bill Pierce , Mitch Frohman, Nelson Hill, Bob Berg, Bob Cooper, Bob Sheppard, Brandon Fields (tenor saxophone); Michael Brignola, Lee Callett, Denis DiBlasio, Jack Nimitz, Bill Byrne, Nick Brignola, Bobby Porcelli (baritone saxophone); Arnie Chycoski, Guido Basso, Dave Woods, John MacLeod, Steve McDade (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ray Vega (trumpet, percussion); Rob Bruynen, Larry Foyen, Brian O'Flaherty, Conte Candoli, Bill Stapleton, Paul J. Armstrong, Scott Englebright, Scott Wagstaff, Robbie Kwock, George Graham, George Rabbai, Gilbert Castellanos, Harry "Sweets" Edison , Mark Lewis , David "Piro" Rodrguez, Jon Faddis, Maynard Ferguson, Nicholas Payton, Pete Candoli, Rick Baptist, Rick Kiefer, Sal Cracchiolo, Snooky Young, Tom Harrell, Wallace Roney, Warren Luening, Wayne Bergeron, Wynton Marsalis, Klaus Osterloh, Frank Szabo, Al Aarons, John Audino, Andy Haderer, Blue Mitchell, Stewart Blumberg, Louis Fasman, Bobby Bryant , Kevin Turcotte, Bobby Shew, Carl Fischer , Peter Ferguson (trumpet); Warren Vach (cornet, flugelhorn); Ruby Braff (cornet); Randy Brecker, Randy Sandke (flugelhorn); Paul Klintworth, Daniel Kelley , Gary Pattison, James Atkinson , James MacDonald (French horn); Dana Hughes (trombone, bass trombone); Conrad Herwig, Mel Wanzo, Alastair Kay, Alex Iles, Francisco Torres, Frank Rosolino, Garnett Brown, George Bohanon, Larry Shunk, Bernt Laukamp, Gilbert Falco, Hal Crook, Jerry Johnson , Gene Smith , Jeff Cressman, John Fedchock, Alan Kaplan, Ludwig Nuss, Andrew Martin , Robert Trowers, Sam Burtis, Steve Davis , Thurman Green, Tom Garling, Wayne Wallace, Bill Watrous, Charles Loper, Bruce Otto, Dave Horler, Buster Cooper, Reggie Watkins (trombone); Lucas Schmid, George Roberts , Ernie Pattison, Jimmy Cheatham, William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (bass trombone); Rob McConnell (valve trombone); Hank Jones (piano, celesta); Gil Goldstein (piano, keyboards); Chick Corea (piano, marimba); Dado Moroni, Dan Zank, Dario Eskenazi, Dave Brubeck, Dave McKenna, David Torres, Don Thompson Quartet, Donald Brown , Frank Collett, Gene Harris, George Shearing, Hal Galper, Jeff Lashway, Dave Restivo, Jason Lindner, Jim McNeely, Joanne Brackeen, Joe Sample, John Oddo, Kenny Werner, Larry Goldings, Alan Broadbent, Manfredo Fest, Marian McPartland, Mark Levine , Allen Farnham, Monty Alexander, Nat Pierce, Ross Tompkins, Tom Ranier, Bill Charlap, Sonny Bravo, Frank Chastenier, Bob Quaranta, James Williams , Murray Low (piano); Bill Mays (Fender Rhodes piano); Jack McDuff (organ); Randy Waldman, Steve Weingart (keyboards); Rebeca Maulen (synthesizer); Tito Puente (vibraphone, marimba, timbales); Dave Samuels (vibraphone, marimba); Jack Arnold (vibraphone, percussion); Gary Burton , Cal Tjader (vibraphone); John Patitucci, Avishai Cohen (acoustic bass); John Pena, Paul Socolow (electric bass); Dafnis Prieto (drums, timbales); Gregg Field, Vince Lateano (drums, percussion); Chuck Redd, Marko Marcinko, Dave Ratajczak, Dave Weckl, Dennis Chambers, Ted Warren, Brian Wolfe, Frank Capp, Woody Williams, Jake Hanna, Vinnie Johnson, Gerryck King, Clyde Lucas, Jeff Ballard , Jeff Hamilton , Jimmie Smith , John Rae, Alan Dawson , Lewis Nash , Terry Clarke , Louie Bellson, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Carl Burnett , Paul Humphrey , Peter Erskine, Portinho, Richard DeRosa, Ron Vincent, Roy Haynes, Satoshi Takeishi, Art Blakey, Steve Holloway, Keith Copeland, Harold Jones , Bill Goodwin, Bill Stewart , Billy Hart, Paul van Wageningen, Donny Osborne, Byron Landham (drums); Ray Barretto, Jose Madera (congas, percussion); Mongo Santamaria, Richie Flores, Sheila E. (congas); Pete Escovedo (bongos, timbales); John Santos (bongos); Alfredo Gonzales (guiro); Len "Boogsie" Sharpe, Othello Molineaux (steel drum); Andreu Johnny Almendra, Ramon Banda (timbales); Dale Anderson, Bob Zimitti, Gary Cardile, Luis Conte, Michael Spiro, Munyungo Jackson, Steve Thornton , Jos Papo Rodrguez, Robert Quintero, Beverly Botsford (percussion).
Audio Mixers: Chick Corea; Dave Weckl; David Torres; Eric Schilling ; Don Murray ; Gregg Field; James Farber; Joe Barbaria; John Burk; Josiah Gluck; Al Schmitt; Alan Varner; Leslie Ann Jones; Phil Edwards ; Phil Magnotti; Poncho Sanchez; Ron Davis ; Seth Presant; Bernie Kirsh; Charles Paakkari.
Audio Remixers: Dennis Staats; John Oddo; Phil Edwards ; Phil Sheridan.
Liner Note Authors: Glen Barros; John Burk; Nick Phillips.
Recording information: A & R Studios, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Avatar Recording Studios, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Avatar Studio "A", New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); BearTracks, Suffern, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Birdland West, Long Beach, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Capitol Studio A, Los Angeles, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Capitol Studio B, Hollywood, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Coast Recorders, San Francisco, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Concord Boulevard Park, Concord, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Concord Jazz Festival, Concord Pavillion, Concord, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Crimson Studios, Santa Monica, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, Seattle, WA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Dome Audio & Video, Toronto, Canada (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); East Coast Recorders, San Francisco, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Eastern Sound, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Evergreen Studios, Burbank, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Fantasy Studio, Berkeley, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Feinstein's At The Regency Hotel, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Frankie's Hideaway Studios, North Hollywood, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); G Studio Digital (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); G Studio Digital, Studio City, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Group IV Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Keystone Corner, San Francisco, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Koln Philharmonic Hall (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Mad Hatter Studios (Studio A), Los Angeles, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Manta (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Master Track, Hayward, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Maybeck Recital Hall, Berkeley, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Mobius Music Recording Studio (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Oceanway Studios, Hollywood, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Paul Masson Mountain Winery, Saratoga Springs, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Penny Lane Studios, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Power Station, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Sage & Sound Studios, Los Angeles, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Sigma Sound, Philadelphia, PA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Skyline Studios, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Sound Design Recording Studios, Santa Barbara, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Sound Design Studios, Santa Barbara, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Sound on Sound Studios, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Soundmixers, New York, NY (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Studio A, Capitol Records, Hollywood, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); The Concord Pavilion, Concord, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); The Conga Room, Los Angeles, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); The Loa, Santa Monica, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); United Western Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); Wally Heider Recording Studios, San Francisco, CA (07/29/1974-10/17/2001); WDR Studio 4 Koln, Germany (07/29/1974-10/17/2001).
Director: Allen Farnham.
Illustrator: Joel Nakamura.
Arrangers: Chip McNeill; John Clayton; Alan Broadbent; Patrick Williams; Rob McConnell; Wayne Wallace.
This six-CD box set chronicles the 30-year history of mainstream jazz label Concord. The label began mostly as a outlet for high-quality jazz musicians who were being left behind by the dawn of the fusion and jazz-pop era in the early '70s. The first three discs in the set are a chronological rundown of some of the label's highlights, and include smooth and swinging tunes by the likes of Herb Ellis, Dave Brubeck, Art Blakey, George Shearing, and Ray Brown. The label also released records by younger artists who were firmly in the mainstream tradition, like Scott Hamilton, Chris Potter, John Patitucci, and Jimmy Bruno. The fourth disc spotlights one of the important goals of the label: keeping the big-band tradition alive. Featured are high-energy cuts from big bands fronted by Louie Bellson, Maynard Ferguson, Rob McConnell, and Gene Harris. Disc five is dedicated to the fine roster of vocalists Concord has recorded, a nice mix of legends like Mel Torm, Rosemary Clooney, and the always amazing Carmen McRae and young talent like Monica Mancini, Karrin Allyson, and Nnenna Freelon. Concord has always been a big supporter of Latin jazz, and they have put out records by some of the biggest performers in that style. Disc six is bursting with Latin sides by Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Ray Barretto, Charlie Byrd, and many more. This box set is a fitting tribute to a label that has done as much as any label to help keep jazz a viable art form, and is a very satisfying listen for fans of lightly and politely swinging jazz. ~ Tim Sendra
