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Transition Records Listing

October 10, 1999 By Michael Fitzgerald

compiled by Michael Fitzgerald
June 24, 1998 – October 10, 1999

This is not a catalog. This is a discographical tool for researchers. I have no idea how to obtain these records.

Thanks to contributors:

John Barrett <johnbarrettjr@yahoo.com>
Pete Giankopoulos <oldschrec@aol.com>
Chuck Nessa <cnessa@earthlink.net>
Elijah Wald <elijah@igc.org>
François Ziegler <ziegler@math.psu.edu>
Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies
Brian Priestley: Mingus

TRLP ARTIST TITLE RECORDED STATUS
F-1 Gary, Sam Sam Gary Sings 1955.12.13 Phoenix
F-2 (Various Artists?) Chicago Blues [UNRECORDED?] 
F-3 Gary, Sam Gary Sings The Gospel [UNRECORDED?] 
F-4 Boguslav, Raphael Boguslav [UNRECORDED?] 
F-5 Mapes, Jo  [UNRECORDED?] 
F-6 Laurence, Dean  [UNRECORDED?] 
M-1 Powell, Lovey Lovelady, Upstairs At The Duplex 1956.03.19 Phoenix
C-1 Woollen, Russell Flute Quartet 1954.08 Phoenix
1 Pomeroy, Herb Jazz In A Stable 1955.03.13 BN
2 Windhurst, Johnny Jazz At Columbus Ave. 1955.04.22 GHB
3 ? Jazz Underground   BN?
4 Byrd, Donald Byrd's Eye View 1955.12.02 BN
5 Byrd, Donald Byrd-Jazz 1955.08.23 DD 407
6 Lateef, Yusef Yusef [UNRECORDED] 
7 Adams, Pepper Pepper [UNRECORDED?] 
8 Adams, Pepper Quintet Introducing Curtis Fuller [UNISSUED] 1955.04.20 BN 84437
9 ? Birmingham Jam [UNRECORDED?] 
10 Sun Ra Jazz By Sun Ra 1956.07.12 DD 411
11 Mingus, Charles [NOT ACQUIRED]   
12 Coleman, Dave These Things By Dave Coleman [RECORDED AND ERASED] See below
13    
14    
15 Woollen, Russell Quartet For Flute And Strings 1954.08 Phoenix
16    
17 Byrd, Donald Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill 1956.05.07 BN (J) 5887
18 Migliori, Jay Jazz Down Beat [UNISSUED] 1955.11.07 Migliori
19 Taylor, Cecil Jazz Advance 1956.09.14 BN
20 Watkins, Doug Watkins At Large 1956.12.08 BN (J) 5885
21 Thompson, Lucky Lucky Strikes! 1956.03.29, 1956.04.17 Xanadu 204
23 Dartmouth Indian Chiefs Chiefly Jazz  
27 Thorne, Fran Piano Reflections By Fran Thorne 1956.05.20 Thorne
28 Sun Ra [UNISSUED] 1957.11.01 DD 414
29    
30 Smith, Louis [UNISSUED] 1957.02.04, 1957.02.09 BN 52438
30 Various Artists Jazz In Transition (sampler)  

Annotations

All albums (other than first 8 which are folk, mood, classical) may have additional J (jazz) prefix. Masters now variously held by Blue Note (BN), Phoenix, GHB/Jazzology, Delmark (DD), and by the artists in some cases. Questions arise concerning several of these. Those in bold are known to exist. Other information is from (heavily annotated) Transition brochures in the collection of Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies.

Not to be confused with his Prestige album of the same name, the Lucky Thompson is a reissue of material recorded for the French Swing label. It later appeared on the Xanadu label and is currently available on BMG/Vogue.

In an interview published in Radio Free Jazz, July 1979 p. 20, Sheila Jordan says, “Duke [Jordan] made an album for Transition records in Boston and they signed me to record with him. When the day came, I had a very bad cold and the chance never came around again. Transition went out of business.” No other information is known about a Duke Jordan Transition album (or the planned album with Sheila Jordan).

A test pressing exists with seven outtakes from TRLP-10 by Sun Ra and one track from Dave Coleman (assumedly from the session which was recorded and erased) and two items from a co-led date by Joe Gordon and Roy Haynes (playing Bags Groove: one take with a botched ending and then with an insert of a corrected ending). This disc, produced at Fassett Recording Studio, 24 Chestnut St., Boston, MA, is labeled side 3 and side 4, so it is assumed to be part of a two-Lp set.

Below are excerpts from the Spring 1956 catalogue.


3

Group of dynamic new stars from Boston and Detroit collaborate on Castle Rock, Night Train, et al.


9

Transition premieres some jazz developments in the Deep South that will rock the jazz scene like the advent of West Coast Jazz. No names until we sign exclusive contracts.


11

The tunes that stunned the Newport Jazz Festival last summer…the same songs from the controversial 92nd St. YMHA concert in New York. Featuring the uncrowned leader of the new jazz movement, Charlie Mingus with Teo Macero and John LaPorta.

This album apparently would have included the following (titles and personnel from the July 17, 1955 Newport performance):

Art Farmer-tpt
John LaPorta-asx, cl
Teo Macero-tsx
Britt Woodman, Eddie Bert-tbn
Teddy Charles-vbs
Mal Waldron-p
Charles Mingus-b
Elvin Jones-d

 

    1. The Emperor

 

    1. Sounds of April

 

    1. Minor Intrusion

 

  1. Non-sectarian

No later recording of these tunes is listed in Brian Priestley’s Mingus discography. [MF]


12

Guitar, Baritone and Alto Sax, Violin, 2 Trumpets, Bass, and Drums create the new sound the whole East is talking about. Four classics of advanced jazz composition by talented Dave Coleman.


Retitled Later Issues

BN 52438 Louis Smith: Here Comes Louis Smith

BN 84437 Paul Chambers: Chambers’ Music

DD 407 Donald Byrd: First Flight

This was initially issued as Yusef Lateef: Yusef contrary to note in Bruyninckx that it was withdrawn before issue. Yusef coincidentally (?) was the intended name of Transition TRLP-6 (a completely different album?). It was in 1990 that 407 was again credited to Byrd and titled First Flight.

DD 411 Sun Ra: Sun Song

DD 414 Sun Ra: Sound Of Joy

Xanadu 204 Lucky Thompson: Brown Rose

Others are issued with original titles.


From TRLP F-1 booklet:

The inclusion of the letter “F” in the code number of this record indicates that it is one of the albums belonging to TRANSITION’S series of folk records.

In coming months TRANSITION will release several recordings featuring the talents of new and exciting folk artists as well as those of already familiar figures. Among those presented will be albums by ODETTA, SONNY TERRY, JO MAPES, DEAN LAURENCE, PETE STEIN AND RAPHAEL BOGUSLAV. Further titles in the series will be announced within the year.

Also in the offering is a series featuring folk songs at the colleges. It has long been recognized (and lamented) by folk-enthusiasts that the traditional cultures of America which had added voluminously to the mainstream of folk music of the English – The Ozarks, The Southern Appalachians, The Westland Southwest, the Whaling Ports of New England, etc. – were ceasing to produce new material to the rapid technological advances which have penetrated them. Folk music has now become the province of the student – n.b.: the student, not the scholar.

In colleges all over America folk music is enjoying an unparalleled revival which has spread the interest in traditional music even into the popular field. TRANSITION will soon present the folk music heard most often on campus as sung by the enthusiastic folksingers of Harvard, Swarthmore, Black Mountain, etc., and well as the Universities of the mid- and far West.

Filed Under: Label Listing

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