SHORTY ROGERS- Chances Are It Swings

SHORTY ROGERS

Chances Are It Swings

Shorty Rogers records often took, and maybe still do take some heat from the "serious" jazz critics. Me? I've always dug him. He stood by his conviction to continue in the swinging big band traditional long after it had fallen out of favor. His arrangements always feel fun.

Let's be honest here, just how serious do you think Rogers took himself? Lps about martians and outer space!! The dude definitely had a sense of humor about it. I think that's is why the lps feel the way they do.

On this session all the songs were written, or co-written by a single composer, Robert Allen. For me Allen's claim to fame will always be the Christmas tune "Home For The Holidays". The performers themselves are only credited as the "Orchestra featuring the Giants." The solos are all shorty and punchy in keeping with the feel of the whole lp which is rather short itself. - In retrospect the lp is not all that short but it seems to fly by far too quickly - hook

Released on the Living Stereo imprint, I'm betting this lp was the tits (which is way better than the cat's meow) when it was first released. It's always been my pleasure to do my part to keep this stuff alive!

Check out the personnel. You’ll go insane.

• Shorty Rogers - trumpet, flugelhorn, arranger

• Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Ollie Mitchell, Al Porcino, Ray Triscari - trumpet

• Harry Betts, Dick Nash, Ken Shroyer - trombone

• Bob Enevoldsen - valve trombone

• Paul Horn, Bud Shank - clarinet, flute, alto saxophone

• Bill Holman, Richie Kamuca - tenor saxophone

• Chuck Gentry - baritone saxophone

• Gene Estes - vibraphone

• Barney Kessel, Howard Roberts - guitar

• Pete Jolly - piano

• Joe Mondragon - bass

• Mel Lewis - drums