Music for Lighthousekeeping
A veteran of the Stan Kenton band, bassist Howard Rumsey's greatest contribution may have been in providing a solid base of operations for many of the West coast's finest players of the '50s. From 1951 to '60, Rumsey led a variety of bands at the Lighthouse Cafe (which he later co-owned) in Hermosa Beach near Los Angeles featuring such outstanding musicians as Max Roach, Jimmy Giuffre, and Shorty Rogers. Recorded in 1956,Music for Lighthousekeepingis typical of the music Rumsey and his compatriots made: relaxed, witty, and warm. If some of the original vehicles such as arranger/composer Bill Holman's two mambo tunes now sound a bit out of fashion, the band's ability to integrate such historic stepping stones as Count Basie's "Topsy" and "Taxi War Dance" into their mellow, modern sound more than compensates. This edition of the band is notable for its inclusion of a young Sonny Clark on piano, drummer Stan Levey, and Kenton veterans Bob Cooper on sax, Conte Condoli on trumpet, and Frank Rosolino on trombone.--Fred Goodman