Thomas Phleps:

Bill DeArango – Discography

Update: 04-2008

September 20, 1921, in Cleveland, OH – December 26, 2005, in Cleveland, OH

Biography

by Jason Ankeny

Arguably the most innovative and technically accomplished guitarist to emerge during the bebop era, Bill DeArango nevertheless remains little known outside the sphere of jazz cognoscenti.

After recording with icons including Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie, he abandoned his thriving career to return to his native Cleveland, resurfacing only sporadically in the half-century to follow. Born September 20, 1921, DeArango was a self-taught musician who moonlighted in Columbus-area Dixieland bands while a student at Ohio State University. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1944, he settled in New York City, making his Big Apple debut sitting in with tenor saxophonist Don Byas' band at the 52nd Street club the Three Deuces and landing a permanent gig with Byas' rival Ben Webster that very same night. DeArango's astounding playing owed much to Charlie Christian's pioneering single-string approach, and he quickly proved himself a master of the nascent bop lexicon, exiting Webster's band after a year to join Parker and Gillespie for his debut recording date behind vocalist Sarah Vaughan. Sessions supporting Slam Stewart, Ike Quebec, and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis followed, and in late 1945 DeArango led his first session for the Haven label, recruiting Webster to contribute tenor sax. The guitarist's most renowned recording remains the landmark 1946 Gillespie-led date that yielded the classics "A Night in Tunisia," "Ol' Man Bebop," and "Anthropology." From there, he tenured behind trumpeter Ray Nance before founding his own band alongside co-leader/vibist Terry Gibbs.

But in 1947 DeArango abruptly returned to Cleveland, and his career ground to a halt. Outside of a well-received 1954 EmArcy collaboration with pianist John Williams, he did not resurface on wax for more than a quarter-century, but continued playing locally while operating his own University Heights-area record shop, a nexus for local jazz musicians. The emergence of rock & roll and a new generation of guitarists including Jimi Hendrix so captivated DeArango that he agreed to manage the Cleveland psychedelic band Henry Tree, even contributing uncredited guitar to their eponymous 1968 debut LP. With saxophonist Ernie Krivda and drummer Skip Hadden, he spent much of the early '70s headlining Cleveland's Smiling Dog Saloon, applying the improvisational principles of free jazz to hard rock. In 1978 DeArango made his first tentative steps back into the jazz mainstream, appearing on drummer Barry Altschul's Muse LP Another Time/Another Place. The Kenny Werner date 298 Bridge Street followed in 1981, and two years later the guitarist joined Jamey Haddad for Names. Finally, in 1993 the 72-year-old DeArango teamed with up-and-coming saxophonist Joe Lovano for the comeback effort Anything Went, dazzling critics with the complexity and craft of his improvisational gifts. Apart from the occasional headlining gig at the Cleveland nightspot the Barking Spider, DeArango effectively entered semi-retirement soon after the LP's release, and in 1999 entered a nursing home, where he battled dementia in the years leading to his death on December 26, 2005.

(http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&searchlink=DEARANGO&sql=11:gifoxqu5ldke~T1)

Texte zu DeArango:

- Down Beat 1947

- Liner-Notes: EMARCY (EP, 1954)

- Jazz Journal 1971

May 25, 1945, New York City:

1  [W-3325]  What More Can A Woman Do? (Lee/Barbour)  (3:00)

2  [W-3326]  I'd Rather Have A Memory Than A Dream (Feather/Russell)  (2:40)

3  [W-3327]  Mean To Me (Turk/Ahlert)  (2:39)

Sarah Vaughn (as Sara Vaughan), voc; Dizzy Gillespie (as John Birks), tp; Charlie Parker, as; Flip Phillips, ts; Nat Jaffe (1,3), Tad Dameron (2), p; Bill de Arango, g (no solo); Curly Russell, b; Max Roach, dr.

1-2: Continental C-6008; 3: Continental 6024.

1-3: LP-Reissues: Continental CLP 16004; Remington RLP 1024 und R 199-258; Masterseal MS 55; Palace A 673; Spinorama A 55; Concertum JCR 258; Coronet CXS 277; Ember 3408; Musidisc CV 1201; Premier PM 9047.

1-3: CD-Reissue (1997) Sarah Vaughan 1944-1946, Classics Records (France) 958.

May 28, 1945, New York City:

1  [W-3328]  Honeysuckle Rose (Razaf/Waller)  (3:01)

2  [W-3329]  Mood To Be Stewed (Feather)  (2:56)

3  [W-3330]  The Voice Of The Turtle (Feather)  (3:00)

4  [W-3331]  Slammin' The Gate (Feather)  (2:53)

5  [W-3332]  Jingle Bells (arr. P.D.Vitch)  (2:58)

6  [W-3333]  On The Upside Looking Down (Feather)  (3:10)

7  [W-3334]  Time Of My Hands (Adamson/Gordon/Youmans)  (3:00)

8  [W-3335]  A Bell For Norvo (Norvo)  (2:48)

Johnny Guarnieri, Singing at the Piano (1): Red Norvo, vib; Johnny Guarnieri, p; Bill de Arango, g; Billy Taylor, b; Morey Feld, dr.
Slam Stewart Quintet (2-8): Red Norvo, vib; Johnny Guarnieri, p; Bill de Arango, g (solo in 4,6,8); Slam Stewart, b (2-6,8: "Sam [!] Stewart, singing bass"); Morey Feld, dr.

2/4: Continental 10000; 3/7: Continental 10001 (7: "Red Norvo, Vibraharp Solo with Slam Stewart Quintet"); 6/8: Continental 10002; 1/5: Continental 10003.

1-8: CD-Reissue (1997) Slam Stewart 1945-1946, Classics Records (France) 939.

June 12, 1945, New York City:

1  [S-5822]  I Can't Give You Anything But Love (McHugh/Fields)

2  [S-5822-alt]  I Can't Give You Anything But Love (McHugh/Fields)  (3:09)

3  [S-5823]  Crazy Rhythms (Meyer/Kahn)  (3:09)

4  [S-5824]  I Can't Get Started (Duke/Gershwin)  (3:19)

5  [S-5825]  Whispering (Schonberger)  (3:06)

6  [S-5826]  I'll See You In My Dreams (Jones/Kahn)  (3:12)

Charlie Kennedy Quintette: Charlie Kennedy, ts; Johnny Guarnieri, p; Bill DeArango, g (solo in 2-6); Al McKibbon, b; Buddy DeRocco, dr.

1: Savoy 623.

2-6: LP The Crazy Rhythms of Charlie Ventura & Charlie Kennedy, Savoy 12200; Regent MG 6047 // Savoy MG 12200.

2-6: CD-Reissue (1992) The Crazy Rhythms of Charlie Ventura & Charlie Kennedy, Savoy Jazz (Japan) SV-0195.

August 7, 1945, New York City:

1  [S-5828]  Girl Of My Dreams (Clapp)  (3:12)

2  [S-5829]  Jim Dawgs (Quebec)  (2:45)

3  [S-5830]  Scufflin' (unknown)  (2:48)

4  [S-5831]  I Q Blues (Quebec)  (2:52)

Ike Quebec All Stars: Ike Quebec, ts; Johnny Guarnieri, p; Bill d'Arango, g (solo in 1-3); Milton Hinton, b; J.C. Heard, dr.

1: Savoy 620; 2/4: Savoy 570, Musidisc (F) CV 696; 3: Savoy X8033.

1-4: CD Reissue (1997) Ike Quebec 1944-1946, Classics Records (France) 957.

September 7, 1945, New York City:

1  Sweet Georgia Brown (Bernie/Pinkard/Casey)  (2:26)

2  Blue Skies (Berlin)  (2:12)

3  St. Louis Blues (Handy)  (2:37)

4  I Know That You Know (Youmans/Caldwell)  (2:10)

Erroll Garner Trio: Erroll Garner, p; Bill De Arango, g (no solo); John Levy, Jr., b.

1/2: Associated ZZ-4835; 3/4: Associated ZZ-4838.

1-4: 2-CD-Reissue (1999) Erroll Garner – The Quintessence, New York - Hollywood 1944-1947, Frémeaux & Associés (France) FA 229

April 1946, New York City:

1  [106-A]  Don't Be A Baby, Baby (Kaye/Steiner)  (2:17)

2  [106-B]  Lazy Lullaby (Markes/Stone)  (3:05)

3  [107-A]  Try, Try Again (Moore/Hardy)  3:16)

4  [107-B]  Tidal Wave (Rhodes)  3:13)

"Trummy" Young And Orchestra With Four Jazz Award Winners: incl. Trummy Young, tb/voc (1,3); Abe Baker, as?; Ray Eckstrand, as/bs; Herbie Fields, as/ts; Nick Calazza, ts; Stan Webb, ts; Bill Rowland, p; Bill de Arango, g (solo in 4); The Holidays, voc (2).

1/2: G.I. 106; 3/4: G.I. 107.

1-4: CD Reissue (1998) Trummy Young 1944-1946, Classics Records (France) 1037.

May 3, 1946, New York City:

1  [H-1935]  The Jeep Is Jumpin' (Ellington/Hodges)  (2:53)

2  [H-1936 // 858]  I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (Ellington / P.F.Webster)  (2:54)

3  [H-1937]  Dark Corners (Webster)  (2:59)

4  [H-1938]  Blues Mr. Brim (Webster)  (3:12)

Bill De Arango Sextet: Leonard Graham [Idrees Sulieman], tp; Ben Webster, ts; Tony Scott, cl; Argonne Thornton [Sadik Hakim], p; Bill De Arango, g (solo in 1-4); John Simmons, b; Sid Catlett, dr.

1/2: Haven 802 // Signature 28125; 3/4: Haven 803.

1-4: LP-Reissue (1975) The Big Three – Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, And Ben Webster, Bob Thiele Music BBM 1-1121.

1-4: CD-Reissue (2001) Ben Webster – Complete 1943-1951 Small Group Recordings, Definitive Records (Andorra) DRCD 11189; CD Reissue (2002) Ben Webster 1946-1951, Classics Records (France) 1253.

May 15, 1946, New York City:

1  [H-1939]  Frog And Mule (Webster)  (3:05)

2  [H-1940]  Spang (Webster)  (3:14)

3  [H-1941]  Doctor Keets (Webster)  (3:12)

4  [H-1942]  Park And Tilford Blues (Webster)  (2:38)

Ben Webster Quintet: Ben Webster, ts; Al Haig, p; Bill De Arango, g (solo in 1-4); John Simmons, b; Sid Catlett, dr.

1/2: Haven 805 // Signature 28128; 3/4: Haven 804.

1-4: LP-Reissue (1956) Coleman Hawkins With Ben Webster – The Big Sounds, Brunswick BL 54016.

1/2: LP-Reissue (1975) The Big Three – Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, And Ben Webster, Bob Thiele Music BBM 1-1121.

1-4: CD-Reissue (2001) Ben Webster – Complete 1943-1951 Small Group Recordings, Definitive Records (Andorra) DRCD 11189; CD Reissue (2002) Ben Webster 1946-1951, Classics Records (France) 1253; CD-Reissue (2002) Ben Webster – Stardust, Proper Records 1248.

3:     CD-Reissue (2000) Hittin' On All Six, Proper Records (UK) Properbox 9 (P1136).

May 1946, New York City:

1  [H-1919]  Surgery (Davis)  (2:58)

2  [H-1920]  Lockjaw (Davis)  (2:40)

3  [H-1921]  Afternoon In A Doghouse (Davis)  (3:03)

4  [H-1922]  Athlete's Foot (Davis)  (2:51)

Eddie Davis & Quintet: Eddie Davis, ts; Argonne Thornton [Sadik Hakim], p; Bill De Arango, g (solo in 1-4); Gene Ramey, b; Denzil Best, dr.

2/3: Haven 800 // Signature 28124; 1/4: Haven 801 // Signature 28129.

1-4: CD-Reissue (1998) Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis 1946-1947, Classics Records (France) 1012.

June 8, 1946, New York City:

1  [H-1923 // 845]  Goin' Back To Washington Corner 7th and "T" (Williams)  (2:51)

2  [H 1924 // 846]  Did You Ever Get To Thinking (Williams)  (2:54)

3  [H-1925A // 847]  Susie Bee Blues (Williams)  (2:42)

4  [H-1926B // 848]  I Ain't Gonna Marry (Williams)  (2:48)

"Rubberlegs" Williams and Band (Haven) // Bill De Arango And His Orchestra (Signature): Henry "Rubberlegs" Williams, voc; unknown [prob. Trummy Young], tb; Al Haig, p; Bill De Arango, g (solo in 2,3); John Simmons, b; Sidney Catlett, dr [also given in some discographical notes, but not audible: Leonard Graham, tp; Tony Scott, cl; Ben Webster, ts].

1/2: Haven 1000; 3/4: Haven 1001; 1/3: Signature 28127; 2/4: Signature 28128.

1-4: CD-Reissue (1998) V/A – Obscure Blues Shouters, Volume 2, Blue Moon Blue Series BMCD 6011.

1:     CD (2005) V/A – Stompin' Vol. 22, Stompin' 322.

3:     CD (2005) V/A – What's Your Name?, El Toro Records 106.

April 5, 1947, Jazz at the Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, New York City:

1  Characteristically B.H. (Harris)  (4:28)

2  Medley  (18:21)

a  Lover, Come Back To Me (Romberg/Hammerstein II)  (3:16)

b  (I Don't Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance (With You) (Young/Washington)  (3:03)

c  Just You, Just Me (Greer/Kloge)  (12:02)

Charlie Ventura And His Sextet: Charlie Shavers, tp (2); Bill Harris, tb; Charlie Ventura, ts; Marjorie Hyams, vib (2c); Ralph Burns (1/2a-b), Mary Lou Williams (2c), p; Bill De Arango, g (no solo); Dillon 'Curley' Russell, b; Dave Tough (1), Sid Catlett (2), dr.

1-2: 12"-LP (1955) Charlie Ventura's Carnegie Hall Concert, Norgran (US) MGN-1041.
[Lover, Come Back To Me named Ralph Burns]

1-2: LP-Reissue (1957) Charlie Ventura's Carnegie Hall Concert, Verve (US) MGV-8132.

1-2: LP-Reissue (1984) Charlie Ventura – Carnegie Hall Concert, Verve (Japan) 23MJ-3397.

1-2: CD-Reissue (1998) 10-CD-Box The Complete Jazz At The Philharmonic On Verve 1944-1949, Verve (US) 314523893-2 JK01-JK05.

April 13, 1953, Python Temple, New York City:

1  De Arango (Gibbs/De Arango)  (6:45)

Terry Gibbs Sextet: Terry Gibbs, vib; Don Elliott, Mellophone; Ray Abrams, ts; Claude Noel, p; Kenny O'Brien, b; Sid Bulkin, dr.

1: LP (1953) Various Artists – Jazztime U.S.A. Volume 2, Brunswick (US) BL 54001
[1956: Vogue Coral (US) LVA 9014].

1: LP (1957) Various Artists – Concert Jazz, Brunswick (US) BL 54027.

March 7, 1954, Fine Sound Studios, New York City:

1  [10526]  Alone Together (Dietz/Schwartz)  (3:09)

2  [10527]  Gone With The Wind (Magidson/Wrubel)  (3:00)

3  [10528]  All God's Children Got Rhythm (Kaper/Jurman/Kahn)  (2:46)

4  [10529]  The Nearness Of You (Carmichael/Washington)  (2:45)

5  [10530]  The Gipsy In My Soul (Boland/Jaffe)  (2:25)

6  [10531]  Dancing On The Ceiling (Rodgers/Hart)  (2:47)

7  [10532]  Summertime (Gershwin/Heyward)  (2:44)

8  [10533]  These Foolish Things (Strachey/Link/Marvell)  (3:03)

Bill de Arango, g; Johnny Williams, p; Teddy Kotick, b; Art Mardigan, dr.

1-4: 7"-EP (1954) Bill de Arango – de ARANGO, EmArcy (US) EP 1-6031.

5-8: 7"-EP (1954) Bill de Arango – Rendition, EmArcy (US) EP 1-6032.

1-8: 10"-LP (1954) Bill de Arango – de ARANGO, EmArcy (US) MG 26020.

1-8: LP-Reissue (1987) Renditions featuring Bill de Arango and Art Mardigan, EmArcy (Japan: Nippon Phonogram) 195J-10086 [plus 4 tunes by the Art Mardigan Sextet].

1968, Cleveland, Ohio:

1  Country Son (-)  (5:50)

2  Mr. Fear (-)  (5:27)

3  Electric Holy Man (-)  (8:21)

4  Dear Mr. Fantasy (-[Winwood])  (7:30)

5  Lady Of Day (-)  (3:51)

6  Penfield Town (-)  (2:53)

Henry Tree [Rock Band]: Leroy Markish, voc/g; Bill DeArango, g (not mentioned, but solo in 2, 3, 4), manager; Charles McLaughlin, b; Carmen Castaldi, dr.

1-6: LP (1968) Henry Tree – Electric Holy Man, Mainstream (US) S 6129.

1-6: CD-Reissue (2007) Henry Tree – Electric Holy Man, Synton Archive Productions S 6129.

March 13 or April 14, 1978, New York City:

1  Crepescule: Suite For Monk (arr. by A. Davis)  (14:27)

     a Evidence (Monk)

     b Crepescule With Nellie (Monk)

     c Epistrophy (Monk/Clarke)

Barry Altschul: Arthur Blythe, as; Ray Anderson, tb; Bill DeArango, g; Anthony Davis, p/arr; Brian Smith, b; Barry Altschul, dr.

1: LP (1978) Barry Altschul - Another Time/Another Place, Muse Records (US) MR 5176.

September 1981, New York City:

1     Spacewalker (Werner)  (6:30)

2     Improv (Werner)  (Part 1: 2:55, Part 2: 1:17)

3     Bosstown (Lovano)  (3:17)

4     Free Agent (Werner)  (6:36)

5     Indian Hill Rd. (Werner)  (8:33)

6     Ballad For Paul Motian (Werner)  (13:46)

Kenny Werner Sextet: Joe Lovano, ts/fl/musette; Billy Drewes, ts/ss/as; Ken [Kenny] Werner, p; Bill De'Arrango, g (except 4); Ratso [Ratzo] Harris, b; Tom Rainey, dr.

1-6: LP (1982) Ken Werner Sextett – 298 Bridge Street, amf records (Germany) AMF 1015.

January 1983, Beachwood, Ohio:

1     Ragarango (Haddad)  (7:45)

Jamey Haddad: Joe Lovano, fl/ss/ts; Billy Drewes, ss/as/ts; Kenny Werner, p; Bill DeArango, g; Marc Johnson, b; Ramnad V. Raghavan, Mridangam (South Indian hand drum); Jamey Haddad, dr/perc/Lebanese and Nigerian hand drums.

1: LP (1983) Jamey Haddad – Names, Ananda Records (US) 001; CD (2003) Various – Hot House. The Best of Cleveland Jazz Volume 1, Esquire Records, Cleveland (US) no number.

April 1/2, 1993, New York City:

1     Anything Went (DeArango/Lovano/Schuller/Schuller)  (9:05)

2     Duet #1 (DeArango/Lovano)  (1:23)

3     Bye Bye Blackbird (Dixon/Henderson)  (7:11)

4     What Is This Thing Called Speak Low  (8:00)

Medley:  a) What Is This Thing Called Love (Porter)

b) Speak Low (Weill/Nash) 

5     Duet #2 (DeArango/Lovano)  (0:44)

6     Cherokee (Noble)  (8:31)

7     At Miss Fears (DeArango/Schuller/Schuller)  (7:58)

8     Duet #3 (DeArango/Lovano)  (1:01)

9     Free Rango (DeArango/Lovano/Schuller/Schuller)  (10:59)

10  Song For D (Ed Schuller)  (6:23)

11  Duet #4 (DeArango/Lovano)  (1:48)

Bill DeArango, g; Joe Lovano, ts (1-2, 4-5, 8-9, 11); Ed Schuller, b (1, 3-4, 6-7, 9-10); George Schuller, dr (1, 3-4, 6-7, 9-10).

1-11: CD (1995) Bill DeArango – Anything Went featuring Joe Lovano, GM Recordings (US) GM3027CD.

1994, Midtown Recording, Cleveland, Ohio:

1     Home Town Vamp (Bocian)  (3:42)

2     Bill Said, "I Am The Blues" (Bocian)  (3:24)

3     Euclid Tavern (Bocian)  (6:08)

4     Every Day How I Pray (DeArango/Bocian)  (4:30)

5     D'octivator (Bocian)  (2:28)

6     My Favorite Little Vamp (Bocian)  (2:34)

7     I Say To You "Please" (DeArango/Bocian)  (2:50)

8     Gambit's Groove (Bocian)  (5:22)

9     Broadway (Byrd/MacRae/Woode)  (7:57)

10  Our First Duet (Bocian)  (4:34)

11  You Really Don't Got Me (DeArango/Bocian)  (7:16)

12  That Pretty Baby Has Left Me Achin (DeArango/Bocian)  (5:13)

13  For Drums And Guitar (Bocian)  (4:27)

14  Round Midnight (Williams/Hanighen/Monk)  (4:40)

15  In The Nick Of Time (Bocian)  (5:13)

Michael Bocian, Bill DeArango, g/voc; Tom Rainey, dr.

1-15: CD (2007) Michael Bocian, Bill DeArango, Tom Rainey – I Am The Blues, Michael Bocian [no number; distribution via CD Baby].

1998, Dark Tree Studio, Cleveland, Ohio:

1     Comeback City [5 Poems]  (7:08)
a) Tell Chief Wahoo (Thompson)
b) Rats (Thompson)
c) The Heart of It All (Thompson)
d) Words (Thompson)
e) Diner Poem (Thompson)

2     [7 Poems]  (7:04)
a) The Ghosts of Anarchists (Thompson)
b) Am I Blue? (Thompson)
c) A Fool's Gold (Thompson)
d) Rude Early Morning (Thompson)
e) And the Black Pie Company, too (Thompson)
f) The Shadow Knows (Thompson)
g) In Love's New Light (Thompson)

3     Of Loneliness and Kings (Thompson)  (3:25)

Daniel Thompson, voice; Bill deArango, g.

1-3: Daniel Thompson: Even the Broken Letters of the Heart Spell Earth. Poetry Book & Audio CD (Working Lives Series). Huron, Ohio: Bottom Dog Press 1998 (ISBN 0-933087-47-0).

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