‘West Coast Jazz’ Cold? Not These Hot CDs

The term “West Coast Jazz” became suspect sometime during the 1950s, not long after it first came into use. Criticized as pretentiously cool and emotionally distant, the genre was subjected to a list of negative musical and racial stereotypes. Author-educator Grover Sales’ 1984 book “Jazz: America’s Classical Music” termed the era’s recordings as “bloodless museum pieces” and “neatly packaged soundtracks for the cold war.”

Such harsh judgment will be up for reassessment when the first releases in Blue Note Records’ “West Coast Classics” series hit the stores Tuesday. The six titles originally recorded for producer Richard Bock’s Pacific Jazz label between 1953 and 1958, all being released for the first time on CD in the U.S., shed new light on both the styles and direction of the California school of jazz that blossomed here nearly 50 years ago.

“That term [West Coast Jazz] and what people thought it meant caused some residual bitterness with some of us because it ended up costing us work,” says saxophonist Bill Perkins, whose 1956 debut album “On Stage” is included in the series. “At the time, we weren’t even aware of what the music was being called. We were all too involved with what we were doing and making it great. Sure, it was generally a milder form of jazz than what they were playing in New York at the time. But there was plenty of energy too.”

Other titles in the first batch of releases include “The Chet Baker Quartet . . . “ with pianist Russ Freeman, “The Jack Montrose Sextet” and “Bud Shank-Bill Perkins,” as well as dates from trumpeter Jack Sheldon and trombonist-bandleader Cy Touff.

Touff and the obscure recording “His Octet & Quintet” is one of the series’ true revelations. Playing charts written by Johnny Mandel and Count Basie saxophonist and arranger Ernie Wilkins, Touff and company swing firmly in Basie-influenced style. The personnel include saxophonist Richie Kamuca, trumpeter Harry “Sweets” Edison, Freeman, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Chuck Flores.

Other highlights from the series include saxophonist-composer Montrose’s elegant sextet from 1955 and saxophonist Perkins’ warmly arranged, smartly played “On Stage,” featuring an octet with drummer Mel Lewis and bassist Red Mitchell as well as fine examples of Perkins’ Lester Young-influenced style. Perkins and Montrose are scheduled to perform their original charts from these reissues during “California Cool: Celebrating Jazz on the West Coast,” a festival to be held at the Redondo Beach Crown Hotel from June 11-14; for information, call (626) 791-3427.

The CD reissues include the artwork from the original albums, unpublished photos, additional takes and 20-bit, audiophile-quality Super Bit Mapping remastering. A second set of six releases from the West Coast Classics series is scheduled for July with albums from, among others, trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and saxophonist Teddy Edwards.

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Marsalis in Town: Trumpeter Wynton Marsalis will get up close and personal when he plays from his new Columbia recording “The Midnight Blues: Standard Time Vol. 5” with pianist Cyrus Chestnut and bassist Reginald Veal at Borders Books and Music, 1415 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica, on Saturday at 1 p.m. After the unusual half-hour show, Marsalis will stick around to sign autographs and chat with the crowd. The event is free. (310) 393-9290.

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More Music: The first in a series of free Playboy Jazz Festival community concerts leading up to the big event at the Hollywood Bowl on June 13-14 will feature saxophonist Ann Patterson’s Maiden Voyage Big Band and violinist Susie Hansen’s Latin Jazz Band, on Sunday at 3 p.m., at the Beverly Hills Civic Center, Rexford Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard. The concert is free. (310) 449-4070.

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Winner at Monterey: The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts placed first in big-band and jazz-combo categories during the recent Monterey Jazz Festival High School Jazz Competition, held last weekend at the Monterey Fair Grounds, site of the Monterey Jazz Festival. Both bands are directed by trumpeter Bobby Rodriguez. They will return to perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival from Sept. 18-20. The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Vocal Choir, directed by Pat Bass, placed second in the vocal group division. Some 35 different schools participated in the competition.

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Jazz and Film: As part of its sixth annual International Film Music Conference, the Film Music Society will present an all-Gershwin program at the Jazz Bakery on May 9 at 8 p.m. The program, hosted by film composer David Raksin (“Laura,” “The Bad and the Beautiful”), will include performances from pianist-vocalist Page Cavanaugh’s trio (Cavanaugh was heard in the 1951 film “Lullaby of Broadway”), saxophonist-film composer Bennie Wallace’s quartet with pianist Mulgrew Miller, actress-vocalist Stefanie Powers and other guests. The event’s $25 admission benefits the nonprofit society’s efforts to preserve film and television music. (310) 271-9039.