Roy Porter ”In A Groove”

Roy Porter

”In A Groove”
( LP Vistone Records, 1984 )
Catalog # VI-657

Personnel & Tracklisting:
A1 In A Groove (7:10)
Drums – Roy Porter
Saxophone [Alto] – Bob Tate
Saxophone [Tenor] – Jimmy Allen
Written-By, Guitar – Sonny Kenner
Written-By, Organ – Jennell Hawkins
A2 Lonesome Mood (3:10)
Arranged By – Benny Carter, Rex Middleton
Written-By – Roy Porter
A3 Party Time (4:00)
Bass – Charles Jones
Drums – Roy Thompson
Percussion – Roy Porter
Trombone – Wallace Huff
Trumpet – Hugh Bell
Written-By, Arranged By, Keyboards – Tollie Moore
A4 Drums For Daryl (8:15)
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Congas – Louis Poliman Brown
Synthesizer [Arp] – Arne Frager
Written-By, Arranged By, Drums – Roy Porter
B1 Jessica (Instrumental) (7:40)
Bass – Charles Jones
Congas – Oscar Dye
Flugelhorn – Hense Powell
Flute – Jack Fulks
Guitar – Jimmy Holloway
Keyboards – Tollie Moore Jr.
Trombone – Lester Robertson
Written-By, Arranged By, Drums – Roy Porter
B2 Hip City (4:47)
Bass – Charles Jones
Congas – Oscar Dye
Drums – Roy Porter
Flugelhorn – Hense Powell
Guitar – Jimmy Holloway
Keyboards – Tollie Moore Jr.
Trombone – Lester Robertson
Written-by, Arranged By, Saxophone [Tenor Solo] – Jack Fulks
B3 Panama (3:19)
Bass – Charles Jones
Drums – Roy Porter
Guitar – Randy Pigge
Keyboards – Tollie Moore Jr.
Trombone – Wallace Huff
Written-by, Arranged By, Flute, Saxophone [Tenor] – Jack Fulks
B4 Jessica (Vocal) (4:09)
Bass – Charles Jones
Congas – Frank Mastrapa
Drums – Demond Gates
Flugelhorn – Hense Powell
Saxophone [Baritone] – Clyde Dunn
Saxophone [Tenor] – Jack Fulks
Trombone – Wallace Huff
Trumpet – Hugh Bell

Credits:
Producer – Daryl R. Porter
Remastered By – Richard Simpson
Remix – Harold Jackson

Notes:
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation, Reissue
Country: US
Released:1984

Alternate Cover

The original liner notes read as follows:
Born in the coal mining region of the Rocky mountains in Colorado, to playing New York’s Apollo theater with Milton Larkin’s orchestra and T. Bone Walker at 19 years of age and one of the most innovative, underrated, controversial and unorthodox pioneer Jazz drummers of our time, Roy Porter has run the gamut of the music scene. He has played and recorded with Howard McGhee, Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Benny Carter, Little Richard, Joe Liggens Honey Drippers, Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic, Perez Prado and leader of his own 17 piece big band that Eric Dolphy, Art Farmer and numerous other greats emerged. Most memorable are the Dial sessions with “Bird” – Night in Tunesia, Yardbird Suite, Ornithology, Moose The Mooche, etc., that are legendary. Also a composer – “Lonesome Mood” by the Friends of Distinction album GRAZIN – RCA. We think this album shows versatility in his playing, composing and arranging, but he thinks his singing leaves something to be desired (smile). Enjoy!

Biography:
Roy Porter accomplished so much in such a short period of time that it is surprising how brief his jazz career actually was. He picked up early experience touring with Milt Larkin in 1943, had a stint in the military and then settled in Los Angeles. Porter worked with Teddy Bunn in 1944, gigged frequently with Howard McGhee (with whom he made his first recordings in 1945) and in 1946 was on a Charlie Parker Dial recording session that resulted in the original versions of “Moose The Mooche,” “Yardbird Suite” and “Ornithology.” Porter also appeared on Bird’s much less successful “Lover Man” date. The drummer was a fixture in Los Angeles’ modern jazz scene (particularly on Central Avenue) during those years, recording and gigging with Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray and Teddy Edwards. He led an experimental big band in 1949 that included among its members Art Farmer, Jimmy Knepper and the young Eric Dolphy; they recorded for Savoy and an apparently long lost date for the tiny Knockout label. The following year Porter relocated to San Francisco but essentially his jazz career was over. Drug problems made the 1950’s a barren period, he shifted towards studio work (cutting a few numbers with Earl Bostic), did many commercial and rather anonymous sessions in the 1960’s and led two very obscure albums for the tiny Chelan and Bel-Ad labels in 1971 and 1975. Illness forced him to retire altogether by 1978. In 1991 Roy Porter (with the assistance of writer David Keller) came out with his memoirs, There And Back.
By Scott Yanow (AMG)

By Pier