By 1968, Don Sebesky (1937-2023) had become, if not the preeminent jazz arranger of his day, then certainly one of the first to call to do the job. Other top-tier arrangers – like Quincy Jones, Neal Hefti, Lalo Schifrin and Oliver Nelson – had all left for Hollywood by then. Sebesky’s ascendance – or, to…
Cal Tjader – “The Prophet” (1968)
Verve Records has released the first Cal Tjader (1925-82) record in its 180-gram vinyl Verve Vault series, the 1968 gem The Prophet. The last of a whopping 15 discs the vibraphonist waxed for the Verve label between 1961 and 1968, The Prophet – released just this month – may well be the best of a…
Gary McFarland – “Scorpio and Other Signs” (1968)
By this point in composer, arranger and vibraphonist Gary McFarland’s (1933-71) all-too brief ten-year musical career, he had perfected the art of the pure pop instrumental. He was just one year away from waxing his magnum opus, “America the Beautiful,” an orchestral hybrid that seamlessly melded classical, jazz and rock, a new addition to his…