'61 LC Zurich

  • January 14, 2017

    Ray Charles’ Zurich 1961 Concert Released

    A while ago my inquiries at the Swiss Radio archives resulted in the discovery of a set of 2 edited tapes with parts of a Jazzkonzert by the Ray Charles Big Band at the Kongresshaus in Zürich, on October 18, 1961.This concert is now part of an abundant “Swiss Radio Days Jazz” CD-series with post-WWII […]

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  • November 19, 2014

    Along Came Betty (The Ray Charles Orchestra)

    Album: Ray Charles Orchestra – Zurich 1961. TCB (Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series #41), [2016]. Written by Benny Golson. Arranged by Quincy Jones.Solo: Marcus Belgrave on trumpet. Personnel during the October 1961 Europe tour: Marcus Belgrave, Wallace Davenport, Phil Guilbeau, John Hunt – trumpets; Henderson Chambers, Leon Comegys, James Lee Harbert, Keg Johnson – trombones; Hank […]

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  • November 11, 2014

    Ghana (The Ray Charles Orchestra)

    Ray Charles Orchestra – Zurich 1961. TCB (Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series #41), [2016]. The band was only recorded playing this instrumental during their brief Europe tour in October 1961. Written by Ernie Wilkins, arranged by Quincy Jones. David Fathead took the solo on flute, Leroy Cooper on bari, and Sonny Forriest on guitar. The […]

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  • November 10, 2014

    Happy Faces (The Ray Charles Orchestra)

    Album:Ray Charles Orchestra – Zurich 1961. TCB (Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series #41), [2016]. The Ray Charles Big Band, on their first brief Europe tour in October 1961, played this Sonny Stitt composition at least four times. Arranged by Quincy Jones. David Fathead Newman solo’ed on tenor saxophone. With Marcus Belgrave, Wallace Davenport, Phil Guilbeau, […]

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  • October 26, 2014

    Misty (The Ray Charles Band, Ft Hank Crawford)

    Album: Ray Charles Orchestra – Zurich 1961. TCB (Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series #41), [2016]. Recorded during the Ray Charles Big Band’s first concert in Europe by Radio Basel at the Kongresshaus in Zürich on October 18, 1961. The performance of Misty is the only known live recording of this song by the Ray Charles Band. Crawford’s original studio version was released on […]

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  • November 25, 2013

    Ray Charles & His Orchestra Live In Zurich (1961)

    “Begleitzettel” (recto) of the tapes. The Ray Charles Big Band’s First Concert In Europe (1961) was recorded by Radio Basel (now part of Radio SRF 2 Kultur). My inquiries at their archives have resulted in the discovery of a set of 2 edited tapes with parts of this  “Jazzkonzert” by the “Ray Charles Big Band” […]

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  • July 4, 2013

    The Ray Charles Big Band’s First Concert In Europe (1961)*

    For an update of this article, read this. Ad for Ray Charles’ first big band concert in Europe, on October 18, 1961 at the Kongresshaus-Bühne in Zurich. From the Hans Philippi Collection (curated by Mario Schneeberger). Pages from the Zurich concert’s souvenir brochure. Collection Mario Schneeberger. Invitation and ticket for exclusive ‘after party’ organized by […]

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