[78-L] Alice Hall [was Art van Damme]

[Geoffrey Wheeler]

Julien Vein says: Alice Hall did a couple of hip sides for Capitol in 
1949. She hums along
with her squeezing a la Slam Stewart.

Yes, the Alice Hall Trio did record two sides for Capitol issued in the 
short-lived 57 dash “Bop” series: 57-60006 “Pennies from 
Heaven/Caravan.” The 32 sides issued in the series were all recorded 
between January and May 1949. Of the major labels with any involvement 
in Bop, Capitol was the only one to create a special catalog series 
largely devoted to vocal and instrumental Be-Bop. This was the 57-60000 
series that ran from 57-60000 to 57-60015. In an article headlined “Cap 
Capturing Top Bop (Mop!),” James B. Conkling, head of Capitol’s artists 
and repertoire division, announced in the February 1949 issue of 
Capitol News [page 4]: “Bebop performers who have aroused wildly 
fanatical followings in the New York area recently are being signed 
almost daily to exclusive contracts with Capitol Records Inc.”  Why 
Capitol thought Alice Hall (or Dave Barbour) would fit in this new 
category with the likes of Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Lennie Tristano, 
Babs Gonsalez, and Dave Lambert is anyone’s guess. These records 
retailed for $1.05 each, which was more expensive than the regular 
Capitol issues, which retailed for 89¢ (I think). Many younger critics, 
those born A.C. (after Coltrane) refer to the Davis sides as “Birth of 
the Cool.” When the records were released, they were labeled “Bop 
Instrumental,” which was consistent with the purpose of the series. 
“Birth of the Cool” came into being as an identifier in 1955 when the 
first 12-inch LP was issued with 11 of the 12 tunes. Left out was the 
Kenny Hagood vocal on “Darn That Dream.” It was not until 1971, 16 
years later, that all 12 tunes were finally reissued on (Dutch) Capitol 
Jazz Classics Vol. 1 (M-11026).