Personnel:
Herb Geller (as), Roy Hargrove, Gerard Presencer (tp), Kenny Drew (p), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b), Mark Taylor (d)
Reference: FSRCD 5070
Bar code: 8427328650700
In May 1990, Los Angeles–born alto saxophonist Herb Geller, residing in Berlin since 1962, gathered an exceptional international group at Gema Studios in Barcelona. He brought together his lyrical, Bird-derived voice with American expatriate Kenny Drew (then based in Denmark), Danish bass virtuoso Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, British drummer Mark Taylor, and two brilliant young trumpeters: American Roy Hargrove, fresh from his debut album 'Diamond in the Rough,' and English Gerard Presencer, just seventeen and full of promise.
Originally conceived as a two-album project, only the quartet session (Birdland Stomp, FSRCD-5046) was released at the time. The second set—featuring the two trumpeters—remained unheard for decades, as the original analog tapes had deteriorated over time and become too fragile to play. Recently rediscovered DAT copies have now made it possible to complete the story.
This long-awaited release captures Herb Geller at his most inspired, in the company of remarkable musicians whose interplay bridges generations and continents with grace, energy, and the timeless spirit of jazz.
—Jordi Pujol
"Altoist Herb Geller (1928-2017) was a major saxophonist on the West Coast jazz scene of the 1950s, moved permanently to Europe in 1962. and had long-term positions with the Radio Free Berlin Orchestra and the NDR Orchestra that kept him solvent, happy, and free to play jazz.
In 1990 Geller came to Barcelona to perform at a club, bringing with him the 17-year old British trumpeter Gerald Presencer. The Johnny Griffin Quintet was playing close by and at the time featured 20-year old Roy Hargrove. Geller recorded two albums, one a quartet set with pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen, and drummer Mark Taylor that was released as Birdland Blues. Due to technical problems with the recording process, the second recording has not been released until now when modern technology made it possible.
Barcelona Session has Geller featured with the same rhythm section with two songs apiece having Hargrove and Presencer making the group a quintet. 35 years later, the music still sounds fresh and lively.
The set begins with the Charlie Parker blues “Big Foot” which is taken at a medium-slow pace. Geller is in prime form, Hargrove shows a great deal of maturity in his well-conceived solo, and Drew is up to his usual standards. Benny Carter’s ballad “Summer Serenade” features Geller at his most lyrical. The altoist’s one original of this set, “The Order,” is a joyous romp and has a hot if brief statement from Presencer.
Recording Lee Morgan’s “Ceora” took a little bravery since Morgan’s classic recording is a memorable gem. However after the melody statement, Hargrove makes a worthy and personal statement of his own as does Geller, Drew and Pedersen. Presencer is an asset on “You Don’t Know What Love Is.” Geller concludes the rewarding set with passionate quartet renditions of “Hot House” and “Some Other Spring.”
Barcelona Session serves as a very good introduction to late-period Herb Geller while giving one a sampling of early Roy Hargrove and Gerald Presencer."
—Scott Yanow (January, 2026)
Los Angeles Jazz Scene
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"Born and raised in Los Angeles, Herb Geller began playing the alto saxophone at age 8. His best friend in high school was Eric Dolphy, and both were in the marching band together—Herb on clarinet and Dolphy on oboe. Herb’s idols were Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges.
Herb joined the musicians union in 1944 at age 16. A year later, he heard Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie at Billy Berg’s jazz club. Too young to gain entry, he stood outside and listened. He took lessons from Stan Getz and began playing the alto with Benny Carter’s sound and Lester Young’s horizontal feel. Herb soon became a mainstay on the West Coast jazz recording scene and moved to Germany in 1962.
Now Fresh Sound has released Herb Geller Quartet: Barcelona Session, an excellent album of previously unreleased material recorded in Barcelona in May 1990. Herb was in the studio shortly after Jordi Pujol, the label’s founder, met him for the first time. The quartet featured Kenny Drew (p), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b) and Mark Taylor (d), with guest trumpeters Roy Hargrove and England’s Gerard Presencer.
The album shows off Herb’s warmth, speed and sterling tone, plus the elegant piano of Drew and the tasty bass of Pedersen and drums of Taylor. I forgot how forceful and pretty Herb played, so the new album was welcome news for me.
Herb was a wonderful guy. Even in conversation from Germany, he was determined, confident, transparent and generous with his time and recordings. Glorious to hear him again.
Herb Geller died in 2013 at age 85."
—Marc Myers (December 3, 2025)
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