Even if his name is not immediately recognizable, Paul Moer (1916-2010) had a long and varied career as a jazz piano player. He worked with Benny Carter, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, with the bands of Jerry Gray and Maynard Ferguson, and from 1954 until the early 60s, he recorded as a sideman with several noted West coast jazz musicians. As a leader, however, his record dates were few and far in between, as he stayed away from the jazz scene for long periods of time. This release includes all his trio sessions between 1957 and 1991.
The notes from his first 1960 album were eloquent about Moer’s skills: “This album is more than an introduction to a great pianist. It is opening the door for a brilliant young composer as well. Paul Moer is a painter: his music is a splash of brilliant color against the background of today’s musical scene. His brush is the piano and his paints are the colors of musical sounds, blended into melodies, sometimes cool, blue and haunting... sometimes free, abandoned, and swinging.”
Paul Moer never received the full praise that was due to him, but we hope this compilation serves as a modest but well deserved homage to his sharp piano work as a jazz leader.
Tracklisting:
CD 1
01. Neat Foot (Paul Moer) 2:58
02. Short Politician (Paul Moer) 5:01
03. Moer or Les (Paul Moer) 2:18
04. I Love Paris (Cole Porter) 2:47
05. To a Folk Song (Paul Moer) 4:12
06. Mary Ann (Paul Moer) 2:30
07. Azure Blues (Duke Ellington) 5:50
08. Cute (Neal Hefti) 3:45
09. We'll Be Together Again (Fischer-Laine) 4:17
10. Our Waltz (Paul Moer) 3:02
11. Untitled Melody (Paul Moer) 3:20
12. Bob Keene introduces the trio 0:16
13. Things Ain't What They Used to Be (Duke Ellington) 5:22
14. Shop-a-Doddle-Op (Paul Moer) 3:40
15. Stay Even (Paul Moer) 5:13
16. Sunset (Paul Moer) 2:46
17. Tall Polynesian (Paul Moer) 4:14
18. Jazz Por Favor (Emil Richards) 4:09
19. Bottled in Bond (Paul Horn) 4:52
20. Way Up (Paul Moer) 2:52
CD 2
01. Mean Time (Paul Moer) 4:39
02. All The Things You Are (Kern-Hammerstein) 3:02
03. Wave Dance (Paul Moer) 3:08
04. Cute (Neal Hefti) 3:42
05. Closing announcements by Paul Moer 0:19
06. Later for You (Elmo Hope) 6:05
07. Something for Kenny (Elmo Hope) 5:46
08. Moe's Bluff (Elmo Hope) 3:52
09. Maybe So (Elmo Hope) 6:12
10. Happy Hour (Elmo Hope) 6:42
11. Minor Bertha (Elmo Hope) 6:26
12. Carving the Rock (Elmo Hope) 5:26
13. Low Tide (Elmo Hope) 4:24
14. One Second Please (Elmo Hope) 4:19
15. So Nice (Elmo Hope) 6:15
16. Boa (Elmo Hope) 4:04
Sources CD-1:
Track #1, from an originally unissued session, later released as “Mel Lewis & Friends” (VeeJay VJS-3062)
Tracks #2-11, from “The Contemporary Jazz Classics of the Paul Moer Trio”
(Del-Fi DFLP 1212)
Tracks #12-20, from “Paul Moer Trio - Live at the Pour House”(Fresh Sound FSCD1025)
Sources CD-2:
Tracks #1-5, from “Paul Moer Trio - Live at the Pour House” (Fresh Sound FSCD 1025)
Tracks #6-16, from “Paul Moer Trio Plays the Music of Elmo Hope”
(Fresh Sound FSRCD 5008)
Personnel on CD-1 #1:
Paul Moer, piano; Paul Chambers, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums.
Recorded at Audio Arts Studios, Hollywood, January 23, 1957
Personnel on CD-1 #2-11:
Paul Moer, piano; Jimmy Bond, bass; Frank Butler, drums.
Recorded at United Recording Studio, Hollywood, November, 1960
Personnel on CD-1 #12-20:
Paul Moer, piano; Jimmy Bond, bass; Maurice Miller, drums.
Recorded live at the “Pour House” Club, San Clemente, California, April 29, 1961
Personnel on CD-2 #1-5:
Paul Moer, piano; Jimmy Bond, bass; Maurice Miller, drums.
Recorded live at the “Pour House” club, San Clemente, California, April 29, 1961
Personnel on CD-2 #6-16:
Paul Moer, piano; John Heard, bass; Lawrence Marable, drums.
Recorded at Sage & Sound Studio, Hollywood, April 19 & 20, 1991
Original recordings produced by Bob Keene & Jordi Pujol / Dave Pell
Liner notes: Jordi Pujol
Photography: Dave Pell
This compilation produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol
Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered
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