When in 1954 German pianist Jutta Hipp (1925-2003) made these recordings, she was already considered Europes first Lady of Jazz. Jutta not only was building a solid reputation among the European audiences, but also amazed American visitors with her playing. She was a musician of rare sensitivity, strength of imagination, and fresh individuality, who had been influenced by Lennie Tristano. But however touched she was by Lennie and other major pianists, she was making her own way.

 

Leonard Feather, who introduced her to the American jazz fans, said: That a new jazz star should be a German is almost without precedent. That this brilliant young discovery should also be a girl is rare too, and a pretty girl even rarer.

—Jordi Pujol

 

Tracklist:

01. Simone I (Emil Mangelsdorff) 2:20

02. Anything Goes (Cole Porter) 2:40

03. Yogi (Joki Freund) 2:54

04. Frankfurt Special (Joki Freund) 3:49

05. Mon Petit (I Never Knew) (Jutta Hipp) 3:24

06. Blue Skies (Irving Berlin) 2:50

07. Lover Man (Davis-Ramirez-Sherman) 3:44

08. Diagram (Olsen) 3:28

09. Cleopatra (Joki Freund) 3:20

10. Variations (Jutta Hipp) 3:07

11. Don't Worry About Me (Koehler-Bloom) 3:04

12. Ghost Of A Chance (Victor Young) 3:32

13. Laura (Raksin-Mercer) 3:06

14. What's New (Haggart-Burke) 4:44

15. Frankfurt Special (Joki Freund) 3:40

16. Don't Worry About Me (Koehler-Bloom) 2:25

17. Simone II (Emil Mangelsdorff) 3:02

18. Morning Fun (Zoot Sims) 3:05

19. Mon Petit (I Never Knew) (Jutta Hipp) 3:17

20. Frankfurt Special (Joki Freund) 5:40

 

Sources:

Tracks #1,2,3,7 & 8, from the 7-inch 45rpm EP "Leonard Feather Presents -Cool Europe" (MGM X-282) Subsequently expanded and released as 12-inch LP (MGM E-3157)

Tracks #4,5,6, 9-14, from the 10-inch LP "New Faces, New Sounds From germany"

(Blue note BLP 5056)

Tracks #15-18, from the 7-inch 45rpm EP "Europe's First Lady of Jazz" (Mod Records BMEP 06015)

 

Personnel:

Jutta Hipp Quintet

Emil Mangelsdorff (alto sax), Joki Freund (tenor sax), Jutta Hipp (piano),

Hans Kresse (bass), Karl Sanner (drums).

Tracks #1-8, recorded in Frankfurt, on April 13, 1954

Tracks #9-14, recorded in Frankfurt, on April 24, 1954

Tracks #15-18, recorded in Köln, on July 28, 1954

Tracks #19-20, recorded Live at the Deutsche Jazz Festival, Frankfurt, on June 6, 1954

 

On #12, Joki Freund out

On #13, Emil Mangelsdorff out

On #7,8,11 & 14, Joki Freund & Emil Mangelsdorff out

 

Liner notes: Jordi Pujol

Cover photo courtesy of Thomas Fenn

Inside photos: Fresh Sound archives

Produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol

 

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