Volume 1: 1946-1954 West Coast Trumpet Ace, Bandleader, Composer

Personnel: Shorty Rogers (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn); Shorty Rogers; Bud Shank (alto, flute, alto flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Al Hendrikson, Jack Marshall (guitar); Bud Bernhart (flute, alto saxophone); Willie "The Lion" Smith, Willie Smith (alto saxophone); Zoot Sims & His Five Brothers, Zoot Sims (tenor saxophone); Lloyd Otto, Lloyd Otto (French horn); Harry Beets, Bill Harris , Bob Enevoldsen (trombone); Stan Kenton (piano); Chubby Jackson, John Mondragon, Curtis Counce, Don Bagley, Harry Babasin, Howard Rumsey, John Simmons , Oscar Pettiford, Red Callender, Wendell Marshall, Walter Yoder (bass guitar); Don Lomond (drums); Miguel Rivera (congas, conga drum); June Christy (vocals); Ralph Blaze, Gene Sargent, Jimmy Wyble, Barney Kessel, Laurindo Almeida, Billy Bauer (guitar); Jimmy Giuffre (clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Woody Herman (clarinet, alto saxophone); Bob Cooper (oboe, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Herb Geller, Lennie Niehaus, Sam Marowitz, Art Pepper (alto saxophone); Bill Holman (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Bart Caldarell, Dexter Gordon, Flip Philips, Gene Ammons, Herbie Steward, Jack Montrose, Al Cohn, Stan Getz , Wardell Gray, Bill Perkins, Buddy Savitt (tenor saxophone); Bob Gioga, Gerry Mulligan, Harry Carney, Serge Chaloff (baritone saxophone); Chico Alvarez, Clyde Reasinger, Clark Terry, Conrad Gozzo , Ernie Royal, Charlie Walp, Harry "Sweets" Edison , Don Paladino, Al Pacino, Al Porcino, Marky Markowitz, Maynard Ferguson, Pete Candoli, Ray Linn, Red Rodney, Sonny Berman , Bernie Glow, John S. Howell, Stan Fishelson, Buddy Childers (trumpet); John Graas, Sinclair Lott, John Cave (French horn); Bart Varsalona (trombone, bass trombone); Gene Englund (trombone, tuba); Milt Bernhart, Bob Fitzpatrick, Earl Swope, Harry Betts, Herbie Harper, Bob Swift, Jimmy Knepper, Bill Russo, Bob Edmondson, Ollie Wilson (trombone); Stumpy Brown (bass trombone); Juan Tizol (valve trombone); Paul Sarmento (tuba); Lorraine Geller, Claude Williamson, Dodo Marmarosa, Frank Patchen, Hampton Hawes, Jimmy Rowles, Joe Rotondi, Jr., Lou Levy, Marty Paich, André Previn, Pete Jolly, Russ Freeman , Billy Strayhorn, Fred Otis (piano); Red Norvo, Terry Gibbs (vibraphone); Chuck Flores , Don Lamond, Jackie Mills, Louie Bellson, Shelly Manne, Roy Harte (drums).
Liner Note Author: Drew Kent.
Shorty Rogers was one of the leading proponents of the bebop revolution on the West Coast, and this nicely assembled five-disc box set amply represents his contribution. Beginning in 1946 and continuing through to 1954, VOLUME 1 provides an in-depth overview of Rogers's early work as a bandleader, arranger, and trumpeter. At 93 tracks, there's no shortage of evidence of Rogers's talents, and the set has the added advantage of being a valuable time capsule of the West Coast wing of the bop revolution.