1953	Wardell Gray Chronology
	Created by Leif Bo Petersen	Last updated: August 2, 2020.
Date	Event	References/Further Details
Early 1953	Various Artists Release of Savoy MG 9020. Hollywood Jazz Session vol. 1 10” 33 rpm. record Recorded July 6, 1947. Hollywood Jazz Concert Savoy MG-9020 A Byas-A-Drink Part 1 Savoy MG-9020 B Byas-A-Drink Part 2
January	Dexter Gordon Release of Swing Time 323 10” 78 rpm. record. 7” 45 rpm single record. Recorded June 9, 1952. Dexter Gordon Swing Time 323A My Kinda Love Swing Time 323B Citizen Bop	”Record Reviews: Rhythm & Blues,” Billboard, January 17, 1952, 57: Friendly review.
January	Wardell Gray Release of Prestige PRLP 128. Jazz concert with Wardell Gray All Stars. 10” 33 rpm LP Reissue of Prestige 759, 760, 778, and 779. Recorded August 27, 1950 Wardell Gray All Stars Prestige PRLP 128 A Jazz at Sunset Prestige PRLP 128 B Kiddo	“Album and LP reviews: Hot Jazz,” Billboard, January 17, 1953, 58: Friendly review.
January mid	Gene Norman’s Just Jazz Release of RCA Victor LPM 3102. Gene Norman Presents “Just Jazz” featuring Les Thompson and His Harmonica. 10” 33 rpm. record Wardell Gray and Dexter Gordon only appear on Stardust, Robbin’s Nest, and Take the A Train. Recorded February 2, 1952 Gene Norman presents Just Jazz RCA Victor LPM 3102 A Stardust Robbin’s Nest I’m in the Mood for Love Take the A Train RCA Victor LPM 3102 B Undecided Hot Harmonica Boogie Over the Rainbow Lady Be Good	Ad for RAC Victor, Billboard, January 24, 1952, 31: This Week’s New Releases.
February 20	Teddy Charles West Coasters Frank Morgan (as); Wardell Gray (ts); Teddy Charles (vib); Sonny Clark (p); Dick Nivison (b); Lawrence Marable (d). Unknown studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for Prestige.	For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html
March	Various Artists Release of Savoy MG 9027. Hollywood Jazz Session vol. 2 10 “ 33 rpm. record Recorded July 6, 1947. Hollywood Jazz Concert vol. 2. Savoy MG-9031 A The Hunt Savoy MG-9031 B What Is This thing Called Love	”The New Pop Albums,” San Francisco Chronicle, March 29, 1953.
March late	Wardell Gray Release of Prestige 840. 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded January 21, 1952. Wardell Gray LA Stars Prestige 840 A Bright Boy Prestige 840 B April Skies	Review of This Week’s New Records,” Billboard, March 28, 44: positive review.
May 24	Jam Session Wardell Gray The Robins Ginger Smock Fletcher Lutcher Strollers Club, Long Beach, CA. Sunday Afternoon Jam Session, 3:30 pm.	Ad in Long Beach Independent, May 23, 1953, 9.
June late	Oscar Pettiford Band Including Wardell Gray (ts)‚ Oscar Pettiford (cello); John Simmons (b). Cable Car Village, San Francisco, CA. One week.	“On and Off the Record,” San Francisco Chronicle, July 5, 1953, The World 19.
Mid 1953?	Wardell Gray Release of Prestige 853. 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded January 21, 1952. Wardell Gray L. A. Stars Prestige 853 A Jackie Prestige 853 B Sweet and Lovely
Mid 1953?	Various Artists Release of Savoy MG-9031. Hollywood Jazz Session vol. 3. 10” 33 rpm. record Recorded July 6, 1947. Hollywood Jazz Concert vol. 3 Savoy MG-9031 A Back Breaker Part 1 Savoy MG-9031 B Back Breaker Part 1
July	Louis Bellson and His Orchestra Harry Sweets Edison, Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Ray Linn (tp); Hoyt Bohannon, Herb Harper, Tommy Pederson (tb); Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as) Wardell Gray, Bumps Myers (ts); Bob Lawson (bar); Jimmy Rowles (p); Barney Kessel (el-g); John Simmons (b); Louis Bellson (d). Unknown studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for Clef.	For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html
August	Oscar Pettiford Band Allan Smith (tp); Frank Morgan (as); Wardell Gray (ts); Oscar Pettiford (b); Unidentified (d). Down Beat Club, San Francisco, CA.	Otto Flückiger's Wardell Gray Discography in Jazz Podium, June 1955.
August	Teddy Charles Release of Prestige 889. The B side has material from another Teddy Charles Session) 10” 78 rpm. Prestige prep 1307 7” 45 rpm. EP. Teddy Charles West Coasters Recorded February 20. 1953 Prestige prEP 1307A The Man I Love Lavonne Prestige prEP 1307 B So Long Broadway (Prestige 889 B) Paul’s Cause	Ad for J. B. Penney Music Co., Ventura County Star-Free Press, August 6, 1953, 40: lists the EP.
August 18	Norman Granz Jam Session Harry Edison (tp); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Benny Carter, Willie Smith (as); Stan Getz, Wardell Gray (ts); Count Basie (p); Freddie Green (g); John Simmons (b); Buddy Rich (d). Radio Recorder’s Studio, Los Angeles, CA. August 18, 1953. Commercial recordings for Clef.	For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html
September 20	Concert Dizzy Gillespie Billy Eckstine Ruth Brown Shorty Rogers All Stars 16 pieces: Including Conrad Gozo (tb); Wardell Gray (ts); Lorraine Geller (p). Don Howard & Gene Norman (prod). Russ Auditorium, San Diego, CA.	“First of KSDO’s Jazz Concerts Opens at Russ,” San Diego Union, September 21, 1953, a-12.
October late	Louis Bellson and His Orchestra Release of Clef 89083 10” 78 rpm. record. Recorded July 1953. Louis Bellson and His Orchestra Clef 89083 A Phalanges Clef 89083 B Caxton Hall Swing	Ad in Billboard, October 31, 1953. ” Review of This Week’s New Records,” Billboard, November 21, 1953, 54: positive review
October 30	Little Willie Littlefield Wardell Gray (ts); Little Willie Littlefield (p, voc); Jesse Irvin (g); Mario Delagarde (b); Bill Douglas (d) Unidentified studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for Federal.	For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html
December late	Various artists Release of MG C-4003 Jam Session # 3. 10” 33 rpm. record. Recorded August 18, 1953. MG C-4003 A Apple Jam MG C-4003 B Ballad Medley	Ad for Clef, Billboard, January 2, 1953. “Turk Murphy’s Jazz and Claire Austin’s Vocals,” San Francisco Examiner, January 10, 1954, 10: release of Jam Session records December late.
December late	Various artists Release of MG C-4003. Jam Session # 4. 10” 33 rpm. record. Recorded August 18, 1953. MG C-4004 A Oh, Lady Be Good MG C-4004 B Blues for the Count	Ad for Clef, Billboard, January 2, 1953. “Turk Murphy’s Jazz and Claire Austin’s Vocals,” San Francisco Examiner, January 10, 1954, 10: release of Jam Session records December late.
December 29	Billy Eckstine acc. by Lou Bring and His Orchestra Including: Harry Sweets Edison (tp); Wardell Gray (ts); Billy Eckstine (voc); Nelson Riddle (arr); Lou Bring (cond). Unidentified studio, Los Angeles, CA. Commercial recordings for MG.	For details see: http://www.wardellgray.org/discography.html