Pacific Jazz Records


Pacific Jazz Records was a Los Angeles-based record company and label best known for cool jazz or West coast jazz. It was founded in 1952 by producer Richard Bock and drummer Roy Harte. Harte, in 1954, also co-founded Nocturne Records with jazz bassist Harry Babasin.
Some of the musicians who recorded for Pacific Jazz included Chet Baker, Paul Desmond, Gerry Mulligan, Joe Pass, Gerald Wilson, the Jazz Crusaders, Don Ellis, Clare Fischer, Jim Hall, Groove Holmes, Les McCann, Wes Montgomery, and Art Pepper.
In 1957, Pacific Jazz Records changed its name to World Pacific Records to expand into a full-line label, with the Pacific Jazz label retained for jazz releases.
In 1958 Richard Bock and World Pacific were instrumental in introducing Indian traditional music to the west via Ravi Shankar, who also recorded for World Pacific.
Bock sold the label to Liberty Records in 1965, though he remained as an adviser until 1970. Liberty was bought by EMI in 1980. Mosaic reissued some Pacific Jazz material in the late 1980s, as did Blue Note when it gained control of the catalogue in the 1990s.

Partial discography

Pacific Jazz Ten Inch LP series

Pacific Jazz released 20 10-inch LPs between 1953 and 1954 before the label moved to 12-inch albums in 1955
Catalog No.ArtistAlbumNotes
PJLP 1Gerry Mulligan Quartet
PJLP 2 and the Gerry Mulligan QuartetLee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet
PJLP 3Chet Baker Quartet
PJLP 4Sweets at the Haig
PJLP 5Gerry Mulligan Quartet
PJLP 6Chet Baker Quartet featuring Russ Freeman
PJLP 7Laurindo Almeida Quartet Featuring Bud Shank
PJLP 8Russ Freeman Trio
PJLP 9Chet Baker Ensemble
PJLP 10 and the Gerry Mulligan QuartetLee Konitz and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet
PJLP 11Chet Baker Sings
PJLP 12Meet Mr. Gordon
PJLP 13Laurindo Almeida Quartet Featuring Bud Shank Volume 2
PJLP 14Bud Shank and Three Trombones
PJLP 15Chet Baker Sextet
PJLP 16 Quartet featuring John Williams and Red MitchellBob Brookmeyer Quartet
PJLP 17Chico Hamilton Trio
PJLP 18Al Haig Trio
PJLP 19The Clifford Brown Ensemble Featuring Zoot Sims
PJLP 20 and Bob BrookmeyerBud Shank and Bob Brookmeyer

Pacific Jazz/World Pacific 1200 Twelve Inch LP Series

Commencing in 1955 a total of thirty-one 12 inch albums were released on the Pacific Jazz label before the name was changed to World Pacific.

Mark Four SeriesHarrod, J. & Ziegler, F http://jazzlabels.klacto.net/pacific.html#400 Pacific Jazz / World Pacific Records Checklist accessed February 21, 2017http://www.jazzdisco.org/pacific-jazz-records/catalog-mark-iv-series/ Pacific Jazz Records Catalog: Mark IV seriest accessed February 21, 2017

From 1956 to 1958 the Mark Four Series released twelve albums with the PJM prefix.
Catalog No.ArtistAlbumNotes
PJM 401, Richie Kamuca and Art PepperJust Friends
PJM 402 featuring Art Blakey
PJM 403Jazz Showcase: Introducing The Mastersounds
PJM 404 Quartet / Bud Shank-Bob Cooper Quintet / Stu Williamson Quartet / Russ Freeman TrioJazz Swings Broadway
PJM 405The King and I
PJM 406 and Gerry MulliganLee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet
PJM 407Critics' Choice
PJM 408A Sure Thing: David Allen Sings erome Kern
PJM 409Just Before Dawn
PJM 410Havin' a Ballreissue of PJ-1211
PJM 411 and Bob CooperThe Swing's to TV
PJM 412The Wide Weird World of Shorty Petterstein

Pacific Jazz 10000/20000 Series

In 1960 a new series of Pacific Jazz was launched with the PJ prefix with initial catalogue numbers increasing numerically for the first 91 releases before the 10000 numbering system was put into effect.
Catalog No.ArtistAlbumNotes
PJ 1Lenny McBrowne and the 4 Souls
PJ 2 Ltd.Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Truth
PJ 3 featuring Zoot SimsJazz Immortal
PJ 4Bud Shank Plays Tenor
PJ 5, Wes Montgomery & Buddy MontgomeryMontgomeryland
PJ 6 with Les McCann Ltd.It's About Time
PJ 7Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Shout
PJ 8The Genius of Gerry MulliganRecordings from sessions in the 1952 to 1954 period
PJ 9 & Paul BryantThe Blues Message
PJ 10Good Friday Blues
PJ 11The Inventive Mr. Edison
PJ 12Burnin'
PJ 13Various ArtistsThis Is the Blues Vol. 1
PJ 14Sunset Eyes
PJ 14 and The Jazz Messengers'
PJ 16Les McCann Ltd. in San Francisco
PJ 17, Buddy Montgomery & Monk MontgomeryWes, Buddy & Monk Montgomery
PJ 18, Art Pepper and Phil UrsoPicture of Heath
PJ 19 & Frank ButlerGroovin' Blue
PJ 20Choice
PJ 21New Groove
PJ 22Rejoice!: Cello Debut at the Renaissance
PJ 23"Groove"
PJ 24Wild!: The Big Big Sound of Larry "Wild" Wrice
PJ 25Pretty Lady
PJ 26 & Paul BryantMeetin' Here
PJ 27Freedom Sound
PJ 28 and His OrchestraAmerica's #1 ArrangerOriginally released on World Pacific in 1959 as Great Jazz Standards
PJ 29The Remarkable Carmell Jones
PJ 30Various ArtistsThis Is the Blues Vol. 2
PJ 31Les McCann Sings
PJ 32 & Richard HolmesGroovin' with Jug
PJ 33 and the Jazz Messengers / The Elmo Hope QuintetArt Blakey & The Jazz Messengers / The Elmo Hope Quintet Featuring Harold Landsplit album
PJ 34 OrchestraYou Better Believe It!
PJ 35 featuring Carmell Jones and Bob CooperBarefoot Adventure
PJ 36Love Lifted Me
PJ 37The Last Set
PJ 38 and Gerry MulliganKonitz Meets MulliganSelections from PJLP 2 & PJLP 10 with alternate takes
PJ 39 QuintetSpectacular!Originally released in 1955 as Chico Hamilton Quintet
PJ 40 Orchestra featuring Cannonball AdderleyGil Evans Orchestra Featuring Cannonball AdderleyOriginally released as New Bottle Old Wine in 1958
PJ 41 & Jackie McLeanInta Somethin
PJ 42 & Richie KamucaKeester ParadeOriginally released as Cy Touff, His Octet & Quintet in 1956
PJ 43Lookin' Ahead
PJ 44, Bill Perkins, Jim Hall, Percy Heath and Chico Hamilton2° East, 3° WestOriginally released as Grand Encounter in 1957
PJ 45Les McCann Ltd. in New York
PJ 46 featuring Victor FeldmanWay Down
PJ 47 QuartetReunionOriginally released in 1958
PJ 48, Joe Pass, Dave Allan, Greg Dykes, Ronald Clark, Bill Crawford and Candy LatsonSounds of Synanon
PJ 49 & Carmell JonesBrass Bag
PJ 50California ConcertsOriginally released in 1955
PJ 51 & Les McCannSomethin' Special
PJ 52First Time Out
PJ 53Business Meetin
PJ 54Back in Town!
PJ 55Essence
PJ 56 Ltd.On Time
PJ 57The Jazz Crusaders at the Lighthouse
PJ 58 & Clare FischerBossa Nova Jazz Samba
PJ 59After Hours
PJ 60The Artistry of Pepper
PJ 61 OrchestraMoment of Truth
PJ 62Tippin' on Through
PJ 63Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Shampoo
PJ 64, Clare Fischer and Joe PassBrasamba!
PJ 65Outa Sight
PJ 66Out Front
PJ 67Surging Ahead
PJ 68Tough Talk
PJ 69The Gospel Truth
PJ 70 & Dupree BoltonKatanga!
PJ 71My Mother's Eyes
PJ 72Where It's At!
PJ 73Catch Me!
PJ 74 OrchestraLittle Bird Suite
PJ 75 & Chet BakerTimelessSessions from the mid-1950s
PJ 76Heat Wave
PJ 77Extension
PJ 78Soul Hits
PJ 79Jim HallReissue of 1957 album Jazz Guitar
PJ 80 OrchestraPortraits
PJ 81 & The Jazz CrusadersJazz Waltz
PJ 82People
PJ 83Stretchin' Out
PJ 84McCanna
PJ 85For Django
PJ 86Alexander the Great
PJ 87The Thing
PJ 88 OrchestraOn Stage
PJ 89 & João DonatoBud Shank & His Brazilian Friends
PJ 90Sambou Sambou
PJ 91 & The Gerald Wilson OrchestraMcCann/Wilson
PJ 10092Chile Con Soul
PJ 10093 & Dizzy GillespieGil Fuller & the Monterey Jazz Festival Orchestra featuring Dizzy Gillespie
PJ 10094Spunky
PJ 10095Now, Jazz Ramwong
PJ 10096Manteca!
PJ 10097Spanish Onions
PJ 10098Live at the Lighthouse '66
PJ 10099 OrchestraFeelin' Kinda Blues
PJ 10100Various ArtistsOn Mike: A Decade of Pacific Jazz
PJ 10101 & James MoodyNight Flight
PJ 10102Paris Concert
PJ 10103Zimbo TrioZimbo Trio
PJ 10104Easy GrooveSelections from Montgomeryland and Wes, Buddy & Monk Montgomery
PJ 10105Tell It Like It Tis
PJ 10106Talk That Talk
PJ 10107A Bag of Gold
PJ 10108Jazz Milestones SeriesTracks recorded between 1956 and 1959
PJ 10109Jazz Milestones SeriesCompilation of tracks from Pacific Jazz albums
PJ 10110Bud Shank & the Sax Section
PJ 10111 OrchestraThe Golden Sword
PJ 10112 OrchestraDon Ellis Orchestra 'Live' at Monterey!
PJ 10113Swingin' New Big Band
PJ 10114Zimbo TrioThe Brazilian Sound: Restrained Excitement
PJ 10115The Festival Album
PJ 10116The Jazz Corps Under the Direction of Tommy Peltier featuring Roland Kirk
PJ 10117Big Swing Face
PJ 10118 OrchestraLive and Swinging
PJ 10119Structurally Sound
PJ 10120From the Top of the Barrel
PJ 10121Victor Feldman Plays Everything in Sight
PJ 10122Spirit Feel
PJ 10123 OrchestraLive in 3⅔/4 Time
PJ 10124Uh Huh
PJ 10125Done It Again
PJ 10126The New One!
PJ 10127Booker 'n' Brass
PJ 10128The Venezuela Joropo
PJ 10129Swingin' at the Gate
PJ 10130KismetReissue of PJ 1243
PJ 10131Lighthouse '68
PJ 10132 OrchestraEverywhere
PJ 10133Mercy, Mercy
PJ 10134More than Meets the Ear
PJ 10135 OrchestraCalifornia Soul
PJ 20136Powerhouse
PJ 20137A Portrait of Wes Montgomery
PJ 20138Plays and Sings
PJ 20139Jazz ImmortalReissue of PJ 3
PJ 20140The Genius of Gerry MulliganReissue of PJ 8
PJ 20142 & Gerry MulliganKonitz Meets MulliganReissue of PJ 38
PJ 20143Spectacular!Reissue of PJ 1209
PJ 201442 Degrees East, 3 Degrees WestReissue of PJ 1217
PJ 20145California ConcertsReissue of PJ 1201
PJ 20146 & Chet BakerTimelessReissue of PJ 75
PJ 20147Welcome Home
PJ 20149Various ArtistsThis Is the Blues Vol 1
PJ 20150Various ArtistsThis Is the Blues Vol 2
PJ 20152Bullitt
PJ 20153Workin' on a Groovy Thing
PJ 20154Earth Dance
PJ 20155Planet Love
PJ 20156Electric Connection
PJ 20157Windmills of Your Mind
PJ 20158 Big BandBuddy & Soul
PJ 20159The Jazz Excursion Into Hair
PJ 20160 OrchestraEternal Equinox
PJ 20161Revolution
PJ 20162The Coming Atlantis
PJ 20163X-77: Recorded Live at the Lighthouse
PJ 20165Lighthouse '69
PJ 20166 with the Gerald Wilson OrchestraMore or Les McCannSelections from Pretty Lady, Les McCann Sings, Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Shampoo, Spanish Onions and McCanna with additional orchestral overdubs
PJ 20167 QuartetBlues Happening
PJ 20168 with the George Duke TrioThe Jean-Luc Ponty Experience
PJ 20169The Best of Buddy Rich
PJ 20170 with The Bob Alcivar SingersLet It Be
PJ 20171 and Ernie WattsCome Together
PJ 20172'
PJ 20173 Ltd.New from the Big City
PJ 20174 OrchestraThe Best of the Gerald Wilson Orchestra
PJ 20175The Best of the Jazz Crusaders
PJ 20176Hot Fun in the Summertime

World Pacific 1400 Twelve Inch LP Series

Commencing in 1960 the World Pacific label began releasing a range of world music recordings on the 1400 Series.
Catalog No.ArtistAlbumNotes
WP-1401 & Mel Brooks2000 Years with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks
WP-1402There's Good Rockin' Tonight!
WP-1403The Drums of India
WP-1404Viva! Montez
WP-1405 & Milt HollandPerfect Percussion: The 44 Instruments of Roy Harte and Milt Holland
WP-1406Intimate
WP-1407The Best of Crazy Ads
WP-1408Guitar Lament
WP-1409Various ArtistsPoetry and Jazz
WP-1410Carnival
WP-1411Pachanga Y Cha Cha Cha
WP-1412BrazillianceReissue of Laurindo Almeida Quartet Featuring Bud Shank
WP-1413Explorations Volume 2: Survival, Growth & Re-Birth
WP-1414Modesto's Charanga Kings Featuring OlguitaPachanga, Anyone?
WP-1415Yoga for You
WP-1416Improvisations
WP-1417Explorations / Reflections / Indications
WP-1418The Music of India
WP-1419Brazilliance Vol. 2Reissue of Holiday in Brazil
WP-1420Deep Meditation
WP-1421India's Most Distinguished Musician in Concert
WP-1422India's Master Musician
WP-1423Koto Music
WP-1424 Featuring Bud ShankKoto & Flute
WP-1425Brazilliance Vol. 3Reissue of Latin Contrasts
WP-1426BalachanderMagic Music of India
WP-1427Flamenco Fire!: Sarita Heredia at the Matador
WP-1428Koto Master
WP-1430India's Master Musician/Recorded in London
WP-1431Ragas & Talas
WP-1432Portrait of Genius
WP-1433North Indian Master of the Sarod
WP-1434Sound of the Sitar
WP-1435Sound of the Sarod
WP-1436BalachanderSounds of the Veena
WP-1437Various ArtistsDrums of North and South India
WP-1438Three Ragas
WP-1439Sound of the Koto
WP-1440SubbulakshmiThe Sounds of Subbulakshmi: India's Greatest Singer
WP-1441Ravi Shankar in New York
WP-1442
WP-1443The Music of Kinichi Nakanoshima: Koto and Flute
WP-1444Young Master of the Sarod
WP-1445Paul Horn in Kashmir: Cosmic Consciousness
WP-1446The Master Speaks
WP-1447Paul Horn in India: Ragas for Flute, Veena and Violin
WP-1449Ravi Shankar in San Francisco
WP-1450The Voice of K. V. Narayanswamy: Carnatic Music: Music of South India
WPS-21451South Indian Flute
WPS-21452Two Raga Moods on Guitar
WPS-21453 and Alla RakhaRich à la Rakha
WPS-21454Charly
WPS-21455The Seven States of Consciousness
WPS-21456RamaniThe Soul of Indian Flute
WPS-21457BalachanderMan from Madras
WPS-21458Tabla!
WPS-21459California Concert
WPS-21461The Voice of Lakshmi Shankar
WPS-21463SubbulakshmiSubbulakshmi in Concert from Her American Tour
WPS-21464A Morning Raga / An Evening Raga
WPS-21465Satya Sai Baba Chants the Bajans
WPS-21466 with Narration by Ravi ShankarSong of God: Bagavad Gita
WPS-21467Ravi Shankar at the Woodstock Festival

World Pacific 1800 Twelve Inch LP Series

From 1962 until 1970 the World Pacific label released a range of popular music recordings on their 1800 Series.
Catalog No.ArtistAlbumNotes
WP-1801Olguita with the Big Band Sound of George HernandezLatinsville!
WP-1802Modesto's Charanga Kings featuring OlguitaPachanga, Anyone?
WP-1803Viva! Montez
WP-1804Pachanga Y Cha Cha Cha
WP-1805Third Stream Humour
WP-1806Here They Are!
WP-1807Stop the World I Want to Get Off
WP-1808Gypsy
WP-1809Grand Style
WP-1810The De-Fenders Play the Big Ones
WP-1811Clifford Scott Plays the Big Ones
WP-181212 String Guitar!
WP-1813Various ArtistsHootenanny Saturday Nite!
WP-181412 String Guitar! Vol. 2
WP-1815Lord Buckley in Concert
WP-1816 and The Folkswingers with 12 String Guitar12 String Dobro!
WP-1817 with Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry and Big Joe WilliamsFirst Meetin
WP-1818Scrambler!
WP-1819 and The FolkswingersFolk 'n Flute
WP-1820Country Born
WP-1821 with Roland White and Clarence WhiteAppalachian Swing!
WP-1822 and The Folkswingers12 String Guitar!: Great Motion Picture Themes
WP-1823 and Buddy ColletteWarm Winds
WP-1824Balalaika!
WP-1825Lavender Sax
WP-1826Chet Baker Sings
WP-1827/Bob Cooper OrchestraFlute, Oboe and Strings
WP-1828Big Ball in Monterey: Live!
WP-1829/Roland and Clarence WhiteDobro Country
WP-1830So Danco Samba
WP-1831The King and IReissue of PJM-405
WP-1832The Endless Summer
WP-1833The Electric 12
WP-1834It's Tough To Be White...The Wit of John Barbour
WP-1835Mr. 12 String Guitar
WP-1836The "In" Harmonica
WP-1837 and the DelegatesHole in the Wall
WP-1838 Featuring Larry KnechtelBoss Baroque
WP-1839 Featuring Chet BakerA Taste of Tequila
WP-1840Michelle
WP-1841Don't Be Concerned
WP-1842 Featuring Chet BakerHats Off
WP-1843 and the DelegatesAin't That a Groove!
WP-1844A Sign of the Times
WP-1845California Dreamin
WP-1846 Featuring Harihar Rao on SitarRaga Rock
WP-1847 and the Carmel StringsQuietly There
WP-1849Blowing His Mind
WP-1850 and the DelegatesHold On!
WP-1851Photographs of Feeling
WP-1852 Featuring Chet BakerDouble-Shot
WP-1853Girl in Love
WP-1854The Stones Jazz
WP-1855Brazil! Brazil! Brazil!Selections from Holiday in Brazil, Brasamba!, Bud Shank & His Brazilian Friends and Bud Shank & the Sax Section
WP-1856Samba So!
WP-1857Latino Con Soul
WP-1858 and the Carmel StringsInto My Life
WP-1859 Featuring Chet BakerIn The Mood
WP-1860Pet ProjectThe Bob Florence Big Band Plays Petula Clark Hits
WP-1861Stride!
WP-1862Ken & BeverlyWatch What Happens!
WP-1863 and the DelegatesDon't Stop!
WP-1864Bud Shank Plays Music from Today's Movies
WP-1865Simplicity
WP-1866Quarteto Bossamba
WP-1867Blew Mind
WP-1868A Spoonful of Jazz
WP-1870Sun Power
WP-1873Magical Mystery
WPS-21874 and the DelegatesDr. Feelgood
WPS-21875Kali Bahlu Takes the Forest Children on a Journey of Cosmic Remembrance
WPS-21876Through the Eyes Of Terry Ber
WPS-21879Buckley's Best
WPS-21880 TrioArrival of a Young Giant
WPS-21881Scruffety
WPS-21882Harper and RoweHarper and Rowe
WPS-21883 and the DelegatesThe Best of Billy Larkin and the DelegatesGuest Artist Clifford Scott
WPS-21884The Last of the Ski Bums
WPS-21886Shakey Jake and the All StarsFurther On Up the Road
WPS-21887 and the Chicago Blues BandBlues with a Feeling: A Tribute to Little Walter
WPS-21888Folkjokeopus
WPS-21889Bad Rapping of the Marquis de Sade
WPS-21890Slim's Got His Thing Goin' On
WPS-21891I Got the Feelin'
WPS-21892Scratching the Surface
WPS-21893/Lafayette "Thing" Thomas/Dave AlexanderOakland Blues
WPS-21894The Carnival
WPS-21895Where Do You Go to My Lovely
WPS-21896Craig Hundley Plays With the Big Boys
WPS-21897Hand Me Down My Old Walking Stick
WPS-21898Various ArtistsBluegrass Special
WPS-21899As Though It Were a Movie
WPS-21900Rhapsody in Blue