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 imprint 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, although he remained as an adviser until 1970. Liberty was merged into and discontinued by United Artists Records in 1971; UA in turn was bought by EMI in 1979. Mosaic reissued some Pacific Jazz material in the late 1980s, as did Blue Note when it gained control of the catalog in the 1990s.
Releases from Pacific Jazz Records are distributed digitally on streaming platforms through Universal Music Group.
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. | Artist | Album | Notes |
| PJLP 1 | Gerry Mulligan Quartet | ||
| PJLP 2 | and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet | Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet | |
| PJLP 3 | Chet Baker Quartet | ||
| PJLP 4 | Sweets at the Haig | ||
| PJLP 5 | Gerry Mulligan Quartet | ||
| PJLP 6 | Chet Baker Quartet featuring Russ Freeman | ||
| PJLP 7 | Laurindo Almeida Quartet Featuring Bud Shank | ||
| PJLP 8 | Russ Freeman Trio | ||
| PJLP 9 | Chet Baker Ensemble | ||
| PJLP 10 | and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet | Lee Konitz and the Gerry Mulligan Quartet | |
| PJLP 11 | Chet Baker Sings | ||
| PJLP 12 | Meet Mr. Gordon | ||
| PJLP 13 | Laurindo Almeida Quartet Featuring Bud Shank Volume 2 | ||
| PJLP 14 | Bud Shank and Three Trombones | ||
| PJLP 15 | Chet Baker Sextet | ||
| PJLP 16 | Quartet featuring John Williams and Red Mitchell | Bob Brookmeyer Quartet | |
| PJLP 17 | Chico Hamilton Trio | ||
| PJLP 18 | Al Haig Trio | ||
| PJLP 19 | The Clifford Brown Ensemble Featuring Zoot Sims | ||
| PJLP 20 | and | Bud 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 Series
From 1956 to 1958 the Mark Four Series released twelve albums with the PJM prefix.| Catalog No. | Artist | Album | Notes |
| PJM 401 | , Richie Kamuca and Art Pepper | Just Friends | |
| PJM 402 | featuring Art Blakey | Ritual | |
| PJM 403 | Jazz Showcase: Introducing The Mastersounds | ||
| PJM 404 | Quartet / Bud Shank-Bob Cooper Quintet / Stu Williamson Quartet / Russ Freeman Trio | Jazz Swings Broadway | |
| PJM 405 | The King and I | ||
| PJM 406 | and Gerry Mulligan | Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet | |
| PJM 407 | Critics' Choice | ||
| PJM 408 | A Sure Thing: David Allen Sings Jerome Kern | ||
| PJM 409 | Just Before Dawn | ||
| PJM 410 | Havin' a Ball | Reissue of PJ 1211 | |
| PJM 411 | and Bob Cooper | The Swing's to TV | |
| PJM 412 | The Wide Weird World of Shorty Petterstein | Comedy |
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. | Artist | Album | Notes |
| PJ 1 | Lenny McBrowne and the 4 Souls | ||
| PJ 2 | Ltd. | Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Truth | |
| PJ 3 | featuring Zoot Sims | Jazz Immortal | |
| PJ 4 | Bud Shank Plays Tenor | ||
| PJ 5 | , Wes Montgomery & Buddy Montgomery | Montgomeryland | |
| PJ 6 | with Les McCann Ltd. | It's About Time | |
| PJ 7 | Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Shout | ||
| PJ 8 | The Genius of Gerry Mulligan | Recordings from sessions in the 1952–1954 period | |
| PJ 9 | & Paul Bryant | The Blues Message | |
| PJ 10 | Good Friday Blues | ||
| PJ 11 | The Inventive Mr. Edison | Expanded version of Sweets at the Haig | |
| PJ 12 | Burnin' | ||
| PJ 13 | Various Artists | This Is the Blues Vol. 1 | |
| PJ 14 | Sunset Eyes | ||
| PJ 14 | and The Jazz Messengers | Ritual | |
| PJ 16 | Les McCann Ltd. in San Francisco | ||
| PJ 17 | , Buddy Montgomery & Monk Montgomery | Wes, Buddy & Monk Montgomery | |
| PJ 18 | , Art Pepper and Phil Urso | Picture of Heath | |
| PJ 19 | & Frank Butler | Groovin' Blue | |
| PJ 20 | Choice | ||
| PJ 21 | New Groove | ||
| PJ 22 | Rejoice!: Cello Debut at the Renaissance | ||
| PJ 23 | "Groove" | ||
| PJ 24 | Wild!: The Big Big Sound of Larry "Wild" Wrice | ||
| PJ 25 | Pretty Lady | ||
| PJ 26 | & Paul Bryant | Meetin' Here | |
| PJ 27 | Freedom Sound | ||
| PJ 28 | and His Orchestra | America's #1 Arranger | Originally released as Great Jazz Standards on World Pacific in 1959 |
| PJ 29 | The Remarkable Carmell Jones | ||
| PJ 30 | Various Artists | This Is the Blues Vol. 2 | |
| PJ 31 | Les McCann Sings | ||
| PJ 32 | & Richard Holmes | Groovin' with Jug | |
| PJ 33 | and the Jazz Messengers / The Elmo Hope Quintet | Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers / The Elmo Hope Quintet Featuring Harold Land | split album |
| PJ 34 | Orchestra | You Better Believe It! | |
| PJ 35 | featuring Carmell Jones and Bob Cooper | Barefoot Adventure | Original soundtrack |
| PJ 36 | Love Lifted Me | ||
| PJ 37 | The Last Set | ||
| PJ 38 | and Gerry Mulligan | Konitz Meets Mulligan | Selections from PJLP 2 and PJLP 10 with alternate takes added on |
| PJ 39 | Quintet | Spectacular! | Originally released as Chico Hamilton Quintet in 1955 |
| PJ 40 | Orchestra featuring Cannonball Adderley | Gil Evans Orchestra Featuring Cannonball Adderley | Originally released as New Bottle Old Wine in 1958 |
| PJ 41 | & Jackie McLean | Inta Somethin | |
| PJ 42 | & Richie Kamuca | Keester Parade | Originally released as Cy Touff, His Octet & Quintet in 1956 |
| PJ 43 | Lookin' Ahead | ||
| PJ 44 | , Bill Perkins, Jim Hall, Percy Heath and Chico Hamilton | 2° East, 3° West | Originally released as Grand Encounter in 1957 |
| PJ 45 | Les McCann Ltd. in New York | ||
| PJ 46 | featuring Victor Feldman | Way Down | |
| PJ 47 | Quartet | Reunion | Originally released in 1958 |
| PJ 48 | , Joe Pass, Dave Allan, Greg Dykes, Ronald Clark, Bill Crawford and Candy Latson | Sounds of Synanon | |
| PJ 49 | & Carmell Jones | Brass Bag | |
| PJ 50 | California Concerts | Originally released in 1955 | |
| PJ 51 | & Les McCann | Somethin' Special | |
| PJ 52 | First Time Out | ||
| PJ 53 | Business Meetin | ||
| PJ 54 | Back in Town! | ||
| PJ 55 | Essence | ||
| PJ 56 | Ltd. | On Time | |
| PJ 57 | The Jazz Crusaders at the Lighthouse | ||
| PJ 58 | & Clare Fischer | Bossa Nova Jazz Samba | |
| PJ 59 | After Hours | ||
| PJ 60 | The Artistry of Pepper | ||
| PJ 61 | Orchestra | Moment of Truth | |
| PJ 62 | Tippin' on Through | ||
| PJ 63 | Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Shampoo | ||
| PJ 64 | , Clare Fischer and Joe Pass | Brasamba! | |
| PJ 65 | Outa Sight | ||
| PJ 66 | Out Front | ||
| PJ 67 | Surging Ahead | ||
| PJ 68 | Tough Talk | ||
| PJ 69 | The Gospel Truth | ||
| PJ 70 | & Dupree Bolton | Katanga! | |
| PJ 71 | My Mother's Eyes | ||
| PJ 72 | Where It's At! | ||
| PJ 73 | Catch Me! | ||
| PJ 74 | Orchestra | Little Bird Suite | |
| PJ 75 | & Chet Baker | Timeless | Sessions from the mid-1950s |
| PJ 76 | Heat Wave | ||
| PJ 77 | Extension | ||
| PJ 78 | Soul Hits | ||
| PJ 79 | Jim Hall | Reissue of 1957 album Jazz Guitar | |
| PJ 80 | Orchestra | Portraits | |
| PJ 81 | & The Jazz Crusaders | Jazz Waltz | |
| PJ 82 | People | ||
| PJ 83 | Stretchin' Out | ||
| PJ 84 | McCanna | ||
| PJ 85 | For Django | ||
| PJ 86 | Alexander the Great | ||
| PJ 87 | The Thing | ||
| PJ 88 | Orchestra | On Stage | |
| PJ 89 | & João Donato | Bud Shank & His Brazilian Friends | |
| PJ 90 | Sambou Sambou | ||
| PJ 91 | & The Gerald Wilson Orchestra | McCann/Wilson | |
| PJ 10092 | Chile Con Soul | ||
| PJ 10093 | & Dizzy Gillespie | Gil Fuller & the Monterey Jazz Festival Orchestra featuring Dizzy Gillespie | |
| PJ 10094 | Spunky | ||
| PJ 10095 | Now, Jazz Ramwong | ||
| PJ 10096 | Manteca! | ||
| PJ 10097 | Spanish Onions | ||
| PJ 10098 | Live at the Lighthouse '66 | ||
| PJ 10099 | Orchestra | Feelin' Kinda Blues | |
| PJ 10100 | Various Artists | On Mike: A Decade of Pacific Jazz | |
| PJ 10101 | & James Moody | Night Flight | |
| PJ 10102 | Paris Concert | ||
| PJ 10103 | Zimbo Trio | Zimbo Trio | |
| PJ 10104 | Easy Groove | Selections from PJ 5 and PJ 17 | |
| PJ 10105 | Tell It Like It Tis | ||
| PJ 10106 | Talk That Talk | ||
| PJ 10107 | A Bag of Gold | ||
| PJ 10108 | Jazz Milestones Series | Tracks recorded between 1956–1959 | |
| PJ 10109 | Jazz Milestones Series | Compilation of PJ 23, PJ 32, PJ 51, PJ 59, PJ 10105 | |
| PJ 10110 | Bud Shank & the Sax Section | ||
| PJ 10111 | Orchestra | The Golden Sword | |
| PJ 10112 | Orchestra | Don Ellis Orchestra 'Live' at Monterey! | |
| PJ 10113 | Swingin' New Big Band | ||
| PJ 10114 | Zimbo Trio | The Brazilian Sound: Restrained Excitement | |
| PJ 10115 | The Festival Album | ||
| PJ 10116 | The Jazz Corps Under the Direction of Tommy Peltier featuring Roland Kirk | ||
| PJ 10117 | Big Swing Face | ||
| PJ 10118 | Orchestra | Live and Swinging | |
| PJ 10119 | Structurally Sound | ||
| PJ 10120 | From the Top of the Barrel | ||
| PJ 10121 | Victor Feldman Plays Everything in Sight | ||
| PJ 10122 | Spirit Feel | ||
| PJ 10123 | Orchestra | Live in 3 2/3 / 4 Time | |
| PJ 10124 | Uh Huh | ||
| PJ 10125 | Done It Again | ||
| PJ 10126 | The New One! | ||
| PJ 10127 | Booker 'n' Brass | ||
| PJ 10128 | The Venezuela Joropo | ||
| PJ 10129 | Swingin' at the Gate | ||
| PJ 10130 | Kismet | Reissue of PJ 1243 | |
| PJ 10131 | Lighthouse '68 | ||
| PJ 10132 | Orchestra | Everywhere | |
| PJ 10133 | Mercy, Mercy | ||
| PJ 10134 | More than Meets the Ear | ||
| PJ 10135 | Orchestra | California Soul | |
| PJ 20136 | Powerhouse | ||
| PJ 20137 | A Portrait of Wes Montgomery | ||
| PJ 20138 | Plays and Sings | ||
| PJ 20139 | Jazz Immortal | Reissue of PJ 3 | |
| PJ 20140 | The Genius of Gerry Mulligan | Reissue of PJ 8 | |
| PJ 20142 | & Gerry Mulligan | Konitz Meets Mulligan | Reissue of PJ 38 |
| PJ 20143 | Spectacular! | Reissue of PJ 1209 | |
| PJ 20144 | 2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West | Reissue of PJ 1217 | |
| PJ 20145 | California Concerts | Reissue of PJ 1201 | |
| PJ 20146 | & Chet Baker | Timeless | Reissue of PJ 75 |
| PJ 20147 | Welcome Home | ||
| PJ 20149 | Various Artists | This Is the Blues Vol. 1 | |
| PJ 20150 | Various Artists | This Is the Blues Vol. 2 | |
| PJ 20152 | Bullitt | ||
| PJ 20153 | Workin' on a Groovy Thing | ||
| PJ 20154 | Earth Dance | ||
| PJ 20155 | Planet Love | ||
| PJ 20156 | Electric Connection | ||
| PJ 20157 | Windmills of Your Mind | ||
| PJ 20158 | Big Band | Buddy & Soul | |
| PJ 20159 | The Jazz Excursion Into Hair | ||
| PJ 20160 | Orchestra | Eternal Equinox | |
| PJ 20161 | Revolution | ||
| PJ 20162 | The Coming Atlantis | ||
| PJ 20163 | X-77: Recorded Live at the Lighthouse | ||
| PJ 20165 | Lighthouse '69 | ||
| PJ 20166 | with the Gerald Wilson Orchestra | More or Les McCann | Selections from Pretty Lady, Les McCann Sings, Les McCann Ltd. Plays the Shampoo, Spanish Onions and McCanna with additional orchestral overdubs |
| PJ 20167 | Quartet | Blues Happening | |
| PJ 20168 | with the George Duke Trio | The Jean-Luc Ponty Experience | |
| PJ 20169 | The Best of Buddy Rich | ||
| PJ 20170 | with The Bob Alcivar Singers | Let It Be | |
| PJ 20171 | and Ernie Watts | Come Together | |
| PJ 20172 | King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa | ||
| PJ 20173 | Ltd. | New from the Big City | |
| PJ 20174 | Orchestra | The Best of the Gerald Wilson Orchestra | |
| PJ 20175 | The Best of the Jazz Crusaders | ||
| PJ 20176 | Hot Fun in the Summertime |