Discography Information
(The recordings listed for all companies with the
exception of those on the Chase Music Group label are, for the most
part, out of print and can only be found in specialty record stores
for collectors. They are listed here simply as a document of the
Shoemake's recording history.)
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INSIDE -
Former George Shearing vibist Charlie Shoemake teams up with
pianist Terry Trotter (Lena Horne, Natalie Cole, Joe Pass,
Chet Baker) and various bass-drums combinations that include
Darek Oles, Joe LaBarbera, Luther Hughes, Paul Krebich, Tom
Warrington, and Steve Schaeffer. In addition to being virtually
lifelong friends, Shoemake and Trotter share an affinity
for the jazz of the 1940's, 50's and early 60's; jazz grounded
in the harmonic and rhythmic traditions that shaped the post-bop,
modern jazz era. It has been nearly twenty-five years since
these two kindred spirits collaborated on a recording project,
but it becomes immediately obvious that time has only enhanced
their artistry..
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CD discoveries of the week. A couple of weeks ago I posted about vibist Charlie Shoemake. His most recent album is “Inside” (Chase). It’s spectacular!! Song choices include “Wow, The Scene Is Clean”, “Nica’s Tempo”.- particularly gorgeous melodies for the vibraphone. Charlie moves archly throughout the album and swings from start to finish. I also love how he lets the instrument ring just so and leaves breaks between mallet flurries. A perfect album.
- Marc Myers, JazzWax

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SOPHISTICATED LADY - Chase Music Group.
Recorded Spring/Summer 2004. Personnel: Bruce Forman-guitar,
Bob Maize-bass,
Andy Martin-trombone, Sam Most-flute,
Luther Hughes-bass, Paul Kreibich-drums and percussion, Charlie
Shoemake-piano and vibraphone.
Estimated release June 2005.
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VIBES MASTER - Chase Music Group.
Recorded February/March 2002. Personnel - Bruce Forman:
Guitar, Red Holloway: Tenor Saxophone, Bob Maize, Luther
Hughes:
Bass, Paul Kreibich: Drums. Released January 2003. |
Vibes Master -
Chase Music Group
Voted One of the
Top Ten Jazz Albums of 2003
by The All Music Guide. |
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LANDS END - Chase Music Group. Recorded
April 2000. Personnel - Bruce Forman: Guitar, Bob Maize,
Luther
Hughes: Bass, Paul Kreibich: Drums, Charles McPherson: Alto
Saxophone. Released March 2001. |

Lands End - Chase Music Group
From
1966 to 1973, Charlie Shoemake made the essential contribution
to George Shearing's groups, and the requirements
to swing tastefully and freshly have sustained him
in his own groups here. He has a shimmering, liquid
sound
and his neatly balanced lines swim in it as in a natural
element… - Jay Harvey, The Indianapolis Star

West Coast players, even excellent ones like vibraphonist
Charlie Shoemake, are, in terms of national recognition
too often locked into a kind of geographical limbo.
Because they're not based in N.Y.C - the jazz capital
of the world - word about their talent doesn't travel
all that well across the continent to the East Coast.
Shoemake has made a number
of much respected albums, but is perhaps best known
for his stint with George
Shearing from 1966-1973.
With it's vital chamber
jazz groove, his latest disc "Lands End" is
a fine sampler of his skills as an improviser graced
with an abundance of fresh ideas
and a clear, crisp technique.
Throughout these small
group tracks, Shoemake`s solos have a wonderful sense
of architecture, thanks to his
gift for thematic improvisation. More than just a
resourceful soloist, he`s also first-rate at carrying
on smart
musical
conversations with his collaborators.
Shoemake's performance
shows that geographical location should be no measure
of an artist`s worth. In his
case,
neither East nor West Coast is necessarily the
Best Coast… - Owen McNally, The Hartford Courant 
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LULLABY IN RHYTHM - Sandi Shoemake
live at the Hamlet with Pete Christlieb, Bruce Forman, Luther
Hughes, Colin Bailey, and Charlie Shoemake. Released January
2000. |

Lullaby In Rhythm - Chase Music Group
The
repertoire consists of 11 standards, including some
neglected gems and the interpretations are mellow and
thoughtful. - Joel Siegel, Jazz Times

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UNCROWNED KINGS AND LONG LOST THINGS
- Chase Music Group. Recorded May, June 1998. Personnel -Bruce
Forman: Guitar, Fred Atwood, Luther Hughes: Bass, Paul
Kreibich:
Drums. Released 1998.
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Uncrowned Kings and Long Lost Things - Chase
Music Group
Charlie
Shoemake's "Uncrowned Kings" are folks
like tenorman Hank Mobley and trumpeter Kenny Dorham,
giants to thier peers but mid-level to the general
public.
His "Long Lost Things" are tunes that have
been forgotten or are simply obscure but deserve another
airing. A bebop-bent vibes master, Shoemake is really
an uncrowned king himself. On Dorham's "Minors
Holiday", for example, the vibist wails a sweet
song, pulling neatly crafted lines out of a seemingly
inexhaustible imagination… - Stereophile Magazine,
Records to Die For - 2001

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STROLLIN' - Chase Music Group. Recorded
January 1991. Personnel - Bill Holman Orchestra, Charlie
Shoemake
Quintet (Ron Eschete: Guitar, Billy Childs: Piano, Luther
Hughes: Bass, Paul Kreibich: Drums) Sandi Shoemake: Vocals. |
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SLOWLY - Discovery 889. Recorded
September 24, 28 1982; March 14 1983. Personnel - Tommy
Flanagan: Piano,
Terry Trotter: Piano, Clare Fischer: Piano, Charlie Shoemake:
Piano, Sandi Shoemake: Vocals. |
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STAND-UP GUYS - Chase Music Group.
Recorded March 7, 8 1988. Personnel - Harold Land: Tenor
Saxophone,
Randy Cannon: Piano, Andy Simpkins, Bob Maize: Bass, Laurance
Marable, Carl Burnett: Drums, Charlie Shoemake: Vibraphone,
Sandi Shoemake: Vocals. |

Stand Up Guys - Chase Music Group
California's
Charlie Shoemake is a seasoned composer-performer-teacher
whose improvising expertise is especially evident
in
the lucid, coherent construction of his solos. It is
not uncommon to find in them, for example, a lengthy,
complex phrase based on the unfolding development of
a single motif. Taking advantage of an exact, precise
sense of time, he also swings vigorously. - Bob Porter, Jazz Times

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SATIN NIGHTS - Blackhawk. Recorded
September 3, 1986. Personnel - Bill Holman Orchestra, Phil
Woods: Saxophone, Charlie Shoemake: Vibraphone, Sandi Shoemake:
Vocals. |
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COLLABORATION - Pausa 7190. Recorded
January 1985. Personnel - Bill Holman Orchestra, Charlie Shoemake:
Vibraphone, Sandi Shoemake: Vocals. |
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INCANDESCENT - Discovery 904. Personnel
- Phil Woods: Saxophone - Clarinet, Tom Harrell: Trumpet,
Terry Trotter: Piano, Ray Drummond: Bass, Billy Hart: Drums,
Charlie Shoemake: Vibraphone, Sandi Shoemake: Vocals. |

Incandescent - Discovery DS-904
Vibist
Shoemake, if he continues to record albums as good
as this one, might very well develope into one
of the most popular mainstream artists on his instrument.
He plays with a clean uncluttered sound and presents
unhackneyed bop-inspired ideas with a joyous quality
not unlike Hampton's in the 30's. - Jack Sohmer, Jazz Times

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THE MUSIC OF DAVID RAKSIN - Discovery
894. Recorded May 30, 1983. Personnel - Ted Nash: Saxophone-Flute,
Peter Sprague: Guitar, Mike Wofford: Piano, Andy Simpkins:
Bass, Dick Berk: Drums, Charlie Shoemake: Vibraphone, Sandi
Shoemake: Vocals. |
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CROSSROADS - Discovery 878. Recorded
September 24, 1982. Personnel - Tom Harrell: Trumpet, Peter
Sprague: Guitar, Tommy Flanagan: Piano, Ed Schuller: Bass,
Paul Motian: Drums, Charlie Shoemake: Vibraphone. |
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AWAY FROM THE CROWD - Discovery 856.
Recorded September 25, 1981. Personnel - Ted Nash: Saxophone
- flute, Tom Harrell: Trumpet, Hank Jones: Piano, Ed Schuller:
Bass, Paul Motian: Drums, Charlie Shoemake: Vibraphone, Sandi
Shoemake: Vocals. |
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BLUE SHOE - Muse 5221. Recorded July
21, 1979. Personnel - Pete Christlieb: Tenor Saxophone, Kenny
Baron: Piano, Mark Helias: Bass, Ben Riley: Drums, Charlie
Shoemake: Vibraphone, Sandi Shoemake: Vocals. |

Blue Shoe - Muse 5221
As with Shoemake's earlier Muse release (Sunstroke Muse
5193) this is a straight ahead, no-nonsense bop date.
Shoemake's vibes playing is characterized by a dry sound,
coming from his almost vibratoless tone and conservative
use of the sustain pedal. He obviously knows the bop
vocabulary inside out.
A strong point of the album
is the repertoire, which consists of mostly originals,
often with unorthodox
chord patters, but always with strong melodic content. - Per Husby, Cadence Magazine 
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SUNSTROKE - Muse 5193. Recorded August
5, 1978. Personnel - Dave Schnitter: Tenor Saxophone, Kenny
Baron: Piano, Cecil Mcbee: Bass, Al Foster: Drums, Charlie
Shoemake: Vibraphone. |

Selected Recordings of Charlie and Sandi Shoemake
on Other Artists' Projects…

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BIRD - The film of Charlie Parkers'
life contains solos by Charlie Shoemake on the soundtrack. |
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OLD ACQUAINTANCE - Conte Candoli,
Phil Woods-Pausa 7189. |
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