The Lighthouse All-Stars

by Scott YanowBassist Howard Rumsey initiated a jazz policy at the Lighthouse Café in Hermosa Beach, CA, in 1949. His Lighthouse All-Stars performed on a nightly basis and on Sundays, there was traditionally a 12-hour jam session. The Contemporary label recorded Rumseys groups on a fairly regular basis during 1952-1957 and such major players as Shorty Rogers, Maynard Ferguson, Rolf Ericson, Stu Williamson, Conte Candoli, Milt Bernhart, Bob Enevoldsen, Frank Rosolino, Jimmy Giuffre, Bob Cooper, Bud Shank, Hampton Hawes, Marty Paich, Claude Williamson, Sonny Clark, Shelly Manne, Max Roach, Stan Levey, and guests Miles Davis and Chet Baker were among the participants. The music was essentially bebop with some cooler-toned performances, particularly the ones starring Cooper on oboe or English horn and Shank on flute. The Lighthouse All-Stars only made one record after 1957 (an outing for Philips during 1961-1962) before passing into history. In the 1980s, the group was revived for some appearances and further Contemporary recordings; the last version featured Shorty Rogers, Cooper (after Coops death Jack Nimitz took his place), Shank, Bill Perkins, Pete Jolly, Monty Budwig, and Larance Marable.