Peter Newbrook’s UK Esquire label released Prestige recordings pretty well in sync with the US release. With just a few exceptions, during the life of the label – 1956 and 1964 – the sequential issue of catalogue numbers correlate with the issue of their Prestige source counterparts. (shown below in chart form for my 61 Esquires, followed by the whole schedule)
Note: not all Prestige releases made it to Esquire, and not all Esquire releases were of Prestige recordings.
Full Schedule (baring a few gaps)
Esquire | Cat No | ARTIST | TITLE | PRLP/NJ/TR |
Esquire | 32-001 | Ronnie Scott | Jazz Club – Volume 1 | – |
Esquire | 32-002 | Ronnie Scott | Jazz Club – Volume 2 | – |
Esquire | 32-003 | Ronnie Scott | Jazz Club – Volume 3 | – |
Esquire | 32-006 | Ronnie Scott | Jazz Club – Volume 4 | – |
Esquire | 32-007 | Humph Lyttleton | Delving Back With Humph | – |
Esquire | 32-009 | Milt Jackson | Milt Jackson Quartet | 7003 |
Esquire | 32-011 | Stan Getz | Collates | 7002 |
Esquire | 32-012 | Miles Davis | The Musings Of Miles | 7007 |
Esquire | 32-013 | Donald Byrd | Byrds Eye | TR LP J4 |
Esquire | 32-014 | Gerry Mulligan | Mulligan’s Too | 7006 |
Esquire | 32-015 | Betty | Barclay’s War Of Roses | – |
Esquire | 32-016 | Wardell Gray | Memorial Vol.1 | 7008 |
Esquire | 32-017 | Sam Gary | Sings | – |
Esquire | 32-018 | Jazz In A Stable | The Boston Scene | – |
Esquire | 32-019 | Donald Byrd | Byrd Jazz | TR LP J5 |
Esquire | 32-020 | Phil Woods | Woodlore | 7018 |
Esquire | 32-021 | Miles Davis | The New Miles Davis Quintet | 7014 |
Esquire | 32-022 | Eric Betty Eric Silk | The Two Erics | – |
Esquire | 32-023 | Wardell Gray | Memorial Vol.2 | 7009 |
Esquire | 32-024 | Milt Jackson | Modern Jazz Quartet In Hi Fi | 7005 |
Esquire | 32-025 | Sonny Rollins | Plus 4 | 7038 |
Esquire | 32-026 | Phil Woods Quill Byrd Dorham | Pairing Off | 7046 |
Esquire | 32-027 | Lee Konitz | Collates | 7004 |
Esquire | 32-028 | Miles Davis | Changes | 7034 |
Esquire | 32-029 | Hank Mobley | Mobleys Message | 7061 |
Esquire | 32-030 | Miles Davis | Collector’S Item | 7044 |
Esquire | 32-031 | The Happy Wanderers | In London (Trad Jazz) | – |
Esquire | 32-032 | George Wallington | Jazz For The Carriage Trade | 7032 |
Esquire | 32-033 | Frank Foster Elmo Hope | Wail | 7021 |
Esquire | 32-034 | Tadd Dameron | Fontianebleau | 7037 |
Esquire | 32-035 | Sonny Rollins | Perspectives | 7029 |
Esquire | 32-036 | J J Johnson/Winding/Green | Trombone By Three | 7023 |
Esquire | 32-037 | Art Farmer Gigi Gryce | Wild Party | 7017 |
Esquire | 32-038 | Sonny Rollins | Worktime | 7020 |
Esquire | 32-039 | Elmo Hope Sextet | Informal Jazz | 7043 |
Esquire | 32-040 | Jon Eardley | Down East | 7033 |
Esquire | 32-041 | Jackie Mclean | Lights Out! | 7035 |
Esquire | 32-042 | Art Farmer Septet | Charts | 7031 |
Esquire | 32-043 | Barbara Lea | Nobody Else But Me | 7065 |
Esquire | 32-044 | Marchin’ w/ Happy Wanderers | Marchin’ | – |
Esquire | 32-045 | Sonny Rollins | Saxophone Colossus | 7079 |
Esquire | 32-046 | Red Garland Trio | A Garland of Red | 7064 |
Esquire | 32-047 | Gene Ammons | Blue And Sentimental | 7039 |
Esquire | 32-048 | Miles Davis | Cookin’ | 7094 |
Esquire | 32-049 | Sonny Stitt Bud Powell JJ Johnson | S.P.J | 7024 |
Esquire | 32-050 | Phil Wood Gene Quill | Phill And Quill | 7115 |
Esquire | 32-051 | Mose Allison | Back Country Suite | 7091 |
Esquire | 32-052 | Various | Conception | 7013 |
Esquire | 32-053 | The Second City Jazzman | A Tribute To Madge | – |
Esquire | 32-054 | Bobby Jaspar Herbie Mann | Flute Souffle | 7101 |
Esquire | 32-055 | Moondog | Moondog | 7042 |
Esquire | 32-056 | Red Garland Trio | Groovy | 7113 |
Esquire | 32-057 | Paul Quinichette | On The Sunny Side | 7103 |
Esquire | 32-058 | Sonny Rollins John Contrane | Tenor Madness | 7047 |
Esquire | 32-059 | Coltrane Sims Cohn Mobley | Tenor Conclave | 7074 |
Esquire | 32-060 | Phil Woods Donald Byrd | The Young Bloods | 7080 |
Esquire | 32-061 | Tyree Glenn | At The Embers | – |
Esquire | 32-062 | Miles Davis | Featuring Sonny Rollins | 7012 |
Esquire | 32-063 | Barbara Lea | Lea In Love | 7100 |
Esquire | 32-064 | Aaron Sachs | Clarinet And Co. | – |
Esquire | 32-065 | Thad Jones Frank Wess | Olio | 7084 |
Esquire | 32-066 | Ray Bryant Trio | Ray Bryant Trio | 7098 |
Esquire | 32-067 | Paul Quinichette | And Other For Basie | 7127 |
Esquire | 32-068 | Miles | Relaxin’ | 7129 |
Esquire | 32-069 | Yusef Lateef | The Sounds Of Yusef | 7122 |
Esquire | 32-070 | Gil Evans | Gil Evans And 10 | 7120 |
Esquire | 32-071 | Mose Allison Trio | Local Color | 7121 |
Esquire | 32-072 | Art Farmer Donald Byrd | 2 Trumpets | 7062 |
Esquire | 32-073 | Hal Mckusick | Triple Exposure | 7135 |
Esquire | 32-074 | Phil Woods Quill Shihab Stein | Four Altos | 7116 |
Esquire | 32-075 | Sonny Rollins | Rollins Plays For Bird | 7095 |
Esquire | 32-077 | Gene Ammons | Funky | 7083 |
Esquire | 32-079 | John Coltrane | s/t | 7105 |
Esquire | 32-080 | Thad Jones | After Hours | 7118 |
Esquire | 32-082 | Colman Hawkins | Blues Groove | 7138 |
Esquire | 32-083 | Mose Allison | Young Man Mose | 7137 |
Esquire | 32-084 | Lester Young Paul Quinichette | For Lady | 7106 |
Esquire | 32-085 | Sonny Rollins | Tour De Force | 7126 |
Esquire | 32-086 | Shirley Scott Trio | Great Scott | 7143 |
Esquire | 32-087 | Count Basie | Reunion | 7147 |
Esquire | 32-088 | Miles Davis | Blue Haze | 7054 |
Esquire | 32-089 | John Coltrane | Soultrane | 7142 |
Esquire | 32-090 | Miles Davis | Bags Groove | 7109 |
Esquire | 32-091 | John Coltrane | John Coltrane Red Garland Trio | 7123 |
Esquire | 32-092 | Tiny Grimes/’Lockjaw’ Davis | Callin’ The Blues | 7144 |
Esquire | 32-093 | Donald Byrd | Three Trumpets | 7092 |
Esquire | 32-094 | Mose Allison | Creek Bank | 7152 |
Esquire | 32-096 | Red Garland Ray Baretto | Manteca | 7139 |
Esquire | 32-097 | Gene Amons | Jammin’ With Gene | 7110 |
Esquire | 32-098 | Miles Davis | Walkin’ | 7076 |
Esquire | 32-099 | Red Garland Quintet | All Mornin’ Long | 7130 |
Esquire | 32-100 | Miles Davis | And Modern Jazz Giants | 7150 |
Esquire | 32-101 | John Coltrane Paul Quinichette | Cattin’ | 7158 |
Esquire | 32-102 | Coleman Hawkins | Hawk Eyes | 7156 |
Esquire | 32-104 | Eddie Lockjaw Davis | Cookbook | 7141 |
Esquire | 32-105 | Benny Golson | Groovin’ With Golson | NJ 8220 |
Esquire | 32-106 | Ray Bryant | Alone With The Blues | NJ 8213 |
Esquire | 32-108 | Miles Davis | Workin’ | 7166 |
Esquire | 32-109 | Monk Thelonious | T.Monk Quintets | 7053 |
Esquire | 32-110 | Prestige Blues-Swingers | Outskirts Of Town | 7145 |
Esquire | 32-111 | Jackie Mclean | Jackie’s Pal | 7068 |
Esquire | 32-112 | Sonny Stitt | Kaleidoscope | 7077 |
Esquire | 32-113 | Teo Macero | With The Prestige Jazz Quartet | 7104 |
Esquire | 32-115 | Thelonious Monk Sonny Rollins | Work! | 7075 |
Esquire | 32-116 | Red Garland Trio | Red In Blueville | 7157 |
Esquire | 32-117 | Coleman Hawkins | Very Saxy Esquire | 7167 |
Esquire | 32-118 | Miles Davis | Early Miles | 7025 |
Esquire | 32-119 | Thelonious Monk Trios | Monk’s Moods | 7027 |
Esquire | 32-120 | Kenny Burrell | Earthy | 7102 |
Esquire | 32-121 | Kid Punch Miller | From New Orleans | – |
Esquire | 32-122 | Hal Singer with Charlie Shavers | Blue Stompin | 7153 |
Esquire | 32-123 | Eric Dolphy Quintet | Outward Bound | NJ 8236 |
Esquire | 32-124 | Modern Jazz Quartet | Modern Jazz Quartet | 7057 |
Esquire | 32-125 | Benny Golson Curtis Fuller | Gone With Golson | NJ 8235 |
Esquire | 32-126 | Red Garland | At The Prelude | 7170 |
Esquire | 32-127 | Etta Jones | Don’T Go To Strangers | 7186 |
Esquire | 32-128 | Eddie Lockjaw Davis | Jaws in Orbit | 7171 |
Esquire | 32-129 | John Coltrane | Lush Life | 7188 |
Esquire | 32-130 | Papa Mutt Carey | The Legendary (1947 recs.) | – |
Esquire | 32-131 | Mose Allison | Autumn Song | 7189 |
Esquire | 32-132 | George Wallington | The New York Scene | NJ 8207 |
Esquire | 32-133 | Ken Mcintyre Eric Dolphy | Looking Ahead | NJ 8247 |
Esquire | 32-134 | Milt Jackson | Looking back at MJQ | 7059 |
Esquire | 32-135 | Albert Nicholas Quartet | Nick’s Jazz | – |
Esquire | 32-136 | Red Garland Quintet | Soul Junction | 7181 |
Esquire | 32-137 | Art Farmer | Farmers Market | NJ 8203 |
Esquire | 32-138 | Miles Davis | Steamin’ | 7200 |
Esquire | 32-139 | Yusef Lateef, | Cry Tender | NJ 8234 |
Esquire | 32-141 | Jackie McLean | McLean’s Scene | NJ 8212 |
Esquire | 32-142 | Lem Winchester Benny Golson | Winchester Special | NJ 8223 |
Esquire | 32-143 | Steve Lacy, | Soprano-Today | 7125 |
Esquire | 32-144 | Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis Griffin | The Tenor Scene | 7191 |
Esquire | 32-145 | Kai &Jay, B Green | Hip Bones | 7030 |
Esquire | 32-146 | Red GarlandTrio | Rojo | 7193 |
Esquire | 32-147 | Gene Ammons | Blue Gene | 7146 |
Esquire | 32-148 | Oliver Nelson Sextet Eric Dolphy | Screamin’ The Blues | NJ 8243 |
Esquire | 32-149 | Art Taylor | Taylor’s Tenors | NJ 8219 |
Esquire | 32-151 | Gigi Gryce | Sayin’ Somethin’ | NJ 8230 |
Esquire | 32-152 | Lem Winchester | Lem’s Beat | NJ 8239 |
Esquire | 32-153 | Eric Dolphy | Out There | NJ 8252 |
Esquire | 32-154 | Arnett Cobb | Party Time | 7165 |
Esquire | 32-155 | Sonny Rollins | Movin’ Out | 7058 |
Esquire | 32-156 | Tommy Flanagan with John Coltrane | The Cats | NJ8217 |
Esquire | 32-157 | Charlie Parker | Bird ‘ Is Free | – |
Esquire | 32-158 | Lester Young | Pres | – |
Esquire | 32-159 | Peter Ind | Looking Out | – |
Esquire | 32-160 | Miff Mole And His Dixieland Band | Dixieland Band | – |
Esquire | 32-161 | King Curtis | The New Scene Of King Curtis | MJ 8237 |
Esquire | 32-162 | Oliver Nelson | Afro / American Sketches | 7225 |
Esquire | 32-163 | Roy Haynes, | Just Us | 7245 |
Esquire | 32-164 | Roland Kirk Jack Mcduff | Kirk’s Work | 7210 |
Esquire | 32-165 | Benny Golson | Gettin’ With It | NJ 8248 |
Esquire | 32-166 | Red Garland with John Coltrane | High Pressure | 7209 |
Esquire | 32-167 | Betty Roche | Singin’ & Swingin’ | 7185 |
Esquire | 32-168 | Oliver Nelson Eric Dolphy | Straight Ahead | NJ 8255 |
Esquire | 32-169 | Johnnie Pate | At The Blue Note | J70P 5286 |
Esquire | 32-170 | Franz Jackson & The Original Jazz All-Stars | No Saints | – |
Esquire | 32-171 | Mose Allison Trio | Ramblin With Mose | 7215 |
Esquire | 32-172 | Lem Winchester With Frank Wess | Another Opus | NJ 8244 |
Esquire | 32-173 | Eric Dolphy | At The Five Spot | NJ 8260 |
Esquire | 32-174 | Eddie ‘Lockjaw’ Davis Big Band | Trane Whistle | 7206 |
Esquire | 32-175 | Sonny Rollins | Sonny Boy | 7207 |
Esquire | 32-176 | Mal Waldron Trio | Impressions | NJ 8242 |
Esquire | 32-177 | Gene Ammons | Boss Tenor | 7180 |
Esquire | 32-178 | Gene Ammons | Bad Bossanova | 7257 |
Esquire | 32-179 | John Coltrane | Standard Coltrane | 7243 |
Esquire | 32-180 | Dave Pike | Bossa Nova Carnival | NJ 8281 |
Esquire | 32-181 | Gigi Gryce | The Rat Race Blues | NJ 8262 |
Esquire | 32-182 | Willis Jackson | Thunderbird | 7232 |
Esquire | 32-183 | Herb Ellis | Nothing But The Blues | – |
Esquire | 32-184 | Arnett Cobb | More Party Time | 7165 |
Esquire | 32-185 | Dizzy Reece | Asia Minor | NJ 8274 |
Esquire | 32-186 | Shirley Scott | Hip Twist | 7226 |
Esquire | 32-187 | Art Farmer | Early Art | 7665 |
Esquire | 32-188 | Oliver Nelson Joe Newman | Main Stem | 7236 |
Esquire | 32-189 | Oliver Nelson King Curtis | Soul Battle | 7223 |
Esquire | 32-190 | Speckled Red | The Dirty Dozens | – |
Esquire | 32-191 | Big Joe Williams | Blue On Highway 49 | – |
Esquire | 32-192 | Jimmy Forrest | Sitdown And Relax With | 7235 |
Esquire | 32-193 | Danny Alvin | Kings Of Dixie Play Club -Basin St. | |
Esquire | 32-194 | Shakey City Seven + | One Play Seattle | – |
Esquire | 32-195 | John Estes | The Legand Of Sleepy John Estes – |
Another copy has surfaced on eBay today with full photos of both labels saying 32-196 Esquire but once again there is no outer sleeve.I wonder if it is a test pressing of an LP that was neber issued. It is jazz, by the way, Dixieland jazz!
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At the end of the life of Esquire, it is entirely possible there were aborted projects, it would be unusual if there wasn’t. They are left as a monument to doing things right, when the world moved on to doing things wrong. The successor to Esquire’s Prestige distribution license, the Transatlantic Xtra label, are dogged with noisy inferior quality pressing.
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I see you don’t have details of 32-196 and 197. 196 is a bit of a puzzle as it is supposed to be “Screamin'” by Jack McDuff and is listed as such in the 1963 Jazz Catalogue published by Jazz journal, but I have never been able to find a picture of its sleeve. Contrariwise there was a picture of a seemingly home-made sleeve of 32-196 containing a record with an Esquire label but it was of The Storyville Stompers and the LP’s title was “Riverboat rambling with the Storyville Stompers”. Unfortunately the photo wasn’t very good and it is difficult to make the label out. I have never been able to find another photo of this either. The Jack McDuff 32-196 was not reviewed in The Gramophone and when it was reissued in 1967 on Transatlantic (or Xtra?) the Gramophone review didn’t mention a previous British issue. Does anybody know the truth about this?
The 1963 Jazz Catalogue also lists 32-197 as being by Walt Gifford’s New Yorkers but I have never seen a photo of an Esquire sleeve for this. I could send scans of what I have but there doesn’t seem to be a facility for this here. Best wishes, David Mansell
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Hi and thanks for the input. In the death-throws of Esquire it is clear they started a few desperate local publishing efforts, to no avail, as they went under just the same. I maintain a purposeful blind spot on their non-jazz titles, but always willing to add stuff for the sake of completeness.
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