Pianist Dolo Coker had just four opportunities to lead his own record dates during his career, all for the Xanadu label between 1976-1979. The title of this LP refers to the fact that the music is not California "cool jazz" but intense hard bop from the Golden State. In addition to bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Frank Butler (who appear on Coker's first three Xanadu albums) and trumpeter Blue Mitchell (who was on the preceding LP Dolo), the great altoist Art Pepper (doubling on tenor) makes one of his very rare appearances as a sideman. The well-rounded set has originals by Coker, Pepper ("Mr Yohe") and Mitchell (a drum feature for Butler on "Roots 4FB") along with a showcase for the trio ("Gone Again") and a vintage standard ("Gone with the Wind"). A strong effort. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
California Hard is a jazz album by pianist and composer Dolo Coker, recorded in 1976. Two of the six pieces were written by Coker. The album was reissued as a CD in 1994, with one bonus track (a solo piano version of "Round Midnight").
Track listing
"Jumping Jacks" (Coker) – 4:03
"Gone With the Wind" (Magidson-Wrubel) – 4:26
"Roots 4FB" (Mitchell) - 14:58
"Mr. Yohe" (Pepper) - 6:23
"Gone Again" (Hampton-Lewis-Hammer) - 8:08
"Tale of Two Cities" (Coker) - 6:28
"Round Midnight" (Monk) (on CD reissue only; not on original LP) - 2:27
