This was a first listen for me today and a nice surprise at that! It really sounds like it could have been a Blue Note staple. Hub on trumpet. Recommended! Ronnie Mathews Doin' the Thang! Prestige (1963) VICJ-60675 Piano – Ronnie Mathews Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis Bass – Eddie Kahn Drums – Albert Heath
The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album (1975) 1990 Fantasy/OJC OJCCD-439-2 mastered by Phil De Lancie Recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA; June 10 ~ 13, '75 This is just a beautifully-recorded album, period. And while I think the XRCD wins it by a hair for digital sound quality, the inexpensive and ubiquitous OJC CD is not at all far behind. Probably the best $5 I ever spent. TBH the first time I ever heard this album, while in my 30's, I found it cringeworthy. Tony's 'mature' voice sounded both over-the-top and over-the-hill to me, and I just liked Bill better in the trio setting that was comfortable to my ears back then. It sounded like a lounge act past it's prime to me then. Tony was 48 and Bill 45 when this album was recorded. Now here I sit, in my mid-40's and able to appreciate this from a more informed perspective. Backed only by Bill on acoustic piano, Tony exposes a much more intimate, revealing side of himself than most singers ever do. There's almost a frailty or vulnerability to his voice, and I think that's what makes this album so real for me. This album is as cozy and refreshing as a cool drink on a warm spring evening.
Four Horns and a Lush Life - Various Artists - Bethlehem/Verse CD *also issued on LP as by Russ Gracia Orchestra No shortage of trombone players on this notable session! The sound on the remastered CD is excellent. According to the London UK LP the session was recorded in November 1955.
Eric Dolphy - At the Five Spot Prestige (1961) AP SACD Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Eric Dolphy Trumpet – Booker Little Piano – Mal Waldron Bass – Richard Davis Drums – Ed Blackwell
Hank Mobley's Dippin' Anybody else slayed by Higgins' bass drum on The Vamp? He's killing it. This whole band is one tight groove machine on this record. Simply ridiculous. Nobody can touch these guys when they dig in like this.
A beautiful way to start out the day! Yusef Lateef - Cry! - Tender Prestige (1959) UCCO-5381 Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Oboe – Yusef Lateef Trumpet – Lonnie Hillyer Flugelhorn – Wilbur Harden Piano – Hugh Lawson Bass – Ernie Farrow, Herman Wright Drums – Frank Gant, Oliver Jackson
I am very partial to the occasional Organ led Jazz session, so when I noticed this Verve budget release in the online bargains I couldn't resist! 3 Essential Albums - Jimmy Smith (Verve) 3CD CD1 - Organ Grinder Swing with Jimmy Smith (organ), Kenny Burrell (guitar), Grady Tate (drums) Recorded 1965 *A great trio album, and easily up with the best of the Jimmy Smith Blue Note albums that I have heard. CD2 - Peter And The Wolf with Big Band (arranged & conducted by Oliver Nelson) Recorded 1966 *Going by various negative reviews, there was no way I was going to investigate this title but now I have a copy and after a few listens I am very impressed with all aspects of this recording. An unexpected and excellent Jazz themed variation on Prokofiev's well known classical work Peter & The Wolf. CD3 - Bashin' | The Unpredictable Jimmy Smith with The Big Band / Oliver Nelson Orchestra (tracks 1-4 & 9) & Trio (tracks 5-8) with Jimmy (organ), Quentin Warren (guitar), Donald Bailey (drums) Recorded 1962 CD includes two 45rpm edition bonus tracks. *More great music. I can't fault this record. Another top ranking Jimmy Smith album! This EU release is the latest issue in Universal's 3 Essential Albums series. The sound on all the discs is remarkably good. The packaging is a triple gatefold cardboard sleeve and the discs are inserted into cut out pockets, which may be the cheapest way to market this music but it does annoy me having to re-sleeve them in a more safe and easier to access manner. This budget release has a few issues (all to do with the packaging) but the upside is you get some fine, well mastered discs, with no worries about being conned with substandard CD-Rs or clonned copies.
Another from last night's session. Cecil Payne's Zodiac With Wynton Kelly, Kenny Dorham, Wilbur Ware & Albert Heath. Cecil's playing is stunningly beautiful throughout and the tone is set with the first track, MLK Jr. He makes that bari sing so sweetly. I have this on the recent Pure Pleasure reissue and unfortunately Payne's playing on Slide Hampton is a bit buried in the mix. Is this the case with the Mosaic CD from the Clifford Jordan set, does anyone know?
John Patton's Along Came John With Fred Jackson, Harold Vick, Grant Green & Ben Dixon. This one is intense and very deep. Some folks don't necessarily dig organ jazz, but no matter how you feel I definitely recommend at least checking out Grant Green's solo on The Silver Meter. It's like a revelation.
I'm one of those, I hate organ in jazz. I've lost count of the times I tried Patton's and other soul jazz organists' albums, but I can't get used to the sound and the beat.
I get that. On this record, there's parts where Dixon's drumming and Patton's playing don't seem to mesh 100%, to the point where I was wondering if maybe they weren't all in tune with each other just yet. Then, Green started playing his solos and he just elevated the whole thing. Green was obviously extremely comfortable with the organ accompaniment, as he just lets loose some dynamite solos here.
Count me as in loving the organ. Harold Vick’s Stepping Out is one of my favorites. However, I know lots of people who don’t like it. When I have it on in the car, my wife rolls her eyes and calls it church music. The jazz station on Sirius XM has a dedicated show on Friday nights at 7. Their motto: It’s Time to get organ-ized.
The usual suspects... The 3 Sounds - Bottoms Up! Blue Note (1959) AP SACD CBNJ 84014 SA Piano, Celesta – Gene Harris Bass – Andrew Simpkins Drums – Bill Dowdy
Wonderful duet set from Shepp & Parlan. One of a few duet titles released in the late seventies, early eighties of which all are recommended... Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan - Trouble in Mind Steeplechase (1980) SCCD 31139
RED RODNEY / 1957 / SIGNAL / 1957 / CLASSIC RECORDS PREVUE CD REISSUE OF S 1206 PERSONNEL: RED RODNEY (TRUMPET); IRA SULLIVAN (TENOR SAX, TRUMPET); TOMMY FLANAGAN (PIANO); OSCAR PETTIFORD (BASS); 'PHILLY' JOE JONES, ELVIN JONES (DRUMS) TECHNICAL: PRODUCED BY DON SCHLITTEN. RECORDED BY RUDY VAN GELDER AT VAN GELDER STUDIO, HACKENSACK, NJ. PHOTOS BY DON SCHLITTEN. LINER NOTES BY IRA GITLER. MASTERED BY BERNIE GRUNDMAN AT GRUNDMAN MASTERING.
Freddie Redd - Redd's Blues Blue Note (1961) TOCJ-66076 Piano – Freddie Redd Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean Tenor Saxophone – Tina Brooks Trumpet – Benny Bailey Bass – Paul Chambers Drums – Sir John Godfrey
