Donald Byrd - Byrd In Hand (MMBST-84019) Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams Bass – Sam Jones Drums – Art Taylor Piano – Walter Davis Jr. Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Rouse Trumpet – Donald Byrd Just gave this 2LP 45 RPM Music Matters release a proper cleaning and ripped it this morning. It was a good way to start off a Saturday as I keep my "social distance" in check.
Thanks. Found them all. Track 2-1 to 2-17 are also on the japanese 2 LP set "The Stan Getz Quartet- the complete Roost sessions" Tracks 2-18 to 2-21 from Roost LP 2209 "Stan Getz at Storyville" (= Vol 1). There is also a Vol. 2 = RoostL P 2225 Here are the front covers
Shameless plug for my local record store (which I have no personal connection to), but obviously record stores are going to suffer with the economy slowing to a halt. In Illinois, all non-essential businesses have been closed. Dusty Groove, one of the greatest record stores in America, which focuses on vintage jazz, soul, blues, R&B, funk, and hip-hop records, has a mail delivery service with a huge catalog. If you're looking to support record stores who are struggling right now, I think this is a great opportunity to do so. Especially if you live in a state that's shut down, this is the best we can do in supporting independent record stores. Jazz, Soul, Funk, Hip Hop, R&B, Latin, Brazil & more LPs, CDs, Vinyl Records, Albums, & 45s New & Used
Just a quick one, can anyone vouch for the ORG reissue of Ayler/Cherry's Vibrations? Originals aren't super expensive but I'd rather save the hassle and go for a clean new one if it was done well.
ARCHIE SHEPP / LIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO / IMPULSE / 1966 / US FIRST STEREO PRESSING AS-9118 LP "Live in San Francisco" is one of those albums that is probably much better known for its (admittedly stellar) cover than for its music. There is something about the Quintet sitting on the stairs on sunset while two curious boys watching the scene. I could watch it for hours. The music is somewhere between "For for Trane" and "Fire Music"; Shepp hadn't taken the final step towards Free Jazz (as found on the first half of "Mama Too Tight") yet. I'm not a big fan of Shepp's spoken word interlude, but fortunately that makes just for a fraction of the total playing time. The other tunes are all the "usual" high quality, dense Avantgarde compositions that all bear that immediately recognizable Shepp handwriting.
Sweet Lovely - DAVID MURRAY TRIO (Black Saint) CD Bass – Fred Hopkins Drums – Steve McCall Tenor Saxophone – David Murray Recorded December 4 & 5, 1979 at Barigozzi Studios, Milano. Morning Song - David Murray Quartet (Black Saint) CD Bass – Reggie Workman Drums – Ed Blackwell Piano – John Hicks Tenor Saxophone / Bass Clarinet – David Murray Recorded 25,26,30 September 1983 at Vanguard Studios, New York, NY. I need to listen to both these albums again but on one hearing the Trio recording 'Sweet Lovely' is a very challenging listen compared to the more accessible and interesting Quartet record.
I Want To Talk About You - DAVID MURRAY QUARTET (Black Saint) CD LP sleeve above courtesy London Jazz Collector Bass – Ray Drummond Drums – Ralph Peterson, Jr. Piano – John Hicks Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – David Murray Recorded LIVE - March 1, 1986 at Charlie's Tap, Boston, MA. Mastered at PhonoComp, Tribiano - Milano
The Hill - DAVID MURRAY TRIO (Black Saint) CD Bass – Richard Davis Drums / Vibraphone [Vibes] – Joe Chambers Tenor Saxophone / Bass Clarinet – David Murray Recorded November 29, 1986 at Sound Ideas Studios, New York / Mastered at PhonoComp, Tribiano-Milano This might well be the pick of the four David Murrray albums I have listened to today.
A Sanctuary Within - David Murray Quartet (Black Saint) CD Bass – Tony Overwater Drums – Sunny Murray Percussion [Ashiko Drum] / Percussion [Earth Drum] / Voice / Thumb Piano [Sanza - African Thumbpiano] – Kahil El'Zabar Tenor Saxophone / Bass Clarinet – David Murray Recorded 13, 14 December 1991 at Barigozzi Studio, Milano, Italy. BODY AND SOUL - DAVID MURRAY QUARTET (Black Saint) CD Bass – Wilber Morris Drums – Rashied Ali Piano – Sonelius Smith Tenor Saxophone – David Murray Vocals – Taana Running (1 track only) Recorded on February 11 & 12, 1993 at Sear Sound, New York. Mastered at PhonoComp, Tribiano - Milano Two more notable David Murray Black Saint albums, both different in approach, and both recommended. The musical direction taken on Body And Soul took me by surprise, especially in light of what was going down on the previous five David Murray titles.
BILLY PARKER'S FOURTH WORLD / FREEDOM OF SPEECH / STRATA-EAST / 1974 / US FIRST STEREO PRESSING SES-19754 LP Billy Parker remains a mystery - not much is known about the drummer. A blogger dug deeper into the life of Parker and learned that he was a music teacher who didn't stay very long in the recording business, as this release was his first and - please correct me if I'm wrong - only notable album as a leader, making it all the more special. In my view and to my taste "Freedom of Speech" is the best Strata-East has to offer next to Shamek Farrah's "First Impressions". It is a dense mix of Soul Jazz, Modal Jazz and Funk that has an organic quality, as no track seems to break the mood. Still, "Get With It" had the potential of being a hit, though I have serious doubts it ever got played on mainstream FM. Needless to say the line-up is jaw-droppingly great, with the more than reliable quality of Cecil McBee on bass, who is - once again - the secret star on this album. His basslines, his articulation and tone - all those qualities are unique. Listen to "Home" - McBee's bass has such a direct, almost aggressive quality. Donald Smith, the (almost unknown) brother of Lonnie Liston, wrote and also sang on the opener and does a beautiful job. Unfortunately this album has not been reissued very often - apart from two japanese LP repressings, the album has only once been reissued on CD (also in Japan as a Mini LP). Recently, Pure Pleasure put out a reissue as part of their Strata-East series. I had the opportunity to listen to it several times and think it sounds absolutely fine. It doesn't sound as clear and direct as the original pressing, but the latter commands steep collector money.
WINDWARD PASSAGES - DAVID MURRAY with DAVE BURRELL (Black Saint) CD - remastered edition issued 2013 Loved this album on first hearing. It includes originals, two John Coltrane and one Jelly Roll Morton composition.
THE COMPLETE FONTANA ALBUMS (1961-1969) - TUBBY HAYES (Fontana) 13 CD boxset Contents: CD1: Tubbs (1961) CD2: Equation In Rhythm / Palladium Jazz Date * (A side: Southern Routes Pts. 1 & 2, B side: Tubby Hayes’ Palladium Jazz Date tracks) + Sally/I believe In You (single) (1961 & 1962) CD3: Tubbs In N.Y. (1961)** CD4: Return Visit! (1962) CD5: Late Spot At Scott's (1962)** CD6: Down In The Village (1962) CD7: Tubbs' Tours (1964) + previously unreleased bonus material CD8 & CD9: 100% Proof (1967) + previously unreleased bonus disc CD10: Mexican Green (1967) previously unreleased bonus material CD11 & 12: Grits, Beans And Greens (Complete sessions) (1969) CD13: The Orchestra (1970) **Mono This is probably the best box set I have bought in a long time. It is attractively presented and each disc in it is packaged in seperate inner and outer quality cardboard sleeves. The music is, as expected, top notch and the MQA remastering really brings out the best sound from the tapes. I have listened to all the titles a few times now and am very happy with all the albums. Just the other day I listened to the first six or seven discs back to back and enjoyed every single minute of the lengthy session - it was just so very enjoyable and totally addictive! Apart from 'Late Spot At Scott's' all other titles were previously unknown to me - making this boxset an irresistible purchase. As a bonus there is also a 150 page booket covering in great detail Jazz in London in the 1960s - followed by an in-depth discography information on each track selection.
THE COMPLETE REMASTERED RECORDINGS ON BLACK SAINT AND SOUL NOTE - GEORGE LEWIS - 5CD Boxset - CamJazz An extraordinary (and probably underestimated selection). All these albums are terrific with 'SHADOWGRAPH', 'THE IMAGINARY SUITE' and 'HOMAGE TO CHARLES PARKER' in particular having the capability to transport the listener to other worldly locations / imaginary dimensions. These recordings do sound more odd than what I might usually listen to but I also found they have a very relaxing vibe about them - maybe even more so now we all live in these strange and unsettling times. I really was taken by surprise by how much pleasure there is to be experienced listening to these very unique/odd sounding recordings. The other two records 'CHANGE OF THE SEASON (The Music Of Herbie Nichols) ' and 'DUTCH MASTERS' - with main credit going to Misha Mengelberg are also both very engaging albums and well worth having.
Duke Ellington And Johnny Hodges - Side By Side Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges Bass – Al Hall (tracks: 1, 2 & 4), Wendell Marshall (tracks: 3 & 5-9) Drums – Jo Jones Flute – Les Spann (tracks: 4) Guitar – Les Spann (tracks: 1 & 2) Piano – Billy Strayhorn (tracks: 3 & 5-9), Duke Ellington (tracks: 1, 2 & 4) Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (tracks: 3 & 5-9) Trombone – Lawrence Brown (tracks: 3, 5 & 7-9) Trumpet – Harry Edison (tracks: 1, 2 & 4), Roy Eldridge (tracks: 3 & 5-9)
HAROLD LAND QUINTET / THE PEACE-MAKER / CADET / 1968 / US FIRST STEREO PRESSING W4RS-5127 LP I can‘t tell you how long I‘ve been looking for a copy of this record. I almost gave up after missing out on a promotional copy in great shape. And then I found this sealed copy - it‘s quite special to know you‘re the first to drop a needle on a 52 year old record. No ringwear, but the cover is slightly bowed - sealed covers will not necessarily look better than unsealed ones that were placed in protective sleeves. Anyway, I won‘t complain, it sounds, looks and feels great. Now a quote from the liner notes from the recent „Topology“ reissue: „Of course Jazz musicians were not immune to the social and sonic revolutions of the era and in late 1967 Land recorded an album for Cadet Records, the jazz imprint on the legendary Chess Records. 'The Peacemaker' album was an important marker for Land in that not only did it introduce him to vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, it also became regarded by some as a key album in the jump between the mid-60s swinging modal-bop sound and socially conscious afro-spiritual jazz that was to follow in the late 60s and early 70s. Thematically and musically, it posted a way forward for Land, both as a player and composer; all but one of the tracks was written by Land and the album's line-up included Buster Williams on bass, Joe Sample on keys, Donald Bailey on drums, and Bobby Hutcherson on vibes. And it was with Hutcherson that Land was to embark on the next phase of his musical search." - Tony Higgins, Liner Notes for the reissue of "Topology" by Makoto Terashita feat. Harold Land, Spring 2019.
