Dizzy Reece - Soundin' Off

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:58
Size: 96,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:05)  1. A Ghost of a Chance
(7:58)  2. Once in a While
(7:30)  3. Eb Pob
(7:46)  4. Yesterdays
(7:10)  5. Our Love Is Here to Stay
(6:27)  6. Blue Streak

Originally issued in 1960 and subsequently reissued multiple times in a variety of formats, the trumpeter Dizzy Reece's fourth Blue Note outing as a leader is here presented in Super Audio CD format by the APO label. While it would have been nice to see a bit more material on a reissue like this (with at least a couple of alternate takes), the original program is densely packed with high-quality music and makes for a solidly satisfying listening experience on its own. The opening track, interestingly enough, is both a ballad and a standard: on "Ghost of a Chance" Reece plays with a buttery, burnished tone that coats the familiar melody in a golden haze like the quality of light at dusk. The sun rises again on the next track, a midtempo number titled "Once in a While," and the tempo ratchets up another notch on "Eb Pob," a rather undistinguished composition on the "I Got Rhythm" changes that is completely redeemed by the quality of the solos. "Yesterday" finds pianist Walter Bishop delivering a curiously lackadaisical solo, but he gets back in the groove on a wonderful version of "Our Love Is Here to Stay." The program ends with a nice, bouncy blues original titled "Blue Streak." Throughout the album, Reece digs into his bag of sonic tricks without ever doing anything that detracts from the music itself. Soundin' Off is a little bit uneven, but is never less than a solid pleasure to listen to. ~ Rick Anderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/soundin-off-mw0000368905

Personnel:  Dizzy Reece - trumpet; Walter Bishop Jr. - piano; Doug Watkins - bass; Art Taylor - drums

Soundin' Off

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Nancy Kelly - Well, Alright!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:41
Size: 135,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:33)  1. But Not For Me
(5:06)  2. I Wish You Love
(5:51)  3. Who Can I Turn To
(4:56)  4. I Only Have Eyes For You
(4:12)  5. I Love Being Here With You
(4:01)  6. Let's Fall In Love
(5:55)  7. For Once In My Life
(6:02)  8. Alright, Okay, You Win
(5:32)  9. Since I Fell For You
(6:35) 10. Let It Be Me
(5:54) 11. Fine And Mellow

The best things in life, and jazz, happen spontaneously. Which brings us directly to Ms Kelly, who again has teamed up with tenorist Houston Person. They collaborated in ’06 on Born to Swing; now their unique rapport graces a fledgling label in Bellevue, WA, Saying It With Jazz. Kelly and Person say it with eloquence, spread over eleven live tracks, backed by a highly responsive rhythm section: pianist Randy Halberstadt; bassist Jeff Johnson; and drummer Gary Hobbs. Kelly gives a master class on every track, belting “But Not For Me” at supersonic speed, avoiding words as if they were road-blocks, but never losing the jazz pulse. Person quotes from “Third Man Theme;’ Halberstadt offers his own, from “Surrey With the Fringe.” Kelly comes roaring back for the out chorus, resorting to scat for the title. “Who Can I Turn To” gives Kelly a chance to channel Carmen McRae; Anita O’Day is conjured up during “I Only Have Eyes,” containing Kelly’s signature visceral growl. Her range comes in handy on “Let’s Fall in Love:” she ends on the fifth, then suddenly swoops an octave higher. The girl’s fearless; does it again at the end of “Let It Be Me.” The title tune gives Halberstadt his solo highlight: Brubeck-flavored. Person’s tour de force comes on “Since I Fell For You.” BIllie Holiday’s “Fine & Mellow” evolves into a shuffle-shout, call-and-response with Kelly’s adoring audience. That’s how it went all night: the humor of a jazz conversation with everyone hearing each other; no need for arrangements. Person is a sensitive listener, filling in Kelly’s gaps with intelligent comments. The two must be joined at the hip very hip. ~ Harvey Siders https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/nancy-kelly-well-alright/

Well, Alright!

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The Monty Alexander Trio - Full Steam Ahead

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:26
Size: 96,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. Freddie Freeloader
(6:24)  2. Once I Loved
(4:16)  3. Ray's Idea
(2:58)  4. Because You're Mine
(2:52)  5. I Can't Get No Satisfaction
(6:02)  6. Happy Talk
(4:38)  7. Estate
(5:21)  8. Hi-Fly
(3:36)  9. Just Friends

For his seventh Concord recording, all of which are easily recommended, pianist Monty Alexander teams up with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Frank Gant for four bop standards, a pair of bossa-nova tunes, and such unusual jazz vehicles as "Because You're Mine" (taken from a Mario Lanza movie), "Happy Talk," and "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." No matter what its source, the music is all turned into an entertaining and joyous brand of rhythmically exciting straight-ahead jazz, showing off Monty Alexander in good form. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/full-steam-ahead-mw0000187641

Personnel: Piano – Monty Alexander; Bass – Ray Brown; Drums – Frank Gant

Full Steam Ahead

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Orrin Evans - Grown Folk Bizness

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:06
Size: 149,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:26)  1. Rocking Chair
(5:45)  2. Firm Roots
(8:02)  3. That Old Feeling
(8:48)  4. The Elm
(4:22)  5. Bernie's Tune
(5:17)  6. Volition
(9:05)  7. Rhythm-a-ning
(6:54)  8. Toy Tune
(9:21)  9. Route 80 East

It's been a few years since pianist Orrin Evans placed in the Thelonious Monk Piano Competition. All the while, he's been maturing as an artist with a nice spate of Criss Cross dates along the way documenting that development. Grown Folk Bizness is Evans' third release for the label and it ups the ante even further from what we experienced on his first two illustrative discs. This is due, in part, to the pianist's further amalgamation of his varied influences, but also the product of the heavy company the man keeps. To hold your own under the collective one-two punch of drummer Ralph Peterson is saying something. But Evans not only holds his own, he slings it right back, as the two fire off phrases at each other with deceptive panache. A front row seat to such action can be had by skipping to "Firm Roots," a seditious performance bounding with collective fireworks. An interesting point to ponder, Peterson has made a few consequential records as of late with pianist Uri Caine (the superlative and recent Blue Wail on Winter and Winter comes to mind) and the concentrated experience that came from that activity must have had some effect on his approach to the recital at hand, as both Evans and Caine tend to be forward-thinking and rambunctious players. As for his overall concept, Evans avoids the ordinary, maybe to the point of being too cagey at times, but he manages to push the music towards unexpected vistas. An obvious flight from clichés is the opening number, a solo piano take on Hoagy Carmichael's "Rocking Chair" which includes hints of stride, Cecil Taylor, and Monk all rolled into one. "That Old Feeling," which might tend to be associated with pianists along the line of Gene Harris or Dave McKenna, gets a substantial facelift in Evans' hands, a nice section in the middle developed through the use of block chords displaced to the offbeats. Then, as if to suggest that his "bag" is a capacious one, things take on an ECMish hue with a reworking of Richie Beirach's "The Elm." For some extra seasoning, saxophonists Ralph Bowen and Sam Newsome sit in on one number apiece and then team up for the concluding Route 80 East, a rollicking jam that caps off a dazzling junior effort from Evans. While the "mixed bag" approach that comes with Evans' style may seem schizophrenic at times, there's also great promise in this pianist's forward-thinking stance and fans of piano trio jazz will find more than enough sustenance here to keep this disc in heavy rotation. ~ C.Andrew Hovan https://www.allaboutjazz.com/grown-folk-bizness-orrin-evans-criss-cross-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel: Orrin Evans- piano, Rodney Whitaker- bass, Ralph Peterson- drums, Ralph Bowen- alto and tenor sax (tracks 7 & 9 only), Sam Newsome- soprano sax (tracks 8 & 9 only)

Grown Folk Bizness

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Pat Martino - Giants Of Jazz: Pat Martino

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:21
Size: 120,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:43)  1. Road Song
(4:34)  2. The Visit
(5:06)  3. We'll Be Together Again
(5:54)  4. Alone Together
(6:13)  5. How Insensitive
(4:37)  6. Impressions
(2:53)  7. Nefertiti
(8:21)  8. Footprints
(6:11)  9. Willow
(2:44) 10. Send In The Clowns

Giants of Jazz: Pat Martino is a nice budget collection of the guitarist's landmark work from the '60s and '70s. Included are such standout tracks as the ballad "We'll Be Together Again," John Coltrane's "Impressions," and the expansive "Willow." While collectors will most likely want the full-length albums, this is a solid introduction to Martino's unique oeuvre. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/giants-of-jazz-pat-martino-mw0000339600

Giants Of Jazz: Pat Martino

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