Donald Byrd & Booker Little - The Third World

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:11
Size: 76,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:49)  1. Chasing the Bird
(3:47)  2. Prophecy
(6:11)  3. Ping Pong Beer
(2:23)  4. Construction
(4:42)  5. Quiet Temple
(2:51)  6. November Afternoon
(4:20)  7. Call to Arms
(5:03)  8. Wee Tina

There is more and less than meets the eye with this hard bop collection from 1960: less Booker Little and more performers than are listed on the CD. A little research corroborates what the ear suspects: the eight tracks come from three sessions, only one of which has trumpeters Little and Donald Byrd together (three tracks). The other sessions feature, respectively, Little and trombonist Curtis Fuller (two tracks) and Byrd and baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams (three tracks). Adams is one of a half-dozen performers not credited on the CD. To further confuse matters, both the session with Little and Byrd and the one with Little and Fuller have uncredited additional trumpeters Marcus Belgrave and Don Ellis, respectively. Suffice to say, sorting out who plays the trumpet solos is not easy. It seems, though, that Little solos only on one, possibly two, numbers. Originally, these tracks came out on a Warwick LP called Soul of Jazz Percussion. This explains the additional percussion parts some integrated more effectively than others on each of the tracks. Overall, the Byrd/Adams tracks are the most consistent. "November Afternoon" from the Little/Fuller set and "Chasing the Bird" and "Wee Tina" from the Little/Byrd set are also okay. Even so, factor in a couple of poorly handled fadeout endings along with some mixing and editing gaffes and there is not enough here to rate a recommendation, except, perhaps, to the ardent Booker Little completist. ~ Jim Todd https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-third-world-mw0000603542

Personnel: Donald Byrd, Booker Little - trumpet; Bill Evans, Mal Waldron - piano; Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone; Marcus Belgrave, Don Ellis - trumpet; Curtis Fuller - trombone; Paul Chambers, Adison Farmer - bass; Armando Peraza - congas; Willie Rodriguez, Earl Zindars - perc. Philly Joe Jones Ed Shaughnessy - drums.

Third World

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Sandy Cressman - Homenagem Brasileira

Styles: Vocal

Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:58
Size: 131,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:51)  1. Vale O Escrito
(5:00)  2. Viola Violar
(4:39)  3. Porque Somos Iguais
(5:18)  4. Coração Sem Saida (Spring)
(5:11)  5. Tem Boi Na Linha
(4:23)  6. Felicidade
(3:57)  7. Amor Até O Fim
(4:27)  8. Café Com Pão (Jodel)
(8:38)  9. Ivan Lins Medley
(6:40) 10. Branca/Mudança Dos Ventos
(5:48) 11. Brasil de Hoje

On this disc, a woman pays homage to part of the wealth of music originating in South America. The title of Sandy Cressman's disc itself means "Homage to Brazil. Nine different musicians back the San Francisco vocalist, formerly of Pastiche, on the disc. A variety of Brazilian jazz artists are treated here, including a samba by Filo, a medley of Ivan Lins material showcasing the expressive, emotional qualities of Cressman's voice, and a hip, contemporary jazz groove on "Amor Ate O Fim" (Gilberto Gil). Portuguese lyrics are provided. Also in this collection of ten treatments (and one percussive original) lead by Brazilian keyboardist Marcos Silva (Flora Purim, Airto) is a delicate version of "Felicidade" (Carlos Jobim) with guest guitarist Carlinhos Oliveira. ~ Tom Schulte https://www.allmusic.com/album/homenagem-brasileira-mw0000047643

Homenagem Brasileira

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Darren Barrett - The Attack of Wren - Wrenaissance, Vol. 1

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:29
Size: 153,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:18)  1. Wren's Theme #1
(4:36)  2. Until I See You
(5:02)  3. Come on Let's Go
(6:33)  4. Time Alone with You
(5:28)  5. Portland & Hanover Vibration
(4:40)  6. The Way I Like to Do It
(6:13)  7. Drop It Don't Stop It
(5:50)  8. Forever with You
(5:46)  9. Ina It
(6:24) 10. Stay Focused
(5:14) 11. On This Special Day
(5:19) 12. Wren Plus Mywren

For anyone who listened to Darren Barrett's first two albums, Attack of Wren will come as a surprise, if not a shock. This isn't a bad thing. Barrett cut both First One Up and Deelings in the hard bop/post-bop mode, sometimes resembling the old Blue Note sound. On Attack of Wren, he abruptly switches directions, embracing a contemporary sound with an experimental edge. Citing Donald Byrd as his mentor, Barrett wanted to combine new technology  like an electronic valve instrument with studio techniques -- and play most of the instruments himself. The opener, "Wren's Theme #1," gives a sample of what one can expect on the remainder of the album. There's a thick rhythm section with an extra-heavy bass part and horns, in unison and solo, laid overtop. A voice calls out "wren" from time to time, adding one more element to this funky and intriguing mix. The "funky" strain runs through several of these songs ("Come on Let's Go," "The Way I Like to Do It,") reminding one of late-'60s to- early-'70s fusion. The horn work, however, by Barrett, tenor Walter Smith, and alto Joseph Omicil, has a more contemporary edge. The odd voice work, occasionally run through a processor or synthesizer, also emphasizes 2004 as opposed to 1974. While Barrett's old fans will probably be taken aback by this adventurous recording, it would be too bad if they passed it by. Attack of Wren shows how much fun a recording can be when an artist kicks back and cuts loose. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford, Jr. https://www.allmusic.com/album/attack-of-wren-wrenaissance-vol-1-mw0000152656

Personnel:  Darren Barrett (trumpet), Walter Smith (saxophone), Myron Walden (alto saxophone), Jospeh Omicil (alto saxophone), Tony Barrett (electric guitar), Wesley Wirth (electric bass), Collin Barrett (electric bass), Jeremiah Landess (electric bass), Darren Barrett (electronics)

The Attack of Wren - Wrenaissance, Vol. 1

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Ralph Sutton, Kenny Davern - Ralph Sutton & Kenny Davern

Styles: Piano, Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1980
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:43
Size: 156,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. That's A-Plenty
(4:45)  2. Old Fashioned Love
(4:24)  3. Jazz Me Blues
(4:14)  4. Am I Blue
(6:16)  5. St. Louis Blues
(4:44)  6. Black And Blue
(2:33)  7. Take Me To The Land Of Jazz
(5:52)  8. All By Myself
(5:09)  9. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
(1:55) 10. 'Taint Nobody's Business
(5:48) 11. My Daddy Rocks Me
(4:53) 12. I Would Do Most Anything For You
(4:30) 13. Sweet Lorraine
(4:43) 14. Memphis Blues
(3:35) 15. A Porter's Love Song To A Chambermaid

This CD reissue combines two full LPs originally recorded for the Chaz Jazz label, with pianist Ralph Sutton and clarinetist Kenny Davern joined by Gus Johnson on drums. Traditional jazz fans will delight in Sutton's powerful brand of stride piano (the bass is never missed), yet he is also a very effective accompanist who can play a soft ballad with the best of them. Davern's always lyrical clarinet explores a wider range than most trad jazz players. Things get underway at a fast clip with "That's A-Plenty," followed by a dreamy take of James P. Johsnon's "Old Fashioned Love." Each man has an individual vocal feature as well: Davern's approach to "Take Me to the Land of Jazz" is almost conversational, while Sutton adds an enthusiastic humorous vocal á la Fats Waller to his upbeat solo feature of "'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do," and Johnson's voice is surprisingly similar to Doc Cheatham's in a warm rendition of "Sweet Lorraine." Marty Grosz's hilarious liner notes have been retained, and an amusing new cartoon cover has been added by George Booth, making this CD a desirable purchase even if you already own the two long unavailable LPs that first showcased this music. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/ralph-sutton-kenny-davern-complete-mw0000599345

Ralph Sutton & Kenny Davern

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Avi Rothbard - Going Somewhere

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:25
Size: 120,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:18)  1. The Place
(8:25)  2. JT's Blues
(7:36)  3. Just One of Those Things
(5:37)  4. Unstabe
(6:09)  5. Wives and Lovers
(4:29)  6. 26-2
(7:42)  7. A Flower Is a Lonesome Thing
(7:05)  8. Going Somewhere

New York City-based Avi Rothbard exhibits the influence of Grant Green throughout Going Somewhere (MidLantic), an organ-trio project. Drummer Joe Strasser and organist Jared Gold capably provide support while Rothbard tests his mettle with a mix of standards and originals. “Just One of Those Things,” taken at a brisk tempo, just doesn’t convince as an organ-trio number, despite Gold’s efforts to keep things moving with kinetic bass pedal work. Rothbard sometimes gets in some nice lines, but his overly staccato phrasing and relatively thin tone take their toll after a while, something that’s especially telling on “Wives and Lovers,” a tune once played by Green. Rothbard’s own material fares a bit better, primarily due to the underlying bluesiness of “The Place” and “JT’s Blues,” during which he generates a variety of soulful moments. Overall, Going Somewhere doesn’t seem to have quite reached its destination, but it eventually could with a little more time and refinement. ~ Jim Fergunson https://jazztimes.com/departments/guitartistry/avi-rothbard-going-somewhere/

Going Somewhere

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