Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Jack Wilkins - Until It's Time

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2009
Time: 69:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 159,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:02) 1. Arthur's Theme
(5:50) 2. Show Me
(6:02) 3. Blossom
(4:58) 4. Walk Don't Run
(6:30) 5. These Foolish Things
(4:32) 6. Lauro's Waltz
(7:23) 7. Two for the Road
(5:30) 8. Fur Elise
(5:04) 9. Tico-Tico
(5:35) 10. Airegin
(4:24) 11. Until It's Time for You to Go
(7:39) 12. Blossom (extended version)

A guitarist with the kind of dexterity that Jack Wilkins shares is bound to find success in many fields, especially when based in New York, where he's surrounded by great musicians all the time. As Until It's Time features piano, bass and drums in support of Wilkins' sensual fret board articulation, much of the album relies on familiar songs and a conservative love affair with melody.

Wilkins works in unison with piano, stretches out frequently, and turns his musical partners loose often in order to invite adventures of their own. Most of the session features up-tempo romps where rhythm grabs a collar-full of surprise and propels the unit forcefully. Others, such as "These Foolish Things," slow the mood down considerably in order to allow soulful ballad feelings their share of the moment.

A blazing-fast arrangement of "Tico Tico" finds Wilkins burning up the fret board with fingers that accelerate like a machine gun. While his articulation rides fast in sixth gear, the guitarist delivers a crystal attack where every note finds clarity. Similarly, "Airegin" and "Show Me" allow the ensemble to romp hard and fast with a characteristic bop attack.

Wilkins, 65, has remained an integral part of the New York jazz scene for close to 50 years. From Buddy Rich's small ensembles of the 1970s to a modern-day NEA grant and a striking relationship with the Smithsonian Institution, he's covered all the jazz bases and continues to create great jazz. By Jim Santella
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/until-it-jack-wilkins-maxjazz-review-by-jim-santella

Personnel: Jack Wilkins: amplified guitar; Jon Cowherd: piano, piano & organ (3, 12), organ (11); Steve LaSpina: double bass; Mark Ferber: drums; Samuel Torres: percussion (1); Jeff Barone: acoustic guitar (3, 12).

Until It's Time

Hank Mobley - Jazz Message #2

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:14
Size: 74,5 MB
Art: Front

(9:51)  1. Thad's Blues
(6:40)  2. Doug's Mino B' Ok
(6:31)  3. B. For B.B.
(4:58)  4. Blues Number Two
(4:11)  5. Space Flight

Impressive lineups, both in the front line and the rhythm section, fuel the two 1956 sessions on this Savoy reissue. The players are committed, the writing is good, and the performances reward repeated listening. The result is a worthwhile precursor to the industry standard hard bop Mobley would later record for Blue Note.Lee Morgan, then 18, joins Mobley on two tracks that have pianist Hank Jones, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Art Taylor in the rhythm section. Even if Morgan at this time was audibly still growing as a trumpet player, his poise, execution, and resourceful imagination were already the tools of a master. Donald Byrd, on form and playing with crispness and authority, moves into the trumpet chair for the three remaining tracks. This time it's Barry Harris on piano, Kenny Clarke on drums, and Watkins (again) on bass. The influence on Mobley of swing era tenors, from Lester Young to Illinois Jacquet, can be clearly heard on these tracks. Mobley's respect for and understanding of the pre-bebop style serve him well in his contribution to the development of the predominant jazz style that followed bebop. In addition to three Mobley originals, there is a blues by Thad Jones and another from Watkins. The standout track is Mobley's "Space Flight," a bright, up-tempo bop number that has memorable solos from Mobley, Byrd, Harris, and Clarke. The recording on this CD is very good but, as is common on Savoy reissues, the running time isn't long 32 minutes in the case of this jazz message. ~ Jim Todd https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-jazz-message-of-hank-mobley-vol-2-mw0000098294

Personnel: Hank Mobley - tenor saxophone; Donald Byrd - trumpet; Barry Harris - piano; Doug Watkins - bass; Kenny Clarke - drums

Jazz Message #2