Ruby Braff - Ruby Braff Goes “Girl Crazy”

Styles: Trumpet Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2009
Time: 39:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 92,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:56) 1. Embraceable You
(4:18) 2. Treat Me Rough
(6:28) 3. But Not For Me
(3:07) 4. Boy! What Love Has Done For Me
(5:39) 5. I Got Rhythm
(5:27) 6. Bidin' My Time
(6:18) 7. Could You Use Me
(3:03) 8. Barbary Coast

The then-32-year-old trumpeter Ruby Braff was fond of show tunes, and took for his concept the songs from the Gershwin brothers' Broadway stage play Girl Crazy for this album, his sixth as a leader. The music played by this band under the moniker of the Shubert Alley Cats is fairly predictable within the swing style, but this recording at times leans more toward bop with the inclusion of pianist Hank Jones, guitarist Jim Hall, and especially Al Cohn, who plays his trusty tenor sax and a lot of clarinet.

The musicianship is solid enough, the songs a bit stretched with solos, and the jazz fairly interesting within the conservative, mainstream, straight-ahead idiom. The hottest tune is the last, "Barbary Coast," as bassists Bob Haggart and George Duvivier go to town while the horns jam, while the slowest "Embraceable You" is the opener, a ballad where Braff plays in a style akin to Louis Armstrong.

In the middle you get a contradictory easy blues in "Treat Me Rough," and the uncharacteristically down-home "I Got Rhythm," accented by Jones and Hall, which merges into swing via Cohn's tenor. Hall's role as a rhythm guitarist seems untoward in what he would be as a leader, but his feature during the old-fashioned "Could You Use Me?" sets up the horns counterpoint, and is particularly pronounced on "But Not for Me."

While Cohn's clarinet might not settle into familiar territory for those who know him as a bop tenor, he's especially sweet with Braff on "Treat Me Rough," and repentant for the poignant, lovely, melancholy, no-frills take of "But Not for Me." There's one more ballad, "Bidin' My Time," which is as basic as it gets, while a more vocal sound from Braff's muted trumpet comes forth on "Boy! What Love Has Done for Me."

While the music is sophisticated, the heat of this music barely sparks any real flames, excepting the fine drumming of Buzzy Drootin and the always exceptional Jones when he chooses to turn it up a notch. It would have been nice to hear a follow-up recording from this clearly talented ensemble, for this instance captured in the early years of their lengthy and successful careers.By Michael G.Nastos
https://www.allmusic.com/album/ruby-braff-goes-girl-crazy-mw0000819868

Personnel: Trumpet – Ruby Braff; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn; Piano – Hank Jones; Guitar – Jim Hall; Drums – Buzzy Drootin; Bass – Bob Haggart, George Duvivier

Ruby Braff Goes “Girl Crazy”

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Kenny Burrell - Earthy

Styles: Guitar Jazz

Year: 1957/2020

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 43:40

Size: 100,0 MB

Art: Front

( 9:23) 1. Earthy

( 7:12) 2. What's Not

( 6:16) 3. I Wouldn't

( 6:14) 4. The Frontline

(14:33) 5. Dayee

One of the leading exponents of straight-ahead jazz guitar, Kenny Burrell is a highly influential artist whose understated and melodic style, grounded in bebop and blues, made him in an in-demand sideman from the mid-'50s onward and a standard by which many jazz guitarists gauge themselves to this day. Born in Detroit in 1931, Burrell grew up in a musical family in which his mother played piano and sang in the Second Baptist Church choir, while his father favored the banjo and ukulele. Burrell began playing guitar at age 12 and quickly fell under the influence of such artists as Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, Oscar Moore, T-Bone Walker, and Muddy Waters. Surrounded by the vibrant jazz and blues scene of Detroit, Burrell began to play gigs around town and counted among his friends and bandmates pianist Tommy Flanagan, saxophonists Pepper Adams and Yusef Lateef, drummer Elvin Jones, and others.

In 1951, Burrell made his recording debut on a combo session that featured trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie as well as saxophonist John Coltrane, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, and bassist Percy Heath. Although his talent ranked among the best of the professional jazz players at the time, Burrell continued to study privately with renowned classical guitarist Joe Fava, and enrolled in the music program at Wayne State University. Upon graduating in 1955 with a B.A. in music composition and theory, Burrell was hired for a six-month stint touring with pianist Oscar Peterson's trio. Then, in 1956, Burrell and Flanagan moved to New York City and immediately became two of the most sought-after sidemen in town, performing in gigs with such luminaries as singers Tony Bennett and Lena Horne, playing in Broadway pit orchestras, and recording with an array of legendary musicians including Coltrane, trumpeter Kenny Dorham, organist Jimmy Smith, vocalist Billie Holiday, and many others. Burrell made his recorded debut as a leader on the 1956 Blue Note session Introducing Kenny Burrell technically his second session for the label, but the first to see release. From the late '50s onward, Burrell continued to record by himself and with others, and has appeared on countless albums over the years including such notable albums as 1957's The Cats featuring Coltrane, 1963's Midnight Blue featuring saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, 1965's Guitar Forms with arrangements by Gil Evans, and 1968's Blues - The Common Ground.

Beginning in 1971, Burrell started leading various college seminars including the first regular course to be held in the United States on the music of composer, pianist, and bandleader Duke Ellington. He continued performing, recording, and teaching throughout the '80s and '90s, releasing several albums including 1989's Guiding Spirit, 1991's Sunup to Sundown, 1994's Collaboration with pianist LaMont Johnson, 1995's Primal Blue, and 1998's church music-inspired Love Is the Answer. In 2001, Burrell released the relaxed quartet date A Lucky So and So on Concord and followed it up in 2003 with Blue Muse. He celebrated turning 75 years old in 2006 by recording a live date, released a year later as 75th Birthday Bash Live! In 2010, Burrell released the live album Be Yourself: Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, recorded at Lincoln Center's smaller club-like venue, followed two years later by Special Requests (And Other Favorites): Live at Catalina's. In 2015, Burrell released The Road to Love, recorded live at Catalina's Jazz Club in Hollywood. Another Catalina's live date, Unlimited 1, appeared in 2016 and featured Burrell backed by the Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra. Besides continuing to perform, Burrell is the founder and director of the Jazz Studies Program at UCLA, as well as president emeritus of the Jazz Heritage Foundation. ~ Matt Collar

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kenny-burrell-mn0000068780/biography

Personnel: Kenny Burrell - guitar; Al Cohn - tenor saxophone; Art Farmer - trumpet; Hal McKusick - alto saxophone; Mal Waldron - piano; Teddy Kotick - bass; Ed Thigpen - drums

Earthy

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Mundell Lowe - Blues for a Stripper

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2021
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:18
Size: 73,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:30) 1. Blues for a Stripper
(3:25) 2. From Mundy On
(2:15) 3. Montage
(3:33) 4. Coffee, Coffee
(3:41) 5. The Lost and the Lonely
(2:28) 6. Pattern of Evil
(3:30) 7. Satan in High Heels
(2:54) 8. East Side Drive
(3:33) 9. Lake in the Woods
(2:25) 10. The Long Knife

The music on this big-band date led by guitarist Mundell Lowe has a somewhat confusing history, since it was initially released as the soundtrack to the low-budget film Satan in High Heels and later reissued as Blues for a Stripper. The ten originals are written, arranged, and conducted by Lowe, with a formidable all-star big band that includes Phil Woods, Clark Terry, Jimmy Cleveland, Joe Newman, Al Cohn, Oliver Nelson, and Eddie Costa.

His brief sketches are enjoyable, running the gamut of bop, hard bop, cool, and swing, though none of them makes a lasting impression. Sadly, none of the soloists is identified and the solos are too brief to make it obvious who is playing, though Costa takes several excellent solos on vibes. This LP, issued on the Charlie Parker label, is a bit of an obscurity that is worth searching for. By Ken Dryden
https://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-for-a-stripper-mw0000350724

Personnel: Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods; Baritone Saxophone – Gene Allen, Sol Schlinger; Bass – George Duvivier; Drums – Ed Shaughnessy; Guitar – Mundell Lowe; Piano, Vibraphone – Eddie Costa; Saxophone – Al Cohn, Al Klink, Ray Beckenstein, Walter Levinsky; Saxophone, Flute – Walter Levinsky; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Oliver Nelson; Trombone – George "Buster" Cooper*, Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green; Trumpet – Bernie Glow, Clark Terry, Carl Severinsen*, Ernie Royal, Joe Newman

Blues for a Stripper

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Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Allen Eager, Brew Moore - The Brothers

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:50
Size: 102,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:12) 1. Five Brothers
(3:36) 2. Five Brothers (Alternate Take)
(3:54) 3. Battle Of The Saxes
(3:48) 4. Four And One Moore
(3:33) 5. Four And One Moore (Alternate Take)
(3:23) 6. Battleground
(3:17) 7. Battleground (Alternate Take)
(4:35) 8. The Red Door
(4:22) 9. Zootcase
(4:28) 10. Tangerine
(5:37) 11. Morning Sun

The music on this LP recalls the airy "Four Brothers" sound that tenor saxophonists Stan Getz, Zoot Sims and Herbie Steward, and baritone saxophonist Serge Charloff, plied in Woody Herman's band of 1947. For this outing, Steward and Charloff exit, and four become five with the addition of tenor luminaries Al Cohn, Brew Moore, and Allen Eager. The set appropriately kicks off with Gerry Mulligan's "Five Brothers," a tune reminiscent of Jimmy Giuffre's original "Four Brothers" in its fluid and bouncy arrangement.

Three other attractive and similarly disposed originals (one more by Mulligan and two by Cohn) complete the saxophone session from 1949, all featuring swinging statements by each soloist. A 1952 sextet date led by Sims and Cohn is also included, offering up another round of original and buoyantly swinging cuts, bolstered by lively contributions from trombonist Kai Winding and solid rhythmic support by pianist George Wallington, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Art Blakey. A fine release that nicely showcases the cool, proto-West Coast bop forged by both these soloists and Miles Davis.~ Stephen Cook https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brothers-mw0000652734

Personnel: Piano – George Wallington, Walter Bishop, Bass – Gene Ramey , Percy Heath; Drums – Art Blakey, Charlie Perry; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Allen Eager, Brew Moore, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims; Trombone – Kai Winding

The Brothers

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Al Cohn - The Natural Seven

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:20
Size: 89,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:33) 1. A Kiss To Build A Dream On
(3:03) 2. Doggin' Around
(3:00) 3. Jump The Blues Away
(3:38) 4. Jack's Kinda Swing
(3:02) 5. The Natural Thing To Do
(2:45) 6. A. C. Meets Osie
(3:06) 7. Baby Please
(3:00) 8. 9:20 Special
(3:32) 9. Pick A Dilly
(3:37) 10. Count me in
(3:28) 11. Freddie's Tune
(2:32) 12. Osie's Blues

Some but not all of the material on this out-of-print LP has since been reissued on CD on a Bluebird set shared by Freddie Green and Al Cohn. Although originally associated with Woody Herman and cool jazz, Cohn always felt equally comfortable playing with swing-styled players. His "Natural Seven" looks toward the Kansas City Seven and includes two members of Count Basie's band (trumpeter Joe Newman and guitarist Freddie Green) among the personnel (which also has trombonist Frank Rehak, Basie soundalike pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Osie Johnson). Although the music includes a few Basie-associated songs, Cohn also contributed several of his own swinging originals; Osie Johnson's vocal on "Osie's Blues" is surprisingly effective.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-natural-seven-mw0000413536

Personnel: Al Cohn – tenor saxophone; Joe Newman – trumpet; Frank Rehak – trombone; Nat Pierce – piano; Freddie Green – guitar; Milt Hinton – bass; Osie Johnson – drums, vocal; Manny Albam (tracks 1, 3, 8 & 12), Al Cohn (tracks 4-7 & 9-11), Ernie Wilkins (track 2) – arranger

The Natural Seven

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Urbie Green - A Cool Yuletide

Styles: Trombone Jazz, Christmas
Year: 1954
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 23:31
Size: 55,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:20)  1. Jingle Bells
(2:53)  2. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
(2:34)  3. White Christmas
(2:58)  4. Winter Wonderland
(2:36)  5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
(3:11)  6. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
(2:49)  7. The Christmas Song
(3:05)  8. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer

A fine jazz player with a beautiful tone who has spent most of his career in the studios, Urbie Green is highly respected by his fellow trombonists. He started playing when he was 12; was with the big bands of Tommy Reynolds, Bob Strong, and Frankie Carle as a teenager; and worked with Gene Krupa during 1947-1950. Green had a stint with Woody Herman's Third Herd, appeared on some of the famous Buck Clayton jam sessions (1953-1954), and was with Benny Goodman off and on during 1955-1957. He played with Count Basie in 1963, and spent a period in the 1960s fronting the Tommy Dorsey ghost band (1966-1967), but has mostly stuck to studio work. Urbie Green recorded frequently as a leader in the 1950s up to 1963 (for Blue Note, Vanguard, Bethlehem, ABC-Paramount, and dance band-oriented records for RCA and Command). He has appeared much less often in jazz settings since then, but did make two albums for CTI in 1976-1977. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/urbie-green-mn0000300013/biography

Personnel: Trombone – Urbie Green; Bass – Milton Hinton; Drums – Don Lamond, Jimmie Crawford; Guitar – Mundell Lowe; Piano – Buddy Weed; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Al Epstein; Trumpet – Joe Wilder

A Cool Yuletide

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Barry Harris - Barry Harris Trio With Al Cohn

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:35
Size: 182,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:03)  1. America The Beautiful
(8:33)  2. Night And Day
(8:33)  3. My Shining Hour
(5:11)  4. Bright
(6:17)  5. Skylark
(5:53)  6. Woody'n You
(6:09)  7. Comin' Home
(6:09)  8. You're My Everything
(9:47)  9. Lover
(5:03) 10. Play It Now
(6:17) 11. Georgia On My Mind
(5:40) 12. It's Sand, Man!

Originally issued in the Xanadu label, these studio quartet sessions showcase the collaborations between two of the most exciting figures of their instruments: tenor sax giant Al Cohn & piano master Barry Harris, who are joined here by two incarnations of the pianist's regular trio. https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/al-cohn-albums/5221-barry-harris-trio-with-al-cohn-2-lp-on-1-cd.html

Personnel: Al Cohn (ts), Barry Harris (p), Sam Jones, Larry Ridley (b), Leroy Williams, Alan Dawson (d)

Barry Harris Trio With Al Cohn

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Al Cohn, Scott Hamilton, Buddy Tate - Tour De Force

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:17
Size: 162,2 MB
Art: Front

( 8:57)  1. Blues Up and Down
( 7:31)  2. Tickle Toe
(10:29)  3. Soft Winds
( 5:04)  4. Stella by Starlight
( 7:50)  5. Broadway
( 7:41)  6. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
( 7:38)  7. Jumpin' at the Woodside
( 8:12)  8. Bernie's Tune
( 6:51)  9. Rifftide

Al Cohn gets top billing on this CD (formerly a double-LP) but that was because among the three tenors his name comes first alphabetically. This is a jam session set featuring the tenors of Cohn, Scott Hamilton and Buddy Tate. They battle it out to a draw, mostly jamming on fairly basic material such as "Blues Up and Down," "Tickle Toe," "Soft Winds," "Broadway" and "Jumpin' at the Woodside." With guitarist Cal Collins, pianist Dave McKenna, bassist Bob Maize and drummer Jake Hanna offering swinging support, this is a set easily recommended to fans of Jazz at the Philharmonic and mainstream jazz. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/tour-de-force-mw0000315236

Personnel: Al Cohn - tenor saxophone; Scott Hamilton - tenor saxophone; Buddy Tate - tenor saxophone; Cal Collins - guitar; Jake Hanna - drums; Bob Maize - bass; Dave McKenna - piano

Tour De Force

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Woody Herman - Keeper Of The Flame

Styles: Clarinet, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:21
Size: 137,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:04)  1. That's Right
(2:52)  2. Lemon Drop
(3:14)  3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(3:07)  4. I Ain't Gettin' Any Younger
(3:12)  5. Early Autumn
(3:05)  6. More Than You Know
(3:03)  7. Keeper Of The Flame
(3:14)  8. The Crickets
(3:13)  9. More Moon
(3:11) 10. Detour Ahead
(3:12) 11. Jamaica Rhumba
(2:53) 12. Not Really The Blues
(2:57) 13. Tenderly
(2:42) 14. Lollipop
(2:37) 15. I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You
(3:13) 16. You've Got A Date with The Blues
(3:10) 17. Rhapsody In wood
(2:57) 18. The Great Lie
(3:14) 19. In The Beginning

Subtitled The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Four Brothers Band, this CD contains 19 selections from Herman's Second Herd, including three songs never before released. Top-heavy with major soloists (including trumpeters Red Rodney and Shorty Rogers; trombonist Bill Harris; tenors Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Gene Ammons; and vibraphonist Terry Gibbs; not to mention Herman himself), this boppish band may have cost the leader a small fortune but they created timeless music. Highlights include "Early Autumn" (a ballad performance that made Stan Getz a star), the riotous "Lemon Drop," and Gene Ammons' strong solo on "More Moon." 

~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/keeper-of-the-flame-the-complete-capitol-recordings-mw0000075785

Personnel:  Clarinet – Woody Herman;  Alto Saxophone – Sam Marowitz, Woody Herman;  Baritone Saxophone – Serge Chaloff;  Bass – Chubby Jackson (tracks: 1 to 7), Joe Mondragon (tracks: 13 to 19), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 8 to 12);  Drums – Don Lamond (tracks: 1 to 7), Shelly Manne (tracks: 8 to 19);  Piano – Lou Levy;  Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn (tracks: 1 to 7), Buddy Savitt (tracks: 8 to 19), Gene Ammons (tracks: 8 to 19), Jimmy Giuffre (tracks: 8 to 19), Stan Getz (tracks: 1 to 7), Zoot Sims (tracks: 1 to 7);  Trombone – Bart Varsalona (tracks: 8 to 19), Bill Harris, Bob Swift (tracks: 1 to 7), Earl Swope, Ollie Wilson ; Trumpet – Al Porcino (tracks: 8 to 19), Bernie Glow (tracks: 1 to 7), Charlie Walp (tracks: 8 to 19), Ernie Royal, Red Rodney (tracks: 1 to 7), Shorty Rogers, Stan Fishelson;  Vibraphone – Terry Gibbs (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 19);  Vocals – Mary Ann McCall (tracks: 1 to 9), Woody Herman

Keeper Of The Flame

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Buck Clayton - Junpin' At The Woodside

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:54
Size: 80,3 MB
Art: Front

( 8:02)  1. Rock-A-Bye Basie
(10:37)  2. Junpin' At The Woodside
( 6:36)  3. Blue And Sentimental
( 9:37)  4. Broaway

The Buck Clayton jam sessions of the mid-'50s led to writer Stanley Dance coining the term "mainstream" to describe swing-oriented veterans of the era. This out-of-print LP, whose contents have been reissued by Mosaic in their six-CD Buck Clayton box set, has a variety of top mainstream all-stars jamming on four songs associated with Count Basie. 

The music is taken from three different sessions, with this version of "Jumpin' at the Woodside" splicing together the best of two completely different performances. The lineup of top players (including trumpeters Clayton, Joe Newman and Ruby Braff, trombonists Trummy Young, Urbie Green and Benny Green, clarinetist Woody Herman and tenors Coleman Hawkins, Al Cohn, Buddy Tate and Lem Davis among others) gives one a good idea as to the high quality of the music.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/jumpin-at-the-woodside-mw0000871165

Personnel:  Buck Clayton – trumpet;  Joe Newman (tracks 2 & 3), Joe Thomas (track 2) – trumpet;  Ruby Braff – cornet (tracks 1 & 4);  Bennie Green (tracks 1 & 4), Urbie Green (tracks 2 & 3), Dicky Harris (tracks 1 & 4), Trummy Young (track 2) – trombone;  Woody Herman – clarinet (track 2);  Lem Davis – alto saxophone (tracks 2 & 3);  Al Cohn (track 2), Julian Dash (track 2), Coleman Hawkins (tracks 1–4), Buddy Tate (tracks 1 & 4) – tenor saxophone;  Charles Fowlkes – baritone saxophone (tracks 2 & 3);  Jimmy Jones (track 2), Billy Kyle (tracks 2 & 3) – piano, celeste;  Al Waslohn – piano (tracks 1 & 4);  Steve Jordan (tracks 1, 2 & 4), Freddie Green (tracks 2 & 3) – guitar;  Milt Hinton (tracks 1–4), Walter Page (track 2) – bass;  Jo Jones – drums;  Jack Ackerman – tap dancing (track 1).

Junpin' At The Woodside

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Buck Clayton Jam Session - How Hi The Fi

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:35
Size: 125,3 MB
Art: Front

(13:50)  1. How hi the fi
(14:10)  2. Blue moon
(13:47)  3. Sentimental journey
(12:46)  4. Moten swing

The first of the famous Buck Clayton jam sessions, the exciting music on this long out-of-print LP has been reissued as part of a Mosaic box set. Two songs ("Sentimental Journey" and "Moten Swing") are from a December 1953 session in which the trumpeter/leader is teamed with trumpeter Joe Newman, trombonists Urbie Green and Benny Powell, altoist Lem Davis, Julian Dash on tenor, baritonist Charlie Fowlkes, pianist Sir Charles Thompson, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Walter Page and drummer Jo Jones. However it is "How Hi the Fi" (cut along with "Blue Moon" on March 31, 1954) that is most memorable. Buck and fellow trumpeter Joe Thomas, trombonists Urbie Green and Trummy Young, clarinetist Woody Herman, Davis and Dash, Al Cohn on second tenor, pianist Jimmy Jones, guitarist Steve Jordan, bassist Walter Page and drummer Jo Jones are all in inspired form. The most memorable soloists are the rambunctious Trummy Young, the harmonically advanced chordings of Jimmy Jones and an exuberant Woody Herman who was rarely heard in this type of jam session setting. 

With Clayton having worked out some ensemble riffs for the horns beforehand and plenty of space left for spontaneity, this music has plenty of magic.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/how-hi-the-fi-mw0000868476

Personnel:  Buck Clayton – trumpet;  Joe Newman (tracks 3 & 4), Joe Thomas (tracks 1 & 2) – trumpet;  Urbie Green, Benny Powell (tracks 3 & 4), Trummy Young (tracks 1 & 2) – trombone;  Woody Herman – clarinet (tracks 1 & 2);  Lem Davis – alto saxophone;  Al Cohn (tracks 1 & 2), Julian Dash – tenor saxophone;  Charles Fowlkes – baritone saxophone (tracks 3 & 4);  Jimmy Jones (tracks 1 & 2), Sir Charles Thompson (tracks 3 & 4) – piano;  Steve Jordan (tracks 1 & 2), Freddie Green (tracks 3 & 4) – guitar;  Walter Page – bass;  Jo Jones – drums.

How Hi The Fi

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Buck Clayton - The Golden Days Of Jazz (Swingin' Buck Clayton Jams Count Basie & Benny Goodman)

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:31
Size: 177,6 MB
Art: Front

(25:25)  1. Christopher Columbus
( 9:21)  2. Don't Be That Way
( 8:30)  3. Undecided
( 8:05)  4. Rock-A-Bye Basie
(10:28)  5. Jumpin' At The Woodside
( 6:26)  6. Blue & Sentimental
( 9:12)  7. Broadway

An excellent bandleader and accompanist for many vocalists, including Billie Holiday, Buck Clayton was a valued soloist with Count Basie Orchestra during the '30s and '40s, and later was a celebrated studio and jam session player, writer, and arranger. His tart, striking tone and melodic dexterity were his trademark, and Clayton provided several charts for Basie's orchestra and many other groups. Clayton began his career in California, where he organized a big band that had a residency in China in 1934. When he returned, Clayton led a group and played with other local bands. During a 1936 visit to Kansas City, he was invited to join Basie's orchestra as a replacement for Hot Lips Page. Clayton was also featured on sessions with Lester Young, Teddy Wilson, and Holiday in the late '30s. He remained in the Basie band until 1943, when he left for army service. After leaving the army, Clayton did arrangements for Basie, Benny Goodman, and Harry James before forming a sextet in the late '40s. He toured Europe with this group in 1949 and 1950. Clayton continued heading a combo during the '50s, and worked with Joe Bushkin, Tony Parenti, and Jimmy Rushing, among others. He organized a series of outstanding recordings for Columbia in the mid-'50s under the title Jam Session (compiled and reissued by Mosaic in 1993). There were sessions with Rushing, Ruby Braff, and Nat Pierce. Clayton led a combo with Coleman Hawkins and J.J. Johnson at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, then reunited with Goodman in 1957 at the Waldorf Astoria. There was another European tour, this time with Mezz Mezzrow. He appeared in the 1956 film The Benny Goodman Story and played the 1958 Brussels World Fair with Sidney Bechet. Clayton later made another European visit with a Newport Jazz Festival tour. He joined Eddie Condon's band in 1959, a year after appearing in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day. Clayton toured Japan and Australia with Condon's group in 1964, and continued to revisit Europe throughout the '60s, often with Humphrey Lyttelton's band, while playing festivals across the country. But lip and health problems virtually ended his playing career in the late '60s. After a period outside of music, Clayton once again became active in music, this time as a non-playing arranger, touring Africa as part of a State Department series in 1977. He provided arrangements and compositions for a 1974 Lyttleton and Buddy Tate album, and did more jam session albums for Chiaroscuro in 1974 and 1975. He also became an educator, teaching at Hunter College in the early '80s. Clayton led a group of Basie sidemen on a European tour in 1983, then headed his own big band in 1987 that played almost exclusively his compositions and arrangements. That same year Clayton's extensive autobiography Buck Clayton's Jazz World, with Nancy Miller-Elliot, was published.~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buck-clayton-mn0000634674/biography

Personnel: Trumpet, Liner Notes – Buck Clayton;   Alto Saxophone – Lem Davis;  Baritone Saxophone – Charlie Fowlkes;  Bass – Milt Hinton, Walter Page;  Clarinet – Woody Herman, Drums – Jo Jones;  Guitar – Freddie Green, Steve Jordan;  Piano – Al Washlon, Billy Kyle, Jimmy Jones, Charles Thompson;  Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Buddy Tate, Coleman Hawkins, Julian Dash;  Trombone – Bennie Green, Dick Harris, Henderson Chambers, Trummy Young, Urbie Green;  Trumpet – Joe Newman, Joe Thomas, Ruby Braff 

The Golden Days Of Jazz (Swingin' Buck Clayton Jams Count Basie & Benny Goodman)

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James Moody, Al Cohn - Too Heavy For Words

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:55
Size: 102.9 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1973/2017
Art: Front

[ 6:25] 1. East Of The Sun
[ 8:55] 2. Vezzioso
[ 7:00] 3. Good Bait
[10:30] 4. Wee Dot
[ 4:53] 5. The Underdog
[ 7:09] 6. Mr. George

Drums – Roy Brooks; Piano – Barry Harris; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, James Moody. Recorded: August 12th, 1971.

Tenor sax battles have been an indelible part of jazz, as witnessed by the legendary Coleman Hawkins/Lester Young battles, the classic Dexter Gordon/Wardell Gray albums, and the Rollins/Coltrane "Tenor Madness". Add this 1971 skirmish between James Moody and Al Cohn to the list. A mainstay in Gillespie's big band and quintet, Moody worked with many of the music's greats. His solo on I'm in the Mood for Love is a jazz classic. Cohn is recognized for his part in Woody Herman's famous Four Brothers tenor sax section, as well as his quintet with fellow tenor great Zoot Sims.

Too Heavy For Words mc
Too Heavy For Words zippy

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Oscar Pettiford Sextet - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:58
Size: 91.5 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 1954/2016
Art: Front

[9:43] 1. Burt's Pad
[5:58] 2. Marcel The Furrier
[3:07] 3. Ondine
[5:08] 4. Stardust
[2:32] 5. E-Lag
[4:26] 6. Rhumblues
[6:25] 7. Burt's Pad (Alternate Take)
[2:36] 8. E-Lag (Alternate Take)

Bass – Oscar Pettiford; Cello [In Re-recording] – Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 6); Drum – Max Roach; Guitar – Tal Farlow; Piano – Henri Renaud; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn; Trombone – Kai Winding. Recorded in New York City by Vogue Records, March 13th, 1954. Digitally remastered from original master tapes in 24-bit (Le Source Mastering, Paris, France).

The six main selections on this CD were last released as part of a Prestige LP titled The Oscar Pettiford Memorial Album, also including four tunes from a Serge Chaloff set. The CD reissue adds two alternate takes to the excellent session which features Pettiford on occasional bass solos and (on "Rhumblues") overdubbed on cello. The superior set also features tenor saxophonist Al Cohn, trombonist Kai Winding, guitarist Tal Farlow, French pianist Henri Renaud and drummer Max Roach -- quite an all-star group. Renaud contributed two of the songs which also include numbers by Hoagy Carmichael ("Stardust"), Gerry Mulligan and both Leonard and Jane Feather. The music is straight-ahead, with "Burt's Pad" (heard in two versions) going on for over 9½ minutes. A fine CD that is easily recommended to bop collectors. ~Scott Yanow

Oscar Pettiford Sextet mc
Oscar Pettiford Sextet zippy

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Al Cohn - Stay Where You Are

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:57
Size: 178.5 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:30] 1. Mediolistic
[4:20] 2. Just One Of Those Things
[3:15] 3. My Blues
[6:10] 4. The Front Line
[3:26] 5. I Ain't Got Nobody
[9:19] 6. Earthy
[3:22] 7. When Your Lover Has Gone
[3:56] 8. A New Moan
[6:12] 9. I Wouldn't
[3:19] 10. Round Midnight
[3:09] 11. More Bread
[6:27] 12. Soft Winds
[2:47] 13. The Song Is Ended
[3:09] 14. Crimea River
[4:09] 15. Plain Bill From Bluesville
[7:12] 16. What's Not
[4:06] 17. Blue Lou

An excellent tenor saxophonist and a superior arranger/composer, Al Cohn was greatly admired by his fellow musicians. Early gigs included associations with Joe Marsala (1943), Georgie Auld, Boyd Raeburn (1946), Alvino Rey, and Buddy Rich (1947). But it was when he replaced Herbie Steward as one of the "Four Brothers" with Woody Herman's Second Herd (1948-1949) that Cohn began to make a strong impression. He was actually overshadowed by Stan Getz and Zoot Sims during this period but, unlike the other two tenors, he also contributed arrangements, including "The Goof and I." He was with Artie Shaw's short-lived bop orchestra (1949), and then spent the 1950s quite busy as a recording artist (making his first dates as a leader in 1950), arranger for both jazz and non-jazz settings, and a performer. Starting in 1956, and continuing on an irregular basis for decades, Cohn co-led a quintet with Zoot Sims. The two tenors were so complementary that it was often difficult to tell them apart. Al Cohn continued in this fashion in the 1960s (although playing less), in the 1970s he recorded many gems for Xanadu, and during his last few years, when his tone became darker and more distinctive, Cohn largely gave up writing to concentrate on playing. He made many excellent bop-based records throughout his career for such labels as Prestige, Victor, Xanadu, and Concord; his son Joe Cohn is a talented cool-toned guitarist. ~ Scott Yanow

Stay Where You Are mc
Stay Where You Are zippy

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Al Cohn, Al Porcino - Al Cohn Meets Al Porcino

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:27
Size: 165.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1987/2003
Art: Front

[4:00] 1. Tiny's Blues
[3:34] 2. I Cover The Waterfront
[4:55] 3. No Thanks
[7:06] 4. Body And Soul
[3:18] 5. Dancing In The Dark
[4:06] 6. Lover Come Back To Me
[3:20] 7. Music To Dance To
[3:13] 8. The Goof And I
[4:14] 9. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[3:58] 10. Autumn In New York
[5:57] 11. Mambo Di Paulo
[4:34] 12. All The Things You Are
[4:25] 13. The Fuzz
[3:43] 14. Get Me To The Church On Time
[7:40] 15. Sophisticated Lady
[4:17] 16. Jumpin' With Symphony Sid

is was one of Al Cohn's last recordings, a live session with trumpeter Al Porcino's European big band. Cohn's Lester Young-influenced tone had darkened quite a bit through the years and his tough tone was now closer to Illinois Jacquet than to Young. However he still swung in a boppish style and is the main soloist throughout this excellent outing, playing eight of his arrangements plus older charts from Gerry Mulligan and Bill Holman among others. Surprisingly Al Porcino does not take a single solo, being content to play in the ensembles and listen to his old friend perform in prime form. ~Scott Yanow

Al Cohn Meets Al Porcino

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Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims - Tenor Conclave

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:51
Size: 100.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1956/1990
Art: Front

[11:02] 1. Tenor Conclave
[ 9:26] 2. Just You, Just Me
[ 8:17] 3. Bob's Boys
[15:04] 4. How Deep Is The Ocean

These four sides should not be hard to locate, as the primary participants in this November 30, 1956, session have all issued them within their individual catalogs. However Tenor Conclave was first released as credited to the "leaderless" Prestige All-Stars -- consisting of tenor saxophonists John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, and Zoot Sims. Providing support are pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Art Taylor. The Mobley-penned title track commences the effort with the quartet of tenors showing off their stuff in high-flying style. It takes a couple of passes and somewhat of a trained ear to be able to link the players with their contributions, but as is often the case, the whole tends to be greater than the sum of the parts. After a brief introduction with all four rapidly reeling off short riffs, Mobley charges ahead into truly inspired territory. The midtempo take of "Just You, Just Me" keeps things lively with a light swinging pace that is custom-made for bringing the combo's jocular side to the surface, particularly toward the end as they "trade fours," with each tenor blowing four bars before passing the melody on. The other Mobley composition is "Bob's Boys," and by all accounts it is the most compelling piece on the outing. The blues-based tune rollicks as Coltrane, Mobley, Cohn, and Sims find themselves configured in a seeming myriad of sonic face-offs. Wrapping up Tenor Conclave is an ultra-cool and sophisticated "How Deep Is the Ocean?" Cohn commences the long and luscious reading with a subtle strength, suggesting the powerful undercurrent flowing throughout the number. Also, listeners are treated to what is possibly Garland's finest interaction, leading right into Sims, Chambers, and finally a sublime Coltrane caboose. ~Lindsay Planer

Tenor Conclave zippy

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George Russell - New York, New York

Styles: Big Band, Bop
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:26
Size: 104,3 MB
Art: Front

(10:33)  1. Manhatten
(11:41)  2. Big City Blues
(10:10)  3. Manhatten - Rico
( 8:00)  4. East Side Medley
( 5:00)  5. A Helluva town

George Russell was one of the most forward-thinking composers and arrangers on the jazz scene during the 1950s, but his work was generally more appreciated by musicians than the jazz-buying public. New York, New York represents one of many high points in his career. He assembled an all-star orchestra, including pianist Bill Evans (a frequent participant on Russell's recordings), Art Farmer, Bob Brookmeyer, John Coltrane, and Milt Hinton, among others.

In Rodgers & Hart's "Manhattan," Russell has the soloists playing over the orchestra's vamp, while he also creates an imaginative "East Side Medley" combining the standards "Autumn in New York" and "How About You." His original material is just as striking as his arrangements, while vocalist Jon Hendricks serves as narrator between orchestra segments. While this release has been reissued several times, it rarely remains in print for long, so don't miss the opportunity to acquire this elusive CD. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/new-york-ny-mw0000309054 

Personnel: George Russell (leader, arranger, chromatic drums); Jon Hendricks (spoken vocals); Hal McKusick, Phil Woods (alto saxophone, flute, clarinet); John Coltrane, Benny Golson, Al Cohn (tenor saxophone); Gene Allen, Sol Schlinger (baritone saxophone); Art Farmer, Doc Severinsen, Ernie Royal, Joe Wilder, Joe Ferrante (trumpet); Bob Brookmeyer, Frank Rehak, Tom Mitchell, Jimmy Cleveland (trombone); Bill Evans (piano); Barry Galbraith (guitar); Milt Hinton, George Duvivier (bass); Charlie Persip, Max Roach, Don Lamond (drums); Al Epstein (bongos).             

New York, New York

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Bill Potts - The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop 

Year: 1959

File: MP3@256K/s

Time: 47:36

Size: 87,6 MB

Art: Front

(3:08)  1. Summertime

(2:23)  2. A Woman Is A Sometimes Thing

(4:10)  3. My Man's Gone Now

(2:45)  4. It Takes A Long Pull To Get There

(3:27)  5. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'

(5:18)  6. Bess, You Is My Woman

(3:16)  7. It Ain't Necessarily So

(5:15)  8. Medley

(3:04)  9. I Loves You Porgy

(3:15) 10. Clara, Clara

(3:25) 11. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York

(4:41) 12. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess

(3:22) 13. Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way

Music that will endure, played with all the skill, passion and imagination that great jazz musicians can bring to bear on it. These are but two of the basic factors which make The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess one of the finest jazz albums ever made. Just as crucial was a third the superb work of arranger Bill Potts, which established him as a major figure in the field of arranging for jazz orchestra. Add to all that a score that includes the top songs written by George and Ira Gershwin for this classic musical. The result was itself a multifaceted classic, a faithful translation to the language of big band jazz of the emotional rollercoaster of love and tragedy set to music by the Gershwins, brought to dramatic life by one of the finest groups of jazz ever assembled under one roof for a recording session. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Porgy-Bess-Arranged-Conducted-Potts/dp/B005Y0QXD4

Personnel: BIll Potts (arr, cond), Charlie Shavers, Harry Edison, Art Farmer, Bernie Glow (tp), Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb), Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak (tb), Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Sol Schlinger (saxes), Bill Evans (p), Herbie Powell (g), George Duvivier (b), Charles Persip (d)

The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess

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Al Cohn, Bill Perkins, Richie Kamuca - The Brothers!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:51
Size: 174,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. Blixed
(3:13)  2. Kim's Kaper
(3:08)  3. Rolling Stone
(3:08)  4. Sioux Zan
(2:48)  5. The Walrus
(3:12)  6. Blue Skies
(3:17)  7. Gay Blade
(3:13)  8. Three Of A Kind
(3:19)  9. Hags!
(3:04) 10. Pro-Ex
(3:19) 11. Strange Again
(3:39) 12. Cap Snapper
(3:02) 13. Memories Of You
(3:22) 14. Saw Buck
(3:22) 15. Chorus For Morris
(3:15) 16. Slightly Salty
(5:09) 17. Just Friends
(4:32) 18. All Of Me
(3:18) 19. Limehouse Blues
(4:31) 20. Solid De Sylva
(5:02) 21. Sweet And Lovely

This release presents the complete original 1955 album The Brothers! (RCA Victor LPM1162), featuring the wonderful West Coast frontline of Al Cohn, Bill Perkins and Richie Kamuca. In addition to the complete original album, this CD also includes all of the tunes recorded during those sessions that were originally excluded from the LP, as well as a splendid complete quintet session that also features Perkins and Kamuca. http://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/9356/al-cohn/the-brothers

Personnel:  Al Cohn, Bill Perkins, Richie Kamuca, tenor saxes,  Hank Jones, piano;  Barry Galbraith, guitar (on 2-3, 6-8, 10, 13 & 16);  Jimmy Raney, guitar (on 1, 4-5, 9, 11-12 & 14-15); John Beal, bass;  Chuck Flores, drums

The Brothers!

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