Kenny Drew Trio - Lullaby of Birdland

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:21
Size: 114,1 MB
Art: Front

( 6:21) 1. Lullaby of Birdland
(10:04) 2. It Might as Well Be Spring
( 3:38) 3. The Summer Knows
( 5:50) 4. Django
( 4:32) 5. The Gentle Rain
( 3:28) 6. My Ship
( 3:19) 7. On Green Dolphin Street
( 7:31) 8. God Bless the Child
( 4:33) 9. On a Slow Boat to China

American pianist Kenny Drew (1928-1993) moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1964. Although he may have somewhat faded from the radar of American jazz fans, he had a fantastic career in Denmark and was beloved by European and Japanese jazz fans. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Drew's popularity in Japan grew to incredible heights when he began recording for Japanese labels such as Baystate and Alpha under a partnership with Japanese producer Makoto Kimata.

To commemmorate the 20th anniversary of Drew's passing, a very special series was launched in Japan in 2013, with a release of previously unpublished materials recorded for the two labels between 1972 and 1992. They are alternate takes and takes that did not make onto the original albums released in this period. Danish super-bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen held the bass chair throughout, and the drummer is either Ed Thigpen, a fellow American expat who had settled in Copenhagen, or Alvin Queen.

It is quite amazing to hear the consistently high quality of these "outtakes" and to realize that there is enough material to fill 15 CDs in this series. Actually, many these "outtakes" tend to be more exciting than those takes that made the original albums. They may have been "cut" because they were slightly rough around the edges, but perhaps they were played with more freedom, abandon, and adventurous spirit. Very highly recommended to fans of Kenny Drew and piano trio jazz! Release produced by Makoto Kimata. Recorded 1978-1992.http://www.eastwindimport.com/product-info.asp?CategoryName=Pony+Canyon&ProductID=3200

Personnel: Kenny Drew (piano); Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass); Ed Thigpen (drums); Alvin Queen (drums)

Lullaby of Birdland

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Dusko Goykovich - RE:BOP

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:02
Size: 161,2 MB
Art: Front

( 9:29)  1. My Secret Love
(11:26)  2. Bei Dir war es immer so schön
( 8:51)  3. It's You or No One
( 7:16)  4. Not so Long Ago
( 9:13)  5. Back Beat Blues
( 9:00)  6. Autumn Leaves
( 8:15)  7. Rebop
( 6:28)  8. Misty

This is not a “late work” but rather a captivating proof of maturity, looking back at a career of six and a half decades. These recordings were made at Jazzclub Birdland in the beautiful Renaissance city of Neuburg on September 15th and 16th, 2017. A place that Dusko Goykovich has been connected with through his long friendship with Manfred Rehm. https://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/79172/dusko-goykovich/re-bop

Personnel:  Dusko Goykovich, trumpet, flugelhorn; Jesse Davis, alto saxophone; Edgardo 'Dado' Moroni, piano; Mads Vinding, bass, Alvin Queen, drums

RE:BOP

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Pharoah Sanders & William Henderson - A Prayer Before Dawn

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:05
Size: 128,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:11)  1. The Light at the Edge of the World
(5:18)  2. Dedication to James W. Clark
(5:22)  3. Softy for Shyla
(8:27)  4. The Greatest Love of All
(5:58)  5. Midnight at Yoshi's
(4:35)  6. Living Space
(6:37)  7. After the Rain
(7:09)  8. In Your Own Sweet Way
(7:24)  9. Christmas Song

Recorded in 1987, A Prayer Before Dawn is one of Pharoah Sanders' gentle, reflective dates. Some jazz fans may cringe at his versions of "Christmas Song" and Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All," but the music displays a heartfelt spirituality as opposed to financial slickness. It is the opposite of Sanders' characteristic fire-breathing tenor of his Impulse days, but there is nobility in taking this tranquil direction; Sanders refuses to repeat himself. He demands you listen with open ears, dropping preconceived notions. For instance, unlike the adult contemporary direction taken by one-time free jazz tenor titan Gato Barbieri, this date doesn't sound like a polished commercial venture as much as a quiet, meditative one. The use of tabla, sarod, and chandrasarang adds to the session's spiritual nature. ~ Al Campbell https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-prayer-before-dawn-mw0000273356

Personnel:  Pharoah Sanders - tenor saxophone, miscellaneous instruments;  William Henderson - piano, synthesizer;  John Hicks - piano (track 7);  Lynn Taussig - sarod, chandrasarang (track 5);  Alvin Queen - drums (track 5)

A Prayer Before Dawn

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Guy Lafitte, Wild Bill Davis, Alvin Queen - Three Men On A Beat

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:36
Size: 131.9 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[3:30] 1. Wrap On
[5:09] 2. Three Men On A Beat
[4:57] 3. Johnny Come Lately
[3:52] 4. The Jeep Is Jumpin'
[5:26] 5. I Should Care
[5:14] 6. Comin' On
[4:21] 7. Somebody Loves Me
[4:29] 8. Blue Lou
[5:35] 9. She's Funny That Way
[4:19] 10. Ooh Ah Dee Dee Dee
[5:13] 11. Free, Frantic And Funny
[5:24] 12. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

Drums – Alvin Queen; Organ – Wild Bill Davis; Tenor Saxophone – Guy Lafitte. Recorded on January 15th 1983 at Sysmo Studio, Paris.

A fine swing tenorman whose main inspiration was always Coleman Hawkins, Guy Lafitte appeared in many mainstream settings through the years. LaFitte started out paying clarinet including with swing-oriented gypsy bands. After switching to tenor in 1947 and moving to Paris, he worked with Big Bill Broonzy (1950), Mezz Mezzrow (1951), Bill Coleman (off and on starting in 1952), Dicky Wells and Buck Clayton. Through the years, Lafitte has frequently led his own mainstream combos and was also often utilized by veteran American players who were visiting France including Lionel Hampton (1956), Duke Ellington (for the 1961 film Paris Blues), Milt Buckner, Wallace Davenport, Arnett Cobb and Wild Bill Davis. As a leader, Guy Lafitte led many sessions during the 1954-93 period (particularly 1954-64) including for CFD, Duc-Thomson, Pathe, French Columbia, VSM, French RCA, Vega, Black & Blue and CTPL. ~bio by Scott Yanow

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Bennie Wallace - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:42
Size: 123.0 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[6:57] 1. Beyond The Bluebird
[5:12] 2. Serenade To Sweden
[6:32] 3. Little Surprise
[5:34] 4. Moon Song
[4:51] 5. Over The Rainbow
[6:04] 6. So In Love
[6:13] 7. Prelude To A Kiss
[7:19] 8. UMMG
[4:57] 9. Chelsea Bridge

Tommy Flanagan - Piano; Eddie Gomez - Bass; Alvin Queen - Drums; Bennie Wallace - Sax (Tenor). Recorded on April 29, 1998 - April 30, 1998, Clinton Recording Studios, New York, NY.

For this mostly relaxed date, tenor saxophonist Bennie Wallace (who plays pretty melodically throughout much of the session) is teamed with veteran pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Alvin Queen. Wallace does his best to temper some of his wilder interval jumps but it is such an integral part of his style that he does let loose in spots. The rhythm section is tight and tasteful and the quartet explores seven standards, plus an original apiece by Wallace ("Little Surprises") and Flanagan ("Beyond the Bluebird"). Other highlights include Duke Ellington's rarely played "Serenade to Sweden," "Moon Song" and "So in Love." ~Scott Yanow

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Bennie Wallace - The Talk of the Town

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:47
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:17)  1. The Best Things in Life Are Free
(6:23)  2. It's the Talk of the Town
(4:30)  3. Thangs
(6:44)  4. I Concentrate on You
(5:38)  5. The Picayune
(4:22)  6. It Has Happened to Me
(5:38)  7. If I Lose
(9:11)  8. Blues Velvet

Bennie Wallace's unique approach to the tenor sax makes him one of the easiest players to identify, with a constantly probing attack from many different angles, mixing in a bit of dissonance but never losing sight of the melody. This 1993 studio session for Enja featured his working group at the time, including guitarist Jerry Hahn, bassist Bill Huntington and drummer Alvin Queen. His take of "The Best Things in Life are Free" finds him opening alone, then gradually expanding his full bodied tenor as the rhythm section joins in for this old chestnut. "It's the Talk of the Town" sticks closer to the original melody, with some lush accompaniment by Hahn. His "Thangs," an imaginative reworking of the chord changes to "All the Things You Are," showcases Huntington. The sassy New Orleans flavored strut "Picayune" and the exquisite ballad "If I Lose You" are two additional examples of Wallace's immense gifts as a composer. No longer available outside of Europe, this rewarding CD is highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/talk-of-the-town-mw0000105246

Personnel: Bennie Wallace (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hahn (guitar); Bill Huntington (bass); Alvin Queen (drums).

The Talk of the Town

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Dr. Lonnie Smith, Alvin Queen - Lenox & Seventh

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:23
Size: 117.6 MB
Styles: Soul jazz, B3 Organ jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[6:18] 1. L.S. Blues
[5:50] 2. Slightly Monkish
[7:57] 3. Who Can I Turn To
[5:59] 4. Billie's Bounce
[9:07] 5. There Is No Greater Love
[4:55] 6. Minor Chant
[4:25] 7. Oleo
[6:48] 8. Chopsticks

LONNIE SMITH : organ; MELVIN SPARKS: guitar; ALVIN QUEEN : drums. Recorded at the Sysmo Studio, Paris ; May 28, 1985.

Dr. Lonnie Smith was born in Lackawanna, New York, into a family with a vocal group and radio program. Smith says that his mother was a major influence on him musically, as she introduced him to gospel, classical, and jazz music. He was part of several vocal ensembles in the 1950s, including the Teen Kings which included Grover Washington Jr. on sax and his brother Daryl on drums. Art Kubera, the owner of a local music store, gave Smith his first organ, a Hammond B3.

Lenox & Seventh

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