Art Blakey - Dizzy Gillespie... - The Giants Of Jazz Disc 1, Disc 2

Album: The Giants Of Jazz Disc 1
Styles: Bop, Cool Jazz
Year: 1971
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:16
Size: 101,8 MB
Art: Front

(11:49) 1. Tin Tin Deo
(10:25) 2. Night in Tunisia
( 8:36) 3. Woody 'n' You
(13:24) 4. Tour de Force

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Album: The Giants Of Jazz Disc 2
Time: 46:40
Size: 107,5 MB

( 8:42) 1. Allen's Alley (Be Bop Tune)
(13:52) 2. Blue 'n'Boogie
( 4:52) 3. Everything Happens to Me
( 1:28) 4. Dizzy's Rap
( 9:25) 5. Blue Monk
( 8:19) 6. 'Round Midnight

This two-LP set, Giants of Jazz, (which should be reissued on CD) features a dream band comprised of trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt on alto and tenor, trombonist Kai Winding, pianist Thelonious Monk (in a very rare stint as a sideman), bassist Al McKibbon, and drummer Art Blakey.

In general, the all-stars perform up to their usual standards on such standards as "Night in Tunisia," "Woody 'N' You," "Tour de Force," "Allen's Alley," and "Blue 'N' Boogie." Monk is well-featured on "Blue Monk" and "'Round Midnight" but Stitt steals honors on "Everything Happens to Me." A historic and superlative set. By Scott Yanow
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-giants-of-jazz-mw0000346843

Personnel: Art Blakey – drums; Dizzy Gillespie – trumpet; Kai Winding – trombone; Sonny Stitt – saxophone; Al McKibbon – double bass; Thelonious Monk – piano

The Giants Of Jazz Disc 1, Disc 2

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Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - A Night in Tunisia

Styles: Jazz, Hard Bop
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:48
Size: 172,8 MB
Art: Front

(12:55)  1. A Night in Tunisia
( 7:16)  2. Off the Wall
( 9:46)  3. Theory of Art
( 8:12)  4. Couldn't It Be You?
( 6:30)  5. Evans
(12:30)  6. A Night in Tunisia [alt. take]
( 7:21)  7. Off the Wall [alt. take]
(10:14)  8. Theory of Art [alt. take]

All tracks have been digitally remastered. First Editions Series Recorded at RCA Studio 3, New York, New York on April 8, 1957. Originally released on Vik (1115). Includes liner notes by Nat Hentoff and Mark Gardner. Reissue producer: Ben Young. http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=2887752&style=music&fulldesc=T

Recording information: RCA Studios, New York, NY (04/08/1957).

Personnel: Art Blakey (drums); Jackie McLean (alto saxophone, percussion); Johnny Griffin (tenor saxophone, percussion); Bill Hardman (trumpet, percussion); Sam Dockery (piano); Spanky De Brest (bass).

A Night in Tunisia

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Thelonious Monk - The Complete London Collection (Vol 1), (Vol 2), (Vol 3)

Album: The Complete London Collection (Vol 1)

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:52
Size: 110,9 MB
Art: Front

(7:28)  1. Trinkle Tinkle (Take 3)
(2:23)  2. Crepuscule with Nellie (Take 2)
(5:52)  3. Darn That Dream
(4:08)  4. Little Rootie Tootie
(3:18)  5. Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland
(5:17)  6. Nice Work If You Can Get It
(5:13)  7. My Melancholy Baby
(3:30)  8. Jackieng
(7:16)  9. Loverman
(2:23) 10. Blue Sphere

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Album: The Complete London Collection (Vol 2)

Time: 44:49

Size: 105,7 MB

(5:28)  1. Evidence [Take 2]

(6:28)  2. Misterioso

(2:25)  3. Crepuscule With Nellie [Take 4]

(7:47)  4. I Mean You

(3:46)  5. Criss Cross

(6:10)  6. Ruby My Dear

(4:47)  7. Nutty [Take 2]

(7:55)  8. Hackensack

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Album: The Complete London Collection (Vol 3)

Time: 60:53

Size: 143,2 MB

(6:04)  1. Trinkle Tinkle (Take 2)

(5:19)  2. The Man I Love

(6:41)  3. Something In Blue

(1:15)  4. Introspection (Take 1)

(5:48)  5. Trinkle Tinkle (Take 1)

(2:21)  6. Crepuscule With Nellie (Take 3)

(4:18)  7. Nutty (Take 1)

(3:05)  8. Introspection (Take 3)

(9:04)  9. Hackensack (Take 1)

(7:14) 10. Evidence (Take 1)

(9:40) 11. Chordially (Improvisation)

This attractive box houses three previously released Black Lion CDs recorded at pianist/composer Thelonious Monk's final sessions as a leader; only a few dates with the Giants of Jazz were left in the future for Monk, who would soon retire altogether. Heard in unaccompanied piano solos and in a trio with bassist Al McKibbon and drummer Art Blakey, Monk is in surprisingly exuberant form, still very much at the peak of his powers. Although most of this music was last available in a "complete" Mosaic LP box set, there are actually three additional alternate takes included in the very enjoyable and somewhat definitive set. Highlights include "Little Rootie Tootie," "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland," "Blue Sphere," "Criss Cross," "The Man I Love" and "Evidence," but all 29 selections are well worth hearing. This is essential music for all serious Thelonious Monk collections; the solo performances in particular are quite memorable.By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-complete-london-collection-mw0000184702

Personnel: Piano – Thelonious Monk; Double Bass – Al McKibbon,  Drums – Art Blakey 

The Complete London Collection (Vol 1), (Vol 2), (Vol 3)

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Julius Watkins Sextet - Volumes 1 & 2

Styles: Jazz, Bop
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:18
Size: 97,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:21) 1. Linda Delia
(5:09) 2. Perpetuation
(4:28) 3. I Have Known
(4:53) 4. Leete
(4:45) 5. Garden Delights
(3:35) 6. Julie Ann
(4:18) 7. Sparkling Burgundy
(5:00) 8. B And B
(4:45) 9. Jor-du

Before the rise of bebop, the French horn was never heard as an improvising instrument in jazz. John Graas, who worked with Stan Kenton and Shorty Rogers, was the first jazz French horn player to lead his own record date, in 1953. However, Julius Watkins soon surpassed him as a major soloist and would be the top jazz French horn player to emerge until the 1990s. He appeared as a soloist on a Thelonious Monk date in 1953 next to Sonny Rollins, and in 1954-1955 recorded music for a pair of very rare Blue Note 10" LPs. All of the latter performances are on this CD reissue.

The 42 minutes of music find Watkins heading sextets with either Frank Foster or Hank Mobley on tenor, guitarist Perry Lopez, George Butcher or Duke Jordan on piano, bassist Oscar Pettiford, and Kenny Clarke or Art Blakey on drums. The French horn/tenor front line is an attractive sound (substitute Watkins for a trombonist, and one has the Jazz Crusaders); when Watkins formed Les Jazz Modes (which lasted for five years) a few years later, he would use Charlie Rouse as his tenor.

The French horn might be a difficult instrument, but Watkins played it with the warmth of a trombone and nearly the fluidity of a trumpet. All nine straight-ahead selections on his CD are group originals, with Duke Jordan's future standard "Jordu" being heard in one of its earliest versions. Overall, the music fits into the modern mainstream of the period. This early effort by Julius Watkins is easily recommended.By Scott Yanow
https://www.allmusic.com/album/julius-watkins-sextet-vols-1-2-mw0000601261

Personnel: French Horn – Julius Watkins; Bass – Oscar Pettiford; Drums – Art Blakey (tracks: 5 to 9), Kenny Clarke (tracks: 1 to 4); ; Guitar – Perry Lopez; Piano – Duke Jordan (tracks: 5 to 9), George Butcher (tracks: 1 to 4); Tenor Saxophone – Frank Foster (tracks: 1 to 4), Hank Mobley (tracks: 5 to 9)

Sextet Volumes 1 & 2

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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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Clifford Brown - Memorial Album (Remastered)

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1953/2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:12
Size: 165,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:14)  1. Bellarosa
(3:56)  2. Carvin' The Rock
(3:14)  3. Cookin'
(3:46)  4. Brownie Speaks
(4:51)  5. De-Dah
(4:19)  6. You Go To My Head
(3:51)  7. Carvin' The Rock (Alternate Take)
(3:08)  8. Cookin' (Alternate Take)
(4:05)  9. Carvin' The Rock (Alternate Take #2)
(4:02) 10. Wail Bait
(4:07) 11. Hymn Of The Orient
(3:56) 12. Brownie Eyes
(3:27) 13. Cherokee
(3:44) 14. Easy Living
(4:34) 15. Minor Mood
(4:07) 16. Wail Bait (Alternate Take)
(3:42) 17. Cherokee (Alternate Take)
(4:01) 18. Hymn Of The Orient (Alternate Take)

Clifford Brown emerged fully formed in 1953, a trumpeter gifted with an ebullient swing and technical skills that added polish and precision to fresh invention. Foregoing both the manic pyrotechnics of Dizzy Gillespie and the laconic introversion of Miles Davis, he also provided a stylistic model for jazz trumpeters that has never gone out of style. This CD combines Brown's first two recording dates as leader, placing him in quintet and sextet settings with some of the core musicians of the New York bop scene. The first nine tracks have Brown in an inspired quintet, prodded by the twisting, off-kilter solos and comping of the brilliant and underrated pianist Elmo Hope and the sparkling complexity of drummer Philly Joe Jones. While altoist Lou Donaldson is deeply in the sway of Charlie Parker, Brown sets his own course, whether it's the boppish "Cookin'" or the standard "You Go to My Head." 

The final nine tracks have Art Blakey's drums driving the sextet, while altoist Gigi Gryce's understated concentration acts as an effective foil to Brown's joyous, dancing lines. Taken at a medium up-tempo, "Cherokee" is one of Brown's most effective vehicles. The alternate takes from each session highlight Brown's spontaneous creativity, while Rudy Van Gelder's remastering adds fresh focus to both his gorgeous tone and the explosive drumming. ~ Stuart Broomer - Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Memorial-Album-Clifford-Brown/dp/B00005MIZ6

Personnel: Tracks 1-9: Clifford Brown - trumpet; Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone; Elmo Hope - piano; Percy Heath - bass; Philly Joe Jones - drums. Tracks 10-18: Clifford Brown - trumpet; John Lewis - piano; Gigi Gryce - alto saxophone, flute; Charlie Rouse - tenor saxophone; Percy Heath - bass; Art Blakey - drums

Memorial Album

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Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers - Oh-By The Way

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:08
Size: 101,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:30)  1. Oh-By The Way
(6:01)  2. Duck Soup
(4:54)  3. Tropical Breeze
(5:20)  4. One By One
(7:09)  5. Sudan Blue
(8:15)  6. My Funny Valetine
(5:56)  7. Alicia

When the Marsalis Brothers left The Jazz Messengers in early 1982, Wynton suggested that Art Blakey take a close listen to trumpeter Terence Blanchard (then 19) and 21-year old altoist Donald Harrison. The drummer took his advice, and after also adding young pianist Johnny O'Neal, Blakey soon had an exciting new version of The Jazz Messengers. Tenor saxophonist Bill Pierce and bassist Charles Fambrough were still present from the older band for this excellent LP. In the Blakey tradition, this set has five new compositions from bandmembers in addition to Wayne Shorter's "One by One" and the standard "My Funny Valentine"; the music is a fine example of high-quality hard bop.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/oh-by-the-way-mw0000526449

Personnel: Art Blakey (drums); Donald Harrison (alto saxophone); Bill Pierce (tenor saxophone); Terence Blanchard (trumpet); Johnny O'Neal (piano).

Oh-By The Way

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Miles Davis - Blue Period

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1953
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 19:04
Size: 17,9 MB
Art: Front

(9:56) 1. Bluing
(2:51) 2. Blue Room
(6:16) 3. Out Of The Blue

Blue Period is the third studio album by jazz musician Miles Davis. It was released in 1953 as a 10" LP, his second released by Prestige Records, recorded over the course of two 1951 recording sessions at New York's Apex Studio.

Bluing" and "Out of the Blue", two Davis compositions, were recorded on October 5, 1951, at the same session as the material for his first album The New Sounds (PRLP 124). "Blue Room", composed by Rodgers and Hart, was recorded earlier that year, at the same January 17 recording session as the three tracks used on the various artists LP Modern Jazz Trumpets (PRLP 113). This earlier session was Davis' first for Prestige.

The tracks on Blue Period were split when Prestige reconfigured its recordings for 12-inch LP. "Bluing" and "Out of the Blue" are featured on Dig (PRLP 7012), and two versions of "Blue Room" (including an alternate take) are on the CD of Miles Davis and Horns (originally PRLP 7025). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Period_(album)

Personnel: Miles Davis – trumpet; Jackie McLean – alto saxophone; Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone; Walter Bishop, Jr. – piano; Tommy Potter – double bass; Art Blakey – drums

On "Blue Room": Miles Davis – trumpet; Sonny Rollins – tenor saxophone; John Lewis – piano; Percy Heath – double bass; Roy Haynes – drums

Blue Period

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Art Blakey - Roots & Herbs

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:14
Size: 142,9 MB
Art: Front

(7:06)  1. Ping Pong
(6:05)  2. Roots And Herbs
(7:51)  3. The Back Sliders
(7:30)  4. United
(6:45)  5. Look At The Birdie
(6:55)  6. Master Mind
(7:12)  7. The Back Sliders (alt take)
(5:58)  8. Ping Pong (alt version)
(6:48)  9. United (alt version)

Originally recorded in 1961, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers' Roots & Herbs was first released in 1970 and then reissued on CD in 1999. Like many titles in the Blue Note catalog, this fine Blakey outing was initially shelved by Alfred Lion for unknown reasons; thankfully, considering Blakey's large array of available Blue Note albums, this wasn't necessarily a crisis. But now that it's out once again with a 24-bit digital makeover, Roots & Herbs is definitely a welcome addition to the drum master's CD catalog. Having already been a magnet for such talented hard bop players and writers as Hank Mobley, Benny Golson, Clifford Brown, Horace Silver (who helped form the original group), and Kenny Dorham, the Messengers' lineup of 1961 featured one of Blakey's best rosters: In addition to trumpeter Lee Morgan, who would alternate in the early '60s with Freddie Hubbard, the band featured tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter, pianists Walter Davis, Jr. and Bobby Timmons, and bassist Jymie Merritt. Feeding off six early compositions by Shorter (the CD also includes three alternate takes), all the players reel off topnotch solos atop Blakey's fluidly galvanizing swing beat. Highlights include "Ping Pong," "Look at Birdie," and "Master Mind," compositions that, in their fetchingly askew way, nicely foreshadow the wealth of ideas to come from Shorter's pen throughout the '60s. ~ Stephen Cook  http://www.allmusic.com/album/roots-herbs-mw0000254919

Roots & Herbs

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Lee Morgan - Here's Lee Morgan (Disc 1) And (Disc 2)

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:17 (Disc 1)
Size: 86,1 MB (Disc 1)
Time: 65:35 (Disc 2)
Size: 151,4 MB (Disc 2)
Art: Front

Disc 1

(5:17)  1. Terrible ''T''
(7:42)  2. Mogie
(5:36)  3. I'm A Fool To Want You
(6:03)  4. Running Brook
(6:13)  5. Off Spring
(6:23)  6. Bess

This CD reissue has its original six songs expanded to 11 with the inclusion of five alternate takes. The music is good solid hard bop that finds Lee Morgan (already a veteran at age 21) coming out of the Clifford Brown tradition to display his own rapidly developing style. Matched with Clifford Jordan on tenor, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Blakey, Morgan's album could pass for a Jazz Messengers set. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/heres-lee-morgan-mw0000188579

Personnel: Lee Morgan (trumpet, flugelhorn); Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone); Wynton Kelly (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Art Blakey (drums).

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Disc 2

(5:42)  1. Terrible ''T'' (take 7)
(6:53)  2. Terrible ''T'' (take 6)
(7:25)  3. Mogie (take 2)
(7:31)  4. Mogie (take 1 mono)
(5:54)  5. I'm A Fool To Want You (take 1)
(5:43)  6. I'm A Fool To Want You (take 2)
(6:16)  7. Running Brook (take 9)
(6:50)  8. Running Brook (take 4)
(6:39)  9. Off Spring (take 7)
(6:38) 10. Bess (take 3)

Here's Lee Morgan (Disc 1) (disc 2)

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Kenny Burrell - The Artist Selects

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:14
Size: 173,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:59) 1. This Time The Dream's On Me - Remastered 2000
(6:05) 2. Delilah - Remastered 2000
(3:49) 3. But Not For Me - Remastered
(4:42) 4. Phinupi - Remastered
(4:46) 5. Love, Your Spell Is Everywhere
(7:59) 6. Scotch Blues - Remastered
(4:43) 7. Weaver Of Dreams - Remastered 2000
(9:35) 8. Swingin' - Remastered 1987
(5:25) 9. Chitlins Con Carne
(2:43) 10. Soul Lament - Remastered 1999/Rudy Van Gelder Edition
(4:01) 11. Midnight Blue - Remastered
(5:30) 12. These Foolish Things - 20 Bit Mastering; 1998 Digital Remaster
(6:02) 13. Hackensack - Remastered
(4:49) 14. Freedom

Taking a cue from ECM’s: rarum series, Blue Note has initiated their own The Artist Selects series, allowing living legends to hand-pick their own “best-of” compilations and even sequence them. The inaugural portion of the series, launched Oct. 4, features albums from guitarist Kenny Burrell (pictured), also saxophonist Lou Donaldson, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and composer/arranger Gerald Wilson. The musicians cull their Blue Note releases, while Wilson selects from his Pacific Jazz recordings. Emphasizing the “artist selects” title, the liner notes contain first-person testimony from the artist of how the recordings came to be and how the process developed. By Katherine Silkaitis https://jazztimes.com/archives/blue-note-begins-artist-selects-series

Personnel: Guitar – Kenny Burrell (tracks: 1-14); Bass - Ben Tucker (tracks: 5,8,14), Major Holley (tracks: 9,11), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 4), Paul Chambers (tracks: 1,2,7), Sam Jones (tracks: 6); Congas – Candido Camero (tracks: 1,2), Ray Barretto (tracks: 5,8,11,14); Drums – "Philly" Joe Jones (tracks: 12,13), Art Blakey (tracks: 6,8), Bill English (tracks: 5,9,11,14), Kenny Clarke (tracks: 1,2,7), Shadow Wilson (tracks: 4); Organ – Jimmy Smith (tracks: 13); Piano – Bobby Timmons (tracks: 8), Duke Jordan (tracks: 5), Herbie Hancock (tracks: 5,14), Tommy Flanagan (tracks: 1,2,4,7); Tenor Saxophone – Frank Foster (tracks: 4), Junior Cook (tracks: 5), Stanley Turrentine (tracks: 9,14), Tina Brooks (tracks: 5,8); Trumpet – Louis Smith (tracks: 6)

The Artist Selects

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Kenny Burrell, Art Blakey - On View At The Five Spot Cafe

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:42
Size: 146,7 MB
Art: Front

( 9:48)  1. Birk's Works
(10:00)  2. Lady Be Good
( 8:23)  3. Lover Man
( 9:52)  4. Swingin'
(11:43)  5. Hallelujah
( 4:35)  6. Beef Stew Blues
( 5:29)  7. If You Could See Me Now
( 3:48)  8. 36-23-36

Kenny Burrell and Art Blakey played together infrequently during their careers, so this meeting of jazz minds is a welcome occasion. On View is a rather short set issued from club dates at the Five Spot Cafe in New York City. No matter the configuration, this is come-what-may jazz that has no pressurized content, and a relaxed atmosphere allowing the music to organically breathe and come alive naturally. This feeling comes to the fore right away on Dizzy Gillespie's "Birk's Works," a rather polite version as Burrell tosses out his discriminating versions of the melody. Incorrectly identified as "Lady Be Good," this is actually an adaptation reworked by Thelonious Monk titled "Hackensack." It's a fast jam kicked off by a signature Blakey solo, where the band flies by the seat of their pants, and good feelings are fostered through the simple and solid tenor work of Tina Brooks. Though not penned by Duke Ellington, the elegance he displayed and Burrell revered is quite evident during the ballad "Lover Man." Randy Weston's "Beef Stew Blues," Ray Brown's obscure "Swingin'," and the classic Tadd Dameron ballad "If You Could See Me Now" further illuminate how good this group could have been had they turned into a working unit. As the dawn of the '60s saw new breed jazz fomenting, Burrell, Blakey, and company proved you could still swing and remain melodic while creating new sonic vistas.~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-view-at-the-five-spot-cafe-mw0000191601

Personnel: Kenny Burrell - guitar; Tina Brooks - tenor saxophone (tracks 1–2, 4); Bobby Timmons - piano (tracks 1-4); Roland Hanna - piano (tracks 5-8); Ben Tucker - bass; Art Blakey - drums

On View At The Five Spot Cafe

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Art Blakey & The Jazz Messenger - Tough!

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:12
Size: 76,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:56)  1. Scotch Blues
(7:25)  2. Flight to Jordan
(5:11)  3. Transfiguration
(6:39)  4. Exhibit A
(5:59)  5. Gershwin Medley

Recorded in 1957 but not released until 1966, drummer Art Blakey's Tough! is a swinging hard bop date. Joining Blakey here is saxophone giant Jackie McLean, along with a stellar group of less-appreciated artists including trumpeter Bill Hardman, pianist Sam Dockery, and bassist Spanky DeBrest. While not as essential as some of Blakey's other Jazz Messengers releases, Tough! certainly holds its own. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/tough%21-mw0000874203

Personnel: Art Blakey - drums; Jackie McLean - alto saxophone;  Bill Hardman - trumpet;  Sam Dockery - piano;  Spanky DeBrest - bass

Tough!

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Ike Quebec - Ballads

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:43
Size: 122,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:24)  1. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
(4:54)  2. Born To Be Blue
(6:30)  3. The Man I Love - Digitally Remastered
(5:54)  4. Lover Man
(5:21)  5. Willow Weep For Me
(6:04)  6. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
(6:39)  7. Everything Happens To Me - Long Version
(5:10)  8. Imagination
(4:43)  9. There Is No Greater Love

Tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec always had a big, warm sound, and he was particularly expert on ballads. This 1997 sampler CD surprisingly does not have any examples of his early work on Blue Note in the mid- to late 1940s, instead concentrating on selections from four of Quebec's seven late-period Blue Note albums, a few songs originally issued as 45s, and "Born to Be Blue," which is taken from an album by guitarist Grant Green. The eight ballads are all standards and put the focus very much on Quebec, making for a fine mood album even if acquiring the full sessions (all but "It Might As Well Be Spring" are currently available on CD) is preferable. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/ballads-mw0000024976

Personnel: Ike Quebec (tenor saxophone); Sonny Clark (piano); Freddie Roach, Sir Charles Thompson, Earl Vandyke (organ); Grant Green, Willie Jones (guitar); Milt Hinton, Sam Jones (bass); Art Blakey, Louis Hayes, Al Harewood, J.C. Heard, Wilbert Hogan (drums).

Ballads

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Ike Quebec - Easy Living

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:54
Size: 131,2 MB
Art: Front

(9:01)  1. See See Rider
(6:51)  2. Congo Lament
(5:40)  3. Que's Pills
(6:15)  4. B.G.'s Groove Two
(9:48)  5. I.Q. Shuffle
(6:51)  6. I've Got A Crush On You
(7:24)  7. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
(5:01)  8. Easy Living

Ike Quebec is one of those funny figures in Blue Note Records' history. By the late fifties, after he'd been out of recording for a number of years, he was too old to really be at the hard-bop vanguard (he was born in 1918) but not old enough to be a senior statesman like Coleman Hawkins or Duke Ellington. Much of his involvement with the record label in those years was as an A&R man, scouting for new talent for the label's owner Alfred Lion. Considered in the context of musical fashion it might be fair to say that, at the dawn of the 1960s, his own musical style was a little dated, even passé. But to hell with fashion; Quebec was a terrific musician and wonderful, big blue tenor saxophone (and occasionally piano) player. His chops might have been rooted in the swing of the late 1930s and '40s but, as the saying goes, good taste never goes out of style. Music Matters has re-mastered Quebec's last outing for Blue Note, Easy Living, on two 45RPM vinyl records. Recorded in 1961 but released posthumously in 1987, the date features classic Rudy Van Gelder recording sound, recaptured from the original master tapes on state of the art equipment. As with all of the Music Matters Blue Note reissues, the goal is to create an all  analog record with the best possible sonics. The first disk adds Stanley Turrentine on a second tenor, and Bennie Green on trombone. These tracks are tight and well-written, with excellent solos from both Quebec and with a more 1960s modern playing style Turrentine. The opening "See See Rider" is a greasy slow chitlin circuit blues that sets the tone for the whole record. It's hard to go wrong with Mr. T on anything, and Sonny Clark's comping and occasional fills are shear perfection. But the real meat of the album is on the last three tunes. Turrentine and Green bow out, leaving Quebec in the sole spotlight. 

His tone is warm, smooth and full, and his balladeering is second to none. "Nancy" possesses the kind of playing that never grows old: tender and emotive, but powerful too. It doesn't hurt that the recording captures the saxophone with exceptional realism, even if the overall recording retains that period Blue Note sound. The title track closes the date with more brilliant slow play, with Quebec showing his period roots. It's clear that he came from the school that began with Coleman Hawkins and later begat Lester Young and, especially, Ben Webster. That's a favorable comparison and Quebec plays as well as any of them.  It's sad to note that within a year of recording Easy Living, both Quebec and Clark would be dead (Quebec from lung cancer and Clark from fast living). But the record is testament to the shear quality of their talent. Some recordings are timeless, and this is one of them. Easy Living is a record always worth hearing and appreciating. ~ Greg Simmons https://www.allaboutjazz.com/easy-living-ike-quebec-blue-note-records-review-by-greg-simmons.php

Personnel: Ike Quebec: tenor saxophone; Stanley Turrentine: tenor saxophone; Bennie Greene: trombone; Sonny Clark: piano; Milt Hinton: bass; Art Blakey: drums.

Easy Living

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Thelonious Monk Septet - Monk's Music

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:06
Size: 112,2 MB
Art: Front

( 0:52)  1. Abide With Me
(11:22)  2. Well You Needn't
( 5:24)  3. Ruby, My Dear
( 5:06)  4. Off Minor - Take 5
( 5:13)  5. Off Minor - Bonus Track
(10:44)  6. Epistrophy
( 4:36)  7. Crepuscule With Nellie - Take 6 / Mono
( 4:45)  8. Crepuscule With Nellie - Bonus Track

Many albums in the Original Jazz Classics reissue series include alternate takes or tracks recorded for, but ultimately not included on, the original vinyl LP. The label's 2011 Remasters edition of pianist Thelonious Monk's Monk's Music (Riverside, 1957) is no exception but is something of a first, in that "Blues For Tomorrow," the 13:33 minute bonus track, does not include a single note from the leader. The track was recorded on June 25, 1957, in the closing minutes of an otherwise unproductive session. Monk, unusually, arrived on time, but was distracted with worry about his wife, Nellie, who was in hospital. Drummer Art Blakey arrived an hour late and then had to assemble and mic up his kit. The band had difficulty following Monk's directions, leading Monk to exclaim to tenor saxophonists Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane, "You're the great Coleman Hawkins, right? You're the guy who invented the tenor saxophone, right? Your'e the great John Coltrane, right? Well, the music is in the horn. Between the two of you, you should be able to find it." Eventually, towards the due end of the session, Monk threw in the towel and went home. Producer Orrin Keepnews, desperate to salvage some releasable music from the date, asked the remaining sextet to record a blues, which was quickly put together by alto saxophonist Gigi Gryce. "Blues For Tomorrow" was not included on the original Monk's Music, and was first released on a Riverside various artists compilation. (The alternate takes of "Off Minor" and "Crepuscule With Nellie" have long been included on reissues of Monk's Music). Happily, a second session on June 26 went resoundingly well, producing the other eight tracks which make up the Remasters disc which also includes, in the 00:55 minute opener, "Abide With Me," a second Monkless item, this one arranged by Monk for the horns only, as a curtain-raiser to the album proper. Monk's horns-rich arrangements, and the quality of the soloists to hand, has made Monk's Music a well-loved and important part of Monk's canon. Compositionally, however, it marked time. Putting aside its immediate predecessor, Thelonious Himself (Riverside, 1957), on which the mostly unaccompanied Monk focused on standards, it followed Brilliant Corners (Riverside, 1956), on which Monk led a quintet/septet on mostly freshly composed material. Most of the tunes on Monk's Music would have been familiar to the assembled musicians, who were thrown on June 25 by new and tricky arrangements and, very likely, by Monk's distracted mood.  Joe Tarantino's 24-bit remaster does Monk's Music proud, and it is appropriate to have "Blues For Tomorrow" on the same disc even if there's no Monk. ~ Chris May https://www.allaboutjazz.com/monks-music-thelonious-monk-original-jazz-classics-remasters-review-by-chris-may.php

Personnel: Thelonious Monk: piano (2-8); Ray Copeland: trumpet (1, 2, 4-9); Gigi Gryce: alto saxophone (1, 2, 4-9); John Coltrane: tenor saxophone (1, 2, 4-9); Coleman Hawkins: tenor saxophone; Wilbur Ware: bass (2-9); Art Blakey: drums (2-9).

Monk's Music

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Hank Mobley Quartet - Hank Mobley Quartet

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 25:13
Size: 58,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. Hank's Prank
(3:47)  2. My Sin
(4:31)  3. Avila And Tequila
(3:40)  4. Walkin' The Fence
(4:32)  5. Love For Sale
(4:11)  6. Just Coolin'

Hank Mobley Quartet is the debut album by jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley released on the Blue Note label in 1955 as BLP 5066, a 10" LP. It was recorded on March 27, 1955, and features Mobley, Horace Silver, Doug Watkins and Art Blakey. The album was released on CD only in Japan, as a limited edition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Mobley_Quartet

Personnel:  Hank Mobley - tenor saxophone; Horace Silver - piano; Doug Watkins - bass; Art Blakey - drums

Hank Mobley Quartet

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Lee Morgan - Lee-Way

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1960/2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:25
Size: 90,7 MB
Art: Front

( 9:25)  1. These Are Soulful Days
( 9:41)  2. The Lion And The Wolf
(12:09)  3. Midtown Blues
( 8:10)  4. Nakatini Suite

This date was one of trumpeter Lee Morgan's more obscure Blue Note sessions, but fortunately, it has been reissued on CD. Matched with altoist Jackie McLean, pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Art Blakey, Morgan interprets two of Cal Massey's compositions, McLean's "Midtown Blues" and his own blues "The Lion and the Wolf." The music is essentially hard bop with a strong dose of soul; the very distinctive styles of the principals are the main reasons to acquire this enjoyable music. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/lee-way-mw0000125017

Personnel:  Lee Morgan - trumpet; Jackie McLean - alto saxophone; Bobby Timmons - piano; Paul Chambers - bass; Art Blakey - drums

Lee-Way

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Dizzy Reece - Comin' On

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:53
Size: 153,8 MB
Art: Front

( 6:42)  1. Ye Olde Blues
( 5:44)  2. The Case Of The Frightened Lover
( 9:05)  3. Tenderly
( 8:30)  4. Achmet
(10:11)  5. The Story Of Love
( 6:42)  6. Sands
( 6:47)  7. Comin' On
( 6:50)  8. Goose Dance
( 6:17)  9. The Things We Did Last Summer

For a short time in the late '50s trumpeter Dizzy Reece was an up-and-coming jazz artist. However, success eluded him and he quietly faded into obscurity, only occasionally releasing material after the early '60s. As a matter of fact, the sessions that became Comin' On! languished in the Blue Note vaults for almost four decades. Rediscovered in 1999, these dates feature six well-rounded hard bop compositions by Reece along with three standards. The tracks from April 3, 1960, not only document the Blue Note debut of tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine but also employ the talents of the Jazz Messengers' rhythm section of the time, pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Jymie Merritt, and drummer Art Blakey. By July 17, 1960, the only musician remaining from the previous date was Turrentine, sharing tenor duties with Musa Kaleem, who is also heard on flute. (The later session's rhythm section had changed to pianist Duke Jordan, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Al Harewood.) Neglected, although spirited, sessions from an underrated trumpeter and composer. ~ Al Campbell https://www.allmusic.com/album/comin-on%21-mw0000257295

Personnel:  Dizzy Reece - trumpet, conga;  Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone; Musa Kaleem - tenor saxophone, flute;  Bobby Timmons, Duke Jordan - piano; Jymie Merritt, Sam Jones - bass;  Art Blakey, Al Harewood - drums.

Comin' On

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Bluesiana Triangle - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:56
Size: 98.3 MB
Styles: Jazz, Blues, R&B
Year: 1990
Art: Front

[ 5:43] 1. Heads Up
[ 5:34] 2. Life's A One Way Ticket
[10:12] 3. Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me
[ 3:41] 4. Need To Be Loved
[ 4:47] 5. Next Time You See Me
[ 6:18] 6. When The Saints Go Marchin' In
[ 6:36] 7. For All We Know

Backing Vocals – David Newman (tracks: 3), Essiet Okon Essiet (tracks: 3); Bass – Essiet Okon Essiet; Drums – Art Blakey, Joe Bonadio (tracks: 7); Organ [Hammond], Guitar – Dr. John; Percussion – Joe Bonadio; Piano – Art Blakey (tracks: 7), Dr. John; Saxophone, Flute – David Newman; Vocals – Art Blakey, Dr. John. Recorded And Mixed At Acme Studios, Mamaroneck, NY (March 1990).

Three veteran greats combine efforts on this recording for a back-to-basics album of blues-oriented material. In a classic jam session format, Art Blakey, Dr. John and David “Fathead” Newman join forces in a diverse and frolicsome encounter of three virtuosos. Coming from three different musical backgrounds, the triumvirate finds common ground in the blues and milks it for all it’s worth. From swing to second-line, ballads to boogie, funk, modern jazz, honky-tonk…Blakey, Dr. John and Newman create a soulful spectrum of tunes.

In the spirit of a true jam session, the album was recorded in just two days, with the artists running through each number until they were comfortable with it. Producer Joe Ferry then caught the artists live without a lot of overdubbing to bring out the true spirit of the sessions.

All three brought material to the session. More notable tracks include Dr. John’s arrangement of “Shoo Fly Don’t Bother Me.” With a laid-back, second-line funk groove, the vocals are done as a call-and-response with Dr. John’s lazy, fuzzy phrasing answered by the tune’s refrain. Fathead plays a mean flute solo and the bass vamps on the groove for the last several minutes as Blakey and percussionist Joe Bonadio exchange licks, releasing the thunder they’ve been building up. ~Anthony Clark

Bluesiana Triangle   

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