Sonny Stitt - How High The Moon

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:04
Size: 151,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:58)  1. Koko
(4:00)  2. Easy Living
(4:43)  3. It's Hipper Than That
(4:47)  4. How High The Moon
(3:49)  5. Lover Man
(5:28)  6. Fools Rush In
(7:13)  7. Lonesome Road
(4:23)  8. I Want To Go Home
(6:38)  9. Katea
(4:30) 10. Flame And Frost
(5:14) 11. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
(5:17) 12. Our Day Will Come
(5:57) 13. My Main Man

This is a 1998 CD reissue guaranteed to frustrate completists. Rather than bring back a complete session or two, the CD has "highlights" from three vintage Sonny Stitt dates owned by Chess and originally put out by Argo and Cadet. Five of the ten numbers cut at a superb 1958 quartet date with pianist Barry Harris (Burnin'), four of the six selections from a rare meeting with tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims (Inter-action) and four of the seven performances from a more routine encounter with trombonist Bennie Green and organist Bobby Buster (My Main Man) are included. The music is generally quite good (particularly "Koko," "How High the Moon," "Lonesome Road" and "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes"), and Stitt plays eight songs on tenor and five on alto, showing off his solid sense of swing and his command of the bebop vocabulary. One just wishes the music had been reissued more coherently. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/how-high-the-moon-mw0000036216

Personnel: Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Joe Diorio (guitar); Zoot Sims (tenor saxophone); Bennie Green (trombone); John Young , Barry Harris , Barry Harris Trio (piano); Bobby Buster (organ); Frank Gant, Dorel Anderson, Phil Thomas (drums).

How High The Moon

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Bennie Green Quintet - Glidin' Along

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:52
Size: 91,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. African Dream
(8:04)  2. Sweet Sucker
(5:11)  3. Glidin' Along
(8:29)  4. Green's Scene
(4:03)  5. Milkshake
(4:16)  6. Stardust
(4:00)  7. Expubidence

Bennie Green was one of the few trombonists of the 1950s who played in a style not influenced by J.J. Johnson (Bill Harris was another). His witty sound and full tone looked backwards to the swing era yet was open to the influence of R&B. After playing locally in Chicago, he was with the Earl Hines Orchestra during 1942-1948 (except for two years in the military). Green gained some fame for his work with Charlie Ventura (1948-1950) before joining Earl Hines' small group (1951-1953). He then led his own group throughout the 1950s and '60s, using such sidemen as Cliff Smalls, Charlie Rouse, Eric Dixon, Paul Chambers, Louis Hayes, Sonny Clark, Gildo Mahones, and Jimmy Forrest. 

Green recorded regularly as a leader for Prestige, Decca, Blue Note, Vee-Jay, Time, Bethlehem, and Jazzland during 1951-1961, although only one further session (a matchup with Sonny Stitt on Cadet in 1964) took place. Bennie Green was with Duke Ellington for a few months in 1968-1969 and then moved to Las Vegas, where he spent his last years working in hotel bands, although he did emerge to play quite well at the 1972 Newport Jazz Festival and in New York jam sessions.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bennie-green-mn0000160618/biography

Personnel: Bennie Green (trombone); Johnny Griffin (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Junior Mance (piano); Ben Riley (drums)

Glidin' Along

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Booker Ervin - Booker And Brass

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:58
Size: 115,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:40)  1. East Dallas Special
(4:29)  2. I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City
(4:31)  3. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
(5:06)  4. L.A. After Dark - Master Take-6
(3:22)  5. Kansas City
(4:39)  6. Baltimore Oriole
(4:21)  7. Harlem Nocturne
(4:16)  8. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
(4:13)  9. St. Louis Blues
(5:12) 10. L.A. After Dark - Alt. Take-3
(5:04) 11. L.A. After Dark - Alt. Take-7

To hear Booker Ervin as the leading solo voice on a recording with a larger ensemble is a treat, not only for his fans, but for those interested in modern big-band sounds grown from the bop era that are flavored with urban blues. A trio of different sessions done at Webster Hall in New York City features groups ranging from ten to eleven pieces, with personnel switched up, and no supplemental saxophonists. Freddie Hubbard is the only other soloist besides Ervin, the trombone section features top-rate players Bennie Green, Britt Woodman, and Garnett Brown, and the rhythm section of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Reggie Johnson, and drummer Lenny McBrowne is as solid as can be. The session is based entirely on themes dedicated to major cities in the U.S. ~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/booker-n-brass-mw0000041557

Personnel: Booker Ervin - tenor saxophone; Martin Banks (tracks 1-3, 5, 7 & 8), Johnny Coles (tracks 1, 2 & 5), Ray Copeland, Freddie Hubbard (tracks 3, 4 & 6-11), Charles Tolliver (tracks 4, 6 & 9-11), Richard Williams - trumpet; Garnett Brown (tracks 3, 4 & 6-11), Bennie Green, Britt Woodman (tracks 1, 2 & 5) - trombone; Benny Powell (tracks 1-3, 5, 7 & 8) - bass trombone; Kenny Barron - piano; Reggie Johnson - bass; Lenny McBrowne - drums; Teddy Edwards - arranger, conductor

Booker And Brass

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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 - 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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Bennie Green - Walking Down

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:01
Size: 93.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Trombone jazz
Year: 1956/2013
Art: Front

[12:00] 1. Walkin' (Down)
[12:18] 2. The Things We Did Last Summer
[ 5:37] 3. East Of The Little Big Horn
[ 5:44] 4. It's You Or No One
[ 5:19] 5. But Not For Me

The third of Bennie Green's three Prestige albums from 1955-1956 features the personable trombonist in a quintet with the young tenor-saxophonist Eric Dixon (here showing a strong Paul Gonsalves influence), and an obscure but swinging rhythm section (composed of pianist Lloyd Mayers, bassist Sonny Wellesley, and drummer Bill English). The solos are colorful if occasionally stumbling, and the arrangements of the four standards and Green's "East of the Little Big Horn" have their share of surprises; "Walkin'" and "The Things We Did Last Summer" are taken at two different tempos while "It's You or No One," normally a ballad, really cooks. ~Scott Yanow

Walking Down

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Cecil Payne - The Connection

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:46
Size: 70,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:53)  1. Stop and Listen
(5:48)  2. Born Again
(4:07)  3. Dear People
(5:38)  4. Kenny's One
(3:20)  5. Sister Carol
(3:38)  6. Mighty Fine Wine
(3:20)  7. It's Your Life

The Connection was an off-Broadway play that centered around a number of dope addicts waiting to score a fix from their dealer, with a musical score contributed by pianist Freddie Redd. After Redd recorded an album for Blue Note and left the production, baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne and pianist Kenny Drew composed songs for a brand new score, with Payne taking over Redd's duties providing music for the play. Payne expanded to a sextet from a quartet for his LP (issued by the Charlie Parker label), though his recording has been unjustly overlooked. Joined by Clark Terry and Bennie Green in the front line, and a rhythm section consisting of Duke Jordan, Ron Carter, and Charlie Persip, Payne's album also has much to offer. While it is difficult to conceptualize what the play was like by just listening to this recording, the music stands on its own. All of the musicians shine throughout the sessions. Though Payne is a fine soloist, Terry's almost conversational solos tend to steal the show. Long out of print, this excellent disc will likely be found only on jazz auction lists. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-music-from-the-connection-mw0000902716

Personnel:  Baritone Saxophone – Cecil Payne;  Bass – Ron Carter;  Drums – Charlie Persip;  Piano – Duke Jordan;  Trombone – Bennie Green;  Trumpet – Clark Terry

The Connection

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Bennie Green - Walkin' And Talkin'

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:46
Size: 93.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Trombone jazz
Year: 1959/2008
Art: Front

[5:20] 1. The Shouter
[6:15] 2. Green Leaves
[7:23] 3. This Love Of Mine
[9:47] 4. Walkin' And Talkin'
[6:03] 5. All I Do Is Dream Of You
[5:55] 6. Hoppin' Johns

Bass – George Tucker; Drums – Al Dreares; Piano – Gildo Mahones; Tenor Saxophone – Eddy Williams; Trombone – Bennie Green. Recorded on January 25, 1959.

All of Bennie Green's Blue Note records were rich with joyously swinging blues and bop, highlighted by his warm, friendly tone and good humor. Walkin' & Talkin', his third record for the label, was no exception to the rule. Leading a quintet that features tenor saxophonist Eddy Williams, pianist Gildo Mahones, bassist George Tucker and drummer Al Dreares, Green keeps things light, swinging and immensely entertaining. Mahones wrote three of the six songs, including the swinging opener "The Shouter" and the Latin-tinged "Green Leaves"; Green contributed the bluesy title track, and the group offers two standards -- engaging, lightly swinging readings of "This Love of Mine" and "All I Do is Dream of You." The result is no different than Green's two previous Blue Note records, but it's no less satisfying, and fans of swinging bop should be contented with Walkin' & Talkin'. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Walkin' And Talkin'

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Bennie Green & Paul Quinichette - Blow Your Horn

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:20
Size: 76.3 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1956/2012
Art: Front

[2:39] 1. Blow Your Horn
[3:03] 2. Blues In Lament
[2:48] 3. People Will Say We're In Love
[2:49] 4. Rhumblues
[3:03] 5. Takin' My Time
[2:19] 6. I Wanna Blow
[3:00] 7. The Heat's On
[2:42] 8. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
[3:10] 9. Humpty Dumpty
[2:56] 10. I Remember Harlem
[2:24] 11. Mine
[2:20] 12. The Heat's Off

Great album that features rare 50's sides by Bennie Green and Paul Quinichette. Tracks 1 to 6 are hard blowin' tracks from Bennie, with some of the best material he recorded away from the Prestige label. Tracks include "Blow Your Horn", "I Wanna Blow", "Rhumblues", and "Blues In Lament", and the set features him with orchestra or quintet (which features Billy Root on tenor and Cliff Small on piano). On tracks 7 to 12, the Quinichette sides are equally great, and have him playing with small – one of which includes Marlowe Morris on organ! Tracks on the Quinichette side include "The Heat's Off", "I Remember Harlem", and "The Heat's On". Great stuff, and a really tough one to find.

Blow Your Horn

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Bennie Green - Come Sunrise

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:24
Size: 179.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Trombone jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[5:15] 1. You're Mine You
[5:32] 2. Can't We Be Friends
[5:32] 3. All I Do Is Dream Of You
[5:31] 4. Melba's Mood
[8:58] 5. See See Rider
[6:49] 6. Congo Lament
[4:26] 7. Encore
[6:24] 8. That's All
[5:43] 9. Green Leaves
[5:24] 10. Bye Bye Blackbird
[6:00] 11. Lullaby Of The Doomed
[6:43] 12. This Love Of Mine
[6:01] 13. I Love You

Bennie Green was one of the few trombonists of the 1950s who played in a style not influenced by J.J. Johnson (Bill Harris was another). His witty sound and full tone looked backwards to the swing era yet was open to the influence of R&B. After playing locally in Chicago, he was with the Earl Hines Orchestra during 1942-1948 (except for two years in the military). Green gained some fame for his work with Charlie Ventura (1948-1950) before joining Earl Hines' small group (1951-1953). He then led his own group throughout the 1950s and '60s, using such sidemen as Cliff Smalls, Charlie Rouse, Eric Dixon, Paul Chambers, Louis Hayes, Sonny Clark, Gildo Mahones, and Jimmy Forrest. Green recorded regularly as a leader for Prestige, Decca, Blue Note, Vee-Jay, Time, Bethlehem, and Jazzland during 1951-1961, although only one further session (a matchup with Sonny Stitt on Cadet in 1964) took place. Bennie Green was with Duke Ellington for a few months in 1968-1969 and then moved to Las Vegas, where he spent his last years working in hotel bands, although he did emerge to play quite well at the 1972 Newport Jazz Festival and in New York jam sessions. ~bio by Scott Yanow

Come Sunrise

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Sonny Stitt & Bennie Green - My Main Man

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 35:01
Size: 80.2 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Saxophone jazz, Trombone jazz
Year: 1964/1972/2005
Art: Front

[4:31] 1. Flame And Frost
[4:49] 2. Let's Play Chess
[4:41] 3. Double Dip
[5:18] 4. Our Day Will Come
[5:57] 5. My Main Man
[5:15] 6. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[4:27] 7. Broilin'

My Main Man was a quintet date, teaming Stitt with trombonist Bennie Green. Joining the front line was Bobby Buster on organ, Joe Diorio on guitar and Dorrell Anderson on drums. This album features three hip bossa novas—Our Day Will Come, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes and Flame and Frost. The remaining tracks are blues.

Alto Saxophone – Sonny Stitt; Drums – Dorel Anderson; Guitar – Joe Diorio; Organ – Bobby Buster; Tenor Saxophone – Sonny Stitt; Trombone – Bennie Green.

My Main Man

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Bennie Green - Bennie Green Swings The Blues

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 74:09
Size: 169.7 MB
Styles: Bop, Trombone jazz
Year: 1960/2012
Art: Front

[3:57] 1. Been Walkin'
[3:07] 2. Blue Mambo
[3:51] 3. Love At Last
[4:43] 4. Penthouse Blues
[5:40] 5. Hop, Skip And Jump
[4:18] 6. A Bun Dance
[3:22] 7. Pennies From Heaven
[4:24] 8. Change Up Blues
[5:20] 9. The Shouter
[6:15] 10. Green Leaves
[7:23] 11. This Love Of Mine
[9:46] 12. Walkin' And Talkin'
[6:03] 13. All I Do Is Dream Of You
[5:54] 14. Hoppin' Johns

This budget LP from the long-defunct Mount Vernon label does not give the personnel or dates, kind of an odd omission considering that tenor saxophonist Jimmy Forrest was a much more commercial name in 1959 than leader/trombonist Bennie Green. The quintet set (which also features pianist Sonny Clark, bassist George Tucker and drummer Paul Gusman) does not quite stick to the blues, since there is a ballad and a couple of numbers based on other chord changes (including the familiar "I Got Rhythm" pattern). However, the playing is on a high level. Green and Forrest play off each other well, and the basic originals (highlighted by "Penthouse Blues" and "Hop, Skip and Jump") are all swinging. This obscure album has been reissued on CD in more recent times by Fresh Sound. ~Scott Yanow

Bennie Green (trombone); Jimmy Forrest (tenor saxophone); Sonny Clark (piano); Paul Gusman (drums). Recording information: Nola Penthouse Studios, New York, NY (1959).

Bennie Green Swings The Blues

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