Clifford Jordan - Drink Plenty Water

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:41
Size: 82,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:55) 1. The Highest Mountain
(3:08) 2. The Witch Doctor's Chant (Ee-Bah-Lickey-Doo)
(3:08) 3. Drink Plenty Water and Walk Slow
(3:13) 4. I've Got A Feeling For You
(3:09) 5. My Papa's Coming Home
(9:32) 6. Talking Blues
(9:33) 7. Talking Blues (Instrumental)

This long-lost 1974 recording from the late Chicago tenor sax master is finally available. Originally recorded for the Strata-East label, Drink Plenty Water is Clifford's only primarily vocal recording release, with inventive arrangements courtesy of bassist Bill Lee. Joining Jordan are Dick Griffin on trombone, Bill Hardman on trumpet, Charlie Rouse on bass clarinet, Strata East co-founder Stanley Cowell on piano, Billy Higgins on drums, Bernard Fennell on cello, and Lee and Sam Jones on bass.

Her late husband's passion project, Sandy Jordan spearheaded the effort to release Drink Plenty Water. Jordan’s daughter, Donna Jordan Harris sings lead vocals on several tracks, backed by remaining members of the ensemble. The vocal arrangements bring an unexpected new take to the compositions “Witch Doctor’s Chant (Ee-Bah-Lickey-Doo)” and “I’ve Got a Feeling for You” that first appeared on Clifford Jordan’s 1968 album Soul Fountain. The vocal arrangement for “The Highest Mountain” on Drink Plenty Water makes it the most unique treatment of one of his finest compositions.

Additional tracks include “My Papa’s Coming Home,” a rhythm changes vamp with what trombonist Griffin describes as a “stunning” solo from the leader, and “Drink Plenty Water and Walk Slow,” a short track featuring Fennell and Jordan under a spoken word story from actor David Smyrl. Other highlights of the 35-minute-long recording are the two tracks titled “Talking Blues” a spoken-word story from Smyrl about a hustler living the fast life, followed by the instrumental track that reveals great interplay between Jordan, Hardman, Fennell and Griffin.
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Personnel: Clifford Jordan (ts,composer), Bill Hardman (tp), Dick Griffin (tb), Charlie Rouse (b-cl), Stanley Cowell (p), Bernard Fennell (cello), Bill Lee (b,arr), Sam Jones (b), Billy Higgins (d), Donna Jordan Harris and David Smyrl (vcl) and Kathy O'Boyle, Denise Williams and Muriel Winston (backing-vcl).

Drink Plenty Water

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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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Lou Donaldson - Sunny Side Up

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:55
Size: 103,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:41)  1. Blues for J.P.
(5:16)  2. The Man I Love
(5:53)  3. Politely
(3:58)  4. It's You or No One
(5:22)  5. The Truth
(6:10)  6. Goose Grease
(6:34)  7. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
(5:58)  8. Way Down Upon the Swanee River

Sunny Side Up is closer to hard bop than the straight-ahead bop that characterized Lou Donaldson's '50s Blue Note records. There's a bit more soul to the songs here, which pianist Horace Parlan helps emphasize with his lightly swinging grooves. The pair help lead the group which also features trumpeter Bill Hardman, drummer Al Harewood and bassist Sam Jones (Laymon Jackson plays bass on two of the eight songs) through a mellow set of standards and bluesy originals from Donaldson and Parlan. Even the uptempo numbers sound relaxed, never fiery. Despite the general smoothness of the session, Donaldson stumbles a little the quotation of "Flight of the Bumblebee" on "Blues for J.P." is awkward, as is the snippet of "Pop Goes the Weasel" on "Politely," and "Way Down Upon the Swanee River" sounds lazy but there's enough solid material to make Sunny Side Up a worthwhile listen for fans of Donaldson and early-'60s hard bop. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/sunny-side-up-mw0000176137

Personnel:  Lou Donaldson - alto saxophone; Horace Parlan - piano; Bill Hardman - trumpet;  Laymon Jackson - bass Sam Jones - bass;  Al Harewood - drums

Sunny Side Up

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Bill Hardman - Focus

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1980
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:36
Size: 89,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:03)  1. Avila & Tequila
(6:19)  2. Cubicle
(6:07)  3. Too Little, Too Late
(5:39)  4. Focus
(9:14)  5. My One And Only Love
(5:11)  6. Minority

Always a bit underrated and overshadowed, trumpeter Bill Hardman was a solid soloist in the tradition of Clifford Brown. He led three Muse albums during 1978-81, of which this was the second. Matched as usual with his fellow hard bop stylist, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, along with trombonist Slide Hampton, pianist Walter Bishop, Jr., bassist Leroy Williams and drummer Stafford James, Hardman is heard in top form on such numbers as Hank Mobley's "Avila & Tequila," Tadd Dameron's "Focus" and "Minority." ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/focus-mw0000923787

Personnel:  Bill Hardman - trumpet;  Junior Cook - tenor saxophone;  Slide Hampton - trombone;  Walter Bishop Jr. - piano;  Stafford James - bass;  Leroy Williams - drums;  Mark Elf - guitar

Focus

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Bill Hardman Quintet - Saying Something

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:20
Size: 113,5 MB
Art: Front

( 7:12)  1. Capers
( 5:57)  2. Angel Eyes
( 9:53)  3. Jo B
(10:46)  4. Buckeye Blues
( 6:12)  5. Assunta
( 5:21)  6. It Ain't Happened Yet
( 3:57)  7. With Malice Towards None (Bonus Track)

Trumpeter Bill Hardman's debut album as a leader was his only chance to lead a record date until 1978. Teamed up with altoist Sonny Red, pianist Ronnie Matthews, either Doug Watkins or Bob Cunningham on bass, and drummer Jimmy Cobb, Hardman performs originals and obscurities, with "Angel Eyes" being the only standard. 

The music overall is solid hard bop, very much of the period but still fairly fresh. This music was last available on a 1986 reissue Savoy LP. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/saying-something-mw0000895310 

By the time trumpeter Bill Hardman made his leader debut for Savoy with this album, his grasp of the contemporary bop idiom had established him as a prolific and reliable sideman. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1933, he gigged with Tadd Dameron while a teenager, and recorded rhythm and blues with Tiny Bradshaw between 1952 and 1954. He played with Charles Mingus in 1956, along with alto sax Jackie McLean, and their friendship led to a McLean album introducing Bill, Jackie s Pal , recorded that summer. Shortly thereafter both joined Art Blakey s Jazz Messengers, where Bill began to gain recognition as a soloist during the following two years Saying Something CD music. In this 1961 debut album his only chance to lead a record date until 1978 he teamed up with altoist Sonny Red, pianist Ronnie Mathews, either Doug Watkins or Bob Cunningham on bass, and drummer Jimmy Cobb Saying Something album for sale. The music overall, mostly originals with Angel Eyes the only standard, is solid hard bop, very much of the period but full of the energy, fire and invention required Saying Something songs. Urgent and edgy, with a raw, tart, and slightly pinched tone, Hardman s playing was well-suited to the soulful style Saying Something buy CD music. He believed in the jazz ideal of Saying Something while there is still time, and remained active until his death in Paris in 1990. His message speaks for itself. Saying Something album for sale by Bill Hardman Quintet / Bill Hardman was released Oct 02, 2012 on the Fresh Sound label.

Personnel:  Bill Hardman (trumpet), Sonny Red (alto sax, except on #7), Ronnie Mathews (piano), Bob Cunningham (bass), Jimmy Cobb (drums).

Saying Something

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Bill Hardman - What's Up

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:33
Size: 154,9 MB
Art: Front

( 5:25)  1. Fuller Up
( 9:22)  2. I Should Care
( 8:20)  3. Whisper Not
(10:31)  4. Straight Ahead
( 7:10)  5. P.B.
( 8:57)  6. Like Someone In Love
( 7:42)  7. Yo What's Up
(10:03)  8. Rooms Blues

A reliable hard bop-oriented trumpeter, Bill Hardman never became famous, but he helped out on many sessions. While a teenager, Hardman gigged with Tadd Dameron, and after graduating high school he was with Tiny Bradshaw (1953-1955). He debuted on record with Jackie McLean (1955), played with Charles Mingus (1956), and gained recognition for his work with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (1956-1958). 

Hardman worked with Horace Silver (1958), Lou Donaldson (on and off during 1959-1966), re-joined Blakey twice (1966-1969 and in the late '70s), was with Mingus again during parts of 1969-1972, and led a group with Junior Cook (1979-1981). Bill Hardman had an appealing style in the Clifford Brown tradition and recorded as a leader for Savoy (1961) and Muse. 

~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/whats-up/159915066

Personnel:  Bill Hardman - trumpet;  Junior Cook - tenor saxophone;  Robin Eubanks - trombone;  Mickey Tucker - piano;  Paul Brown - bass;  Leroy Williams - drums

What's Up 

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