The Capp-Pierce Juggernaut Feat.Joe Williams - Live At The Century Plaza

Styles: Jazz, Bop
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:40
Size: 98,1 MB
Art: Front

( 3:57) 1. Fiesta In Brass
( 5:42) 2. Basie's Deep Fry
( 4:35) 3. Souvenir
( 5:08) 4. Capp This!
( 5:02) 5. Tarragon
( 4:44) 6. Swing Shift
(10:51) 7. Joe's Blues
( 2:39) 8. What The World Needs Now Is Love

The packaging for this reissue CD could be better (it leaves out the personnel listing and even the recording date) but the Capp/Pierce Juggernaut is heard throughout the live session in fine form. The main soloists in the 1978 version of the 17-piece orchestra are pianist co-leader Nat Pierce, trumpeter Al Aarons, trombonist Buster Cooper, tenors Bob Cooper and Herman Riley, and altoist Marshall Royal; the other co-leader, Frank Capp, has a drum feature on "Capp This."

The Count Basie sound-alike band (which sounds surprisingly like Duke Ellington's on "Fiesta in Brass") performs Pierce's arrangements with swing and spirit. An added plus is that Joe Williams sits in for "Joe's Blues" (during which he sings some of his favorite blues stanzas) along with a throwaway version of "What the World Needs Now Is Love." By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-live-at-the-century-plaza-mw0000187957

Personnel: Drums – Frankie Capp; Piano – Nat Pierce; Bass – Chuck Berghoffer; Guitar – Ray Pohlman; Saxophone – Bob Cooper, Herman Riley, Lanny Morgan, Marshal Royal*, Bill Green; Trombone – Alan Kaplan, Britt Woodman, Buster Cooper, Garnett Bown; Trumpet – Al Aarons, Bill Berry, Bobby Shew, Frank Szabo; Vocals – Joe Williams

Live At Century Plaza

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Randy Brecker - Trumpet Summit Prague: The Mendoza Arrangements Live

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:06
Size: 109,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:02)  1. Village Dawn
(6:31)  2. Rhumba Alias
(8:19)  3. Lost in the Stars
(6:47)  4. Caravan
(7:18)  5. Creature of Many Faces
(7:15)  6. Three and One
(3:52)  7. Caravan - Encore

“High-brass firepower is the theme of Trumpet Summit Prague, and there’s plenty of the good stuff to go around, thanks to the on-point playing and improvising of a trio of trumpeters. Here, American players Randy Brecker and Bobby Shew, and Jan Hasenöhrl, founder of the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, join forces with the CSNO and St. Blaise’s Big Band in a 2012 concert at the celebrated Smetana Hall. But this project is less about a long-form cutting contest than it is about high-level sparring and appealing playfulness.  Take Thad Jones’ “Three and One”, where the trumpeters open with round robin volleys followed by unison lines and tangy three-part harmonies.  A short time later, Vince Mendoza’s arrangement has Hasenöhrl going baroque for a bracingly agile exchange with drummer Martijn Vink, followed by the big band’s return in full swing, underscored by the orchestra.  Brecker steps in for a similarly agile solo before the three recombine to restate the melody. Shew, a virtuoso player too often taken for granted, is center stage on a lush version of Kurt Weill’s “Lost in the Stars”; his flugelhorn, whether stating the melancholy melody or sailing in flights of improvisation, is a thing of beauty, expertly cushioned by the large ensemble.  Brecker is featured on two of his originals:  the album-opening “Village Dawn”, with its hopscotching melody and a bracing solo spiced with smears, high-speed runs and high-register forays; and the bluesy, hard-grooving “Creature of Many Faces”, which offers solo space for several other players.  The program, recorded for Czech television, also offers Mendoza’s own “Rhumba Alias” and a wild and wooly version of Ellington’s “Caravan”, with even more space for three part trumpet harmonies and round-robin soloing.  Three’s a crowd?  Not this time.” 

~ Philip Booth, JazzTimes

Personnel: Randy Brecker: trumpet; Bobby Shew: trumpet; Jan Hasenöhrl: trumpet; Czech National Symphony Orchestra; St. Blaise’s Big Band; Vince Mendoza: conductor

Trumpet Summit Prague: The Mendoza Arrangements Live

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Louis Bellson - The Louis Bellson Explosion

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:35
Size: 123,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:02)  1. Intimacy Of The Blues
(5:30)  2. Quiet Riots
(6:45)  3. Carnaby Street
(8:19)  4. Beyond Category
(4:33)  5. Chameleon
(5:17)  6. Open Your Window
(3:29)  7. Movin' On
(7:11)  8. Groove Blues
(5:25)  9. La Banda Grande

A fine mid-'70s date that was both a showcase for Bellson's bombastic drumming and also a nice straight-ahead date with great contributions from Blue Mitchell, Snookey Young, Dick Mitchell and others. It's been reissued on CD. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-louis-bellson-explosion-mw0000085941

Personnel: Drums – Louis Bellson; Bass – John Williams; Guitar – Mitch Holder; Keyboards – Nat Pierce, Ross Tompkins; Percussion – Dave Levine, Paulo Magalhaes; Saxophone – Bill Byrne , Dick Spencer, Don Menza, Larry Covelli, Pete Christlieb; Trombone – Ernie Tack, Gil Falco, Mayo Tiana, Nick DiMaio ; Trumpet – Blue Mitchell, Bobby Shew, Cat Anderson, Dick Cooper, Dick Mitchell, Snooky Young

The Louis Bellson Explosion

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Louie Bellson - Salute Disc 1 And Disc 2

Album: Salute Disc 1

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop

Year: 1994

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 62:24

Size: 143,8 MB

Art: Front

( 9:17)  1. Blowin' The Blues Away

( 8:44)  2. Counting Down

(12:04)  3. And Friends

( 6:02)  4. Satin Doll

( 8:15)  5. For Diz

( 7:44)  6. When You Wish Upon A Star

(10:16)  7. Tiny Capers

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Album: Salute Disc 2

 

Time: 61:07

Size: 140,9 MB

(28:19)  1. Salute / Drum Boogie / Bouncin' With Buddy / Jumpin' At The Woodside / Liza / Medley

( 8:49)  2. Jazzspeak: Remembering Six Of The Greatest

( 7:19)  3. Contributions Of The Great Inovators

( 2:28)  4. Those Deserving Greater Recognition

( 7:26)  5. Goodman, Dorsey, James, Ellington, Basie

( 3:25)  6. The Selections And Concepts On This CD

( 3:18)  7. Passing It On / Then And Now

This two-CD set has its interesting moments. Drummer Louie Bellson and his quintet (which also includes trumpeter Bobby Shew, George Young on tenor, pianist Willie Pickens and bassist Keter Betts) perform seven selections including Horace Silver's "Blowin' the Blues Away," George Young's "For Diz" and "When You Wish Upon a Star." The second CD has a 27-minute medley that pays tribute to drummers Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Art Blakey, Jo Jones, Shelly Manne and Chick Webb. In addition there is a nearly 34-minute "Jazzspeak" in which Bellson talks about the drummers, the many bandleaders that he has worked with and a variety of miscellaneous music-related subjects. Although interesting, much of it is probably not worth hearing twice. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/salute-mw0000648072

Personnel: Drums – Louie Bellson;  Bass – Keter Betts; Piano – Willie Pickens; Tenor Saxophone – George Young ; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bobby Shew

Salute Disc 1, Disc 2

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The Bobby Shew Quintet - Playing With Fire

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:57
Size: 98.3 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1997/2012
Art: Front

[ 5:48] 1. Prelude And Blues
[ 6:58] 2. Cloud Dance
[ 6:48] 3. Spiral Dreams
[10:57] 4. Playing With Fire
[ 6:50] 5. April Mist
[ 5:34] 6. Broadway Manor Mayhem

Master trumpeter Bobby Shew has turned out yet another remarkable album in a string of critically-acclaimed releases. In Playing With Fire, Shew pairs up with the legendary trumpeter Tom Harrell for a burning, high-adrenaline session. The twosome is bolstered by the crack rhythm section of bassist John Patitucci, keyboardist Kei Akagi and drummer Roy McCurdy.

Playing With Fire

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Toshiko Akiyoshi & Lew Tabackin Big Band - Salted Ginko Nuts

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1978
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 41:19
Size: 66,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:39)  1. Elusive Dreams
(6:25)  2. Lazy Day
(6:58)  3. Chasing After Love
(7:00)  4. Salted Ginko Nuts
(7:02)  5. Time Stream
(6:13)  6. Son Of Road Time

The Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Orchestra's first few recordings were made for RCA (usually released first in Japan and then later in the U.S.) but, after that association ended in 1978, most of the big band's recordings ended up being released by their own private Ascent label. The orchestra (based in Los Angeles) was one of the finest big bands of the era, as can be heard on this superior outing with Akiyoshi on piano, Tabackin displaying very different styles on tenor and flute, altoists Gary Foster and Dick Spencer, and trumpeter Bobby Shew. The leader's arrangements reflect both her roots in swinging bop and her Asian heritage. Highlights of the excellent set are "Chasing After Love" (based on "Lover"), the lyrical "Elusive Dream," and "Son of Road Time." 

~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/salted-ginko-nuts-mw0000351555

Toshiko Akiyoshi (piano);  Bobby Shew (trumpet);  Gary Foster (alto saxophone).

Salted Ginko Nuts

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Gerald Wilson Orchestra - State Street Sweet

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:28
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:46)  1. State Street Sweet
(6:06)  2. Lakeshore Drive
(7:50)  3. Lighthouse Blues
(5:22)  4. Come Back to Sorrento
(4:06)  5. The Serpent
(5:58)  6. The Feather
(6:29)  7. Caprichos
(8:48)  8. Jammin' in C
(6:37)  9. Carlos
(2:23) 10. Nancy Jo

Bandleader/arranger Gerald Wilson's first recording in several years is a success. He revisits "Carlos" (featuring trumpeter Ron Barrows) and "Lighthouse Blues" and performs some newer originals including "State Street Sweet," "Lakeshore Drive" and "Jammin' in C." With such soloists as trumpeters Barrows, Bobby Shew, Tony Lujan and Snooky Young, altoist Randall Willis, tenors Louis Taylor, Plas Johnson (showcased on "Come Back to Sorrento") and Carl Randall, pianist Brian O'Rourke and guitarists Anthony Wilson and Eric Otis, this edition of the Gerald Wilson Orchestra is quite strong but it is the leader's colorful and distinctive arrangements that give the band its personality. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/state-street-sweet-mw0000645243

Personnel: Eric Otis, Anthony Wilson (guitar); Louis Taylor, Jr. (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); John Stephens, Randall Willis (alto saxophone); Carl Randall, Jr., Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone); Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Bobby Clark , George Graham, Ron Barrows, Snooky Young, Tony Lujan, Frank Szabo, Bobby Shew (trumpet); Alex Iles, Thurman Green, Charles Loper, Ira Nepus (trombone); Maurice Spears (bass trombone); Brian O'Rourke (piano); Mel Lee (drums);  Gerald Wilson (Arranger).

State Street Sweet

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Bobby Shew Quintet With Carl Fontana - Heavyweights

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:59
Size: 165,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:49)  1. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
(6:33)  2. My Romance
(8:21)  3. Bags' Groove
(8:15)  4. But Not for Me
(8:46)  5. Autumn Serenade
(6:45)  6. The Girl from Ipanema
(6:57)  7. Just in Time
(9:24)  8. While My Lady Sleeps
(9:06)  9. Night and Day

Trumpeter Bobby Shew had been wanting to make an album with the under-recorded trombonist Carl Fontana for 25 years when he finally had the opportunity in 1995. Using swinging arrangements by the recently deceased Herbie Phillips, Shew and Fontana (who are assisted by pianist George Cables, bassist Bob Magnusson, and drummer Joe LaBarbera) perform a bop-oriented program comprised of nine jazz standards. The interplay between the two very fluent horns is consistently delightful, and the highlights include "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," "My Romance," "The Girl From Ipanema," and "While My Lady Sleeps." Recommended for straight-ahead jazz fans. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/heavyweights-mw0000180851

Personnel: Bobby Shew (trumpet); Carl Fontana (trombone); George Cables (piano); Joe La Barbera (drums).              

Heavyweights

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