Dan Barrett's International Swing Party Band - Tour (Live!, Vol.1, Vol.2)

Dan Barrett's International Swing Party Band - Tour (Live!, Vol. 1)
Styles: Vocal, Trombone Jazz
Year: 2012
Time: 68:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 157,9 MB
Art: Front

(7:13) 1. Back Home Again In Indiana (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(6:07) 2. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(9:31) 3. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles, Nicki Parrott & Dan Barrett)
(5:22) 4. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(8:45) 5. Tea For Two (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(4:37) 6. Let's Do It (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(5:27) 7. Montevideo (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(7:25) 8. The King (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(8:01) 9. Bochum Electricity Blues (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(6:07) 10. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)

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Dan Barrett's International Swing Party Band - Tour (Live!, Vol. 2)

Time: 65:35
Size: 151,1 MB

(3:22) 1. Neal's Deal (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(3:21) 2. Georgia Jubilee (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(5:51) 3. Waste No Tears (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(3:08) 4. Whoa Babe (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(4:37) 5. Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(4:22) 6. Cavernism (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(5:08) 7. Absolutely, Positively (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles & Bernard Flegar)
(5:14) 8. With 'Em (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles & Bernard Flegar)
(6:29) 9. One O'clock Jump (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(4:45) 10. Montevideo (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(6:06) 11. If I Had You (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(6:57) 12. Sweet Sue (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)
(6:09) 13. Hindustan (Live) (Feat. Butch Miles)

I wasn’t there. I wish I had been. But the good news is that two compact discs from this band’s German tour have been issued on the Echoes of Swing label (EOSP 4058 / 4059, available separately) and they come in the ear like honey. Hot honey, if you must know: a really delicious sensation.

The gracious swingsters on these discs are Duke Heitger, trumpet / vocal; Dan Barrett, trombone, head arrangements, vocal; Dan Block, clarinet, alto, tenor; Engelbert Wroebel, clarinet, soprano, tenor; Chris Hopkins, piano; Eddie Erickson, guitar, banjo, vocal; Nicki Parrott, string bass, vocal; Butch Miles, drums; Bernard Flegar, drums (on two tracks). The material comes from March 2010, and each CD has expansive notes by Dan Barrett. This tour was the idea of the very knowing and generous jazz fan / collector / scholar / promoter Manfred Selchow, who has written two splendid books on his heroes Edmond Hall and Vic Dickenson (PROFOUNDLY BLUE and DING DING! respectively) so you know he has good taste in musicians and bands.

Volume One begins with a string of “old favorites” played with snap and crackle not to ignore pop: INDIANA and SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET, followed by BLUES MY NAUGHTY SWEETIE GIVES TO ME, with echoes of Louis and Eddie Condon and the Hampton Victors, then Eddie convinces he us he is behaving well on KEEPIN’ OUT OF MISCHIEF NOW. The reed players and rhythm make us forget that TEA FOR TWO is ninety years old, and Nicki purrs her way through LET’S DO IT (with some nifty new lyrics as well). A rhythm section feature, MONTEVIDEO, is both startling and supple, evoking a late Ellington trio and then everyone evokes a compact powerful version of the Forties Basie band with THE KING. But wait! There’s more. A nice long blues, BOCHUM ELECTRICTY BLUES, and a sweet Duke vocal / trumpet performance of DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO MISS NEW ORLEANS? (which he does).

Volume Two opens with the bright NEAL’S DEAL (a Neal Hefti line for the 1951 Count Basie Sextet), then moves back nearly thirty years for GEORGIA JUBILEE, a memory of a pre-King-of-Swing record date led by Benny, with Coleman Hawkins on the tenor, and the Sidney Bechet WASTE NO TEARS featuring Block and Wroebel. Dan Barrett sings and swings mightily on the Lionel Hampton classic WHOA BABE, and then Nicki asks the troubling question in swing, IS YOU IS OR IS YOU AIN’T MY BABY. (We is, Nicki. We can’t help it nohow.)

An extraordinary, jumping version of Earl Hines’ CAVERNISM follows, then Eddie woos the crowd, which he does so well, with ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, a sweet love song written by the unheralded member of the Great American Songbook fraternity, Jabbo Smith. WITH ‘EM, Dan Barrett’s clever, hot, boppish take on I GOT RHYTHM, keeps the imagined dancers hopping, leading into a sleekly intense ONE O’CLOCK JUMP. Another delightful version of MONTEVIDEO follows remarkable improvisations on the theme and a tender IF I HAD YOU, before the disc romps home with SWEET SUE and HINDUSTAN.

If you know the players and singers here, you won’t have to be convinced of the quality of the music on these discs. But these performances are sharply executed when the music calls for it (this band isn’t ashamed of rehearsing) and loose, fervent, courageous when it’s time for jamming. These are live performances, so you can hear the good humor and delight in the various rooms and the sound is fine, too.

My only problem is that I file my CDs alphabetically according to the leader or the musician / singer I gravitate towards. I can’t be fair to anyone by putting these CDs under B for Barrett or H for Hopkins. It seems I have to buy multiple copies to satisfy my ethical self. You might not be burdened by such demands, but you will be delighted by every note on both discs.
https://jazzlives.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/chris-hopkins-presents-dan-barretts-international-swing-party-2010-featuring-butch-miles/

Personnel: Dan Barrett, trombone, head arrangements, vocal; Dan Block, clarinet, alto, tenor; Engelbert Wroebel, clarinet, soprano, tenor; Chris Hopkins, piano; Eddie Erickson, guitar, banjo, vocal; Nicki Parrott, string bass, vocal; Butch Miles, drums; Bernard Flegar, drums (on two tracks); Duke Heitger, trumpet /vocal

Tour 2010 (Live!,Vol.1,Vol.2)

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Butch Miles Sextet - Miles And Miles Of Swing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:51
Size: 137.0 MB
Styles: Swing, Cool jazz
Year: 1978/2015
Art: Front

[6:58] 1. Cherokee
[5:45] 2. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
[6:01] 3. Take The 'a' Train
[5:28] 4. The King
[5:05] 5. Sweet Lorraine
[7:10] 6. For The Boss
[4:32] 7. Broadway
[4:29] 8. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (Alt Take)
[6:08] 9. Take The 'A' Train (Alt Take)
[4:28] 10. Broadway (Alt. Take)
[3:41] 11. I Surrender, Dear (Previously Unreleased)

Bass – Milt Hinton; Drums – Butch Miles; Flugelhorn – Marky Markowitz; Piano – John Bunch; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Scott Hamilton. Recorded at Mastertone Recording Studios Inc., New York, Fall 1977.

Drummer Butch Miles' recording debut as a leader was his first of five Famous Door releases. Miles leads an all-star mainstream sextet also including both Scott Hamilton (during his brief pre-Concord days) and Al Cohn on tenors, flugelhornist Marky Markowitz, pianist John Bunch, and bassist Milt Hinton. Equally influenced by Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, Miles gets in a few good spots, but mostly lets his top-notch sidemen blow. With the exception of the spontaneous "For the Boss," the repertoire is comprised of material from the swing era, including "Cherokee," "The King" (originally a feature for Illinois Jacquet with Count Basie's Orchestra in the mid-40s) and "Broadway." An excellent set with a jam session feel, this LP from the defunct Famous Door label will be difficult to find. ~Scott Yanow

Miles And Miles Of Swing

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Gerry Mulligan - Little Big Horn

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 2014

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 36:21

Size: 91,2 MB

Art: Front

(6:03)  1. Little Big Horn

(6:54)  2. Under A Star

(6:46)  3. Sun On Stairs

(5:46)  4. Another Kind Of Sunday

(6:54)  5. Bright Angel Falls

(3:55)  6. I Never Was A Young Man

On one of the first relatively straightahead sessions for GRP, baritonist Gerry Mulligan (accompanied by a rhythm section led by Dave Grusin's keyboards with an occasional horn section) performs six of his then-recent compositions including the title cut. Strangely enough, the most memorable selection is "I Never Was a Young Man" which has a rare but very effective Mulligan vocal. Otherwise the music is good but not classic.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/little-big-horn-mw0000649665

Personnel: Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone, vocals), Lou Marini (alto saxophone), Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone), Marvin Stamm, Alan Rubin (trumpet), Keith O'Quinn (trombone), Richard Tee (piano), Dave Grusin (keyboards, synthesizer), Anthony Jackson, Jay Leonhart (bass), Buddy Williams, Butch Miles (drums).

Little Big Horn

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Butch Miles - Swings Some Standards

Size: 102,9 MB
Time: 41:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. I May Be Wrong (6:06)
02. Where Or When (5:53)
03. Under A Blanket Of Blue (6:01)
04. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now (4:28)
05. Marsol Blues (6:11)
06. Love Walked In (6:54)
07. Goodnight Sweetheart (6:21)

A colorful soloist and an impressive technician in the tradition of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, Butch Miles graduated from West Virginia State College in 1966 and worked locally in West Virginia. He toured with Mel Tormé (1972-1974) and made a strong impression propelling Count Basie's Orchestra (1975-1979). After a few months with Dave Brubeck (recording Back Home for Concord in 1979) and a year with Tony Bennett, Miles became a busy freelance musician. He has played at many jazz parties and festivals with a countless number of musicians, including -- most notably -- Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, Woody Herman, Wild Bill Davison, Clark Terry, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, and Bob Wilber's Bechet Legacy. Miles led seven fine albums for Famous Door (1977-1982) that feature swing standards and a couple of records for Dreamstreet, including a vocal date. In 1997, Butch Miles toured with the Count Basie Orchestra (under the direction of Grover Mitchell) and showed that he was still a fiery drummer quite skilled at showmanship.

Swings Some Standards

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Dick Hyman - Swing Is Here

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:29
Size: 155,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:14)  1. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
(3:54)  2. I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music
(3:45)  3. When Lights Are Low
(3:35)  4. The Jeep Is Jumpin'
(3:56)  5. Swing Is Here
(4:23)  6. With Plenty Of Money And You
(3:34)  7. How Am I To Know?
(8:07)  8. Dickie's Dream
(2:58)  9. Who Cares?
(3:06) 10. I'll Get By
(7:51) 11. Taps Miller
(4:04) 12. On The Bumpy Road To Love
(3:58) 13. Jive At Five
(2:29) 14. Fine And Dandy
(7:27) 15. If I Had You

Pianist Dick Hyman pays tribute to small-group swing with a collection of 15 swing-era tunes. Hyman is joined by vibraphonist Peter Appleyard, who sometimes purposely emulates Lionel Hampton, as well as clarinetist Ken Peplowski (nodding toward Benny Goodman), trumpeter Randy Sandke, veteran tenorman Frank Wess (whose solos are actually the most modern of the date), guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Butch Miles. Nancy Marano contributes a few pleasing vocals. Nothing all that unexpected occurs, and the performances of such numbers as "I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music," "Dickie's Dream" and "Jive at Five" do not dwarf the original recordings. But mainstream fans should enjoy the well-played and often spirited outing. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/swing-is-here-mw0000188993

Personnel: Dick Hyman (piano); Nancy Marano (vocals); Frank Wess (tenor saxophone); Randy Sandke (trumpet); Ken Peplowski (clarinet); Peter Appleyard (vibraphone); Bucky Pizzarelli (acoustic guitar); Jay Leonhart (acoustic bass); Butch Miles (drums).

Swing Is Here

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Alberta Hunter - Look For The Silver Lining

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:39
Size: 75,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:10)  1. Without Rhythm
(3:28)  2. Look For The Silver Lining
(3:13)  3. Now I'm Satisfied
(3:09)  4. Georgia On My Mind
(2:32)  5. J'ai Deux Amours
(3:42)  6. Black Man
(3:09)  7. He's Funny That Way
(2:49)  8. Somebody Loves Me
(3:54)  9. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
(3:28) 10. Somebody Told Me

Classic blues singer Alberta Hunter's final recording (made when she was 87, two years before her death) is as powerful as her previous three Columbia albums. The legendary delightful singer puts plenty of feeling into "Look for the Silver Lining," "He's Funny That Way," "Somebody Loves Me" and four of her originals. 

As was true of each of her final sets, Hunter is joined by the Gerald Cook quartet and several veteran horn players (trumpeters Doc Cheatham and Jonah Jones, trombonist Vic Dickenson and tenorman Budd Johnson), all of whom sound quite happy to be supporting the ancient yet ageless singer. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/look-for-the-silver-lining-mw0000312123

Featuring : Alberta Hunter (vocals), Vic Dickenson (trombone), Jonah Jones (trumpet), Frank Anderson (hammond organ), Billy Butler (guitar), Jimmy Lewis (bass), Butch Miles (drums), Vishnu Wood (bass)

Look For The Silver Lining

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Buddy DeFranco - Cooking The Books

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:10
Size: 147,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:34)  1. Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise
(3:48)  2. Prisoner Of Love
(4:32)  3. What Is This Thing Called Love?
(6:32)  4. Cookin' the Books
(7:47)  5. I Lost The Blues
(8:30)  6. East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)
(6:07)  7. Dancing in the Dark
(5:27)  8. Poor Butterfly
(8:11)  9. Gone With The Wind
(5:37) 10. Scrapple From the Apple

While one finds the clarinet less often in the new millennium, than say, the tenor sax, it no longer seems in danger of becoming extinct, thanks to practitioners like Buddy DeFranco. From "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," to the closing intensity of Charlie Parker's "Scrapple From the Apple," DeFranco, guitarist John Pizzarelli, bassist Martin Pizzarelli, pianist Ray Kennedy, and drummer Butch Miles show that even though the clarinet may be rooted in jazz past, it's far from old-fashioned. 

The set list includes lots of standards "Dancing in the Dark," "Poor Butterfly," and "Gone With the Wind" and two super upbeat pieces by DeFranco "I Lost the Blues," and the title cut. Lengthy cuts like "East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)" allow the clarinet, guitar, and piano plenty of solo time, while bassist Martin Pizzarelli and drummer Miles keep this outfit in a steady groove. The album also includes two nice vocals by John Pizzarelli on "Prisoner of Love" and "What Is This Thing Called Love?" It's easy to forget that clarinet practitioners like Tony Scott and DeFranco took the clarinet far beyond the swing familiarized by Benny Goodman and others. Cookin' the Books, however, will serve to freshen the memory in the most enjoyable way. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford, Jr http://www.allmusic.com/album/cookin-the-books-mw0000325590

Personnel: Buddy DeFranco (clarinet);  John Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar);  Ray Kennedy (piano);  Martin Pizzarelli (bass instrument);  Butch Miles (drums);  John Pizzarelli Trio.

Cooking The Books

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Dick Hyman - From the Age of Swing

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:12
Size: 152,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:02)  1. From the Age of Swing
(4:24)  2. You're Driving Me Crazy/Moten Swing
(6:07)  3. Topsy
(3:24)  4. Moonglow
(4:51)  5. Them There Eyes
(6:05)  6. Dooji Wooji
(5:20)  7. Soft Winds
(4:48)  8. What Is There to Say?
(4:42)  9. 'Deed I Do
(4:31) 10. Rose Room
(3:23) 11. I Know What You Do
(5:34) 12. Mean to Me
(3:12) 13. I'm Getting Sentimental over You
(4:43) 14. From the Age of Swing (alternate take)

As the title implies, this is very much a swing set. Pianist Dick Hyman (a master of all pre-bop styles) has little difficulty emulating Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum and Count Basie (among others) plus his own style in an octet also featuring trumpeter Joe Wilder, trombonist Urbie Green, altoist-clarinetist Phil Bodner, baritonist Joe Temperley, rhythm guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Butch Miles and (on three tunes) altoist Frank Wess. The opening and closing numbers are ad-lib blues both titled "From the Age of Swing"; sandwiched in between are ten swing-era standards plus a couple of obscure Duke Ellington items. Among the highlights are "Topsy," "Them There Eyes," "Rose Room" and "Mean to Me." No real surprises occur, but mainstream fans should like this swinging set. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/from-the-age-of-swing-mw0000125036

Personnel: Dick Hyman (piano); Phil Bodner (alto saxophone, clarinet); Frank Wess (alto saxophone); Joe Temperley (baritone saxophone); Joe Wilder (trumpet, flugelhorn); Urbie Green (trombone); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Milt Hinton (acoustic bass); Butch Miles (drums).

From the Age of Swing

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Bill Allred - Allred Hot & Blue I&II

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:27
Size: 154.4 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz, Dixieland
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[6:20] 1. Sugar
[6:47] 2. I'll Never Be The Same
[6:13] 3. On A Slow Boat To China
[3:48] 4. Seems Like Old Times
[3:34] 5. Some Of These Days
[4:22] 6. St. Louis Blues
[4:17] 7. Singing The Blues
[4:39] 8. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
[4:39] 9. Old Folks
[6:40] 10. Indian Summer
[5:53] 11. The Song Is You
[4:55] 12. Too Little Time
[5:14] 13. Dinah

1984: BILL ALLRED - leader, trombone; MILT HINTON bass; BUTCH MILES drums; EDDIE HIGGINS piano; DAVY JONES cornet; JACK MATESE clarinet.

1996: BILL ALLRED - leader, trombone; BUCKY PIZZARELLI guitar; JOHNNY VARRO piano; LOU MAURO – bass; WARREN SAUER – drums; TERRY MYERS – reeds; BOBBY PICKWOOD – trumpet; ALLAN VACHE clarinet; DAVY JONES cornet; JACK MATESE clarinet.

This recording spans a little over twelve years, with a compilation of two different sessions, one in 1984 and one in 1996. Bill Allred, one of the world's finest trombonists, has assembled two amazing bands of different musicians and instrumentation, and somehow, with his unique talents as a leader and musician, he makes it all fit together seamlessly. His swinging, authoritative trombone style is the gravy that makes this meal a feast for anybody's ears. Supported by such greats as Milt Hinton, Eddie Higgins, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Butch Miles, Bill plays some unique and exciting choruses on standards and swing tunes that will delight you. These timeless songs and wonderful musicians will make this album a "regular" in your listening library.

Allred Hot & Blue I & II

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Bill Allred & Roy Williams - Absolutely

Styles: Trombone Jazz

Year: 1995

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 70:20

Size: 161,4 MB

Art: Front

(4:21)  1. Constantly

(8:39)  2. Satin Doll

(4:41)  3. Isn't It A Pity

(5:23)  4. Gypsy In My Soul

(4:33)  5. Too Close For Comfort

(7:13)  6. Blues # 1

(4:17)  7. If There Is Someone Lovelier

(4:16)  8. Absolutely

(5:19)  9. Blue Bones

(4:54) 10. So Beats My Heart For You

(5:31) 11. It's Only A Paper Moon

(2:48) 12. Makin' Whoopee

(4:38) 13. Sometimes I'm Happy

(3:40) 14. You're Driving Me Crazy

Two trombones and rhythm is a tried and true formula first brought to prominence through the lilting sounds of J. J. Johnson and Kai Winding in the 1950s. Bill Allred and Roy Williams fall squarely in that tradition, with this full-length recording that focuses on popular tunes like "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "Too Close for Comfort." The two trombonists produce visceral excitement with their tight harmonies, upbeat tempos, and overall good fun. This is music that makes you want to stand up and dance. When Allred and Williams get hot as they do with great regularity they burn with enthusiasm. 

The trombonists don't take themselves too seriously; they focus on having a rollicking good time. Regardless of how sophisticated your tastes, if you ever wondered what attracted you to jazz in the first place, it very well might have been the kind of unadulterated joy manifested by this glorious quintet. Allred and Williams are pre-modern stylists: big toned, even raucous, but with great technique. They front a first-rate rhythm section, including powerful drummer Butch Miles, bassist (and otherwise sometime trombonist) Isla Eckinger, and pianist Johnny Varro. When they're hot as they are so often (just here 'em blow on "Blues #1") they are unstoppable. Simple, but never simplistic; tasteful, but never dull; professional, but not showy; and hot, but not corny what an act! Highly recommended for all those who love the sounds of the trombone, and those who just like a swinging good time. ~ Steve Loewy  http://www.allmusic.com/album/absolutely-mw0000231550

Personnel: Bill Allred (trombone); Roy Williams (trombone); Johnny Varro (piano); Butch Miles (drums).

Absolutely

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Butch Miles & Friends - Cookin'

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 77:57
Size: 178.4 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[6:49] 1. Lady Be Good
[5:03] 2. Did You Call Her Today
[6:53] 3. The Claw
[4:07] 4. Azalea
[4:23] 5. Them There Eyes
[6:57] 6. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
[6:05] 7. Tico Tico
[5:41] 8. Jubilee
[5:01] 9. Barney's Blues
[5:08] 10. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
[6:17] 11. Gone With The Wind
[7:18] 12. Funkallero
[8:10] 13. Tickle Toe

A colorful soloist and an impressive technician in the tradition of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, Butch Miles graduated from West Virginia State College in 1966 and worked locally in West Virginia. He toured with Mel Tormé (1972-1974) and made a strong impression propelling Count Basie's Orchestra (1975-1979). After a few months with Dave Brubeck (recording Back Home for Concord in 1979) and a year with Tony Bennett, Miles became a busy freelance musician. He has played at many jazz parties and festivals with a countless number of musicians, including -- most notably -- Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, Woody Herman, Wild Bill Davison, Clark Terry, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, and Bob Wilber's Bechet Legacy. Miles led seven fine albums for Famous Door (1977-1982) that feature swing standards and a couple of records for Dreamstreet, including a vocal date. In 1997, Butch Miles toured with the Count Basie Orchestra (under the direction of Grover Mitchell) and showed that he was still a fiery drummer quite skilled at showmanship. ~bio by Scott Tanow

BUTCH MILES - drums; RANDY SANDKE - trumpet; HARRY ALLEN - tenor sax; HOWARD ALDEN - guitar; FRANK TATE - bass; TERRIE RICHARDS - vocals.

Recorded live on November 26, 1995 at the Amerika Haus, Hamburg

Cookin'

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Harry Allen - Love Songs Only!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:52
Size: 179,1 MB
Art: Front

( 6:44)  1. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
( 4:41)  2. Where Are You
( 4:34)  3. I Can't Get Started
( 6:36)  4. Quiet Nights
( 6:59)  5. I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me
(11:59)  6. Comes Love
( 4:30)  7. Here Are My Arms
( 5:24)  8. Cloudy
( 6:31)  9. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
( 6:25) 10. In Love in Vain
( 3:26) 11. Sophisticated Swing
( 6:27) 12. My Foolish Heart
( 3:30) 13. Straighten Up and Fly Right

Fathers serious about seeing their sons one day becoming famous athletes begin developing their offspring's skills at a very young age. In the case of Harry Allen's father, who was a big-band drummer, he played jazz records each day for Harry before he went off to kindergarten. Starting off with accordion lessons, there was a fortuitous switch to saxophone later. Attending Rutgers University, Allen studied saxophone with Sahib Shihab, Bob Mintzer, and John Purcell. In 1989, he graduated from Rutgers with a degree in jazz tenor saxophone. While at Rutgers, Allen got his first gig with the help of master bass player Major Holley, where he replaced Zoot Sims at a studio recording with John Bunch, George Masso, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Ruby Braff. During the session, Dizzy Gillespie dropped by. Quite heady company for a young tenor player doing his first recording. Wholley also led Allen to Oliver Jackson, who Allen subsequently accompanied on several tours to Europe. A 1986 session with Kenny Barron was Allen's first recording date. 

After that, Allen had 19 recordings to his name for such labels as Progressive, Audiophile, and Nagel-Heyer. Later, his recordings were with major label RCA-Victor. Three of his discs have been awarded a Gold Disc by Swing Journal Magazine and his CD Tenors Anyone won both the Gold Disc and New Star awards. He has recorded as a sideman with Bucky Pizzarelli (with whom he performs quite frequently), Warren Vache, and Jeff Hamilton. Allen's musical inspiration and interpretive approach come from the giants and innovators of mainstream saxophone, including Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Illinois Jacquet, and Lester Young. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Allen has pretty much eschewed the modern, avant-garde, and impressionist schools of jazz of John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, and Ornette Coleman. Allen continues to record extensively and makes frequent appearances at jazz festivals and concerts. ~ Bio   https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/harry-allen/id296978#fullText

Personnel: Harry Allen: tenor sax; Randy Sandke: trumpet; John Bunch: piano; Brian Dee: piano; Dave McKenna: piano; Dennis Irwin: bass; Len Skeat: bass; Frank Tate: bass; Duffy Jackson: drums;  Butch Miles: drums; Oliver Jackson: drums; Howard Alden: guitar

Love Songs Only!

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Butch Miles & Howard Alden - Soulmates

Styles: Jazz, Swing
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:30
Size: 180,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:52)  1. Lady Be Good
(5:06)  2. Did You Call Her Today
(6:57)  3. The Claw
(4:10)  4. Azalea
(4:26)  5. Them There Eyes
(7:00)  6. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
(6:08)  7. Tico Tico
(5:43)  8. Jubilee
(5:03)  9. Barney's Blues
(5:10) 10. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
(6:19) 11. Gone With The Wind
(7:20) 12. Funkallero
(8:10) 13. Tickle Toe

Butch Miles has made relatively few recordings as a leader during his long career, especially when compared to the prolific output of co-leader Howard Alden during the 1980s and 1990s, but this very enjoyable concert in Hamburg's Amerika Haus is available again as a limited-edition reissue, following its initial issue in 1995. Miles clearly knows how to propel a band, having previously served with Count Basie and the Dave Brubeck Quartet while Alden was in the process of becoming one of the most in-demand guitarists of the 1990s because of his effortlessly inventive playing and encyclopedic knowledge of songs. Trumpeter Randy Sandke, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, and bassist Frank Tate were frequently collaborators with Alden on recording dates or in touring packages of various editions of the George Wein All Stars. The guitarist's wife, Terrie Richards Alden, adds her flirty vocals to a swinging take of "Them There Eyes," coasts along with Tate's tasty bass introduction to "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me," and takes a subtle approach to the brisk "What a Little Moonlight Can Do." Although the instrumental repertoire is primarily swing in nature, with imaginative treatments of warhorses like "Lady Be Good" and "Jubilee," they explore less familiar territory such as Duke Ellington's lovely "Azalea" (a delicious Alden-Sandke duet), Barney Kessel's "Barney's Blues" (a feature for the rhythm section alone), and Bill Evans' tricky "Funkallero" (which includes Alden's brief but humorous detour into Raymond Scott's "Powerhouse"). All of the musicians on this highly recommended CD are in top form throughout this memorable concert. ~ Ken Dryden   http://www.allmusic.com/album/soulmates-mw0000059914

Personnel:  Butch Miles - drums; Howard Alden - guitar; Randy Sandke - Trumpet; Harry Allen - tenor sax; Frank Tate - bass; Terrie Richards Alden - vocal

Soulmates

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Butch Miles - Straight On Till Morning

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:29
Size: 134,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:43)  1. Hangover Blues
(4:55)  2. Another Drum Thing
(4:22)  3. Frank's Blues
(3:51)  4. Cute
(7:17)  5. Dreamsville
(6:44)  6. When I Wish You Upon A Star
(8:13)  7. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
(3:19)  8. Quick Fix
(5:50)  9. After Hours
(5:57) 10. Outside Inn
(4:13) 11. I'm Leavin'

Another gem for those who like their swing served straight up. Recorded in Texas at Willie Nelson's studio (!), this is a propulsive, happy session where the group doesn't catch its breath till past halfway with "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing," the only ballad in the bunch. (Even "When You Wish Upon a Star" is taken up-tempo.) Butch Miles, a fine, slamming drummer in the Rich tradition, has a pedigree that includes two long stints with Basie, time with Tormé and Brubeck, and work with nearly everyone else. Here he enlists bassist Lynn Seaton, another Basie alum who, aside from his reliably excellent playing and imaginative solos, contributes some amusing Slam Stuart-esque vocalizing on "Frank's Blues," one of the CD's highlights. It was written by trumpeter Bob Ojeda during a lunch break in the studio, and in fact most of the compositions are his; while they're all pleasant, and "After Hours" is a tuneful rumba, in general they're more canvases for the band to stretch out on than melodic groundbreakers. But considering how well this group stretches out, that isn't a bad thing at all. Other notable moments include the classical guitar intro to Henry Mancini's "Dreamsville" and Kenny Drew Jr's strong, fluid playing throughout, especially on "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing," which is especially lyrical. Reportedly a one-take track, this lovely tune is marred slightly - but not fatally - by the salience of the brushes, but otherwise the mix is well-balanced. Frank Wess's contributions on sax and flute (six tracks in all) are also splendid. All told, it's a buoyant, well-executed excursion, and great fun to take. ~ Dr.Judith Schlesinger  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12666#.Uu5ZiLSgsis

Personnel: Butch Miles (drums), Bob Ojeda (trumpet), Bill Porter (trombone), Doug Lawrence (tenor sax), Kenny Drew Jr. (piano), Lynn Seaton (bass), with Frank Wess (tenor sax, flute) and Alex Saudargas (classical guitar)

Straight On Till Morning

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