Showing posts with label Clifford Jordan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clifford Jordan. Show all posts

Friday, June 23, 2023

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.
https://shop.mapleshadestore.com/Clifford-Jordan-his-Friends-Drink-Plenty-Water-CD_p_1498.html

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

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Clifford Jordan - The Adventurer

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:11
Size: 81,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:17)  1. He's A Hero
(7:08)  2. Quasimodo
(4:54)  3. No More
(5:06)  4. Blues For Muse
(6:49)  5. Adventurer
(5:55)  6. I'll Be Around

Clifford Jordan was a fine inside/outside player who somehow held his own with Eric Dolphy in the 1964 Charles Mingus Sextet. Jordan had his own sound on tenor almost from the start. He gigged around Chicago with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some R&B groups before moving to New York in 1957. Jordan immediately made a strong impression, leading three albums for Blue Note (including a meeting with fellow tenor John Gilmore) and touring with Horace Silver (1957-1958), J.J. Johnson (1959-1960), Kenny Dorham (1961-1962), and Max Roach (1962-1964). After performing in Europe with Mingus and Dolphy, Jordan worked mostly as a leader but tended to be overlooked since he was not overly influential or a pacesetter in the avant-garde. 

A reliable player, Clifford Jordan toured Europe several times, was in a quartet headed by Cedar Walton in 1974-1975, and during his last years, led a big band. He recorded as a leader for Blue Note, Riverside, Jazzland, Atlantic (a little-known album of Leadbelly tunes), Vortex, Strata-East, Muse, SteepleChase, Criss Cross, Bee Hive, DIW, Milestone, and Mapleshade.
By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/clifford-jordan-mn0000157487/biography

Personnel:  Clifford Jordan - tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute; Tommy Flanagan - piano; Bill Lee - bass; Grady Tate - drums

The Adventurer

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Clifford Jordan - Mosaic

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:40
Size: 180,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:06)  1. Sunrise In Mexico
(5:20)  2. Extempore
(4:49)  3. Down Through The Years
(4:05)  4. Quittin' Time
(4:46)  5. One Flight Down
(3:56)  6. Windmill
(5:00)  7. Don't You Know I Care?
(4:59)  8. Mosaic
(3:54)  9. Cumberland Court
(4:52) 10. A Story Tale
(5:39) 11. You're Driving Me Crazy
(3:28) 12. Defiance
(6:03) 13. Prints
(5:03) 14. Hip Pockets
(5:16) 15. They Say It's Wonderful
(5:16) 16. If I Didn't Care

Two excellent early Clifford Jordan albums, Starting Time and A Story Tale, are reissued in full on this single CD. Jordan, whose sound was just beginning to become quite distinctive in 1961, is heard with a quintet also including trumpeter Kenny Dorham, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath, and on a set with altoist Sonny Red, Tommy Flanagan or Ronnie Mathews on piano, bassist Art Davis, and drummer Elvin Jones. 

With the exception of four selections, all 16 tunes are group originals. Best-known are Walton's "Mosaic" and "One Flight Down," but all of the music is high-quality hard bop. Dorham and Red are both in excellent form, constantly challenging Jordan. Fine if formerly obscure music. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/mosaic-mw0000010913

Personnel: Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone); Sonny Red (alto saxophone); Kenny Dorham (trumpet); Ronnie Mathews, Tommy Flanagan, Cedar Walton (piano); Wilbur Ware (acoustic bass); Elvin Jones, Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums).

Mosaic

Saturday, January 22, 2022

Clifford Jordan - Cliff Jordan

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:20
Size: 93,4 MB
Art: Front

(11:41) 1. Not Guilty
( 8:14) 2. St. John
( 9:35) 3. Blue Shoes
( 6:56) 4. Beyond the Blue Horizon
( 3:53) 5. Ju-Ba

Cliff Jordan is an album by American jazz saxophonist Clifford Jordan featuring performances recorded in 1957 and released on the Blue Note label.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_Jordan_(album)

Personnel: Cliff Jordan - tenor saxophone; Lee Morgan - trumpet; Curtis Fuller - trombone; John Jenkins - alto saxophone; Ray Bryant - piano; Paul Chambers - bass; Art Taylor – drums

Cliff Jordan

Saturday, November 13, 2021

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).

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)

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Charles Mingus, Eric Dolphy - Cornell 1964

Styles: Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 134:22
Size: 308,3 MB
Art: Front

( 0:16)  1. Opening
( 4:26)  2. ATFW You
( 4:23)  3. Sophisticated Lady
(29:41)  4. Fables Of Faubus
(15:05) 5. Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, The Blue Silk
(17:26)  6. Take The A Train
(31:23)  7. Meditations
(15:33)  8. So Long Eric
( 6:06)  9. When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
( 9:58) 10. Jitterbug Waltz

The hype factor was cranked up considerably in 2005 for the unearthed recording of two jazz legends: John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk's At Carnegie Hall (Blue Note). Things have cooled down a tad since that momentous release but just as exciting and equally important is Cornell 1964 featuring the Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy.  Mingus, the powerful enigmatic bassist, band-leader and composer, was as controversial as he was dynamic. Dolphy, an absolutely brilliant musician (alto sax, bass clarinet, and flute), whose short lived musical career (he died a few months after this concert in 1964) still leaves a vivid mark in jazz today. The chance to hear them together is a treat for longtime admirers and newcomers alike. But this is more than just a meeting of two giants because we also get a chance to witness Mingus' illustrious quintet which included lesser known yet stunning musicians: Jaki Byard (piano), Johnny Coles (trumpet), Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone), and Dannie Richmond (drums). Mingus always ran a tight ship, tolerating nothing less than excellence. With this band, the musicians not only meet his criteria but also deliver some stellar performances. The two-CD recording covers everything from Mingus' epic "Fables of Faubus, (written as a direct protest against Civil Rights injustices in 1957) to a jubilant rendition of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling as the band engages in some light hearted fun. There is an air that the vibe was stress free (in contrast to some of Mingus' engagements) and that they were clearly enjoying themselves and the receptive audience. There are many highlights from everyone: Byard's exhaustive range on "ATFW You included bebop, ragtime, classical and more. Mingus' gregarious fretwork injected with humor and an unflinching presence on "Orange Was the Color of Her Dress, Then Blue Silk as Coles' sweet muted trumpet harmonizes with Jordan's warm tenor and Dolphy's throaty bass clarinet. Each voice glows against the blues/swing melody. They "Take The A Train to new destinations of swing as Mingus and Richmond thrill the audience with boisterous solos. Dolphy played jazz flute like no one else, as heard on "Jitterbug Waltz, brings the recording to a satisfying conclusion. There are many bright moments on this resurrected historical document. The shadows of these players still looms today and this concert is a testament of their greatness that will hopefully endure for years to come. ~ Mark F.Turner https://www.allaboutjazz.com/cornell-1964-charles-mingus-blue-note-records-review-by-mark-f-turner.php

Personnel: Charles Mingus: bass; Eric Dolphy: alto saxophone, flute, bass clarinet; Johnny Coles: trumpet; Clifford Jordan: tenor saxophone; Jaki Byard: piano; Dannie Richmond: drums.

Cornell 1964

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Clifford Jordan - Soul Fountain

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:16
Size: 65,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:39)  1. TNT
(3:00)  2. I've Got A Feeling For You
(3:32)  3. H.N.I.C.
(2:37)  4. I Got You
(2:07)  5. Caribbean Cruise
(5:42)  6. Senor Blues
(4:05)  7. Eeh Bah Lickey Doo
(4:31)  8. Retribution

Clifford Jordan's Soul Fountain was recorded for Atlantic in 1966 and produced by no less a talent than Arif Mardin. It was not released until 1968 and then reissued properly in 1970 on the Vortex imprint, by which time Jordan had become an American expatriate living in Europe as so many other jazzmen had. The bottom line is that there was no good reason for any of it. This may be, like Jordan's Plays Leadbelly album, a recording of deep roots music in this case soul but as a jazz album with big fat grooves, stellar playing, and arrangements, it's a monster. The bands (a bit different on sides one and two) tell a big part of the story of the album. The first five tracks the front side feature Jordan on tenor and piano, Jimmy Owens on trumpet and flugelhorn, Julian Priester on trombone, Frank Owens playing both piano and B-3, Ben Tucker on upright bass, Bob Cranshaw on upright and Fender electric bass, drummer Bob Durham, and percussionists Orestes Vilató and Joe Wohletz. The music on side one includes the smoking Ben Tucker jams "T.N.T." and "H.N.I.C.," the first of which is a complete soul-jazz groover with big-boned tenor work by Jordan knotted up in the best Blue Note early three-horn front-line '60s fashion: it's where hard bop met the extrapolated sounds of Latin boogaloo and Ray Charles-styled big-band soul. Tucker's grooves were scorching. The latter tune, written in a minor key, offers more Latin grooves with the same front-line 12-bar blues set up with beautiful call and response, a knotty chorus, and wonderfully seamless harmonies among the horns. Jordan contributes a pair of originals to the side (and three overall). The first is "I've Got a Feeling for You," coming right out of the groove territory with those hand drums popping in and around the piano played by Cliff, and a snarling B-3 workout in the fills by Frank Owens. It's suave, spunky, and swaggering with great trumpet work by Jimmy Owens. Jordan's latter tune on the side is a too-brief little calypso fueled hard bop number. The kit work by Durham is hot and the Jordan solo swings hard and in the pocket. The other tune on the side is a burning funky workout on James Brown's "I Feel Good" with amazing trombone work by Priester, who could have been a part of the '70s J.B.'s in a heartbeat, as his sense of propulsion and rhythm is infectious and Durham's breaks are smoking and in the pocket. Side two offers a bit of a change: Big John Patton plays organ, Billy Higgins plays drums, and Ray Barretto replaces Vilató on congas! Three tunes make up the side: one is a reading of Horace Silver's "Senor Blues" that is so full of Latin groove that it drips. Jordan's interplay with the drummers and Patton is rich, wrangling, his best Sonny Rollins in the role and taking it outside slightly via Coltrane. 

The breezy "Eeh Bah Lickey Doo," by the saxophonist is a shimmering, lightly funky riff-based blues with Jordan playing flute to change things up the tonal contrast between his little woodwind and Patton's B-3 simmering is very hip especially when Big John takes his solo. The final track, written by Priester and Abbey Lincoln is called "Retribution." It's the most complex tune here rhythmically, juxtaposing an intensely clave rhythm against a straight cut time and the front-line playing right in between the two signatures. Priester's lyric sense is complex but utterly accessible, and when Jordan takes his solo following that fat downbeat where it all comes together, he can walk between both poles effortlessly. Patton just pushes from the inside out and finds the horn in the corners. Barretto even at this point was offering a dimension on other people's recordings that was singular. He sounded like no one else and his manner of reading the hard bop accents and angles through boogaloo added a hip factor of ten to the side. Priester's solo is brief, followed by Jimmy Owens' before they bring it all back to that melody, closing it out on a very high point indeed.  Certainly, Jordan's great accomplishments as a leader the two Glass Bead Games volumes and In the World on Strata East, as well as Night of the Mark 7 from the '70s are regarded as high marks in his career, but this side should not be counted out by any stretch of the imagination. Mardin's production work adds the right amount of warmth and Jordan is clearly relaxed and in control, walking the razor's edge between the hard bop past, the present-day soul, and the future openness that he would embrace wholesale a couple of years later. This is a fine set and well worth pursuing whether on wax or via the Wounded Bird reissue (it needs to be said that the latter's program of reissuing Atlantic and Warner jazz from the early '70s is really special in that it highlights work that has been forgotten or was entirely ignored). ~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-fountain-mw0000582716

Personnel: Clifford Jordan — tenor saxophone, flute, piano; Jimmy Owens - trumpet, flugelhorn; Julian Priester - trombone; John Patton - organ (tracks 6-8); Frank Owens - piano, organ (tracks 1-5); Ben Tucker - bass (tracks 1-5); Bob Cranshaw - bass, electric bass (tracks 1-5); Bobby Durham (tracks 1-5), Billy Higgins (tracks 6-8) - drums; Ray Barretto - congas (tracks 6-8); Joe Wohletz - bongos, percussion; Orestes Vilato - percussion (tracks 1-5)

Soul Fountain

Friday, May 10, 2019

Andrew Hill Trio - Shades

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:49
Size: 101,4 MB
Art: Front

( 4:42)  1. Monk's Glimpse
( 6:36)  2. Tripping
( 5:33)  3. Chilly Mac
( 5:37)  4. Ball Square
( 7:35)  5. Domani
(13:44)  6. La Verne

Pianist Andrew Hill's first recording as a leader in six years was particularly notable for co-starring (and challenging) the underrated tenor Clifford Jordan. The quartet set (with bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Ben Riley) has six of Hill's typically challenging and complex inside/outside originals, a perfect outlet for Jordan and the pianist to interact. Stimulating and unusual music that is difficult to classify as anything but "modern jazz." ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/shades-mw0000193340

Personnel: Andrew Hill - piano; Clifford Jordan - tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 5 & 6); Rufus Reid - bass; Ben Riley - drums

Shades

Saturday, December 8, 2018

Art Farmer - Art Farmer Quintet At Boomers

Styles: Jazz, Bop
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:52
Size: 105,3 MB
Art: Front

(13:05)  1. Barbados
(10:55)  2. I Remember Clifford
(13:24)  3. 'Round About Midnight
( 8:27)  4. Will You Still Be Mine

Although flugelhornist Art Farmer permanently moved to Europe in 1968, he has returned many times to the United States to play. For this live LP (recorded for East Wind and released domestically by the defunct Inner City label), Farmer joins up with tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Billy Higgins for lengthy versions of Charlie Parker's blues "Barbados," "I Remember Clifford," "'Round Midnight" and "Will You Still Be Mine." The group had not rehearsed beforehand but rehearsals were not really needed for these hard bop veterans and even an uptempo version of the ballad "Will You Still Be Mine" comes off quite well. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/at-boomers-vol-1-mw0000785165

Personnel: Art Farmer - flugelhorn; Clifford Jordan - tenor saxophone; Cedar Walton - piano; Sam Jones - bass; Billy Higgins - drums

Art Farmer Quintet At Boomers

Art Farmer Quintet - At Boomers #2

Styles: Jazz, Bop
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:02
Size: 112,7 MB
Art: Front

(11:48)  1. Fantasy In ''D''
(12:07)  2. Manha Do Carnival
(13:54)  3. Blues For Amos
(11:12)  4. What's New

This exciting live set by Art Farmer is also culled from the same 1976 performances as the earlier album Live at Boomer's. Although the full quintet had not rehearsed prior to the engagement with Clifford Jordan (the rhythm section, consisting of Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins, had been working together with Farmer for over a year), the sparks fly as they stretch out on each of the four tracks present. The tenor saxophonist particularly shines in Walton's up-tempo "Fantasy in D," while the leader's inventive flügelhorn keeps "Manha De Carnaval" from being reduced to a cliché. Sam Jones is showcased on his well-known original blues "One for Amos," and the finale is an energetic take of the often placid ballad ""What's New." This well-recorded album, which was available only briefly during the LP era, was reissued by the Japanese label East Wind in early 2003. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/at-boomers-vol-2-mw0000764273

Personnel: Art Farmer - flugelhorn; Clifford Jordan - tenor saxophone; Cedar Walton - piano; Sam Jones - bass; Billy Higgins - drums

At Boomers #2

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Eric Dolphy - Iron Man

Styles: Clarinet, Flute And Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:27
Size: 93,0 MB
Art: Front

( 9:10)  1. Iron Man
( 4:45)  2. Mandrake
( 6:26)  3. Come Sunday
(11:54)  4. Burning Spear
( 8:10)  5. Ode to C. P.

The companion piece to Conversations (recorded at the same mid-1963 sessions with producer Alan Douglas), Iron Man is every bit as essential and strikes a more consistent ambience than its widely varied twin. It also more clearly anticipates the detailed, abstract sound paintings of Dolphy's masterwork Out to Lunch, in large part because this time around the program is weighted toward Dolphy originals. "Iron Man," "Burning Spear," and the shorter "Mandrake" all have pretty outside themes, full of Dolphy's trademark wide interval leaps and playful sense of dissonance. Yet there's enough structure and swing to make their roots in hard bop perfectly clear, and once the front-line horns blast out the themes, the ensemble shifts into a more cerebral, exploratory mode. In the absence of a piano, Bobby Hutcherson's vibes are a crucial anchor, outlining dissonant harmonies that hang in the air almost spectrally behind the rest of the group. Most of the same musicians from Conversations appear here, including trumpeter Woody Shaw, flutist Prince Lasha, altoist Sonny Simmons, and soprano sax player Clifford Jordan. And once again, Dolphy duets with bassist Richard Davis, twice this time -- on bass clarinet for Ellington's "Come Sunday" and on flute for Jaki Byard's "Ode to C.P." Both are lovely, meditative pieces filled with conversational exchanges between the two players, illustrating what similar wavelengths they were on. Between Conversations and Iron Man, split up the way they are, one has to give a slight edge to the latter for its more cohesive presentation, yet these are classic sessions in any form and constitute some of the most brilliant work of the early-'60s avant-garde. ~ Steve Huey https://www.allmusic.com/album/iron-man-mw0000651215

Personnel:  Eric Dolphy – bass clarinet, flute, alto saxophone;  Richard Davis – bass;  Clifford Jordan – soprano saxophone;  Sonny Simmons – alto saxophone;  Prince Lasha – flute;  Woody Shaw – trumpet;  Bobby Hutcherson – vibraphone;  J.C. Moses – drums;  Eddie Khan – bass ("Iron Man")

Iron Man

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Eric Dolphy - Conversations

Styles: Clarinet, Flute Jazz 
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:51
Size: 78,4 MB
Art: Front

( 7:17)  1. Jitterbug Waltz
( 9:35)  2. Music Matador
( 3:22)  3. Love Me
(13:36)  4. Alone Together

In 1963 (probably July, though some sources place the dates in May or June), Eric Dolphy recorded some sessions in New York with producer Alan Douglas, the fruits of which were issued on small labels as the LPs Conversations and Iron Man. They've been reissued a number of times on various labels, occasionally compiled together, but never with quite the treatment they deserve (which is perhaps why they're not as celebrated as they should be). In whatever form, though, it's classic, essential Dolphy that stands as some of his finest work past Out to Lunch. Conversations is the more eclectic of the two, featuring radical re-imaginings of three standards, plus the jubilant, Caribbean-flavored "Music Matador" (by ensemble members Prince Lasha on flute and Sonny Simmons on alto). 

That cut, and a classic inside/outside reworking of Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz" feature Dolphy leading ensembles of up-and-coming "new thing" players, which prominently feature vibist Bobby Hutcherson and trumpeter Woody Shaw. The second half of the album takes a far more minimalist approach, with Dolphy performing unaccompanied (extremely rare prior to Anthony Braxton's For Alto) on "Love Me." "Alone Together" is an over-13-minute duet between Dolphy and bassist Richard Davis, featuring some astoundingly telepathic exchanges that more than justify its length. Even if the selections don't completely hang together as an LP statement, they're united by Dolphy's generally brilliant playing and a sense that  after several years without entering the studio much as a leader Dolphy was really striving to push his (and others') music forward. The results are richly rewarding, making Conversations one of the landmarks in his catalog.~ Steve Huey https://www.allmusic.com/album/conversations-mw0000199276

Personnel:  Eric Dolphy – bass clarinet, flute, alto saxophone;  Richard Davis – bass;  Eddie Khan – bass;  Clifford Jordan – soprano saxophone;  Sonny Simmons – alto saxophone;  Prince Lasha – flute;  Woody Shaw – trumpet;  Bobby Hutcherson – vibraphone;  J.C. Moses – drums;  Charles Moffett - drums on "Music Matador"

Conversations

Friday, May 18, 2018

John Jenkins, Cliff Jordan, Bobby Timmons - Jenkins, Jordan & Timmons

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:29
Size: 85.8 MB
Styles: Hard Bop
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[ 6:30] 1. Cliff's Edge
[ 7:02] 2. Tenderly
[ 6:15] 3. Princess
[10:32] 4. Soft Talk
[ 7:08] 5. Blue Jay

Alto Saxophone – John Jenkins; Bass – Wilbur Ware; Drums – Dannie Richmond; Piano – Bobby Timmons; Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan. Recorded in Hackensack, NJ on July 26, 1957.

Four of the five selections on this CD reissue (which also includes "Tenderly") are obscure jazz originals by altoist John Jenkins, tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, or trombonist Julian Priester. Inspired by both Charlie Parker and Jackie McLean, Jenkins teams up with Jordan, pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Dannie Richmond for some bop-oriented improvising. Strange that this would be one of only two sets led by Jenkins. Although the Blue Note CD, recorded just 16 days later, gets the edge, this is an excellent effort too. ~Scott Yanow

Jenkins, Jordan & Timmons mc
Jenkins, Jordan & Timmons zippy

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Sonny Red - Breezing/A Story Tale/The Mode/Images (2-Disc Set)

Sonny Red (as), Blue Mitchell (tp), Yusef Lateef, Clifford Jordan (ts), Barry Harris, Tommy Flanagan, Ronnie Matthews, Cedar Walton (p), Grant Green (g), Bob Cranshaw, Art Davis, George Tucker (b), Albert 'Tootie' Heath, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Cobb (d).

Inspired by Charlie Parker and then Jackie McLean, the widely experienced, Detroit-born altoist Sonny Red, nee Sylvester Kyner (1932-1980) was an archetypal Motor City bopper, who, like many of his confreres there, also absorbed the blues-drenched lines of pianist Bud Powell. Forthright, direct, unpretentious, a skilled soloist with a strong feeling for the blues, he played and recorded with some of the finest jazzmen around.

The presence here of such luminous talents as, most notably, pianist Barry Harris, along with fellow pianist Tommy Flanagan, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, saxophonists Clifford Jordan and Yusef Lateef, and guitarist Grant Green left no doubt about his stature among them. Despite this and the fact that he also worked with such marquee names as Art Blakey, Kenny Dorham, Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller and Paul Quinichette, he never quite made the breakthrough his skills suggested he would and his recordings have been difficult to find.This collection of quartet, quintet and sextet settings brings together four albums he made for the Jazzland label during one of the most productive spells of his career and shows why he was held in such esteem by his contemporaries.

Album: Breezing/A Story Tale/The Mode/Images (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:53
Size: 180.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2012

[5:02] 1. Brother B
[4:03] 2. All I Do Is Dream Of You
[5:33] 3. The New Blues
[4:36] 4. Ditty
[6:27] 5. 'teef
[6:06] 6. Breezin'
[4:43] 7. A Handful Of Stars
[2:52] 8. If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You
[3:52] 9. Cumberland Court
[4:50] 10. A Story Tale
[5:39] 11. You're Driving Me Crazy
[3:27] 12. Defiance
[6:02] 13. Prints
[5:02] 14. Hip Pockets
[5:16] 15. They Say It's Wonderful
[5:16] 16. If I Didn't Care

Album: Breezing/A Story Tale/The Mode/Images (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:05
Size: 176.5 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:21] 1. I Like The Likes Of You
[4:36] 2. Bye, Bye Blues
[6:34] 3. Never, Never Land
[4:19] 4. Ko-Kee
[6:34] 5. Images
[4:51] 6. Blues For Donna
[5:22] 7. Dodge City
[6:16] 8. Moon River
[5:38] 9. Super-20
[8:53] 10. The Mode
[8:33] 11. Blue Sonny
[5:15] 12. The Rythm Thing
[5:46] 13. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered


Breezing-A Story TaleThe ModeImages(Disc 1)(Disc 2)

Monday, March 5, 2018

Richard Davis - Dealin'

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:07
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

( 6:24)  1. What'd You Say
( 6:03)  2. Dealin'
( 5:36)  3. Julie's Rag Doll
( 3:54)  4. Sweet'n
( 3:14)  5. Sorta
(10:54)  6. Blues For Now

Superb bass technician who doesn't have as extensive a recorded legacy as expected, Richard Davis has a wonderful tone, is excellent with either the bow or fingers, and stands out in any situation. He has been a remarkable free, bebop, and hard bop player, served in world-class symphony orchestras, backed vocalists, and engaged in stunning duets with fellow bassists. He does any and everything well in terms of bass playing: accompaniment, soloing, working with others in the rhythm section, responding to soloists, or playing unison passages. He combines upper-register notes with low sounds coaxed through the use of open strings. Davis studied privately nearly ten years in the '40s and '50s, while also playing with Chicago orchestras. He played with Ahmad Jamal, Charlie Ventura, and Don Shirley in the early and mid-'50s, then worked with Sarah Vaughan in the late '50s and early '60s, as well as Kenny Burrell. Davis divided his duties in the '60s between recording and performing sessions with jazz musicians and freelance work with symphony orchestras conducted by Leonard Bernstein and Igor Stravinsky. He recorded often with Eric Dolphy, including the unforgettable dates at the Five Spot. He also worked with Booker Ervin, Andrew Hill, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Earl Hines, and the Creative Construction Company. Davis teamed with Jaki Byard and Alan Dawson on sessions with Ervin, and others like Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He also played with Van Morrison. During the '70s Davis worked with Hank Jones and Billy Cobham, and he was a member of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra in the '60s and '70s. Davis left New York in 1977 to teach at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he has remained as a professor into the 21st century. Concurrent with his life as an educator, he continued making intermittent appearances as a performer, including at the Aurex Jazz Festival in Tokyo in 1982, playing in a jam session led by trombonists J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding, and at the 1984 Chicago Jazz Festival. Davis was featured in the 1982 film Jazz in Exile. He's done relatively few recordings as a leader, though three Muse sessions are available on CD. The superb The Philosophy of the Spiritual, which matched Davis and fellow bassist Bill Lee, is not in print or on CD. Notable Richard Davis recordings during the 21st century include The Bassist: Homage to Diversity (a duo recording with John Hicks) issued by Palmetto in 2001, as well as two Japanese releases on the King label, So in Love in 2001 and Blue Monk (with pianist Junior Mance) in 2008. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/richard-davis-mn0000851653/biography

Personnel:Bass, Bass [Fender] – Richard Davis; Drums – Freddie Waits; Guitar – David Spinozza; Piano, Organ, Electric Piano, Clarinet – Paul Griffin;  Saxophone [Tenor Soprano], Cowbell – Clifford Jordan;  Trumpet, Tambourine, Cowbell – Marvin Peterson           

Dealin'

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Lee Morgan - Here's Lee Morgan

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:44
Size: 164.2 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1960/1993
Art: Front

[5:20] 1. Terrible T
[7:47] 2. Mogie
[5:39] 3. I'm A Fool To Want You
[6:09] 4. Running Brook
[6:19] 5. Off Spring
[6:26] 6. Bess
[6:59] 7. Terrible T (Take 6)
[7:29] 8. Mogie (Take 2)
[5:56] 9. I'm A Fool To Want You (Take 1)
[6:50] 10. Running Brook (Take 4)
[6:43] 11. Bess (Take 3)

Bass – Paul Chambers; Drums – Art Blakey; Piano – Wynton Kelly; Tenor Saxophone – Cliff Jordan; Trumpet – Lee Morgan. Recorded at Bell Sound Studio B, NYC, February 8, 1960.

The original set is augmented by very rare and unreleased alternative 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. Recommended.

Here's Lee Morgan mc
Here's Lee Morgan zippy

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Clifford Jordan - Hello, Hank Jones

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 29:53
Size: 68,6 MB
Art: Front

(15:23)  1. Vienna
( 6:58)  2. Bohemia After Dark
( 7:32)  3. Love for Sale

Direct-to-disc recordings were highly sought by audiophiles during their heyday in the late '70s and early '80s, prior to the widespread availability of digital recordings. The technology had its advantages, especially during jazz sessions, where musicians the caliber of Clifford Jordan weren't handicapped by the engineer's inability to splice takes or overdub afterwards. Jordan, who is the leader of the session, shines on tenor sax, driven by an outstanding rhythm section with seasoned pianist Hank Jones, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Freddie Waits. Following an extensive exploration of Jordan's very catchy post-bop "Vienna" (which he previously recorded nine years earlier for the LP In the World), the quartet shifts into a bop mode with a superb take of Oscar Pettiford's "Bohemia After Dark" and a hard-blowing interpretation of Cole Porter's "Love for Sale." Like all direct-to-disc recordings, this long unavailable LP is a limited edition that was in short supply and difficult to find even when it was issued. Any jazz fan fortunate enough to locate a copy decades later will enjoy the performances and marvel at the warm, very intimate sound achieved by the musicians and the engineers on that summer day in 1978. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/hello-hank-jones-mw0000877175

Personnel:  Clifford Jordan - tenor saxophone;  Hank Jones - piano;  Reggie Workman - bass;  Freddie Waits - drums

Hello, Hank Jones

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Clifford Jordan Big Band - Play What You Feel

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:59
Size: 160.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Big band
Year: 1990/2010
Art: Front

[ 9:31] 1. Third Avenue
[10:40] 2. Angelica
[ 5:17] 3. Old Bo
[ 6:22] 4. I Waited For You
[ 0:32] 5. Introduction To Evidence
[ 7:24] 6. Evidence
[ 5:24] 7. I'll Be Around
[ 6:14] 8. Bearcat
[ 7:17] 9. Down Through The Years
[ 6:56] 10. Charlie Parker's Last Supper
[ 3:30] 11. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[ 0:44] 12. Band Roster

In 1990, tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan achieved one of his lifetime goals and formed a big band. They recorded a demo in December, 1990, that helped land them a record deal with Fantasy. The orchestra recorded one album before Jordan passed away in 1993. The music on Play What You Feel, which was originally the demo, was released for the first time in 1997. The 16-piece orchestra, which includes many of Jordan's friends and longtime associates, was loose but tight, featuring strong solos, spirited ensembles and colorful straight-ahead arrangements. In addition to Jordan, who is heard in prime form and often sounds exuberant, key soloists include Dizzy Reece, Benny Powell and Junior Cook. Highlights include Duke Ellington's joyful "Angelica," "Evidence" and "Charlie Parker's Last Supper" (a blues in the "Parker's Mood" vein) but all of the selections are fun and swinging. This is a highly recommended if little-known gem that makes one happy that Clifford Jordan was able to achieve his goal. ~Scott Yanow

Play What You Feel

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Clifford Jordan Quartet - Spellbound

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:10
Size: 92.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1960/1992
Art: Front

[4:24] 1. Toy
[5:12] 2. Lush Life
[4:39] 3. Moon-A-Tic
[5:50] 4. Spellbound
[5:04] 5. Hot Water
[6:28] 6. Last Night When We Were Young
[8:31] 7. Au Privave

Bass – Spanky DeBrest; Drums – Albert "Tootie" Heath; Piano – Cedar Walton; Producer – Cannonball Adderley; Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan. Recorded: New York City, August 10, 1960.

Tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan was sponsored by Cannonball Adderley on this set for Riverside, reissued on CD under the OJC imprint. At this point, Jordan did not quite have the distinctive sound that he would develop in his period with Charles Mingus, but he was already a strong hard bop stylist. Assisted by pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Spanky DeBrest, and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath, Jordan performs four originals ("Toy" is best known), an unusual waltz version of "Lush Life," the ballad "Last Night When We Were Young," and the romping Charlie Parker blues "Au Privave." It's an excellent straight-ahead outing. ~Scott Yanow

Spellbound

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Clifford Jordan - Glass Bead Games

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1973
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:56
Size: 148,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Powerful Paul Robeson
(4:36)  2. Glass Bead Games
(4:15)  3. Prayer to the People
(2:43)  4. Cal Massey
(6:48)  5. John Coltrane
(4:19)  6. Eddie Harris
(5:34)  7. Biskit
(5:19)  8. Shoulders
(3:48)  9. Bridgework
(5:40) 10. Maimoun
(8:16) 11. Alias Buster Henry
(6:47) 12. One for Amos

Perennially underrated saxophonist Clifford Jordan recorded two of his best albums for the Strata East label and Glass Bead Games is arguably his greatest recording and one of the great albums of the 1970s. Everything is right about this date; Jordan never sounded so good, his tone rich and full, his improvisatory ideas taking the models of Coltrane and Rollins and giving them his own twist. Recorded on a "stormy Monday, October 29, 1973," it was originally issued as a double LP. On the album, Jordan works with two different rhythm sections: Stanley Cowell or Cedar Walton on piano and Bill Lee or Sam Jones on bass, with Billy Higgins manning the drum stool for both. The difference between the two rhythm sections is minimal (the Cowell/Lee group leans a little more toward the Trane model), probably due to Higgins' commanding presence in each.

Jordan spread the compositional chores around and everyone except Jones contributed. The first three tracks (which comprised side one of the original album) are the leader's and they are pitched somewhere between the Trane-derived spiritual mood that was prevalent at the time and the hard-driving bop with which Jordan is most commonly associated. Walton contributes two characteristic tricky melodic themes ("Shoulders" and "Bridgework") that give Jordan plenty to sink his chops into while Lee's funky "Biskit" and "Eddie Harris" (which has a kinship to Harris' "Listen Here") keep things invigorated. 

This disc also shines as one of the finest examples of the art of Higgins' drumming, the variety of moods and tempi inspiring some of his best playing. Glass Bead Games is a record that seems to have gotten better with age. In his liner notes, Stanley Crouch (a writer with whom I rarely agree) cites the fact that this album is a classic revered by many. Mention of this record to most any tenor player is guaranteed a favorable reaction. About the only complaint about this album would be the ordinary cover art for such extraordinary music. ~ Robert Iannapollo https://www.allaboutjazz.com/glass-bead-games-clifford-jordan-harvest-song-records-review-by-robert-iannapollo.php
 
Personnel: Clifford Jordan: tenor saxophone; Stanley Cowell: piano; Cedar Walton: piano; Bill Lee: bass; Sam Jones: bass; Billy Higgins: drums.

Glass Bead Games