Milt Hinton - East Coast Jazz Series/5

Styles: Post Bop
Year: 1955
Time: 41:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 94,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:16) 1. Mean To Me
(4:45) 2. Pick 'N Pat
(3:40) 3. Over The Rainbow
(3:38) 4. Milt To The Hilt
(2:30) 5. Don't Blame Me
(5:20) 6. Katz' Meow (A Canon For Cats)
(2:17) 7. Upstairs With Milt
(2:44) 8. Ebony Silhouette
(4:29) 9. Cantus Firmus
(3:50) 10. These Foolish Things
(3:51) 11. Milt To The Hilt (Alt Take) (bonus track)

This 1955 date finds the venerable jazz bassist in the choice company of clarinetist Tony Scott (listed as A.J. Sciacca), pianist Dick Katz, and drummer Ossie Johnson. Having already established himself as a veteran sideman after getting his start in the late '20s, Hinton marked the mid-'50s with some solo dates for Bethlehem label. This collection features several remastered tracks from this association, including the Hinton originals "Pik 'N' Pat" and "Upstairs with Milton."

And while Scott and Katz avail themselves nicely on a smattering of solos, Hinton is the focus, displaying his deft bass work on every track with some extended soloing -- he even indulges in a bit of bowing on his own "Ebony Silhouette." Topped off with some fetching numbers by Katz and Scott, and handful of tasty covers, this Hinton disc makes for a perfect showcase of the master bassist's considerable talents.By Stephen Cook.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/east-coast-jazz-5-mw0000009728#review

Personnel: Bass – Milt Hinton; Clarinet – A. J. Sciacca; Drums – Osie Johnson; Piano – Dick Katz

East Coast Jazz Series No.5

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Dick Katz - Piano & Pen

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:06
Size: 88,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:14)  1. Timonium
(4:30)  2. Aurora
(4:34)  3. Duologue No. 1
(4:46)  4. Glad To Be Unhappy
(3:22)  5. Round Trip
(6:56)  6. Afternoon In Paris
(4:07)  7. Ain't Misbehavin'
(4:34)  8. Scrapple From The Apple

A versatile pianist and arranger, Dick Katz was responsible for many stimulating and memorable recordings through the years, often as an important sideman and/or producer. He studied at the Peabody Institute, the Manhattan School of Music, and Juilliard, in addition to taking piano lessons from Teddy Wilson. In the 1950s, he picked up important experience as a member of the house rhythm section of the Café Bohemia, with the groups of Ben Webster and Kenny Dorham, the Oscar Pettiford big band, and later with Carmen McRae. Katz was part of the popular J.J. Johnson/Kai Winding Quintet (1954-1955) and Orchestra USA, and participated on Benny Carter's classic Further Definitions album. He freelanced throughout much of his career and was a guiding force behind some of Helen Merrill's finest recordings. Katz, who played with Roy Eldridge and Lee Konitz starting in the late '60s, co-founded Milestone Records in 1966 with Orrin Keepnews. In the 1990s, Dick Katz worked both as a pianist and an arranger with the American Jazz Orchestra and Loren Schoenberg's big band. Unfortunately, he did not recorded all that frequently as a leader, cutting fairly obscure dates for Atlantic (1957 and 1959), Bee Hive (1984), and Reservoir (1992), but the jazz world was well aware of his talents. Dick Katz died in Manhattan in November 2009 at the age of 85. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dick-katz-mn0000821321/biography

Personnel:  Piano – Dick Katz; Bass – Joe Benjamin; Drums – Connie Kay; Guitar – Chuck Wayne, Jimmy Raney

Piano & Pen

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Nancy Harrow - Lost Lady

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:26
Size: 112,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. House On The Low Round Hill
(3:33)  2. Railroad Man
(4:45)  3. If I Want To
(5:46)  4. Lost Lady
(3:38)  5. Happy Days/lost Lady
(3:04)  6. Self-esteem
(2:20)  7. Putting On Airs
(3:54)  8. Angry Blues
(5:44)  9. He's Gone
(3:37) 10. For The Last Time
(2:57) 11. Starting Over
(2:50) 12. This Life Is Mine
(2:44) 13. Happy Days

Singer Nancy Harrow certainly put a lot of work into this project, writing both words and music for all 13 originals. The recording is inspired by Willa Cather's brief novel Lost Lady, although the plot is given a more modern twist. 

Harrow utilizes a second singer (Vernel Bagneris, who serves as the narrator and male counterpoint), a top-notch rhythm section (pianist Dick Katz, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Ben Riley) and occasionally Phil Woods on alto and clarinet. While this is an interesting recording and everyone plays and sings well, none of the music is really all that memorable, and the songs do not stand alone if heard apart from the story. So it is a mixed success; well-conceived, ambitious and intriguing, if not essential. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/lost-lady-mw0000626767

Personnel:  Nancy Harrow ( Vocal ); Ben Riley ( Drums); Dick Katz ( Piano ); Phil Woods 

( Sax Alto) ); Vernel Bagneris ( Vocal ); Ray Drummond ( Bass )

Lost Lady

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Dick Katz - In High Profile

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:35
Size: 88.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Swing
Year: 1984/2016
Art: Front

[4:08] 1. Laverne Walk
[4:43] 2. Crazy She Calls Me
[4:49] 3. A Few Bars For Basie
[4:26] 4. But Not For Me
[5:56] 5. Cousin Mar
[4:48] 6. Friday The 13th
[5:16] 7. Lament
[4:25] 8. No Matter What

Bass – Marc Johnson; Drums – Al Harewood; Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Frank Wess; Piano – Dick Katz; Trombone – Jimmy Knepper.

Through the years, pianist Dick Katz through played an important role behind the scenes on many recording dates, including notable sets by Helen Merrill and Lee Konitz. He has led relatively few sessions of his own, making this quintet outing with Frank Wess (mostly on flute but taking "A Few Bars for Basie" on tenor), trombonist Jimmy Knepper, bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Al Harewood a special occasion. Actually, the horns sit out on four of the eight selections, which are more spontaneous trio features, while the full band tracks sport Katz's colorful arrangements. Highlights of the now out-of-print set include Oscar Pettiford's "Laverne Walk," "Crazy She Calls Me," John Coltrane's "Cousin Mary," and Thelonious Monk's "Friday the 13th." ~Scott Yanow

In High Profile mc
In High Profile zippy

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Dick Katz - Three Way Play

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:26
Size: 142.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[5:14] 1. Three Little Words
[4:29] 2. Solar
[4:43] 3. You're My Thrill
[5:45] 4. Steepleechase
[4:01] 5. The Little Things That Mean So Much
[5:18] 6. Monk's Dream
[5:20] 7. Limehouse Blues
[3:15] 8. Star Crossed Lovers
[7:17] 9. Blues In My Heart
[5:57] 10. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[6:01] 11. Samburan
[5:02] 12. There Is No Greater Love

Dick Katz had a long career in jazz, though a relatively small discography as a leader. These 1992 sessions for Reservoir represent the next to last CD that he made under his own name, with the pianist joined by two veterans, bassist Steve LaSpina and drummer Ben Riley. While Katz has considerable chops, he is not an overly busy pianist on these selections, giving the music plenty of breathing space and room for the input of his sidemen. His breezy take of Miles Davis' "Solar" is a playful affair, while the trio is in jaunty spirits throughout Charlie Parker's "Steeplechase," an imaginative reworking of "I Got Rhythm." There are also plenty of standards, including an intricate study of "There Is No Greater Love" that swings like mad, while his creative take of the old warhorse "Limehouse Blues" incorporates a bit of Claude Debussy's impressionism. It's always great when a leader takes the time to put the spotlight on a contemporary's composition that isn't well-known. His adaptation of pianist/vocalist Daryl Sherman's "Samburan" is a sauntering affair that makes it seem like a perfect soundtrack for a detective show. Sadly, Dick Katz only made one more recording for Reservoir prior to his death in 2009, while this outing is easily one of his best. ~Ken Dryden

Three Way Play mc
Three Way Play zippy

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