Hank Mobley - Messages (Reissue)

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:15
Size: 175,5 MB
Art: Front

( 6:57)  1. Bouncing With Bud
( 5:41)  2. 52nd Street Theme
( 6:15)  3. Minor Disturbance
( 7:32)  4. Au Privave
( 8:42)  5. Little Girl Blue
( 6:37)  6. These Are The Things I Love
( 6:04)  7. Message From The Border
( 5:37)  8. Xlento
( 5:49)  9. The Latest
(10:01) 10. I Should Care
( 6:56) 11. Crazeology

With the exception of Hank Mobley's original "Alternating Current," which was left out due to lack of space, this single CD has all of the music from the two Prestige LPs Mobley's Message and Hank Mobley's Second Message; a two-LP set from 1976 which had the same Messages title and catalog number, but also the complete program, is actually the preferred acquisition, but will be difficult to locate. The first session mostly features the fine tenor Hank Mobley jamming on four superior bop standards, including "Bouncing with Bud," "52nd Street Theme" and "Au Privavem" and his own "Minor Disturbance" in a quintet with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor; altoist Jackie McLean has a strong cameo on "Au Privave." The second set, recorded a week later, is less of a jam session, with Mobley, trumpeter Kenny Dorham, pianist Walter Bishop, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor essaying three of Mobley's now-obscure compositions, Benny Harris's "Crazeology" and the standards "These Are the Things I Love" and "I Should Care." The two dates give one a good example of Hank Mobley's playing prior to becoming a regular Blue Note artist, where he would create his greatest work. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/messages-mw0000201086

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley; Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean; Bass – Doug Watkins; Drums – Art Taylor; Piano – Barry Harris, Walter Bishop; Trumpet – Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham 

Messages (Reissue)

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Hank Mobley - Jazz Message #2

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:14
Size: 74,5 MB
Art: Front

(9:51)  1. Thad's Blues
(6:40)  2. Doug's Mino B' Ok
(6:31)  3. B. For B.B.
(4:58)  4. Blues Number Two
(4:11)  5. Space Flight

Impressive lineups, both in the front line and the rhythm section, fuel the two 1956 sessions on this Savoy reissue. The players are committed, the writing is good, and the performances reward repeated listening. The result is a worthwhile precursor to the industry standard hard bop Mobley would later record for Blue Note.Lee Morgan, then 18, joins Mobley on two tracks that have pianist Hank Jones, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Art Taylor in the rhythm section. Even if Morgan at this time was audibly still growing as a trumpet player, his poise, execution, and resourceful imagination were already the tools of a master. Donald Byrd, on form and playing with crispness and authority, moves into the trumpet chair for the three remaining tracks. This time it's Barry Harris on piano, Kenny Clarke on drums, and Watkins (again) on bass. The influence on Mobley of swing era tenors, from Lester Young to Illinois Jacquet, can be clearly heard on these tracks. Mobley's respect for and understanding of the pre-bebop style serve him well in his contribution to the development of the predominant jazz style that followed bebop. In addition to three Mobley originals, there is a blues by Thad Jones and another from Watkins. The standout track is Mobley's "Space Flight," a bright, up-tempo bop number that has memorable solos from Mobley, Byrd, Harris, and Clarke. The recording on this CD is very good but, as is common on Savoy reissues, the running time isn't long 32 minutes in the case of this jazz message. ~ Jim Todd https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-jazz-message-of-hank-mobley-vol-2-mw0000098294

Personnel: Hank Mobley - tenor saxophone; Donald Byrd - trumpet; Barry Harris - piano; Doug Watkins - bass; Kenny Clarke - drums

Jazz Message #2

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Hank Mobley, Donald Byrd - The Birth Of Hard Bop Disc 1, Disc 2

Album: The Birth Of Hard Bop  Disc 1

Styles: Trumpet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:18
Size: 146,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:30)  1. Budo
(6:58)  2. I Married An Angel
(8:02)  3. The Jazz Message
(5:49)  4. There Will Never Be Another You
(3:06)  5. Cattin' - Alternate Take
(4:37)  6. Cattin'
(4:41)  7. Madeline
(3:45)  8. When I Fall In Love
(4:20)  9. Space Flight - Previously Unissued
(4:12) 10. Space Flight
(5:18) 11. Blues Number Two - Previously Unissued
(4:56) 12. Blues Number Two

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Album: The Birth Of Hard Bop  Disc 2

Time: 64:36

Size: 149,2 MB

(6:30)  1. B. For B.B. - Previously Unissued

(6:28)  2. B. For B.B.

(7:01)  3. Hank's Shout

(7:53)  4. Bet

(8:53)  5. Nostalagia

(9:49)  6. Thad's Blues

(5:31)  7. A-1

(5:48)  8. A-1 - Alternate Take

(6:37)  9. Doug's Minor Bouk

This 2-CD set, introducing the Savoy Jazz Rare Sessions series, contains the reissue of four 1956 Savoy albums: The Jazz Message Of Hank Mobley, Hard Bop, The Jazz Message Of Hank Mobley, Volume 2 and A-1: The Savoy Sessions. It includes alternate takes and previously unissued tracks that serve an important purpose. Here, "Cattin’," for example, is played at different tempos: Bird-like on the alternate take with different featured soloists. The version originally issued is looser and more representative of hard bop. "Space Flight," on the other hand, is virtually the same on both takes. Minor flaws in the recorded sound were most likely caused when performers turned away from the microphone. The unissued track of "Blues Number Two" contains serious sound problems as well as artist miscues. But there’s more. The alternate track was performed at a faster bebop tempo without as much soulful expression as that evident in the issued take.

By including the alternate track, Savoy is giving the listener an opportunity to hear what was considered desirable in the recording studio: better sound and a genuine, gospel-influenced, blues-based expression.While the previously unissued take of "B. for B.B." is obviously inferior, both in its poor sound balance and in the faster, uninspired mood; "A-1" appears as two different arrangements, both of great value but independent of each other. Each session leader is well represented. Sweet ballads and driving jams feature the Byrd/Mobley quintet as well as the Morgan/Mobley quintet. Lee Morgan and Hank Mobley appear on the last 7 tracks. Over two hours in length, Savoy’s reissue offers early glimpses of several pioneers, four very different pianists, and an introduction to what folks began calling hard bop. ~ Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-birth-of-hard-bop-lee-morgan-savoy-jazz-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan- trumpet; Hank Mobley- tenor saxophone; John LaPorta- alto saxophone; Horace Silver, Ronnie Ball, Barry Harris, Hank Jones- piano; Wendell Marshall, Doug Watkins- bass; Kenny Clarke, Arthur Taylor- drums. 

The Birth Of Hard Bop Disc 1, Disc 2

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Gene Ammons - Nice An' Cool

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:56
Size: 91,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:10)  1. Till There Was You
(4:38)  2. Answer Me, My Love
(4:02)  3. Willow Weep for Me
(4:59)  4. Little Girl Blue
(7:43)  5. Something I Dreamed Last Night
(3:05)  6. Something Wonderful
(4:22)  7. I Remember You
(3:52)  8. Someone to Watch over Me

A 1961 set of standards heavy on the ballads, Nice 'n Cool is prime Gene Ammons. In front of a sympathetic piano-bass-drums trio (Richard Wyands, Doug Watkins, and the great J.C. Heard, respectively), Ammons' brilliantly soulful tenor saxophone really stretches out on the familiar melodies, but the relatively concise arrangements (all of the eight tracks are between three and eight minutes, with most hovering around the five-minute mark) don't allow him to wander too far afield as he occasionally does on less structured sessions. Nice 'n Cool is first and foremost a mood album, with the unity of sound more important than the individual performances, but Ammons particularly shines on the extended opener, a tender, restrained version of The Music Man's "Til There Was You" that sidesteps the mawkishness of many interpretations in favor of a dignified grace. The backing trio is excellent throughout, although Wyands' too-brief solo passages do make the listener wish that the pianist had been given more of a chance to shine. ~ Stewart Mason https://www.allmusic.com/album/nice-an-cool-mw0000868722      

Personnel:  Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone;  Richard Wyands - piano;  Doug Watkins - bass;  J.C. Heard - drums

Nice An' Cool

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Benny Golson - Gettin' With It

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:20
Size: 86,1 MB
Art: Front

( 6:15)  1. Baubles, Bangles And Beads
( 5:11)  2. April In Paris
( 6:55)  3. Blue Streak
( 6:40)  4. Tippin' On Thru
(12:16)  5. Bob Hurd's Blues

Benny Golson leads a potent quintet in this 1959 studio date; the tenor saxophonist is joined by pianist Tommy Flanagan, trombonist Curtis Fuller, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Art Taylor. Golson's snappy arrangement of "Baubles, Bangle and Beads" features Fuller's fine mute work and Flanagan's upbeat inventive solo before he introduces his big-toned tenor into the mix. Golson's slight vibrato and Taylor's swirling brushwork are highlights of his interpretation of "April in Paris." The remaining three tracks are all originals by the leader: the up-tempo hard bop cooker "Blue Streak," the jaunty strut "Tippin' on Thru," and the extended blues "Bob Hurd's Blues," which will get anyone's feet tapping. This is one of Benny Golson's best dates as a leader because one not only gets to enjoy his always strong arrangements, but his consistently first-rate tenor sax solos. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/gettin-with-it-mw0000180765

Personnel: Benny Golson - tenor saxophone; Curtis Fuller - trombone; Tommy Flanagan - piano; Doug Watkins - bass; Art Taylor - drums

Gettin' With It

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Donald Byrd - The Chant

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:15
Size: 103,9 MB
Art: Front

(7:39)  1. I'm An Old Cowhand
(7:25)  2. You're Next
(8:55)  3. Chant
(9:37)  4. That's All
(7:01)  5. Great God
(4:35)  6. Sophisticated Lady

Not released until 1979, this excellent quintet session features the always formidable team of trumpeter Donald Byrd and baritonist Pepper Adams. The accompanying rhythm section includes pianist Herbie Hancock shortly before he joined Miles Davis. The repertoire consists of six likable tunes including an uptempo "I'm an Old Cowhand," "That's All," "Sophisticated Lady," two Byrd originals and Duke Pearson's "Chant." This is superior hard bop from the early '60s. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/chant-mw0000898045

Personnel: Donald Byrd – trumpet; Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone; Herbie Hancock – piano; Doug Watkins – bass; Teddy Robinson – drums

The Chant

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Lee Morgan - Candy

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:04
Size: 97,1 MB
Art: Front

(7:07)  1. Candy
(5:39)  2. Since I Fell For You
(5:06)  3. C.T.A.
(7:27)  4. All The Way
(5:01)  5. Who Do You Love, I Hope
(6:16)  6. Personality
(5:26)  7. All At Once You Love Her

Recorded when he was only 19, Candy was one of the first albums (along with The Cooker, recorded the same year) where Lee Morgan showed his own unique style. His prodigal technical virtuosity had already been proven at this time in the Dizzy Gilliespie band, but Morgan's first solo ventures had been remarkable only because of his young age. Here, the influence of some of Morgan's mentors can be seen, but instead of just emulating the style of older trumpeters like Clifford Brown, he has begun absorbing bits and pieces of the phrasing and style of a wide range of musicians, from Gillespie to Miles Davis, then using them to forge his own sound. Morgan places himself front and center here there are no other horns to carry the melodic lines, leaving him quite exposed, but he manages to perform beautifully. Not merely a technical marvel, his tone on this album was sweet and his playing fluid, infused with joy and crisply articulated emotion. Morgan would later turn out to be an expert songwriter, but here songs like Buddy Johnson's "Since I Fell for You," and Jimmy Heath's "C.T.A." gave him ample space to show off his talents. ~ Stacia Proefrock https://www.allmusic.com/album/candy-mw0000649662

Personnel: Lee Morgan - trumpet; Sonny Clark - piano; Doug Watkins - bass; Art Taylor - drums

Candy

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Hank Mobley Quartet - Hank Mobley Quartet

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 25:13
Size: 58,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. Hank's Prank
(3:47)  2. My Sin
(4:31)  3. Avila And Tequila
(3:40)  4. Walkin' The Fence
(4:32)  5. Love For Sale
(4:11)  6. Just Coolin'

Hank Mobley Quartet is the debut album by jazz saxophonist Hank Mobley released on the Blue Note label in 1955 as BLP 5066, a 10" LP. It was recorded on March 27, 1955, and features Mobley, Horace Silver, Doug Watkins and Art Blakey. The album was released on CD only in Japan, as a limited edition. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Mobley_Quartet

Personnel:  Hank Mobley - tenor saxophone; Horace Silver - piano; Doug Watkins - bass; Art Blakey - drums

Hank Mobley Quartet

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Dizzy Reece - Soundin' Off

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:58
Size: 96,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:05)  1. A Ghost of a Chance
(7:58)  2. Once in a While
(7:30)  3. Eb Pob
(7:46)  4. Yesterdays
(7:10)  5. Our Love Is Here to Stay
(6:27)  6. Blue Streak

Originally issued in 1960 and subsequently reissued multiple times in a variety of formats, the trumpeter Dizzy Reece's fourth Blue Note outing as a leader is here presented in Super Audio CD format by the APO label. While it would have been nice to see a bit more material on a reissue like this (with at least a couple of alternate takes), the original program is densely packed with high-quality music and makes for a solidly satisfying listening experience on its own. The opening track, interestingly enough, is both a ballad and a standard: on "Ghost of a Chance" Reece plays with a buttery, burnished tone that coats the familiar melody in a golden haze like the quality of light at dusk. The sun rises again on the next track, a midtempo number titled "Once in a While," and the tempo ratchets up another notch on "Eb Pob," a rather undistinguished composition on the "I Got Rhythm" changes that is completely redeemed by the quality of the solos. "Yesterday" finds pianist Walter Bishop delivering a curiously lackadaisical solo, but he gets back in the groove on a wonderful version of "Our Love Is Here to Stay." The program ends with a nice, bouncy blues original titled "Blue Streak." Throughout the album, Reece digs into his bag of sonic tricks without ever doing anything that detracts from the music itself. Soundin' Off is a little bit uneven, but is never less than a solid pleasure to listen to. ~ Rick Anderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/soundin-off-mw0000368905

Personnel:  Dizzy Reece - trumpet; Walter Bishop Jr. - piano; Doug Watkins - bass; Art Taylor - drums

Soundin' Off

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Donald Byrd - Timeless

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:32
Size: 97,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. Long Green
(7:49)  2. Star Eyes
(7:39)  3. Someone to Watch over Me
(7:36)  4. Honeylike
(7:43)  5. Orpheus
(7:11)  6. Winterset

Timeless Donald Byrd combines most of the trumpeter's 1955 Savoy session Byrd's Word and two tracks from alto saxophonist John Jenkins' 1957 Savoy release Jazz Eyes. 

Both albums are solid examples of mid-'50s mainstream jazz and represent both artists well. Given that these albums go in and out of print, the Timeless compilations are welcome additions to the artists' catalogs, though diehards will still want to seek out the original albums. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/timeless-donald-byrd-mw0000661040

Personnel:  Trumpet – Donald Byrd; Alto Saxophone – John Jenkins;  Bass – Doug Watkins, Paul Chambers; Drums – Art Taylor, Kenny Clarke; Piano – Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan; Tenor Saxophone – Frank Foster; Trombone – Curtis Fuller

Timeless

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Donald Byrd - Donald Byrd With Strings + Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:14
Size: 162,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:28)  1. Stardust
(2:46)  2. Indian Summer
(3:30)  3. I'm A Fool To Want You
(2:50)  4. Someday My Prince Will Come
(3:03)  5. Moon Mist
(3:47)  6. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(2:54)  7. The Touch Of Your Lips
(4:00)  8. Lazy Afternoon
(2:44)  9. Dear Old Stockholm
(2:51) 10. Love Is The Sweetest Thing
(2:59) 11. September Afternoon
(3:49) 12. Dearly Beloved
(7:03) 13. Little Rock Getaway
(7:19) 14. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
(4:39) 15. If I Love Again
(3:44) 16. Stella By Starlight
(3:38) 17. People Will Say We're In Love
(5:04) 18. What's New?

Donald Byrd and Clare Fischers 1957 New York studio collaboration is important for several reasons. For one, it marks Fischers first recording since January 1953, as well as his debut as the sole arranger for an album. It is equally important for Donald Byrd, as it remains the only album that the trumpeter ever made with string accompaniment.  Also included on this outstanding release is a New York, May 7, 1956 quartet session featuring the trumpeter backed by pianist Ray Santisi, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Jimmy Zitano. Although this date varies greatly from Donald Byrd & Clare Fischers session with strings, we have decided to include it here in its entirety as bonus tracks, due to the dates equally unusual format. While Byrd recorded countless CDs in a quintet or sextet setting, the May 7, 1956 date is one of only two sessions that Byrd recorded as a leader in a quartet setting. https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/donald-byrd-albums/4340-with-strings.html

Personnel:  Donald Byrd (tp), Julius Baker (fl), Romeo Penque (cl), Clare Fischer (p, arr, cond), Milt Hinton (b), Osie Johnson (d), Harry Lookofsky, Gene Orloff (strings), Ray Santisi (p), Doug Watkins (b), Jimmy Zitano (d)

Donald Byrd With Strings + Byrd Blows On Beacon Hill

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Charles Mingus - Tonight At Noon

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:15
Size: 89,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:00)  1. Tonight At Noon
(4:50)  2. Invisible Lady
(7:55)  3. 'Old' Blues For Walt's Torin
(9:42)  4. Peggy's Blue Skylight
(9:46)  5. Passions Of A Woman Loved

A valuable reissue for Mingus fans, Tonight at Noon compiles five tunes originally recorded for two of the great bassist's most important album's, 1957's The Clown and 1961's Oh Yeah. Though the two sessions cover somewhat different stylistic ground, they blend together seamlessly and amount to much more than a haphazard assemblage of dusty outtakes. The earlier session is the more restrained of the two, with Mingus and a typically responsive quintet (trombonist Jimmy Knepper, alto saxophonist Shafi Hadi, pianist Wade Legge and drummer Dannie Richmond) expertly weaving a path between the extremes of European impressionism (on the haunting "Passions of a Woman Loved") and hard bop (on the fast-paced title tune). The 1961 date is a more freewheeling journey into the blues and gospel roots of jazz via Duke Ellington, with Mingus switching to piano (an instrument on which he was more than proficient) and handing the bass duties over to Doug Watkins. The hard-swinging group also includes Mingus stalwarts Knepper and Richmond, along with the dynamic saxophone duo of Booker Ervin and Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Though most of the compositions on Tonight at Noon are not well known (with the exception of "Peggy's Blue Skylight" from the 1961 session) and several make their only appearances in the Mingus catalog here, there's certainly nothing second rate about these tunes. Along with the time limitations of the LP era, one gets the impression that, if anything, they were left off the original albums because they were even more provocative than the selected cuts. This is vital, exciting music.~ Joel Roberts https://www.allaboutjazz.com/tonight-at-noon-charles-mingus-water-music-review-by-joel-roberts.php

Personnel: Charles Mingus, Bass, Piano, Vocals; Shafi Hadi, Alto Saxophone; Doug Watkins, Bass; Dannie Richmond, Drums; Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Saxophones; Wade Legge, Piano; Booker Ervin, Tenor Saxophone; Jimmy Knepper, Trombone.

Tonight At Noon

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Kenny Burrell, Jimmy Raney - 2 Guitars

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:14
Size: 112.7 MB
Styles: Bop, Guitar jazz
Year: 1957/1992
Art: Front

[ 8:49] 1. Blue Duke
[ 4:04] 2. Dead Heat
[ 5:11] 3. Pivot
[ 4:47] 4. I'll Close My Eyes
[ 9:27] 5. Little Melonae
[12:21] 6. This Way
[ 4:31] 7. Out Of Nowhere

Alto Saxophone – Jackie Mclean; Bass – Doug Watkins; Drums – Arthur Taylor; Guitar – Jimmy Raney, Kenny Burrell; Piano – Mal Waldron; Trumpet – Donald Byrd. Recorded in 1957.

For this 1957 studio session, the two distinctive but complementary guitarists Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney are teamed up in a septet with trumpeter Donald Byrd, altoist Jackie McLean, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Art Taylor. The full group gets to stretch out on one original each by Watkins and McLean ("Little Melonae") and three from Waldron, while the two standards ("Close Your Eyes" and "Out of Nowhere") are individual features for Burrell and Raney. This is a well-rounded set that may not contain any real surprises, but will be enjoyed by collectors of hard bop. ~Scott Yanow

2 Guitars mc
2 Guitars zippy

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Red Garland - Satin Doll

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:50
Size: 91,3 MB
Art: Front

( 9:47)  1. Satin Doll
(10:44)  2. The Man I Love
( 5:38)  3. A Little Bit of Basie
( 7:10)  4. It's a Blue World
( 6:30)  5. M-Squad Theme

This out-of-print LP released for the first time five unknown selections featuring pianist Red Garland in a trio with drummer Specs Wright and either Doug Watkins or Jimmy Rowser on bass. 

"Satin Doll" has since been added as a bonus cut on another CD, but the other four numbers ("The Man I Love," "A Little Bit of Basie," "It's a Blue World" and "M-Squad Theme") have not yet resurfaced, making this an album of interest to Red Garland completists. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/satin-doll-mw0000911709 

Personnel:  Red Garland - piano;  Jimmy Rowser - (tracks 4 & 5), Doug Watkins (tracks 1-3) - bass;  Charles "Specs" Wright - drums

Satin Doll

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Gene Ammons - Funky

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:39
Size: 90,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:01)  1. Funky
(12:23)  2. Pint Size
( 8:57)  3. Stella By Starlight
( 9:16)  4. King Size

The Gene Ammons all-star jam session recordings of the 1950's are all quite enjoyable and this one is no exception. The great tenor is matched with trumpeter Art Farmer, altoist Jackie McLean, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor for lengthy versions of "Stella By Starlight," the Burrell blues "Funky" and a pair of numbers by arranger Jimmy Mundy. All of the horns plus Burrell and Waldron get ample solo space and Ammons seems to really inspire his sidemen on these soulful bop jams. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/funky-mw0000085895

Personnel:  Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone;  Art Farmer – trumpet;  Jackie McLean - alto saxophone;  Mal Waldron – piano;  Kenny Burrell – guitar;  Doug Watkins – bass;  Art Taylor – drums.

Funky

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Jackie McLean & John Jenkins - Alto Madness

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:45
Size: 91,1 MB
Art: Front

(11:52)  1. Alto Madness
( 7:03)  2. Windy City
( 6:54)  3. The Lady Is A Tramp
( 7:39)  4. Easy Living
( 6:15)  5. Pondering

Altoists Jackie McLean and John Jenkins previously shared equal billing with Phil Woods, Gene Quill, and Hal McKusick for the album Bird Feathers, on which the saxophonists paid tribute to Charlie Parker on Parker's blues "Bird Feathers" supported by the fine boppish rhythm section of pianist Wade Legge, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Art Taylor. McLean, Jenkins, Legge, Watkins, and Taylor also recorded the five tracks here heard on Alto Madness at the same May 3, 1957 session that produced "Bird Feathers," and they continued the tribute to Parker in practically every phrase they played. McLean became much more individual within a few years, while Jenkins would fade from the scene altogether. This likable jam session features plenty of tradeoffs by the two altoists. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/alto-madness-mw0000203137

Personnel: Jackie McLean, John Jenkins (alto saxophone); Wade Legge (piano); Doug Watkins (bass); Art Taylor (drums).

Alto Madness

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Curtis Fuller - New Trombone

Styles: Trombone Jazz

Year: 1957

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 44:14

Size: 102,6 MB

Art: Front

(7:44)  1. Vonce #5

(8:21)  2. Transportation Blues

(6:54)  3. Blue Lawson

(9:28)  4. Namely You

(6:33)  5. What Is This Thing Called Love?

(5:12)  6. Alicia

This 1957 date matches Fuller with bluesy, fervent alto sax wailer Sonny Red Kyner. They make both a tight ensemble pair and an excellent contrasting frontline, with Kyner's spewing, flailing delivery featured on such cuts as "Blue Lawson" and "Namely You" operating against Fuller's equally intense, but lighter and smoother trombone lines. With Hank Jones operating as the rhythm section's harmonic link on piano, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Louis Hayes mesh underneath effectively. These undiluted, straight-ahead bop and blues numbers are still par for the course. ~ Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/new-trombone-mw0000619915

Personnel: Curtis Fuller (trombone); Sonny Red Kyner (alto saxophone); Hank Jones (piano); Doug Watkins (acoustic bass); Louis Hayes (drums).

New Trombone

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Sonny Rollins - Saxophone Colossus

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:46
Size: 91,4 MB
Art: Front

( 6:49)  1. St Thomas
( 6:33)  2. You Don't Know What Love Is
( 5:14)  3. Strode Rode
( 9:58)  4. Moritat
(11:10)  5. Blue Seven

Sonny Rollins recorded many memorable sessions during 1954-1958, but Saxophone Colossus is arguably his finest all-around set. Joined by pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Max Roach, Rollins debuts and performs the definitive version of "St. Thomas," tears into the chord changes of "Mack the Knife" (here called "Moritat"), introduces "Strode Rode," is lyrical on "You Don't Know What Love Is," and constructs a solo on "Blue Seven" that practically defines his style. Essential music that, as with all of Rollins' Prestige recordings, has also been reissued as part of a huge "complete" box set; listeners with a tight budget are advised to pick up this single disc and be amazed. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/saxophone-colossus-mw0000188597

Personnel: Sonny Rollins (tenor saxophone); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Doug Watkins (bass); Max Roach (drums).

Saxophone Colossus

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Jackie McLean - The New Tradition

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:58
Size: 91.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1955/2009
Art: Front

[6:45] 1. It's You Or No One
[6:55] 2. Blue Doll
[6:23] 3. Little Melonae
[6:25] 4. The Way You Look Tonight
[6:53] 5. Mood Malody
[6:35] 6. Lover Man

Jackie McLean hasn't had too many kind things to say about the recordings he made prior to signing with Blue Note in 1959. The alto saxophonist is quick to dismiss his pre-1959 work, which he feels pales in comparison to his stunning Blue Note output of 1959-1967. But while it is true that McLean recorded his most adventurous and essential albums for Blue Note, the saxman's pre-Blue Note recordings aren't without merit. Recorded in 1955, The New Tradition is a Spanish reissue that contains his first recordings as a leader. Joined by trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Ronald Tucker, a 24-year-old McLean leads a conventional bop date that ranges from two originals ("Blue Doll" and "Little Melonae") to performances of the standards "It's You or No One," "The Way You Look Tonight," and "Lover Man." In 1955, there was plenty of Charlie Parker in McLean's tone -- nonetheless, he was striving for originality, and the saxman was growing increasingly distinctive. If McLean told you that this session fell short of the brilliance of 1960s Blue Note classics like Demon's Dance, One Step Beyond, Let Freedom Ring, and Right Now!, he would be speaking the truth. In 1955, McLean still had some growing and developing to do -- just as John Coltrane still had some growing and developing to do when he was in Dizzy Gillespie's employ in the early '50s. But that doesn't mean that this CD is bad. Although far from essential, The New Tradition is a decent bop outing that will appeal to collectors, historians, and hardcore fans. ~Alex Henderson

The New Tradition

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Pepper Adams - Hollywood Quintet Sessions

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:07
Size: 177,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:53)  1. Muezzin'
(6:20)  2. Unforgettable
(8:26)  3. Baubles, Bangles and Beads
(3:50)  4. My One and Only Love
(6:00)  5. Freddie Froo
(6:26)  6. Minor Mishap
(4:57)  7. Blackout Blues
(8:41)  8. High Step
(6:32)  9. Zec
(5:48) 10. Alone Together
(8:10) 11. 5021
(4:58) 12. Four Funky Folk

Music in general, jazz in particular, and notably baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams all had a breakthrough year in 1957. Given his New Star award in Down Beat magazine's critics poll and much acclaim working with the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Adams left Detroit that year for important recording sessions on both the East and West Coasts. Teamed here with musicians based in the Los Angeles area, Adams proved as adept at hard bop as with the cool school sound the California jazzmen had established. Two dates from the summer of 1957 (Pepper Adams Quintet for the Mode label and Critics' Choice from Pacific Jazz) feature drummer Mel Lewis on all the cuts, with help from pianists Carl Perkins or Jimmy Rowles, Kenton trumpeters Stu Williamson or Lee Katzman, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and on the second assemblage fellow Detroiter bassist Doug Watkins. The result is a solid collection of standards and compositions from emerging Motor City jazzmen Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, Thad Jones, and Adams. The distinguished sound of the baritone makes for an intriguing partnership alongside the brass of Williamson or Katzman. Five tracks with the Perkins/Williamson combine produced the calypso to hard bop "Muezzin'," with a singing trumpet followed by baritone, and "Freddie Froo," a hard bopper based on the same batting order, both originals by the leader. A spry version of the usually mundane "Unforgettable," a frantic, wow factor-saturated take of "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," and the tender, deep, and mellow "My One and Only Love" round out the first session. 

Katzman plays very well, trumping his relatively little-known status on three of the next eight tracks. He's excellent taking the lead on Flanagan's now legendary "Minor Mishap," adds to the breezy cool of "High Step" from the pen of Harris, and assists the band in bright, inventive, and adroit 4/4 to 3/4 time changes during the Thad Jones number "5021." Rowles in particular consistently stands out for his inserted solo segments on "5021," and manhandles the other Thad Jones contribution, a furious flyer titled "Zec," in a way original boppers Charlie Parker and Miles Davis would be envious of. His piano leads are simply elegant and refined on two more originals written by Adams: on the bluesy "Four Funky Folk" (originally on the World Pacific LP Blowin' the Blues) and especially during his feature on "Blackout Blues." Of course, Mel Lewis is the consummate professional with every swinging note. But the star here is Adams, emerging with brimming confidence and a solid concept beyond his peers and influences, and exhibiting a style that perfectly reflects his highly intelligent, dry, quick-witted, and fluid personality. For fans and students of the big horn, this is a homework project, and a testament to one of the greatest players of all time on his instrument. ~ Michael G.Nastos http://www.allmusic.com/album/hollywood-quintet-sessions-mw0001219041

Personnel:  Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone;  Stu Williamson, Lee Katzman – trumpet;  Carl Perkins , Jimmy Rowles  - piano;  Leroy Vinnegar, Doug Watkins – bass;  Mel Lewis - drums

Hollywood Quintet Sessions

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