Ellis Larkins - Blues In The Night

Styles: Piano
Year: 1952
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 23:41
Size: 55,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:12) 1. Blues in the Night
(2:51) 2. I'll Wind
(2:56) 3. Over the Rainbow
(2:59) 4. Come Rain or Come Shine
(3:04) 5. Stormy Weather
(2:58) 6. One for My Baby
(2:42) 7. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
(2:56) 8. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues

Stomping blues, charming ballads, and dazzling interpretations of standards by pianist Ellis Larkins, one of the most underrated players from the swing era still active.~Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-in-the-night-mw0000909970

Personnel: Ellis Larkins - Piano

Blues In The Night

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Ruby Braff & Ellis Larkins - The Complete Duets

Styles: Cornet, Trumpet And Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 160:05
Size: 370,9 MB
Scans: Front & Back

(5:39) 1. Love For Sale
(3:46) 2. I've Got A Pocketful Of Dreams
(4:36) 3. Blues For Ruby
(3:47) 4. I've Got The World On A String
(5:37) 5. Please
(5:31) 6. Old Folks
(3:28) 7. Blues For Ellis
(4:32) 8. What Is There To Say
(5:07) 9. When A Woman Loves A Man
(5:39) 10. You Are Too Beautiful
(5:16) 11. Skylark
(4:47) 12. Sailboat In The Moonlight
(2:54) 13. A City Called Heaven
(5:38) 14. My Funny Valentine
(4:59) 15. Where Or When
(3:30) 16. I Could Write A Book
(4:59) 17. Little Girl Blue
(3:56) 18. Thou Swell
(3:29) 19. My Romance
(4:50) 20. The Girl Friend
(3:18) 21. Mountain Greenery
(4:16) 22. Blue Moon
(3:34) 23. You Took Advantage Of Me
(4:04) 24. I Married An Angel
(4:19) 25. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
(6:55) 26. Romance in the Dark
(5:58) 27. When You Wish Upon a Star
(7:24) 28. (I Don't Stand A) Ghost of a Chance
(4:44) 29. Where's Freddie
(3:16) 30. Wishing (Will Make It So)
(5:49) 31. I'm in the Market for You
(9:17) 32. Sweet Sue, Just You
(5:00) 33. Linger Awhile

A unique collection of laidback jazz recordings recorded in a very spare setting that has trumpeter Ruby Braff playing with pianist Ellis Larkins, and no other accompaniment! The setting's quite unusual for the time, and it makes for a relaxed intimate meeting between two strong talents that really differs from the work that either of them were recording elsewhere. But even more incredible is the way that the two players come together without additional support working beautifully in a format that would have others faltering always swinging the tunes despite the lack of bass or drums, and clearly very at home here with the extra space that lets both of them open up creatively!

2-CD set features 25 titles that are exclusively Larkins/Braff duets recorded for Vanguard in 1955, plus an additional 8 numbers from a sextet session that features Braff with Vick Dickenson, Sam Margolis, and Nat Pierce. Titles include "Love For Sale", "Skylark", "Blue Moon", "Blues For Ellis", "Please", "Sailboat In The Moonlight", "Linger Awhile", "I'm In The Market For You", "Where Or When", "I Could Write A Book", "The Girl Friend", "Little Girl Blue", and "Thou Swell".https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/ruby-braff-ellis-larkins-albums/4309-the-complete-duets-2-cd-set.html
".
Personnel: Cornet, Trumpet – Ruby Braff; Piano – Ellis LarkinsDrums – Jo Jones, Nat Pierce Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet –Trombone – Vic Dickenson; : Bass – Walter Page".

The Complete Duets

Ellis Larkins Trio - Manhattan At Midnight

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:08
Size: 182,5 MB
Art: Front

(18:33)  1. Manhattan At Midnight
(19:42)  2. Penthouse Suite
( 3:03)  3. Am I Blue
( 2:58)  4. Blue Prelude
( 2:56)  5. Blue And Sentimental
( 3:02)  6. Blue Moon
( 3:09)  7. Blue Again
( 2:49)  8. A Blues Serenade
( 3:49)  9. Interlude #1
( 4:17) 10. At Loose Ends
( 4:26) 11. Ode To Marie
( 3:17) 12. Interlude #2
( 3:18) 13. Time
( 3:47) 14. Four Bar Intro With Tag

One of the most subtle, lyrical and intriguing of all jazz pianists, Ellis Larkins was considered the perfect accompanist. He recorded classic duets with Ella Fitzgerald and Ruby Braff, and fortunately led occasional sessions of his own. Two complete albums from the 1950s, Manhattan at Midnight and Blue and Sentimental, are reissued in full on this single CD. The former is particularly intriguing for it consists of two lengthy medleys that originally filled the two sides of an LP. The "Manhattan at Midnight Suite" has eight songs that musically hint at stories of New York nightlife in the 1950s while "Penthouse Suite" is perfect music for the cocktail hour. Larkins, guitarist Art Ryerson, and bassist Beverly Peer play as one, going smoothly and seamlessly from one song to another. The relaxed ambiance continues even when the performances are briefly uptempo. The Blue and Sentimental album continues the same mood during a dozen concise numbers. The first six are performed by a quartet with guitarist Skeeter Best with each song having "blue" in its title. The remainder of the project consists of duets with bassist Joe Benjamin on six fascinating Larkins originals. Although the music on this CD is perfect for backgrounds, turn up the volume and listen closely. There is a great deal of subtle creativity to discover. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/manhattan-at-midnight-mw0000472774

Personnel:  Piano – Ellis Larkins; Bass – Beverly Peer; Guitar – Art Ryerson.

Manhattan At Midnight

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Ellis Larkins - A Smooth One [The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions]

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:19
Size: 118,9 MB
Art: Front

(9:08)  1. Rose Room
(7:31)  2. Saint Louis Blues
(4:18)  3. Blues In My Heart
(7:25)  4. A Smooth One
(3:45)  5. C.E.B.
(7:44)  6. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
(6:13)  7. I Want A Little Girl
(5:12)  8. Day Dream

Famed as a subtle accompanist who played harmonically complex chords in a lightly swinging style, pianist Ellis Larkins did not have any opportunities to record a full album as a leader after 1959 until this effort for the French Black & Blue label; it was last available domestically as a Classic Jazz LP. With fine support from bassist George Duvivier and drummer J.C. Heard, Larkins performs five swing-era standards, plus his own "C.E.B." The increasingly rare session gives listeners a good example of Ellis Larkins' tasteful playing. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-smooth-one-mw0000690076

A Smooth One [The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions]

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Ellis Larkins - Blue and Sentimental

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:27
Size: 96,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:07)  1. Am I Blue
(3:52)  2. Interlude # 1
(3:03)  3. Blue Prelude
(4:19)  4. At Loose Ends
(2:59)  5. Blue and Sentimental
(4:28)  6. Ode to Marie
(3:05)  7. Blue Moon
(3:21)  8. Interlude # 2
(3:21)  9. Time
(3:12) 10. Blue Again
(3:47) 11. Four Bar Intro With Tag
(2:48) 12. A Blues Serenade

Famous for his subtle chord voicings and ability to accompany singers, Ellis Larkins has been in great demand throughout his long career. His parents were musicians (his mother played piano while his father was a violinist) and Larkins was hailed as a prodigy early on, appearing with an orchestra when he was 11. After graduating from the Peabody Conservatory and Juilliard, Larkins was part of Edmond Hall's group in the mid-'40s; recorded with Mildred Bailey, Coleman Hawkins, and Dicky Wells; and then worked regularly at the Village Vanguard and the Blue Angel in New York over a 20-year period. His duet records with Ella Fitzgerald and Ruby Braff in the 1950s are masterpieces in subtlety, and he was also a busy studio player. During the 1960s, Larkins worked with singers Joe Williams, Jane Harvey, Georgia Gibbs, and even Eartha Kitt and Harry Belafonte; since then, Larkins has continued playing in New York clubs with a wide variety of singers. He recorded as a leader for Storyville and Decca in the 1950s, for Halcyon and Black & Blue in the 1970s, had additional duets with Braff for Chiaroscuro, and was featured on a couple of dates for Concord, including a 1992 recital at Maybeck Recital Hall. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ellis-larkins-mn0000172626/biography

Personnel: Ellis Larkins - Piano; Jim Crawford - Drums; Joe Benjamin - Bass; Skeeter Best - Guitar

Blue and Sentimental

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Ruby Braff, Ellis Larkins - 2 X 2

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:06
Size: 114.7 MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz
Year: 1955/2006
Art: Front

[5:31] 1. My Funny Valentine
[3:12] 2. Mountain Greenery
[4:53] 3. Where Or When
[4:16] 4. Didn't Know What Time It Was
[4:12] 5. Blue Moon
[3:26] 6. I Could Write A Book
[3:50] 7. Thou Swell
[3:25] 8. My Romance
[3:34] 9. You Took Advantage Of Me
[4:52] 10. Little Girl Blue
[4:02] 11. I Married An Angel
[4:47] 12. The Girl Friend

Piano – Ellis Larkins; Trumpet – Ruby Braff.

In 1955, trumpeter Ruby Braff recorded two duet albums with the sensitive pianist Ellis Larkins and both projects were very well-received. This CD reissue brings back the second session in which they perform a dozen songs written by Rodgers & Hart. The passionate Braff and Larkins (a masterful accompanist) work quite well together. Although the emphasis is on ballads, there are a few hotter pieces that find Braff pushing Larkins a bit. Highlights include "Mountain Greenery," "Blue Moon," "My Romance," and "You Took Advantage of Me." ~Scott Yanow

2 X 2

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Lester Young - Kansas City Swing

Styles: Saxophone And Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:55
Size: 167,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:01)  1. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
(3:00)  2. Countless Blues
(2:59)  3. Them There Eyes
(2:53)  4. I Want A Little Girl
(2:57)  5. Pagin' The Devil
(4:12)  6. I Got Rhythm
(4:09)  7. I'm Fer It Too
(3:06)  8. Hello Babe
(3:06)  9. Linger Awhile
(3:14) 10. Just You Just Me
(3:11) 11. I Never Knew
(3:10) 12. Afternoon Of A Basie-ite
(3:07) 13. Sometimes I'm Happy
(4:44) 14. After Theatre Jump
(4:12) 15. Six Cats And A Prince
(4:28) 16. Lester Leaps Again
(3:53) 17. Destination KC
(2:55) 18. Three Little Words
(3:20) 19. Jo-Jo
(2:51) 20. Four O'Clock Drag
(3:18) 21. I Got Rhythm

Lester Young was one of the true jazz giants, a tenor saxophonist who came up with a completely different conception in which to play his horn, floating over bar lines with a light tone rather than adopting Coleman Hawkins' then-dominant forceful approach. A non-conformist, Young (nicknamed "Pres" by Billie Holiday) had the ironic experience in the 1950s of hearing many young tenors try to sound exactly like him. Although he spent his earliest days near New Orleans, Lester Young lived in Minneapolis by 1920, playing in a legendary family band. He studied violin, trumpet, and drums, starting on alto at age 13. Because he refused to tour in the South, Young left home in 1927 and instead toured with Art Bronson's Bostonians, switching to tenor. He was back with the family band in 1929 and then freelanced for a few years, playing with Walter Page's Blue Devils (1930), Eddie Barefield in 1931, back with the Blue Devils during 1932-1933, and Bennie Moten and King Oliver (both 1933). He was with Count Basie for the first time in 1934 but left to replace Coleman Hawkins with Fletcher Henderson. Unfortunately, it was expected that Young would try to emulate Hawk, and his laid-back sound angered Henderson's sidemen, resulting in Pres not lasting long. After a tour with Andy Kirk and a few brief jobs, Lester Young was back with Basie in 1936, just in time to star with the band as they headed East. Young made history during his years with Basie, not only participating on Count's record dates but starring with Billie Holiday and Teddy Wilson on a series of classic small-group sessions. In addition, on his rare recordings on clarinet with Basie and the Kansas City Six, Young displayed a very original cool sound that almost sounded like altoist Paul Desmond in the 1950s. After leaving Count in 1940, Young's career became a bit aimless, not capitalizing on his fame in the jazz world. He co-led a low-profile band with his brother, drummer Lee Young, in Los Angeles until re-joining Basie in December 1943. Young had a happy nine months back with the band, recorded a memorable quartet session with bassist Slam Stewart, and starred in the short film Jammin' the Blues before he was drafted. His experiences dealing with racism in the military were horrifying, affecting his mental state of mind for the remainder of his life.

Although many critics have written that Lester Young never sounded as good after getting out of the military, despite erratic health he actually was at his prime in the mid- to late-'40s. He toured (and was well paid by Norman Granz) with Jazz at the Philharmonic on and off through the '40s and '50s, made a wonderful series of recordings for Aladdin, and worked steadily as a single. Young also adopted his style well to bebop (which he had helped pave the way for in the 1930s). But mentally he was suffering, building a wall between himself and the outside world, and inventing his own colorful vocabulary. Although many of his recordings in the 1950s were excellent (showing a greater emotional depth than in his earlier days), Young was bothered by the fact that some of his white imitators were making much more money than he was. He drank huge amounts of liquor and nearly stopped eating, with predictable results. 1956's Jazz Giants album found him in peak form as did a well documented engagement in Washington, D.C., with a quartet and a last reunion with Count Basie at the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival. But, for the 1957 telecast The Sound of Jazz, Young mostly played sitting down (although he stole the show with an emotional one-chorus blues solo played to Billie Holiday). After becoming ill in Paris in early 1959, Lester Young came home and essentially drank himself to death. Many decades after his death, Pres is still considered (along with Coleman Hawkins and John Coltrane) one of the three most important tenor saxophonists of all time. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lester-young-mn0000259529/biography

Personnel:  Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Lester Young;   Double Bass – Al Hall, John Simmons, Rodney Richardson , Slam Stewart , Walter Page;  Drums – Jo Jones, Sidney Catlett;  Electric Guitar – Eddie Durham; Guitar – Freddie Green;  Piano – Ellis Larkins, Joe Bushkin, Johnny Guarnieri, Prince Charming;
Trombone – Dickie Wells;  Trumpet – Bill Coleman, Buck Clayton

Kansas City Swing

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Ruby Braff And Ellis Larkins - Calling Berlin, Vol. 1

Styles: Cornet And Piano Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:31
Size: 149,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:59)  1. It's A Lovely Day Today
(6:23)  2. Blue Skies
(6:01)  3. Alexander's Ragtime Band
(3:34)  4. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket
(5:08)  5. How Deep Is The Ocean?
(2:47)  6. Soft Lights And Sweet Music
(4:22)  7. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(3:28)  8. My Walking Stick
(4:56)  9. Russian Lullaby
(4:02) 10. You're Laughing At Me
(3:42) 11. This Year's Kisses
(3:34) 12. Top Hat, White Tie And Tails
(4:25) 13. They Say It's Wonderful
(3:01) 14. Steppin' Out With My Baby
(5:02) 15. Easter Parade

Cornetist Ruby Braff and pianist Ellis Larkins recorded a classic album of duets in 1955 and had a reunion in 1972. They waited another 22 years before cutting their third set but, despite the passing of time, the magic heard on their earlier recordings is still very much present on their Arbors release. Both Braff and Larkins love melodies and rarely leave the themes behind in their improvisations. They perform 15 Irving Berlin tunes, ranging from the famous ("Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Easter Parade," and "How Deep Is the Ocean") to the more obscure ("My Walking Stick," "You're Laughing at Me," and "Steppin' out with My Baby"). In all cases the interpretations are loving, personal, and uplifting. Guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli makes the group a trio on two numbers, and his mellow playing fits right in to the intimate setting. Because Braff (who has always had his own sound) has long been a jazz giant, and Larkins is rightfully considered an extraordinary accompanist and perfect on melodic ballads, their most recent matchup is quite successful and delightful. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/calling-berlin-vol-1-mw0000646749

Personnel: Ruby Braff (cornet); Ellis Larkins (piano); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar).

Calling Berlin, Vol. 1

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Ellis Larkins, Marshall Barer, Barbara Lea - Pousse-Cafe

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:22
Size: 117.6 MB
Styles: Musicals
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[7:50] 1. Pousse-Cafe Overture
[3:12] 2. Take Love Easy
[3:28] 3. Pousse Cafe
[2:46] 4. Let's
[3:09] 5. C'est Comme Ça
[2:22] 6. Fleugel Street Rag
[2:47] 7. Someone To Care For
[1:47] 8. Thank You, Ma'am
[1:33] 9. Up Your Ante
[1:08] 10. Be A Man
[3:27] 11. The Spider And The Fly
[2:31] 12. The Swivel
[2:17] 13. My Heart Is A Stranger
[2:44] 14. C'est Comme Ça
[2:37] 15. Goodbye, Charlie
[3:03] 16. Settle For Less
[1:49] 17. Follow Me Up The Stairs
[2:43] 18. If I Knew Now (What I Knew Then)

Music from failed Ellington Broadway musical. This one, a New Orleans version of The Blue Angel, closed after three performances in 1966. On this 1990s revival for CD, a small band led by Ellis Larkins is fronted by vocalists Marshall Barer (also the original lyricist) and Barbara Lea. I like the title song. ~Matthew Asprey Gear

Pousse-Cafe

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Lee Wiley & Ellis Larkins - Duologue

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 34:55

Size: 79.9 MB

Styles: Standards, Vocal jazz

Year: 1954/1984

Art: Front

[2:27] 1. My Heart Stood Still

[2:50] 2. Looking At You

[3:25] 3. You Took Advantage Of Me

[2:36] 4. By Myself

[2:37] 5. My Romance

[3:29] 6. Give It Back To The Indians

[3:04] 7. Mountain Greenery

[2:58] 8. It Never Entered My Mind

[3:19] 9. Perfume And Rain

[3:02] 10. My Funny Valentine

[2:46] 11. Then I'll Be Tired Of You

[2:17] 12. Glad To Be Unhappy

Although only 38 at the time of this recording and still in her musical prime, singer Lee Wiley was already thought of as a has-been, and was finding it increasingly difficult to locate work. Her sophisticated, gentle, yet sincere swing style was out of favor by the mid-'50s, but she still had something to say. This CD reissue features her haunting voice showcased on eight numbers with a quartet that includes trumpeter Ruby Braff, pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Bill Pemberton and drummer Jo Jones; the best are "My Heart Stood Still," "My Funny Valentine" and especially memorable versions of "It Never Entered My Mind" and "Glad to Be Unhappy." Although pianist Ellis Larkins, who is heard on four unrelated unaccompanied solos, gets co-billing on the CD, he and Wiley never actually meet. ~Scott Yanow

Duologue

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Ruby Braff & Ellis Larkins - Grand Reunion

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 60:49
Size: 139.2 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Cornet jazz
Year: 1973/2002
Art: Front

[3:35] 1. Fine And Dandy
[6:35] 2. I Want A Little Girl
[4:44] 3. Skylark
[2:29] 4. The Very Thought Of You
[4:37] 5. If Dreams Come True
[3:41] 6. Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away)
[4:37] 7. Easy Living
[5:15] 8. Love Walked In
[4:12] 9. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
[5:05] 10. Ain't Misbehavin'
[3:44] 11. Exactly Like You
[5:34] 12. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[3:35] 13. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
[3:00] 14. Don't Be That Way

Digitally remastered by Jon Bates (Downtown Sound & Mix Masters). In 1955 cornetist Ruby Braff and pianist Ellis Larkins recorded a well-received set of duets. In 1972 they had a reunion. Since Larkins is a superior ballad player and accompanist, the emphasis on this date is on slower numbers although Braff does provide some fiery moments. The ten duets include "Fine and Dandy," "Skylark," "If Dreams Come True," "Liza" and "Love Walked In." Twenty years later Braff and Larkins would get together again with equally successful results. ~ Scott Yanow

Recorded at Warp Studios, New York, New York on October 14, 1972.

Ruby Braff (cornet); Ellis Larkins (piano).

Grand Reunion

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