Ike Quebec - Ballads

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:43
Size: 122,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:24)  1. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
(4:54)  2. Born To Be Blue
(6:30)  3. The Man I Love - Digitally Remastered
(5:54)  4. Lover Man
(5:21)  5. Willow Weep For Me
(6:04)  6. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
(6:39)  7. Everything Happens To Me - Long Version
(5:10)  8. Imagination
(4:43)  9. There Is No Greater Love

Tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec always had a big, warm sound, and he was particularly expert on ballads. This 1997 sampler CD surprisingly does not have any examples of his early work on Blue Note in the mid- to late 1940s, instead concentrating on selections from four of Quebec's seven late-period Blue Note albums, a few songs originally issued as 45s, and "Born to Be Blue," which is taken from an album by guitarist Grant Green. The eight ballads are all standards and put the focus very much on Quebec, making for a fine mood album even if acquiring the full sessions (all but "It Might As Well Be Spring" are currently available on CD) is preferable. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/ballads-mw0000024976

Personnel: Ike Quebec (tenor saxophone); Sonny Clark (piano); Freddie Roach, Sir Charles Thompson, Earl Vandyke (organ); Grant Green, Willie Jones (guitar); Milt Hinton, Sam Jones (bass); Art Blakey, Louis Hayes, Al Harewood, J.C. Heard, Wilbert Hogan (drums).

Ballads

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Freddie Roach - Down To Earth

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:46
Size: 89,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:43)  1. De Bug
(5:50)  2. Ahm Miz
(6:30)  3. Lujan
(8:09)  4. Althea Soon
(6:36)  5. More Mileage
(4:55)  6. Lion Down

Freddie Roach differentiated himself from the legions of soul-jazz organists on his debut album, Down to Earth. Many jazz organists played the instrument down and dirty, and while there's funk in Roach's playing, his style is ultimately lighter than many of his peers, with clean, concise solos and chords. His backing trio guitarist Kenny Burrell, tenor saxophonist Percy France, and drummer Clarence Johnston follows his lead, providing supple instrumental support that never loses sight of the groove. Furthermore, Burrell and France both have their chances to shine, contributing some nicely understated solos. Nevertheless, Down to Earth remains Roach's show; he wrote five of the six songs and his organ is at center stage on each number. The legato blues of "De Bug" is a terrific showcase for Roach's elegantly funky style, while the sprightlier "Ahm Miz" proves that he can get gritty if he so chooses. But the signature of Down to Earth is Roach's tasteful bluesy grooves, which prove to be just as entertaining as the hotter styles of his Blue Note peers Jimmy Smith and John Patton. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/down-to-earth-mw0000759652

Personnel:  Freddie Roach - organ; Percy France - tenor saxophone; Kenny Burrell - guitar; Clarence Johnston - drums

Down To Earth

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Freddie Roach - Good Move

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:06
Size: 99,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:02)  1. It Ain't Necessarily So
(5:21)  2. When Malindy Sings
(4:31)  3. Pastel
(6:31)  4. Wine, Wine, Wine
(6:20)  5. On Our Way Up
(4:58)  6. T'Ain't What You Do (It's The Way You Do It)
(4:59)  7. Lots Of Lovely Love
(5:20)  8. I.Q. Blues

Laid-back and loosely swinging, Good Move captures organist Freddie Roach near the peak of his form. Roach never leans too heavily on his instrument, preferring a calmer, tasteful attack, yet he is never boring because he has a strong sense of groove. He keeps things moving on slower numbers like Erroll Garner's "Pastel" and Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So," but the true highlights are on originals like "Wine, Wine, Wine" and "On Our Way Up," where the bluesy structures and fluid rhythms give Roach a chance to stretch out. Throughout the record, he is capably supported by guitarist Eddie Wright and drummer Clarence Johnston, as well as trumpeter Blue Mitchell and tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, who both contribute fine solos. ~ Stephen Tomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/good-move%21-mw0000063281

Personnel: Organ – Freddie Roach; Drums – Clarence Johnston; Guitar – Eddie Wright; Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley; Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

Good Move

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