Beverly Kenney - Sings With Jimmy Jones

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:20
Size: 78.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1956/2013
Art: Front

[2:54] 1. A Fine Romance
[2:35] 2. Who Cares What People Say
[3:05] 3. Isn't It A Lovely Day
[2:48] 4. Mairzy Doats
[3:19] 5. Nobody Else But Me
[3:05] 6. The More I See
[2:45] 7. Old Buttermilk Sky
[3:52] 8. I Never Has Seen Snow
[2:04] 9. Makin' Whoopee
[2:32] 10. The Charm Of You
[2:26] 11. My Kind Of Love
[2:47] 12. Can't Get Out Of This Mood

Beverly Kenney, one of the most interesting jazz singers of the mid-'50s, led just three albums in her brief career. This set, reissued by the Spanish Fresh Sound label, teams Kenney with pianist Jimmy Jones, four then-current members of Count Basie's band (trumpeter Joe Newman, Frank Wess on tenor and flute, rhythm guitarist Freddie Green, and bassist Eddie Jones), plus former Basie-ite Jo Jones on drums. The light but swinging backing is perfect for Kenney, who excels on such songs as "Nobody Else But Me," "A Fine Romance," "Isn't This a Lovely Day," and "Can't Get Out of This Mood." She deserves to be remembered. ~Scott Yanow

Sings With Jimmy Jones

---

Ella Fitzgerald - 30 By Ella

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1968
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:49
Size: 128,6 MB
Art: Front

(12:22)  1. Medley: My Mother's Eyes.....
( 6:21)  2. Medley: Four Or Five Times....
( 7:06)  3. Medley: On Green Dolphin Street.....
(11:09)  4. Medley: If I Give My Heart To You.....
( 6:41)  5. Medley: Candy....
( 9:49)  6. Medley: No Regrets.....
( 2:18)  7. Hawaiian War Chant

Included here are 30 standards arranged into six extended medleys, showcasing Fitzgerald's extraordinary interpretative powers. Benny Carter is in charge of the arrangements with his "Magnificent Seven" providing the faultless backing. Along the way we also hear some fine fills and solo work from Carter, George Auld, Harry "Sweets" Edison, and pianist Jimmy Jones. 

As for Ella, she navigates effortlessly through the material, always swinging and scatting in all the right places and sounding right at home no matter which way the music moves. One of the nicer entries to her latter-day recorded legacy. ~ Cub Koda https://www.allmusic.com/album/30-by-ella-mw0000691329

Personnel:  Ella Fitzgerald – vocals; Jimmy Jones – piano; Harry "Sweets" Edison – trumpet; Georgie Auld – tenor saxophone; John Collins – guitar; Panama Francis – drums (tracks 3 & 6); Louis Bellson  - drums (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5 & 7); Bob West – bass

30 By Ella

---

Buck Clayton - Junpin' At The Woodside

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:54
Size: 80,3 MB
Art: Front

( 8:02)  1. Rock-A-Bye Basie
(10:37)  2. Junpin' At The Woodside
( 6:36)  3. Blue And Sentimental
( 9:37)  4. Broaway

The Buck Clayton jam sessions of the mid-'50s led to writer Stanley Dance coining the term "mainstream" to describe swing-oriented veterans of the era. This out-of-print LP, whose contents have been reissued by Mosaic in their six-CD Buck Clayton box set, has a variety of top mainstream all-stars jamming on four songs associated with Count Basie. 

The music is taken from three different sessions, with this version of "Jumpin' at the Woodside" splicing together the best of two completely different performances. The lineup of top players (including trumpeters Clayton, Joe Newman and Ruby Braff, trombonists Trummy Young, Urbie Green and Benny Green, clarinetist Woody Herman and tenors Coleman Hawkins, Al Cohn, Buddy Tate and Lem Davis among others) gives one a good idea as to the high quality of the music.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/jumpin-at-the-woodside-mw0000871165

Personnel:  Buck Clayton – trumpet;  Joe Newman (tracks 2 & 3), Joe Thomas (track 2) – trumpet;  Ruby Braff – cornet (tracks 1 & 4);  Bennie Green (tracks 1 & 4), Urbie Green (tracks 2 & 3), Dicky Harris (tracks 1 & 4), Trummy Young (track 2) – trombone;  Woody Herman – clarinet (track 2);  Lem Davis – alto saxophone (tracks 2 & 3);  Al Cohn (track 2), Julian Dash (track 2), Coleman Hawkins (tracks 1–4), Buddy Tate (tracks 1 & 4) – tenor saxophone;  Charles Fowlkes – baritone saxophone (tracks 2 & 3);  Jimmy Jones (track 2), Billy Kyle (tracks 2 & 3) – piano, celeste;  Al Waslohn – piano (tracks 1 & 4);  Steve Jordan (tracks 1, 2 & 4), Freddie Green (tracks 2 & 3) – guitar;  Milt Hinton (tracks 1–4), Walter Page (track 2) – bass;  Jo Jones – drums;  Jack Ackerman – tap dancing (track 1).

Junpin' At The Woodside

---

Buck Clayton - The Golden Days Of Jazz (Swingin' Buck Clayton Jams Count Basie & Benny Goodman)

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:31
Size: 177,6 MB
Art: Front

(25:25)  1. Christopher Columbus
( 9:21)  2. Don't Be That Way
( 8:30)  3. Undecided
( 8:05)  4. Rock-A-Bye Basie
(10:28)  5. Jumpin' At The Woodside
( 6:26)  6. Blue & Sentimental
( 9:12)  7. Broadway

An excellent bandleader and accompanist for many vocalists, including Billie Holiday, Buck Clayton was a valued soloist with Count Basie Orchestra during the '30s and '40s, and later was a celebrated studio and jam session player, writer, and arranger. His tart, striking tone and melodic dexterity were his trademark, and Clayton provided several charts for Basie's orchestra and many other groups. Clayton began his career in California, where he organized a big band that had a residency in China in 1934. When he returned, Clayton led a group and played with other local bands. During a 1936 visit to Kansas City, he was invited to join Basie's orchestra as a replacement for Hot Lips Page. Clayton was also featured on sessions with Lester Young, Teddy Wilson, and Holiday in the late '30s. He remained in the Basie band until 1943, when he left for army service. After leaving the army, Clayton did arrangements for Basie, Benny Goodman, and Harry James before forming a sextet in the late '40s. He toured Europe with this group in 1949 and 1950. Clayton continued heading a combo during the '50s, and worked with Joe Bushkin, Tony Parenti, and Jimmy Rushing, among others. He organized a series of outstanding recordings for Columbia in the mid-'50s under the title Jam Session (compiled and reissued by Mosaic in 1993). There were sessions with Rushing, Ruby Braff, and Nat Pierce. Clayton led a combo with Coleman Hawkins and J.J. Johnson at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, then reunited with Goodman in 1957 at the Waldorf Astoria. There was another European tour, this time with Mezz Mezzrow. He appeared in the 1956 film The Benny Goodman Story and played the 1958 Brussels World Fair with Sidney Bechet. Clayton later made another European visit with a Newport Jazz Festival tour. He joined Eddie Condon's band in 1959, a year after appearing in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day. Clayton toured Japan and Australia with Condon's group in 1964, and continued to revisit Europe throughout the '60s, often with Humphrey Lyttelton's band, while playing festivals across the country. But lip and health problems virtually ended his playing career in the late '60s. After a period outside of music, Clayton once again became active in music, this time as a non-playing arranger, touring Africa as part of a State Department series in 1977. He provided arrangements and compositions for a 1974 Lyttleton and Buddy Tate album, and did more jam session albums for Chiaroscuro in 1974 and 1975. He also became an educator, teaching at Hunter College in the early '80s. Clayton led a group of Basie sidemen on a European tour in 1983, then headed his own big band in 1987 that played almost exclusively his compositions and arrangements. That same year Clayton's extensive autobiography Buck Clayton's Jazz World, with Nancy Miller-Elliot, was published.~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buck-clayton-mn0000634674/biography

Personnel: Trumpet, Liner Notes – Buck Clayton;   Alto Saxophone – Lem Davis;  Baritone Saxophone – Charlie Fowlkes;  Bass – Milt Hinton, Walter Page;  Clarinet – Woody Herman, Drums – Jo Jones;  Guitar – Freddie Green, Steve Jordan;  Piano – Al Washlon, Billy Kyle, Jimmy Jones, Charles Thompson;  Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Buddy Tate, Coleman Hawkins, Julian Dash;  Trombone – Bennie Green, Dick Harris, Henderson Chambers, Trummy Young, Urbie Green;  Trumpet – Joe Newman, Joe Thomas, Ruby Braff 

The Golden Days Of Jazz (Swingin' Buck Clayton Jams Count Basie & Benny Goodman)

---

Johnny Hodges - Triple Play

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:47
Size: 109.4 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1967/2015
Art: Front

[3:38] 1. Take 'em Off, Take 'em Off, Pt. 1
[2:55] 2. Take 'em Off, Take 'em Off, Pt. 2
[3:45] 3. The Nearness Of You
[3:52] 4. Monkey On A Limb
[4:53] 5. A Tiny Bit Of Blues
[3:01] 6. For Jammers Only (A.K.A. Wild Onions)
[2:51] 7. On The Way Up
[3:19] 8. Big Boy Blues
[2:48] 9. The Very Thought Of You
[6:21] 10. Fur Piece
[3:18] 11. Sir John
[2:38] 12. Figurine
[4:20] 13. C-Jam Blues

Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney; Bass – Aaron Bell, Joe Benjamin, Milt Hinton; Cornet – Ray Nance; Drums – Gus Johnson, Oliver Jackson, Rufus Jones; Guitar – Billy Butler, Les Spann, Tiny Grimes; Leader, Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges; Piano – Hank Jones, Jimmy Jones, Nat Pierce; Piano – Jimmy Jones; Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton, Paul Gonsalves; Trombone – Benny Powell, Buster Cooper, Lawrence Brown; Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Roy Eldridge; Vibraphone – Bill Berry.

Altoist Johnny Hodges is heard in three different settings on this reissue CD. Such top swing stars as trumpeters Ray Nance, Cat Anderson and Roy Eldridge, trombonists Buster Cooper, Lawrence Brown and Benny Powell, tenors Paul Gonsalves and Jimmy Hamilton, baritonist Harry Carney, pianists Hank Jones and Jimmy Jones (the latter two sometimes together), guitarists Tiny Grimes, Les Spann and Billy Butler, bassists Milt Hinton, Aaron Bell and Joe Benjamin and drummers Gus Johnson, Rufus Jones and Oliver Jackson are heard in nonets with the great altoist. Despite the many changes in personnel, the music is pretty consistent, with basic swinging originals, blues and ballads all heard in equal proportion. As usual, Johnny Hodges ends up as the main star. ~Scott Yanow

Triple Play mc
Triple Play zippy

---

Ben Webster - The Soul Of Ben Webster (2-Disc Set)

Bass – Jimmy Woode (tracks: CD2: 4-14), Milt Hinton (tracks: CD1: 1-7), Ray Brown (tracks: CD1: 8-12; CD2: 1-3); Drums – Alvin Stoller (tracks: CD1: 8-12; CD2: 1-3), Dave Bailey (tracks: CD1: 1-7), Sam Woodyard (tracks: CD2: 4-14); Guitar – Barney Kessel (tracks: CD1: 8, 9, 12; CD2: 1, 3), Herb Ellis (tracks: CD1: 10, 11; CD2: 2), Mundell Lowe (tracks: CD1: 1-7); Piano – Billy Strayhorn (tracks: CD2: 4-14), Jimmy Jones (3) (tracks: CD1: 1-7), Oscar Peterson (tracks: CD1: 8-12; CD2: 1-3); Saxophone [Alto] – Johnny Hodges (tracks: CD2: 4-14); Saxophone [Tenor] – Ben Webster (tracks: CD1: 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; CD2: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13), Harold Ashby (tracks: CD1: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7); Trombone – Vic Dickenson (tracks: CD2: 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13); Trumpet – Art Farmer (tracks: CD1: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7), Harry Edison (tracks: CD1: 8-12; CD2: 1-3), Roy Eldridge (tracks: CD2: 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 13).

How can you go wrong with this 2 CD set that combines three late 1950's Verve recordings by Ben Webster, Harry "Sweets" Edison and Johnny Hodges into one set. Roy Eldridge comes along for the ride as well as a few other notables from the Norman Granz stable. This collection of music includes a lot of swing renditions of classic standards and some blues, and a few ballads. Each leader shines on his respective set, especially Edison who's selection of 8 tunes is heavily swing/blues oriented in a very Basie-esque style. Highly recommended if you're a small ensemble swing fan. ~William Faust

Album: The Soul Of Ben Webster (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:28
Size:  172,3MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz, Jazz instrument, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1995

( 3:48)  1. Fajista
( 3:40)  2. Chelsea Bridge
(15:31)  3. Charlotte's Piccolo
( 4:10)  4. Coal Train
( 4:53)  5. When I Fall In Love
( 4:23)  6. Ev's Mad
( 8:24)  7. Ash
( 4:51)  8. Blues For The Blues
( 7:40)  9. Blues For Piney Brown
( 3:58) 10. Moonlight In Vermont
( 7:11) 11. Taste On The Place
( 5:52) 12. Blues For The Blues

The Soul Of Ben Webster (Disc 1)

---

Album: The Soul Of Ben Webster (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:16
Size:  181,4MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz, Jazz instrument, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

(3:39)  1. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You?
(9:33)  2. Blues For Bill Basie
(6:53)  3. You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
(3:34)  4. I Didn't Know About You
(9:39)  5. Reelin' And Rockin'
(3:20)  6. Gone With The Wind
(4:04)  7. Honey Hill
(3:24)  8. Blues-A-Plenty
(3:43)  9. Don't Take Your Love From Me
(6:01) 10. Saturday Afternoon Blues
(5:04) 11. Satin Doll
(3:46) 12. Cool Your Motor
(9:44) 13. Reelin' And Rockin'
(5:45) 14. Don't Take Your Love From Me

The Soul Of Ben Webster (Disc 2)

---

Don Byas - Savoy Jam Party

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1946

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 73:48

Size: 169,7 MB

Art: Front

(2:55)  1. Riffin' And Jivin'

(3:39)  2. Free And Easy

(3:14)  3. Worried And Blue

(2:52)  4. Don's Idea

(2:58)  5. Savoy Jam Party

(3:00)  6. 1944 Stomp

(2:59)  7. What Do You Want With My Heart

(3:00)  8. Sweet And Lovely

(2:30)  9. White Rose Kick

(3:02) 10. My Deep Blue Dream

(2:39) 11. Byas'd Opinion

(3:18) 12. Candy

(2:56) 13. How High The Moon

(3:11) 14. Donby

(2:45) 15. Byas A Drink

(3:00) 16. I Don't Know Why

(3:02) 17. Old Folks

(3:01) 18. Cherokee

(2:58) 19. September In The Rain

(2:43) 20. Living My Life

(2:57) 21. To Each His Own

(2:23) 22. They Say It's Wonderful

(2:46) 23. Cynthia's In Love

(2:53) 24. September Song

(2:58) 25. St. Louis Blues

A former two-LP set with 32 tracks becomes a single CD consisting of the first 25 numbers. The packaging was shrunk to the point where the liner notes (which refer to all 32 songs) are nearly microscopic...But at least it is "an exact reproduction." Although this reissue from the Japanese Denon label could have been executed better, the music is excellent. Don Byas, one of the great tenors of the 1940s, is featured with groups ranging from a quartet to a sextet; the sideman include trumpeters Charlie Shavers, Emmett Berry and Benny Harris, altoist Rudy Williams, pianists Clyde Hart, Dave Rivera, Jimmy Jones, Teddy Brannon and Sanford Gold, bassists Slam Stewart and Milt Hinton and drummers J.C. Heard and Max Roach. Byas is in superior form on these late-period swing performances...it will interest those who can't find the original, better-packaged two-LP set (put out by Arista in the 1970s). ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/savoy-jam-party-the-savoy-sessions-mw0000645489

Personnel: Don Byas (tenor saxophone); Rudy Williams (alto saxophone); Charlie Shavers, Emmett Berry, Benny Harris (trumpet); Clyde Hart (piano, celeste); Dave Rivera, Jimmy Jones, Teddy Brannon, Sanford Gold (piano); Slam Stewart, Milt Hinton, John Levy, Frank Skeete, Leonard Gaskin (bass); Max Roach, J.C. Heard, Jack Parker, Fred Radcliffe (drums).

Savoy Jam Party

---

Illinois Jacquet - Swing's The Thing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:19
Size: 78.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Jump blues, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1957/2012
Art: Front

[6:16] 1. Las Vegas Blues
[4:31] 2. Harlem Nocturne
[6:43] 3. Can't We Be Friends
[5:06] 4. Achtung
[5:56] 5. Have You Met Miss Jones
[5:44] 6. Lullaby Of The Leaves

Illinois Jacquet (ts), Roy Eldridge (tp), Jimmy Jones (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), Jo Jones (d). Recorded in Los Angeles, October 16, 1956

This collection includes Jacquet's complete October 16, 1956 album 'Swings The Thing,' with Roy Eldridge, Jimmy Jones, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown and Jo Jones. This is essential Jacquet.

Swing's The Thing

---

The Jones Boys - Quincy, Thad, Jimmy, Jo, Eddie & Elvin

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:21
Size: 85.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 1973/2010
Art: Front

[5:22] 1. Jumping For Jane
[8:05] 2. Bird Song
[4:30] 3. Mad Thad
[5:12] 4. Cat Meets Chick
[5:26] 5. Whisper Not
[8:45] 6. Quiet Sip

Bass – Eddie Jones; Composed By, Leader – Quincy Jones; Drums – Elvin Jones, Jo Jones; Piano – Jimmy Jones; Trumpet – Thad Jones. Recorded in New York December 12 1956, January 6 1957.

The Jones Boys is a studio supergroup of jazz musicians whose only connection is their last name. The group consisted of Thad Jones, Reunald Jones, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Jones, Jo Jones, and Eddie Jones. They recorded in the 1950's.

Quincy, Thad, Jimmy, Jo, Eddie & Elvin

---

Debby Moore - My Kind Of Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:44
Size: 79.5 MB
Styles: Jazz/blues vocals
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:03] 1. Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days
[2:27] 2. Come On Home To Me
[2:26] 3. See See Rider
[2:41] 4. Nothin' But Trouble On My Mind
[2:10] 5. Sent For You Yesterday
[2:40] 6. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
[3:01] 7. I'm Travelin' Light
[2:58] 8. (I Know) My Baby Loves Me True
[2:51] 9. Why Don't You Do Right
[2:25] 10. How Come You Do Me Like You Do Do Do
[2:56] 11. Hallelujah, I Love Him So
[2:49] 12. No Love, No Nothin'
[2:12] 13. Get A Feeling

Debby Moore (vocals, whistling), Harry Edison (trumpet), Jimmy Jones (piano), Barry Galbraith (guitar), George Duvivier (bass), Elvin Jones (drums), Don Donaldson (arrangements). Recorded in New York City, December 1959.

Debby Moore, who once sang with Earl Hines, was a Fifties pop singer whose light, warmly caressing voice and ability to read a lyric and phrase well showed a frank jazz awareness. It’s no surprise, then, that she was able to get a quintet of this quality for this mix of blues and standards. Although group is cast in a mainly accompanying role, it could call on Sweets Edison’s swinging solos and delightful backing for the singer who also contributes the novelty of whistling on a couple of tracks in a style not unlike the trumpeters as well Jimmy Jones’s elegant soloing and Barry Galbraiths funky guitar. The result was a consistently interesting debut session, with the singer generating her lithe, detached swing and getting her own groove going.

My Kind Of Blues

---

Harry 'Sweets' Edison - The Swinger (2-Disc Set)

Harry Edison, Buck Clayton (tp), Jimmy Forrest (ts), Jimmy Jones, Kenny Drew (p), Eddie Costa (vib), Freddie Green (g), Joe Benjamin, John Simmons (b), Charlie Persip (d)

Harry Sweets Edison was widely recognized as a master of the muted blues trumpet sound, both when he was with Basies band during the swing era, and from 1953 on, as a freelance on many of the jazz and pop recordings that emanated from Hollywood. In the fall of 1958, Sweets moved back to New York to start a third phase in his career. He put together the swinging sextet showcased in these recordings produced by Verves Norman Granz. The group featured tenorist Jimmy Forrest, who contributed with his great taste and tonal strength, and a first class rhythm section, blessedly boosted by Freddie Green's punching guitar, pianist Jimmy Jones, a crisp-toned and flexible delight, the tasteful Joe Benjamin on bass, and the controlling force of Charlie Persip on drums. This was the kind of straightforward, utterly groovy small group jazz with consistently clear-thinking and strong voices. Trumpeter Buck Clayton joined the second date, playing back to back with Sweets, and guitarist Steve Jordan replaced Green in most of the tracks. Harry Edison the swinger, playing standards or originals or just the blues, glows in these warm sessions with incandescence. He neatly swings through standards and a few of his own tunes.

On the last three tracks of CD-2, coming from a Roulette session, the contribution of the sidemen can easily be overlooked, for it is the Edison personality, open or muted, that lends the tunes its character.

Album: The Swinger (Disc 1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:01

Size: 176.3 MB

Styles: Trumpet jazz, Mainstream jazz

Year: 2011

[7:31] 1. Pussy Willow

[6:05] 2. The Very Thought Of You

[5:18] 3. Nasty

[6:54] 4. The Strollers

[6:54] 5. Sunday

[9:54] 6. Love Is Here To Stay

[4:54] 7. Fair Ground

[5:43] 8. Ill Wind

[8:46] 9. Impressario

[9:50] 10. Short Coat

[5:07] 11. Baby Won't You Please Come Home

---

Album: The Swinger (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 76:59

Size: 176.2 MB

Styles: Trumpet jazz, Mainstream jazz

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[7:24] 1. How Am I To Know

[9:14] 2. Blues In The Closet

[6:37] 3. Memories For The Count (Alternate)

[5:51] 4. Come With Me

[6:46] 5. Critics' Delight

[8:57] 6. All Depends On You/Charmaine/How Long Has This Been Going On /Makin' Whoopie

[9:09] 7. Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Afternoon

[8:55] 8. Memories For The Count

[5:21] 9. Come With Me (Alt. Take)

[1:57] 10. Indiana

[4:01] 11. Pussy Willow

[2:40] 12. Sweetenings

The Swinger and Mr Swing Disc1,Disc2 

---

Helen Merrill - The Nearness Of You/You've Got A Date With The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 73:54

Size: 169.2 MB

Styles: Jazz vocals

Year: 2009

Art: Front

[2:54] 1. Bye Bye Blackbird

[4:45] 2. When The Sun Comes Out

[2:07] 3. I Remember You

[3:17] 4. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise

[2:04] 5. Dearly Beloved

[3:25] 6. Summertime

[3:30] 7. All Of You

[2:37] 8. I See Your Face Before Me

[2:46] 9. Let Me Love You

[4:01] 10. The Nearness Of You

[2:18] 11. This Time The Dream's On Me

[3:20] 12. Just Imagine

[5:21] 13. The Blues (From Black, Brown & Beige)

[3:31] 14. Am I Blue

[3:17] 15. Blue Gardenia

[3:28] 16. You've Got A Date With The Blues

[3:34] 17. The Thrill Is Gone

[3:08] 18. When The World Was Young

[3:36] 19. Blues In My Heart

[3:22] 20. Vous M'eblouissez [you Got To My Head]

[2:45] 21. Lorsque Tu M'embrasses

[3:05] 22. The Meaning Of The Blues

[1:32] 23. Signing Off

Helen Merrill (vcl), Kenny Dorham (tp), Bobby Jaspar (fl), Jerome Richardson or Frank Wess (fl, ts), Bill Evans, Jimmy Jones (p), George Russell, Barry Galbraith (g), Milt Hinton, Oscar Pettiford, Johnny Frigo (b), Jo Jones (d).

This release contains the complete original albums "The Nearness of You" (Emarcy) and "Youve Got a Date with the Blues" (Metro Jazz). These two LPs present Merrill in splendid form backed by swinging combos featuring stars like Bill Evans, Kenny Dorham, Bobby Jaspar, Oscar Pettiford, Milt Hinton and Jo Jones.

Although she was well-known among fellow musicians, Helen Merrill was not a star like Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald or even Dinah Washington at the time these two albums were made. She only gained greater fame after she started touring Europe shortly after the two albums compiled here were made.

The Nearness Of You/You've Got A Date With The Blues 

---

Sonny Stitt - New York Jazz

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 2005

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 46:08

Size: 106,3 MB

Art: Front

(2:43)  1. Norman's Blues

(4:30)  2. I Know That You Know

(6:19)  3. If I Had You

(4:54)  4. Alone Together

(3:34)  5. Twelfth Street Rag

(5:13)  6. Down Home Blues

(5:32)  7. Sonny's Tune

(4:11)  8. Stars Fell On Alabama

(4:31)  9. Body And Soul

(4:37) 10. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

"Genius" is a misunderstood, overused term. In music there have been only a few geniuses visionaries who have tapped into the original, vital stream that we might consider musical consciousness and changed it Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Armstrong, Parker, Coltrane. Sonny Stitt was not one of the geniuses, nor one of the innovators. Rather, he took the complex language of Charlie Parker and created a syntax and rhetoric that the rest of us could understand and even employ. The 2003 reissue of New York Jazz (Verve, 1956), one of an estimated 150 sessions recorded under the saxophonist's name, appears to have passed beneath the radar screen of many who follow this music, but it's simply consummate saxophone playing by a musician driven by a need for completeness and perfection.

One of the big myths among even those players who respect Stitt's playing is that his so-called "commercial" recordings the early Roosts and Verves on which he turns in five or six flawless gems on each side of the record can be overlooked in favor of his earlier pairings with Gillespie and Rollins, or his later virtuosic work on Muse and Cobblestone. On the contrary, it's on these miniature performances where Sonny's brilliance is especially apparent. Allowing himself no more than a couple of choruses, he still manages to construct logically complete, emotionally satisfying solos with a beginning, middle and end, time and time again. Just listen to what he does with "Alone Together" first on tenor, then switching horns and taking the tune out with another textbook solo on alto. This studio reissue is also especially welcome because it finds Stitt in the company of an ideal rhythm section. Jo Jones was the prototypical straight-ahead swinging drummer during his Basie tenure; Jimmy Jones was always the self-effacing accompanist for Sarah Vaughan; and Ray Brown could be whatever the occasion demanded. All three merely lay down a harmonic/rhythmic track and stay out of Sonny's way as it should be.~Samuel Chell http://www.allaboutjazz.com/new-york-jazz-sonny-stitt-verve-music-group-review-by-samuel-chell.php

Personnel: Sonny Stitt: alto and tenor saxophones;  Jimmy Jones: piano;  Jo Jones: drums;  Ray Brown: bass.

New York Jazz                

---