Showing posts with label Lalo Schifrin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lalo Schifrin. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Dizzy Gillespie - Free Ride

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:56
Size: 110,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:54) 1. Unicorn
(4:29) 2. Fire Dance
(6:44) 3. Incantation
(4:37) 4. Wrong Number
(5:23) 5. Free Ride
(6:33) 6. Ozone Madness
(4:38) 7. Love Poem for Donna
(4:32) 8. The Last Stroke Of Midnight

Although Lalo Schifrin is justifiably praised for his soundtrack work, many jazz purists turn up their noses at his jazz dates, such as his '60s work with Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery. The things that make Schifrin an anathema to the diehards the huge orchestras, the pop and soul riffs, the general air of over the top theatricality are all over 1977's Free Ride, his reunion date with Dizzy Gillespie. (Schifrin had been Gillespie's arranger in the late '50s.) In fact, Free Ride is so painfully dated that it's transformed into cockeyed cool, just the sort of record ironic hipsters should listen to while they're reading the novelizations of '70s cop shows that they bought for a bundle off of eBay. Gillespie plays with his usual wit and panache, but most of the time, he sounds like a sideman on his own album; the real focus of Schifrin's arrangements is the funky wah-wah guitars and ARP synthesizer solos that take center stage on tracks like "Fire Dance" (which sounds exactly like it should be the theme for a Charlie's Angels spinoff) and the mellow disco of the closing "Last Stroke of Midnight." Occasionally, Gillespie gets to break out on his own album, with the lovely solo on "Love Poem for Donna" his particular standout. For what it is, Free Ride is really quite good (guests include Lee Ritenour and future star Ray Parker, Jr.), but it's very much a record of and for its time.~Stewart Mason https://www.allmusic.com/album/free-ride-mw0000102458

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet; Lalo Schifrin - keyboards, arranger, conductor; Oscar Brashear, Jack H. Laubach - trumpet; Lew McCreary - trombone; Jerome Richardson - flute; Ernie Watts - saxophone; James Horn - saxophone, flute; Sonny Burke - piano, electric piano; Charles E. Spangler - synthesizer; Ray Parker Jr., Lee Ritenour, Wah Wah Watson - guitar; Wilton Felder - bass; Ed Greene - drums; Paulinho Da Costa - percussion

Free Ride

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Lalo Schifrin - Bossa Nova Groove

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:24
Size: 170,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:42)  1. Mima
(5:32)  2. Samba para Dos
(3:31)  3. Tel Eco Teco Nº 2
(4:57)  4. Lolita Marie
(8:32)  5. Céu e Mar
(5:45)  6. Whispering Bossa Nova
(2:26)  7. Boato
(2:39)  8. Chora Tua Tristeza
(3:16)  9. Poema do Adeus
(2:49) 10. O Apito no Samba
(5:15) 11. Chega de Saudade
(1:52) 12. Bossa em Nova York
(3:30) 13. O Amor e A Rosa
(2:26) 14. O Meniño Desce o Morro
(2:23) 15. Menina Feia
(3:58) 16. Ouça
(3:43) 17. Samba de Uma Nota So
(2:59) 18. Patinho Feio

An Oscar- and Emmy-nominated film and television composer, classical composer, and acclaimed jazz pianist, Lalo Schifrin emerged as a big-band leader in the mid-'50s, collaborating with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Xavier Cugat before beginning to score films in the mid-'60s. His iconic theme to TV's Mission: Impossible was first broadcast in 1966. Following in the footsteps of John Barry and Monty Norman's "James Bond Theme," its orchestral jazz instrumentation (including prevalent flutes, brass, piano, bongos, and jazz drums) and adrenalized staccato, syncopated rhythms helped to define spy music for decades to follow. Much like contemporaries Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini, and André Previn, while he wrote in a variety of styles, Schifrin remained best known for his jazz-inflected scores. They also included crime films like 1968's Bullitt, which set an urban scene with a large jazz ensemble that included electric guitar and electric bass, and the Dirty Harry franchise (1971-1988). Though more varied, the Dirty Harry scores maintained an antsy jazz M.O. while updating the production palette over time to include more keyboards, strings, and rock-styled drums. After his Mission: Impossible theme was repurposed for a big-screen reboot in the mid-'90s, Schifrin combined jazz, rock, and lush orchestral tracks in his lively soundtracks for the Rush Hour action franchise in the late '90s and 2000s. Over 50 years after its introduction, his Mission: Impossible theme was still featured heavily in Lorne Balfe's music for the blockbuster sixth entry in the film series, 2018's Mission: Impossible - Fallout. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin in Buenos Aires in 1932, Schifrin grew up with a father who played violin with the Teatro Colón Orchestra. When Lalo was six years old, his dad arranged for him to begin studying piano with Enrique Barenboim, father of celebrated pianist/conductor Daniel Barenboim. As a teenager, he studied piano with the former head of the Kiev Conservatory, Andreas Karalis, and harmony with composer Juan Carlos Paz. After winning a scholarship to the Paris Conservatory in the early '50s, he studied with French composers Charles Koechlin and Olivier Messiaen. In his off hours, he played in Parisian jazz clubs, and in 1955, he represented Argentina in the Paris International Jazz Festival. After returning to Buenos Aires, he started his own 16-piece, Basie-style jazz band, the first of its kind in Argentina, and found work as a pianist and arranger. 

His status as a bandleader helped him meet Dizzy Gillespie in 1956, and Schifrin offered to write a suite for Gillespie. He completed the five-movement Gillespiana in 1958, the same year he became an arranger for Xavier Cugat. In 1960, Schifrin moved to New York City and joined Gillespie's quintet, which recorded Gillespiana to much acclaim. He became Gillespie's musical director until 1962, contributing another suite, The New Continent, before leaving the position to concentrate on his writing. Schifrin accepted his first film-scoring assignment in the U.S. in 1963 (Rhino!) and moved to Hollywood, soon finding a niche composing for both TV and the silver screen. In the meantime, he composed works marked by his jazz-classical fusion style, including the 1963 ballet Jazz Faust and 1965's Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts. After establishing himself on episodes of television series such as The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Schifrin joined the music department of the spy series Mission: Impossible. It premiered on CBS in 1966 and featured his catchy 5/4 instrumental "Theme from Mission: Impossible," a track that would live on in TV-music collections for decades to come. He followed it a year later with his theme to Mannix, around the same time he was becoming known for his jazzy scores to high-profile crime films such as Cool Hand Luke (1967) and Bullitt (1968). He earned his first Academy Award nomination for Cool Hand Luke and his second a year later for the D.H. Lawrence drama The Fox. Schifrin composed the music for the Don Siegel-directed Coogan's Bluff, starring Clint Eastwood, in 1968. 

He reunited with the pair on 1971's Dirty Harry and went on to write music for four of the five remaining films in the series, which extended through the '80s (1976's The Enforcer was composed by Jerry Fielding). During that time span, he also wrote scores for films as diverse as the 1976 war film Voyage of the Damned (his third Oscar nomination), Disney's The Cat from Outer Space from 1978, and the 1979 horror classic The Amityville Horror (his fourth Oscar nomination). He received two more Academy Award nominations in the '80s, for The Competition (1980) and The Sting II (1983).  While he continued to write frequently for movies and TV, Schifrin returned some of his focus to classical works during the '90s, a decade that saw the release of the first three in a series of orchestral jazz albums called Jazz Meets the Symphony. He also arranged much of the music for the first three of the Three Tenors concerts. In 1996, his Mission: Impossible theme reached another generation when it was repurposed for a series of films starring Tom Cruise. U2's Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. produced a dance version of the theme that reached the Top Ten of the singles charts in the U.S. and U.K. Still writing original material for film, beginning in 1998, Schifrin provided playful orchestral scores for the first three entries in the Rush Hour series, starring Jackie Chan. Schifrin stayed active in Hollywood in his seventies, scoring films such as the crime film After the Sunset and the horror movie Abominable (directed by his son, Ryan Schifrin), in addition to Rush Hour 3 in the 2000s. The third, fourth, and fifth Mission: Impossible films saw release during the 2010s, as did the Schifrin-scored romantic comedy Love Story (2011) and basketball bio-pic Sweetwater (2016). ~ Marcy Donelson https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lalo-schifrin-mn0000781932/biography

Personnel: Lalo Schifrin (piano), Leo Wright (alto sax), Eddie Harris (tenor sax), Jimmy Raney (guitar), Art Davis, Chris White (bass), Chuck Lampkin, Rudy Collins (drums), Osvaldo Cigno, Jack Del Rio (percussion).

Bossa Nova Groove

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Lalo Schifrin - Towering Toccata

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:09
Size: 95,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:05)  1. Towering Toccata (Based on the Toccata & Fugue in D Minor)
(4:20)  2. Frances' Theme (From the Film "The Day of the Animals")
(6:16)  3. Macumba
(2:51)  4. Eagles in Love (From the Film "The Eagle Has Landed")
(4:13)  5. Theme from "King Kong" (From the Paramount Film "King Kong")
(2:43)  6. Most Wanted Theme
(6:09)  7. Midnight Woman
(4:48)  8. Roller Coaster (From the Universal Film "Rollercoaster")
(4:41)  9. Eagles in Love (From the Film "The Eagle Has Landed") - Alt. Take

After scoring an unexpected high-profile success with the disco/jazz fusion of Black Widow, Lalo Schifrin quickly recorded a follow-up album in a similar vein. 1977's Towering Toccata replicates the elegant yet dance-friendly style of Black Widow to the tee, right down to the unconventional cover choices. The best of these is the title track, an insistently rhythmic piece that transforms Bach's gothic-organ extravaganza "Toccata and Prelude in F Minor" into a mid-tempo disco workout that backs up Schifrin's jazzy explorations on the electric piano and synthesizer with scratching rhythm guitar and a pronounced dance beat. Other notable moments on this album include "Most Wanted Theme," which is transformed from action-show theme music into a symphonic funk workout, and "Rollercoaster," a funky vamp from the Schifrin soundtrack of the same name that is ideally suited for Towering Toccata's disco/jazz mindset. There is even another monster-movie theme cover in the vein of the previous album's "Jaws"; this time, it's a disco-friendly treatment of John Barry's "Theme From King Kong" that layers atmospheric horn and flute lines over a bottom-heavy rhythm section fueled by wah-wah guitar and synth bass. However, other tracks on Towering Toccata fail to be as distinctive or adventurous as these highlights. For instance, the original tunes ("Macumba," "Midnight Woman") fit the album's mood but are lacking strong hooks and memorable twists in their arrangements that distinguished the originals on Black Widow. This problem of inconsistent material, combined with the fact that the album is basically a stylistic carbon copy of its predecessor, means that it isn't the ideal follow-up to Black Widow that Schifrin fans might have hoped for. That said, the album has enough strong tunes and enough of a consistent sound to please hardcore Lalo Schifrin fans and anyone who loved Black Widow. ~ Donald A.Guarisco https://www.allmusic.com/album/towering-toccata-mw0000742076

Personnel: Lalo Schifrin - piano, keyboards, arranger, conductor; Burt Collins, John Frosk, John Gatchell - trumpet; Urbie Green - trombone; Joe Farrell, Jeremy Steig - flute; Gerry Niewood - alto saxophone; David Tofani, Lou Marini - tenor saxophone, flute; Ronnie Cuber - baritone saxophone; Clark Spangler - keyboards; Eric Gale, John Tropea - guitar; Will Lee - bass; Steve Gadd - drums, dahka-de-bello; Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Charles Libove, Marvin Morgenstern, David Nadien, Max Pollikoff, Matthew Raimondi - violin; Lamar Alsop, Manny Vardi - viola; Charles McCracken, Alan Shulman - cello

Towering Toccata

Friday, May 24, 2019

Jimmy Smith - Talkin' Verve: Roots Of Acid Jazz

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:06
Size: 169,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:49)  1. Blues 3+1
(6:24)  2. Ode To Billie Joe
(2:16)  3. The Organ Grinder's Swing
(3:21)  4. The Ape Woman
(4:26)  5. Satisfaction
(6:42)  6. Funky Broadway
(8:42)  7. Mellow Mood
(3:57)  8. Burning Spear
(5:31)  9. One Mint Julep
(4:46) 10. Hobo Flats
(4:15) 11. Groove Drops
(5:27) 12. TNT
(4:46) 13. Blues In The Night
(7:40) 14. The Sermon

Designed to appeal to hip-hop and acid jazz fans, not jazz purists, Talkin' Verve: Roots of Acid Jazz collects 14 tracks Jimmy Smith cut for Verve during the late '60s. Comprised of pop covers and funky workouts, the music is "jazzy," not jazz there's little improvisation on the record, but there is a lot of hot vamping, with Smith creating dense, funky chord clusters and bluesy leads. 

It's music that is devoted to the groove, and while a few of these cuts fall flat "Ode to Billie Joe" has no funk in it, no matter how hard you try but for the most part Talkin' Verve is soulful fun. Not much of this sounds like acid jazz, especially since the rhythms are a little stiff, but it's enjoyable lite funk, and it's more palatable in the compilation than it is on their original albums. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/talkin-verve-roots-of-acid-jazz-mw0000646824

Personnel:  James Oscar "Jimmy" Smith - vocals, organ; Johnny Pate, Oliver Nelson, Lalo Schifrin - arranger, conductor; Jerry Dodgion - alto saxophone, reeds; George Dorsey - alto saxophone; Budd Johnson, Zoot Sims - tenor saxophone; Marvin Halladay - baritone saxophone; Snooky Young - trumpet, flugelhorn; Jimmy Maxwell, Joe Newman, Clark Terry – trumpet; Bill Berry – flugelhorn; Wayne Andre, Bernie Powell, Billy Byers, Ernie Tack, Quentin Jackson, Urbie Green – trombone; Paul Faulise - bass trombone; Donald Corrado, Earl Chapin, Bill Correa - French horn; Don Butterfield – tuba;  Jerome Richardson, Plas Johnson – reeds; Billy Butler, Kenny Burrell, Thornell Schwartz, Wes Montgomery, Bill Suyker – guitar; Bob Bushnell, Ben Tucker, Carol Kaye – bass; Donald Dean, Grady Tate, Herbie Lovelle, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, Larry Bunker, Mel Lewis, Bill Rodriguez – drums; Victor Pantoja, Ray Barretto – congas; George Devens, Bobby Rosengarden, Phil Kraus - percussion

Talkin' Verve: Roots Of Acid Jazz

Friday, March 1, 2019

Lalo Schifrin - There's A Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin' On

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1968
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:50
Size: 68,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:27)  1. Secret Code
(2:29)  2. Dissolving
(2:41)  3. Machinations
(2:35)  4. Bride of the Wind
(2:07)  5. Life Insurance
(2:59)  6. How to Open at Will
(2:12)  7. Vaccinated Mushrooms
(2:41)  8. Two Petals a Flower and a Young Girl
(2:42)  9. Wheat Germ Landscapes
(3:29) 10. Gentle Earthquake
(2:25) 11. Hawks vs. Doves

Though it may seem unlikely that Frank Zappa had much of an influence on the work of Lalo Schifrin, one can detect some cultural crossover on There's a Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin' On. Schifrin was as much a jazz-pop genius as ever, but on this album rock rhythms, musical satire, sound effects, and exotica are all used as camp in a way that is eerily reminiscent of Zappa's more thoughtful efforts. Schifrin being Schifrin, every cut has a distinct and catchy melody, but there are whimsical and satirical themes embedded in the music. Nowhere is this more obvious than in "Hawks Vs. Doves," in which a cheery carnival-like theme is played in counterpoint to a martial air, each interfering with the other. Elsewhere, Schifrin uses unusual percussion, dissonance, and tense, sonically fragmented piano to create soundscapes that are unlike most of the rest of his work. "Secret Code" integrates tabla drums, not a common instrument in American jazz of the time, with a cold, flute-like synthesizer  probably the first time those two instruments were used together. 

This album was ahead of its time in terms of instrumentation, but was a product of its time in that established ways of doing things were being challenged. Fans of Lalo Schifrin's work will find this to rank with his best, and those not familiar with anything but the Mission Impossible theme will be drawn in further by the eccentric genius displayed here. Note: Like many of Schifrin's albums of the period, there is no listing of musicians on the album cover, so it is difficult to know who is responsible for the marvelous performances here, except for Schifrin's own contributions. ~ Richard Foss https://www.allmusic.com/album/theres-a-whole-lalo-schifrin-goin-on-mw0000771728

Personnel:  Lalo Schifrin - piano, synthesizer, arranger, conductor; Tony Terran, John Audino - trumpet; Lloyd Ulyate, Barrett O'Hara - trombone; John Johnson - tuba; Vincent DeRosa - horn; Bud Shank, Ronnie Lang, Sam Most - reeds; Arnold Kobentz - oboe, English horn; Ralph Grierson, Artie Kane, Roger Kellaway, Mike Lang - keyboards; Paul Beaver - keyboards, synthesizer, stereo harp; Carl Fortina - accordion; Howard Roberts, Dennis Budimer, Bill Pitman, Louis Morell - guitar; James Bond, Ray Brown - bass; Carol Kaye, Max Bennett - electric bass; Shelly Manne - drums, percussion; Earl Palmer, Ken Watson, Joe Porcaro, Emil Richards - percussion; Milt Holland - tabla; Bonnie Douglas, Sam Freed, Anatol Kaminsky, Nathan Kaproff, George Kast, Marvin Limonick, Erno Neufeld, Paul Shure - violin; Myra Kestenbaum, Allan Harshman, Robert Ostrowsky, Virginia Majewski - viola; Raphael Kramer, Edgar Lustgarten, Eleanor Slatkin - cello; Catherine Gotthoffer - harp; Robert Helfer - orchestra manager

There's A Whole Lalo Schifrin Goin' On

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Lalo Schifrin - Jazz Meets The Symphony 6 - Kaleidoscope

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:12
Size: 157,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:12)  1. Paraphrase
(5:53)  2. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
(9:14)  3. Jazzette
(9:21)  4. Peanut Vendor
(5:05)  5. Pavane
(8:41)  6. To Be Or Not To Bop
(6:42)  7. El Salon Mexico
(3:59)  8. Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
(5:10)  9. Prelude No. 2
(6:51) 10. The Cincinnati Kid

"Schifrin has scored so many movies that he can probably come up with luminous orchestral textures and ear-tingling timbral effects in his sleep." ~ JazzTimes 

"The immovable objects of symphony orchestra and jazz group are getting more closely in sync, thanks to the irresistible forces of Schifrin's long experience in both camps and his own luscious personal orchestral signatures." ~ All Music Guide 

The latest edition in the Grammy-nominated series featuring new works by Lalo Schifrin. From the outset, Jazz Meets the Symphony testified to Schifrin's sparkling vision as well as his genius, and this sixth incarnation offers newly resplendent proof of both. 

From France to South America via New York and Mexico, from ballet to film via chamber music and bop, Kaleidoscope recorded in the Sydney Opera House is "jazz symphonic" at its finest. https://www.amazon.com.br/Kaleidoscope-Jazz-Meets-Symphony-6/dp/B000AAF1UY

Personnel: Lalo Schifrin (piano, composer);  James Morrison (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone);  Christian McBride (acoustic bass);  Gordon Rytmeister (drums);  Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Jazz Meets The Symphony 6 - Kaleidoscope

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy On The French Riviera

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:34
Size: 90,0 MB
Art: Front

(10:20)  1. No More Blues
( 5:15)  2. Long, Long Summer
( 2:44)  3. I Waited For You
( 3:27)  4. Desafinado
( 8:33)  5. Here It Is
( 3:38)  6. Pau De Arara
( 4:34)  7. For The Gypsies

Some of Dizzy Gillespie's best and most well-known material from the '60s with a truly talented band is included on this set of recordings done in France. A group of American expatriates and Europeans really musicians from all over the world accompany the trumpeter for music that spans bop, Brazilian sounds, and originals. Argentine pianist Lalo Schifrin plays piano and contributes the arrangements, and Leo Wright is Gillespie's main foil on flute and alto sax, while Hungarian Elek Bacsik plays guitar in subtle ways that reflect the overall style of the sounds inspired by the French Riviera. A classic, stretched-out take of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "No More Blues" kicks off the set, with the sound of kids on an ocean beach leading to Gillespie and Wright trading halves of the melody line as playful as the children in a perfectly played bossa. Another Jobim standard, "Desafinado," has Wright's bright flute and the muted trumpet of Diz in a more pensive but still hopeful romantic mood. "I Waited for You" is the ultimate languid, laying-in-wait ballad, with Schifrin's refrains cuing the trumpeter's procrastinations, while "Long, Long Summer" is the pianist's ode to a sullen affair with ultraviolet light cool shades included in a swinging and modal approach. "For the Gypsies," penned by the leader, has Bacsik more up-front rhythmically, as Wright's mysterious flute contrasts with Gillespie's sharply precise notes in a sneaky quick bossa rhythm. Also written by Dizzy, "Here It Is" is as memorable a tune as he ever did, a signature strutting shuffle jazz/blues that exemplifies the joy in life always present in his music. That all of the participants are extremely talented and can mix and match with Gillespie beautifully makes this an album that should appeal universally to all jazz lovers, and especially his biggest fans. ~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/dizzy-on-the-french-riviera-mw0000188085

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie – trumpet, vocals;  Lalo Schifrin – piano;  Leo Wright - flute, alto saxophone, vocals;  Elek Bacsik - guitar;  Chris White - double bass;  Rudy Collins - drums;  Pepito Riestria - percussion;  Charlie Ventura - tenor saxophone, bass saxophone

Dizzy On The French Riviera

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Dizzy Gillespie & His Orchestra - Gillespiana

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:13
Size: 180,3 MB
Art: Front

( 5:56)  1. Prelude
(11:20)  2. Blues
( 4:42)  3. Panamericana
( 7:35)  4. Africana
(12:03)  5. Toccata
( 5:02)  6. Prelude (live quintet version)
(10:55)  7. Blues (live quintet version)
( 6:56)  8. Africana (live quintet version)
(13:40)  9. Toccata (live quintet version)

This CD combines two complete and related LPs. When Lalo Schifrin joined the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet in 1960, he was encouraged by Gillespie to write an extended work for him. "Gillespiana" was the result, an impressive five-movement suite that showcased the trumpeter's talents with a large orchestra. The latter half of this CD was recorded at Carnegie Hall the same day that "Gillespiana" was debuted live, but those five pieces are more conventional, highlighted by remakes of "Manteca" and "A Night in Tunisia" (the latter as the more involved "Tunisian Fantasy"). Only an overly silly version of "Ool-Ya-Koo" with Joe Carroll detracts from this otherwise superb release.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/gillespiana-carnegie-hall-concert-mw0000103159

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet); Leo Wright (flute, alto saxophone); Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Joe Wilder, John Frosk (trumpet); Al Richman, Gunther Schuller , Jimmy Buffington, Julius Watkins (French horn); Frank Rehak, Urbie Green, Britt Woodman (trombone); Paul Faulise (bass trombone); Don Butterfield (tuba); Lalo Schifrin (piano); Chuck Lampkin (drums); Candido Camero (congas); Jack Del Rio (bongos); Willie Rodriguez (timbales).

Gillespiana

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Jimmy Smith - The Cat

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:20
Size: 77,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:44)  1. Theme from Joy House
(3:29)  2. The Cat
(4:05)  3. Basin Street Blues
(3:59)  4. Main Title from The Carpetbaggers
(4:01)  5. Chicago Serenade
(3:22)  6. St. Louis Blues
(4:52)  7. Delon's Blues
(4:45)  8. Blues in the Night

Compared to his earlier Blue Note recordings, organist Jimmy Smith's outings for Verve are not as strong from a jazz standpoint. Certainly his renditions of the "Theme from Joy House," "The Cat," and the "Main Title from The Carpetbaggers" are not all that significant. However, this set has some tasteful arrangements for the big band by Lalo Schifrin, and some good playing by the great organist on a variety of other blues-oriented material. Also, the combination of organ with a big band is sometimes quite appealing, making this album worth picking up despite its commercial focus. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-cat-mw0000188691

Personnel: Jimmy Smith (organ); Lalo Schifrin (conductor); Bernie Glow, Jimmy Maxwell, Marky Markowitz, Thad Jones, Ernie Royal, Snooky Young (trumpet); Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green (trombone); Tony Studd (bass trombone); Ray Alonge, Earl Chapin, Bill Correa, Jimmy Buffington (French horn); Don Butterfield (tuba); Kenny Burrell (guitar); George Duvivier (bass); Grady Tate (drums); Phil Kraus (percussion)

The Cat

Friday, February 16, 2018

Lalo Schifrin - Latin Jazz Suite

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:59
Size: 148.8 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[ 7:33] 1. Montuno
[ 7:48] 2. Martinique
[12:42] 3. Pampas
[12:44] 4. Fiesta
[15:21] 5. Ritual
[ 8:49] 6. Manaos

Bass – John Goldsby; Bass Trombone – Lucas Schmid; Ensemble – WDR Big Band ; Drums – Ignacio Berroa; Percussion – Alex Acuña, Alphonso Garrido, Marcio Doctor; Piano – Lalo Schifrin; Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – David Sanchez; Trumpet – Jon Faddis; Guitar – Paul Shigihara; Piano, Organ – Frank Chastenier; Reeds – Harald Rosenstein, Heiner Wiberny, Jens Neufang, Olivier Peters, Rolf Römer; Trombone – Bernt Laukamp, Dave Horler, Ludwig Nuß; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Andy Haderer, John Marshall, Klaus Osterloh, Rick Kiefer, Rob Bruynen. Recorded live at Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal on June 18 & 19, 1999.

Lalo Schifrin's Latin Jazz Suite is a masterful celebration of the diverse and colorful sounds and feelings that Latin forms add to the jazz vocabulary. It is also a reflection of the composer's successful contributions to the Latin musical language over the last four decades. This enthralling, consistently engaging six-piece suite - recorded live over two nights of its June 1999 premiere in Cologne, Germany — most recalls Schifrin's historic Gillespiana suite. But Latin Jazz Suite is a milestone of arguably greater proportion. As a composer, Schifrin here reveals a greater, more refined depth of maturity, a worldly mastery of musical forms and a perfected sensibility for the drama and adventure of long-form structures.

The suite scales Cuban ("Montuno"), Caribbean ("Martinique") and Argentinean ("Pampas") structures to those informed by Brazilian ("Manaos"), African (the superb "Ritual") and flamenco ("Fiesta") styles. Percussion flavors subtly throughout, but never dominates or overwhelms. Schifrin's no tourist. He uses his compositional prowess to suggest the different landscapes he traverses. He also divides the star roles most intriguingly. The orchestra — voiced here by the great WDR Big Band, which commissioned the work — carries the majority of the melodies and punctuates poetically with some of Schifrin's most Gil Evans-like scoring (perhaps acknowledging the influence of Sketches of Spain ). Solos are manned by an exciting triumvirate including Schifrin (marvelous) on piano, Jon Faddis (at his Dizzyest best) and young firebrand David Sanchez on tenor and soprano saxophones. A stronger triad is difficult to conceive.

The suite's highlight is the pulsating, chant-like "Ritual," a hypnotic and vibrant piece in 12/8 time that elicits especially commanding solos from Faddis, Sanchez and, most notably, Schifrin himself. Other highlights include the catchy "Martinique," a Caribbean polyglot of Sonny Rollins's "St. Thomas" and Schifrin's own "Roulette Rhumba," and the concerto-like beauty of "Pampas," Schifrin's visit back to a 1978 theme (from his underrated Gypsies LP) enlivened most imaginatively by "Street Tattoo," the composer's theme to the film, Boulevard Nights.

This 65-minute opus ultimately suggests a sort of jazz symphony. The invention of Schifrin's conception interacting with the wit and verve of the players protect against any kind of museum-quality stodginess too. As it unfurls, it reveals itself as a most entertaining work. When it's over, it lingers in the mind and the heart as a real work of art. Surely, Latin Jazz Suite is among the best, most memorable jazz recordings of the year and like Gillespiana, Jazz Mass and Marquis de Sade, one of the great jazz achievements in Lalo Schifrin's provocative career. ~Douglas Payne

Latin Jazz Suite mc
Latin Jazz Suite zippy

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Al Hirt - Latin In The Horn

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 1966
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:21
Size: 73,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:37)  1. Baia
(2:50)  2. Frenesi
(2:27)  3. Taboo
(2:38)  4. Angelitos Negros
(2:57)  5. Meditation (Meditaçao)
(2:35)  6. A Sky Without Stars (Un Cielo Sin Estrellas)
(2:18)  7. Gringo A-Go-Go
(3:11)  8. Manhã De Carnaval
(2:56)  9. Margarita
(2:03) 10. What A Diff'rence A Day Made
(1:59) 11. Be True To Me (Sabor A Mi)
(2:45) 12. Desafinado

A lush, easy-going Brazilian outing, Latin in the Horn is aided substantially by the sophistication Lalo Schifrin brings to Hirt's cotton candy. Schifrin's orchestra waxes elegantly while Hirt's restraint is a pleasant surprise. Even though this outing post-dates the "Bossa Nova" fad by a few years, Schifrin was always masterful in this style. Listeners will certainly want to hear the magic Schifrin weaves on beauties like "Taboo," "Angelitos Negros," "Margarita," "Be True To Me" and the two Schifrin originals ("A Sky Without Stars" and "Gringo A Go Go"). http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/al-hirt-albums/2161-latin-in-the-horn.html

Personnel:  Al Hirt (tp), Lalo Schifrin (arr, dir)

Latin In The Horn

Monday, August 29, 2016

Cannonball Adderley - Quintet & Orchestra

Styles: Big Band, Soul Jazz
Year: 1970
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:48
Size: 102,8 MB
Art: Front

(20:12)  1. Experience In E
(12:37)  2. Tensity
(11:58)  3. Dialogues For Jazz Quintet And Orchestra

The Cannonball Adderley Quintet & Orchestra (also known as Experience in E) is an album by jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley recorded in Los Angeles, California in 1970 featuring performances by Adderley's Quintet featuring Nat Adderley, Joe Zawinul, Walter Booker and Roy McCurdy with an unidentified orchestra conducted by William Fisher or Lalo Schifrin.   
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cannonball_Adderley_Quintet_%26_Orchestra

Personnel:  Cannonball Adderley - alto saxophone;  Nat Adderley – cornet;  Joe Zawinul - piano, electric piano;  Walter Booker – bass;  Roy McCurdy – drums;  Unidentified orchestra;  William Fisher - conductor (tracks 1 & 2);  Lalo Schifrin - conductor (track 3).

Thank You Flyingfinger!

Domination

Saturday, October 10, 2015

Various - Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms Vol 1

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:05
Size: 153.6 MB
Styles: Latin rhythms
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[2:34] 1. Roberto Menescal - Influencia Do Jazz
[7:33] 2. Odell Brown - Mas Que Nada
[2:58] 3. Os Cincos-Pados - Berimbau
[4:17] 4. Jongo Trio - Waters Of March
[2:44] 5. Quarteto Em Cy Com Tamba Trio - Water To Drink
[2:47] 6. Pedrinho Mattar Trio - Samba Pro Pedrinho
[3:15] 7. Charlie Byrd - Bamba Samba
[2:19] 8. Breno Sauer Quinteto - A Felicidad
[3:11] 9. Nelson Riddle Orchestra - Lamento
[2:46] 10. Zimbo Trio - To Live Happily
[2:26] 11. Os Catedràticos - Os Grilos (Crickets Sing For Anamaria)
[3:57] 12. Lalo Schifrin Orchestra - Samba De Una Nota
[3:05] 13. Geraldo Trio - Chora Tua Tristeza
[2:44] 14. Bossa Jazz Trio - Canto De Ossanha
[2:59] 15. Os Cobras - Cheiro De Saudade
[2:26] 16. Continentals - String Of Pearls
[2:33] 17. Joao Meirelles - Batucada
[2:06] 18. Chris Montez - The Face I Love
[4:29] 19. Martin Denny - Exotique Bossa Nova
[5:45] 20. Quartette Tres Bien - Boss Tres Bien

Bossa Nova Exciting Jazz Samba Rhythms

Friday, July 17, 2015

Lalo Schifrin & Bob Brookmeyer - Samba Para Dos

Styles: Trombone and Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:16
Size: 72,0 MB
Art: Front

(10:05)  1. Samba Para Dos
( 3:03)  2. What Kind Of Fool Am I
( 3:35)  3. I Get A Kick Out Of You
( 3:21)  4. Just Obe Of Those Things
( 3:31)  5. Time After Time
( 2:31)  6. Its Allright With Me
( 2:01)  7. My Funny Valentine
( 3:07)  8. But Not For Me

This long unavailable record pairs valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer with pianist Lalo Schifrin in a light but swinging Latin-flavored studio session. Although there is a formidable supporting cast, which includes Phil Woods, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, and Jimmy Raney, the solos are primarily by the co-leaders and Leo Wright, heard on several flute solos. Following Schifrin's extended but lively "Samba Para Dos," the remainder of the date focuses on very familiar standards. Raney's solos are a highlight of "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "My Funny Valentine." The full reed section fleshes out a potent interpretation of "Just One of Those Things," which features an impressive and often humorous solo by Brookmeyer. Although this may not be considered an essential LP by the average jazz fan, it is well worth acquiring. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/samba-para-dos-mw0000471354

Personnel:  Lalo Schifrin - piano, arranger; Bob Brookmeyer - valve trombone; Frank Rehak – trombone; Leo Wright - alto saxophone, flute; Phil Woods, Jerome Richardson - alto saxophone; Zoot Sims, Al Cohn - tenor saxophone; Romeo Penque - bass clarinet; Danny Bank - baritone saxophone; Jimmy Raney – guitar; Ben Tucker – bass; Dave Bailey – drums; Jose Paulo – percussion; Carmelita Koehler - cello

Samba Para Dos

Monday, December 1, 2014

Lalo Schifrin - Chega De Saudade

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 75:30
Size: 172.8 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[ 3:18] 1. Desafinado
[ 3:28] 2. The Snake's Dance
[ 3:13] 3. Cubano Be
[ 2:44] 4. An Evening In Sao Paulo
[ 6:14] 5. Kush
[ 4:32] 6. Rhythm-A-Ning
[ 4:02] 7. Sphayros
[ 4:37] 8. Mount Olive
[ 3:13] 9. Poema Do Adeus
[ 4:11] 10. Borneo
[ 2:34] 11. Chora Tua Tristeza
[ 3:16] 12. The Fakir
[ 6:14] 13. Kush
[ 5:12] 14. Chega De Saudade
[10:05] 15. Samba Para Dos
[ 3:02] 16. What Kind Of Fool Am I
[ 1:59] 17. My Funny Valentine
[ 3:29] 18. Time After Time

Best known for his "Mission: Impossible" theme song, Lalo Schifrin is an Argentinean-born composer, arranger, pianist, and conductor, whose jazz and classical training earned him tremendous success as a soundtrack composer. Born Boris Claudio Schifrin in Buenos Aires on June 21, 1932, his father was a symphonic violinist, and he began playing piano at age six. He enrolled in the Paris Conservatoire in 1952, hitting the jazz scene by night. After returning to Buenos Aires, Schifrin formed a 16-piece jazz orchestra, which helped him meet Dizzy Gillespie in 1956. Schifrin offered to write Gillespie an extended suite, completing the five-movement Gillespiana in 1958; the same year, he became an arranger for Xavier Cugat. In 1960, he moved to New York City and joined Gillespie's quintet, which recorded "Gillespiana" to much general acclaim. Schifrin became Gillespie's musical director until 1962, contributing another suite in "The New Continent"; he subsequently departed to concentrate on his writing. He also recorded as a leader, most often in Latin jazz and bossa nova settings, and accepted his first film-scoring assignment in 1963 (for Rhino!). Schifrin moved to Hollywood late that year, scoring major successes with his indelible themes to Mission: Impossible and Mannix. Over the next decade, Schifrin would score films like The Cincinnati Kid, Bullitt, Cool Hand Luke, Dirty Harry, and Enter the Dragon. As a jazzer, he wrote the well-received "Jazz Mass" suite in 1965, and delved into stylish jazz-funk with 1975's CTI album Black Widow. Schifrin continued his film work all the way through the '90s; during that decade, he recorded a series of orchestral jazz albums called Jazz Meets the Symphony, and became the principal arranger for the Three Tenors, which complemented his now-dominant interest in composing classical music. ~bio by Steve Huey

Chega De Saudade