Nathan Davis - Two Originals (Happy Girl & The Hip Walk)

Styles: Flute And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1965
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:42
Size: 176,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:53)  1. The Flute In The Blues
(7:04)  2. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
(7:18)  3. Happy Girl
(7:15)  4. Evolution
(5:08)  5. Theme From Zoltan
(2:18)  6. Along Came Byrd
(3:21)  7. Mister E.
(7:00)  8. The Hip Walk
(7:23)  9. While Children Sleep
(5:26) 10. Train Of Thought
(2:54) 11. Yesterdays
(7:56) 12. That Kaycee Thing
(3:45) 13. Carmell's Black Forest Waltz
(4:57) 14. B's Blues

Nathan Davis spent some time living and working in Europe in the mid-'60s before returning to the United States to serve in jazz education. His recordings as a leader have been hard to find, so this compilation of two 1965 studio sessions, Happy Girl and Hip Walk, (both originally issued by MPS) will be a welcome discovery for collectors who can find it. In the earlier date he is joined by trumpeter Woody Shaw, Larry Young (on piano rather than organ), bassist Jimmy Woode and drummer Billy Brooks. His happy "The Flute in the Blues" showcases his lighthearted flute playing, accompanied only by bass and drums. His big tone on tenor sax in the standard ballad "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" is somewhat suggestive of John Coltrane, but with a stronger vibrato. His original "Evolution" has an exotic sound like the kind of post-bop material that was recorded by various Blue Note artists a year or two later. Shaw contributed the fascinating "Theme From Zoltan," which showcases Brooks' inventive polyrhythms and Woode's adventurous bass, backing strong solos by the trumpeter and the leader (on tenor sax). The jaunty, angular blues "Along Came Byrd" finds Davis holding his own on soprano sax. The later session retains Woode, but substitutes trumpeter Carmell Jones, pianist Francy Boland and drummer Kenny Clarke. Although the arrangements are equally challenging, things seem looser on this session, suggesting that there was more time to rehearse, though that is unlikely, since Jones was flown in especially for this date. 

The Coltrane influence is again apparent in the ballad "While Children Sleep." It would be easy to imagine Art Blakey tackling the furious "Train of Thought." Davis switches to flute for a haunting take of Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays." This valuable music was reissued in Europe by Motor Music in 1998, though it may very well have already lapsed again from print; it is well-worth investigating.~Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/two-originals-happy-girl-hip-walk-mw0000041160

Personnel: Nathan Davis (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Carmell Jones, Woody Shaw (trumpet); Francy Boland, Larry Young (piano); Kenny Clarke, Billy Brooks (drums).

Two Originals (Happy Girl & The Hip Walk)

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Grant Green - Talkin' About

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:55
Size: 94,6 MB
Art: Front

(11:41)  1. Talkin' About J.C.
( 7:26)  2. People
( 7:42)  3. Luny Tune
( 7:36)  4. You Don't Know What Love Is
( 6:29)  5. I'm An Old Cowhand

On the heels of Matador and Solid, two of his most advanced albums, Grant Green decided to continue the more modal direction he'd begun pursuing with the help of members of Coltrane's quartet. Accordingly, he hooked up with organist Larry Young, who was just beginning to come into his own as the first Hammond B-3 player to incorporate Coltrane's modal innovations into his own style. Talkin' About is the first of three albums the Green/Young team recorded together with Coltrane drummer Elvin Jones, and it's exceptional, one of the most underrated items in Green's discography. With just a basic organ trio lineup, the album works a fascinating middle ground between the soul-jazz of Green's early days and the modal flavor of his most recent work. Though Young's style wasn't quite fully formed yet, he's no longer the in-the-pocket Jimmy Smith disciple of his earliest sessions; his playing here is far more adventurous than the typical soul-jazz date, both harmonically and rhythmically. Jones and Young often play off one another to create an intricate, percolating pulse that's miles ahead of the standard soul-jazz groove. The trio's interplay is best showcased on Young's Coltrane tribute, "Talkin' About J.C.," a monster jam that's worth every one of its nearly 12 minutes, and the cheerful "I'm an Old Cowhand," popularized as a jazz tune by Sonny Rollins. Meanwhile, Young and Green positively shimmer together on the ballad numbers, "People" and "You Don't Know What Love Is." It all makes for a terrific album that ranks in Green's uppermost echelon. ~ Steve Huey https://www.allmusic.com/album/talkin-about%21-mw0000259010

Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); Larry Young (organ); Elvin Jones (drums).        

Talkin' About

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Larry Young Trio - Testifying / Young Blues / Groove Street / Forrest Fire

Size: 181,8+182,9 MB
Time: 78:27+79:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

CD 1:
Testifying:
01. Testifying (9:52)
02. When I Grow Too Old To Dream (5:14)
03. Exercise For Chihuahuas (7:33)
04. Falling In Love With Love (5:03)
05. Some Thorny Blues (6:18)
06. Wee Dot (7:03)
07. Flamingo (5:22)

Young Blues:
08. Young Blues (6:24)
09. A Midnight Angel (2:20)
10. Little White Lies (4:11)
11. Minor Dream (5:01)
12. Something New, Something Blue (7:22)
13. Nica's Dream (6:37)

CD 2:
Young Blues:
01. African Blues ( 4:51)

Groove Street:
02. Groove Street ( 4:52)
03. I Found A New Baby ( 5:23)
04. Sweet Lorraine ( 9:25)
05. Gettin' Into It (14:22)
06. Talkin' 'bout J.C ( 5:54)

Forrest Fire:
07. Remember ( 5:27)
08. Dexter's Deck ( 6:35)
09. Jim's Jams ( 8:55)
10. Bags' Groove ( 8:25)
11. Help! ( 4:49)

"I want to get into something really deep on the organ." Larry Young, 1960.

Like Hank Mobley and Grant Green, Larry Young never really received the widespread recognition he deserved from jazz fans. Known only to a relatively small number of jazz fans but well known and respected by musicians he struggled for recognition throughout his career. He played a string of one-night tours with Lou Donaldson, B.B. King, Arnett Cobb, and others before he recorded these albums. He went on to play with John McLaughlin ("Devotion"), Tony Williams (Lifetime), and Miles Davis ("Bitches Brew") to good acclaim. He also recorded for the Blue Note label under his own name and as a sideman on other Blue Note albums--including Grant Green. So in advance of the "new" release of Young's live recordings from France ("Complete ORTF..."), and because this great collection of his early albums has never been reviewed, I thought I'd alert jazz fans to this fine (79 + and 79 + minutes each disc) set. The remastered sound is clean and fairy crisp and clean. The 18 page booklet has complete recording information, a short essay on Young, the original complete liner notes from all the albums, and the album covers.

The first album, "Testifyin'" (1960) is Young-organ, Thornel Schwartz-guitar, and Jimmie Smith-drums. Joe Holiday plays tenor sax on two tunes--listen to the beautiful "Flamingo" for a good dose of his playing. The album is a combination of Young's tunes and standards like "When I Grow Too Old to Dream", "Falling In Love With Love", "Wee Dot", and others. Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder (like every album here), the sound is clean, open, and warm--reminiscent of his Blue Note work. This is "soul-jazz" of the period. Young had yet to formulate his own style, but he's no Jimmy Smith copyist. Young was influenced by McCoy Tyner, Monk, Red Garland, Bud Powell, Art Tatum, and Tommy Flanagan, and was only 20 years old when he recorded these albums. This first album sets the tone for some fine playing by both Young and Schwartz, along with Smith, whose drumming fits in well with the group.

The album "Young Blues" (1960), is a quartet with Young,Schwartz, Smith, and Wendell Marshall-bass. The swinging title track (with some good guitar) and two others are by Young. Also here is a Ray Draper tune, the beautiful "Minor Dream", along with Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream" (sticking very close to Silver's version), and a few others that give both Young and Schwartz a chance to blow some good swinging blues things. This is more groovy, soulful, swinging sounds similar to the first album--a good thing if you're into this type of music. Nothing innovative yet as far as Young's playing--just another set of great music.

"Groovin' Street"(1962), is another quartet with Young, Schwartz, Smith, and Bill Leslie on tenor sax. Included are the title track and two others by Young--one tune--"Gettin' Into It", is 14 + minutes of pure groove. Also here is his "Talkin' 'Bout J. C.", which is another fine tune with much to recommend it. Young's sound is just beginning to acquire some strength but he's not yet taken the leap he would later with his instrument. Schwartz is typically fine whether he's soloing or comping behind Young's organ. Leslie adds some nice depth with his deep tone on sax--listen to his solo on "Gettin' Into It". Nonetheless this is another good set of jazz that has much good playing for fans of jazz organ from this period. To cap off this collection there's five tracks from the album "Forrest Fire", under tenor sax blower Jimmy Forrest. The group is (again) Young, Schwartz, Smith, and the hard blowing Forrest. Included is "Remember" (Irving Berlin), "Dexter's Deck" (Dexter Gordon), "Jim's Jam" (J. Forrest), "Bag's Groove" (Milt Jackson), and "Help!" (bassist Doug Watkins), all which show Forrest's bluesy, sometimes gut-bucket blowing style, along with Young adding some good organ along with Schwartz' guitar. This is a good example of the type of sax/organ groups popular during this period, and Young--even at a young age--was able to show how good his chops were in this style.

If you're a fan of organ/guitar or organ/sax groups, and/or you're a fan of very early Jimmy Smith (his Blue Note stuff), this collection of Young's early albums should move nearer to the top of your "to buy" list. Give this a real listen--without distractions--and you'll hear some fine playing. ~Stuart Jefferson

Testifying/Young Blues/Groove Street/Forrest Fire CD 1
Testifying/Young Blues/Groove Street/Forrest Fire CD 2

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Larry Young - Testifying

Styles: Hard Bop, Soul Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:52
Size: 107,6 MB
Art: Front

(9:54)  1. Testifying
(5:18)  2. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
(7:37)  3. Exercise For Chihuahuas
(5:07)  4. Falling In Love With Love
(6:23)  5. Some Thorny Blues
(7:07)  6. Wee Dot
(5:23)  7. Flamingo

Organist Larry Young was 19 when he made this, his debut recording. Although he would become innovative later on, Young at this early stage was still influenced by Jimmy Smith, even if he had a lighter tone; the fact that he used Smith's former guitarist, Thornel Schwartz, and a drummer whose name was coincidentally Jimmie Smith kept the connection strong. R&B-ish tenor Joe Holiday helps out on two songs, and the music (standards, blues and ballads) always swings. Easily recommended to fans of the jazz organ.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/testifying-mw0000276468

Personnel: Larry Young (organ); Joe Holiday (tenor saxophone); Thornel Schwartz (guitar); Jimmie Smith (drums).

Testifying

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Larry Young - Groove Street

Styles: Hard Bop, Soul Jazz
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:18
Size: 92,7 MB
Art: Front

( 4:57)  1. Groove Street
( 5:29)  2. I Found A New Baby
( 9:27)  3. Sweet Lorraine
(14:27)  4. Gettin' Into It
( 5:57)  5. Talkin' 'Bout J.C.

Larry Young's third and final Prestige recording (reissued in the OJC series on CD) concludes his early period; he would next record as a leader two and a half years later on Blue Note, by which time his style would be much more original. For his 1962 outing, Young is joined by the obscure tenor Bill Leslie, guitarist Thornel Schwartz and drummer Jimmie Smith for some original blues and two standards ("I Found a New Baby" and "Sweet Lorraine"). 

Nothing all that substantial occurs, but fans of Jimmy Smith will enjoy the similar style that Larry Young had at the time.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/groove-street-mw0000644712

Personnel: Larry Young (organ, keyboards); Thornel Schwartz (guitar); Bill Leslie (tenor saxophone); Jimmie Smith (drums).

Groove Street

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VA - Jazz Organ

Size: 244,1 MB
Time: 104:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Shirley Scott - Ain't Misbehavin' (3:30)
02. Jimmy Smith - The Sermon (7:39)
03. Jack McDuff - Loose Foot (5:04)
04. Bill Doggett - Mudcat (2:32)
05. Larry Young - Back Up (Remastered) (8:36)
06. Dr. Lonnie Smith - Seesaw (Remastered) (5:50)
07. Jimmy McGriff - Sho' Nuff (3:53)
08. Jimmy Smith - Fungii Mama (Remastered) (4:50)
09. Lou Donaldson - Caravan (5:20)
10. Jack McDuff - Butter (For Yo' Popcorn) (4:04)
11. Bill Doggett - Oo-Da (3:48)
12. Larry Young - Paris Eyes (Remastered) (6:37)
13. Jimmy McGriff - Swingin' The Blues (Remastered) (3:44)
14. Shirley Scott - Blue Bongo (3:01)
15. Pat Metheny - Dr. Slate (7:37)
16. Jimmy Smith - Motorin' Along (Remastered) (5:07)
17. Jack McDuff - Down Home Style (5:02)
18. Jimmy McGriff - M.G. Blues (4:55)
19. Grant Green - Luny Tune (7:39)
20. Shirley Scott - Ciao, Ciao (5:51)

Pepi Lemer, co-founder of the legendary jazz/fusion group ‘Turning Point’ is now launching her new cd and band ‘Back2front’. Pepi’s inspiration to find a repertoire of songs that could embrace her passion for latin rhythms, improvisation and intricate jazz patterns which could enable her to use her vocalese style of singing was the great American jazz guitarist Pat Metheny, and when he gave her permission to write lyrics to some of his compositions, her band was formed using his and other world composers songs.

She has created a driving, exciting percussive mix of jazz/latin fusion music using her remarkable vocal range and unique vocalese style.

She is using some of Britain’s finest jazz musicians for her new band and cd, these are: Peter Lemer (piano), Chris Lawrence (bass), Paul Robinson (drums), Gary Hammond (percussion), Richard Edwards (trombone), Derek Nash (sax), Pepi Lemer (vocals).

Jazz Organ

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VA - Kickin' The 3: The Best Of Organ Trio Jazz

Size: 153,3 MB
Time: 65:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1997
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front & Back

01 Jimmy McGriff - Red Top (4:16)
02 Charles Earland - Kickin' The 3 (5:14)
03 Joey DeFrancesco - Evidence (4:56)
04 Jimmy Smith - Blues For J (5:07)
05 Dr. Lonnie Smith - Slouchin' (6:57)
06 Larry Goldings - Little Green Men (7:02)
07 Richard 'Groove' Holmes - Misty (1:55)
08 Johnny Smith - Lid Flippin' (5:16)
09 Jack McDuff - After Hours (4:32)
10 John Medeski - Beeah (6:59)
11 Larry Young - Monk's Dream (5:49)
12 Don Patterson - Dem New York Dues (0:38)
13 Will Bouleware - Back At The Chicken Shack (6:41)

The 13 performances on this 1997 CD sampler features a variety of the top jazz organists of the previous 40 years on selections (all easily available elsewhere) leased from Telarc, Fantasy, Sony, Polygram, Blue Note and Minor Music. However, although the music is reasonably enjoyable, the poor documentation (no personnel listing or dates) is inexcusable. If one wonders who a particular guitar or saxophone soloist might be, they can keep on wondering or do their own research. Obviously, this release is primarily for the casual listener who simply desires some grooving background music. Heard from are Jimmy McGriff (teaming up with altoist Hank Crawford), Charles Earland, Joey DeFrancesco, Jimmy Smith, Lonnie Smith, Larry Goldings, Richard "Groove" Holmes (his hit version of "Misty"), Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Brother Jack McDuff, Medeski, Martin & Wood, Larry Young, Don Patterson and Will Bouleware. ~Review by Scott Yanow

Kickin' The 3

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Larry Young - Some Thorny Blues

Size: 107,7 MB
Time: 46:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ, Blues Jazz
Art: Front

01. Wee Dot (7:07)
02. Falling In Love With Love (5:03)
03. Exercise For Chihuahuas (7:37)
04. Testifying (9:55)
05. When I Grow Too Old To Dream (5:18)
06. Flamingo (5:22)
07. Some Thorny Blues (6:20)

If Jimmy Smith was "the Charlie Parker of the organ," Larry Young was its John Coltrane. One of the great innovators of the mid- to late '60s, Young fashioned a distinctive modal approach to the Hammond B-3 at a time when Smith's earthy, blues-drenched soul-jazz style was the instrument's dominant voice. Initially, Young was very much a Smith admirer himself. After playing with various R&B bands in the 1950s and being featured as a sideman with tenor saxman Jimmy Forrest in 1960, Young debuted as a leader that year with Testifying, which, like his subsequent soul-jazz efforts for Prestige, Young Blues (1960), and Groove Street, (1962), left no doubt that Smith was his primary inspiration. But when Young went to Blue Note in 1964, he was well on his way to becoming a major innovator. Coltrane's post-bop influence asserted itself more and more in Young's playing and composing, and his work grew much more cerebral and exploratory. Unity, recorded in 1965, remains his best-known album. Quick to embrace fusion, Young played with Miles Davis in 1969, John McLaughlin in 1970, and Tony Williams' groundbreaking Lifetime in the early '70s. Unfortunately, his work turned uneven and erratic as the '70s progressed. Young was only 38 when, in 1978, he checked into the hospital suffering from stomach pains, and died from untreated pneumonia. The Hammond hero's work for Blue Note (as both a leader and a sideman) was united for Mosaic's limited-edition six-CD box set The Complete Blue Note Recordings ~Biography by Alex Henderson

Some Thorny Blues

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