Rolf Ericson - Stockholm sweetnin'

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:43
Size: 139,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:41)  1. Bird song
(4:15)  2. Squeeze me
(4:57)  3. Evelyn
(5:41)  4. Broadway
(5:41)  5. Little man, you've had a busy day
(4:42)  6. Stockholm sweetnin'
(4:35)  7. Nancy with the laughing face
(4:43)  8. Mel's bells
(5:25)  9. In a sentimental mood
(4:49) 10. Without a song
(4:14) 11. What am I here for
(4:54) 12. Thou swell

Trumpeter Rolf Ericson was 62 when he made this recording (only his second as a leader in 13 years and third in 28 years), but he was still in his prime. Teamed up with drummer Mel Lewis and three fellow Swedes (tenor saxophonist Nils Sandstrom, pianist Goran Lindberg, and bassist Sture Nordin), Ericson's cool bop style is well featured on five standards, Nordin's "Mel's Bells" (based on "If I Were a Bell"), Thad Jones' catchy "Bird Song," and Ericson's jazz waltz "Evelyn." A pretty definitive sampling of Ericson in his later years with plenty of fine straight-ahead swinging. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/stockholm-sweetnin-mw0000233638

Personnel: Rolf Ericson (trumpet, flugelhorn); Nils Sandstrom (tenor saxophone, piano); Claes Crona, Göran Lindberg (piano); Sture Nordin, Mel Lewis (drums).

Stockholm sweetnin'

---

Mitzi Gaynor - Sings The Lyrics of Ira Gershwin

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:48
Size: 80,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:05)  1. Soon
(3:52)  2. Half of It Dearie Blues
(3:31)  3. Spring Again
(2:35)  4. Gotta Have Me Go With You
(2:29)  5. Here's What I'm Here For
(3:42)  6. I Can't Get Started
(2:26)  7. Treat Me Rough
(2:19)  8. That Certain Feeling
(3:23)  9. My Ship
(2:06) 10. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
(2:48) 11. Island In The West Indies
(3:27) 12. Isn't It A Pity

With her delicate, fluttery voice (which can also go into overdrive with a very satisfactory belt when required), Gaynor tackles two numbers closely identified with Judy Garland "Gotta Have Me A Go With You" and "Here's What I'm Here For" as well as a lullaby-esque "My Ship" intimately scored with soft, hesitant strings and just the right amount of brass and a gangbusters "Soon" amongst others.By Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Sings-Lyrics-Gershwin-Mitzi-Gaynor/dp/B002D1GND2

Personnel: Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist, Cappy Lewis, Uan Rasey, Manny Klein (tp); Dave Wells, Ed Kusby, Tommy Pederson, Lloyd Ulyate, Joe Howard, Hoyt Bohanon (tb); George Roberts, Kenny Shroyer (b-tb); Paul Horn (as); Paul Smith (p, celeste); Jimmy Rowles (p); Barney Kessel, Jack Marshall, Al Hendrickson (g); Max Bennett, Joe Mondragon (b); Jack Sperling, Mel Lewis (d); Ralph Hensell (perc); plus 8 violins.

Sings The Lyrics of Ira Gershwin

---

John Colianni Trio - Blues-O-Matic

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:03
Size: 124,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:48)  1. Blues-O-Matic (with Lew Tabackin)
(3:19)  2. Liza
(5:37)  3. My One and Only Love
(2:38)  4. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm (with Lew Tabackin)
(5:42)  5. Exactly Like You (with Lew Tabackin)
(5:20)  6. Riding High - You Do Something to Me
(4:52)  7. After All (with Lew Tabackin)
(5:58)  8. Long Count
(5:06)  9. I Want You All the Time
(4:23) 10. Ding Ding
(5:16) 11. Slicer

Piano. Steady mainstream player, noteworthy for excellent rhythmic skills. His tastes are even further in past than most neoboppers, reaching to swing and big band era for inspiration, as well as early days of bop. ~ Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-colianni-mn0000216450/biography

John Colianni Trio: John Colianni (piano), Lew Tabackin (tenor saxophone, flute), Lynn Seaton (bass), Mel Lewis (drums).

Blues-O-Matic

---

Rhoda Scott - Paris - New York Disc 1 And Disc 2

Album: Paris - New York   Disc 1

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:19
Size: 134,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:08)  1. Moanin'
(3:43)  2. Il Est Mort Le Soleil
(7:41)  3. Medley from ''West Side Story''
(4:13)  4. Take A Ladder
(4:43)  5. Ebb Tide
(2:47)  6. What Kind Of Fool Am I?
(2:26)  7. Count Basie (Lil Darlin)
(6:38)  8. Splanky
(4:29)  9. Mach II
(3:26) 10. Fire And Brimstone
(5:08) 11. Jeremy
(6:30) 12. Delilah
(3:20) 13. Blues At The Bilboquet

---

Album: Paris - New York  Disc 2

Time: 43:57

Size: 101,4 MB

(4:32)  1. Mach 2

(4:33)  2. Tanikka

(5:02)  3. Rhoda Map

(4:15)  4. R And R

(4:34)  5. Charlotte's Walz

(5:08)  6. Walkin' About

(7:26)  7. Take A Ladder

(4:24)  8. La La Solitude

(4:00)  9. Quand Je Monte Chez Toi

In 1967, following in the footsteps of Tadd Dameron and Quincy Jones, Rhoda Scott arrives in France to take classes with Nadia Boulanger. Barely a year later, she recorded her debut album Barclay, Take a Ladder duet with one of the best drummers of the moment, Daniel Humair. A long series of albums will follow, two of which are particularly distinguished by the presence of first-rate accompanists: Mach II (1971) in which his long-time accomplice, American saxophonist / flutist Joe Thomas and especially Rhoda Scott in New York, participate. (1976), the result of the collaboration between the virtuoso organist and the great orchestra of Thad Jones / Mel Lewis. Translate by Google https://www.amazon.fr/Paris-New-York-Rhoda-Scott/dp/B007JNN1LG

Personnel: Organ [Hammond] – Rhoda Scott; Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Edward Xiques, Jerry Dodgion; Arranged By, Flugelhorn – Thad Jones; Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams; Bass – Bob Bowman ; Drums – Mel Lewis; Electric Piano – Harold Danko; Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Larry Schneider; Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – Gregory Herbert; Trombone – Billy Campbell, Clifford Adams, Earl Mc Intyre, John Mosca; Trumpet – Al Porcino, Cecil Bridgewater, Earl Gardner, Lynn Nicholson

Paris - New York Disc 1,Disc 2

---

Art Pepper - Art Pepper + Eleven

Styles: Saxophone, Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:36
Size: 125,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:27)  1. Move
(3:24)  2. Groovin' High
(3:13)  3. Opus de Funk
(3:34)  4. 'Round Midnight
(3:00)  5. Four Brothers
(3:00)  6. Shaw 'Nuff
(2:46)  7. Bernie's Tune
(3:32)  8. Walkin' Shoes
(3:20)  9. Anthropology
(3:02) 10. Airegin
(5:17) 11. Walkin'
(3:24) 12. Donna Lee
(5:00) 13. Walkin' (alternate take 1)
(5:02) 14. Walkin' (alternate take 2)
(3:26) 15. Donna Lee (alternate take)

Only a handful of jazz recordings can be described as truly classic. Art Pepper + Eleven: Modern Jazz Classics is a member of that handful. Recorded between March and May 1959, + Eleven has the distinction of being excellent on multiple planes. One is Pepper himself. A journeyman multi-reedist who was already a veteran of big bands lead by Gus Arnheim, Benny Carter, and Stan Kenton, Pepper was reaching his first pinnacle as an artist when + Eleven was recorded. This recording falls chronologically between Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section (Contemporary CCD-7532-2) and Gettin' Together (Contemporary OJCCD-169-2) in the Contemporary catalog. This trilogy alone would have established Pepper's reputation as the finest post-Parker alto saxophonists, let alone all of his exceptional comeback recordings of the late '70s and early '80s that followed a decade of incarceration because of Pepper's well known heroin addiction. Pepper's tone during this period was dry ice-cool, very expressive and brilliant. A second source of excellence in this recording is the presence of the late Marty Paich as the arranger. It was a monumental task that Mr. Paich undertook to mold these often craggy bebop tunes into the engaging big band vehicles they became under his pen. 

Denzil Best's "Move" simply jumps from the speakers. It is comparable to Miles Davis 1949 Nonette recording of the same song, except that Paich and Pepper add a hard shine to the soft bop of the song. Paich's French Horns on Monk's "'Round Midnight" recalls both Gil Evans and Claude Thornhill before him, ensuring that lineage of thought remained intact. "Four Brothers," "Bernie's Tune," "Walkin' Shoes," and "Anthropology" are all treated as high art by artist, arranger and band alike. Speaking of the band, this is the third mark of excellence in this recording. A Who's Who of West Coast musicians, it is fairly easy to pick out Pete Condoli's and Smiling Jack Sheldon's trumpets or Bill Perkins's tenor saxophone. Russ Freeman provides the piano as he did on several other Pepper offerings. A Big Band in all but name, this group of musicians was as essential to the historic significance of this recording as the leader and arranger. This release of Art Pepper + Eleven: Modern Jazz Classics is part of Fantasy's effort to release remastered masterpieces from its vaults. All of the alternate takes are released, as they have a several earlier offerings. The sonics of this release are exceptional. The drums and bass are clear and apparent and the space around Pepper and the other soloists is well defined. ~ C.Michael Bailey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/art-pepper--eleven-modern-jazz-classics-art-pepper-contemporary-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php

Personnel: Art Pepper: Alto And Tenor Saxophones, Clarinet; Al Porcino, Jack Sheldon, Pete Candoli: Trumpet; Dick Nash: Trombone; Bob Enevoldsen: Tenor Saxophone, Valve Trombone; Vince De Rosa: French Horn; Charlie Kennedy, Bud Shank, Herb Geller: Alto Saxophone; Richie Kamuca, Bill Perkins: Tenor Saxophone; Med Flory: Baritone Saxophone; Russ Freeman: Piano; Joe Mondragon: Bass; Mel Lewis: Drums.

Art Pepper + Eleven

---

Gerald Wilson Big Band - Moment Of Truth

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:32
Size: 93,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Viva Tirado
(4:26)  2. Moment Of Truth
(5:57)  3. Patterns
(2:58)  4. Terri
(2:41)  5. Nancy Jo
(5:40)  6. Milestones
(5:06)  7. Latino
(4:29)  8. Josephina
(3:25)  9. Emerge

Gerald Wilson's Pacific Jazz albums of the 1960s were arguably the most significant of his career. This CD reissues his second record of the period and has among its highlights the original version of "Viva Tirado" (a catchy number made into a surprise pop hit by El Chicano later in the decade) and a driving rendition of "MIlestones"; the other seven songs (six of which are Wilson's originals) are also quite enjoyable. Among the more notable soloists are trumpeter Carmell Jones, both Teddy Edwards and Harold Land on tenor, guitarist Joe Pass, and pianist Jack Wilson. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/moment-of-truth-mw0000654233

Personnel: Gerald Wilson - arranger and conductor; John Audino, Jules Chaiken, Freddie Hill, Carmell Jones, Al Porcino  - trumpet; Lou Blackburn, Bob Edmondson, Lester Robertson, Frank Strong - trombone; Bob Knight - bass trombone; Joe Maini - alto saxophone; Bud Shank - alto saxophone, flute; Teddy Edwards, Harold Land - tenor saxophone; Jack Nimitz, Don Raffell - baritone saxophone; Jack Wilson - piano; Joe Pass - guitar; Jimmy Bond - bass; Mel Lewis - drums; Modesto Duran - congas

Moment Of Truth

---

Bob Brookmeyer Quartet - The Blues Hot And Cold + 7X Wilder

Styles: Trombone And Piano Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:31
Size: 174,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:04) 1. On the Sunny Side of the Street
(5:54) 2. Stoppin' at the Savoy
(7:21) 3. Languid Blues
(4:53) 4. I Got Rhythm
(5:48) 5. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
(7:57) 6. Hot and Cold Blues
(6:09) 7. While Were Young (4:42) 8. That s The Way It Goes
(4:32) 9. The Wrong Blues
(4:04) 10. It s So Peaceful In The Country
(6:07) 11. Blues For Alec
(4:28) 12. I ll Be Around
(4:26) 13. Who Can I Turn To?

Bob Brookmeyer pioneered playing jazz on the valve trombone, and employed an open-ended approach that embraced both cool and chamber jazz elements. This CD combines two of his finest early period albums from 1960 and 1961, playing standards and originals alongside a stock backup piano/bass/drums trio with Jimmy Rowles, and interpreting the music of Alec Wilder in tandem with guitarist Jim Hall. For the latter date, Brookmeyer goes back and forth between trombone and piano, with drummer Mel Lewis on both sessions.

The first group is more sedate on songs like the polite "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Languid Blues," but hop it up for the happy swinger "I Got Rhythm," or up and down title track. Brookmeyer has a delicate touch on piano for the waltz "While We're Young" and "The Wrong Blues," but on the trombone bops along for the fun tune "That's The Way It Goes," and epitomizes California cool for classics like the immortal "It's so Peaceful in the Country," paired beautifully with Hall on "Who Can I Turn To?" or on the muted trombone during "I'll Be Around." As you listen, you notice Brookmeyer gets around on his brass instrument as a trumpeter, not with the acumen of J.J. Johnson's slide trombone, but with an attack that combines the subtleties of Chet Baker with the alacrity of Shorty Rogers, who must be a telling influence. These albums were highly rated when they came out, and stand the test of time as excellent early examples of Brookmeyer's performance prowess.
~Michael G. Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-hot-cold-7-x-wilder-mw0001359682

Personnel: Valve Trombone, Piano – Bob Brookmeyer; Bass – Bill Crow (tracks: 7 to 13), Buddy Clark (tracks: 1 to 6); Drums – Mel Lewis; Guitar – Jim Hall (tracks: 7 to 13); Piano – Jimmy Rowles (tracks: 1 to 6)

The Blues Hot And Cold + 7X Wilder

---

Dave Pell - A Pell Of A Time

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:41
Size: 103,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. Jazz Goes To Siwash
(3:07)  2. Suze Blues
(6:41)  3. Grey Flannel
(5:38)  4. Angel Eyes
(2:42)  5. G Tune
(5:18)  6. Sandy Shoes
(4:11)  7. Cameo
(7:14)  8. Love Me Or Leave Me
(5:19)  9. Them There Eyes

The Dave Pell Octet was one of the great cool jazz bands of the mid- to late '50s. This fairly rare LP found Pell altering the personnel greatly, with Pell and pianist/arranger Marty Paich being the only holdovers. In addition, the arrangements of Paich, Bill Holman, Paul Moer (who, like trombonist Ray Sims, is a substitute on three songs), and Jack Montrose are opened up, and the musicians take much longer solos than on Pell's earlier albums. With trumpeter Jack Sheldon often starring and there being some excellent spots for baritonist Pepper Adams, this is a rather different album by the Dave Pell Octet, a bit harder-charging and more hard bop-oriented while still retaining the identity of the original group. Worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-pell-of-a-time-mw0000314352

Personnel:  Tenor Saxophone, Leader – Dave Pell;   Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams;  Bass – Tom Kelly;  Drums – Mel Lewis;  Guitar – Tommy Tedesco;  Piano – Marty Paich, Paul Moer;  Trombone – Bobby Burgess, Ray Sims;  Trumpet – Jack Sheldon

R.I.P.
Born: February 26, 1925
Died:  May 8, 2017

A Pell Of A Time

---

Thad Jones, The Mel Lewis Orchestra - All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings at the Village Vanguard (Live)

Album: All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings at the Village Vanguard (Live)  Disc 1

Styles: Jazz, Hard Bop 

Year: 2016

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 48:36

Size: 112,0 MB

Art: Front

(13:22)  1. Back Bone

( 4:22)  2. All My Yesterdays

( 5:51)  3. Big Dipper

( 4:49)  4. Mornin' Reverend

(14:25)  5. The Little Pixie

( 5:45)  6. Big Dipper

---

Album: All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings at the Village Vanguard (Live) Disc 2

Time: 76:51

Size: 177,2 MB

( 4:38)  1. Low Down

( 5:25)  2. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?)

(10:08)  3. Ah, That's Freedom

( 4:28)  4. Don't Ever Leave Me

( 6:15)  5. Willow Weep for Me

( 5:51)  6. Mean What You Say

(12:45)  7. Once Around

( 4:02)  8. Polka Dots & Moonbeams

( 5:49)  9. Mornin' Reverend

( 4:25) 10. All My Yesterdays

(12:59) 11. Back Bone

Offering: Live at Temple University (Resonance Records, 2014), Getz/Gilberto '76 (Resonance Records, 2016), Moments in Time (Resonance Records, 2016)...and these are just the most recent (not to forget several Wes Montgomery) releases. Resonance Records steps up (again) and releases what can only be considered the apotheosis of live jazz performance, All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings at the Village Vanguard. Before even considering the music, there is the captured ambiance. Recorded by a then 19-year old amateur engineer, George Klaban, the period technology may be lacking by today's standards. Maybe even Klaban's amateur status could call things into question. However, the results provide the listener with a very intimate listening experience that only lacks the smell of just-lit Lucky Strikes and Cutty Sark on the rocks. Klaban's gig pack included a Crown Professional two Track stereo tape recorder, an Ampex four-input mixer and six mics (Neumann U67, Bayer and AKG professional mics and an Electro Voice 654 Dynamic, the last used for the bass). Klaban details that he placed one mic each for the reeds, trombones, and trumpets, the fourth for the bass, the fifth for the piano and the last for the leader, Thad Jones. The result of this alchemic paradigm is a presence, not in the audience, but up over the middle of the band looking (hearing) down (a physical impossibility given the compressed confines of the Village Vanguard).

Nonetheless, the sound and atmosphere is electrically charged and immediate. The sound is spacious enough to get up and walk around in, passing through all of the sections. It is musical arrangement as subatomic metaphor...each musical element interacting with and against one another to produce a compounded product of rare substance and beauty. It is immediately evident that there is something special taking place. Queue up the first performance of the Thad Jones composition and arrangement "Back Bone" and listen. Alto saxophonist Jerry Dodgion spits out an unaccompanied blues chorus of spurred on with shouts and encouragement from the band with Thad Jones himself anticipating the entry of the whole band with a grand, "Yeah!" This is unbridled joy in music making. Evidence of Bill Basie is all over the charts, in both the riffing and solos. Altoist Jerome Richardson introduces "Little Dipper" twice and pianist (and Thad Jones' brother) Hank Jones channel the spirit of the still living Count Basie. This is, simply, what live music is all about: invention, spontaneity, improvisation, and spring freshness. Hear from where all big band since has come. ~ C.Michael Bailey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/all-my-yesterdays-the-debut-1966-recordings-at-the-village-vanguard-thad-jones-resonance-records-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php

Personnel: Thad Jones – flugelhorn; Mel Lewis – drums; Hank Jones – piano; Richard Davis – bass; Sam Herman – guitar; Jerome Richardson – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet, flute; Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone; Joe Farrell – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Eddie Daniels – tenor saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet; Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone; Snooky Young – trumpet; Jimmy Owens – trumpet; Bill Berry – trumpet; Jimmy Nottingham – trumpet; Bob Brookmeyer – trombone; Jack Rains – trombone; Garnett Brown – trombone; Cliff Heather – trombone

All My Yesterdays: The Debut 1966 Recordings at the Village Vanguard(Live)Disc1,Disc2

---

Jon Faddis - Legacy

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:22
Size: 98,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:36)  1. West End Blues
(5:38)  2. Little Jazz
(6:03)  3. A Night In Tunisia
(4:45)  4. Instigator
(3:31)  5. Things To Come
(7:02)  6. A Child Is Born
(4:10)  7. Li'l Darlin'
(5:32)  8. Whisper Not

After too long a period in the studios, talented trumpeter Jon Faddis returned to jazz with this brilliant effort. Best known for his ability to closely emulate his idol, Dizzy Gillespie (far from an easy feat), Faddis pays tribute to Gillespie with "Night in Tunisia" and "Things to Come." However, he also does a close imitation of Roy Eldridge on "Little Jazz," pays homage to Louis Armstrong on "West End Blues," shows sensitivity on Thad Jones' "A Child Is Born," and performs three other numbers. 

With the assistance of tenor saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Mel Lewis, Jon Faddis is in superb form throughout this outstanding release, his definitive recording. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/legacy-mw0000187987

Personnel: Jon Faddis - trumpet, flugelhorn;  Kenny Barron - piano; Ray Brown - bass; Harold Land - tenor saxophone;  Mel Lewis - drums

Legacy

---

Don Sebesky - A Jazz Portrait of Charlie Mariano

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:33
Size: 92,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:58)  1. I Feel Pretty
(4:14)  2. The Wind
(7:30)  3. To Taiho
(4:29)  4. Goodbye
(2:52)  5. The Shout
(5:24)  6. Portrait of an Artist
(3:19)  7. Deep in a Dream
(5:37)  8. Pretty Little Nieda
(3:05)  9. The Song Is You

"There is so much taht could be said about this album, but until the record companies consider using larger jackets, I shall be obliged to hold my enthusiasm in check. I must mention Jim Hall's masterful playing is something we have all come to expect from him. Phil Bodner, whose complete mastery of all the redd instruments makes him a one man section, and as such, he is an invaluable asset. Mel Lewis' consistently fine musicianship and his fiery propulsion to the big band tracks is more thanworthy of comment Charlie's gospel-tinged THE SHOUT, the Sebesky title tune of the album, amd Rolf Ericson's delightful jazz waltz, Pretty Little Nieda, coupled with the standards, make for above average programming, something of a novelty in a business that has become mired in anonymity. Regiona Records should feel very proud of yhis contribution, and I repeat if this album doesn't scare a lot of people there is definitely something wrong with the music business." ~ Mort Fega, liner-notes from the original LP on Regina Records https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/charlie-mariano-albums/4076-a-jazz-portrait-of-charlie-mariano.html

Personnel: Charlie Mariano (as), Jim Hall (g), Mel Lewis (d), Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb), Marvin Stamm (tp), Roger Kellaway, Jaki Byard (p), Richard Davis, Art Davis (b), Albert 'Tootie' Heath (d)

A Jazz Portrait of Charlie Mariano

---

Jimmy McGriff - The Worm

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1968
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:56
Size: 88,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:20)  1. The Worm
(5:56)  2. Keep Loose
(6:52)  3. Heavy Weight
(3:16)  4. Think
(5:13)  5. Lock It Up
(4:31)  6. Girl Talk
(4:59)  7. Blue Juice
(3:46)  8. Take The "A" Train

Jimmy McGriff's B-3 sound was always rooted in blues and gospel, and his soloing could be very smooth and polished. But every once in a while, he had to break out of his own soul box and tear it up on a session. The Worm, issued on Solid State Records in 1968, is the very first place he did. This is the first true, all-out funky burner from McGriff, and it sounds very different from most of the other titles on his shelf. Having a band like this helps: trumpeter Blue Mitchell, tenor saxophonist Fats Theus (with Bob Ashton on baritone and Danny Turner on alto), alternating drummers Mel Lewis and Grady Tate, bassist Bob Bushnell, and guitarist Thornel Schwartz were all in their prime in 1968. The title track, written by McGriff, Theus, and producer Sonny Lester, sets the tone for the whole platter. The saxophone section lays in the cut and is prodded on in a driving, funked-up, hard soul groove by the expanded rhythm section (a B-3 album with a bassist wasn't unheard of, but it wasn't standard procedure either). Solos by both McGriff and Mitchell are choppy and punchy in the extreme. The trumpeter is amazing here, offering a small taste of the sound he displayed on 1969's Collision in Black. 

But check out the next two tunes, both McGriff originals that push the LP into the red zone and keep it there. "Keep Loose" takes the organist head-to-head against Schwartz's electric six-string, and forces a showdown. McGriff is like an out-of-control soul singer (James Brown in a concert setting comes to mind), incessantly forcing his band to play faster, greasier, and choppier on chorus after chorus. He ups the intensity level until there is nowhere to go but over the ledge. He takes them there on "Heavyweight," the very next number, a swinging boppish blues. The horns actually keep the track grounded as McGriff gets terse, dense, and finally unhinged: he's more adventurous in this solo than he had been before, then he double- and even triple-times the entire band! He brings Bushnell's bass up the ever-narrowing stairs of the riff until they become a single player, all groove, grit, and grease. McGriff's cover of Aretha Franklin's "Think" keeps the exuberance level high. As the horns move right into the Memphis soul vamp, McGriff again plays the part of a vocalist: charging up and down the melody on his keyboards, popping in slippery side chords and harmonic flourishes. Tate's drums swing freely yet forcefully, and bass and guitar lines are simply nasty. The readings of Kenny Burrell's "Lock It Up" and Billy Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train" are the closest things to "straight" jazz here, though they're full of razored edges and hard angles. The reading of Neal Hefti's "Girl Talk" features the horns strolling leisurely on the melody and vamp, but McGriff goes into overdrive again and his solo hits the stratosphere. The Worm is a monster album through and through. Not only is it a revelatory example of McGriff on the wild, it marks one of the first places where the new funky urban soul met jazz and blues and evolved into jazz-funk. ~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-worm-mw0000659896

Personnel:  Organ – Jimmy McGriff; Alto Saxophone – Danny Turner; Baritone Saxophone – Robert Ashton; Bass [Fender] – Bob Bushnell; Drums – Grady Tate, Mel Lewis; Guitar – Thornel Schwartz; Tenor Saxophone – Fats Theus; Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

The Worm

---

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

---

Thad Jones, Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra - Presenting Thad Jones, Mel Lewis & The Jazz Orchestra

Styles: Flugelhorn Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1966
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:06
Size: 104,5 MB
Art: Front

( 5:29)  1. Once Around
( 5:37)  2. Willow Weep For Me
( 5:01)  3. Balanced Scales = Justice
( 5:48)  4. Three In One
( 5:32)  5. Mean What You Say
( 4:37)  6. Don't Ever Leave Me
(12:59)  7. ABC Blues

The debut recording of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra launched a mighty (if part-time) all-star big band. With arrangements by Jones, Bob Brookmeyer, and Tom McIntosh and such soloists as baritonist Pepper Adams, pianist Hank Jones, valve trombonist Brookmeyer, Jerome Richardson on various reeds, altoist Jerry Dodgion, and Joe Farrell and Eddie Daniels on tenors (in addition to flügelhornist Jones), it is not surprising that the orchestra was soon rated near the top. Among the seven selections are four Thad Jones originals (including "Mean What You Say"), "Willow Weep for Me," and Brookmeyer's lengthy "ABC Blues." ~ Scott Yanow  https://www.allmusic.com/album/presenting-thad-jones-mel-lewis-the-jazz-orchestra-mw0000877905

Personnel:  Thad Jones – flugelhorn;  Mel Lewis – drums;  Hank Jones – piano;  Richard Davis – bass;  Pepper Adams, Eddie Daniels, Joe Farrell, Jerry Dodgion,  Jerome Richardson – saxophone;  Jimmy Nottingham,  Bill Berry, Danny Stiles , Richard Williams – trumpet;  Jack Rains, Bob Brookmeyer – trombone, Tom McIntosh, Cliff Heather.

Presenting Thad Jones-Mel Lewis & The Jazz Orchestra

---

Monica Zetterlund - It Only Happens Every Time

Styles: Vocal 
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:53
Size: 85,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:12)  1. It Only Happens Every Time
(3:38)  2. Long Daddy Green
(4:37)  3. Silhouette
(5:06)  4. He Was Too Good To Me
(4:07)  5. The Groove Merchant
(4:14)  6. Love To One Is One To Love
(4:16)  7. Happy Again
(5:40)  8. The Second Time Around

Swedish singer Monica Zetterlund is backed by the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra on the Inner City LP It Only Happens Every Time. Her phrasing is precise, but her vocal style doesn't always blend well with the big band. Jones' "It Only Happens Every Time" comes off under-rehearsed, as if the chart is still in a state of flux, a similar problem that occurs during "The Second Time Around." Better is the swinging treatment of "Long Daddy Green" and the tearjerker ballad "He Was Too Good to Me." Sadly, none of the instrumental soloists is identified, though Pepper Adams shines on baritone sax in two compositions by the late Lars Gullin, one of Europe's best players of the instrument; this was also Adams' final recording with the band. Overall, this is a good, though hardly essential record. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/it-only-happens-every-time-mw0000852532

Personnel:  Monica Zetterlund – vocals; Thad Jones – flugelhorn; Mel Lewis – drums; Harold Danko – piano; Rufus Reid – bass; Jerry Dodgion – saxophone, flute; Ed Xiques – saxophone, flute, clarinet; Rich Perry – saxophone, flute, clarinet; Dick Oatts – saxophone, flute, clarinet; Pepper Adams – saxophone; Frank Gordon – trumpet; Earl Gardner – trumpet; Jeff Davis – trumpet; Larry Moses – trumpet; Earl McIntyre – trombone; John Mosca – trombone; Clifford Adams – trombone; Billy Campbell – trombone

It Only Happens Every Time

---

Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra - Consummation

Styles: Flugelhorn Jazz
Year: 1970
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:36
Size: 107,7 MB
Art: Front

( 5:13)  1. Dedication
( 3:07)  2. It Only Happens Every Time
( 6:42)  3. Tiptoe
( 4:09)  4. A Child Is Born
( 3:37)  5. Us
( 7:57)  6. Ahunk Ahunk
(10:38)  7. Fingers
( 5:09)  8. Consummation

Of the many albums recorded by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, this was the greatest. Reissued on CD as part of a large Mosaic box set, this set introduced Jones' best-known composition, "A Child Is Born," and also has a colorful rendition of his sly "Tiptoe," and finds the big band ripping the roof off during the lengthy and very exciting "Fingers." The all-star cast (which includes flugelhornist Jones, drummer Lewis, trumpeter Marvin Stamm, trombonist Jimmy Knepper, tenor great Billy Harper, the reeds of Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion and Eddie Daniels, keyboardist Roland Hanna, and bassist Richard Davis, among others) is well served by Thad Jones' inventive and swinging arrangements. A classic. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/consummation-mw0000221310

Personnel:  Thad Jones – flugelhorn; Snooky Young – trumpet; Danny Moore – trumpet; Al Porcino – trumpet; Marvin Stamm – trumpet; Eddie Bert – trombone; Benny Powell – trombone; Jimmy Knepper – trombone; Cliff Heather – bass trombone; Jerome Richardson – soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, flute, alto flute; Jerry Dodgion – alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, alto flute; Billy Harper – tenor saxophone, flute; Eddie Daniels – tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Richie Kamuca – baritone saxophone, clarinet; Pepper Adams – baritone saxophone; Joe Farrell – baritone saxophone; Roland Hanna – acoustic piano, electric piano; Richard Davis – acoustic bass, electric bass; Mel Lewis – drums; Jimmy Buffington, Earl Chapin, Julius Watkins  - French horn; Howard Johnson - tuba; David Spinozza - guitar

Consummation

---

Tadd Dameron - The Compositions Of Tadd Dameron

Styles: Bop, Post Bop, Hard Bop, Cool Jazz 
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:15
Size: 98,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:09)  1. Fontainebleau
(3:10)  2. The Dream Is You
(6:30)  3. If You Could See Me Now
(7:42)  4. Good Bait
(5:13)  5. Smooth As The Wind
(4:43)  6. Our Delight
(4:09)  7. Hot House
(6:36)  8. Lady Bird

The definitive arranger/composer of the bop era, Tadd Dameron wrote such standards as "Good Bait," "Our Delight," "Hot House," "Lady Bird," and "If You Could See Me Now." Not only did he write melody lines, but full arrangements, and he was an influential force from the mid-'40s on even though he never financially prospered. Dameron started out in the swing era touring with the Zack Whyte and Blanche Calloway bands, he wrote for Vido Musso in New York and most importantly, contributed arrangements for Harlan Leonard's Kansas City Orchestra, some of which were recorded. Soon Dameron was writing charts for such bands as Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie, Billy Eckstine, and Dizzy Gillespie (1945-1947) in addition to Sarah Vaughan. Dameron was always very modest about his own piano playing but he did gig with Babs Gonzales' Three Bips & a Bop in 1947 and led a sextet featuring Fats Navarro (and later Miles Davis) at the Royal Roost during 1948-1949. Dameron co-led a group with Davis at the 1949 Paris Jazz Festival, stayed in Europe for a few months (writing for Ted Heath), and then returned to New York. He wrote for Artie Shaw's last orchestra that year, played and arranged R&B for Bull Moose Jackson (1951-1952) and in 1953 led a nonet featuring Clifford Brown and Philly Joe Jones. Drug problems, however, started to get in the way of his music. After recording a couple of albums (including 1958's Mating Call with John Coltrane) he spent much of 1959-1961 in jail. After he was released, Dameron wrote for Sonny Stitt, Blue Mitchell, Milt Jackson, Benny Goodman and his last record but was less active in the years before his death from cancer. Tadd Dameron's classic Blue Note recordings of 1947-48, his 1949 Capitol sides and Prestige/Riverside sets of 1953, 1956, 1958, and 1962 are all currently in print on CD. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tadd-dameron-mn0000016759/biography

Personnel:  Arranged By, Conductor [Orchestra] – Tadd Dameron; Vibraphone [Soloist] – Milt Jackson; Bass – Larry Gales, Sam Jones, Buddy Clark; Drums – Ben Riley, Jimmy Cobb, Mel Lewis; Piano – Junior Mance, Bobby Timmons, Bill Evans, Jimmy Rowles; Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Johnny Griffin; Trumpet [Soloist] – Blue Mitchell, Jack Sheldon; Vibraphone – Dave Pike: Bass Clarinet – Herbie Mann; Bass Clarinet – Herbie Mann;

The Compositions Of Tadd Dameron

---

Herbie Mann & Buddy Collette - Flute Fraternity

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:19
Size: 75,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:08)  1. Herbie's Buddy
(4:14)  2. Perdido
(4:20)  3. Baubles, Bangles and Beads
(3:35)  4. Give A Little Whistle
(2:40)  5. Here's Pete
(6:44)  6. Theme From 'Theme From'
(3:58)  7. Nancy With The Laughing Face
(2:38)  8. Morning After

In the 1950s, Herbie Mann frequently shared the spotlight on record dates with other flutists. This V.S.O.P. LP, a reissue of a set originally for Mode and also out for awhile on Premier, matches Mann (who here also plays piccolo, clarinet and tenor) with Buddy Collette (switching between flute, clarinet, tenor and alto) in a quintet with pianist Jimmy Rowles, bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis. The results are generally pleasing, if somewhat lightweight, with such obscure tunes as "Here's Buddy," Rowles' "Pop Melody," "Here's Pete" and Mann's "Theme from 'Theme From'" alternating with three standards and Chico Hamilton's "Morning After." The most interesting aspect to this lightly swinging music is the constant switching around of the lead voices on their various horns.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/flute-fraternity-mw0000037566

Personnel:  Herbie Mann - flute, alto flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone;  Buddy Collette - flute, alto flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone;  Jimmy Rowles - piano, celesta;  Buddy Clark - bass;  Mel Lewis - drums

Flute Fraternity

---

Terry Gibbs - A Jazz Band Ball, Second Set

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:50
Size: 95,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:33)  1. The Dipsy Doodle
(3:44)  2. Where Or When
(4:01)  3. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
(4:58)  4. Hollywood Blues
(3:19)  5. Tangerine
(3:32)  6. Just Friends
(4:08)  7. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
(3:35)  8. Memories Of You
(3:07)  9. Broadway
(6:47) 10. Allen's Alley

This reissue is unrelated to another V.S.O.P. set simply titled A Jazz Band Ball. Terry Gibbs on vibes and marimba matches wits and creativity with Victor Feldman and Larry Bunker, both of whom double on vibes and xylophone. Assisted by pianist Lou Levy, bassist Max Bennett and drummer Mel Lewis, the intriguing frontline essentially plays bop, but with a great deal of color. The interaction between the vibraphonists, who are all featured and occasionally trade off, is the main reason to acquire this very interesting set.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-band-ball-mw0000046596

Personnel: Terry Gibbs - vibraphone, marimba; Max Bennett - bass;  Lou Levy - piano; Larry Bunker, Vic Feldman - vibraphone, xylophone; Mel Lewis - drums.  

A Jazz Band Ball, Second Set

---

Lucy Ann Polk - Lucky Lucy Ann

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:04
Size: 78.0 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1957/1985
Art: Front

[2:50] 1. Sitting In The Sun
[1:46] 2. How About You
[3:54] 3. I'm Just A Lucky So And So
[2:52] 4. Squeeze Me
[3:03] 5. When The Sun Comes Out
[2:54] 6. Makin' Whoopee
[2:29] 7. Don Cha Go Way Mad
[3:20] 8. Sittin' And A'rockin'
[2:37] 9. Memphis In June
[2:16] 10. Time After Time
[3:21] 11. Easy Living
[2:38] 12. Looking At You

Bass – Buddy Clark; Drums – Mel Lewis; Guitar – Tony Rizzi; Piano – Marty Paich; Tenor Saxophone – Bob Hardaway; Valve Trombone – Dick Noel. Recorded on July 1957, Hollywood, California.

Lucy Ann Polk's lone Mode/VSOP session pairs the singer with a sextet led by pianist and arranger Marty Paich, whose nuanced, spacious orchestrations perfectly complement Polk's sultry yet supremely controlled style. The strength of Lucky Lucy Ann is its subtlety -- not a note is wasted or extraneous, and for all the modernist elements converging in Paich's arrangements, he never obscures the clarity of perennials like "Makin' Whoopee" and "Time After Time." Polk likewise shades the universal themes of the lyrics with a style and fierce intelligence all her own -- for all the power of her voice, it's her restraint that rings loudest and clearest. ~Jason Ankeny

Lucky Lucy Ann                

---