Brian Lynch Quintet/Sextet - At The Main Event

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:54
Size: 130,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:20)  1. Dance The Way U Want To
(8:09)  2. At The Main Event
(7:00)  3. Blues For Woody And Khalid
(9:59)  4. Cry Me A River
(7:50)  5. Nite 'Vidual I
(8:50)  6. Ecaroh
(7:43)  7. Nite 'Vidual II

Brian Lynch, one of the top hard bop-oriented trumpeters of the 1990s, is heard interacting with tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore, guitarist Peter Bernstein, organist Melvin Rhyne, drummer Kenny Washington, and (on three of the seven selections) Jose Alexis Diaz on congas. Lynch is a powerful player and, on this set with the legendary organist Rhyne, he gets to show off some of his soulfulness too. Lynch contributed the first three songs, the band performs two versions of Rhyne's "Nite 'Vidual," and the group also stretches out on "Cry Me a River" and Horace Silver's "Ecaroh." Although not innovative, this music easily fits into the modern mainstream of the period and is quite creative within the genre. Then again, all Brian Lynch recordings are well worth acquiring by straight-ahead jazz fans. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/at-the-main-event-mw0000100102

Personnel: Brian Lynch (trumpet); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Ralph Moore (tenor saxophone); Melvin Rhyne (organ); Kenny Washington (drums); Jose Alexis Diaz (congas).

At The Main Event

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Kyle Asche Organ Trio - Blues For Mel

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:22
Size: 145.1 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[5:56] 1. Blues For Mel
[5:57] 2. Gentle Rain
[3:50] 3. Snapshot
[5:26] 4. I Thought About You
[5:07] 5. Nite Vidual
[7:04] 6. Killer Ray
[5:58] 7. Watch What Happens
[5:37] 8. Swedish Schnapps
[5:51] 9. Too Late Now
[5:09] 10. Forget New York
[3:21] 11. Who Can I Turn To
[4:01] 12. Killer Ray (Bonus Radio Edit)

Kyle Asche: guitar; Melvin Rhyne: organ; George Fludas: drums and percussion.

Chicago-based guitarist Kyle Asche opens his sophomore release, Blues for Mel, with the set's title tune, a tribute to Melvin Rhyne, the organist who most famously played with guitarist Wes Montgomery on four stellar Riverside releases in the late fifties and early sixties. The tune is a cool Montgomery-ish ride, drenched in the organ trio tradition. Asche's licks are clean and concise. The drummer, George Fludas, accents the trio sound with finesse and subtle flourishes, a polished energy, and the organist injects an assured, sometimes percussive bounce to the sound, much in the Montgomery Trio mode. No surprise there, because the guy on the organ is the very man who accompanied Montgomery on those legendary Riverside dates, Melvin Rhyne himself. ~Dan McClenaghan

Blues For Mel

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The Tenor Triangle With the Melvin Rhyne Trio - Tell It Like It Is

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:03
Size: 145,0 MB
Art: Front

( 8:56)  1. Tell It Like It Is
(10:21)  2. Thing One
( 9:12)  3. Minor Changes
(8:02) 4. Ballad Medley-when Sunny Gets Blue - Cherokee - Memories Of You
( 7:15)  5. Lazy Bird
(12:06)  6. Body and Soul
( 7:07)  7. The Eternal Triangle

Are we clear on the concept here? Blowing session; three tenor saxophones backed by a classic organ trio; a standard or two (one way uptempo), the blues, and more blues. Mix in a deep groove, shake liberally, pour and enjoy. No little umbrellas, no tofu, no Perrier. Oh, yes: a generous dash of talent virtually guarantees a good time. And all of that is in here. Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull and Eric Alexander are the sax provocateurs, each striving to be as individual as possible and so to spark his peers to some unexplored space. “Old hat,” some will say, but so what? There’s plenty of music here, and a game of “who do you hear?” to pique the connoisseurs in the audience. I hear a touch of Dexter in Lalama, a rose-tinted hint of Shorter in Shull, and a champagne-crisp zest of ‘Trane in Alexander. Your mileage may vary, as they say on the ‘Net-but whoever you hear, you’ll hear plenty you like. ~ Bill Bennett https://jazztimes.com/archives/the-tenor-triangle-with-the-melvin-rhyne-trio-aztec-blues/

Personnel: Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone), Ralph Lalama (tenor saxophone), Tad Shull (tenor saxophone), Melvin Rhyne (Hammond organ), Peter Bernstein (guitar), Kenny Washington (drums)

Tell It Like It Is

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The Tenor Triangle With the Melvin Rhyne Trio - Aztec Blues

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:16
Size: 159,3 MB
Art: Front

(12:23)  1. Cedar's Blues
(11:52)  2. 'nother Fu'ther
(10:16)  3. The Song Is You
( 7:56) 4. Ballad Medley - But Beautiful-it Could Happen To You-I thought About You
( 6:16)  5. Melvin's Masquerade
(11:28)  6. Aztec Blues
( 9:02)  7. To The Chief

Are we clear on the concept here? Blowing session; three tenor saxophones backed by a classic organ trio; a standard or two (one way uptempo), the blues, and more blues. Mix in a deep groove, shake liberally, pour and enjoy. No little umbrellas, no tofu, no Perrier. Oh, yes: a generous dash of talent virtually guarantees a good time. And all of that is in here. Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull and Eric Alexander are the sax provocateurs, each striving to be as individual as possible and so to spark his peers to some unexplored space. “Old hat,” some will say, but so what? There’s plenty of music here, and a game of “who do you hear?” to pique the connoisseurs in the audience. I hear a touch of Dexter in Lalama, a rose-tinted hint of Shorter in Shull, and a champagne-crisp zest of ‘Trane in Alexander. Your mileage may vary, as they say on the ‘Net-but whoever you hear, you’ll hear plenty you like. ~ Bill Bennett https://jazztimes.com/archives/the-tenor-triangle-with-the-melvin-rhyne-trio-aztec-blues/

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone – Eric Alexander, Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull;  Organ – Melvin Rhyne; Drums – Kenny Washington; Guitar – Peter Bernstein

Aztec Blues

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'Killer' Ray Appleton, Melvin Rhyne Quartet - Latin Dreams

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:55
Size: 118.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Swing
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[6:15] 1. Night Vigil
[5:21] 2. I'll Take Romance
[5:38] 3. Cariba
[6:04] 4. The Very Thought Of You
[6:14] 5. Melvin's Masquerade
[4:27] 6. Lolita
[4:40] 7. Blue 'n' Boogie
[6:14] 8. Tequila
[6:58] 9. Full House

Despite the title, the musical direction of this 2004 recording isn’t Latin jazz. Instead, the real foundation of this session goes back to the Wes Montgomery Trio, circa 1955 in Indianapolis. That edition of the guitarist’s group featured drummer “Killer” Ray Appleton and Hammond B3 organ player Melvin Rhyne. Joined here by the great Latin percussionist Milton Cardonas and up-and-coming guitarist Ilya Lushtak, Appleton and Rhyne lead a laid-back excursion through a mixed bag of material ranging from a couple of swinging Rhyne originals, standards like “I’ll Take Romance” and “The Very Thought of You,” Dizzy Gillespie’s “Blue ‘n’ Boogie” and an energetic take on that old warhorse, “Tequila.”

Unlike a lot of B3 players, Rhyne takes a musical direction that’s decidedly more bop- than blues-oriented, adding plenty of interesting variations to his B3 grooves. Cardona’s presence on congas allows Appleton room to shine on cymbals-and the pair meld to create a rhythmic groove that finds a nice balance point between bop and Latin jazz. Add sparkling versions of Montgomery classics such as “Cariba” and “Full House” and you’ve got a strong recording that serves as a fitting reminder of the underappreciated talents of Rhyne and Appleton. ~Terry Perkins

Latin Dreams mc
Latin Dreams zippy

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Melvin Rhyne - The Legend

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:45
Size: 141.4 MB
Styles: Bop, B3 Organ jazz
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[ 6:47] 1. Licks A-Plenty
[ 9:46] 2. Serenata
[ 5:54] 3. Stompin' At The Savoy
[ 5:34] 4. The Trick Bag
[ 8:30] 5. Old Folks
[ 6:52] 6. Next Time You See Me
[ 5:38] 7. Groovin' High
[12:42] 8. Blues For Wes

Peter Bernstein - Guitar; Don Braden - Tenor sax; Brian Lynch - Trumpet; Melvin Rhyne - Organ; Kenny Washington - Drums.

Other than an obscure date for Jazzland in 1960, this CD was organist Melvin Rhyne's debut as a leader. Famous for his association with Wes Montgomery but in obscurity ever since in Milwaukee, Rhyne gradually emerged during the late '80s and was found to still be in prime form. Joined by guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Kenny Washington, Rhyne had the rare opportunity of being the center of attention on this set, which includes a variety of standards (such as "Groovin' High," "Old Folks" and "Stompin' at the Savoy") plus Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis' "Licks A-Plenty" and Montgomery's "The Trick Bag." The easily recommended CD concludes with a lengthy "Blues for Wes," which finds trumpeter Brian Lynch and tenor saxophonist Don Braden making the group a quintet. ~Scott Yanow

The Legend mc
The Legend zippy

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Wes Montgomery Trio - A Dynamic New Sound: Guitar/Organ/Drums

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:44
Size: 94,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. 'Round Midnight
(3:19)  2. Yesterdays
(3:18)  3. The End Of A Love Affair
(4:41)  4. Whisper Not
(2:59)  5. Ecaroh
(3:59)  6. Satin Doll
(6:03)  7. Missile Blues
(4:54)  8. Too Late Now
(5:30)  9. Jingles

While even label executive Orrin Keepnews admits that The Wes Montgomery Trio may have fallen short of representing Montgomery's talent, he still felt that this debut captured a large portion of it. Recorded on October 5 and 6 in 1959, guitarist Montgomery is joined by organist Melvin Rhyne and drummer Paul Parker. Montgomery's style, block chords and octaves, is already firmly in place, and he delivers lovely solos on "'Round Midnight," "Whisper Not," and "Satin Doll." The choice of material, in fact, from classics like "Yesterdays" to originals like Montgomery's "Jingles," never falters. The only drawback is that the accompaniment, which though solid, doesn't seem to perfectly match his guitar style. One gets the impression that Montgomery's forceful, deliberate style would be better-served by beefier arrangements. Having said this, Montgomery's performance coming at the end of a decade represented by guitarists like Tal Farlow and Barney Kessel must have been a revolution in technique and execution. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a 36-year-old guitarist re-imagines the jazz guitar solo. There are two bonus tracks on The Wes Montgomery Trio: extra takes of "Satin Doll" and "Missile Blues." Although later Riverside recordings of Montgomery are more fully realized, fans will enjoy returning to the moment when he first burst upon the jazz scene. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-wes-montgomery-trio-mw0000649661

Personnel:  Wes Montgomery - Guitar;  Melvin Rhyne - Organ;  Paul Parker - Drums               

A Dynamic New Sound: Guitar/Organ/Drums

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Melvin Rhyne - Front And Center

Size: 129,5 MB
Time: 55:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. King David 1 (3:37)
02. Yesterday's Child (5:22)
03. All Blues (5:40)
04. When Lights Are Low (5:49)
05. I Hear A Rhapsody (6:13)
06. A.P.J. (4:33)
07. Bamboo (5:51)
08. I Want To Talk About You (4:30)
09. Bones (4:54)
10. Jordu (5:03)
11. King David 2 (3:50)

Hammond B-3 master Melvin Rhyne's eighth Criss Cross release as a leader is another sterling chapter in his association with guitarist Peter Bernstein. Their exquisite rapport is assisted by another one of Rhyne's longtime colleagues, drummer Ray Appleton.

The trio skillfully maneuvers through a program of choice items from the American Popular Songbook, classic jazz compositions like 'All Blues' and 'Jordu', as well as Rhyne's originals.

Readily moving from blues to ballads to up-tempo burners, Rhyne and company make this an essential addition to his impressive discography.

Front And Center

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The Tenor Triangle With The Melvin Rhyne Trio - Aztec Blues

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:55
Size: 157,9 MB
Art: Front

(12:19)  1. Cedar's Blues
(11:49)  2. 'Nother Fu'ther
(10:13)  3. The Song Is You
(7:53)  4. Ballad Medley: But Beautiful/It Could Happen to You/I Thought About You
( 6:13)  5. Melvin's Masquerade
(11:25)  6. Aztec Blues
( 9:00)  7. To The Chief

Are we clear on the concept here? Blowing session; three tenor saxophones backed by a classic organ trio; a standard or two (one way uptempo), the blues, and more blues. Mix in a deep groove, shake liberally, pour and enjoy. No little umbrellas, no tofu, no Perrier. Oh, yes: a generous dash of talent virtually guarantees a good time. And all of that is in here. Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull and Eric Alexander are the sax provocateurs, each striving to be as individual as possible and so to spark his peers to some unexplored space. "Old hat," some will say, but so what? There's plenty of music here, and a game of "who do you hear?" to pique the connoisseurs in the audience. I hear a touch of Dexter in Lalama, a rose-tinted hint of Shorter in Shull, and a champagne-crisp zest of 'Trane in Alexander. Your mileage may vary, as they say on the 'Net-but whoever you hear, you'll hear plenty you like. ~ Bill Bennett  http://jazztimes.com/articles/8722-aztec-blues-the-tenor-triangle-with-the-melvin-rhyne-trio

The Tenor Triangle: Eric Alexander, Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull (tenor saxophone).

The Melvin Rhyne Trio: Melvin Rhyne (Hammond B-3 organ); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Kenny Washington (drums).

Aztec Blues

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Melvin Rhyne - Mel's Spell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:21
Size: 133.6 MB
Styles: Hard bop
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[ 5:23] 1. Billy's Bounce
[ 7:14] 2. Hi-Heel Sneakers
[ 4:30] 3. Stranger In Paradise
[ 5:12] 4. Teach Me A Song
[10:41] 5. Fried Pies
[ 6:05] 6. Sunset Eyes
[ 4:46] 7. Sweet Slumber
[ 5:46] 8. Here's That Rainy Day
[ 5:50] 9. Like Yea
[ 2:49] 10. This Love Of Mine

Recorded December 22, 1994 & December 9, 1995 in New York City, NY. Melvin Rhyne (Org); Peter Bernstein (G); Kenny Washington (D); Daniel G. Sadownick (Perc).

Organist Melvin Rhyne's greatest fame was his participation on four Wes Montgomery Riverside sessions (including Montgomery's first and last album for the label). Fortunately, Rhyne survived long enough, after some lean years, to return to the major-league jazz scene and record some CDs of his own. Born in Indianapolis, Rhyne (a largely self-taught pianist) was an important part of the city's jazz scene. He played with the then-unknown Roland Kirk during 1955-1956, and soon switched to organ. He also had opportunities to back a series of blues (including T-Bone Walker and B.B. King) and R&B artists. Rhyne was part of Montgomery's group for most of 1959-1964. In 1969, he moved to Madison, WI, and four years later he relocated to Milwaukee, where he remained active if obscure for the next two decades. In 1990, he emerged, recording with Herb Ellis and Brian Lynch. Mel Rhyne went on to record two excellent sets for Criss Cross, including a quartet session that has Joshua Redman as his sideman, and has shown that he is an excellent soul-jazz and hard bop soloist in his own right. ~bio by Scott Yanow

Mel's Spell

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Melvin Rhyne - Kojo

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:57
Size: 139,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:27)  1. Blue Gold
(5:33)  2. Blues For Mike And Teju
(6:16)  3. End Of A Love Affair
(6:42)  4. I Wish I Knew
(5:35)  5. Blue 'n' Boogie
(8:36)  6. Loose Change
(6:43)  7. In A Sentimental Mood
(7:43)  8. Time For Love
(9:17)  9. Dorothy

Taking advantage of the cyclical nature of fads and stylistic "ins" and "outs", Melvin Rhyne is lucky to be part of the current renaissance movement involving the classic sound of the Hammond B-3 organ and the type of funky fare that was prosperous and bountiful during the ‘60s. Of course, Rhyne was around during the heydays as a member of Wes Montgomery’s touring trio. Now this Milwaukee resident has caught the other side of the upswing with a renewed interest in his particular brand of jazz organ. Added now to four previous Criss Cross dates as a leader, two as a co-leader with the Tenor Triangle and several sideman appearances for the small Dutch independent, Kojo is Rhyne’s latest offering and it serves us a savory and filling plate of grooves that are sure to please. Over the course of his many Criss Cross dates Rhyne has developed quite a simpatico relationship with guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Kenny Washington. 

The three function like an integrated machine, anticipating and feeding lines off of each other with the refinement of well-trained athletes. Rhyne's own style is really something out of the ordinary in that he seems to have eschewed the histrionic displays often associated with the organ and with followers of Jimmy Smith. He also has a knack for writing great hooks that stick in your mind long after the song has ceased. Just sample "Loose Change", which sports a catchy descending triplet melody over a heavy Latin groove that then gives way to a double-timed samba for the bridge. More involved than your typical organ grinder fare, but still down to earth enough to connect with the listener, Rhyne and company deliver an agreeable mix of originals and standards that nicely flow from one to the next. As for Melvin's buddies here, much has already been written regarding Peter Bernstein's lissome guitar work. His Grant Green-inspired tone fits so well with the organ trio format (just sample him with Lonnie Smith and Larry Goldings for further proof) and his lines are so sensible and tuneful that one can't help but savor every note. 

Drummer Kenny Washington, in addition to being a sagacious jazz historian and radio dee-jay, is simply one of the best drummers of his generation, with a characteristic sound and encouraging swing that can lift even the dullest session out of monotony. Taken as a threesome, Rhyne, Bernstein, and Washington can seemingly do no wrong and have come up with another winner. Thanks, guys, and keep 'em comin'! ~ C.Andrew Hovan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/kojo-melvin-rhyne-criss-cross-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php#.VFF3sclZi5h

Personnel: Melvin Rhyne- organ, Peter Bernstein- guitar, Kenny Washington- drums, Daniel G. Sadownick- percussion (tracks 6 & 9 only)

Kojo

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Eric Alexander Quartet - In Europe

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:43
Size: 143,9 MB
Art: Front

( 8:58)  1. What A Difference A Day Made
( 6:50)  2. The Edge
( 6:04)  3. Stay On It
( 6:37)  4. To Be With You
(10:03)  5. Trippin'
( 8:09)  6. Spank That Pig
( 8:07)  7. Good Morning Heartache
( 7:52)  8. That's All

For a change of pace, Eric Alexander recorded this set with an organ trio. The fact that it was cut in Europe is not too relevant, since the musicians are all Americans. With stimulating backing by organist Melvin Rhyne, guitarist Bobby Broom, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, Alexander plays five originals by bandmembers (including three of his own) and a trio of standards. However, the originals all swing and mostly sound as if they could have been veteran standards, too. With the underrated Rhyne keeping the rhythm grooving and lightly funky, Alexander often tears into the pieces, while playing the ballads with a great deal of warmth. Virtually all of Eric Alexander's recordings are easily recommended. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/eric-alexander-in-europe-mw0000084712

Personnel: Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone); Bobby Broom (guitar); Melvin Rhyne (organ); Joe Farnsworth (drums).

In  Europe

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Melvin Rhyne - Tomorrow Yesterday Today

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 60:54
Size: 139.4 MB
Styles: Hard Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[4:27] 1. Lover, Come Back To Me
[7:30] 2. Buffalo
[7:02] 3. Jingles I
[6:20] 4. Darn That Dream
[4:48] 5. Niambi
[6:03] 6. Five Flat Minor
[7:15] 7. Enchantment
[7:20] 8. Tangerine
[4:11] 9. Easy Living
[5:54] 10. Jingles II

The 68-year-old Melvin Rhyne, a key member of Wes Montgomery's original Riverside trio from 1959 to 1964, still sounds on top of his game as evidenced on Tomorrow, Yesterday, Today (Criss Cross). Joined by guitarist and frequent collaborator Peter Bernstein and ubiquitous session drummer Kenny Washington, Rhyne swings forcefully on snappy renditions of "Lover Come Back to Me" and "Tangerine" as well as on two separate versions of Wes Montgomery's "Jingles" (which Rhyne recorded with the guitarist in 1959). They are joined by tenor saxophonist Tad Shull on Kenny Dorham's rollicking shuffle "Buffalo" and on straightforward ballad readings of "Darn That Dream" and "Easy Living." ~Bill Milkowski

Tomorrow Yesterday Today

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