Tom Harrell - Play Of Light

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1982
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 37:26
Size: 69,1 MB
Art: Front

(7:24)  1. Play Of Light
(7:12)  2. Everything Happens
(5:32)  3. The Boulevard
(8:14)  4. Mood Swings
(3:38)  5. Blue News
(5:24)  6. Where You Were

Trumpeter Tom Harrell's second set as a leader (his first was an obscure date from 1976 on the Pinnacle label) was recorded shortly before he joined Phil Woods' quintet. Harrell, an underrated composer who writes complex yet logical songs, performs four originals plus Andy LaVerne's "Where You Were" and "Everything Happens to Me" on this sadly out-of-print LP. Harrell holds his own with the all-star group (which includes tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford, guitarist Bruce Forman, pianist Albert Dailey, bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Billy Hart) and performs advanced hard bop. Worth searching for. 

~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/play-of-light-mw0000920159

Personnel:  Trumpet – Tom Harrell;  Bass – Eddie Gomez;  Drums – Billy Hart;  Guitar – Bruce Forman;  Piano – Albert Dailey;  Tenor Saxophone – Ricky Ford

Play Of Light

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Mal Waldron - Crowd Scene

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 52:17
Size: 96,0 MB
Art: Front

(26:50)  1. Crowd Scene
(25:26)  2. Yin and Yang

For this quintet session, Mal Waldron contributed two somewhat episodic originals (titled "Crowd Scene" and "Yin and Yang") that are used as the basis for extended improvisations by altoist Sonny Fortune, tenor-saxophonist Ricky Ford, bassist Reggie Workman, drummer Eddie Moore and the pianist/leader. Despite the obvious talents of these very individual players, there are some rambling moments on these lengthy performances, both of which clock in at over 25 minutes. Still, it is often fascinating to hear what the musicians come up with during these go-for-broke improvisations. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/crowd-scene-mw0000092859

Personnel: Mal Waldron (piano); Sonny Fortune (alto saxophone); Ricky Ford (tenor saxophone); Eddie Moore (drums).

Crowd Scene

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Ricky Ford Quartet - Balaena

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:29
Size: 170,6 MB
Art: Front

(11:50)  1. Pie Crust
( 7:40)  2. Cable Waltz
( 8:29)  3. Blues Work
( 7:58)  4. Song For Pres
( 6:59)  5. Blues In Fourths
( 9:24)  6. Balaena
(13:32)  7. Blues A Hoy
( 8:34)  8. In Walked Bish

Heldentenor Veteran Tenorist Rick Ford debuts of Jazz Friends with a solid live set supported by a truly all-star rhythm section of George Cables; Cecil McBee, and Ed Thigpen. This release is made up of mostly extended pieces where Ford shows his depth and breadth form Dexter Gordon passing through Sonny Rollins on his way to John Coltrane. "Pie Crust" encompasses all in on piece. Equal adept in the blues and ballads, Ford hones his chops in both venues. George Cables remains a vastly under-recognized talent, playing with his usual panache and intelligence. McBee and Thigpen are both tasteful and cool. The sum of all parts is an excellent recording, recommended to any fan of the tenor saxophone. Good Show! ~ C.Michael Bailey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/balaena-ricky-ford-jazz-friends-productions-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php
 

Personnel: Ricky Ford: Tenor Saxophone; George Cables: Piano; Cecil McBee: Bass; Ed Thigpen: Drums.

Balaena

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Ricky Ford - Hot Brass

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:25
Size: 137,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Ford Variations
(5:48)  2. Banging, Bashing, Bowing and Blowing
(7:11)  3. A Night in Valencia
(5:51)  4. 11/15/91
(3:33)  5. Cop Out
(8:16)  6. Hot Brass
(7:25)  7. Mood Blues
(6:42)  8. Speak Now
(7:32)  9. Carbon 14
(2:28) 10. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)

Nice session matching tenor saxophone standout Ricky Ford with crew of fiery trumpet and trombone players, plus bassist Christian McBride, drummer Carl Allen, and percussionist Danilo Perez. Ford was a young lion back in the '70s, when there was no hype. He's now an experienced, skilled veteran, and teams superbly with trumpeters Lew Soloff and Claudio Roditi and trombonist Steve Turre. ~ Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/hot-brass-mw0000094556

Personnel: Ricky Ford (tenor saxophone); Christian McBride (bass guitar); Claudio Roditi, Lew Soloff (trumpet); Steve Turre (trombone); Danilo Pérez (piano); Carl Allen (drums).

Hot Brass

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Ricky Ford - Manhattan Blues

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:39
Size: 140,5 MB
Art: Front

(8:10)  1. In Walked Bud
(7:47)  2. Misty
(5:46)  3. Ode To Crispus Attucks
(8:05)  4. Portrait Of Mingus
(4:36)  5. Bop Nouveau
(6:02)  6. My Little Strayhorn
(6:28)  7. Manhattan Blues
(7:40)  8. Land Preserved
(6:01)  9. Half Nelson

This CD is a particularly well-rounded program, with tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford digging into three jazz standards ("In Walked Bud," "Misty" and "Half Nelson"), plus six originals that include tributes to Charles Mingus and Billy Strayhorn. In addition to the versatile pianist Jaki Byard (an underrated great) and drummer Ben Riley, Ford is joined by veteran bassist Milt Hinton, who is quite effective on this modern material. Stimulating music. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/manhattan-blues-mw0000308182

Personnel: Ricky Ford (tenor sax), Jaki Byrd (piano), Milt Hinton (bass) and Ben Riley (drums).

Manhattan Blues

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Ricky Ford - Hard Groovin

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:10
Size: 109,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:14)  1. Masaman
(5:45)  2. M.R. C.P.
(6:15)  3. New Bop
(6:57)  4. D.D. Blues
(5:33)  5. Hard Groovin
(7:00)  6. Fundamental Mood
(5:03)  7. Jitterbug Waltz
(4:23)  8. Minority

The consistent tenor-saxophonist Ricky Ford, who was often the youngest player on the bandstand when he first emerged in the late '70s, is easily the oldest musician on this energetic modern bop album. Trumpeter Roy Hargrove, pianist Geoff Keezer, bassist Bob Hurst and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts are among the main Young Lions of the late '80s and '90s but Ford (heard on both alto and tenor) is easily the most impressive solo voice on this high-quality outing. Ford and his quintet perform five of his originals, a Geoff Keezer song and the standards "Jitterbug Waltz" and "Minority" with driving swing and personable creativity. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-groovin-mw0000273304

Personnel: Ricky Ford (alto & tenor saxophones); Roy Hargrove (trumpet).

Hard Groovin

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