Seldon Powell - Messin' With Seldon Powell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:24
Size: 94.8 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1973/2003/2014
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. Messin'
[6:26] 2. Alfie
[3:57] 3. I Want To Be Where You Are
[4:46] 4. One Night Affair
[5:18] 5. Back Stabbers
[4:31] 6. Nobody But You
[5:21] 7. Afro Jazz
[5:49] 8. Weeping

Bass – Bill Sauter, Gordon Edwards; Drums – Bernard Purdie; Guitar – Cornell Dupree, David Barron, ), James C. Boykin, Lloyd Davis; Organ, Piano – Paul Griffin; Percussion – Norman Pride; Piano, Organ – Frank Owens; Saxophone – David Spinozza, Seldon Powell; Trombone – Garnett Brown; Trumpet – Jimmy Owens; Voice – Barbara Massey, Eileen Gilbert, Hilda Harris, Maretha Stewart.

One of the only albums that sax genius Seldon Powell ever cut as a leader -- and a tight smooth set of 70s funk tracks with a stone cold CTI or Kudu Records sound! The set was produced by Bernard Purdie --and features Purdie on drums, plus keyboards by Paul Griffin, trumpet by Jimmy Owens, guitar by Cornell Dupree, and some occasional vocals by Maretha Stewart, Barbara Massey and others. Powell's tone is very right-on -- sounding a lot like Eddie Harris' from the same time. The track selection scans a bevy of some of the most forward looking soul and jazz numbers of the period, including Gamble/Huff's "Back Stabbers" and "One Night Affair", "Afro Jazz", Leon Ware's "I Want To Be Where You Are", Galt MacDermot's "Weeping", Powell's own Messin'" and "Afro Jazz", and more!

Messin' With Seldon Powell

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Teri Thornton - Devil May Care

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
Time: 81:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 187,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:47) 1. Lullaby of the Leaves
(3:29) 2. My Old Flame
(2:35) 3. Blue Skies
(3:10) 4. Detour Ahead
(5:58) 5. Dancing in the Dark
(5:52) 6. Blue Champagne
(3:47) 7. What's Your Story, Morning Glory
(2:46) 8. Devil May Care
(3:26) 9. Left Alone
(2:41) 10. I Feel a Song Comin' On
(4:09) 11. What's New?
(2:32) 12. The Song Is You
(2:59) 13. Somewhere In The Night
(2:51) 14. I've Got Your Number
(3:33) 15. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin Soon For New York
(2:52) 16. Lonely One
(2:29) 17. You've Got To Have Heart
(4:14) 18. Stormy Weather
(2:51) 19. I Believe In You
(4:33) 20. Mood Indigo
(2:26) 21. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas
(2:33) 22. I've Got The World On A String
(2:47) 23. Clap Yo' Hands
(3:49) 24. Serenade In Blue

Dubbed by Cannonball Adderley “the greatest voice since Ella Fitzgerald” Detroit-born Teri Thornton (1934-2000) moved to the Big Apple in 1960, where she was an immediate hit with the city’s seasoned jazz musicians and sophisti- cated audiences. It led to her first album, Devil May Care, for Riverside, where she was backed by some of New York’s brightest jazzmen, including Clark Terry, Britt Woodman, Seldon Powell and a rhythm section that boasted, among others, Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones, Jimmy Cobb and Freddie Green. A sagacious venture into the Great American Songbook allowed her to display a fine feel for the lyrics and a voice like nobody else’s.

In 1961 Chicago deejays gave her the “Coming Star of the Year” Award and the following year she signed for Dauntless. Hailed as “one of the most exciting voices of her generation”, she had a hit single with Somewhere in the Night, which became the name of her 1963 album. Again front-rank jazzmen were involved, among them Charlie Mariano, Joe Farrell, Nick Brignola, Eddie Bert and Dave Frishberg. Well-chosen material allowed her to make the most of her contralto-rich, distinctive vocal quality and decided individuality of delivery, and both albums add up to a fitting memorial to a singular jazz vocal talent of whom Freddie Green once said: “This girl has got to make it. If she doesn’t, something’s very wrong.” He was right.
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/teri-thornton-albums/6520-lullaby-of-the-leaves-the-voice-of-teri-thornton-2-lp-on-1-cd.html

Album details: Teri Thornton, vocals in all tracks. Clark Terry, trumpet; Britt Woodman, trombone; Earl Warren, alto sax; Seldon Powell, tenor sax; Wynton Kelly, piano; Freddie Green (#1-6) or Sam Herman (#7-12), guitar; Sam Jones, bass; Jimmy Cobb, drums.

Devil May Care

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Friedrich Gulda & His Sextet - At Birdland

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:00
Size: 176.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[ 0:38] 1. Theme Song Vienna Discussion
[ 0:49] 2. Pee Wee Marquette Introduces Friedrich Gulda And His Sextet
[ 5:21] 3. Scruby
[ 4:29] 4. Dark Glow
[ 4:23] 5. A Night In Tunisia
[ 3:03] 6. Dodo
[ 5:13] 7. Air From Other Planets
[ 3:25] 8. New Shoes
[10:07] 9. Bernie's Tune
[ 3:04] 10. Quintet
[ 3:55] 11. Introvert
[ 8:25] 12. Out Of Nowhere
[ 4:46] 13. Teheran
[ 7:38] 14. All The Things You Are
[ 5:34] 15. Cool Hill
[ 6:01] 16. Lullaby Of Birdland

Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods; Bass – Aaron Bell; Drums – Nick Stabulas; Piano – Friedrich Gulda; Tenor Saxophone – Seldon Powell; Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland; Trumpet – Idrees Sulieman. Live at "Birdland", New York City, June 28 (tracks 1-5, 7, 8, 15 & 16) and 29 (tracks 6, 9 & 14), 1956. Tracks 1-9 from the RCA Victor album "Friedrich Gulda At Birdland" (LPM 1398) Tracks 10-16 from the Decca album "A Man of Letters (LK 4189).

Friedrich Gulda was a classical pianist of international stature who, following a meeting with Dizzy Gillespie in 1951, embarked on an attachment with jazz. This eventually led to his first regular American appearance at Birdland in New York City in 1956 which has been captured in this Fresh Sounds reissue. The impresario John Hammond was the driving force behind this Birdland session which was originally released on two 12" albums, the first by RCA Victor entitled Friedrich Gulda At Birdland and the second by Decca called A Man Of Letters. Hammond was fully aware that, while there might be some curiosity value in such an appearance by a classically trained pianist, he needed to ensure that Gulda had the opportunity to succeed and thus he put together a front line that was supportive and collaborative. The bassist and drummer were also known for their swing and steady timekeeping. The song set was a combination of Gulda original compositions and "head" arrangements of popular and jazz standards designed to engage the audience.

Now while it is accurate to say that all the tracks were recorded at Birdland, not all of them were performed live. All nine Gulda compositions were recorded in the afternoon without an audience, much like a recording studio, and the other five jazz-oriented tunes were done with an audience during the evening sessions. The Gulda compositions are intricately constructed with a chamber jazz feel but allow space for solos by the members of the band. Dark Glow is a sensuous ballad designed to showcase the creative alto sax of Phil Woods. Another piece in the same vein is Cool Hill which has a modelled structure for Woods to shine. Seldon Powell's cool tenor sax is prominently featured on Air From Other Planets. The real goodies on this disc are the live tracks from Birdland and all are swingers. The first substantive taste of Gulda's pianistic style shows up on a trio version of A Night In Tunisia. With Aaron Bell on bass and Nick Stabulas on drums, Gulda romps through the tune with strong single-note phrasing in a Bud Powell mode, but with a percussive note-striking style reminiscent of Eddie Costa. An extended version of Bernie's Tune has all the elements of a jam session, with strong choruses from all members of the band. Out Of Nowhere becomes a vehicle for trombonist Jimmy Cleveland where his creative and enthusiastic offerings are fully evident. Idrees Sulieman, a somewhat under-appreciated trumpeter, shows that he deserves more attention with some fine soloing on All The Things You Are. Finally the George Shearing classic Lullaby Of Birdland allows Gulda to take a block-chord Shearingesque attack on this signature tune. This is an interesting and noteworthy addition to any record collection. ~Pierre Giroux

At Birdland

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Hubert Laws - Crying Song

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 1969
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:19
Size: 77,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:30)  1. La Jean
(3:23)  2. Love Is Blue / Sing a Rainbow
(4:53)  3. Crying Song
(3:21)  4. Listen to the Band
(3:07)  5. I've Got to Get a Message to You
(2:31)  6. Feelin' Alright?
(3:51)  7. Cymbaline
(6:08)  8. How Long Will It Be?
(3:31)  9. Let It Be

A landmark record the first album that flutist Hubert Laws cut for CTI, and the beginning of a very important partnership with the label! The record is a sublime exploration of sound and space very different than Laws' 60s Latin sides for Atlantic, and handled in a baroque mode that has his flute drifting over a mixture of organ, piano, and rhythms augmented with strings easy and jazzy in the same moment, with a hip sophistication that points the way towards a new flute sound in the 70s! Titles include "Crying Song", "Listen To The Band", "Cymbaline", "Feelin Alright", "I've Gotta Get A Message To You", "La Jean", "Love Is Blue/Sing A Rainbow", and "How Long Will It Be".  © 1996-2019, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/60210/Hubert-Laws:Crying-Song

Personnel:  Hubert Laws – flute; Bobby Wood – piano; Bobby Emmons – organ; Bob James – electric piano, organ; George Benson, Reggie Young – guitar; Mike Leech – electric bass; Ron Carter – bass; Gene Chrisman, Billy Cobham, Grady Tate – drums; Ernie Royal, Marvin Stamm – trumpet, flugelhorn Garnett Brown, Tony Studd – trombone;  Art Clarke, Seldon Powell – saxophone;  Ed Shaughnessy – tabla, sand; Lewis Eley, Paul Gershman, George Ockner, Gene Orloff, Raoul Pollikoff, Matthew Raimondi, Sylvan Shulman, Avram Weiss – violin; Charles McCracken, George Ricci – cello; Bob James, Glen Spreen, Mike Leech – arranger

Crying Song

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David Newman - The Weapon

Styles: Saxophone And Flute Jazz
Year: 1972
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:43
Size: 76,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:29)  1. Missy
(4:22)  2. Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong
(7:00)  3. You Can't Always Get What You Want
(3:50)  4. Yes We Can Can
(4:00)  5. Happy Times
(4:36)  6. Drown In My Own Tears
(3:23)  7. Freedom For The Stallion

David "Fathead" Newman was never a jazz purist. The big-toned saxman held jazz and R&B in equally high regard, and he was as comfortable playing hard bop and soul-jazz as he was backing Aretha Franklin or Ray Charles. Newman recorded more than his share of commercial projects in the 1970s; one of the more memorable ones was 1973's The Weapon, which was produced by Joel Dorn and finds the Texan on tenor and alto sax as well as flute. 

Far from a bop album, this instrumental soul-jazz LP isn't for jazz purists. But from a soul-jazz perspective, The Weapon is generally enjoyable. Unfortunately, Dorn tends to overproduce, and Newman would have been better off without all the excessive string arrangements that William Eaton burdens him with. But even so, Newman really lets loose on the funky "Missy" and gets in some meaty, memorable solos on "Drown in My Own Tears," the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and the Pointer Sisters' "Yes We Can Can." Despite its flaws and imperfections, The Weapon is recommended to those who like their jazz laced with a lot of R&B. ~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-weapon-mw0001881821

Personnel:  David Newman - tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute; Mac Rebennack - piano, organ; Richard Tee - organ; Cornell Dupree, David Spinozza - guitar; Chuck Rainey - electric bass; Charles Collins, Jimmy Johnson, Bernard Purdie - drums; Ernie Royal (tracks 5 & 6), Joe Wilder (tracks 5 & 6), Wilmer Wise (track 3) - trumpet; Daniel Orlock - cornet (track 3); Robert Moore - trombone (track 3); Paul Ingraham - French horn (track 3); Jonathan Dorn - tuba (track 3); Frank Wess - alto saxophone (tracks 5 & 6); Seldon Powell - tenor saxophone (tracks 5 & 6); The Sweet Inspirations: Jeanette Brown, Judy Clay, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell - backing vocals (tracks 2-4 & 7)

The Weapon

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Charlie Rouse & Seldon Powell - We Paid Our Dues!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:10
Size: 92,9 MB
Art: Front

(7:52)  1. Two For One
(5:53)  2. When Sunny Gets Blue
(7:18)  3. For Lester
(5:48)  4. Quarter Moon
(6:07)  5. Bowl Of Soul
(7:09)  6. I Should Care

Possessor of a distinctive tone and a fluid bop-oriented style, Charlie Rouse was in Thelonious Monk's Quartet for over a decade (1959-1970) and, although somewhat taken for granted, was an important ingredient in Monk's music. Rouse was always a modern player and he worked with Billy Eckstine's orchestra (1944) and the first Dizzy Gillespie big band (1945), making his recording debut with Tadd Dameron in 1947. Rouse popped up in a lot of important groups including Duke Ellington's Orchestra (1949-1950), Count Basie's octet (1950), on sessions with Clifford Brown in 1953, and with Oscar Pettiford's sextet (1955). He co-led the Jazz Modes with Julius Watkins (1956-1959), and then joined Monk for a decade of extensive touring and recordings. In the 1970s he recorded a few albums as a leader, and in 1979 he became a member of Sphere. Charlie Rouse's unique sound began to finally get some recognition during the 1980s. He participated on Carmen McRae's classic Carmen Sings Monk album and his last recording was at a Monk tribute concert. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-rouse-mn0000176387/biography

A veteran tenor saxophonist and flutist, Seldon Powell adjusted and honed his style over the years, being flexible enough to play anything from swing to hard bop and in between. He wasn't the greatest soloist, most ambitious composer, or most spectacular arranger; he was simply a good, consistent player who survived many changes and trends to remain active from the late '40s until the '90s. Powell was classically trained in New York, then worked briefly with Tab Smith in 1949 before joining Lucky Millinder and recording with him in 1950. Powell was in the military in 1950 and 1951, then became a studio musician in New York. He worked and recorded with Louis Bellson, Neal Hefti, Friedrich Gulda, Johnny Richards, and Billy Ver Planck in the mid- and late '50s. Powell also played with Sy Oliver and Erskine Hawkins, and studied at Juilliard. He traveled to Europe with Benny Goodman's band in 1958, and worked briefly with Woody Herman. Powell was a staff player for ABC television in the '60s, and also played and recorded with Buddy Rich, Bellson, Clark Terry, and Ahmed Abdul-Malik. 

He did a number of soul-jazz and pop dates in the late '60s and early '70s, among them a session with Groove Holmes and big-band dates backing Gato Barbieri and Dizzy Gillespie. Powell was principal soloist in Gerry Mulligan's 16-piece band at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York in 1987. He recorded as a leader for Roost and Epic. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/seldon-powell-mn0000005234/biography

Personnel: 
The Charlie Rouse Quartet : Charlie Rouse - Tenor Saxophone;  Gildo Mahones - Piano;  Reggie Workman - Bass;  Arthur Taylor - Drums

The Seldon Powell Quartet : Seldon Powell - Tenor Saxophone, Flute;  Lloyd Mayers - Piano;  Peck Morrison - Bass;  Denzil Best - Drums

We Paid Our Dues!

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David Newman - Bigger & Better

Styles: Saxophone And Flute Jazz 
Year: 1968
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:50
Size: 75,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:04)  1. Yesterday
(5:46)  2. And I Love Her
(5:56)  3. The Thirteenth Floor
(3:46)  4. Ain't That Good News
(5:35)  5. A Change Is Gonna Come
(6:41)  6. For Sylvia

As a teenager, David Newman played professionally around Dallas and Fort Worth with Charlie Parker's mentor, Buster Smith, and also with Ornette Coleman in a band led by tenor saxophonist Red Connors. In the early '50s, Newman worked locally with such R&B musicians as Lowell Fulson and T-Bone Walker. In 1952, Newman formed his longest-lasting and most important musical association with Ray Charles, who had played piano in Fulson's group. Newman stayed with Charles' band from 1954-1964, while concurrently recording as a leader and a sideman with, among others, his hometown associate, tenor saxophonist James Clay. Upon leaving Charles, Newman stayed in Dallas for two years. He then moved to New York, where he recorded under King Curtis and Eddie Harris; he also played many commercial and soul dates. Newman returned to Charles for a brief time in 1970-1971; from 1972-1974 he played with Red Garland and Herbie Mann. Newman parlayed the renown he gained from his experience with Charles into a fairly successful recording career. In the '60s and '70s, he recorded a series of heavily orchestrated, pop-oriented sides for Atlantic and in the '80s he led the occasional hard bop session, but Newman's métier was as an ace accompanist. Throughout his career, he recorded with a variety of non-jazz artists; Newman's brawny, arrogant tenor sound graced the albums of Aretha Franklin, Dr. John, and many others. It is, in fact, Newman's terse, earthy improvisations with Charles that remain his most characteristic work. Newman began a productive relationship with HighNote Records at the close of the 1990s, releasing an impressive series of albums, including Chillin' (1999), Keep the Spirits Singing (2001), Davey Blue (2001), The Gift (2003), Song for the New Man (2004), I Remember Brother Ray (a moving tribute to Ray Charles released in 2005), Cityscape (2006), and Life (2007). Diamondhead followed in 2008. Newman passed on January 20, 2009, from pancreatic cancer. ~ Chris Kelsey https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/bigger-better/70268480

Personnel:  David Newman - tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute;  Melvin Lastie (tracks 1-5), Joe Newman (tracks 1 & 2), Jimmy Owens (tracks 3-5) - trumpet;  Benny Powell - trombone (tracks 1-5);  Seldon Powell - tenor saxophone (tracks 1-5);  Henry Haywood (tracks 1 & 2), Jerome Richardson (tracks 3-5) - baritone saxophone;  George Stubbs - piano (track 6);  Billy Butler (tracks 1, 2 & 6), Eric Gale (tracks 3-6) - guitar;  Richard Davis - bass (tracks 1-5);  Chuck Rainey - electric bass;  Bernard Purdie - drums;  Winston Collymore, Leo Cruczek, Richard Elias, Emanuel Green, Leo Kahn, Gene Orloff, Matthew Raimondi - violin (tracks 1-3, 5 7 6);  Alfred Brown, Selwart Clarke - viola (tracks 1-3, 5 & 6);  Kermit Moore - cello (tracks 1-3, 5 & 6).

Bigger & Better

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Hank Crawford - Mr. Blues Plays Lady Soul

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:46
Size: 84.2 MB
Styles: Jazz/Funk/Soul
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[2:37] 1. Groovin'
[3:34] 2. I Can't See Myself Leaving You
[3:26] 3. Never Let Me Go
[3:38] 4. Baby, I Love You
[3:11] 5. Lady Soul
[3:32] 6. Soul Serenade
[3:54] 7. Ain't No Way
[2:13] 8. Since You've Been Gone (Sweet Sweet Baby)
[3:12] 9. Take A Look
[7:24] 10. Going Down Slow

Alto Saxophone – Frank Wess, Hank Crawford; Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams; Bass – Charles Rainey, Jerry Jemmott; , Ron Carter; Drums – Bernard Purdie; Guitar – Eric Gale; Organ, Piano – Paul Griffin; Tenor Saxophone – Seldon Powell; Tenor Saxophone, Flute – David Newman; Trombone – Benny Powell, Jimmy Cleveland; Trumpet – Bernie Glow, Ernie Royal, Snookie Young, Joe Newman.

With an unmistakable blues wail, full of emotion and poignancy, altoist Hank Crawford bridges the gap between that tradition and that of jazz more completely than any other living horn player. Born in Memphis, Crawford was steeped in the blues tradition from an early age. He began playing piano but switched to alto when his father brought one home from the army. He claims his early influences as Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic, and Johnny Hodges. Crawford hung out with Phineas Newborn, Jr., Booker Little, and George Coleman in high school. Upon graduating, Crawford played in bands fronted by Ike Turner, B.B. King, Junior Parker, and Bobby "Blue" Bland at Memphis' Palace Theater and Club Paradise. In 1958 Crawford went to college in Nashville where he met Ray Charles. Charles hired Crawford originally as a baritone saxophonist. Crawford switched to alto in 1959 and remained with Charles' band -- becoming its musical director -- until 1963. The phrasing and voicings he learned there proved invaluable to him as the hallmark of his own sound. He also wrote and arranged a tune for Charles. The cut, "Sherry," his first for the band, was put on the Live at Newport album. Crawford cut a slew solo albums for Atlantic while with the band, and when he formed his group, he remained with the label until 1970. He signed with Creed Taylor's Kudu in 1971 and cut a series of fusion-y groove jazz dates through 1982. In 1983 he moved to Milestone and returned to form as a premier arranger, soloist, and composer, writing for small bands -- that included guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. John -- as well as large. Crawford has been constantly active since then, as a leader and sideman, recording the best music of his long career. ~ Thom Jurek

Mr. Blues Plays Lady Soul mc
Mr. Blues Plays Lady Soul zippy

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Mose Allison - Hello There, Universe

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 36:09

Size: 82.8 MB

Styles: Bop, Piano jazz

Year: 1970/2006

Art: Front

[2:14] 1. Somebody Gotta Move

[4:55] 2. Monsters Of The Id

[2:38] 3. I Don't Want Much

[3:48] 4. Hello There, Universe

[3:42] 5. No Exit

[2:23] 6. Wild Man On The Loose

[4:53] 7. Blues In The Night

[2:52] 8. I'm Smashed

[6:21] 9. Hymn To Everything

[2:17] 10. On The Run

Alto Saxophone, Flute – Jerome Richardson; Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams, Seldon Powell; Bass – Bob Cranshaw, John Williams; Drums – Joe Cocuzzo; Tenor Saxophone – Joe Farrell, Joe Henderson; Trumpet – Jimmy Nottingham, Richard Williams; Vocals, Piano, Organ – Mose Allison.

This obscure Mose Allison LP has the pianist/singer/lyricist using a larger band than usual, an octet with Richard Williams and Jimmy Nottingham on trumpets, altoist Jerome Richardson, either Joe Henderson or Joe Farrell on tenor, Pepper Adams or Seldon Powell on baritone, Bob Cranshaw and John Williams on bass, and drummer Joe Cucuzzo. The truth is, most of the other musicians are really not needed, for their solos take away from Allison's vocals and piano solos. Allison (who also plays a bit of organ) contributed nine of the ten songs on the album (all but "Blues in the Night"), best known of which are "Hello There, Universe" and "Wild Man on the Loose," although there are no hits or future standards included. This album, therefore, is a gap-filler rather than an essential recording. ~Scott Yanow

Hello There, Universe    

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Johnny Lytle - The Sound Of Velvet Soul

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:23
Size: 71.9 MB
Styles: Vibraphone jazz, Soul jazz
Year: 1968/2011
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. Suddenly You
[2:38] 2. The Thing To Do
[1:58] 3. Live For Life
[2:24] 4. We're Bluesin'
[4:02] 5. Under The Rising Sun
[4:09] 6. Street Scene
[3:48] 7. L.A. Soul
[4:08] 8. Somewhere
[2:28] 9. Up, Up, And Away
[2:58] 10. On A Clear Day

Sol Schlinger (baritone saxophone) Joe Farrell, Seldon Powell, Jerome Richardson, Frank Wess (saxophone) Johnny Lytle (vibraphone) Richard Davis (bass) Mel Lewis (drums) Johnny Pacheco (percussion).

Considered one of the top vibes players in the world, Johnny Lytle was known for his great hand speed and showmanship. He was also a songwriter and wrote many of his own hits, including "The Loop," "The Man," "Lela," "Selim," and the jazz classic "The Village Caller." Lytle recorded more than 30 albums for various jazz labels including Tuba, Jazzland, Solid State, and Muse. Throughout his career he performed and recorded with jazz greats the likes of Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Timmons, and Roy Ayers. The devoted father of three also featured his son, Marcel Lytle, on several of his recordings as a vocalist and drummer. Lytle was such an admirer of the music of the late great Miles Davis that he wrote "Selim" (Miles spelled backwards) in honor of Davis, which features Davis' former pianist Wynton Kelly. Lytle never recorded with any of the major record labels, and that could be why he never gained the status of a jazz icon like some of his peers. Lytle felt that he would lose control of his music and creative development; Lytle liked to play what came natural to him, and being with a major label might not have afforded him that opportunity.

Johnny Lytle grew up in a family of music, the son of a trumpeter father and an organist mother. He began playing the drums and piano at an early age. Before studying music in earnest, Lytle lent his hands to boxing, and was a successful Golden Gloves champion. During the late '50s, Lytle landed jobs as a drummer for Ray Charles and others, and he also continued to box. But by 1960, the energetic Lytle had laid down his gloves and, inspired by the great Lionel Hampton, picked up the mallets, turning his full attention toward the vibraphone. He started a jazz band and began recording for the famed jazz label Riverside Records under the direction of Grammy-winning producer Orrin Keepnews.

Lytle found success early in his career with chart-topping albums like A Groove, The Loop, and Moon Child. From his swinging uptempo tracks to his soul-satisfying ballads, Lytle knew how to keep a groove. And with a nickname like "Fast Hands," he could always keep the attention of an audience. In addition to his musicianship, his gregarious personality made him a popular attraction on the jazz circuit. Even though Lytle did not experience the same success he was privileged to during the '60s, he did continue to record and build a respectable catalog of music with recordings in the '70s,'80s, and '90s. Lytle remained a popular concert attraction in the U.S. and Europe; his last performance was with the Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra in his hometown in November 1995. At the time of his death in the following month, Lytle was scheduled to begin recording a new CD on the Muse label. ~bio by Craig Lytle

The Sound Of Velvet Soul

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Seldon Powell - End Play

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:41
Size: 157.2 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[7:06] 1. Hackensack
[9:24] 2. Body And Soul
[8:03] 3. Push And Pull
[7:32] 4. Just In Time
[4:30] 5. Park And Ride
[8:31] 6. Ow!
[6:04] 7. Flintstones
[9:07] 8. Sel's Idea
[8:20] 9. Straight No Chaser

Ace saxophonist Seldon Powell came to the attention of the worldwide jazz audience in the mid fifties when he made tow fine albums for the Roost label. Strangely, however, although greatly respected by his contemporaries no major recording concern ever saw to fit to give him its backing and his opportunities as leader were few and far between. There are though many fine examples of his playing on numerous dates with the likes of Gerry Mulligan, Louie Bellson, Neal Hefti, Clark Terry and many others. Candid featured Seldon on its Basie Alumni record Swinging for the Count in the early nineties and this rare set with Seldon as leader reunites Seldon and Clark having fun at Birdland in 1993. Candid had planned more recordings with Seldon but sadly it was not to be and this set became Seldon's 'End Play'.

End Play

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Norman Mapp - Jazz Ain't Nothin' But Soul

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:52
Size: 130.2 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1961/2012
Art: Front

[4:37] 1. In The Night
[3:55] 2. Blues In Bloom
[5:00] 3. I Worry About You
[2:08] 4. Who Do You Think You Are
[2:11] 5. Dream Girl
[3:36] 6. Daddy Knows
[2:54] 7. Jazz Ain't Nothin' But Soul
[3:56] 8. Moanin'
[3:47] 9. When I'm With You
[3:24] 10. Free Spirits
[7:53] 11. Two For One
[6:09] 12. Bowl Of Soul
[7:16] 13. For Lester

Norman Mapp (vcl), Clark Terry (tp), Seldon Powell (ts, fl), Tommy Flanagan (p), George Duvivier, Peck Morrison (b), Dave Bailey (d).

Discovered by Dinah Washington in a Harlem nightclub, Norman Mapp (1928-1988) was a singer and composer whose public renown never quite matched either his talent or the high regard in which he was held within the jazz community. That much is clear from even a cursory glance at the personnel on these fine sessions from the start of the Sixties. They include such notables as trumpeter Clark Terry, multi-reedman Seldon Powell, pianist Tommy Flanagan and drummer Dave Bailey, who do so much to showcase Mapp at his best here.

The singer wrote eight of the ten tunes on “Jazz Ain’t Nothin’ But Soul”, his most celebrated album, investing the music with the warmth, taste and sensitivity for which he was celebrated. Both as accompanist and as soloists, Terry, Powell and Flanagan respond inventively to the singer and the material, creating a gem of its kind.

As a bonus, three tracks from “We Paid Our Dues” with Seldon Powell’s quartet and its leader’s vastly under-rated tenor in Lesterian mode, are included.

Jazz Ain't Nothin' But Soul

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Freddie Hubbard - The Body & The Soul

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:15
Size: 83,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Body And Soul
(5:18)  2. Carnival (Manha De Carnaval)
(3:56)  3. Chocolate Shake
(3:22)  4. Dedicated To You
(3:28)  5. Clarence's Place
(3:04)  6. Aries
(4:32)  7. Skylark
(3:40)  8. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(4:15)  9. Thermo

At age 25, Freddie Hubbard made inroads into modern jazz most trumpeters could not imagine, much less come through with. As a soloist, one of Hubbard's crowning achievements in his early period was this recording on which he teamed with Wayne Shorter, marginally as a performer but prominent in the role of arranger/conductor for his first time ever. Utilizing a septet, 16-piece big band, and orchestra plus stings to play concise, tight tunes, Shorter provides the backdrop to employ Hubbard's bold toned trumpet and all of its devices in a full display of his powerful melodic talents. Yeoman Reggie Workman plays bass on all selections, with drummer Louis Hayes in the seven-piece combo, and great work from Philly Joe Jones in the larger bands. Interestingly enough, the three tracks with the smaller ensemble are the most interesting, due to the presence of Eric Dolphy, Curtis Fuller, Cedar Walton, and Shorter on the front line. "Clarence's Place" is a post-bop jewel with spiky brass accents and Dolphy's ribald and outre alto sax solo contrasting Shorter's relatively reserved tenor, "Dedicated to You" is a wisp of a tune, while "Body & Soul," an atypical choice for the opening selection, is a straight read of the classic ballad with a chart that sounds larger than the small horn section, and a wavering flute via Dolphy. 

The big band does an unusual soul-jazz treatment of the Brazilian number "Manha de Carnaval" flavored by Robert Northern's French horn, while "Aries" is a hard bop show stopper with two-note accents buoying Hubbard's great lyrical lines, and goes further into hard bop with "Thermo" as the horns demand attention with the trumpeter as an afterthought. The string section, ten pieces strong, joins the big band on the film noir type Duke Ellington piece "Chocolate Shake," the stock "I Got It Bad," and "Skylark," with its soft clarion intro bubbling underneath with the violins, violas, and cellos. The manner in which this recording is programmed is thoughtful in that it lends to the diversity of the project, but is seamless from track to track. Dan Morgenstern's hefty liner notes also explain the concept behind this ambitious project, one which did not compare to any of Hubbard's other recordings in his career. Therefore it stands alone as one of the most unique productions in his substantive discography, and a quite credible initial go-round for Shorter as an orchestrator. ~ Michael G.Nastos  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-body-the-soul-mw0000612194

Personnel: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, horns); Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky (vocals, violin, strings); Julius Held, Sol Shapiro, Arnold Eidus, Morris Stonzek, Charles McCracken , Raoul Poliakin, Harry Katzman (violin, strings); Harry Cykman (violin); Eric Dolphy (flute, alto saxophone); Jerome Richardson (saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Seldon Powell, Wayne Shorter (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Charles Davis (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Richard Gene Williams , Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, Edward Armour, Al DeRisi (trumpet); Robert "Brother Ah" Northern, Julius Watkins (French horn, horns); Curtis Fuller, Melba Liston (trombone); Robert Powell (tuba, horns); Cedar Walton (piano); Joe Craig Jones, Louis Hayes, Philly Joe Jones (drums).

The Body & The Soul

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Johnny 'Hammond' Smith - Open House

Styles: Hard Bop, Soul Jazz
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:09
Size: 159,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. Open House
(5:23)  2. Cyra
(4:58)  3. I Remember You
(2:33)  4. Theme From Cleopatra
(6:56)  5. Blues For De-De
(4:37)  6. Why Was I Born
(5:46)  7. I Love You
(5:26)  8. Nica's Dream
(6:20)  9. Cleopatra And The African Knight
(5:44) 10. Bennie's Diggin'
(4:34) 11. Brake Through
(3:52) 12. Eloise
(4:30) 13. A Little Taste
(3:51) 14. Twixt The Sheets

The best organ jazz records fuse elements of gospel, blues, and soul together with the atmosphere of a jam session, as if a bunch of friends got together one night to toss a few back and play some tunes. Johnny "Hammond" Smith certainly has the right idea on the first of the sessions on this two-fer reissue; the instrumentation approximates that of Jimmy Smith's classic "The Sermon" but the music burns at a slightly lower temperature. Whereas Jimmy Smith punctuates tunes with great gusts of chords, Johnny "Hammond" Smith prefers to smolder behind, huffing and murmuring and occasionally taking a solo here and there. The presence of McFadden (who gigged with Jimmy Smith early on) and the fiery Thad Jones enlighten this session considerably, both taking memorable solos on a brisk "I Remember You". The others certainly don't embarrass themselves; Powell, a relative unknown, gets in a few good licks on every tune.

McFadden and Jones are missed on the second session, which features hard bop efforts from Virgil Jones and Person that don't really seem to fit the setting. Both are determined to leave no note unturned and often give the impression that they are trying too hard. The quartet does have all four wheels on the ground on steamy blues like "Eloise" and "Twixt The Sheets" (one of the best names for a song of this type ever), but pales next to the earlier group. However, the first session on this two-fer definitely makes this one worthy of acquisition. 

~ David Rickert http://www.allaboutjazz.com/open-house-johnny-hammond-smith-fantasy-jazz-review-by-david-rickert.php

Personnel: On 1-7: Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ; Thad Jones, trumpet, cornet; Seldon Powell, saxophone, flute; Eddie McFadden, guitar; Bob Cranshaw, bass; Loe Stevens, drums; Ray Barretto, congas. On 8-14: Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ; Virgil Jones, trumpet; Houston Person, saxophone; Luis Taylor, drums.

Open House

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Seldon Powell - Go First Class: The Complete Roost Sessions

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 68:14

Size: 156.2 MB

Styles: Saxophone jazz, Swing

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[2:59] 1. Go First Class

[3:58] 2. Why Was I Born

[3:15] 3. Love Is Just Around The Corner

[3:44] 4. Someone To Watch Over Me

[4:39] 5. Count Fleet

[5:16] 6. Autumn Nocturne

[4:52] 7. Swingsville, Ohio

[5:04] 8. Summertime

[2:42] 9. Woodyn' You

[2:39] 10. She's Funny That Way

[2:21] 11. Miss Melody

[2:18] 12. I'll Close My Eyes

[2:28] 13. 11th Hour Blues

[2:38] 14. A Flower Is A Lonesome Thing

[3:30] 15. It's A Cryin' Shame

[2:59] 16. Button Nose

[3:17] 17. Undecided

[4:05] 18. Biscuit For Duncan

[2:46] 19. Sleepy Time Down South

[2:36] 20. Lolly Gag

A veteran tenor saxophonist and flutist, Seldon Powell adjusted and honed his style over the years, being flexible enough to play anything from swing to hard bop and in between. He wasn't the greatest soloist, most ambitious composer, or most spectacular arranger; he was simply a good, consistent player who survived many changes and trends to remain active from the late '40s until the '90s. Powell was classically trained in New York, then worked briefly with Tab Smith in 1949 before joining Lucky Millinder and recording with him in 1950. Powell was in the military in 1950 and 1951, then became a studio musician in New York. He worked and recorded with Louis Bellson, Neal Hefti, Friedrich Gulda, Johnny Richards, and Billy Ver Planck in the mid- and late '50s. Powell also played with Sy Oliver and Erskine Hawkins, and studied at Juilliard. He traveled to Europe with Benny Goodman's band in 1958, and worked briefly with Woody Herman. Powell was a staff player for ABC television in the '60s, and also played and recorded with Buddy Rich, Bellson, Clark Terry, and Ahmed Abdul-Malik. He did a number of soul-jazz and pop dates in the late '60s and early '70s, among them a session with Groove Holmes and big-band dates backing Gato Barbieri and Dizzy Gillespie. Powell was principal soloist in Gerry Mulligan's 16-piece band at the JVC Jazz Festival in New York in 1987. He recorded as a leader for Roost and Epic. ~bio by Ron Wynn

Go First Class: The Complete Roost Sessions

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