Showing posts with label Urbie Green. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Urbie Green. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Gene Harris And The Philip Morris Superband - Live At Town Hall, N.Y.C.

Styles: Piano Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:39
Size: 151,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:41)  1. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
(4:42)  2. Creme De Menthe
(4:25)  3. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
(5:31)  4. Love Is Here To Stay
(6:39)  5. I'm Just A Lucky So And So
(6:41)  6. Serious Grease
(4:14)  7. Like A Lover
(5:05)  8. Old Man River
(5:57)  9. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
(6:26) 10. Porgy And Bess Medley: Strawberry Woman / I Loves You Porgy / It Ain't Necessarily So
(3:18) 11. You're My Everything
(3:48) 12. There Is No Greater Love
(4:06) 13. Things Ain't What They Used To Be

This CD documents one of the first concerts by Gene Harris' star-studded big band, an orchestra heard at the beginning of an 80-day world tour. Unlike his earlier big band Basie tribute album, Harris is not the only musician to get significant solo space on this set although, due to the overflowing lineup, not enough is heard from everyone. The straightforward arrangements (by John Clayton, Frank Wess, Torrie Zito, Bob Pronk and Lex Jasper) balance swingers with ballads. Among the more memorable tracks are Harry "Sweets" Edison's feature (both muted and open) on "Sleepy Time Down South," a pair of fine vocals apiece by Ernie Andrews and Ernestine Anderson, the roaring "Old Man River" and Harris' interpretation of Erroll Garner's ballad "Creme de Menthe." Toss in short solos from the likes of Ralph Moore, James Morrison (on trombone), Frank Wess, Michael Mossman and baritonist Gary Smulyan and the result is a satisfying, swinging and fairly fresh big band date.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-town-hall-nyc-mw0000202851

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone, Flute – Frank Wess, Jerry Dodgion;  Baritone Saxophone – Gary Smulyan;  Bass – Ray Brown;  Bass Trombone – Paul Faulise;  Drums – Jeff Hamilton;  Guitar – Herb Ellis;  Piano – Gene Harris;  Tenor Saxophone – Ralph Moore ;  Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – James Moody; Trombone – Eddie Bert, James Morrison, Urbie Green;  Trumpet – Harry "Sweets" Edison, Joe Mosello, Johnny Coles, Michael Philip Mossman;  Vocals – Ernestine Anderson, Ernie Andrews .

Live At Town Hall, N.Y.C.

Friday, October 4, 2019

Urbie Green - A Cool Yuletide

Styles: Trombone Jazz, Christmas
Year: 1954
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 23:31
Size: 55,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:20)  1. Jingle Bells
(2:53)  2. All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth
(2:34)  3. White Christmas
(2:58)  4. Winter Wonderland
(2:36)  5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
(3:11)  6. Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
(2:49)  7. The Christmas Song
(3:05)  8. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer

A fine jazz player with a beautiful tone who has spent most of his career in the studios, Urbie Green is highly respected by his fellow trombonists. He started playing when he was 12; was with the big bands of Tommy Reynolds, Bob Strong, and Frankie Carle as a teenager; and worked with Gene Krupa during 1947-1950. Green had a stint with Woody Herman's Third Herd, appeared on some of the famous Buck Clayton jam sessions (1953-1954), and was with Benny Goodman off and on during 1955-1957. He played with Count Basie in 1963, and spent a period in the 1960s fronting the Tommy Dorsey ghost band (1966-1967), but has mostly stuck to studio work. Urbie Green recorded frequently as a leader in the 1950s up to 1963 (for Blue Note, Vanguard, Bethlehem, ABC-Paramount, and dance band-oriented records for RCA and Command). He has appeared much less often in jazz settings since then, but did make two albums for CTI in 1976-1977. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/urbie-green-mn0000300013/biography

Personnel: Trombone – Urbie Green; Bass – Milton Hinton; Drums – Don Lamond, Jimmie Crawford; Guitar – Mundell Lowe; Piano – Buddy Weed; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Al Epstein; Trumpet – Joe Wilder

A Cool Yuletide

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Lalo Schifrin - Towering Toccata

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:09
Size: 95,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:05)  1. Towering Toccata (Based on the Toccata & Fugue in D Minor)
(4:20)  2. Frances' Theme (From the Film "The Day of the Animals")
(6:16)  3. Macumba
(2:51)  4. Eagles in Love (From the Film "The Eagle Has Landed")
(4:13)  5. Theme from "King Kong" (From the Paramount Film "King Kong")
(2:43)  6. Most Wanted Theme
(6:09)  7. Midnight Woman
(4:48)  8. Roller Coaster (From the Universal Film "Rollercoaster")
(4:41)  9. Eagles in Love (From the Film "The Eagle Has Landed") - Alt. Take

After scoring an unexpected high-profile success with the disco/jazz fusion of Black Widow, Lalo Schifrin quickly recorded a follow-up album in a similar vein. 1977's Towering Toccata replicates the elegant yet dance-friendly style of Black Widow to the tee, right down to the unconventional cover choices. The best of these is the title track, an insistently rhythmic piece that transforms Bach's gothic-organ extravaganza "Toccata and Prelude in F Minor" into a mid-tempo disco workout that backs up Schifrin's jazzy explorations on the electric piano and synthesizer with scratching rhythm guitar and a pronounced dance beat. Other notable moments on this album include "Most Wanted Theme," which is transformed from action-show theme music into a symphonic funk workout, and "Rollercoaster," a funky vamp from the Schifrin soundtrack of the same name that is ideally suited for Towering Toccata's disco/jazz mindset. There is even another monster-movie theme cover in the vein of the previous album's "Jaws"; this time, it's a disco-friendly treatment of John Barry's "Theme From King Kong" that layers atmospheric horn and flute lines over a bottom-heavy rhythm section fueled by wah-wah guitar and synth bass. However, other tracks on Towering Toccata fail to be as distinctive or adventurous as these highlights. For instance, the original tunes ("Macumba," "Midnight Woman") fit the album's mood but are lacking strong hooks and memorable twists in their arrangements that distinguished the originals on Black Widow. This problem of inconsistent material, combined with the fact that the album is basically a stylistic carbon copy of its predecessor, means that it isn't the ideal follow-up to Black Widow that Schifrin fans might have hoped for. That said, the album has enough strong tunes and enough of a consistent sound to please hardcore Lalo Schifrin fans and anyone who loved Black Widow. ~ Donald A.Guarisco https://www.allmusic.com/album/towering-toccata-mw0000742076

Personnel: Lalo Schifrin - piano, keyboards, arranger, conductor; Burt Collins, John Frosk, John Gatchell - trumpet; Urbie Green - trombone; Joe Farrell, Jeremy Steig - flute; Gerry Niewood - alto saxophone; David Tofani, Lou Marini - tenor saxophone, flute; Ronnie Cuber - baritone saxophone; Clark Spangler - keyboards; Eric Gale, John Tropea - guitar; Will Lee - bass; Steve Gadd - drums, dahka-de-bello; Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Charles Libove, Marvin Morgenstern, David Nadien, Max Pollikoff, Matthew Raimondi - violin; Lamar Alsop, Manny Vardi - viola; Charles McCracken, Alan Shulman - cello

Towering Toccata

Friday, May 24, 2019

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

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Oscar Pettiford - The Manhattan Jazz Septette

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:13
Size: 167,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:46)  1. King Porter Stomp
(2:59)  2. Never Never Land
(2:51)  3. Like Listen
(2:54)  4. Since When
(2:25)  5. Love of My Live
(2:34)  6. Rapid Transit
(3:23)  7. Flute Cocktail
(3:41)  8. At Bat for K.C.
(3:15)  9. Do You Know What It Means to Miss new orleans ?
(3:10) 10. My Shining Hour
(3:17) 11. Thou Svelt
(2:13) 12. There'll Never Be Another You
(2:47) 13. Bull Market
(3:12) 14. Portrait of Jennie
(2:32) 15. Judy's Jaunt
(2:51) 16. Nina Never Knew
(3:15) 17. Walking Down
(3:13) 18. Gal in Calico
(2:59) 19. I Like to Recognise the Tune
(3:10) 20. Any Place I Hang My Hat
(2:51) 21. Love Is for the Very Young
(2:54) 22. Holiday
(3:14) 23. Ya' Gotta Have Rhythm
(2:37) 24. What Am I Here For

An impressive album presented here for the first time on CD, which combines great soloists with sophisticated arrangements by Manny Albam. As a bonus, we present another complete album, Guitar and the Wind, including many of the same musicians as our primary recording (Urbie Green, Eddie Costa, Osie Johnson and Barry Galbraith, who was the leader), and bearing a similar musical concept. This album was recorded exactly two years after the Manhattan Jazz Septette session and also includes brilliant saxophonist Bobby Jaspar and bassist Milt Hinton instead of Pettiford. 24 tracks total. Lonehill Jazz. 2006. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Manhattan-Jazz-Septette-Oscar-Pettiford/dp/B000HIVPK4

Personnel: Oscar Pettiford (b), Urbie Green (tb), Hal McKusick (as), Herbie Mann (fl, ts), Eddie Costa (p, vib), Barry Galbraith (g), Osie Johnson (d), Manny Albam (arr).

The Manhattan Jazz Septette

Friday, May 3, 2019

Urbie Green - Thou Swell

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:55
Size: 62,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:22)  1. Thou Swell
(3:03)  2. Paradise
(2:48)  3. One For Dee
(2:50)  4. Warm Valley
(1:52)  5. Frankie And Johnny
(4:23)  6. You Are Too Beautiful
(2:07)  7. Limehouse Blues
(3:19)  8. Reminiscent Blues
(3:06)  9. Am I Blue

A fine jazz player with a beautiful tone who has spent most of his career in the studios, Urbie Green is highly respected by his fellow trombonists. He started playing when he was 12; was with the big bands of Tommy Reynolds, Bob Strong, and Frankie Carle as a teenager; and worked with Gene Krupa during 1947-1950. Green had a stint with Woody Herman's Third Herd, appeared on some of the famous Buck Clayton jam sessions (1953-1954), and was with Benny Goodman off and on during 1955-1957. He played with Count Basie in 1963, and spent a period in the 1960s fronting the Tommy Dorsey ghost band (1966-1967), but has mostly stuck to studio work. Urbie Green recorded frequently as a leader in the 1950s up to 1963 (for Blue Note, Vanguard, Bethlehem, ABC-Paramount, and dance band-oriented records for RCA and Command). He has appeared much less often in jazz settings since then, but did make two albums for CTI in 1976-1977. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/urbie-green-mn0000300013/biography

Thou Swell

Sunday, April 28, 2019

Urbie Green - The Fox

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:44
Size: 89,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:15)  1. Another Star
(2:58)  2. Goodbye
(4:56)  3. Mertensia
(3:59)  4. You Don't Know What Love Is
(6:35)  5. Manteca
(7:26)  6. Foxglove Suite
(5:32)  7. Please Send Me Someone to Love

Smooth and silky jazz funk from trombonist Urbie Green a record that's much more in a mainstream R&B fusion mode than his earlier work yet also arranged by David Matthews in a soulful style that still keeps things pretty real on the best cuts! The group's a good one for the mellow groove of the material – and includes Mike Mainieri on keyboards, Eric Gale on guitar, Jeremy Steig on flute, and Toots Thielemans laying down a bit of harmonica all kicking back in classic 70s CTI styles. Titles include the nice modal groover "Mertensia", plus "Manteca", "Foxglove Suite", "Another Star", and "Goodbye".  © 1996-2019, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/51056/Urbie-Green:Fox

Personnel:  Urbie Green - trombone; Joe Farrell - flute, soprano saxophone; Jeremy Steig - flute; Fred Gripper - electric piano; Barry Miles - piano, keyboards; Mike Abene - piano; Eric Gale - guitar; Anthony Jackson - electric bass; George Mraz - bass; Jimmy Madison, Andy Newmark - drums; Mike Mainieri - vibraphone; Toots Thielemans - harmonica, whistle; Sue Evans, Nicky Marrero - percussion; David Matthews - arranger, footsteps

The Fox

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Urbie Green - 'Round Midnight

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:19
Size: 74,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:23)  1. Round Midnight
(2:32)  2. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home
(2:39)  3. Cherokee
(3:15)  4. Dinner For One, Please James
(3:23)  5. Home, Cradle Of Happiness
(3:33)  6. I Ain't Got Nobody
(3:27)  7. I Won't Dance
(3:16)  8. It Must Be True
(3:39)  9. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(3:08) 10. Little John

A fine jazz player with a beautiful tone who has spent most of his career in the studios, Urbie Green is highly respected by his fellow trombonists. He started playing when he was 12; was with the big bands of Tommy Reynolds, Bob Strong, and Frankie Carle as a teenager; and worked with Gene Krupa during 1947-1950. Green had a stint with Woody Herman's Third Herd, appeared on some of the famous Buck Clayton jam sessions (1953-1954), and was with Benny Goodman off and on during 1955-1957. He played with Count Basie in 1963, and spent a period in the 1960s fronting the Tommy Dorsey ghost band (1966-1967), but has mostly stuck to studio work. Urbie Green recorded frequently as a leader in the 1950s up to 1963 (for Blue Note, Vanguard, Bethlehem, ABC-Paramount, and dance band-oriented records for RCA and Command). He has appeared much less often in jazz settings since then, but did make two albums for CTI in 1976-1977. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/urbie-green-mn0000300013/biography

'Round Midnight

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Buck Clayton - Junpin' At The Woodside

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:54
Size: 80,3 MB
Art: Front

( 8:02)  1. Rock-A-Bye Basie
(10:37)  2. Junpin' At The Woodside
( 6:36)  3. Blue And Sentimental
( 9:37)  4. Broaway

The Buck Clayton jam sessions of the mid-'50s led to writer Stanley Dance coining the term "mainstream" to describe swing-oriented veterans of the era. This out-of-print LP, whose contents have been reissued by Mosaic in their six-CD Buck Clayton box set, has a variety of top mainstream all-stars jamming on four songs associated with Count Basie. 

The music is taken from three different sessions, with this version of "Jumpin' at the Woodside" splicing together the best of two completely different performances. The lineup of top players (including trumpeters Clayton, Joe Newman and Ruby Braff, trombonists Trummy Young, Urbie Green and Benny Green, clarinetist Woody Herman and tenors Coleman Hawkins, Al Cohn, Buddy Tate and Lem Davis among others) gives one a good idea as to the high quality of the music.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/jumpin-at-the-woodside-mw0000871165

Personnel:  Buck Clayton – trumpet;  Joe Newman (tracks 2 & 3), Joe Thomas (track 2) – trumpet;  Ruby Braff – cornet (tracks 1 & 4);  Bennie Green (tracks 1 & 4), Urbie Green (tracks 2 & 3), Dicky Harris (tracks 1 & 4), Trummy Young (track 2) – trombone;  Woody Herman – clarinet (track 2);  Lem Davis – alto saxophone (tracks 2 & 3);  Al Cohn (track 2), Julian Dash (track 2), Coleman Hawkins (tracks 1–4), Buddy Tate (tracks 1 & 4) – tenor saxophone;  Charles Fowlkes – baritone saxophone (tracks 2 & 3);  Jimmy Jones (track 2), Billy Kyle (tracks 2 & 3) – piano, celeste;  Al Waslohn – piano (tracks 1 & 4);  Steve Jordan (tracks 1, 2 & 4), Freddie Green (tracks 2 & 3) – guitar;  Milt Hinton (tracks 1–4), Walter Page (track 2) – bass;  Jo Jones – drums;  Jack Ackerman – tap dancing (track 1).

Junpin' At The Woodside

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Buck Clayton Jam Session - How Hi The Fi

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:35
Size: 125,3 MB
Art: Front

(13:50)  1. How hi the fi
(14:10)  2. Blue moon
(13:47)  3. Sentimental journey
(12:46)  4. Moten swing

The first of the famous Buck Clayton jam sessions, the exciting music on this long out-of-print LP has been reissued as part of a Mosaic box set. Two songs ("Sentimental Journey" and "Moten Swing") are from a December 1953 session in which the trumpeter/leader is teamed with trumpeter Joe Newman, trombonists Urbie Green and Benny Powell, altoist Lem Davis, Julian Dash on tenor, baritonist Charlie Fowlkes, pianist Sir Charles Thompson, guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Walter Page and drummer Jo Jones. However it is "How Hi the Fi" (cut along with "Blue Moon" on March 31, 1954) that is most memorable. Buck and fellow trumpeter Joe Thomas, trombonists Urbie Green and Trummy Young, clarinetist Woody Herman, Davis and Dash, Al Cohn on second tenor, pianist Jimmy Jones, guitarist Steve Jordan, bassist Walter Page and drummer Jo Jones are all in inspired form. The most memorable soloists are the rambunctious Trummy Young, the harmonically advanced chordings of Jimmy Jones and an exuberant Woody Herman who was rarely heard in this type of jam session setting. 

With Clayton having worked out some ensemble riffs for the horns beforehand and plenty of space left for spontaneity, this music has plenty of magic.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/how-hi-the-fi-mw0000868476

Personnel:  Buck Clayton – trumpet;  Joe Newman (tracks 3 & 4), Joe Thomas (tracks 1 & 2) – trumpet;  Urbie Green, Benny Powell (tracks 3 & 4), Trummy Young (tracks 1 & 2) – trombone;  Woody Herman – clarinet (tracks 1 & 2);  Lem Davis – alto saxophone;  Al Cohn (tracks 1 & 2), Julian Dash – tenor saxophone;  Charles Fowlkes – baritone saxophone (tracks 3 & 4);  Jimmy Jones (tracks 1 & 2), Sir Charles Thompson (tracks 3 & 4) – piano;  Steve Jordan (tracks 1 & 2), Freddie Green (tracks 3 & 4) – guitar;  Walter Page – bass;  Jo Jones – drums.

How Hi The Fi

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Buck Clayton - The Golden Days Of Jazz (Swingin' Buck Clayton Jams Count Basie & Benny Goodman)

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:31
Size: 177,6 MB
Art: Front

(25:25)  1. Christopher Columbus
( 9:21)  2. Don't Be That Way
( 8:30)  3. Undecided
( 8:05)  4. Rock-A-Bye Basie
(10:28)  5. Jumpin' At The Woodside
( 6:26)  6. Blue & Sentimental
( 9:12)  7. Broadway

An excellent bandleader and accompanist for many vocalists, including Billie Holiday, Buck Clayton was a valued soloist with Count Basie Orchestra during the '30s and '40s, and later was a celebrated studio and jam session player, writer, and arranger. His tart, striking tone and melodic dexterity were his trademark, and Clayton provided several charts for Basie's orchestra and many other groups. Clayton began his career in California, where he organized a big band that had a residency in China in 1934. When he returned, Clayton led a group and played with other local bands. During a 1936 visit to Kansas City, he was invited to join Basie's orchestra as a replacement for Hot Lips Page. Clayton was also featured on sessions with Lester Young, Teddy Wilson, and Holiday in the late '30s. He remained in the Basie band until 1943, when he left for army service. After leaving the army, Clayton did arrangements for Basie, Benny Goodman, and Harry James before forming a sextet in the late '40s. He toured Europe with this group in 1949 and 1950. Clayton continued heading a combo during the '50s, and worked with Joe Bushkin, Tony Parenti, and Jimmy Rushing, among others. He organized a series of outstanding recordings for Columbia in the mid-'50s under the title Jam Session (compiled and reissued by Mosaic in 1993). There were sessions with Rushing, Ruby Braff, and Nat Pierce. Clayton led a combo with Coleman Hawkins and J.J. Johnson at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival, then reunited with Goodman in 1957 at the Waldorf Astoria. There was another European tour, this time with Mezz Mezzrow. He appeared in the 1956 film The Benny Goodman Story and played the 1958 Brussels World Fair with Sidney Bechet. Clayton later made another European visit with a Newport Jazz Festival tour. He joined Eddie Condon's band in 1959, a year after appearing in the film Jazz on a Summer's Day. Clayton toured Japan and Australia with Condon's group in 1964, and continued to revisit Europe throughout the '60s, often with Humphrey Lyttelton's band, while playing festivals across the country. But lip and health problems virtually ended his playing career in the late '60s. After a period outside of music, Clayton once again became active in music, this time as a non-playing arranger, touring Africa as part of a State Department series in 1977. He provided arrangements and compositions for a 1974 Lyttleton and Buddy Tate album, and did more jam session albums for Chiaroscuro in 1974 and 1975. He also became an educator, teaching at Hunter College in the early '80s. Clayton led a group of Basie sidemen on a European tour in 1983, then headed his own big band in 1987 that played almost exclusively his compositions and arrangements. That same year Clayton's extensive autobiography Buck Clayton's Jazz World, with Nancy Miller-Elliot, was published.~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buck-clayton-mn0000634674/biography

Personnel: Trumpet, Liner Notes – Buck Clayton;   Alto Saxophone – Lem Davis;  Baritone Saxophone – Charlie Fowlkes;  Bass – Milt Hinton, Walter Page;  Clarinet – Woody Herman, Drums – Jo Jones;  Guitar – Freddie Green, Steve Jordan;  Piano – Al Washlon, Billy Kyle, Jimmy Jones, Charles Thompson;  Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Buddy Tate, Coleman Hawkins, Julian Dash;  Trombone – Bennie Green, Dick Harris, Henderson Chambers, Trummy Young, Urbie Green;  Trumpet – Joe Newman, Joe Thomas, Ruby Braff 

The Golden Days Of Jazz (Swingin' Buck Clayton Jams Count Basie & Benny Goodman)

Monday, April 30, 2018

Clea Bradford - ...Now

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:09
Size: 75.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1965/2018
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. Row, Row, Row
[3:20] 2. Don't Let It Rain On My Parade
[2:35] 3. Hey Look Me Over
[3:43] 4. Once Upon A Time
[2:51] 5. The Other Half Of Me
[2:52] 6. All Around The World
[2:12] 7. I Had A Ball
[3:02] 8. Ol' Man River
[2:25] 9. Come Rain Or Shine
[2:16] 10. After You
[2:49] 11. What's A Poor Fool To Do
[2:12] 12. Little Boy Bad

Bass – George Duvivier, Milt Hinton; Cello – Alla Goldberg, Tony Sophos, Pete Makas; Drums – Osie Johnson; Flute, Clarinet – Joe Soldo, Leon Cohen; Flute, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Bob Tricarico, Romeo Penque, Sid Cooper, Stan Webb, Walter Levinsky; Trombone – Eddie Bert, John Messner, Tony Studd, Urbie Green; Viola – Alfred Brown, David Mankovitz, Emanuel Vardi; Violin – Anthony Zungolo, Ariana Bronne, Bernard Eichen, Fred Buldrini, Jack Zayde, Joe Cali, Norman Carr, Pete Buonconsiglio, Walter Legawiec; Vocals – Clea Bradford.

Exuberant jazz and blues vocalist who had series of good albums released in '60s, enjoyed some success with Cadet in late '60s, though these were more soul-oriented records arranged by Richard Evans. She had more straight jazz sessions with Clark Terry, Oliver Nelson and others on Mainstream, Tru-Sound. ~Ron Wynn

...Now mc
...Now zippy

Thursday, April 26, 2018

Jimmy Smith - The Cat

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:20
Size: 77,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:44)  1. Theme from Joy House
(3:29)  2. The Cat
(4:05)  3. Basin Street Blues
(3:59)  4. Main Title from The Carpetbaggers
(4:01)  5. Chicago Serenade
(3:22)  6. St. Louis Blues
(4:52)  7. Delon's Blues
(4:45)  8. Blues in the Night

Compared to his earlier Blue Note recordings, organist Jimmy Smith's outings for Verve are not as strong from a jazz standpoint. Certainly his renditions of the "Theme from Joy House," "The Cat," and the "Main Title from The Carpetbaggers" are not all that significant. However, this set has some tasteful arrangements for the big band by Lalo Schifrin, and some good playing by the great organist on a variety of other blues-oriented material. Also, the combination of organ with a big band is sometimes quite appealing, making this album worth picking up despite its commercial focus. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-cat-mw0000188691

Personnel: Jimmy Smith (organ); Lalo Schifrin (conductor); Bernie Glow, Jimmy Maxwell, Marky Markowitz, Thad Jones, Ernie Royal, Snooky Young (trumpet); Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green (trombone); Tony Studd (bass trombone); Ray Alonge, Earl Chapin, Bill Correa, Jimmy Buffington (French horn); Don Butterfield (tuba); Kenny Burrell (guitar); George Duvivier (bass); Grady Tate (drums); Phil Kraus (percussion)

The Cat

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Ray Brown, Milt Jackson - Ray Brown, Milt Jackson

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:13
Size: 92.1 MB
Styles: Bop, Big band
Year: 1965/1982
Art: Front

[5:30] 1. Lined With A Groove
[4:33] 2. For Someone I Love
[4:15] 3. Dew And Mud
[6:15] 4. I Just Can't Fool Myself
[4:49] 5. Lazy Theme
[5:12] 6. Now Hear My Meaning
[6:01] 7. In A Crowd
[3:35] 8. Monterey Mist

Bass, Leader – Ray Brown; Drums – Al Heath, Grady Tate; French Horn – Ray Alonge; Piano – Hank Jones; Saxophone – Danny Bank, Jerome Richardson, Jimmy Heath, Phil Woods, Bob Ashton, Romeo Penque; Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland, Tom McIntosh, Tony Studd, Urbie Green; Trumpet – Ernie Royal, Eugene Young; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry; Vibraphone [Vibes], Leader – Milt Jackson.

Ray Brown, Milt Jackson mc
Ray Brown, Milt Jackson zippy

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Jim Chapin - Jim Chapin Sextet And Octet (Feat. Phil Woods)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:17
Size: 160.9 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:31] 1. In A Little Spanish Town
[6:34] 2. Cherokee
[4:26] 3. The Goof And I
[4:25] 4. Sonny's Tune
[4:31] 5. Blue Lou
[3:56] 6. Woodlore
[4:03] 7. Little Marty
[4:17] 8. Jazz Crossroads
[4:46] 9. Cotton Tail
[5:13] 10. Pink Ice
[5:02] 11. Like Help!
[2:23] 12. I May Be Wrong
[5:02] 13. Say What
[6:30] 14. I'll Take Romance
[5:31] 15. The Lady Is A Tramp

Don Stratton, Jimmy Nottingham (tp), Billy Byers, Urbie Green (tb), Phil Woods, George Dorsey (as), Bob Wilber (ts), Sonny Truitt, Hank Jones (p), Chuck Andrus, Wilbur Ware (b), Jim Chapin (d).

Sources:Tracks #1-4, originally issued on a 10" LP as "Jim Chapin Ensemble" (Prestige PRLP213); Tracks #1-4, plus #5-8 issued on a 12" LP as "The Jim Chapin Sextet" (Classic Jazz CJ-6); Tracks #9-15, issued on a 12" LP as "Profile of a Jazz Drummer Skin Tight" (Classic Jazz CJ-7). 24-Bit Digitally Remastered.

A name new to me and possibly to many readers, Jim Chapin was regarded highly as a drumming technician and educator, the author of at least two big-selling books, star of an instructional video and a regular at drum clinics. High-profile jazz gigs were not his style, and this album contains his only recordings as a group leader.

There’s quite a contrast between the sessions. The first perhaps owes something to the Shorty Rogers Giants, given credence by the fact Chapin had sat in with Rogers and colleagues at the Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach. Phil Woods is suitably boppish on Cherokee, but often recalls the sweeter tones of Art Pepper, with his own Jazz Crossroads and the eponymous tune by Sonny Truitt both evoking a decidely West Coast feel - incidentally, there cannot be many examples on record of Woods the arranger, more’s the pity on the evidence here. If you were asked to guess who led the group, the drummer would be in the frame. By the next date, drums are everywhere. We are told Chapin got together with Bob Wilber, who did the actual arrangements, and what they came up with was a kind of mini-Buddy Rich effect. Not to put down the level of solos: Wilber stomps engagingly on every track and Urbie Green justifies his high reputation, though Jimmy Nottingham’s habit of bursting into solos at full blast seems more suited to a big band. In short, worth checking out for scarcity value, with the assurance that the best bits are pretty good. ~Ronald Atkins

Jim Chapin Sextet And Octet(Feat. Phil Woods)

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Urbie Green - The Persuasive Trombone Of Urbie Green

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:54
Size: 77.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Trombone jazz
Year: 1972/2010
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. At Last
[3:29] 2. Prisoner Of Love
[3:03] 3. Dream
[2:50] 4. I've Heard That Song Before
[2:55] 5. Moonlight Serenade
[2:40] 6. Stairway To The Stars
[2:42] 7. Let's Fall In Love
[2:47] 8. My Silent Love
[2:14] 9. My Melancholy Baby
[2:29] 10. I Had The Craziest Dream
[2:48] 11. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
[3:08] 12. I Can't Get Started

This killer set combines both volumes of master Urbie Green's early-'60s The Persuasive Trombone of Urbie Green recordings on a single disc. The sessions for these dates took place between 1960 and 1962, and featured two different bands. The first sessions feature cats like Hal McKusick, Milt Hinton, Doc Severinsen, a very young Rolf Kuhn, and Detroit baritone boss Pepper Adams. The track list is impressive as well: Johnny Mercer's "Dream," a romping reading of "I Can't Get Started," and Johnny Burke's "It Could Happen to You." The latter volume keeps Hinton and Severinsen on some tunes but adds the great vibraphonist Eddie Costa, and baritone saxophonist Stan Webb replaces Adams. The program is equally divided between ballads and swinging modern big-band material, including great arrangements of "Skylark" and "I Fall in Love Too Easily." If this weren't enough, to fill out the CD the producers added four numbers from Green's sextet sessions, including "On a Slow Boat to China" and "Poor Soul," with some beautiful interplay between the leader and Costa. It seems Lonehill Jazz always does it right. ~Thom Jurek

The Persuasive Trombone Of Urbie Green

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Irene Kral - The Band And I / Steveireneo!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:53
Size: 144.0 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:10] 1. I'd Know You Anywhere
[3:40] 2. Detour Ahead
[2:35] 3. Comes Love
[1:59] 4. Everybody Knew But Me
[2:52] 5. Lazy Afternoon
[2:58] 6. What's Right For You
[2:43] 7. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
[2:55] 8. Memphis In June
[2:04] 9. This Little Love
[2:32] 10. The Night We Called It A Day
[2:29] 11. It Isn't So Good
[2:11] 12. Something To Remember You By
[2:21] 13. Too Late The Spring
[2:26] 14. Run (Don't Walk)
[2:27] 15. The Best Time Of The Day
[2:28] 16. Yes
[2:46] 17. There He Goes
[3:03] 18. And Even Then
[3:02] 19. Houseboat
[2:02] 20. Cool Blue
[2:30] 21. What Is A Woman
[2:49] 22. Spring Is Where You Are
[2:58] 23. Impossible
[2:42] 24. Pleasant Dreams

Twofer: Tracks #1-12 from the United Artists 12" LP "The band and I" (UAS 5016); Tracks #13-24 from the United Artists 12" LP "Steveireneo!" (UAS 6052). Irene Kral (vcl), with Herb Pomeroy, Lenny Johnson, Joe Newman (tp), Urbie Green (tb), Charlie Mariano, Zoot Sims, Danny Bank (saxes), Joe Venuto (vib), Ray Santisi, Hank Jones (p), Jimmy Raney (g), John Neves (b), Jimmy Zitano, Charlie Persip (d).

The Band and I was the debut album of the great Irene Kral. On it the outstanding young vocalist, who first came to prominence with Maynard Fergusons band, had the benefit of Herb Pomeroys celebrated big band which, though it had never featured a vocalist before, gave her a backing that no orchestra composed of studio musicians could match. She responded with innate jazz feeling, sensitive phrasing and a warm, unaffected sound. Singer and big band are well served by the excellent Al Cohn and Ernie Wilkins charts.

On Steveireneo!, her second album, she handles a dozen of Steve Allens songs with complete command. Under the direction of Al Cohn, the band ideally complements her singing; Cohns well-conceived arrangements are, like everything he did, extremely musical. And the front-rank East Coast personnel consistently deliver fine solos in a savoury showcase for a superior singer.

The Band I/Steveireneo!

Friday, October 16, 2015

Dinah Washington - Sings The Standards

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:23
Size: 119.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[2:08] 1. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
[2:04] 2. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
[2:17] 3. Call Me Irresponsible
[3:11] 4. For All We Know
[3:30] 5. The Man That Got Away
[2:26] 6. Fly Me To The Moon
[2:52] 7. Coquette
[2:15] 8. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
[4:05] 9. There Must Be A Way
[2:38] 10. Let Me Be The First To Know
[2:31] 11. Destination Moon
[2:44] 12. You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You
[2:30] 13. Red Sails In The Sunset
[2:59] 14. Lover Man
[2:53] 15. I'll Be Around
[3:07] 16. Say It Isn't So
[2:04] 17. What Kind Of Fool Am I
[3:27] 18. These Foolish Things
[2:31] 19. Don't Say Nothing At All

Creating yet another series to justify reissuing material from its vaults, this Verve Jazz Masters entry raids albums Dinah Washington recorded for the Mercury label from 1952 through 1958. This is the second Dinah Washington compilation in this series. Although advertised as an album of standards, Washington avoids making these tunes come across as the romantic warhorses most of them are. Rather, her gospel-inspired voice conveys the song's message with a blues, funky tinge that always distinguished her from the rest of the crowd since she began her career at the age of 15. On these tracks, Washington is joined by the crème de la crème of jazz musicians who were part of the Mercury stable during these years. While some of the arrangements were not all that creative, Washington's inimitable style and the playing of her fellow musicians make up for any shortcomings. "I'll Remember April" is an 11-plus minute jam session spotlighting solos by Clifford Brown, Harold Land, Herb Geller, and Junior Mance (or Richie Powell). Washington swings hard on "They Didn't Believe Me" in front of a big band led by Quincy Jones and then goes sentimental on "You Go to My Head" before seguing into a second chorus behind a Latin beat. On the latter track Washington and the unknown group backing her is energized by the urging of a live audience. There's more Latin on "I've Got You Under My Skin" built around the trumpet trio of Clifford Brown, Clark Terry, and Maynard Ferguson. (The liner notes listing of personnel for this track are incorrect). While the album has several excellent instrumental solos, none is better than Rick Henderson's extended alto sax work on "Blue Skies." There's a relaxed traditional jazz atmosphere underlying "All of Me" with Washington chatting away in the background during solos by vibist Terry Gibbs and trombonist Urbie Green. Whatever style or beat, each tune is delivered by Washington's instantly recognizable penetrating but tender voice, buttressed by her consistently precise enunciation. This more than an hour long album is a worthy tribute to the one of a kind vocal skills of Dinah Washington. ~Dave Nathan

Sings The Standards

Monday, August 31, 2015

J.J. Johnson & Kai Winding - Jay & Kay + 6

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:28
Size: 80,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:57)  1. Night In Tunisia
(2:38)  2. Piece For Two Tromboniums
(2:18)  3. Rise 'N' Shine
(2:34)  4. All At Once You Love Her
(3:26)  5. No Moon At All
(2:04)  6. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
(2:28)  7. The Peanut Vendor
(3:00)  8. You're My Thrill
(2:35)  9. Jeanne
(3:58) 10. Four Plus Four
(3:30) 11. You Don't Know What Love Is
(2:53) 12. The Continental

It was around the years when this recording was made that trombone groups, whether they be choirs, quartets, septets, or some other configuration, were in vogue. Kai Winding recorded several during the 1950s with his own group and with his oftentimes playing partner, J.J. Johnson. This album is the product of one of those occasions. Recorded over a three-day period in 1956 and originally issued on a Columbia LP, Johnson and Winding are joined by fellow slide instrumentalists Bob Alexander, Eddie Bert, Urbie Green, Jimmy Cleveland, Tom Mitchell, and Bart Varsalona, the latter two on bass trombone, plus an all-star rhythm section of Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, and Osie Johnson. Also somewhat of an item during this period was the trombonium, an upright valve trombone resembling a euphonium. Johnson and Winding use this instrument on some of the cuts, including "A Night in Tunisia" and "Piece for Two Tromboniums." 

The playing here is simply terrific, as one would expect from this eminent cast of trombonists. The only problem is that after a while, one begins to yearn for some other horns, especially the sax, to get a change in the harmonics and voicings. Nonetheless, the playing, both solo and in ensemble, is brilliant and is a prime example of how the trombone had evolved from essentially a tailgate to an instrument that could execute fast-moving bop tunes and use a controlled vibrato and enveloping tone on slower numbers. There's plenty to choose from both categories on this session. The players on this album were in the vanguard of that metamorphosis. This LP richly deserved to be reissued on CD.~ Dave Nathan http://www.allmusic.com/album/jay-and-kai-6-the-jay-and-kai-trombone-octet-mw0000965548

Personnel:  J.J. Johnson - Trombone, Trombonium;  Kai Winding - Trombone, Trombonium;  Urbie Green – Trombone;  Bob Alexander – Trombone;  Eddie Bert – Trombone;  Jimmy Cleveland - Trombone; Tom Mitchell - Bass Trombone;  Bart Varsalona - Bass Trombone;  Hank Jones – Piano;  Milt Hinton – Bass;  Ray Brown – Bass;  Osie Johnson – Drums;  Candido Camero - Conga, Bongo

Jay & Kay + 6

Monday, August 3, 2015

Dick Hyman - From the Age of Swing

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:12
Size: 152,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:02)  1. From the Age of Swing
(4:24)  2. You're Driving Me Crazy/Moten Swing
(6:07)  3. Topsy
(3:24)  4. Moonglow
(4:51)  5. Them There Eyes
(6:05)  6. Dooji Wooji
(5:20)  7. Soft Winds
(4:48)  8. What Is There to Say?
(4:42)  9. 'Deed I Do
(4:31) 10. Rose Room
(3:23) 11. I Know What You Do
(5:34) 12. Mean to Me
(3:12) 13. I'm Getting Sentimental over You
(4:43) 14. From the Age of Swing (alternate take)

As the title implies, this is very much a swing set. Pianist Dick Hyman (a master of all pre-bop styles) has little difficulty emulating Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum and Count Basie (among others) plus his own style in an octet also featuring trumpeter Joe Wilder, trombonist Urbie Green, altoist-clarinetist Phil Bodner, baritonist Joe Temperley, rhythm guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Butch Miles and (on three tunes) altoist Frank Wess. The opening and closing numbers are ad-lib blues both titled "From the Age of Swing"; sandwiched in between are ten swing-era standards plus a couple of obscure Duke Ellington items. Among the highlights are "Topsy," "Them There Eyes," "Rose Room" and "Mean to Me." No real surprises occur, but mainstream fans should like this swinging set. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/from-the-age-of-swing-mw0000125036

Personnel: Dick Hyman (piano); Phil Bodner (alto saxophone, clarinet); Frank Wess (alto saxophone); Joe Temperley (baritone saxophone); Joe Wilder (trumpet, flugelhorn); Urbie Green (trombone); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Milt Hinton (acoustic bass); Butch Miles (drums).

From the Age of Swing