Artist: Etta James
     Album: The Chess Box
     Year: 1960; Release: 2000
     Label: Chess / Geffen
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 kbps
     Size: 481.69 MB (3 CD)

     Etta James is one of the towering figures of the blues, the foremost female blues vocalist of the second half of the 20th century, and the foundation of her legacy is her recordings for Chess Records in the '60s. Despite her reputation and enduring popularity, Etta didn't receive a box set retrospective between 1988 and 1990, the time when Chess was honoring such heavyweights as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Bo Diddley, and Willie Dixon with multi-disc retrospectives. They eased away from box sets during the '90s, only issuing a comprehensive double-disc Little Walter set early in the decade, but they finally returned to the sets in 2000 with a long-overdue Chess Box for Etta James. Like before, when they assembled terrific sets on Berry and Waters, they got it right. Collectors may find a favorite side missing, but the great majority of her best work for Argo, Cadet, and Chess is here. Although there are a handful of unreleased tracks, the point behind this set is to provide a thorough overview of the most pivotal years in James' career, and on that level, it succeeds tremendously. Like many career-spanning sets, it does dip slightly in quality on the last disc, but not enough to make this anything less than an essential addition to a thorough blues library, since even on the lesser material, she sounds terrific. As a matter of fact, it's rather astonishing how strong all these recordings are, from her terrific vocals to the songs themselves. It's a shame it didn't come out with the first round of Chess Boxes, but it was worth the wait. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

     Artist: Ernie Watts Quartet
     Album: Analog Man
     Label: Flying Dolphin
     Year: 2006, release: 2007
     Quality - mp3;192 kbps
     Size: 64:42
     Total time: 70:22




For veteran California saxophonist Ernie Watts, here is another example of why he is one of the finest exponents of modern jazz going. This CD is one in a long line, pre-and-post his work with Charlie Haden's Quartet West, that identifies him as an individualist. Since his sound on tenor so closely mirrors Michael Brecker's, and they are peers, the question will always be who came first, and who influenced who? Clearly John Coltrane's muse is extant in both, and they have developed personal voices. Analog Man succeeds on different levels. Franзois Moutin's "Clinton Parkview" is a fresh neo-bop piece with effortless, attractive rhythm changes. On soprano sax, of which Watts is an underrated giant, he displays flawless tone, technique, and unlimited sweetness on the modal "Paseando." The California band of Watts, not well known names nationally, acquit themselves well during the date, especially pianist Christof Saenger, who penned "Paseando." "Gee Baby," one of five Watts originals, shows a blues-jazz sensibility, the band swings hard on the Miles Davis/Victor Feldman hard bopper "Joshua," and he is masterful on the "My Special Angel" flavored ballad "Company." The first two tracks are really long, and may not have been the best lead-off numbers. The "Killer Joe" like easy swinging title track and Brecker-ish neo-bopper "Elements" could have been programmed later in the disc. It is a strong effort, not his best, but adds to the remarkable consistency Watts has enjoyed over his four decade career, and continues to maintain. This CD won the Independent Music Awards Best Jazz CD for 2007. ~ Michael G. Nastos, AMG

     Artist: The Bad Plus
     Album: Prog
     Label: EmArcy / Heads Up
     Year: 2006; Release: May 8, 2007
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 kbps
     Size: 160 MB

     Free from the confines of major label machinery, The Bad Plus returns to its independent roots fully rejuvenated with Prog, its fifth studio album and first on its own Do The Math imprint (distributed by Heads Up). Although a three-album tenure on Columbia Records brought The Bad Plus far greater recognition than its self-titled 2001 debut on the indie label Fresh Sound, it also seemed to gradually sap the trio of its vivaciousness.
     What was once a mark of distinction has become ubiquitous, as numerous jazz artists now mine the same contemporary pop landscape for inspiration. More than just masterful improvisers with a penchant for recasting unlikely populist material into ripe frameworks for improvisation, The Bad Plus delivers some of its finest writing to date. The infectious originals (mostly penned by bassist Reid Anderson) easily hold their own to the selected cover tunes, no easy feat considering their iconoclastic nature. >> more >>

     Artist: Freddie Redd
     Album: San Francisco Suite
     Label: Original Jazz Classics / Riverside
     Year: 1957, release 1990
     Format: FLAC & MP3@320 kbit/s
     Time: 40:54
     Size: 179 MB (flac) & 98 MB (MP3)





     This early recording by pianist Freddie Redd (a straight CD reissue of the original Riverside LP) features Redd's trio of the time, with bassist George Tucker and drummer All Dreares. The CD reissue is highlighted by the 13Ѕ-minute title piece, a suite that in its five melodies depicts the jazz life in San Francisco during the era. Redd shows potential both in his writing and his boppish playing. The remainder of the fine set has the group's interpretations of three other Redd originals and a trio of standards. An excellent effort. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Miles Davis
     Album: Miles in Tokyo
     Label: Sony BMG (2005)
     Format: FLAC + MP3 (320k/s)
     Size: 372 + 128 MB (inc. artwork)
     Total time: 54:15
     AMG Rating




After George Coleman left the Miles Davis Quintet, tenor-saxophonist Sam Rivers took his place for a short period including a tour of Japan. Davis did not care for Rivers's avant-garde style (they failed to develop any chemistry) and soon replaced him, but this live LP (originally only issued in Japan) survived to document this brief association. The music (five lengthy versions of standards) is actually of high quality with both Davis and Rivers in fine form and the young rhythm section (pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams) pushing the trumpeter/leader to open up his style.[ ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

     Artists - Zoot Sims , Al Cohn, Herbie Steward, Serge Chaloff
     Album -  The Four Brothers Together Again!
     Label - RCA Victor
     Release - 1993
     Quality - MP3@320kb/s
     Size - 57,1 Mb
     Total time: 35:10

     
The original "Four Brothers" as heard in the 1947-48 Woody Herman Orchestra were tenors Stan Getz, Zoot Sims and Herbie Steward and baritonist Serge Chaloff. In 1948 Al Cohn replaced Steward. In 1957 for this "reunion" session Getz was not available so instead Sims, Steward, Cohn and Chaloff were contacted. Accompanied by a rhythm section that includes pianist Elliott Lawrence, they naturally revived "Four Brothers" but otherwise mostly played newer songs by Gerry Mulligan, Manny Albam (who provided the date's arrangements), Lawrence, Cohn and Sims. Due to his bad health, Chaloff did not play many of the ensemble passages (Charlie O' Kane filled in) but he did take all of the solos; this would be his final recording. The music overall on this CD reissue is quite enjoyable and Sims, Cohn and Steward show how much they had grown during the previous decade. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

     Artist: Coleman Hawkins
     Album: Night Hawk
     Year: 1960; release 1991
     Label: Prestige / OJC
     Time: 40:30
     Format, bitrate: MP3/320 kbps
     Size: 94 MB

     NIGHT HAWK features Coleman Hawkins with one of his most noted disciples, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Indeed, Davis derived much of his sound and concept from the great Hawk. Together these two tenor legends embark on a journey through such familiar and diverse tunes as "There is No Greater Love" and "In a Mellow Tone."

     Artist: Dave Brubeck
     Album: Vocal Encounters
     Label: Columbia
     Years: 1960 - 1970; Release: 2001
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Time: 57:32
     Size: 66 + 66 MB


     Очень симпатичная, несложная для восприятия компиляция, где замечательный джазовый пианист аккомпанирует известнейшим вокалистам.

     Artist: Etta James
     Album: Changes
     Year: 1980
     Label: MCA Records
     Bitrate: 320kbps
     Total Size: 84.57 MB




Etta's continuing the funky styles of her Cadet years, but also adding in a bit more of a soul approach -- handled here by Allen Toussaint, who produced the album with his Sansu team in New Orleans. Etta's vocals are still quite strong, and actually sound better on the mellower soul numbers than the funky ones. Titles include "Who's Getting Your Love", "Night People", "With You In Mind", "Mean Mother", "Don't Stop", "Night By Night", and "Wheel Of Fire". ~ © 1996-2009, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

     Artist: Eugen Cicero
     Album: Rokoko Jazz 2
     Label: BMG, Japan/24-bit Mastering
     Year: rec. June 6,7 and 8, 1987/rel. Jan 1, 2000
     Format: MP 3 @ 320 Kb/s +(flac + cue+scan)
     Time: 51:25
     Size: 113.3 Mb + 351 Mb (flac)

     Artist - Duke Ellington
     Album - The Duke's Men: Small Group Vol.2 2CD
     Label - Columbia
     Years - 1938/1939, release - 1993
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 121+102 mb
     Total time: 60:31+57:00
     AMG Rating



Columbia/Legacy continued its Duke Ellington overview with a two-disc set featuring 43 recordings from 1938 and 1939 spotlighting breakout groups from the Ellington Orchestra. Although others were ostensibly heading these aggregations, Ellington was still aboard on piano, either writing the material, conducting it or influencing it with subtle, yet declarative voicings and his personality. Johnny Hodges & His Orchestra, Cootie Williams & His Rug Cutters, and Rex Stewart & His Fifty-Second Street Stompers were the three organizations spotlighted. These are rousing stompers, delightful ballads, period pieces and mostly first-rate numbers. The mastering featured the Cedar no-noise system, and the liners are comprehensive and authoritative. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide

     Artist: Diahann Carroll and the Andre Previn Trio
     Album: Porgy and Bess
     Year: 1959
     Label: DRG records
     Format: MP3 @ 320 Kbps
     Time: 33:53
     Size: 70.7 Mb

    

     Artist:Oliver Nelson
     Album:Screamin' The Blues
     Year: rec. May, 27 1960/Rel. 1991
     Label:Prestige
     Format: Mp3 @ 320Kbps
     Time: 40:00
     Size: 88.6 Mb
     AMG rating:

     

     Artist: Benny Golson
     Album: This Is For You John
     Label: Japanese Victor Co.
     Year: 1983,release:2000
     Format: mp3@320
     Size: 98MB
     Time: 42:47
     AMG rating



Dedicated to John Coltrane, with whom Golson jammed in Philadelphia as a teenager, this recording features a two-tenor lineup of Golson and Pharoah Sanders with a stellar rhythm section of pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Jack DeJohnette. While Sanders might seem a strange stylistic choice due to his scorching, free-style performances with Coltrane, he is, in fact, the only one of this group who recorded regularly with Coltrane, and he performs here totally within the hard bop context of the recording. Golson carefully chooses the tunes, including the lovely "Greensleeves," as well as four by Golson and one by Sanders. Most relate to Trane in some way, although Golson wisely eschews any kind of retrospective. Thankfully, too, the saxophonists never engage in any cutting, so the results are uniformly delightful, if somewhat conservative. ~ Steven Loewy, AMG

     Artist: Elmo Hope
     Album: Beacon & Celebrity Trio Recordings
     Label: Prevue
     Years: 1961 & 1962 , release: 2000
     Format: mp3@320
     Size: 123MB
     Time: 54:24



Elmo Hope's discography as a leader is rather small, due in part to his drug problems, but the fact that his two rather brief LP sessions from 1961 and 1962 (one for Beacon and the other for Celebrity, both long-defunct labels) are finally available in full on this compilation CD reissue is exciting news. Hope performs a dozen originals in a trio setting, with either Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones or the rather obscure Edward Warren and Granville Hogan on bass and drums, respectively; seven of the tracks are remakes of compositions recorded previously for Blue Note. While none of the newer versions overshadow the original recordings, due in part to the far inferior sound attained by the smaller labels versus what Rudy Van Gelder documented for producer Alfred Lion in the early '50s, the exotic "Stars Over Marakesh" and the driving hard bop of "Hot Sauce" are highlights. Hope's fans will want to hurry in acquiring this CD, due to the premature demise of the Prevue label. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

     Artist:Jimmy Smith
     Album: Jimmy Smith At the Organ Vol.1
     Label: Blue Note, Japan 1551
     Year :1957 (Release 2005)
     Format:: MP3@320 kb/s
     Time: 36:00
     Size: 48.8 MB

     Artists: Jimmy Smith
     Album: Jimmy Smith At the Organ Vol.2
     Label: Blue Note 1552/rem. in Japan
     Year: 1957 (Release 2005)
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kb/s
     Time: 33:34
     Size:46.5 MB

     Artists: Jimmy Smith
     Album: Jimmy Smith At the Organ Vol.3
     Label: Blue Note 1525
     Year:1956 (Release 2005)/rem.Japan
     Format: MP3@320 kb/s
     Time: 38:06
     Size: 53 MB
     AMG rating:

     Label: DRO EAST WEST 2002
     Quality CD: Mp3, 320 Kbps
     Time CD:55:27
     Size CD: 78+49 MB
     Format: XVID
     Video: 512x384, 25 fps, 185 Kb/s
     Audio: MP3 121 Kb/s, CH, 12bit
     Time: 1:04:24
     Size: 716 MB

     Artist: Duke Pearson Nonet
     Album: Honeybuns
     Label: Blue Note
     Release Date: 1965, CD 1998
     Format:flac
     Size: 191MB
     Time: 31:09




This 1998 Koch CD reissues a Duke Pearson LP from 1966, containing music from the previous year. Other than "Our Love" (a familiar classical theme adapted to American pop music by Larry Clinton), all six selections are originals by the pianist. Utilizing a nonet that includes trumpeter Johnny Coles (who does his best to be soulful on "Honeybuns"), trombonist Garnett Brown, flutist Les Spann, altoist James Spaulding, tenor saxophonist George Coleman, baritonist Pepper Adams, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Mickey Roker, Pearson performs music in a style that would have fit in quite well on Blue Note. Most memorable among his originals is "Is That So." This is not an essential date, but it is nice to have this rarity back in print again. [Collectables reissued the album in 2008.] ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide