Artists: Shirley Scott, Clark Terry
     Album: Soul Duo
     Label: Impulse!
     Release Date: 1966
     Format: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Size: 86.0 MB
     Time: 37:52
     AMG Rating:

     This is one of organist Shirley Scott's lesser-known Impulse LPs (not yet reissued on CD), a quartet outing with flugelhornist Clark Terry, drummer Mickey Roker and either George Duvivier or Bob Cranshaw on bass. Together they perform four Scott originals, a pair of C.T.'s compositions, the swinging "Until I Met You" and the standard "Heat Wave." Although not playing with the force that Stanley Turrentine exhibited when jamming with the organist, Clark Terry adds humor and a wistfulness to the date that easily compensates.

REPOST! Clark Terry - American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz

     Artists: Paul Chambers, Tommy Flanagan
     Album: Motor City Scene: Complete Recordings
     Label: Lonehill Jazz
     Release Date: 1959, 1960, 2004
     Format: MP3@320
     Size: 171 MB
     Time: 75:03



     This sensational release features Paul Chambers and Tommy Flanagan with two all-star Detroit formations including such outstanding musicians as Thad and Elvin Jones, Donald Byrd, Pepper Adams, Billy Mitchell, Kenny Burrell and Louis Hayes, originally named as "Hey" Lewis for contractual purposes. Both sessions were recorded in studio. The majority of the compositions provided are by Thad Jones and Pepper Adams and the music never strays far from the sublime.

     Artist: Harold Land
     Album: A Lazy Afternoon
     Label: Postcards
     Release Date: 1995
     Format: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Size: 105 MB
     Time: 45:39



     Harold Land, a long underrated tenor giant based in Los Angeles, is quite melodic yet subtly explorative on his surprising disc. Backed by a string orchestra arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis and a rhythm section led by pianist Bill Henderson, Land explores dozen standards that are highlighted by "Nature Boy," "Invitation" and "You've Changed." He treats the melodies with respect and taste yet is not shy to stretch the music when called for. Harold Land plays beautifully throughout this memorable release. ~ Review by Scott Yanow, AMG.

     Artist: Wynton Kelly
     Album: Someday My Prince Will Come
     Label: Vee-Jay / Collectables
     Year: 1961, release - 2006
     Format: MP3@320
     Size: 181 MB
     Total time - 76:30
     AMG Rating:

     Pianist Wynton Kelly is heard on this CD reissue (the ten songs from the original LP plus five "new" alternate takes) with either bassist Sam Jones and drummer Jimmy Cobb or bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. His light touch and perfect taste are very much present along with a steady stream of purposeful single-note lines that are full of surprising twists. Trumpeter Lee Morgan and tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter drop by for one song (the blues "Wrinkles"), but otherwise this recommended set (a definitive Wynton Kelly release) showcases magical trio performances. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

REPOST! Wynton Kelly was born today, December 2!
Miles Davis назвал Келли гибридом Реда Гарлэнда и Билла Эванса. Это очень метко. Игра Келли сочетала в себе и бескомпромиссное следование неуклонному ритму (а la Red Garland), и в то же время выскальзывание из рамок, погружение в себя, что, как известно характерно для Эванса.

     Artist: Johnny Hodges
     Album: Rippin' and Runnin'
     Label: Verve
     Release Date: 1969 - Vinyl
     Format: MP3@320
     Size: 79.3 MB
     Time: 34:52

Artist: Hal Singer, Charlie Shavers
Album: Blue Stompin'
Label: Prestige/OJC
Year - 1959, release - 1995
Format: MP3@320
Size: 88.5 MB
Time: 38:51

This is a fun set of heated swing with early R&B overtones. The title cut is a real romp, with tenor saxophonist Hal Singer and trumpeter Charlie Shavers not only constructing exciting solos but riffing behind each other. With the exception of the standard "With a Song in My Heart," Singer and Shavers wrote the remainder of the repertoire, and with the assistance of a particularly strong rhythm section (pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Wendell Marshall and drummer Osie Johnson), there are many fine moments on this enjoyable set. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Art Pepper
     Album: Winter Moon
     Label: Galaxy/OJC
     Release Date: 1980
     Format: MP3@320
     Size: 132 MB
     Time: 58:01


     Art Pepper considered "Winter Moon" the best album he ever made, and he also considered "Our Song" the best song he has ever written. This is a gorgeous album.

REPOST! Art Pepper was born today, September 1, 1925!

      Artist: Duke Pearson
      Album: Wahoo!
      Label: Blue Note
      Release Date: 1964, CD 2004
      Format: MP3@320
      Size: 99.1 MB
      Time: 43:30

REPOST! Today's mr. Pearson's Birthday!
Duke Pearson - an American jazz pianist and composer was Blue Note producer and took a big part in shaping the Blue Note label's hard bop direction

     Artist: Junior Mance
     Album: Happy Time
     Label: Jazzland/OJC
     Release Date: 1962, CD 1999
     Format: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Size: 99.1 MB
     Time: 43:33



     Pianist Junior Mance was in excellent company on this inspired 1962 session with bassist Ron Carter and drummer Mickey Roker. Its unfortunate this trio only recorded together on this one date as their unity propels the blues, gospel, and bebop ideas Mance consistently feeds them. The program is highlighted by three Mance originals "Out South," "Taggie's Tune," and the torrid joy of the opening theme "Happy Time," along with versions of "Jitterbug Waltz," "Tin Tin Deo," and Mance at his soulful bluesy best on Clark Terry's "The Simple Waltz." ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide

 

     Artist: Grant Green
     Album: Feelin' the Spirit
     Label: Blue Note
     Release Date: 1962
     Format: MP3@320 kbit/s + Flac
     Size: 100 MB (MP3) + 276 MB (Flac)
     Time: 47:36 (MP3) + 47:11 (Flac)
     AMG Rating:

     Artist: Sonny Clark
     Album: Leapin' and Lopin'
     Label: Blue Note
     Release Date: 1961, CD 1987
     Format: MP3@320
     Size: 127 MB
     Time: 56:01

     Sonny Clark's final recording as a leader gives no hint as to his increasingly erratic lifestyle (he passed away in January 1963). Heading a quintet with trumpeter Tommy Turrentine, tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, bassist Butch Warren, and drummer Billy Higgins, Clark introduces such originals as the modestly titled "Somethin' Special," "Melody for C," and "Voodoo"; "Deep in a Dream" was the date's only standard. The CD reissue adds Clark's formerly unknown "Zellmar's Delight" and the alternate of "Melody for C" to the original six-song program. The music is high-quality hard bop and keeps Clark's record perfect. During his shortened life, every one of the albums that he led were excellent.

   Artist: Sonny Criss
   Album: Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool)
   Label: Prestige/OJC
   Release Date: 1968
   Format: MP3@320
   Size: 104 MB
   Time: 46:00

   For Sonny Criss this was an unusual date. The altoist is backed for the set by a nonet arranged by the great Los Angeles legend Horace Tapscott. The arrangements are challenging but complementary to Criss' style, and he is in top form on the six Tapscott originals. The CD reissue includes two additional alternate takes, and is highly recommended for both Criss' playing and Tapscott's writing.

     Artists: Paul Desmond & Jim Hall
     Album: Complete Recordings of the
                    Paul Desmond Quartet with Jim Hall
     Label: Mosaic
     Release Date: 1959
     Format: MP3@320
     Size: CD 1&2 321 MB, CD 3&4 315 MB
     Time: CD1 69:06, CD2 72:04, CD3 69:52, CD4 68:52
     AMG Rating:

     Artist: Denny Zeitlin
     Album: Live at the Trident - Shining Hour
     Label: Columbia, Sony
     Release Date: 1966
     Format: MP3@320 & Flac
     Size: 120 MB (MP3) or 441 MB (Flac)
     Time: 53:03
     AMG Rating:

     Pianist Denny Zeitlin's third Columbia release is a live session recorded during a break from his internship as a psychiatrist. With bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Jerry Granelli, it's clear that Zeitlin didn't ignore his jazz chops in spite of the long hours required of him in medicine. A lively take of "St. Thomas" and a wild free improvisation around "What Is This Thing Called Love?" are notable, but the premiere of his lovely ballad "Quiet Now" (which became a favorite of Bill Evans), heard in an unusually long arrangement, and another original, "Carole's Waltz," leave the most lasting impressions. Long out of print and deserving of reissue on CD, this collectible is worth searching for far and wide.

     Artist: Jimmy Hamilton
     Album: It's About Time
     Label: Prestige / Swingville
     Release Date: 1961
     Format: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Size: 86.7 MB
     Time: 38:05

     Hamilton did not record much as a leader, but did put together some fine sessions as his two sessions recorded two weeks apart in 1961 for Swingville (Prestige's mainstream offshoot). They spotlight Hamilton on both clarinet and tenor. “It's About Time!” offers a host of tuneful, loose blues, some of whose titles indicate the participants' collective sense of humor (”Stupid But Not Crazy,” “Nits and Wits”). The sextet finds Hamilton joined on the front line by fellow distinguished Ellingtonians Clark Terry and Britt Woodman, and both dates are graced by Tommy Flanagan's piano.

     Artist: Coleman Hawkins
     Album: Accent on Tenor Sax
     Label: Urania, Fresh Sounds
     Release Date: 1955
     Format: MP3@320
     Size: 92.2 MB
     Time: 40:32


     This is an underrated 1955 album by tenor great Coleman Hawkins.

     Artist: Johnny Smith
     Album: Moonlight in Vermont
     Release Date: 1952
     Label: Roost / Roulette
     Format: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Size: 102 MB
     Time: 45:08
     AMG Rating:

     Guitarist Johnny Smith will always be best remembered for his 1952 hit recording of "Moonlight in Vermont," a mellow ballad that also features Stan Getz. Smith, whose chordal-oriented style is self-taught, originally played trumpet, violin, and viola before switching to guitar. A studio musician from 1947 on, Smith's impressive technique and quiet sound made him in great demand even before "Moonlight" and, although he never had another hit, he was a popular attraction throughout the 1950s. After moving to Colorado in the 1960s he opened a music store, taught, and maintained a lower profile, occasionally recording in New York. -- by Scott Yanow, AMG.

     Composer: John Benson Brooks
     Artists: Julian "Cannonball" Adderley & Art Farmer     
     Album: Alabama Concerto
     Original Release: 1958, Release: 1992
     Label: Riverside, Original Jazz Classics
     Quality: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Size: 98.5 mb
     Time: 43:21 min

     Back in the early Seventies, a panel of British critics selected Alabama Concerto as one of the 200 essential jazz albums of the previous quarter-century.

     Artist: Paul Desmond
     Album: Live
     Label: A&M
     Release Date: 1975
     Format: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 182 MB
     Time: 80:10

     During his post-Brubeck years, altoist Paul Desmond was semiretired, only playing in public on an occasional basis. When he did perform, it was often with the tasteful Canadian guitarist Ed Bickert in a quiet pianoless quartet. This double LP, put out by John Snyder's Horizon subsidiary for A&M, is melodic, subtle and consistently swinging. Desmond and Bickert (along with bassist Don Thompson and drummer Jerry Fuller) clearly enjoyed themselves matching wits and wisdom on the altoist's "Wendy" and the seven superior standards (which include Desmond's "Take Five"). ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Sonny Stitt
     Album: Don't Call Me Bird!
     Label: Verve, Fresh Sounds
     Release Date: 1959, 2007
     Format: MP3@320
     Size: 147 MB
     Time: 64:45

     This combines Stitt's two albums from 1959 "Saxophone Supremacy" and "Sonny Stitt Swings the Most". His Quartet includes Lou Levy, Leroy Vinnegar, and Mel Lewis. Excellent music!