18.3.24

ELLA FITZGERALD AND JOE PASS — Easy Living (1986-2011) RM | Original Jazz Classics Remasters Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For her third duo recording with guitarist Joe Pass, Ella Fitzgerald swings 15 mostly familiar standards that range from "My Ship" and "Don't Be That Way" to "Why Don't You Do Right?" and "On a Slow Boat to China." Although her voice was visibly fading, Fitzgerald's charm and sense of swing were still very much present. But this CD is not one of her more significant recordings, other than being one of the final chapters. Scott Yanow

Tracklist :
1 My Ship 4:24
2 Don't Be That Way 2:58
3 My Man 3:28
4 Don't Worry 'Bout Me 4:38
5 Days Of Wine And Roses 3:03
6 Easy Living 4:14
7 I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You 6:03
8 Love For Sale 4:38
9 Moonlight In Vermont 4:20
10 On Green Dolphin Street 3:27
11 Why Don't You Do Right? 2:56
12 By Myself 3:25
13 I Want A Little Girl 2:46
14 I'm Making Believe 2:37
15 On A Slow Boat To China 5:05
– BONUS TRACK –
16 Don't Be That Way (Take 3, Alternate)    3:12
17 Love For Sale (Take 1, Alternate)    4:27
Credits :
Guitar – Joe Pass
Vocals – Ella Fitzgerald

WES MONTGOMERY — Boss Guitar (1963-2010) RM | Serie Original Jazz Classics Remasters | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Before he moved away from straight-ahead jazz and starting playing what is now known as smooth jazz, Wes Montgomery was one of bop's finest guitarists. Montgomery's bop period ended much too soon, but thankfully, he recorded his share of rewarding bop albums when he was still bop-oriented -- and one of them is Boss Guitar, which Orrin Keepnews produced in 1963. It's a trio recording, employing Mel Rhyne on organ and Jimmy Cobb on performances that have held up well over time; Montgomery shows how expressive a ballad player he could be on the standards "For Heaven's Sake" and "Days of Wine and Roses," but the fast tempo exuberance of "The Trick Bag" (a Montgomery original) serves him equally well. Montgomery swings the blues with pleasing results on "Fried Pies" (another Montgomery original), while Consuelo Velázquez's "Besame Mucho" (which is usually played at a slow ballad tempo) is successfully transformed into medium-tempo Latin jazz. Boss Guitar is among the bop-oriented Montgomery albums that should continue to be savored after all these years. [In addition to the eight master takes that were heard on the original '60s LP, some reissues contain alternate takes of "Besame Mucho," "The Trick Bag," and "Fried Pies" -- all of which will interest collectors.] Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1.    Besame Mucho (Consuelo Velázquez, Sunny Skylar) – 6:28
2.    Besame Mucho [Alternate take] (Velazquez, Skylar) – 6:24
3.    Dearly Beloved (Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer) – 4:49
4.    Days of Wine and Roses (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) – 3:44
5.    The Trick Bag (Wes Montgomery) – 4:25
6.    Canadian Sunset (Eddie Heywood, Norman Gimbel) – 5:04
7.    Fried Pies (Montgomery) – 6:42
8.    Fried Pies Alternate take (Montgomery) – 6:35
9.    The Breeze and I (Ernesto Lecuona, Al Stillman) – 4:08
10.    For Heaven's Sake (Bretton, Edwards, Meyer) – 4:39
Credits :
Wes Montgomery – Guitar
Melvin Rhyne – Organ
Jimmy Cobb – Drums

McCOY TYNER — The Real McCoy (1967-1999) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Two and a half years after his last recording as a leader for Impulse, pianist McCoy Tyner emerged to start a period on Blue Note that would result in seven albums. Having left John Coltrane's Quartet in late 1965, Tyner was entering a period of struggle, although artistically his playing grew quite a bit in the late '60s. For this release, the pianist is teamed with tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Elvin Jones for five of his originals. Highlights of the easily recommended album include "Passion Dance," "Four by Five," and "Blues on the Corner." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Passion Dance 8:44
McCoy Tyner
2 Contemplation 9:10
McCoy Tyner
3 Four by Five 6:33 
McCoy Tyner
4 Search for Peace 6:27
McCoy Tyner
5 Blues on the Corner 5:58
McCoy Tyner
Credits
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Elvin Jones
Piano – McCoy Tyner
Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson

17.3.24

TAL FARLOW — A Sign of the Times (1977-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Tal Farlow's debut for the Concord label was only his second album as a leader since 1959. Farlow, who had given up the hectic lifestyle of a full-time jazz musician to become a sign painter who played guitar on the side, had not lost any of his power or creative swing through the years. Teamed up in a drumless trio with pianist Hank Jones and bassist Ray Brown, Farlow is in typically brilliant form on such numbers as a rapid "Fascinating Rhythm," a slower-than-usual "Stompin' at the Savoy," Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way" and even "Put on a Happy Face." This CD is a fine example of Tal Farlow's talents. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. Fascinating Rhythm (Gershwin-Gershwin) - 4:11
2. You Don't Know What Love Is (Raye-DePaul) - 4:08
3. Put on a Happy Face (Adams-Strouse) - 4:21
4. Stompin' at the Savoy (Webb-Sampson-Razaf-Goodman) - 7:39
5. Georgia on My Mind (Carmichael-Gorrell) - 3:45
6. You Are Too Beautiful (Rodgers-Hart) - 5:07
7. In Your Own Sweet Way (Brubeck) - 3:13
8. Bayside Blues (Brown) - 7:05
Credits :
Tal Farlow - Guitar
Ray Brown - Bass
Hank Jones - Piano

TAL FARLOW — Chromatic Palette (1981-1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This album is most notable for the interplay between veteran guitarist Tal Farlow and pianist Tommy Flanagan. With bassist Gary Mazzaroppi completing the trio, the musicians perform Tal's "Blue Art, Too" (based on a blues), plus seven superior standards, including "Nuages," "If I Were a Bell" and "St. Thomas." In general, the music is on the relaxed side but there is plenty of inner heat to be felt on the fine set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. In a Mellow Tone (Ellington, Gabler) - 7:32
2. Do Nothing 'Till You Hear from Me (Ellington, Russell) - 7:04
3. Tangerine (Mercer, Schertzinger) - 4:59
4. Snow Fall (Thornhill) - 5:23
5. Cherokee (Noble) - 5:11
6. In the Dark (Beiderbercke) - 3:03
7. The Very Thought of You (Noble) - 4:09
8. Three Little Words (Kalmar, Ruby) - 3:53
9. What's New? (Burke, Haggart) - 6:07
10. Moon Glow (DeLange, Hudson, Mills) - 4:58
11. Jitterbug Waltz (Maltby, Waller) - 6:15
12. I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles (Brockman, Kellette, Kendis ...) - 1:22
13. Blues for Emmett (Alden, Pizzarelli) - 5:23

Credits :
Bass – Gary Mazzaroppi
Guitar – Tal Farlow
Piano – Tommy Flanagan

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ELLA FITZGERALD AND JOE PASS — Easy Living (1986-2011) RM | Original Jazz Classics Remasters Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For her third duo recording with guitarist Joe Pass, Ella Fitzgerald swings 15 mostly familiar standards that range from "My Ship"...