TEDDY WILSON – 1952-1953 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1364 (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Between the years 1946 and 1952, pianist Teddy Wilson made few recordings as a leader, spending most of his time and energy teaching music at Juilliard, working as an all-purpose utility pianist at radio station WNEW, and gigging occasionally with Benny Goodman. On October 6, 1952, Wilson cut eight tracks for the Metronome label in Stockholm, Sweden with excellent support from bassist Yngve Akerberg and a feisty drummer by the name of Jack Noren. In keeping with personal artistic patterns established over his first 20 years of professional musicianship, Wilson concentrated upon jazz standards, breathing new life into each melody. Volume 12 in the Classics Teddy Wilson chronology also contains the excellent recordings Wilson made for the Mercury and Clef labels from December 1952 through early September 1953 under the auspices of producer Norman Granz. At each session, Wilson found himself grouped with his musical peers: bassists John Simmons, Aaron Bell, and Arvell Shaw as well as drummers Buddy Rich, Denzil Best, and J.C. Heard. With ingredients like these, it's no wonder the music came out so well. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

BILLY TAYLOR – 1950-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1344 (2004) FLAC (tracks), lossless

This second volume covering Billy Taylor's pre-Prestige recordings opens with four sides cut for Brunswick Records in 1950, followed by eight tracks done for Atlantic, and concluding with an early LP of Cuban-inspired jazz, all of which will be of interest to collectors. Taylor's bop-inflected piano style remains elegant throughout, always with a veneer of swinging brightness, and two of the best pieces here, the self-penned "Double Duty" and "Good Groove," show an acute awareness of both time and space, areas Taylor would go on to explore with his subsequent trios. Steve Leggett
Tracklist + Credits :

JOHNNY HODGES - Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra (1962-1999) RM | Digipak | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges recorded frequently for Verve in the 1950s and 1960s, although nearly all of the musicians on this CD are from the Ellington orchestra and the arrangements are by Billy Strayhorn. Hodges is never less than superb throughout this reissue, while Lawrence Brown, Harry Carney and non-Ellingtonians Howard McGhee on trumpet and pianist Jimmy Jones also deserve praise. Strayhorn's exotic chart of "Azure" and emotional scoring of "Your Love Has Faded" are especially striking. Recommended. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Don't Get Around Much Anymore 3'00
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
2     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 3'35
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster
3     The Gal from Joe's 2'27
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
4     Your Love Has Faded 3'00
Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn
5     I'm Just a Lucky So and So 3'20
Mack David / Duke Ellington
6     Jeep's Blues 3'18
Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges
7     Day Dream 3'56
Duke Ellington / John Latouche / Billy Strayhorn
8     Juice A-Plenty 3'18
Johnny Hodges
9     Azure 2'33
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
10     Tailor Made 3'35
Johnny Hodges / Ed Mullens / Eddie Mullens
11     Stardust 4'25
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Arranged By, Conductor – Billy Strayhorn
Bass – Aaron Bell
Bass Clarinet, Bass Saxophone – Harry Carney
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Russell Procope
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Drums – Sam Woodyard
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Liner Notes – Stanley Dance
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Producer – Creed Taylor
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson
Trombone [Bass] – Chuck Connors
Trumpet – Bill Berry, Cat Anderson, Ed Mullens, Shorty Baker (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 11), Howard McGhee

JOHNNY HODGES - At Sportpalast, Berlin (1961-1993) RM | 2xCD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This double-CD, a straight reissue of a Pablo double-LP, documents a fun set. Altoist Johnny Hodges and some fellow members of Duke Ellington's Orchestra (Ray Nance on cornet, violin and vocals, trombonist Lawrence Brown, baritonist Harry Carney, bassist Aaron Bell, drummer Sam Woodyard and guest pianist Al Williams) jam through a mostly typical set of standards and Ellington tunes. Everyone gets featured and, even if there are no real surprises, the musicians are consistently heard in top form. Superior small-group swing by some of the best. Scott Yanow
Tracklist 1 :
1     Take the "A" Train 2'56
Billy Strayhorn
2     In the Kitchen 7'46
Johnny Hodges     
3     Mood Indigo 5'02
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
4     Solitude 2'49
Eddie DeLange / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
5     Satin Doll 3'00
Duke Ellington / Johnny Mercer / Billy Strayhorn
6     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 4'47
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster
7     Rockin' in Rhythm 4'15
Harry Carney / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
8     Autumn Leaves 12'22
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
9     Stompy Jones 11'47
Duke Ellington
Tracklist 2 :        
1     C Jam Blues 4'48
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington
2     The Jeep Is Jumpin' 2'13
Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges
3     Good Queen Bess 4'06
Johnny Hodges
4     Things Ain't What They Used to Be 6'15
Mercer Ellington / Ted Persons
5     I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) 2'40
Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk
6    I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart 1'20
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Henry Nemo / John Redmond
-    Don't Get Around Much Anymore 2'43
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
7      Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) 2'32
Duke Ellington / Lee Gaines
8     Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 2'46
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
9     Rose of the Rio Grande 2'33
Ross Gorman / Edgar Leslie / Harry Warren
10     All of Me 2'29
Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons
11     On the Sunny Side of the Street 4'09
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
12    Blue Moon 2'05
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
13    Perdido 9'31
Ervin Drake / Hans Lengsfelder / Juan Tizol
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
Bass – Aaron Bell
Cornet, Violin, Vocals – Ray Nance
Drums – Sam Woodyard
Piano – Al Williams
Producer – Norman Granz
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Notas.
Recorded at the Sportpalast, Berlin; March 1961
Track 1-7 misspelled on release

BILLY STRAYHORN & JOHNNY HODGES - The Stanley Dance Sessions (2005) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Cue's Blue Now 10:03
Written By – Strayhorn, Hodges
2    Gone With The Wind 4:19
Written By – Wrubel, Magidson
3    Cherry 5:54
Written By – Redman, Gilbert
4    Watch Your Cue 3:11
Written By – Strayhorn, Hodges
5    You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me 7:23
Written By – Kahal, Norman, Fain
6    When I Dream Of You 3:33
Written By – Carpenter, Hines
7    Rose Room 6:08
Written By – Hickman, Williams
8    Don't Get Around Much Anymore 3:00
Written By – Ellington, Hodges
9    I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 3:39
Written By – Ellington, Webster
10    Gal From Joe's 2:30
Written By – Ellington
11    Your Love Has Faded 3:02
Written By – Strayhorn, Ellington
12    I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So 3:23
Written By – Ellington, David
13    Jeep's Blues 3:22
Written By – Ellington, Hodges
14    Day Dream 4:00
Written By – Strayhorn, Ellington
15    Juice A-Plenty 3:22
Written By – Hodges
16    Azure 2:35
Written By – Ellington
17    Tailor Made 3:38
Written By – Mullens, Hodges
18    Star Dust 4:30
Written By – Carmichael
Credits 1-7
Trumpet – Harold "Shorty" Baker
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Trombone – Quentin Jackson
Bass –  Al Hall
Clarinet – Russell Procope
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Piano – Billy Strayhorn
Credits 8-18
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Arranged By, Conductor – Billy Strayhorn
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Harry Carney
Bass – Aaron Bell
Bass Trombone – Chuck Connors
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Russell Procope
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Drums – Sam Woodyard
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Lawrence Brown,
Trumpet – Bill Berry, Cat Anderson, Ed Mullens, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Howard McGhee
Notas.
Reissue of two albums originally released as Cue For Saxophone and Johnny Hodges With Billy Strayhorn And The Orchestra.
Tracks 1 to 7 recorded in New York, April 14, 1959.
Tracks 8 to 18 recorded in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, December 11 & 12, 1961.

JOHNNY HODGES - Master of Jazz (1989) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Here is a CD that is highly recommended for swing collectors. Altoist Johnny Hodges and tenor-saxophonist Ben Webster team up for a sextet set from 1960, a club appearance that was released for the first time on this set. Their six performances (all are basic Hodges originals) find the pair of veteran swing stylists in prime form. The remainder of the program (three standards plus Hodges' "Good Queen Bess") is played by a septet dominated by Ellington musicians including the leader/altoist, baritonist Harry Carney, trumpeter Ray Nance and trombonist Lawrence Brown. Excellent music that still has not dated. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Cambridge Blue 3:42
Johnny Hodges    
2     Brute's Roots 4:36
Johnny Hodges    
3     Bouncing with Bud 2:50
Johnny Hodges    
4     One for the Duke 5:16
Johnny Hodges    
5     Walkin' the Frog 5:49
Johnny Hodges    
6     Rabbit Pie 4:51
Johnny Hodges    
7     On the Sunny Side of the Street 4:18
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
8     Good Queen Bess 3:38
Johnny Hodges    
9     The Jeep Is Jumpin' 2:53
Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges / Billy Strayhorn
10     Things Ain't What They Used to Be 5:22
Mercer Ellington / Ted Persons
Personnel : 1-6
Bass – Wilfred Middlebrooks
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Herb Ellis
Piano – Lou Lewy
Saxophone [Alt] – Johnny Hodges
Saxophone [Tenor] – Ben Webster
Personnel : 7-10
Bass – Aaron Bell  
Drums – Sam Woodyard
Piano – Al Williams
Saxophone [Alt] – Johnny Hodges
Saxophone [Bass] – Harry Carney
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet, Vocals – Ray Nance
Notas.
Tracks 1 to 6 have incorrect titles on this release. When they were first issued, titles were assigned, but by the time they reappeared in The Complete Johnny Hodges Verve Small Group Sessions 1955-61, the correct titles had been researched and confirmed.

Tracks 1 to 6 Recorded November 22nd & 23rd, 1960, at The Jazz Cellar, San Francisco
Tracks 7 to 10 Recorded March 14th, 1961, Stockholm

JOHNNY GRIFFIN & MATHEW GEE - Soul Groove (1963-2012) RM | Jazz Best Collection 1000 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The music seldom reaches ignition point on this undistinguished 1965 session. Co-leader Johnny Griffin has many more valuable items in his discography. While not as well-known as Griffin, the same can be said of trombonist Matthew Gee, whose resumé includes work with Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington and whose style straddles swing and bop (this was actually one of only two dates where Gee recorded as a leader).

Soul Groove disappoints in several areas, including the writing that seldom surpasses head-arrangement status. Drummer Art Taylor and bassist Aaron Bell plug away purposefully, but in a mix that blunts the personalities of their playing. The co-leaders' contributions also pass in a blur. Tenor and trombone front lines can work, but here the tone of the two instruments is too similar; Griffin and Gee's solos tend to drift and smear over one another.

Organist John Patton is on three tracks, pianist Hank Jones on four, and Jones, again, is on organ for one track. The presence of Jones and Patton looks promising, but the shuffling between the two and between organ and piano actually adds to the session's lack of focus. Jones has occasional moments of sparkle at the piano, but like his rhythm section colleagues, he often suffers from indifferent treatment in the mix. The best tracks end up being the three with Patton, as all hands settle in for the familiar pleasures of organ combo-style blowing. Jim Todd  
Tracklist :
1     Oh Gee 2'21
Matthew Gee
2     Here 5'10
Gerry Beckley / Matthew Gee
3     At Sundown 4'51
Lou Donaldson    
4     The Swingers Get the Blues, Too 8'00
Duke Ellington / Matthew Gee
5     Twist City 5'22
Matthew Gee
6     Poor Butterfly 4'59
John Golden / Raymond Hubbell    
7     Mood for Cryin' 4'42
Matthew Gee / Johnny Griffin          
8     Renee 5'18
Matthew Gee
Credits :
Bass – Aaron Bell (pistas: 1-3, 5-8)
Congas, Bongos – Carlos "Patato" Valdes
Drums – Art Taylor
Organ – Hank Jones (pistas: 2,6), John Patton (pistas: 1,5,8)
Piano – Hank Jones (pistas: 3,4,7)
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin
Trombone – Matthew Gee
Tuba – Aaron Bell (pistas: 4)

DUKE ELLINGTON / JOHN COLTRANE - Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (1962-2011) SACD / FLAC (tracks), lossless

The classic 1962 album Duke Ellington & John Coltrane showcased the rising jazz saxophone innovator performing alongside the long-established piano institution. While the pairing might have portended a dynamic clash of the musical generations, instead we got a casual, respectful, and musically generous meeting of like-minded souls. Similarly, while one might have assumed that Ellington would use his sidemen, instead producer Bob Thiele (who also produced similar albums for Ellington including pairings with Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins) chose to bring in Coltrane's own outfit for the proceedings. Consequently, the duo is backed here at various times by bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones, as well as alternates bassist Aaron Bell and drummer Sam Woodyard. The most surprising aspect of the Ellington/Coltrane date is how well suited Coltrane and his group are at playing what largely ends up being Ellington's own material. While he was certainly in the nascency of his more avant-garde period in 1962, Coltrane had a deep understanding of traditional jazz vocabulary, having played in a swing band in the Navy in the 1940s and studied the style of artists like Hawkins and Ben Webster while coming up in Philadelphia. Similarly, though an icon of the big-band era by the 1960s, Ellington had been on the upswing of a career resurgence ever since his dynamic performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, later released as Ellington at Newport. His meeting with Coltrane was emblematic of his renewed creativity and was one of several albums he recorded in his latter life with theretofore unexpected artists, not the least of which his other 1962 date, Money Jungle with bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach. Here, Ellington and Coltrane play a handful of well-known Ellington book numbers, including a supremely lyrical "In a Sentimental Mood" and a soulful, half-lidded version of Billy Strayhorn's "My Little Brown Book." Ellington even supplied the brisk original "Take the Coltrane," allowing plenty of room for Coltrane to let loose with knotty, angular lines. by Matt Collar

Tracklist:

1 In A Sentimental Mood 4:16

Written-By – D. Ellington, I. Mills, M. Kurtz

2 Take The Coltrane 4:42

Written-By – Duke Ellington

3 Big Nick 4:28

Written-By – John Coltrane

4 Stevie 4:23

Written-By – Duke Ellington

5 My Little Brown Book 5:20

Written-By – Billy Strayhorn

6 Angelica 5:55

Written-By – Duke Ellington

7 The Feeling Of Jazz 5:37

Written-By – Bobby Troup, Duke Ellington, George Simon

Personnel:

Bass – Aaron Bell, Jimmy Garrison

Drums – Elvin Jones, Sam Woodyard

Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder

Piano – Duke Ellington

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – John Coltrane

Note:

Format: SACD, Hybrid, Album, Stereo, Reissue, 24bit 88.2kHz