ART FARMER | LEE KONITZ - Art Farmer, Lee Konitz With Joe Carter Quartet & Trio (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD gives prime billing to Art Farmer and Lee Konitz, who play on separate sessions, but the leader is actually guitarist Joe Carter. Farmer, bassist Harvie Swartz, and drummer Akira Tana join Carter on the longer of the two dates. The guitarist is a capable player who doesn't hog the spotlight or overextend himself. He wrote two originals including the easygoing "Feathery" in which his soft Jim Hall-like accompaniment backs Farmer's brief but melodic flügelhorn solo before gradually working his way in to back Swartz, as well; there's also "Sad Eyes," which Carter dedicates to Lester Young, featuring Farmer's mournful muted horn and the guitarist's understated solo. A snappy take of Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way" and a warm rendition of John Lewis' waltzing "Skating in Central Park" are highlights of the longer session. Alto saxophonist Lee Konitz is listed as being present on the last two tracks but is not audible on the guitar/bass duo of the piece credited to Konitz as "A Minor Blue in F," but it sounds more like a barely disguised "Star Eyes." "She's Wild As Springtime," also credited to Konitz, actually features the alto saxophonist in a lively blues setting. This long out of print CD is not really essential, but it is worth acquiring if found at a budget price. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     In Your Own Sweet Way 5:34
Dave Brubeck
2     My Foolish Heart 5:36
Ned Washington / Victor Young
3     Day Waves 5:39
Chick Corea
4     Feathery 5:17
Benny Carter
5     Sad Eyes 5:30
Benny Carter
6     Skating in Central Park 7:08
John Lewis
7     A Minor Blues in F 4:40
Lee Konitz
8     She's as Wild as Springtime 6:40
Lee Konitz
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Bass – Harvie Swartz
Drums – Akira Tana
Guitar – Joe Carter
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
Notas.
Tracks 1 to 6 recorded at 39th Street Music Studio in New York City on October 25 and 26, 1984
Tracks 7 and 8 recorded at Seltzer Sound Studio in New York City on August 4 and 11, 1983
This should be a Joe Carter album. His group plays throughout. Konitz and Farmer play on separate sessions. This album has been long out of print.

ZOOT SIMS - I Wish I Were Twins (1981-1998) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Zoot Sims (doubling on tenor and soprano) teams up once again with pianist Jimmy Rowles; this time bassist Frank Tate and drummer Akira Tana are the supporting cast. Rowles is a master not only at accompanying soloists (he always seems to come up with the perfect chord) but in picking up superior obscurities to perform. In addition to "Georgia on My Mind" and "The Touch of Your Lips," this album contains such tunes as "I Wish I Were Twins," "Changes" and Johnny Mercer's "You Go Your Way"; Sims contributed "The Fish Horn" to feature his soprano. A fine swinging date filled with thoughtful improvisations. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     I Wish I Were Twins 5:10
Eddie DeLange / Frank Loesser / Joseph Meyer
2     Georgia on My Mind 5:40
Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorrell    
3     Changes 5:15
Walter Donaldson    
4     The Touch of Your Lips 5:30
Ray Noble    
5     The Fish Horn 7:57
Zoot Sims    
6     Come Closer to Me 5:37
Zoot Sims    
7     You Go Your Way 7:37
Zoot Sims
Credits :
Bass – Frank Tate
Drums – Akira Tana
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Producer – Norman Granz
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

THE ZOOT SIMS FOUR - The Innocent Years (1981-1995) RM | WV (image+.cue), lossless

This CD reissue of one of tenor-saxophonist Zoot Sims's final recordings adds a version of "Emaline" to the original program. Pianist Jimmy Rowles often co-stars on the date (with bassist George Mraz and drummer Akira Tana offering solid support). The lyrical repertoire emphasizes ballads and pretty melodies with the highpoints including such offbeat material as Woody Guthrie's "So Long," Sims's "Brahms...I Think," "In the Middle of a Kiss" and the more familiar "Never Let Me Go" and "Suddenly It's Spring." The melodic performances are quite warm, romantic and enjoyable, fine examples of subtle creativity. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     I Hear a Rhapsody 5:26
Jack Baker / George Fragos / Dick Gasparre
2     Pomme au Four 6:14
Zoot Sims    
3     Over the Rainbow 10:52
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg    
4     The Very Thought of You 6:33
Ray Noble    
5     If You Were Mine 6:17
Matty Malneck / Johnny Mercer    
6     Indian Summer 6:04
Al Dubin / Victor Herbert
Credits :
Bass – Frank Tate
Design – Gilles Margerin, Norman Granz
Drums – Akira Tana
Piano – Richard Wyands
Producer – Norman Granz
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

ZOOT SIMS - Suddenly It's Spring (1983-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD reissue of one of tenor-saxophonist Zoot Sims's final recordings adds a version of "Emaline" to the original program. Pianist Jimmy Rowles often co-stars on the date (with bassist George Mraz and drummer Akira Tana offering solid support). The lyrical repertoire emphasizes ballads and pretty melodies with the highpoints including such offbeat material as Woody Guthrie's "So Long," Sims's "Brahms...I Think," "In the Middle of a Kiss" and the more familiar "Never Let Me Go" and "Suddenly It's Spring." The melodic performances are quite warm, romantic and enjoyable, fine examples of subtle creativity. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Brahms...I Think 4:16
Zoot Sims    
2     I Can't Get Started 7:08
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin    
3     MacGuffie's Blues 4:11
Zoot Sims    
4     In the Middle of a Kiss 6:11
Sam Coslow    
5     So Long 5:25
Woody Guthrie
6     Never Let Me Go 4:57
Ray Evans / Jay Livingston    
7     Suddenly It's Spring 5:36
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen    
8     Emaline 5:48
Mitchell Parish / Frank Perkins
Credits :
Bass – George Mraz
Drums – Akira Tana
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Producer, Liner Notes – Norman Granz
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

AL COHN - Overtones (1982) FLAC (tracks), lossless

As can be heard on this quintet set, tenor saxophonist Al Cohn's former "cool school" tone deepend during his later years and had become much more distinctive than it had been earlier. This set is special in that Cohn's backup group includes his son, the cool-toned guitarist Joe Cohn. Also providing fine support are pianist Hank Jones, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Akiri Tana. The quintet performs four of Al Cohn's originals (including "High on You" and the catchy "P-Town") plus Hank Jones' "Vignette," a couple of obscurities and Cole Porter's "I Love You." A typically excellent Al Cohn set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     P-Town 4'19
Al Cohn   
2     Woody's Lament 5'18
Al Cohn   
3     High on You 4'42
Al Cohn   
4     I Love You 3'59
Cole Porter   
5     Vignette 4'21
Hank Jones   
6     Pensive 5'58
Al Cohn   
7     I Don't Want Anybody at All 6'21
Herbert Magidson / Jule Styne   
8     Let's Be Buddies 4'39
Cole Porter
Credits :
Bass – George Duvivier
Drums – Akira Tana
Guitar – Joe Cohn
Piano – Hank Jones
Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn

SPIKE ROBINSON | AL COHN QUINTET - Henry B. Meets Alvin G. 'Once in a Wild' (1987-2000) APE (image+.cue), lossless

After working as an engineer for 34 years, Spike Robinson finally became a full-time musician late in 1985. This outing with fellow tenor Al Cohn and a rhythm section comprised of pianist Richard Wyands, bassist Steve La Spina and drummer Akira Tana finds Robinson holding his own with his better-known sidemen. The two tenors had similar but complementary styles (Cohn's tone at this point in time was deeper and darker than Spike's), and their interplay and occasional tradeoffs are delightful. In addition to some standards, they perform Miles Davis' "Sippin' at Bells," Bob Brookmeyer's "Rustic Hop" and Johnny Mandel's "Low Life" on this easily recommended LP. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Sippin' at Bells 6'16
Charlie Parker   
2     Ballad Medley: East Living/These Foolish Things 10'26
Eric Maschwitz / Ralph Rainger / Spike Robinson / Jack Strachey   
3     Sweet's Blues 7'22
Harry "Sweets" Edison   
4     Rustic Hop 5'35
Bob Brookmeyer   
5     Once in a While 7'19
Michael Edwards / Bud Green   
6     Low Life 5'52
Johnny Mandel   
7     Bye Bye Blues 5'52
David Bennett / Chauncey Gray / Frederick Hamm / Bert Lown
8     Just an Old Manuscript 10'20
Andy Razaf / Don Redman / Dick Redmond   
9     This Can't Be Love 7'55
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Bass – Steve LaSpina
Drums – Akira Tana
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Richard Wyands
Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Spike Robinson