PAUL CHAMBERS SEXTET — Whims of Chambers (1956-2010) RM | SACD Hybrid | Serie The Blue Note Reissues | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Of the seven songs on this Blue Note date, four are more common than the other three because they contain solos by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane and have therefore been reissued more often. Actually there are quite a few solos in the all-star sextet (which includes the bassist-leader, Coltrane, trumpeter Donald Byrd, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Horace Silver, and drummer Philly Joe Jones) and all of the players get their chances to shine on this fairly spontaneous hard bop set. Coltrane's two obscure compositions ("Nita" and "Just for the Love") are among the more memorable tunes and are worth reviving. "Tale of the Fingers" features the quintet without Coltrane, the rhythm section stretches out on "Whims of Chambers," and "Tale of the Fingers" is a showcase for Chambers' bowed bass. This is a fine effort and would be worth picking up by straight-ahead jazz fans even if John Coltrane had not participated. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Omicron 7:17
Written-By – Donald Byrd
2    Whims Of Chambers 4:05
Written-By – Paul Chambers
3    Nita 6:31
Written-By – John Coltrane
4    We Six 7:40
Written-By – Donald Byrd
5    Dear Ann 4:19
Written-By – Paul Chambers
6    Tale Of The Fingers 4:42
Written-By – Paul Chambers
7    Just For The Love 3:41
Written-By – John Coltrane
Credits :
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – "Philly" Joe Jones
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Horace Silver
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Donald Byrd

ELVIN JONES — Dear John C. (1965) Two Version (1990, RM | Serie Impulse! CD Collection II) + (2011, SACD Hybrid | Serie Impulse! Reissues) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second album by Elvin Jones as sole title rights leader (excluding the co-op ensemble that recorded the stunning and essential progressive jazz icon Illumination!) has the drummer sounding more like a backup musician, as he claims no compositional duties or noticeable solo space. In fact, this is one of the very best albums in the career of alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano, who occupies the bulk of lead lines and improvising responsibilities. He's so up-front, and on an instrument that is not John Coltrane's main instrument -- the tenor sax -- that the title is also a bit of a misnomer. The value of Jones as a bandleader lies in his concept of using fellow Detroiter Sir Roland Hanna or brother Hank Jones on selected tracks, or in the case of three tracks, no pianist. Bassist Richard Davis rounds out this truly brilliant ensemble of burgeoning mid-'60s jazz stars, who play an enticing collection of standards, bop, compositions of Bob Hammer, and originals from several modern sources. A stone cold bebopper and Charlie Parker devotee at the time of this recording. Mariano is the standout performer. He swings easily but mightily on the title track paralleling Coltrane's "Milestones," stretches the Charles Mingus evergreen "Reincarnation of a Lovebird" (titled here as "Love Bird"), and pulls out all the stops with Hank Jones during an only slightly flawed (they miss two notes) version of the tricky "Anthropology." They tack a calypso beat onto Duke Ellington's "Fantazm" in a playful, modern dress, and stroll on the quirky Hammer composition "That Five-Four Bag" as an offshoot retort to Dave Brubeck's "Take Five." The three tracks sans piano include a walking version of "Everything Happens to Me"; the ballad "Smoke Rings," where the band excepting Mariano is relaxed; and Frank Sinatra's "This Love of Mine," where the emotive saxophonist dips into humor, even a bit ribald. The variety from cut to cut is engaging, and there's nothing over the top, even the drumming of Elvin Jones. With the musicality at a high level, Dear John C. needs revisiting by drumming students and jazz fans to note how teamwork, shared values, and held-in-check dynamics benefit the overall quality of music. It seems this recording is underrated when over time it should never be. Dear John C. is deserving of an excellent rating. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1    Dear John C. 3:54
Composed By – Bob Hammer, Bob Thiele
2    Smoke Rings 3:39
Composed By – H. Eugene Gifford, Ned Washington
3    Love Bird 3:46
Composed By – Charles Mingus
4    Feeling Good 4:04
Composed By – Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse
5    Anthropology 4:10
Composed By – Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie
6    This Love Of Mine 4:20
Composed By – Frank Sinatra, Hank Sanicola, Sol Parker
7    Fantazm 3:55
Composed By – Duke Ellington
8    Ballade 5:17
Composed By – Bob Hammer
9    Everything Happens To Me 5:48
Composed By – Matt Dennis, Tom Adair
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano
Bass – Richard Davis
Drums – Elvin Jones
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Hank Jones, Roland Hanna

BEN WEBSTER — At The Renaissance (1985-1993) RM | 24 Karat Gold | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This live set features tenor great Ben Webster playing with pianist Jimmy Rowles, guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Red Mitchell, and drummer Frank Butler in a club, and the music is consistently wonderful. Whether showing warmth and sentimentality on "Georgia on My Mind" and "Stardust" or growling and roaring on "Caravan" and "Ole Miss Blues," Webster (who was then somewhat taken for granted) is in superior and creative form. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Caravan 10:15
Written-By – Ellington, Mills, Tizol
2    Georgia On My Mind 6:41
Written-By – Carmichael, Gorell
3    Ole Miss Blues 6:45
Written-By – W.C. Handy
4    What Is This Thing Called Love 7:49
Written-By – Cole Porter
5    Stardust 11:09
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael
6    Gone With The Wind 9:01
Written-By – Wrubel, Magidson
7    Renaissance Blues 5:49
Written-By – Webster, Butler, Hall, Rowles, Mitchell
8    Mop Mop 8:27
Written-By – Heard, Wilson
Credits :
Bass – Red Mitchell
Drums – Frank Butler
Guitar – Jim Hall
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster

KENNY BURRELL WITH COLEMAN HAWKINS — Bluesey Burrell (1962-2019) RM | SACD Hybrid, DSD | The Prestige Stereo Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This session is valuable for the majestic playing of tenor great Coleman Hawkins, who performs on half of the eight tracks. Released on the Prestige subsidiary Moodsville -- a label that specialized in recordings with an intimate, reflective atmosphere -- the Moodsville sound doesn't sit comfortably on Hawkins. His playing is brilliantly relaxed, but it's not mood music. Leader Kenny Burrell's playing is much more in line with the Moodsville groove. The guitarist is not amplified as much as he is on his Prestige dates from this time. In fact, he performs on a nylon-string instrument almost as much as he does on his hollow-body electric. Unlike Hawkins, Burrell's subdued contribution is made to measure for this date. Listeners expecting to hear Burrell the hard bopper won't. The key moments come during the interaction between the guitarist and tenor player, especially during their exchanges on Burrell's "Montono Blues." The rhythm section, Hawkins' working band from this period (pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Major Holley, and drummer Eddie Locke) provides impeccable, sublime support. Jim Todd
Tracklist :
1    Tres Palabras 6:44
Written-By – Osvaldo Farres
2    No More 1:53
Written-By – Russell, Camarata
3    Guilty 4:17
Written-By – Kahn, Akst, Whiting
4    Montono Blues 4:45
Written-By – Kenny Burrell
5    I Thought About You 4:40
Written-By – Van Heusen, Mercer
6    Out Of This World 4:54
Written-By – Arlen, Mercer
7    It's Getting Dark 6:53
Written-By – Burrell
8    I Never Knew 5:19
Written-By – Kahn, Fiorito
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Leo Wright (pistas: 8)
Bass – George Tucker (pistas: 8), Major Holley (pistas: 1 to 7)
Congas – Ray Barretto (pistas: 1 to 7)
Drums – Eddie Locke (pistas: 1 to 7), Jimmie Smith (pistas: 8)
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Gildo Mahones (pistas: 8), Tommy Flanagan (pistas: 1 to 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (pistas: 1, 4 to 5, 7)

HANK MOBLEY — Mobley's Message (1956-2012) RM | SACD, Hybrid MONO | The Prestige Mono Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Saxophonist Hank Mobley's 1956 date for Prestige, Mobley's Message, is an often overlooked gem of the era. Joining Mobley here is an all-star cast of musicians including trumpeter Donald Byrd, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Doug Watkins, and drummer Art Taylor. Essentially a high-energy blowing session, the album features some stellar bop-oriented improvisation and is well worth seeking out. AllMusic
Tracklist :
1    Bouncin' With Bud    7:01
Written-By – Bud Powell
2    52nd Street Theme    5:44
Written-By – Thelonious Monk
3    Minor Disturbance    6:19
Written-By – Hank Mobley
4    Au Privave    7:34
Alto Saxophone, Guest – Jackie McLean
Written-By – Charlie Parker
5    Little Girl Blue    8:45
Written-By – Rodgers-Hart
6    Alternating Current    6:36
Written-By – Hank Mobley
Credits :
Bass – Doug Watkins
Drums – Art Taylor
Piano – Barry Harris
Recorded By – Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trumpet – Donald Byrd (tracks: 1 to 4, 6)