THE THREE SOUNDS — Moods (1960-2005) Serie Blue Note 決定盤 1500 – 82 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Three Sounds open their signature sound a bit on the romantic Moods. They retain the same light touch that made their early albums so enjoyable, but they add more textures to the mix. Light Latin rhythms permeate Moods, from the inventive reworking of Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" to Harris' original "Tammy's Breeze." Like its predecessor, Feelin' Good, this record has a bluesy, soulful streak to its personality, as evidenced by the mellow take on "On Green Dolphin Street," the hep swing of "Loose Walk," and the infectious cover of Ellington's "I'm Beginning to See the Light." Occasionally, the Three Sounds play it a little too cool -- while the slow, relaxed "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" manages to be engaging, "Li'l Darlin'" slows down to a crawl -- but on the whole, Moods is an endearing collection of appealing mainstream jazz. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Love For Sale    6:37
 Cole Porter
2    Things Ain't What They Used To Be    8:54
 Ted Persons
3    On Green Dolphin Street    5:36
 Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington
4    Loose Walk    4:56
 Johnny Richards / Sonny Stitt
5    Li'l Darlin'    4:51
 Neal Hefti
6    I'm Beginning To See The Light    2:29
 Duke Ellington / Don George / Johnny Hodges / Harry James
7    Tammy's Breeze    4:28
 Gene Harris
8    Sandu    4:20
 Clifford Brown
Credits :
Bass – Andrew Simpkins
Drums – Bill Dowdy
Piano – Gene Harris
Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder

THE THREE SOUNDS AND THE OLIVER NELSON ORCHESTRA — Coldwater Flat (1968-2014) RM | SHM-CD | Serie Blue Note, The Masterworks | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Live at the Lighthouse captured the Three Sounds at their jazziest, but Coldwater Flat, the first studio session pianist Gene Harris and bassist Andrew Simpkins recorded with new drummer Donald Bailey, takes a different path. For this date, the group decided to emphasize its pop side, recording the record with the lush Oliver Nelson Orchestra and choosing to cover such pop hits as "The Look of Love" and "Last Train to Clarksville." The closing number, "Star Trek," is actually an original by Harris, unrelated to the TV show. One of the primary attractions of the Three Sounds' sound was its simplicity and their ability to find so much variation within the trio format. That magic is somewhat lost with the orchestra, which tends to overwhelm the trio. More than anything, that is what prevents Coldwater Flat from ranking among the group's finest efforts, but the glossy production has its appealing moments as well, and the record does function well as pleasant background music, even if it veers too close to easy listening to be true jazz. Stephen Thomas Erlewine   Tracklist & Credits :

ZOOT SIMS - Passion Flower : Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington (1980-1997) RM | WAV (tracks), lossless

Benny Carter provided the arrangements for the 16-piece band that accompanies the great tenor Zoot Sims on this set of Duke Ellington songs. The album is highlighted by "In a Mellow Tone," "I Got It Bad," "Passion Flower" and "Bojangles," but all nine selections are enjoyable and Sims is in top form. In fact it can easily be argued that Zoot Sims never made an indifferent or unswinging album, so it is not much of a surprise that this date is quite successful and should greatly appeal to straightahead jazz fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 5:02
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
2     In a Mellow Tone 2:58
Duke Ellington / Milt Gabler    
3     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 4:47
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster    
4     I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart 2:58
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Henry Nemo / John Redmond
5     Black Butterfly 3:51
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
6     Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 6:46
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell    
7     Your Love Has Faded 4:45
Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn    
8     Bojangles 4:46
Duke Ellington / Jerome Kern    
9     Passion Flower 4:11
Milt Raskin / Billy Strayhorn
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Marshall Royal
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Frank Wess
Bass – Andy Simpkins, John Heard, Michael Moore
Conductor, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Drums – Grady Tate, John Clay, Shelly Manne
Guitar – John Collins
Leader – Zoot Sims
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Producer – Norman Granz
Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Collette, Plas Johnson
Trombone – Benny Powell, Britt Woodman, Grover Mitchell, J.J. Johnson
Trumpet – Al Aarons, Bobby Bryant, Earl Gardner, Oscar Brashear

LOU DONALDSON WITH THE THREE SOUNDS - LD+3 (1959-2010) RM | Digibook | WV (image+.cue), lossless

Lou Donaldson and the Three Sounds both had a tendency to slip into low-key grooves, which is what makes the hard-driving bop of the opener "Three Little Words" a little startling. Donaldson is at a fiery peak, spinning out Bird-influenced licks that nevertheless illustrate that he's developed a more rounded, individual style of his own. The Three Sounds are equally as impressive, working bop rhythms with a dexterity that their first albums only hinted at. That high standard is maintained throughout the album, one of the finest in either of their catalogs. Albums like this and Blues Walk established Donaldson's reputation as a first-rate alto saxophonist, since he flaunts a full, robust tone, a fondness for melody, and nimble solos over the course of the record. LD + 3 is pretty much straight bop and hard bop, with little of the soul-jazz the two artists would later explore, but this collection of swinging standards, bop staples, and a pair of Donaldson originals ranks as one of Lou's finest straight bop sessions.  Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Three Little Words 6:19     
Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby
2     Smooth Groove 5:53
Lou Donaldson
3     Just Friends 5:13
John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis
4     Blue Moon 3:08     
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
5     Jump Up 6:37     
Lou Donaldson
6     Don't Take Your Love From Me 5:54
Henry Nemo
7     Confirmation 5:32
Charlie Parker
Credits :
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax] – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Andrew Simpkins
Drums – Bill Dowdy
Piano – Gene Harris
Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder