MARTY EHRLICH — The Welcome (1989) Two Version | APE (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Marty Ehrlich would come to possess one of the larger sideman discographies of any musician associated with the avant-garde, but The Welcome was his first album as a leader and a very enjoyable one. Using only a trio (with the very fine rhythm team of Anthony Cox and Pheeroan AkLaff, much of the spotlight is on Ehrlich's own playing and he wields several of the multitude of reed instruments at his command. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he tends not to stress his outside credentials by over-blowing or shrieking but rather by his choice of notes and timbres, often maintaining a cool veneer over his idiosyncratic melodic phrasing. His tone on alto is a bit reminiscent of one of his teachers, Julius Hemphill (perhaps with a dash of Arthur Blythe), and his compositional style appears to owe something to Henry Threadgill's work with Air, but one can clearly hear Ehrlich carving his own distinct niche this first time out. Gently swinging and juicily off-kilter, The Welcome is a fine initial effort and pointed the way toward a rich spectrum of subsequent creations. Brian Olewnick
Tracklist :
1.    Hybrid    4:37
2.    Lament (In Passing)    4:58
3.    The Welcome    7:19
4.    Generosity    7:42
5.    Dark Woods Bright Sparks    7:26
6.    Stride    6:32
Credits :
 Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Composed By [All Compositions By] – Marty Ehrlich
Bass – Anthony Cox
 Drums – Pheeroan AkLaff

MARTY EHRLICH — Pliant Plaint (1988) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

The first of two Enja sets matching Marty Ehrlich (on clarinet, bass clarinet, alto, flute and alto flute) with Stan Strickland (tenor, soprano and flute), this inside/outside music also features bassist Anthony Cox and drummer Bobby Previte. The complex yet consistently colorful repertoire has plenty of variety, including one piece ("After After All") that is totally composed by and has Ehrlich as the only musician, overdubbing on several of his horns. The many tone colors provided by the two horn players and the strong originals make this a set worth searching for by listeners into the more adventurous side of jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Celebration In Capetown    7:26
2.    The All Told Alto Blues    3:53
3.    After After All    2:25
4.    Pliant Plaint    7:50
5.    After All    10:26
6.    Willie Whipporwill's Back Slidin' Heart Throb Two-Step    6:29
7.    What I Know Now    4:00
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Flute, Alto Flute, composed by – Marty Ehrlich
Double Bass – Anthony Cox
Drums – Robert Previte
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Stan Strickland

MARTY EHRLICH — Side By Side (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1.    Side By Side  7:24
Composed By – Marty Ehrlich
2.    The Adding Song  5:09
Composed By – Marty Ehrlich
3.    Hadrian's Wall  7:53
Composed By – Mike Nock
4.    Sugar Water  6:57
Composed By – Marty Ehrlich
5.    Stride  2:51
Composed By – Marty Ehrlich
6.    Silent Refrain  5:32
Composed By – Marty Ehrlich
7.    Johnny Come Lately  5:53
Composed By – Billy Strayhorn
Time's Counsel / The Far West Woman    (13:06)
8.1    Time's Counsel  9:00
Composed By – Marty Ehrlich
8.2    The Far West Woman  4:06
Composed By – Marty Ehrlich
Credits :
Bass – Anthony Cox
Drums – Andrew Cyrille
Piano – Wayne Horvitz
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Liner Notes – Marty Ehrlich
Trombone – Frank Lacy

CHRISTOF LAUER — Fragile Network (1999) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

"The music has 'thrill' and 'suspense,' captivating like a film" - (FAZ)
Yearly Award of the German Record Critics' Award 1999 ACT
Tracklist :
1    Flying Carpets 7:26
Composed By – Lauer
2    Human Voice 9:14
Composed By – Lauer
3    Vernasio 4:41
Composed By – Godard
4    Ferma L'Ali 5:19
Composed By – Godard
5    Facing Interviews 6:09
Composed By – Lauer
6    Fais Attention P'tit Garçon 5:21
Composed By – Godard
7    Ursus Maior 7:09
Composed By – Lauer
8    Open Noisy 6:25
Composed By – Ducret
9    Werther 5:36
Composed By – Lauer
Credits :
Cover [Cover Art] – Andy Goldsworthy
Drums – Gene Jackson
Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass – Anthony Cox
Guitar – Marc Ducret
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Christof Lauer
Tuba, Serpent – Michel Godard

CORNELIUS CLAUDIO KREUSCH & BLACKMUDSOUND — Scoop (1998) ACT World Jazz Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The German jazz pianist, composer and producer is known for his versatile musicality and gift for composition. Kreusch regularly collaborates with leading musicians from various musical genres, including jazz, world music and classical music. His creative output includes projects such as the ‘Giant Steps Ensemble’ and collaborations with artists such as Bobby Mc Ferrin and Nils Landgren. In addition to his musical career, Kreusch also works as a music teacher and is involved in the further education of young talents. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Niles    1:50
2    Yarum    4:42
3    Salif    4:50
4    Scoop    3:03
5    Imbao    5:12
6    Pulse    1:26
7    Faith    3:30
8    Feel!    4:36
9    Wocai    3:16
10    Flame    1:50
11    Nomad    7:44
12    Jafro    9:20
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Johannes Tonio Kreusch
Bass – Anthony Cox
Bass Guitar – James Genus, Zaf Zapha
Drums – Camille Gainer
Drums, Percussion – Will Calhoun
Drums, Percussion, Voice – Cyril Atef
Drums, Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
Lyrics By – Cyril Atef (tracks: 5), Salif Keita (tracks: 3), Thomas Grimes (tracks: 7)
Music By – Cyril Atef (tracks: 5), Zaf Zapha (tracks: 5)
Music By, Composed By [All Compostions By] – Cornelius Claudio Kreusch
Piano – Cornelius Claudio Kreusch
Saxophone – Bobby Watson, Greg Osby, Ron Blake
Vocals – Elisabeth Kontamanou, Fra Fra Tribesmen, Richard Bona, Salif Keita
Voice, Rap [Rap'oetry] – Thomas Grimes

JIM PEPPER | AMINA CLAUDINE MYERS | ANTHONY COX | LEOPOLDO FLEMING – Afro Indian Blues (1991-2006) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist & Credits :

DEWEY REDMAN ft. JOSHUA REDMAN - African Venus (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

By the time African Venus was recorded in 1992, Dewey Redman was combining the fire of his earlier playing with a gentler, melodic approach. On "Satin Doll," "Mr. Sandman," and "Take the 'A' Train," Redman glides along in a more traditional bop vein, while the title track and Ornette Coleman's "Turnaround" sound more like the fiery Redman of Look for the Black Star or Tarik. Joining Redman on this date are Charles Eubanks (piano), Anthony Cox (bass), Carl Allen (drums), Danny Sadownick (percussion), and Joshua Redman (tenor saxophone), on three tracks. Not an essential disc, but far from a throwaway. Al Campbell
Tracklist :
1    African Venus 9:27
Composed By – Dewey Redman
2    Venus And Mars 7:48
Composed By – Dewey Redman
3    Mr. Sandman 6:54
Composed By – Francis Drake Ballard
4    Echo Prayers 5:53
Composed By – Dewey Redman
5    Satin Doll 8:23
Composed By – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
6    Take The "A" Train 7:41
Composed By – Billy Strayhorn
7    Turnaround 6:25
Composed By – Ornette Coleman
Credits :
Bass – Anthony Cox
Drums – Carl Allen
Percussion – Danny Sadownick
Piano – Charles Eubanks
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Joshua Redman (pistas: 2, 3, 5)
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax], Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax], Suona [Musette] – Dewey Redman

KENNY GARRETT · JOHN SCOFIELD · MICHAEL BRECKER · DAVID FRIESEN — Old Folks (1999) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

This West Wind album, recorded at various studio sites in Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, Berkeley, CA, and New York City between 1987 and 1994, has Kenny Garrett as the leader, but a closer reveal might more accurately hand that title to David Friesen. The bassist is on five of the nine tracks, in duet performances with John Scofield, Michael Brecker, or Denny Zeitlin, while Garrett does lead the other four selections in larger ensemble contexts. Extraordinary musicianship is present throughout, making for an interesting musical experience, and with great appeal for fans who enjoy any of these talented musicians.
Longtime friends Scofield and Friesen reunite for a somber take of "Old Folks" and a brighter "True Blue," Brecker's tenor sax joins the bassist for a great, spirited version of the Sonny Rollins classic "Airegin" and the heavy duty, hip neo-bop original "Signs & Wonders," with the two occasionally merging in tandem phrases. A final track for bass and piano with the brilliant Zeitlin allows them to interpret the great Wayne Shorter composition "Speak No Evil" over nine minutes with a symmetry and balance unparalleled in most duet recordings, especially over long lengths of time via the wonderfully inventive acoustic keyboardist. Garrett leads a sextet with less dominant trombonist Julian Priester, a pronounced Bill Frisell and sublimated Robben Ford on electric guitars. They do the sly Duke Ellington evergreen "Wanderlust" proud under a deep bassline by Anthony Cox, while the outstanding track of the album "The Oyster Dance" slips from 7/8 time to fractured beats at will in a funky yet scattered method quite reminiscent of Thelonious Monk. Another quintet with Steve Nelson and Mulgrew Miller offers up a different sonic challenge, as they do pianist Miller's "Wingspan" in hard bop fashion with Garrett's alto alongside Nelson's vibraphone in fully charged bright moments, while "Sonhos Do Brasil" offers a contrasting, sleek, and softer bossa nova style, with percussionist Rudy Bird as special guest. The listening skills of the larger ensembles is quite evident, while Garrett -- at this time a 27-year-old phenom -- is still learning his craft but growing very quickly in the company of these well-chosen super-pro partners. Drummers Jerry Granelli and Tony Reedus are especially notable for rhythmically moving things along quite nicely for Garrett and friends. This material deserves high marks simply for the great musicians participating, and though uneven, retains full intrigue in one-of-a-kind session status, any of which could have been full-blown concepts -- one of which (sigh) might have been a Garrett-Brecker project that is not here. Michael G. Nastos 
Tracklist :

1.     Old Folks    6:15
Dedette Lee Hill / Willard Robison
2.     Wanderlust    7:46 
Kenny Garrett
3.     True Blue    7:48
David Friesen
4.     Airegin    4:56
Sonny Rollins
5.     Signs and Wonders    6:04
David Friesen
6.     Speak No Evil    8:42
Wayne Shorter
7.     Wingspan    5:36
Mulgrew Miller
8.     The Oyster Dance    5:04
Kenny Garrett
9.     Sonhos Do Brasil (Dreams of Brazil)    7:14
Kenny Garrett
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Kenny Garrett (tracks: 2,7-9)
Banjo – Bill Frisell (tracks: 2)
Bass – Anthony Cox (tracks: 2,8), Charnett Moffett (tracks: 7,9), David Friesen (tracks: 1,3-6)
Drums – Jerry Granelli (tracks: 2,8), Tony Reedus (tracks: 7,9)
Grand Piano – Denny Zeitlin (tracks: 6)
Guitar – Bill Frisell (tracks: 2,8), John Scofield (tracks: 1,3), Robben Ford (tracks: 2,8)
Percussion – Rudy Bird (tracks: 9)
Piano – Mulgrew Miller (tracks: 7,9)
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker (tracks: 4,5)
Trombone – Julian Priester (tracks: 2,8)
Vibraphone – Steve Nelson (tracks: 7,9)