SONNY STITT AND BENNIE GREEN — My Main Man (1956-2004) RM | Serie Argo Cadet Jazz Collection 2004 – 6 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The four and half stars this has from six people stems mainly from the fabulous interplay between the two nominal leaders. It's a sunny sounding affair throughout, with the Organ (Bobby, brother of Eddie Buster, who plays on two other Stitt albums) guitar and drums (Dorel Anderson) rhythm section never being allowed, or not choosing to slip in to the predictable chitlin' circuit groove of so many mid sixties sessions with this instrumentation. Guitarist Joe Diorio deserves commendation for lovely single note runs in intros and solos. Stitt switches between alto and tenor on this date, and as with the Coltrane and Getz versions, the excursion away from the tune in The Night Has A Thousand Eyes is so far as to make it unrecognisable without the track listing. A special mention also to engineer Ron Malo, at Ter Mar studio in Chicago for the clean, full sound to this. Mark Harrington

Tracklist :
1. Flame and Frost (Edwards) - 4:35
2. Let's Play Chess (Stitt) - 4:54
3. Double Dip (Stitt-Green) - 4:46
4. Our Day Will Come (Gorson-Hilliard) - 5:22
5. May Main Man (Stitt-Green) - 6:01
6. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (Mizzy-Taylor) - 5:19
7. Broilin' (Stitt-Green) - 4:27
Credits :
Sonny Stitt - Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Bennie Green - Trombone
Bobby Buster - Organ
Joe Diorio - Guitar
Dorel Anderson - Drums

OLIVER NELSON — The Argo, Verve And Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions (2006) RM | 6xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Oliver Nelson was one of the more distinctive arrangers to be active in jazz, the studios, and popular music of the '60s. While most Nelson reissues focus on his always-excellent saxophone playing (whether on tenor or alto), this six-CD set, Argo, Verve and Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions, focuses on Oliver Nelson the arranger-composer-bandleader. He does take solos on some of these dates on tenor, alto,and soprano (his only recorded solos on that instrument), but it his writing that takes center stage. Included are his albums Full Nelson, Fantabulous, Jazzhattan Suite (which finds the ensemble called the Jazz Interactions Orchestra), Sound Pieces, and his unusual and reverent tribute set Musical Tribute to JFK: The Kennedy Dream. In addition, Nelson's writing for Leonard Feather's Encyclopedia of Jazz All Stars is here, plus his contributions (usually just part of each record) for sets by organist Shirley Scott (Roll 'Em), a group co-led by Ray Brown and Milt Jackson, and clarinetist Pee Wee Russell (The Spirit of '67). Topping off this well-conceived box are all of the music for organist Jimmy Smith's Hobo Flats, Peter and the Wolf (a classic jazz version), and Smith's first collaboration with guitarist Wes Montgomery, plus a few numbers from Smith's Bashin', Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, and Hootchie Coochie Man. In addition to the playing of Jimmy Smith (who was really at his peak during this period), Wes Montgomery, Shirley Scott, and Pee Wee Russell, the most memorable soloists are altoist Phil Woods, cornetist Nat Adderley (on the Feather date), and flugelhornist Clark Terry plus Nelson himself. There is plenty of classic material here (such as the Smith/Montgomery blues jamming on "Down by the Riverside") which, even when the big-band writing is secondary, serves as a superior tribute to the underrated Oliver Nelson. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

AHMAD JAMAL TRIO — At the Pershing : But Not for Me (1958-2002) RM | Argo Cadet Special Collection – 6 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The first album by the trio of pianist Ahmad Jamal, bassist Israel Crosby, and drummer Vernell Fournier was a big seller partly due to the classic rendition of "Poinciana." The live LP (which unfortunately has only 29 minutes of music) features very tight interplay among the musicians and light but passionate versions of such other songs as "But Not for Me," "Surrey With the Fringe on Top," and "Woody 'n You." A classic that really defined Ahmad Jamal's distinctive sound in many people's minds.  Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 But Not for Me 3:31
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2 The Surrey With the Fringe on Top 2:35
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
3 Moonlight in Vermont 3:09
John Blackburn / Karl Suessdorf
4 (Put Another Nickel In) Music! Music! Music! 2:56
Bernie Baum / Stephen Weiss
5 No Greater Love 3:26
Isham Jones / Marty Symes
6 Poinciana 8:07
Buddy Bernier / Nat Simon
7 Woody 'N You 3:40
Dizzy Gillespie
8 What's New? 4:08
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
Credits
Bass – Israel Crosby
Drums – Vernell Fournier
Piano – Ahmad Jamal

LOU DONALDSON - Signifyin' (1963-2002) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

This 1963 date by Lou Donaldson was his first for Argo/Cadet. It followed hot on the heels of two organ jazz dates for Blue Note, Here 'Tis and Natural Soul. Like those previous sessions, Donaldson has a band that can cook whatever meat he gives them -- John Patton, organ; Tommy Turrentine, trumpet; Ben Dixon, drums. Whether swinging on the soulful side of hard bop on Donaldson's own composition "Si Si Safronia" (with a steamy Latin beat played by Patton in chord comps), playing a straight-ahead greasy soul steamer such as the title track that opens the record, or offering up a funkified swinging version of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," the band keeps the beats tight, full of deep backbeat funk and raw soul. The finest moment, however, is on the eight-plus minute "Coppin' a Plea," which is all rough and ready blues with fuzzy overtones and Patton playing one of his finest solos of the period criss-crossing chunky chords and right-hand lines while double-timing Dixon. No matter how you add it up, the only complaint about these six tracks that can justifiably be mustered is that there weren't more.
>|This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa'<|
Tracklist :
1     Signifyin' 7'07
Lou Donaldson    
2     Time After Time 2'35
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne    
3     Si Si Safronia 5'38
Lou Donaldson    
4     Don't Get Around Much Anymore 3'53
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell    
5     I Feel It in My Bones 8'15
Lou Donaldson    
6     Coppin' a Plea 4'09
Lou Donaldson     
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon
Guitar – Roy Montrell
Organ – John Patton
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine, Jr.

LOU DONALDSON - Possum Head (1964-2005) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Possum Head reunites Lou Donaldson with organ great Big John Patton, a component of virtually all of the altoist's strongest Argo label efforts -- time and time again, Patton's sublimely funky grooves effectively sand away Donaldson's wooden edges to create rolling melodic contours. Guitarist Ray Crawford, trumpeter Bill Hardman, drummer Bill Dixon, and the presumably pseudonymous percussionist Cleopas "Mopedido" Morris round out the session, which boasts a lighter, breezier approach than the earlier Signifyin'. Donaldson circles around the hard-driving soul-jazz sensibilities of his later records but never quite commits, instead favoring lyrical solos well-matched to standards like "Laura," "Bye Bye Blackbird," and "Secret Love." An engaging and underrated record. Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1     Possum Head 3:15
Lou Donaldson    
2     Secret Love 5:44
Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster    
3     Midnight Soul 4:57
Lou Donaldson    
4     Bye Bye Blackbird 6:28
Mort Dixon / Ray Henderson    
5     Laura 4:42
Johnny Mercer / David Raksin    
6     Persimmon Tree 5:35
Lou Donaldson    
7     Frenesi 6:15
Alberto Dominguez / Leonard Whitcup    
8     Man With a Horn 5:04
Eddie DeLange / Jack Jenney / Bonnie Lake
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Congas – Cleopas "Mopedido" Morris
Drums – Ben Dixon
Guitar – Ray Crawford
Organ – 'Big' John Patton
Trumpet – Bill Hardman

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - J.G (1956-2004) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

As a CD reissue, it's a crime that this very first outing by Johnny Griffin as a leader is only available from Japan in an irritating paper sleeve that comes apart down the center. OK, enough bitching. Here's the skinny: Griffin's first date featured the saxophonist in the company of Junior Mance on piano, bassist Wilbur Ware, and session drummer Buddy Smith. The program features eight tunes that were fairly standard fare for jazzmen in 1956, such as "These Foolish Things," Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays," and the Youmans-Greene nugget "The Boy Next Door." These are played with the requisite verve and mastery of harmony, rhythm, and melodic changes, but they don't really stand out. What does stand out in this program are Griffin's originals, such as "Satin Wrap," which has since been covered by any tenor player worth his mouthpiece. It's a funky blues number that does not fall headlong into the hard bop swinging that would be so pervasive in the tenorist's style. Instead there are more formalist notions that suggest Paul Gonsalves and Coleman Hawkins. In addition, the album-closer, "Lollypop," comes out swinging hard with an R&B hook that digs in. Mance propels Griffin with fat, greasy chords that suggest a Chicago bar-walking honk frenzy, but Griffin's own playing is too sophisticated and glides like Lester Young around the changes. Also notable here is Ware's beautiful bop run "Riff Raff." The bassist knew not only how to write for but arrange for horns. Mance and Griffin are in it knee-deep, note for note, with Mance adding beefy left-hand clusters to the melody as Ware and Smith play it straight time until the solo, when the middle breaks up and everybody goes in a different direction. It's got the hard bop blues at its root. This recording is brief, as it originally came out on a 10" LP, but is nonetheless a necessary addition to any shelf that pays Johnny Griffin homage.
|| This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' ||
Tracklist :
 1     I Cried for You 3'37
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
2     Satin Wrap 3'05
Johnny Griffin
3     Yesterdays 2'31
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
4     Riff-Raff 3'10
Wilbur Ware
5     Bee-Ees 3'52
Johnny Griffin
6     The Boy Next Door 3'18
Otto Harbach / Vincent Youmans
7     These Foolish Things 3'36
Harry Link / Jack Strachey
8     Lollypop 3'03
Johnny Griffin
Credits :
Bass – Wilbur Ware
Drums – Buddy Smith
Piano – Junior Mance
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin

CLARK TERRY - Out On A Limb (1957) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Side A
1     Caravan 2'04
2     Candy 2'23
3     Clarke's Expedition 2'30
4     Trumpet Mouthpiece Blues 4'06
Side B
1     Phlanges 3'03
2     Blues for Daddy O's Jazz Patio Blues 4'34     
3     Basin Street 2'45
4     Daylite Express 2'17
5    Taking a Chance on Love 2'20
Credits :
Bass – Jimmy Woode
Drums – Sam Woodyard
Guitar – Remo Biondi
Piano – Willie Jones
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Mike Simpson
Trumpet – Clark Terry

THE JAZZTETT AND JOHN LEWIS - The Jazztet and John Lewis ft. Art Farmer & Benny Golson (1953-2013) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Jazztet had been in existence for two years when they recorded what would be their final LPs, Here and Now and Another Git Together. The personnel, other than the two co-leaders, flugelhornist Art Farmer and tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson, had completely changed since 1960 but the group sound was the same. The 1962 version of the Jazztet included trombonist Grachan Moncur III, pianist Harold Mabern, bassist Herbie Lewis, and drummer Roy McCurdy. It is remarkable to think that this talent-filled group wasn't, for some reason, snapped up to record even more albums together. Highlights of their excellent out-of-print LP include Ray Bryant's "Tonk," "Whisper Not," "Just in Time," and Thelonious Monk's "Ruby My Dear." A classic if short-lived hard bop group. [This is the original issue and does not include bonus tracks.] Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Bel 4'05
Composed By – John Lewis
2    Milano 4'49
Composed By – John Lewis
3    Django 4'50
Composed By – John Lewis
4    New York 19 7'04
Composed By – John Lewis
5    2 Degrees East, 3 Degrees West 8'40
Composed By – John Lewis
6    Odds Against Tomorrow 12'27
Composed By – John Lewis
Credits :
Bass – Thomas Williams
Drums – Albert Heath
Piano – Cedar Walton
Tenor Saxophone – Benny Golson
Trombone – Thomas McIntosh
Trumpet – Art Farmer
Written-By, Conductor – John Lewis

THE ART FARMER QUARTET - Perception (1962-2018) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1964 release of a 1961 date with pianist Harold Mabern, drummer Ron McCurdy, and bassist Tommy Williams is a breezy affair, a stark contrast to the hard bop that was still pervasive at that time. Farmer had fully developed his sensual and lyrical style by this time, and was making records with Benny Golson when he led this date. The set features two fine originals, which are notable because Farmer didn't compose much: the elegant and spring-like "Punsu" and "Kayin," a breezy West Coast affair. Farmer had given up the trumpet completely by this time and concentrated all of his efforts on the flügelhorn. Its large, warm tone and rounded sound fit perfectly with Farmer's penchant for the exploration of melodic modes within a given tune. On "Lullaby of the Leaves," Farmer's lead into the melody prefigures his solo by moving both off key and off beat to shape a large conical center in the tune. On Ray Bryant's "Tonk," Farmer swings out of the blues and into a shimmering solo all around a triplet figure in B flat. Mabern does far more than comp his way through the changes here, extending his chord voicings to let Farmer fall inside the cracks and nest. This is a gorgeous record, full of light and airiness; it showcases the depth rather than the breadth of Farmer's contribution.
>This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa'<
Tracklist :
1     Punsu 5'14
Art Farmer
2     The Day After 2'25
Tom McIntosh
3     Lullaby of the Leaves 4'18
Bernice Petkere / Joe Young
4     Kayin' 3'57
Art Farmer
5     Tonk 4'37
Ray Bryant        
6     The Blue Room 3'58
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
7     Change Partners 5'23
Irving Berlin
8     Nobody's Heart 4'05
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Bass – Tommy Williams
Drums – Roy McCurdy
Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
Piano – Harold Mabern

ART FARMER - Art (1960-2002) RM / Argo Cadet Special Collection - 3 / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During a career that spanned close to a half century, Art Farmer was well-known for his consistency as a soloist and a bandleader. This series of studio sessions from 1960, with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Tommy Williams, and drummer Albert Heathe, find the trumpeter in great form, with the usually impeccable accompaniment one expects from Flanagan. Many of the rich ballads featured, including "So Beats My Heart for You," "Goodbye Old Girl," and "Younger Than Springtime," have fallen out of favor in the early 21st century, but Farmer's impeccable performances of these chestnuts sound timeless. A slightly jaunty take of Benny Golson's "Out of the Past" and a spirited rendition of "The Best Thing for You Is Me" also merit attention. by Ken Dryden 

Tracklist :
1   So Beats My Heart For You  4:38
Pat Ballard / Charles Herderson / Tom Waring
2   Goodbye Old Girl  4:30
Richard Adler / Jerry Ross
3   Who Cares  5:15
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
4   Out Of The Past  5:20
Benny Golson
5   Younger Than Springtime  5:38
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
6   The Best Thing For You Is Me  4:06
Irving Berlin
7   I'm A Fool To Want You  5:27
Joel Herron / Frank Sinatra / Jack Wolf
8   That Ole Devil Called Love  4:14
Doris Fisher / Allan Roberts
Credits :
Bass – Tommy Williams
Drums – Albert Heath
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Trumpet – Art Farmer

ILLINOIS JACQUET WITH KENNY BURRELL - Desert Winds (1964-2004) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Illinois Jacquet's searing sax solo in 1942's "Flying Home" (recorded while Jacquet was a member of Lionel Hampton's band) is often credited as the first R&B-styled saxophone solo, and there is no denying the power in that performance, shards of which are still being copied and assimilated. But many critics of the day hated the "dirty tenor" sound, and over the years Jacquet softened his approach considerably, knocking off the wilder corners and playing a smoother, more standard line. Not that this was necessarily a bad thing, since Jacquet was an accomplished melodic player in any style, but listeners should be aware that his rougher sound was all but gone by the time Desert Winds was recorded in 1964. Working with guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Tommy Flanagan, and a rhythm section of Wendell Marshall on bass and Ray Lucas on drums, with Willie Rodriguez adding bongos and congas on most tracks, Jacquet's playing here is hushed, easy, and pleasant, with no discernible hard edges, and with no other horn player on the session, he has plenty of room to let his solos build and unwind. He does break out a little bit on the group's version of the Lester Young classic "Lester Leaps In," but most cuts, like the title track, have an unhurried, relaxing midtempo shuffle pace, making Desert Winds feel like the aural equivalent of a gentle twilight breeze. The added percussion gets a little distracting on occasion, but overall Jacquet is in fine lyrical form, particularly on the standout track here, a beautiful version of "You're My Thrill" that carries all the breathy romanticism of a classic Ben Webster solo, and is one of Jacquet's finest pieces. An underappreciated and unassuming album, Desert Winds has plenty of easy charm, and while there are no barn-burning solos here, there are plenty of moments of quiet and lyrical joy. by Steve Leggett  
Tracklist :
1     When My Dreamboat Comes Home 5:22
Dave Franklin / Cliff Friend
2     Desert Winds 4:20
Esmond Edwards
3     Star Eyes 4:16
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
4     Blues for the Early Bird 3:17
Illinois Jacquet
5     Lester Leaps In 7:28
Lester Young
6     You're My Thrill 3:53
Burton Lane / Ned Washington
7     Canadian Sunset 6:13
Eddie Heywood
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Illinois Jacquet (faixas: 4)
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Drums – Ray Lucas
Percussion – Wille Rodriguez
Piano – Tommy FlanaganTenor Saxophone – Illinois Jacquet
Guitar – Kenny Burrell

RAMSEY LEWIS - Mother Nature's Son (1968-2002) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This album was another brainchild of Marshall Chess' regime at Chess Records and, in a sense, is of a piece with Electric Mud by Muddy Waters -- here, he's getting Ramsey Lewis, supported by an orchestra conducted and arranged by Charles Stepney, to do jazz improvisations on ten songs from The Beatles (aka The White Album). The results are a good deal more impressive and a lot less awkward than Electric Mud, Lewis and company being in far greater sympathy with this material than Muddy Waters was with Rolling Stones material. The orchestrations are occasionally a bit thick and treacly, but when Lewis jumps in and his playing takes flight, songs such as "Julia" soar off in all manner of unexpected and delightful directions, while "Back in the U.S.S.R.," divorced from its Chuck Berry sound, still serves as the basis for some funky improvisations by the pianist. The album probably didn't do much more for Lewis' career than Electric Mud did for Muddy Waters, but it's a better fit with Lewis and an enjoyable excursion. The cover art is also funny enough to almost make it worth the price of the LP. by Bruce Eder  
Tracklist :
1     Mother Nature's Son 4:56
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
2     Rocky Raccoon 2:39
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
3     Julia 4:19
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
4     Back In The U.S.S.R. 3:16
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
5     Dear Prudence 4:54
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
6     Cry Baby Cry 3:50
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
7     Good Night 5:55
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
8     Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey 3:14
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
9     Sexy Sadie 2:44
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
10     Black Bird 4:33
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Credits :
Arranged By [Orchestra], Conductor [Orchestra], Effects [Electronic Effects On The Moog], Producer – Charles Stepney

NYMAN : Where The Bees Dance; BRYARS : The Green Ray; WESTBROOK : Bean Rows And Blues Shots (John Harle) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

BIRTWISTLE : Panic; Earth Dances (1996) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:

1     Panic 18:17
    Conductor – Andrew Davis
Drums [Drum Kit] – Paul Clarvis
Orchestra – BBC Symphony Orchestra
Saxophone – John Harle
2     Earth Dances 36:42
Conductor – Christoph von Dohnányi
Orchestra – The Cleveland Orchestra