CLIFFORD BROWN – Memorial Album (1956-1987) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Trumpeter Clifford Brown is heard here in two unusual and unrelated sessions. On four selections, Brown is featured with arranger/pianist Tadd Dameron's Orchestra; other soloists include Benny Golson on tenor and altoist Gigi Gryce. The other date was recorded in Sweden while Brown was touring with Lionel Hampton & His Orchestra. Clifford Brown and fellow trumpeter Art Farmer play four Dameron arrangements with a Swedish group that includes altoist Arne Domnerus, baritonist Lars Gullin, and pianist Bengt Hallberg. Oscar Hammerstein II & Sigmund Romberg's "Lover Come Back to Me" really cooks and Brown and Farmer get to trade off in exciting fashion during Quincy Jones' "'Scuse These Blues." Scott Yanow    Tracklist + Credits :

JAMES MOODY – 1949-1950 | The Chronogical Classics – 1169 (2001) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Whether you think you're already hip to James Moody, or if you aren't hip to him at all, be sure and check this stuff out! It's rare, it's beautiful and the solos are extraordinary. What you have here is essentially Moody's European tour journal. This phonographic diary takes us through Stockholm towards the end of 1949 and then to Paris in February and April of 1950. Moody is hanging with the French and the Swedes. They have been carefully studying the twists and turns of American bop. The arrangements are intricate and very contemporary. Don't worry about the goofy titles. "Three Bop Mice" and "Flight of the Bopple Bee" are actually fine pieces of work, hot and busy, composed and executed by this formidable sax and flute man from Georgia who got his start working with Dizzy Gillespie. Much of what we know about Moody comes from a stream of American records issued and reissued over a span of more than 50 years. His early European recordings are of inestimable value in their own light and as context for the rest of his work. "Three Bop Mice" seems to refer to the front line of three wicked tenor saxophones. Good thing this jam runs for nearly six minutes! It gives the guys kicking room. When Moody approaches a ballad, the results are often stunning. "Laura" is exquisite and "Body and Soul" pulsates with Moody's personal blend of languid urgency. "I'm in the Mood for Love" is the divine original take of a set of variations that would help to spawn the entire vocalese tradition, bearing forever the altered title "Moody's Mood for Love." Some will involuntarily detect echo-premonitions of Eddie Jefferson as the improvisations effortlessly unwind. Who would have guessed that the lovely upper register chorus, which Eddie would always sing in a disarming falsetto, was originally devised by the Swedish pianist Thore Swanerud? "Lester Leaps In" turns out to be the blueprint for Jefferson's wonderful vocalese outing "I Got The Blues." He obviously owned each of these Swedish records and learned them by heart. A pity he didn't get a chance to devise note-for-note lyrics to Moody's improvisations on "Indiana" "Dexterious" and "Good Bait," as these too are brilliant. The next jaw-dropper is "Blue and Moody," which proves to be the record that Eddie Jefferson turned into "Birdland Story," that exciting number heard on the 1956 Flute 'N the Blues album. This one CD holds the key to so many of James Moody's greatest records. Two 1950 Parisian sessions led by pianist Jack Dieval explore unusual harmonic realms, presenting ideas and tonalities that would take root over the next ten years. This is progressive music, unusually advanced for its day. Annie Ross sings in her most bizarre, pleasantly disorienting manner during "Le Vent Vert." Next, the Ernie Royal All-Stars punch out a five-minute "Period Suite." Russell Procope blossoms during a six-and-a-half-minute excursion through "Perdido," neatly bisected during Pierre Michelot's bass solo. Everybody ought to own a copy of this glorious disc. It is a glowing emerald deeply set in the precious lapidary of James Moody's music, surely some of the greatest music the world will ever hear. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

JAMES MOODY – 1950-1951 | The Chronogical Classics – 1263 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

April in Paris, 1950. James Moody is making records with a band led by trumpeter Ernie Royal. While two originals by Royal are based on textbook bop themes, Moody's own "Date With Kate" shows greater depth of invention. "Mean to Me" prances at a healthy clip and "Embraceable You" is presented as a slow-dance delicacy. Jumping to July of 1950, Moody leads his own "Boptet" through four remarkable exercises in modernity. Marshall "Red" Allen, who subsequently worked for decades with Sun Ra, is heard in Moody's band playing alto saxophone. These must be Allen's earliest appearances on record. "Delooney" surges ahead with peculiar chords that do in fact slightly resemble what Ra's Arkestra would be playing by 1957. "Real Cool" features the celeste and piano of Raymond Fol and some lovely bass work by Buddy Banks. "In the Anna" is a slow and harmonically altered stroll through "Back Home Again in Indiana." Moody sings a chorus of rapid-fire bop scat on "Voila." After he blows his horn for a bit, several voices sing a background chorus, which continues during a fadeout, that new effect just beginning to occur on records in 1950. Moody's last Parisian session focuses tightly upon his tenor sax backed by apparent Bud Powell devotee Raphael "Raph" Schecroun, Pierre Michelot, and the amazing Kenny "Klook" Clarke, whose solo on "Riffin' and Raphin'" is a pleasure. Hot tracks invigorate, and ballads bring on the coolest of reveries. Moody's fluidic improvisations are always full of pleasant surprises. "St. Louis Blues" gets a modern, sophisticated treatment, slipping with progressive ease into the traditional tango chorus. There are no less than three distinct renditions of "Embraceable You" on this CD. Maybe we're inside a movie and this is the recurring theme song, always returning to assist in the story line's continuity: five months in the life of James Moody. The home stretch takes listeners back to Stockholm. Backed by seven Scandinavians and bolstered by cushy arrangements, Moody delivered six gorgeous performances for the Prestige label. His balladeering is always astonishing. "How Deep Is the Ocean" has the power to reassure. So does "I'll Get By." Each of these little three-minute records should be cherished like a vision of a better world. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist + Credits :

ARNE DOMNÉRUS & BENGT HALLBERG with CLARK TERRY, GEORGE MRAZ, OLIVER JACKSON - Downtown Meeting '2 Swedes in New York' (1979) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Swedish altoist/clarinetist Arne Domnerus and pianist Bengt Hallberg travelled to New York to record this Phontastic set with flugelhornist Clark Terry (who is on half of the songs), bassist George Mraz and drummer Oliver Jackson. The program on this CD reissue, which has two more numbers than the original LP, boasts plenty of high spirits and swinging solos. The group performs three Swedish songs (including Hallberg's "Mulen") and a variety of swing standards that are highlighted by "Gone with the Wind," C.T.'s feature on "Come Sunday," "In a Mellotone" and "C Jam Blues." Scott Yanow
Side A
1    Gone With The Wind 4'25
Written-By – Wrubel, Magidson
2    Embraceable You 5'00
Written-By – G. Gershwin & I. Gershwin
3    On The Sunny Side Of The Street 4'25
Written-By – McHugh & D. Fields
4    I Cover The Waterfront 3'40
Written-By – J. Green
5    Song From Utanmyra (Visa Från Utanmyra) 4'50
Traditional
Side B
1    In A Mellotone 6'40
Written-By – Ellington
2    Swedish Butterfly (Fjäril'n Vingad Syns På Haga) 5'10
Written-By – CM Bellman
3    Come Sunday 4'40
Written-By – Ellington
4    Mulen 3'15
Written-By – Bengt Hallberg
5    C Jam Blues 4'45
Written-By – Ellington
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Arne Domnérus
Bass – George Mraz
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Piano – Bengt Hallberg

ALICE BABS - Alice and Wonderband (1959-1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A popular singer when she was still a young teenager, Alice Babs had a long and varied career. She made her recording debut in 1939 at the age of 15 and, although her yodeling made her initially popular and the novelty "Swing It, Mr. Teacher" was her first hit, Babs even at the start had a highly appealing voice and a lightly swinging style. She mostly recorded in jazz and swing-oriented settings throughout the years of World War II. Babs remained active throughout the 1950s and '60s in Europe, singing everything from jazz (recording with Duke Ellington in 1963 and performing the classic "Heaven" at his second spiritual concert) and pop to a bit of classical music. By the late '70s, Alice Babs had become less active, but into the mid-'90s she occasionally performed on special occasions. Her important first set with Duke Ellington, Swing It!, does a fine job of summing up her first 15 years on records. Babs suffered from Alzheimer's in her final years, and she died on February 11, 2014 of complications from the disease. She was 90 years old.  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    No Words Blues 3:19
Written-By – A. Babs, B. Hallberg
2    Just A Sittin' And A-Rockin' 2:59
Written-By – Strayhorn, Ellington, Gaines
3    Willow Weep For Me 4:45
Written-By – A. Rossell
4    I Didn't Know What Time It Was 2:38
Written-By – R. Rogers - L. Hart
5    New Orleans 3:14
Written-By – H. Carmichael
6    I Only Have Eyes For You 2:14
Written-By – Dubin, Warren
7    Prelude To A Kiss 4:22
Written-By – Ellington, Gordon, Mills
8    The Lady's In Love With You 2:27
Written-By – B. Lane, F. Loesser
9    No Name Blues 4:48
Written-By – A. Babs, B. Hallberg
10    I Cant't Give You Anything But Love 2:00
Written-By – Fields - McHugh
11    I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good 3:26
Written-By – Ellington, Webster
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lennart Jansson
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Arne Domnérus
Piano, Arranged By – Bengt Hallberg
Baritone Saxophone – Rune Falk
Bass – Georg Riedel
Drums – Egil Johansen
Guitar – Sven Stiberg
Tenor Saxophone – Rolf Blomqvist
Trombone – Andreas Skjold, Folke Raabe, Åke Persson
Trumpet – Bengt-Arne Wallin, Benny Bailey, Lennart Sundewall, Sixten Eriksson

ALICE BABS - Serenading Duke Ellington (1975-1994) Mp3

Well, it's Alice Babs, so, as you would expect, the vocals are crisp and stunning. The earlier selections on this album are largely staple, well-known and loved classic Big Band Era vocals, and the latter selections are from Duke Ellington's sacred music.
All wonderful, of course. But this album is not, and does not try to be, all things to all people. The genre is narrow, as outlined above.
Also--if you buy this album thinking it's going to be Alice Babs and Duke Ellington together, that's not what this is. This is Alice Babs, with Swedish band leader Nils Lindberg, doing a posthumous tribute to Duke Ellington.
If you like classic pieces like "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" or "Lady In Blue," and if you like Duke Ellington's upbeat sacred pieces, like "Freedom," you will love this album.
But if you're looking for a broader selection of Alice Babs vocals, which may include scat, folk, and even some rock and roll, You may want to try "Alice Babs and the Swe-danes" for startlingly athletic, fun scat, and most of all, "Music With a Jazz Flavour," which contains a much more varied and interesting range of musical genres. by J. M. Kahn

Tracklist :
1. Lady In Blue [03:34]
Duke Ellington
2. Me and You [04:39]
Duke Ellington
3. Don't Get Around Much Anymore [03:56]
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
4. Freedom I [03:23]
Duke Ellington
5. There's Something About Me [05:00]
Duke Ellington
6. Somebody Cares [04:34]
Duke Ellington
7. Warm Valley [05:54]
Duke Ellington
8. I Don't Mind [05:25]
Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn
9. Jump for Joy [03:42]
Duke Ellington / Sid Kuller / Paul Francis Webster
10. I Like the Sunrise [02:41]
Duke Ellington
11. Freedom I and III [02:37]
Duke Ellington
12. Somebody Cares [03:12]
Duke Ellington
13. Thank You for Everything [04:15]
Duke Ellington
14. Something 'Bout Believing [06:03]
Duke Ellington
15. Solitude [04:15]
Eddie DeLange / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
Personnel :
Reeds - Arne Domnerus, Lennart Aberg, Ulf Andersson, Erik Nilsson, Claes Rosendahl
Trumpet - Jan Allan
Alice Babs, Vocals
Composer - Duke Ellington
Guitar - Rune Gustafsson
Piano , Arranger, Leader - Nils Lindberg
Organ - Ulf Wesslen
Bass - Red Mitchell
Trombone, Tuba - Sven Larsson
Trombone - Bertil Strandberg, Torgny Nilsson, Lars Olofsson

ARNE DOMNÉRUS - Jazz at the Pawnshop [1977] LP [24-96] FLAC (tracks), lossless

This is the first of four CD volumes that fully document a legendary engagement at the Pawnshop club in Stockholm, Sweden. Featured are Arne Domnerus (doubling on alto and clarinet), pianist Bengt Hallberg, vibraphonist Lars Erstrand, bassist Georg Riedel and drummer Egil Johansen. They mostly stick to swing standards, recalling the groups of Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. Highlights include a heated "Limehouse Blues," the African folk song "High Life," "Lady Be Good" and Coleman Hawkins's "Stuffy." All of the volumes in this series are well worth getting by straightahead jazz fans, particularly those not familiar with Arne Domnerus's excellent playing. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist  
A1 Limehouse Blues                9:35
   Written By – Philip Braham / Douglas Furber / Arne Domnérus
A2 I'm Confessin                    8:00
   Written By – Ellis Reynolds / Arne Domnérus
A3 High Life                          6:40
   Written By – Traditional / edit B. Egerbladh
B1 Lady Be Good                      9:00
   Written By – George Gershwin / Bengt Hallberg
B2 Take Five                          7:00
   Written By – Paul Desmond / Arne Domnérus
B3 Everything Happens To Me 5:00
   Written By – Matt Dennis / Arne Domnérus
Personnel:
– Arne Domnérus - alto saxophone & clarinet
– Bengt Hallberg - piano
– Lars Erstrand - vibes
– Georg Riedel - bass
– Egil Johansen - drums

ARNE DOMNÉRUS - Jazz at the Pawnshop 

[1977] ATR / LP [24bit 96khz] FLAC (tracks), lossless

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