BOB JAMES — In Hi-Fi (2003) SACD | APE (image+.cue), lossless

11 favorites compiled by Bob James from the Tappan Zee years. Making this collection even more special are Bob's own liner notes giving his personal insights into each of the recordings.
Tracklist :
1. Touchdown 5:41
 Bob James
2. Spunky 6:59
 Bob James
3. Rush Hour 6:39
 Bob James
4. Zebra Man 6:06
 Marcus Miller
5. Heads 6:40
 Dave Brock / Bob James / R. Neville
6. Westchester Lady 7:25
 Bob James
7. Tappan Zee 6:51
 Bob James
8. Blue Lick 5:31
 Bob James
9. Nautilus 5:45
 Bob James
10. Angela (Theme From 'Taxi') 5:42
 Bob James
11. Farandole 8:33
 Georges Bizet
Credits :
ft. Hiram Bullock, Steve Khan, Eric Gale - Guitar
Jon Faddis, Art Farmer - Trumpet
Harvey Mason, Sr., Steve Gadd - Drums
Leonard "Doc" Gibbs - Percussion
Groover Washington, Jr., David Sanborn - Sax
Hubert Laws - Flute

GERRY MULLIGAN / BEN WEBSTER - Gerry Mulligan Meets Ben Webster (1959-1995) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Make no mistake about it, the swing and bop start right here on this legendary 1959 session between baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and tenor man Ben Webster. Produced by Norman Granz as an early Verve album, this Mobile Fidelity 24-karat gold-disc reissue is sonically worth the extra bread as it feels like you're right in the control room every note of the way. The opening track, Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" is lush and emotional and truly sets the tone for this album. With Jimmy Rowles on piano (his intro on "Sunday" sounds like a ragtimer like Willie "The Lion" Smith just pushed him off the stool before the band came in), Mel Lewis on drums, and the always superb Leroy Vinnegar on bass present and accounted for, the rhythm section is superbly swinging with just the right amount of bop lines and chords in the mix to spice things up. The ghost of Duke Ellington hovers over every note on this record (Billy Strayhorn was one of his main arrangers) and that is a very good thing, indeed. There's a beautiful, understated quality to the music on this session that makes it the perfect relaxing around the house on a rainy day disc to pop in the player. File this one under cool, very smooth, and supple.   by Cub Koda  
Tracklist :
1 Chelsea Bridge 7:20
Billy Strayhorn
2 The Cat Walk 5:44
Gerry Mulligan / Ben Webster
3 Sundy 7:22
Gerry Mulligan
4 Who's Got Rhytm 7:39
Gerry Mulligan
5 Tell Me When 5:03
Gerry Mulligan
6 Go Home 10:02
 Chester Conn / Benny Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Styne
7 In A Mellotone 6:54
Duke Ellington / Milt Gabler
8 What Is This Thing Called Love 7:26
Cole Porter
9 For Bessie 5:38
Ben Webster
10 Fajista 5:47
Ben Webster
11 Blues In B Flat 7:22
Gerry Mulligan
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Mel Lewis
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Producer – Norman Granz
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster

THE CAL TJADER QUINTET - Latin + Jazz = Cal Tjader (1968-2002) RM / SACD / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Vibraphonist Cal Tjader is in typically fine form on this live set from 1968. His quintet at the time featured Armand Perazza on congas and pianist Joe Kloess and his repertoire ranged from Afro-Cuban jazz to occasional straightahead tunes. Six of the eight selections on this date are originals by band members or Gary McFarland. Although Tjader had been playing this style of music for 15 years by this time, he still was quite creative and enthusiastic, and is heard throughout in excellent form. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Armando's Quajira 4:24
Armando Peraza
2     Armando's Bossa 5:36
Armando Peraza
3     Why Did I Choose You? 3:12
Michael Leonard / Herbert Martin
4     Milo's Other Samba 6:00
Gary McFarland
5     Song for Pat 5:01
Cal Tjader
6     The Touch 6:17
Joe Kloess
7     Colorado Waltz 6:07
Cal Tjader
8     Nica's Dream 4:51
Horace Silver
Credits :
Bass – Paul Warburton
Congas – Armando Perazza
Drums – Mike Buono
Piano – Joe Kloess
Producer – Gary McFarland
Remastered By, Mastered By [SACD Mastering] – Steve Hoffman
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Cal Tjader 

JON ANDERSON — Olias of Sunhillow (1976-2014) RM | SACD, Hybrid | Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Inspired by the artwork of Roger Dean and the writings of Ver Stanley Alder, Jon Anderson developed an entire story around the idea of an interstellar exodus from Sunhillow, writing this album around the narrative (named for the spaceship's architect, Olias). The idea may seem overly ambitious, but Anderson fills the record with enough magical moments to delight fans of Yes' mystic side. The music is written and performed almost entirely by Anderson, who dubs vocals, plays guitar and harp, and adds percussion and the occasional synthesizer to flesh out his ideas so that at no point does the music lose its spellbinding effect for lack of sonic detail. Olias of Sunhillow is faithful to the spirit of Yes, though decidedly more airy than that band's visceral style -- its closest comparison would be Fragile's "We Have Heaven" or Going for the One's "Wonderous Stories" (which was clearly influenced by this record) on the vocal tracks, and Greek progressive electronic composer (and future Anderson collaborator) Vangelis on the instrumental tracks. Although the album is effective in its entirety, "Sound Out the Galleon," "Olias (To Build the Moorglade)," and "Solid Space" are some of the more memorable excerpts. The arrangements incorporate elements of the four tribes of Sunhillow, the most noticeable being Oriental elements that prefigure Vangelis' own China (especially on the opening "Ocean Song"). While there are several songs that could have easily fit in Yes' own catalog, and the lyrics continue to mine the mystical musings that Yes fans had come to enjoy, Olias of Sunhillow is not the missing Yes album some might hope it to be, though it does prefigure the later Jon & Vangelis collaborations of the '80s. If possible, pick up the LP version of this release, since the packaging is stunning and features terrific artwork by Dave Roe. Dave Connolly  

Tracklist :
1.    Ocean Song    3:04
2.    Meeting (Garden Of Geda) / Sound Out The Galleon    3:34
3.    Dance Of Ranyart / Olias (To Build The Moorglade)    4:19
4.    Qoquaq Ën Transic / Naon / Transic Tö    7:08
5.    Flight Of The Moorglade    3:24
6.    Solid Space    5:20
7.    Moon Ra / Chords / Song Of Search    12:48
8.    To The Runner    4:29
Credits :
Electronics – Brian Gaylor
Performer, Written-By, Music By, Words By, Other [Story] – Jon Anderson