GERRY MULLIGAN — Night Lights (1963) Two Version (1984, Mercury 818 271-2 GER) + (2016, SHM-CD | Serie ジャズ百貨店 All Of Jazz) APE (image+.cue), lossless + FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is a rather relaxed recording featuring baritonist Gerry Mulligan and some of his top alumni (trumpeter Art Farmer, trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Bill Crow, and drummer Dave Bailey) exploring three of his own songs (including "Festive Minor"), Chopin's Prelude in E minor, "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," and "Morning of the Carnival" (from Black Orpheus). The emphasis is on ballads and nothing too innovative occurs, but the results are pleasing and laid-back. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Night Lights (1963 Version)    4:58
 Gerry Mulligan
2    Morning Of The Carnival [From "Black Orpheus"] (Manha De Carnaval)    5:30
 Luiz Bonfá / François Llenas / Antônio Maria
3    In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning    5:39

 Bob Hilliard / David A. Mann
4    Prelude In E Minor    4:16
 Frédéric Chopin
5    Festival Minor    6:50
 Gerry Mulligan
6    Tell Me When    4:09
 Gerry Mulligan
7    Night Lights (1965 Version)    2:55
 Gerry Mulligan
Credits :
Clarinet (tracks: 7), Piano (tracks: 1), Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan
Bass – Bill Crow, Jimmy Bond (tracks: 7)
Drums – Dave Bailey, Hal Blaine (tracks: 7)
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Art Farmer
Guitar – Jim Hall, Jony Gray (tracks: 7)
Piano – Pete Jolly (tracks: 7)
Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer

STAN GETZ – 1951-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1338 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In response to shortsighted comments implying that Stan Getz and Zoot Sims sounded too much like each other and too similar to Lester Young, Ira Gitler liked to use the analogy of "...a friend calling you on the telephone. You know who it is immediately. It's the same thing when you hear a musician play." The secret, of course, is to listen so carefully and consistently that you feel as though you have become a friend of the artist. This sort of empathy is a vital ingredient in jazz -- the empathy between composers, players, and listeners. Hearing Stan Getz recorded live in performance at Boston's Storyville club on October 28, 1951, spells it out marvelously. Backed by pianist Al Haig, guitarist Jimmy Raney, bassist Teddy Kotick, and drummer Tiny Kahn, Getz sounds as though he has arrived at a hard-won maturity. One great aspect of this music lies within the comparative nature of every sound. In Getz listeners can hear Jimmy Giuffre, Lee Konitz, even Charles Lloyd -- but best of all, Getz himself. By this time his artistry had evolved well beyond where he had been only a couple of years earlier. In some of these bands there's something of the marvelous complexity of Lennie Tristano's fascinating ensembles. Eight 1952 recordings originally released on 78-rpm singles bearing the baby-blue Roost label appeared under the heading of the Johnny Smith Quintet. Smith's quicksilver guitar, heard most dynamically on the rapid Tristano-like "Jaguar" and a fantastic cruising theme called "Tabu," acts as a stunning foil for the tenor. The slower numbers are positively intoxicating. Even with the guitar predominating, "Moonlight in Vermont" stands among the loveliest ballad recordings this saxophonist ever participated in. The band's next session took place in November of 1952, and resulted in music of comparable excellence. On December 12, Getz collaborated for the very first time with producer Norman Granz. Backed by a rhythm section including pianist Duke Jordan, the saxophonist had clearly found his own voice. "The Way You Look Tonight" is a powerful closer for this outstanding album of vintage early modern jazz. arwulf arwulf     Tracklist :

STAN GETZ – 1952-1953 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1379 (2003) FLAC (tracks), lossless

This fifth installment in the Classics Stan Getz chronology opens with a 60-mph workout on Sigmund Romberg's "Lover, Come Back to Me." Accompanied by pianist Duke Jordan, guitarist Jimmy Raney, bassist Bill Crow, and drummer Frank Isola, and using everything he learned about saxophones from Lester Young and Charlie Parker, Getz also sounds at times a tiny bit like his contemporaries John LaPorta and Lee Konitz. Several of these 12 sides recorded for the Mercury, Norgran, and Royal Roost labels during December 1952 are slow luxurious ballads, a treat for anyone enamored of Getz's intoxicating suede-toned manner. "Lullaby of Birdland," "Fools Rush In," "How Deep Is the Ocean?," and especially this band's spirited rendition of Gigi Gryce's "Hymn to the Orient" are invigorating examples of what Getz could accomplish at higher velocities. Four Mercury/Clef sides recorded on April 16, 1953, are infused with composer and valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer's smooth ideas and cool textures. "Erudition" is a particularly rewarding dose of hot modernity. The rhythm section of Bill Crow, drummer Al Levitt, and pianist John Williams works wonders here behind the pleasantly paired horns. The four tracks closing this excellent compilation were recorded for Prestige on April 23, 1953, with Frank Isola behind the drums, pianist Hall Overton, bassist Red Mitchell, and heavily featured guitarist Jimmy Raney, who composed three of the four tunes rendered on that day. Note also that a few years later, some of the players heard on this disc -- Brookmeyer, Mitchell, and Isola -- would show up gigging with Lee Konitz in Paris. arwulf arwulf 

ZOOT SIMS | BOB BROOKMEYER - Morning Fun (1956-1989) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although it claims on the back of this CD that the music was recorded in August 1956, discographies state February and that seems more logical since valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and tenor-saxophonist Zoot Sims did not team up for a very long period (although three records resulted from their valuable collaboration). With assistance from pianist John Williams, bassist Bill Crow and drummer Jo Jones, Sims and Brookmeyer are in fine form on such selections as a rollicking "The King," "Lullaby of the Leaves," a brief two-song ballad medley and Brookmeyer's "Whooeeeee!" Sims takes a rare (and fairly effective) vocal on "I Can't Get Started." Recommended, as is the other Black Lion Zoot Sims CD from the same period, Tonite's Music Today. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     The King 4:44
Count Basie    
2     Lullaby of the Leaves 5:16
Bernice Petkere / Joe Young    
3     I Can't Get Started 4:40
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin    
4     Snake Eyes 4:03
Al Cohn    
5     Morning Fun 5:07
Al Cohn / Zoot Sims    
6     Whoooeeeee! 5:10
Bob Brookmeyer    
7     Someone to Watch over Me/My Old Flame 4:16
Sam Coslow / George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / Arthur Johnston
8     Box Cars 5:24
Al Cohn
Credits :
Bass – Bill Crow
Drums – Jo Jones
Piano – Hank Jones
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Valve Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer

AL COHN - Jazz Mission to Moscow (1962-2010) RM | Jazz名盤 999 Best & More | FLAC (tracks), lossless

In 1962 Benny Goodman had a historic visit to the Soviet Union, touring with a big band full of young all-stars. After the orchestra returned to the U.S., tenor saxophonist Al Cohn (who had not made the trip but did write some of Goodman's charts) put together an album (also released by Colpix) using many of the sidemen and paying tribute to the event. Strangely enough none of the six numbers are Cohn originals and he does not play on the record although he arranged all of the music. Of the six songs, "Mission to Moscow," "Let's Dance" and "Russian Lullaby" were part of Goodman's repertoire. Altoist Phil Woods effectively doubles on clarinet and other soloists include tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, trumpeter Marky Markowitz and trombonist Willie Dennis. An interesting set of modern swing but this LP has been unfortunately long out-of-print. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Mission To Moscow 4:20
Written-By – Mel Powell
2    The Sochi Boatman 5:17
Adapted By – A. Gilbert
Arranged By – Al Cohn
3    Midnight In Moscow 5:59
Written-By – Ball, Soloviev-Sedoy, Matusovsky
4    Let's Dance 4:32
Written-By – Baldridge, Stone, Bonime
5    Russian Lullaby 5:39
Written-By – Irving Berlin
6    Red, White And Blue Eyes 4:53
Adapted By – A. Gilbert
Arranged By – Al Cohn
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Phil Woods
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Jerry Dodgion
Baritone Saxophone – Gene Allen
Bass – Bill Crow
Drums – Mel Lewis
Piano – Eddie Costa
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Trombone – Willie Dennis
Trumpet – Jimmy Maxwell, Markie Markowitz

CLARK TERRY | BOB BROOKMEYER QUINTET - Complete Studio Recordings (2015) 2CD | RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This release contains all studio recordings by the brilliant quintet fronted by CLARK TERRY and BOB BROOKMEYER. This material was originally released on three albums which are presented here in their entireties.

All Of The Terry/Brookmeyer Quintets Studio Recordings for the first time ever on CD. Three Complete Albums on 2-CD Set including the albums:

- Tonight - Clark Terry / Bobby Brookmeyer Quintet (1964)
- The Power Of Positive Swinging (1965)
- Gingerbread Men (1966)

Two of the most superlative horn players of their respective instruments, Clark Terry and Bob Brookmeyers stellar collaboration includes nearly 50 separate recordings, the majority of which were made as sidemen.

This Phenomenal 2-CD Set features ALL of the studio recordings that these 2 giants made with their superlative quintet prior to the bands break up in 1966. This is the first time ever that their three outstanding studio sessions recorded between 1964 and 1966 are available on one edition.
Tracklist CD1 :
1    Tete A Tete    4:47
2    Pretty Girl    3:27
3    Blue China    4:42
4    Hum    5:25
5    Blindman, Blindman    3:08
6    Step Right Up    6:10
7    Weep    5:15
8    Straight No Chaser    3:28
9    Sometime Ago    4:42
10    Hymn    3:58
11    Dancing On The Grave    2:31
12    Battle Hymn Of The Republic    3:29
13    The King    5:41
14    Ode To A Flugelhorn    5:36
15    Gal In Calico    6:05
Tracklist CD2 :
1    Green Stamps    5:08
2    Hawg Jawz    2:24
3    Simple Waltz    5:18
4    Just An Old Manuscript    7:34
5    Haig & Haig    4:30
6    I Want A Little Girl    4:11
7    Mood Indigo    6:52
8    Milo's Other Samba    2:52
9    Gingerbread Boy    2:40
10    My Gal    5:55
11    Naptown    5:29
12    Morning Mist    3:16
13    Bye Bye Blackbird    6:50

CD1, 1-10: TONIGHT

CD1, 11-15 & CD2, 1-4: THE POWER OF POSITIVE SWINGING

CD2, 5-13: GINGERBREAD MEN

Credits :
Clark Terry - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Bob Brookmeyer - Valve Trombone
Roger Kellaway - Piano
Bill Crow - Bass
Dave Bailey - Drums

Hank Jones - Piano (replaces Kellaway)
Bob Cranshaw - Bass (replaces Crow)

STAN GETZ - Stan Getz Plays (1954-2004) Universal Jazz The Best - 30 / MONO / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tenor saxophonist Stan Getz is in excellent form playing with one of his finest groups, a quintet with guitarist Jimmy Raney and pianist Duke Jordan. Although the music does not quite reach the excitement level of the Getz-Raney Storyville session, this music (particularly the ballads) really shows off the tenor's appealing tone. This set is rounded out by four titles that Getz cut with a quartet in 1954 that co-starred pianist Jimmy Rowles. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Stella by Starlight 2:41
Ned Washington / Victor Young
2     Time on My Hands 2:55
Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon / Vincent Youmans
3     'Tis Autumn 3:11
Henry Nemo
4     The Way You Look Tonight 3:01
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
5     Lover, Come Back to Me 2:54
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
6     Body and Soul 3:14
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
7     Stars Fell on Alabama 3:21
Mitchell Parish / Frank Perkins
8     You Turned the Tables on Me 2:55
Louis Alter / Sidney Mitchell
9     Thanks for the Memory 3:17
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
10     Hymn of the Orient 2:53
Gigi Gryce
11     These Foolish Things 3:20
Harry Link / Holt Marvell / Jack Strachey
12     How Deep Is the Ocean? 2:48
Irving Berlin
Credits :
Stan Getz : Tenor Saxophone,
Jimmy Raney : Guitar,
Duke Jordan : Piano,
Bill Crow : Bass,
Frank Isola : Drums

GERRY MULLIGAN QUARTET - Recorded In Boston At Storyville (1956-2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This live concert from the Storyville Club in Boston features Gerry Mulligan's Quartet in late 1956. Baritonist Mulligan had found a perfect partner in valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer and (with the sympathetic support of bassist Bill Crow and drummer Dave Bailey) they romp through a variety of standards and group originals including such odd titles as "Bweebida Bwobbida," "Utter Chaos" (their theme song) and "Bike Up the Strand." A fine all-round performance from this cool-toned bop unit. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Bweebida Bwobbida 6:38
Gerry Mulligan
2     Birth of the Blues 4:36
Lew Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson
3     Baubles, Bangles and Beads 3:27
George Forrest / Robert Wright
4     Rustic Hop 4:50
Bob Brookmeyer
5     Open Country 5:43
Bob Brookmeyer
6     Storyville Story 5:35
Gerry Mulligan
7     That Old Feeling 4:06
Lew Brown / Sammy Fain
8     Bike Up the Strand/Utter Chaos 6:20 
Gerry Mulligan
9     Blues at the Roots 4:54
Gerry Mulligan
10     Ide's Side 5:10
Gerry Mulligan
11     I Can't Get Started 2:42
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin
12     Frenesi 4:25
Alberto Dominguez / Leonard Whitcup
13     Flash 2:43
Gerry Mulligan
14     Honeysuckle Rose 3:19
Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
15     Limelight/Utter Chaos 4:42
Gerry Mulligan
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone, Piano – Gerry Mulligan
Bass – Bill Crow
Drums – Dave Bailey
Valve Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer

GERRY MULLIGAN AND THE CONCERT JAZZ BAND - At the Village Vanguard (1961-2002) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Of all the recordings made by Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band in the 1960s, this is the definitive one. There are many high points, including "Body and Soul" (which has fine solos from the baritone/leader and valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer), "Come Rain or Come Shine," and the swinging "Let My People Be," but "Blueport" takes honors. On the latter, after hot solos by Mulligan, trombonist Willie Dennis, and Jim Reider on tenor, Mulligan and trumpeter Clark Terry have a lengthy trade-off that is quite hilarious with a countless number of quotes from different songs; at one point they trade off cities. This music is essential. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Blueport 11:07
William Crow / Art Farmer
2     Body and Soul 5:45
Frank Eyton / John W. Green / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
3     Black Nightgown 4:10
Johnny Mandel
4     Come Rain or Come Shine 5:35
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
5     Lady Chatterley's Mother 6:14
Al Cohn
6     Let My People Be 8:00
Gerry Mulligan
Piano – Gerry Mulligan
Credits :
Alto Clarinet – Gene Quill
Alto Saxophone – Bob Donovan
Baritone Saxophone – Gene Allen, Gerry Mulligan
Bass – Bill Crow
Bass Clarinet – Gene Allen
Clarinet – Gene Quill
Drums – Mel Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Jim Reider
Trombone – Alan Ralph, Bob Brookmeyer, Willie Dennis
Trumpet – Clark Terry, Don Ferrara, Nick Travis