GEORGE GERSHWIN — The Complete Porgy And Bess ★ ft. Mel Tormé · Frances Faye · Duke Ellington & Russ Garcia and His Orchestra (1956-1996) RM | 2CD MONO | Serie Mastersonic – 11 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Bethlehem label didn't make it out of the '50s before folding, and one of the reasons why is the ambitious yet misguided George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, a three-LP box set that represents a complete recording of the Gershwin classic (with narration and sound effects). Bethlehem certainly had the talent to pull it off -- appearing on the label, and this production, are Mel Tormé, Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, Johnny Hartman, Bob Dorough, Betty Roche, Frances Faye, and minor period stars including vocalist Frank Rosolino, bandleader Stan Levey, and arranger Russ Garcia. And long-playing versions of theatrical productions were huge in the mid-'50s (a few sold millions of copies). The most popular of these, however, were simply easy-to-digest highlights LPs that never attempted to present the complete production. This version is a gargantuan two hours long, difficult to sit through even if every performance was stellar (and, unfortunately, that's far from the case). The recording makes a virtue of being hip, primarily through the narration of Al "Jazzbo" Collins, a radio DJ who may have been hip for the times but whose counterfeit excitement and perfect diction make the proceedings sound like a period newsreel. ("Watch out, Porgy, here comes that mean Sportin' Life!") Tormé, as the most popular vocalist on the label, was a shoe-in for the role of Porgy, despite Johnny Hartman's clear superiority, and Frances Faye received the role of Bess despite Betty Roche's ability to handle the role much better. Those mistakes are compounded by Russ Garcia's period arrangements (the Ellington group makes only one appearance) and some decidedly subpar performances from Frank Rosolino early in the program. Still, it has to be admitted that a highlights compilation of this record would sparkle very brightly, driven by Mel Tormé's swinging "I've Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" with a super-enthused backing chorus, George Kirby's "It Ain't Necessarily So," and Betty Roche's reprise of "Summertime" during the second half. John Bush  
Tracklist 1
Porgy and Bess, opera
1 Part 1. Introduction / Summertime 01:25
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
feat: Duke Ellington / Duke Ellington & His Orchestra / The Russell Garcia Orchestra
2 Part 1. Narration 1:24
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
3 Part 1. Summertime 3:48
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Betty Roché
4 Part 1. Narration 0:12
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
5 Part 1. A Woman Is A Sometime Thing 2:39
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Frank Rosolino
6 Part 1. Narration / Here come de honey man... 1:20
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins / Joe Derise
7 Part 1. Narration 0:24
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
8 Part 1. Evenin' ladies, hello boys... 0:43
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
9 Part 1. Narration 0:15
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
10 Part 1. No, no, brother, Porgy ain't soft on no woman... 1:33
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
11 Part 1. Narration (Scene: crap game and murder) 4:31
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: The Russell Garcia Orchestra
12 Part 1. Narration 0:51
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
13 Part 1. Gone, Gone, Gone 2:20
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
14 Part 1. Overflow, overflow 2:08
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
15 Part 1. Narration 0:28
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
16 Part 1. I can't puzzle this thing out... 1:18
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
17 Part 1. Narration 0:11
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
18 Part 1. My Man's Gone Now 3:49
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Sallie Blair
19 Part 1. Narration 0:35
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
20 Part 1. Oh the train is at the station... 2:43
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
21 Part 1. Narration 0:37
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
22 Part 1. Oh I'm agoin' out to the Blackfish banks... 2:17
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Frank Rosolino
23 Part 1. Narration 0:34
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
24 Part 1. I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' 3:13
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: The Pat Moran Quartet
25 Part 1. Mornin', Lawyer. Looking for somebody?... 4:23
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: George Kirby / The Pat Moran Quartet
26 Part 1. Buzzard Song 2:43
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
27 Part 1. Narration 0:28
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
28 Part 1. Bess, You Is My Woman Now 4:57
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin 
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
29 Part 1. Oh, I can't sit down (picnic music) 1:55
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Don Fagerquist / Don Fagerquist Group / Betty Roché
30 Part 1. Porgy, I hates to go... 1:00
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
31 Part 1. I Got Plenty o Nuttin' (reprise) 0:37
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
32 Part 1. It Ain't Necessarily So (instrumental) 1:52
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Russell Garcia / Betty Roché
33 Part 1. Narration 0:34
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
34 Part 1. It Ain't Necessarily So 4:28
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: George Kirby
35 Part 1. Narration 0:53
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
36 Part 1. What you want wid Bess?... 2:12
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Johnny Hartman
37 Part 1. Narration 00:33
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
38 Part 1. Oh I'm agoin' out to the Blackfish banks... (reprise) 1:27
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Frank Rosolino
39 Part 1. Narration 0:30
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
40 Part 1. Oh, doctor Jesus...
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Sallie Blair
41 Part 1. Here come de honey man... / Oh dey's so fresh and fine... / I'm talkin' about devil crabs.. 3:31
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Joe Derise / Bob Dorough / Loulie Jean Norman
Tracklist 2
Porgy and Bess, opera
1 Part 2. Narration 0:38
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
2 Part 2. I Loves You, Porgy 3:17
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
3 Part 2. Narration (Scene: storm) 3:04
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus / The Russell Garcia Orchestra
4 Part 2. Summertime (reprise) 1:22
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Betty Roché
5 Part 2. Narration 0:11
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
6 Part 2. Oh, dere's somebody knockin' at de do'... 1:03
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
7 Part 2. Narration 1:20
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
8 Part 2. If God want to kill me... 2:05
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Johnny Hartman
9 Part 2. Narration  0:06
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
10 Part 2. A red-headed woman... 1:48
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus / Johnny Hartman
11 Part 2. Narration 0:59
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
12 Part 2. Oh, doctor Jesus (reprise) 0:38
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
13 Part 2. Narration 00:55
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
14 Part 2. Clara, Clara, don't you be downhearted... 1:36
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: The Pat Moran Quartet
15 Part 2. Narration 0:10
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins
16 Part 2. Summertime (reprise) 1:12
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Betty Roché
17 Part 2. Narration 1:50
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
18 Part 2. Oh, Lawd, what I goin' do?... 1:21
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé
19 Part 2. Narration 0:09
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
20 Part 2. There's a Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon for New York 1:28
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: George Kirby
21 Part 2. Narration 1:18
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins / The Russell Garcia Orchestra
22 Part 2. Narration 0:24
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
23 Part 2. How are you dis mornin'?... 1:41
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
24 Part 2. Narration 0:39
George Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
25 Part 2. Oh, Bess, Oh, Where's My Bess 2:19
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Sallie Blair
26 Part 2. Oh Lawd, I'm on My Way 1:57
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: Chorus
27 Suite (editied instrumental suite from Russ Garcia's orchestration) 29:12
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Frances Faye / Mel Tormé feat: The Russell Garcia Orchestra

BUDDY BANKS / BOBBY JASPAR - Jazz De Chambre (2000) Jazz In Paris 18 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Part of the fun of listening to Universal Music's Jazz in Paris series is digging into their compilations of obscure recordings, such as these two mid-'50s sessions, led by Buddy Banks and Bobby Jaspar. Banks, originally a saxophonist who switched to bass, had arrived in Europe after World War II; he is accompanied by drummer Roy Haynes, pianist Bob Dorough, and guitarist Jimmy Gourley. The leader takes the spotlight in a subtle take of "Yesterdays," though a strange clicking mars an otherwise swinging "I Love You." Banks' group also offers serviceable interpretations of modern pieces like Gerry Mulligan's "Line for Lyons" and Milt Jackson's "Bag's Groove." The partnership of Belgian flutist Bobby Jaspar and American pianist Blossom Dearie was rather brief. Married not long after they met, they recorded just four selections together in 1956 with bassist Benoit Quersin and drummer Christian Garros, then went their separate ways. The best track is the snappy arrangement of "Old Devil Moon." Dearie adds a quick bit of celesta to their abbreviated take of "There Will Never Be Another You." The four standards on this session are enjoyable, though they might have benefited from adding a second reed or brass instrument to provide some variety. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Buddy Banks–    A Night In Tunisia    4:26
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
2    Buddy Banks–    Almost Like Being In Love    3:19
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
3    Buddy Banks–    Bag's Groove    3:47
Milt Jackson
4    Buddy Banks–    Yesterdays    3:29
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
5    Buddy Banks–    I Love You    5:58
Cole Porter
6    Buddy Banks–    Line For Lyons    3:46
Gerry Mulligan
7    Buddy Banks–    You Go To My Head    4:29
J. Fred Coots / Haven Gillespie
8    Buddy Banks–    Buddy Banks Blues    3:27
Buddy Banks
9    Bobby Jaspar Quartet–    Old Devil Moon    2:30
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg / Burton Lane
10    Bobby Jaspar Quartet–    Autumn In New York    3:58
Vernon Duke
11    Bobby Jaspar Quartet–    Flamingo    3:06
Edmund Anderson / Ted Grouya
12    Bobby Jaspar Quartet–    There Will Never Be Another You    2:10
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
Credits :
Double Bass – Benoit Quersin (faixas: 9 to 12), Buddy Banks (faixas: 1 to 8)
Drums – Christian Garros (faixas: 9 to 12), Roy Haynes (faixas: 1 to 8)
Flute – Bobby Jaspar (faixas: 9 to 12)
Guitar – Jimmy Gourley (faixas: 1 to 8)
Piano – Blossom Dearie (faixas: 9 to 12), Bob Dorough (faixas: 1 to 8)
Nota :
Recorded in Paris.
Tracks 01-07: reissue of the Club Français du Disque 10" LP 33, recorded October 28th 1954 at the Geneix Studio.
Track 08: extract from the Club Français du Disque EP 6 "Vacances nº 2".
Tracks 09-12: reissue of the Barclay 

NELLIE McKAY — Obligatory Villagers (2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The irony inherent in Obligatory Villagers, the shortest of Nellie McKay's first three albums, is that it's her most difficult to understand, comprehend, or even take in. This despite the fact that, unlike her first two albums, these nine songs don't sprawl stylistically. Except for a light pop opener -- granted, that opener is a mocking satire of conservatives called "Mother of Pearl" with an opening line ("Feminists don't have a sense of humor") that deftly counterbalances McKay's later call for a dance break -- the album is Broadway all the way. With McKay's voice and piano, plus heavyweight help from jazz horns including David Liebman, Phil Woods, and Bob Dorough (the latter a singing horn), the album charges by with lightning speed. Her nimble Broadway orchestrations step and kick so quickly that it's nearly impossible to decode McKay's lyrics until after several listens -- even keeping up with the lyric book is difficult. (On his features, Dorough plays it up perfectly, a bemused and befuddled onlooker to the madness.) The fact that Obligatory Villagers does eventually coalesce into a unified and pleasurable listening experience is primarily a testament to Nellie McKay's sizable skills in arrangement and orchestration; writing original charts to provide the meat, then quoting from show tune tradition where she needs to lighten the mood, she makes the entire album a treat, an entertaining experience that listeners will want to sit through over and over until they figure out all of the points -- large and small -- she's making in these songs. If only there were a Broadway musical companion for Obligatory Villagers that listeners could actually sit through, either to visually unite the songs or merely to watch while they listened, Obligatory Villagers would be an amazing soundtrack. John Bush  
Tracklist :
1 Mother of Pearl 2:10
Nellie McKay
Bass – Paul Rostock
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Vocals, Piano, Ukulele – Nellie McKay
2 Oversure 3:20
Nellie McKay
Baritone Saxophone – Tom Hamilton 
Bass – Paul Rostock
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Nelson Hill
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Guitar – Spencer Reed
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman
Trombone – Cameron MacManus
Trumpet – Ken Brader III*
Tuba, Bass Trombone – Jim Daniels
Vocals – Bob Dorough
Vocals, Piano, Wind Chimes [Chimes], Timpani, Gong, Xylophone, Glockenspiel – Nellie McKay
3 Gin Rummy 2:58
Nellie McKay
Baritone Saxophone – Tom Hamilton 
Bass – Paul Rostock
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Nelson Hill
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Guitar – Spencer Reed
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman
Trombone – Cameron MacManus
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Ken Brader III
Tuba, Bass Trombone – Jim Daniels
Vocals, Organ, Piano, Organ [Wurlitzer], Wind Chimes [Chimes], Xylophone, Glockenspiel – Nellie McKay
4 Livin 0:23
Nellie McKay
Baritone Saxophone – Tom Hamilton 
Bass – Paul Rostock
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Nelson Hill
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Guitar – Spencer Reed
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman
Trombone – Cameron MacManus
Trumpet – Ken Brader III
Tuba – Jim Daniels
Vocals, Piano, Xylophone, Glockenspiel – Nellie McKay
5 Identity Theft 3:27
Nellie McKay
Alto Saxophone – Nelson Hill
Baritone Saxophone – Tom Hamilton 
Bass – Paul Rostock
Bass Trombone – Jim Daniels
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Guitar – Spencer Reed
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman
Trombone – Cameron MacManus
Trumpet – Ken Brader III
Vocals, Piano, Xylophone, Synthesizer – Nellie McKay
6 Galleon 3:21
Nellie McKay
Alto Saxophone – Nelson Hill
Baritone Saxophone – Tom Hamilton 
Bass – Paul Rostock
Bass Trombone – Jim Daniels
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Flugelhorn – Ken Brader III
Guitar – Spencer Reed
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman
Trombone – Cameron MacManus
Vocals – Bob Dorough
Vocals, Piano, Gong, Xylophone – Nellie McKay
7 Politan 4:18
Nellie McKay
Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods
Bass – Paul Rostock
Bass Trombone – Jim Daniels
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Flute – Nelson Hill
Guitar – Spencer Reed
Tenor Saxophone – Tom Hamilton 
Trombone – Cameron MacManus
Trumpet – Ken Brader III
Vocals – Bob Dorough, Nancy Reed
Vocals, Organ, Piano, Wind Chimes [Chimes], Gong – Nellie McKay
8 Testify 5:40
Nellie McKay
Accordion – Eric Doney
Alto Saxophone – Nelson Hill
Baritone Saxophone – Tom Hamilton 
Bass – Paul Rostock
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Guitar – Spencer Reed
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman
Trombone – Cameron MacManus
Trumpet – Ken Brader III
Tuba, Bass Trombone – Jim Daniels
Vocals – Vicki Doney
Vocals, Organ, Piano, Ukulele, Wind Chimes [Chimes], Timpani, Gong – Nellie McKay
9 Zombie 5:56
Nellie McKay
Bass – Paul Rostock
Drums – Marko Marcinko
Featuring [Additional Assistance] – Agnieszka Rybsha, Bob Dorough, Brian Sullivan, Eric Doney, Evan Wichman, Jack Jolly, Jack Young, Kristen Jolly, Linda Kistler, Marko Marcinko, Marsha Cahn, Paul Rostock, Peter Koravesis, Peter Pappalardo, Samantha Lyon, Vicki Doney
Tenor Saxophone – Nelson Hill
Vocals, Organ [Wurlitzer], Organ – Nellie McKay