ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY — After Hours (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Ann Hampton Callaway is one of the top cabaret singers of the past decade. She has always been influenced a bit by jazz, and this 1997 release was her first full jazz recording. Callaway has a haunting voice and, as with most cabaret singers, a great respect for the lyrics she interprets; her singing on "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is a bit eerie. Pianist Kenny Barron, Bob Mintzer on tenor and soprano, and trumpeter Randy Brecker all get a generous amount of solo space, while bassist Jay Leonhart and percussionist George Jinda are fine in support; considering the high quality of her sidemen, it is a major compliment to the singer to say that her vocals do not cause the set to sag or the listener to lose his interest. On "All Blues" and "Old Devil Moon" in particular, she shows the potential of becoming a significant jazz singer in the future if she sticks to this path. Strangely enough, an intriguing original blues (clocking in around four-and-a-half minutes) is included at the end of the program, but not mentioned on the back cover or in the liners. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Time After Time 5:13
Written-By – Cyndi Lauper, Rob Hyman
2.    Teach Me Tonight 3:24
Written-By – Gene DePaul, Sammy Cahn
3.    My Funny Valentine 6:40
Written-By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
4.    Old Devil Moon 4:07
Written-By – Burton Lane, E.Y. Harburg
5.    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face 4:44
Written-By – Ewan MacColl
6.    All Blues 4:57
Written-By – Miles Davis
7.    They Can't Take That Away From Me 4:30
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
8.    The Music You Leave Inside My Mind 6:03
Written-By – Ann Hampton Callaway
9.    You Are My Sunshine 4:53
Written-By – Charles Mitchell, Jimmie Davis
10.    It Never Entered My Mind 6:57
Written-By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
11.    Falling In Love Again 3:33
Written-By – Fredrick Hollander, Sammuel Lerner
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Jay Leonhart
Cymbal, Shaker, Udu, Rattle [Bushman Rattles] – George Jinda
Piano – Kenny Barron
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker
Vocals – Ann Hampton Callaway

JUDY WEXLER — Under a Painted Sky (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Few singers would dare dive into music associated with Johnny Mathis, Carmen McRae, Abbey Lincoln and the 1962 film, The Music Man, on the same album; even fewer would be able to pull it off as vocalist Judy Wexler does on Under A Painted Sky. Wexler possesses a voice for the ages, and puts it to good use on a dozen delicious numbers that cover myriad moods and spotlight the stellar instrumentalists in her band.
Wexler's prior releases—Easy On The Heart (Rhombus, 2005) and Dreams And Shadows (Jazzed Media, 2008)— were elevated by classy arrangements and pianistic underpinnings from pianist Alan Pasqua, and this partnership continues to bear fruit on this project. Pasqua paints pictures of a sunny nature ("Wonderful Wonderful"), crafts spine-tingling settings ("Avec Le Temps") and directs swinging scenes that delight in every way ("The Great City" and "Whisper Not"), leaving Wexler free to fully explore the possibilities that reside within each one of these gems.
Wexler's vocals are ebullient and enthusiastic on "Wonderful Wonderful," as the album gets underway, but she isn't all sunshine and splendor. She deals in flirty and sensual singing on "An Occasional Man," delivers enthralling vocals of a haunting nature with Avec Le Temps," touches on the ups-and-downs in the game of love during "And How I Hoped For Your Love,," and utters a wise warning about getting sucked into the quicksand of New York's social scene with "The Great City."
While Wexler needs no help selling any of these songs, the instrumentalists add volumes to each piece, as they mirror the moods that are established through the arrangements and vocals. Tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer adds some grit to "The Great City," Bob Sheppard's soprano saxophone swoops and soars with a fine balance between grace and gusto on "Till There Was You," and Walt Fowler's flugelhorn emphasizes the dream-like state of "Café." Pasqua and guitarist Larry Koonse blend well, whether dealing with Brazilian-laced music ("And How I Hoped For Your Love") or songs of peace and hope ("Sack Full Of Dreams"), and the bass and drums team of Darek Oles and Steve Hass has a terrific hookup in virtually every stylistic setting.
While both of Wexler's previous albums were outstanding displays of her vocal talent, Under A Painted Sky is her best yet—the third time truly is the charm. web
Tracklist :
1 Wonderful Wonderful  4:34
Sherman Edwards / Ben Raleigh
2 And How I Hoped for Your Love  4:38
Abbey Lincoln / Richard Lynch
3 An Occasional Man  4:19
Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin
4 Don't Wait Too Long   3:59
Sunny Skylar
5 The great City  5:40
Curtis Lewis
6 Avec Le Temps  7:48
Léo Ferré / Alan Wexler
7 A Little Tear  3:59
Eumir Deodato / Ray Gilbert / Paolo Valle
8 Last Time for Love  4:58
Carmen McRae
9 Café  4:45
Egberto Gismonti / Norma Winstone
10 Whisper Not  3:43
Leonard Feather / Benny Golson
11 Till There Was You  5:04
Meredith Willson
12 Sack Full of Dreams  5:30
Gary McFarland / Louis Savary
Personnel : 
Judy Wexler - Vocals
Alan Pasqua - Piano
Darek Oles - Bass
Steve Hass - Drums
Larry Koonse - Guitar
Bob Mintzer - Tenor Saxophone
Bob Sheppard - Soprano Saxophone
Walt Fowler - Trumper, Flugelhorn
Alex Acuna - Percussion

JACO PASTORIUS — Anthology : The Warner Bros. Years (2014) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Anthology: The Warner Bros. Years’ is one of many retrospectives of bass genius Jaco Pastorius’ work that have been issued since his tragic death at the age of 35. Containing music from his time with the Warner Bros. label, the vast majority of the album is made up of selections from his sophomore solo studio release ‘Word Of Mouth’ and live albums ‘The Birthday Concert’ and ‘Invitation’.

Among the four tracks which are not from these albums, first up is a live version of ‘Okonkole y Trompa’ from debut album ‘Jaco Pastorius’. This recording comes from the Japanese release ‘Twins I & II’ and stays pretty close to the original as an atmospheric piece featuring some beautiful French horn. ‘Nativity’ from Weather Report and Return To Forever percussionist Airto Moreira’s 1977 album, ‘I’m Fine, How Are You?’, continues in the atmospheric vein before a more upbeat mood is struck on ‘Mood Swings’ from Mike Stern’s ‘Upside Downside’.

While the idea of seeing Jaco in other settings could well provide some interest, if there are only a couple of token examples his work with Joni Mitchell or Pat Metheny would almost certainly lend more insight than the selections here. All three of the tracks here were in fact included on 2003’s ‘Punk Jazz: The Jaco Pastorius Anthology’ alongside some of his work with Mitchell and Metheny as well recordings from the beginnings of Jaco’s career in an altogether more cohesive and informative compilation.

The only completely new material is a previously unissued recording of ‘Donna Lee’ from ‘The Birthday Concert’ session. Mainly serving the purpose of trombone feature, it feels like little more than a play through of the standard and you can see why it didn’t make the original album.

What is lacking in new material is somewhat made up for by the quality of the original albums. From the technical virtuosity of ‘Chromatic Fantasy’, to the superb ensemble sound of ‘Liberty City’ and compositional genius of ‘Three Views Of A Secret’, all facets of what made Pastorius such a fantastic musician are on show. However, they have been presented in a vaguely baffling way, presumably shifted around in order to warrant a compilation which is basically a triple album reissue of the aforementioned albums with double performances of tunes removed. The worst example of this is where ‘Chromatic Fantasy’ has been plonked carelessly between ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Word Of Mouth’, having the sole effect of destroying the intensity created by the segue on the original album. The fact that such a glaringly unmusical decision has made it onto this release is extraordinary.

A mercurial talent whose career was all too brief, you may think that there isn’t enough material in his back catalogue to warrant so many compilations. Anthology seems to lend some weight to that argument.

For a Jaco fan, there’s nothing much new here; to check out Pastorius for the first time, you’d be better off purchasing the albums separately and experiencing them as the artist intended. Joe Stoddart
Tracklist 1 :
1. Crisis 5:22
2. Blackbird 2:47
3. Chromatic Fantasy 3:19
4. Word Of Mouth 3:53
5. Three Views Of A Secret 6:09
6. John And Mary 10:53
7. Continuum 2:34
8. Liberty City 8:11
9. Soul Intro / The Chicken 8:00
10. Reza 10:36
11. Happy Birthday 1:48
Tracklist 2 :
1. Punk Jazz 4:35
2. Amerika 1:09
3. Invitation 6:42
4. Domingo 5:39
5. Sophisticated Lady 4:53
6. Fannie Mae 2:36
7. Eleven 0:25
8. Okonkole' Y Trompa 7:07
9. Nativity (Airto Moreira) 6:44
10. Mood Swings (Mike Stern) 6:06
11. Donna Lee (Previously Unreleased) 7:31    
feat: Jack DeJohnette, Mike Stern, Airto Moreira, Jaco Pastorius, Toots Thielemans, Michael Brecker, Hubert Laws, Wayne Shorter, Peter Erskine, Don Alias, Othello Molineaux, Bob Mintzer

YELLOWJACKETS — Twenty Five (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Celebrating the smooth jazz giant's 25th anniversary as an ensemble, Twenty Five features the Yellowjackets performing live in Paris in 2005. Showcasing the tenor sax talents of Bob Mintzer, the band also includes longtime members pianist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Marcus Baylor. Here, the Yellowjackets run through such fan favorites as "Geraldine," "Greenhouse," and others. Also included is a live DVD performance filmed in Italy in 2005. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1     Revelation 7:38
Russell Ferrante
2     Geraldine 9:06
Russell Ferrante
3     Jacketown 10:55
Russell Ferrante
4     Sea Folk 11:05
Russell Ferrante
5     Free Day 7:37
Marcus Baylor
6     My Old School 5:26
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
7     Greenhouse 11:08
Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
8     Runferyerlife 9:39
Bob Mintzer
Credits :
Drums – Marcus Baylor
Electric Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Piano [Acoustic Piano], Synthesizer – Russell Ferrante
Producer [Produced By] – Yellowjackets
Tenor Saxophone, Electronic Wind Instrument [EWI] – Bob Mintzer

HARVIE SWARTZ — Urban Earth (1985) Vinyl LP | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Urban Earth would also be the name of bassist Harvie Swartz's short-lived group of the late '80s, but for this Gramavision release, he used an all-star lineup: altoist David Sanborn, Bob Mintzer on soprano, guitarist Mike Stern, pianist Ben Aranov, drummer Victor Lewis and percussionist Manolo Badrena. The music (five Swartz originals, "'Round Midnight," and Dave Brubeck's "The Duke") is mostly straight-ahead yet has its unpredictable and exploratory moments. In fact, there are plenty of subtle surprises throughout this relaxed yet consistently stimulating session. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. Sweet Walk 6:08
 Harvie Swartz
2. Falling 6:46
 Harvie Swartz
3. Pyramid 5:38
 Harvie Swartz
4. Until Tomorrow 6:24
 Harvie Swartz
5. The Duke 4:25
 Dave Brubeck
6. Mother Ship 6:36
 Harvie Swartz
7. Round Midnight 2:44
Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Harvie Swartz
Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn
Drums – Victor Lewis
Guitar – Mike Stern
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Piano – Ben Aronov
Soprano Saxophone – Bob Mintzer 

LINDA EDER — It's No Secret Anymore (1999) Two Version | FLAC 24-44.1Hz + APE (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Linda Eder's It's No Secret Anymore celebrates her pregnancy and features tracks from the musical Havana, which her husband/collaborator Frank Wildhorn wrote specifically for her. The album ranges from ballads to big band to Latin styles and includes "Anything Can Happen," a special lullaby written by Wildhorn and lyricist Jack Murphy; and "One For My Baby," the Arlen/Mercer tune made famous by Frank Sinatra. Heather Phares
Tracklist :
1.    It's No Secret Anymore 3:26
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
2.    You Never Remind Me 3:15
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
3.    Romancin' The Blues 3:57
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Jeremy Roberts 
4.    Havana 4:02
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
5.    Why Do People Fall In Love? 3:40
Arranged By – Jeremy Roberts, Linda Eder
Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
6.    I Guess I Love You 3:36
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
7.    This Time Around 4:09
Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangement] – Jeremy Roberts 
Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
8.    Looks Like You Started Something 3:59
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
9.    Little Things 4:07
Arranged By – Jeremy Roberts, Linda Eder
10.    Even Now 4:05
Arranged By – Jeremy Roberts, Linda Eder
Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
11.    Never Dance 4:35
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Chris Hajian
12.    Vienna 6:02
Arranged By [Rhythm Arrangement] – Jeremy Roberts 
Orchestrated By – Kim Scharnberg
13.    Anything Can Happen 2:58
Arranged By [Piano] – Jeremy Roberts 
14.    One For My Baby 4:27
Lyrics By – Johnny Mercer
Music By – Harold Arlen
Credits :
Personnel includes: Linda Eder (vocals); Kim Scharnberg, Jeremy Roberts (conductor); Peter Calo (guitar); Robert Bush (flute); Shelly Woodworth (oboe, English horn); Carl Herman (clarinet); Tom Sescovic (bassoon); Bob Mintzer, Charlie Pillow (saxophone); Randy Brecker, Jim Hynes (trumpet); Birch Johnson, Larry Farrell (trombone); Philip Myers, Bob Carlisle (French horn); Jeremy Roberts (piano, keyboards, programming); David Finck (bass); Mark Walker (drums); Gordon Gottlieb, Steve Kroon (percussion); Will Lee, Russell Velzquez (background vocals).

MARILYN SCOTT – Avenues of Love (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A top-notch adult contemporary vocalist still awaiting a well-deserved crossover commercial breakthrough, Marilyn Scott adds powerful fuel to her cause on Avenues of Love by helping herself with a well-balanced array of production and songwriting talent. George Duke surrounds her with party voices and a kneejerking Latin groove on a playful list of dance steps on "I Like to Dance," then surrounds her clear, sensuous voice with airy, billowing synth cushioning on the Bacharach-David classic "The Look of Love." Scott and bassist Jimmy Haslip reroute to Memphis on Michael Ruff's Wilson Pickett-like pick me up, "Love Is a Powerful Thing," engaging a two-piece horn section that sounds even larger. The Yellowjacket touch is in full effect on the picturesque "Avenida del Sol," which approximates an update of the gentle Astrud Gilberto sound; the tune was written by Scott and Bob Mintzer, and produced by Scott, Haslip, and Russell Ferrante. Scott's greatest gift here is her sense of modulation; she belts like crazy on the funk pieces, but recognizes the emotional power of restraint on the ballads. Jonathan Widran 
Tracklist :
1.    Starting to Fall    4:47
 George Duke / Marilyn Scott 
2.    I Like to Dance    5:00
 George Duke / Bob Mintzer / Marilyn Scott 
3.    Avenida del Sol    4:27
 Bob Mintzer / Marilyn Scott 
4.    The Look of Love    5:38
 Burt Bacharach / Hal David 
5.    Heaven's Design    5:53
 Bobby McFerrin 
6.    Love is a Powerful Thing    4:30
 Michael Ruff 
7.    Hold You Up    5:34
 Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Marilyn Scott 
8.    Hey Love    6:16
 Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Marilyn Scott 
9.    Get Home    5:45
 Russell Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip / Marilyn Scott 
10.    The Last Day    3:38
 John Ewbank / Brenda Russell 
Credits :
Bob Mintzer - Composer, Guest Artist, Horn
Brandon Fields, Steve Allen - Saxophone
Fred Washington - Bass
George Duke - Bass, Bass Programming, Composer, Executive Producer, Guest Artist, Keyboards, Piano, Producer, Vocal Producer
Jimmy Haslip - Bass, Composer, Producer
Joe Heredia - Drums
Lori Perry - Arranger, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background), Voices
Marilyn Scott - Composer, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Michael Landau, Mike Miller, Ray Fuller - Guitar
Michael Ruff - Composer, Keyboards, Vocals (Background)
Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guest Artist, Guitar
Paulinho Da Costa - Guest Artist, Percussion
Rafael Padilla - Percussion
Ralph Rickert - Trumpet
Russell Ferrante - Arranger, Composer, Keyboards, Producer
Take 6 - Guest Artist
Walt Fowler - Horn
William Kennedy - Drums
Yellowjackets - Guest Artist
Alvin Chea, Sharon Perry, Carolyn Perry, Darlene Perry, David Porter Thomas, David Powell,  Lynn Davis, Richard Montgomery, Lisa Horton, Jim Gilstrap, Mary Turner, Maxayn Lewis - Vocals (Background) Voices 

YELLOWJACKETS — Lifecycle (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Yellowjackets needed a guest guitarist, who would be the best person for the job? Pat Metheny would be an excellent choice, as would Al di Meola, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, or John Scofield. Well, the Yellowjackets did hire a guest guitarist for Lifecycle -- an excellent and well-known guitarist, in fact -- and they feature him extensively on this 2008 release. The guitarist is Mike Stern, who enjoys a strong rapport with the Yellowjackets' 2008 lineup: Russell Ferrante on acoustic piano and electric keyboards, Jimmy Haslip on electric bass, Bob Mintzer on tenor and soprano sax and bass clarinet, and Marcus Baylor on drums and percussion. Stern and the Yellowjackets are a perfectly logical combination -- especially in light of the hell-bent-for-jazz direction the Yellowjackets have favored since 1991's Greenhouse. With Greenhouse (which was Mintzer's first album with the outfit), Ferrante and Haslip made it clear that they wanted the Yellowjackets to be considered a serious, heavy-duty jazz combo instead of a group that pandered to smooth jazz stations. That isn't to say that the Yellowjackets' 1980s output lacks merit -- many of their '80s recordings are quite creative -- but with Greenhouse, Ferrante and Haslip really emphasized their Weather Report/Miles Davis/Return to Forever heritage. And that mindset continues to serve the Yellowjackets well 17 years later on Lifecycle. Jazz purists and bop snobs, of course, would argue that if you use electric instruments and have been influenced by rock or funk in any way, you aren't playing jazz, but the truth is that Stern and the Yellowjackets do bring a serious jazz improviser's mentality to engaging tracks like Haslip's bluesy "Country Living," Mintzer's mysterious "Falken's Maze," and Ferrante's probing, somewhat John Coltrane-ish "Measure of a Man." With its blend of electric and acoustic instruments, Lifecycle is relevant to both fusion and post-bop -- and it is also proof that collaborating with Stern was a very wise move for the Yellowjackets. Alex Henderson
Tracklist : 
1    Falken's Maze 6:25
Written-By – B. Mintzer
2    Country Living 6:24
Written-By – J. Haslip
3    Double Nickel 6:42
Written-By – M.Stern
4    Dreams Go 6:49
Written-By – M.Stern
5    Measure Of A Man 7:33
Written-By – R.Ferrante
6    Yahoo 4:52
Written-By – B. Mintzer
7    I Wonder 6:01
Written-By – B. Mintzer
8    3 Circles 7:30
Written-By – B. Mintzer, J. Haslip, M. Baylor, R.Ferrante
9    Claire's Closet 5:05
Written-By – R.Ferrante
10    Lazaro 5:15
Programmed By [Programming], Sequenced By [Sequencing] – Jimmy Haslip
Written-By – B. Mintzer, J. Haslip
Credits :
Marcus Baylor - Drums, Percussion
Russell Ferrante - Keyboards, Percussion, Piano
Jimmy Haslip - Bass (Electric),
Bob Mintzer - Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Jerry Mitkowski : Piano Technician
Mike Stern : Featured Guitar

NNENNA FREELON — Maiden Voyage (1998) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Nnenna Freelon's fifth CD should establish her as one of the top jazz singers of the 1990s. Rather than stick to typical jazz standards, she explore women's songs (or at least lyrics) from many fields of music. Her compelling interpretation of the title track, with its infrequently heard lyric by Mrs. Herbie Hancock, is followed by a hypnotic original lyric written by Freelon for Marian McPartland's "Threnody," titled "Sepia Wing" in its vocal incarnation. One of the more unusual songs selected is folk singer Buffy Saint-Marie's "Until It's Time for You to Go"; Freelon drastically rearranged this tune by changing the melody line and adding an uptempo vamp, and Bob Mintzer's soprano sax accents are also a nice touch. The moody lament written by the late Laura Nyro, "Buy and Sell," is also an intriguing chart by the singer. Of course, she's no slouch with standard Broadway fare either, as her lively duet with guitarist Joe Beck proves. Ken Dryden

Tracklist :

1 Come Into My Life 5:22

Written-By – Nona Hendryx

2 Four Women 4:54

Written-By – Nina Simone

3 Maiden Voyage 8:26

Lyrics By – Jean Hancock

Music By – Herbie Hancock

Piano – Herbie Hancock

4 Buy And Sell 5:29

Written-By – Laura Nyro

5 Future News Blues 4:43

Written-By – Nnenna Freelon

6 Until It's Time For You To Go 6:00

Written-By – Buffy Sainte-Marie

7 Women Be Wise 8:08

Written-By – Sippie Wallace

8 Sepia Wing 5:46

Lyrics By – Nnenna Freelon

Music By – Marian McPartland

9 Pick Yourself Up 4:09

Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields

Music By – Jerome Kern

10 I Won't Dance 4:33

Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh, Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach

Music By – Jerome Kern

11 Inside A Silent Tear 4:30

Lyrics By – Linda Albert

Music By – Blossom Dearie

12 Sing Me Down 4:18

Written-By – Nnenna Freelon

Credits :

Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 2, 4, 7)
Cello – Jesse Levy (tracks: 2, 4)
Double Bass – Avishai Cohen (tracks: 1-6, 12), Peter Washington (tracks: 8, 10, 11)
Drums – Clarence Penn (tracks: 8, 10, 11), Danny Gottlieb (tracks: 1-6, 12)
Flute – Dave Valentin (tracks: 8, 10)
Guitar – Joe Beck (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12)
Percussion – Sammy Figueroa (tracks: 1-6, 8, 10, 11, 12)
Piano – Michael Abene (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12)
Soprano Saxophone – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 1, 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Dick Oatts (tracks: 10, 11)
Trombone – Ed Neumeister (tracks: 10)
Vocals – Nnenna Freelon

YELLOWJACKETS — Timeline (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Contemporary jazz ensemble Yellowjackets' 2011 Mack Avenue debut, Timeline features the band's longstanding knack for straddling the line between smooth jazz and more cerebral post-bop stuff. Marking the group's 30 years in the business, the album is a perfect mix of low-key, soulful moments and more funky, angular jazz. In that sense, it's a perfect balance of what the band has done throughout its career. Showcased here are members saxophonist Bob Mintzer, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Will Kennedy, as well as guests guitarist Robben Ford and trumpeter John Daversa. Ultimately, with tracks like the disarmingly knotty opener "Why Is It," the expansive "Tenacity," and the ruminative R&B-infused title track, Timeline reveals Yellowjackets as a band in a seemingly reinvigorated and creative state of mind. Not a bad place to be at 30. Matt Collar

Tracklist :
1     Why is It 5:04
Bob Mintzer
2     Tenacity 6:07
Bob Mintzer
Trumpet – John Daversa
3     Rosemary 4:54
W. Kennedy
4     Timeline 5:11
R. Ferrante
5     Magnolia 4:36
R. Ferrante / Jimmy Haslip
Guitar – Robben Ford
6     A Single Step 7:05
R. Ferrante
7     Indivisible 5:22
R. Ferrante
8     Like Elvin 5:32
Bob Mintzer
Trumpet – John Daversa
9     My Soliloquy 6:22
Bob Mintzer
10     Numerology 5:56
R. Ferrante
11     I Do 6:00
R. Ferrante
Credits :
Bass – Jimmy Haslip
Drums, Keyboards – Will Kennedy
Piano, Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Producer – Yellowjackets
Tenor Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer

DON GROLNICK — Weaver of Dreams (1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Don Grolnick was a busy session pianist/keyboardist who played on many kinds of dates, including jazz fusion and pop. But for a brief period in the late 1980s and early '90s, he detoured into playing post-bop. Weaver of Dreams was the first of his two CDs for Blue Note, featuring an all-star septet including the Brecker Brothers, Bob Mintzer, Dave Holland, Peter Erskine, and Barry Rogers. His intricate opener, "Nothing Personal," suggests the influence of George Russell, with its rapid-fire lines and unpredictable accents on trumpet and bass clarinet, along with the composer's tasty solo. There's a bit of reverb added to the unified trumpet and tenor sax in his "Or Come Fog," which touches briefly on its source, "Come Rain or Come Shine." Mintzer's wild bass clarinet is a highlight of the brisk setting of the standard "I Want to Be Happy," while the foot-patting treatment of "Weaver of Dreams" is a feature for the rhythm section alone. Weaver of Dreams lapsed from print, only to briefly reappear in a short-lived two-CD reissue. This is easily the finest recording led by Don Grolnick, who passed away in 1996. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1 Nothing Personal  5:44
Don Grolnick
2 Taglioni  8:41
Don Grolnick
3 A Weaver of Dreams  4:40
Jack Elliott / Victor Young
4 His Majesty the Bady  6:47
Don Grolnick
5 I Want to Be Happy  5:45
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
6 Persimmons  6:54
Don Grolnick
7 Or Come Fog  5:23
Don Grolnick
8 Five Bars  7:20
Don Grolnick
Credits :
Bass – Dave Holland
Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer
Drums – Peter Erskine
Piano, Producer, Arranged By – Don Grolnick
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker
Trombone – Barry Rogers
Trumpet – Randy Brecker

JOHN TROPEA — Tropea (1975) Two Version (1996, Fusion Super 1800 Series) + (2014, RM | Blu-spec CD | FLAC (image+tracks+.cue), lossless

By the time guitarist John Tropea had recorded his solo debut on the tiny Marlin imprint in 1976, he had been a session guitarist for nearly a decade. His understated, decidedly non-show-off playing graced records by everyone from Laura Nyro to Deodato (including Prelude and Deodato 2), from Ashford & Simpson to Bo Diddley, from Billy Cobham to Peter Allen, from Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway to Paul Simon, Van Morrison, Luiz Bonfá, and Ray Bryant. After this he played with everyone from Alice Cooper to Lalo Schifrin and Kurtis Blow and way, way beyond. Tropea's cast of studio players is a who's who of the '70s, '80s, and '90s. The core band on this funky, squeaky clean, keyboard, horn, and guitar driven set are bassist Will Lee, keyboardist Don Grolnick, percussionist Rubens Bassini, and drummers Steve Gadd and Rick Marotta -- one in each channel. Some of the guest appearances are stellar: David Sanborn's trademark emotionally rich saxophone is heard on "Muff," and Bob Mintzer's wonderful flute playing on his "Cisco Disco" (which is truly funk and not disco), and Deodato plays keyboards on the beautiful "Dreams." There is a heavyweight reed section with Mintzer, Sanborn, and Michael Brecker among its members and horns that include Randy Brecker, Sam Burtis, and Dave Taylor, to name a few. Yes, this was the 1970s: there are strings with Gene Orloff among them. The tunes? Hip, funky numbers like "Tambourine," with a restrained but toothy fuzz solo by Tropea, great congas by Bassini, and a well balanced but dynamic horn chart. "7th Heaven" is a smoother workout, with punchy actual and keyboard basslines, with great breakbeat work by both drummers. Despite its mid-tempo jaunt, the thing is deep with enough of an uptown soul chorus to make it a popular stepper with the club crowd. It's tunes like these, as well as Mintzer's and Tropea's "The Jingle," that place records like this more on the CTI side of things than in the hardcore Fuzak realm. These selections are songs, not collections of riffs, vamps, and solos. When solos occur in these tunes, they do so with respect to arrangement and groove. It also sounds more lifelike than a lot of what was coming out of L.A. at the time, because it has a decidedly East Coast sensibility. Tropea's production job is expert and tight, but it's his arrangements and orchestrations that are really impressive. The opportunities for excess here with all these superchopper players are many, but not once does any of this album lapse into mere glossy show and sheen. This is one of the truly great forgotten jazz-funk sets of the '70s.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
 1.  Tambourine - 4:40
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Tropea

Bass Guitar – Will Lee
Drums [Left Drums] – Rick Marotta
Drums [Right Drums] – Stephen Gadd
Guitar [Guitars] – Tropea
Keyboards – Don Grolnick
Percussion – Rubens Bassini
Written-By – J. Tropea
2. 7th Heaven - 4:13
Bass Guitar – Will Lee
Drums [Left Drums] – Rick Marotta
Drums [Right Drums] – Stephen Gadd
Guitar [Guitars] – John Tropea
Keyboards, Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Don Grolnick
Percussion – Rubens Bassini
Written-By – Don Grolnick
3. The Jingle - 4:39
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Tropea
Bass Guitar – Don Payne
Contrabass [Matracca] – C. Conrad
Drums – Alan Schwartzberg
Guitar [Guitars] – John Tropea
Keyboards – Kenny Ascher
Percussion – Nick Remo, Ron Tropea, Rubens Bassini
Written-By – John Tropea
4. Just Blue - 8:17
Alto Saxophone, Soloist – George Young
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Tropea
Bass Guitar – Will Lee
Drums [Left Drums] – Rick Marotta
Drums [Right Drums] – Stephen Gadd
Guitar [Guitars] – John Tropea
Keyboards – Don Grolnick
Written-By – John Tropea
5. Muff - 5:59
Arranged By – R. Marotta, W. Lee
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Tropea
Bass Guitar – Will Lee
Drums [Left Drums] – Rick Marotta
Drums [Right Drums] – Stephen Gadd
Keyboards – Don Grolnick
Percussion – Rubens Bassini
Saxophone, Soloist – Dave Sanborn
Written-By – Marotta, Lee
Written-By, Guitar [Guitars] – John Tropea
6. Cisco Disco (Bob Mintzer) - 4:35
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Tropea
Bass Guitar – Will Lee
Drums [Left Drums] – Rick Marotta
Drums [Right Drums] – Stephen Gadd
Flute [Flutes] – Bob Mintzer
Guitar [Guitars] – John Tropea
Keyboards – Don Grolnick
Percussion – Rubens Bassini
Written-By – Bob Mintzer
7. Tha Bratt (David Spinozza) - 5:07
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Tropea
Bass Guitar – Will Lee
Drums [Left Drums] – Rick Marotta
Drums [Right Drums] – Stephen Gadd
Keyboards – Don Grolnick
Lead Guitar – John Tropea
Rhythm Guitar, Arranged By, Orchestrated By – David Spinozza
Written-By – David Spinozza
8. Dreams - 4:46
Bass – Richard Davis
Drums – Rick Marotta
Keyboards, Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Eumir Deodato
Percussion – Rubens Bassini
Trombone, Soloist – Sam Burtis
Written-By, Guitar [Guitars] – John Tropea

STEVE KUHN — Seasons of Romance (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Steve Kuhn's sole session for the Postcards label feels like three separate dates. With tenorist Bob Mintzer and trumpeter Tom Harrell individually featured on three quartet tracks apiece, plus three trio selections with bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster, the chemistry is stimulating throughout the disc. Mintzer's brisk bop vehicle "Six Gun" explodes right from the start, while a lush treatment of Quincy Jones' "'The Pawnbroker" and Kuhn's magical samba "Clotilde" also merit praise. Harrell is added for the wistful ballad "Romance," making a late entrance following the leader's poignant opening solo. The trumpeter contributed the passionate"Visions of Gaudi" and also appears in Kuhn's upbeat "Looking Back." But Kuhn is best heard in the trio numbers, including a playful extended workout of the standard "There Is No Greater Love"; Steve Swallow's driving, intense "Remember"; and an emotional arrangement of "Good Morning, Heartache." This valuable CD unfortunately did not remain on the market for long, with the swift demise of the Postcards label after only a few years of existence. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Six Gun    4:57
 Bob Mintzer
2    Romance    4:10
 Dori Caymmi
3    Visions Of Gaudi    5:27
 Tom Harrell
4    There Is No Greater Love    9:12
 Isham Jones / Marty Symes
5    The Pawnbroker    5:57
 Quincy Jones / Jack Lawrence
6    Remember    6:03
 Steve Swallow
7    Clotilde    6:16
 Steve Kuhn
8    Good Morning, Heartache    5:33
 Ervin Drake / Dan Fisher / Irene Higginbotham
9    Looking Back    5:02
 Steve Kuhn
Credits :
Double Bass – George Mraz
Drums – Al Foster
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 1, 5, 7)
Trumpet – Tom Harrell (tracks: 3, 6, 9)

CARMEN LUNDY — Old Devil Moon (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The deep voice of Carmen Lundy is well showcased on this varied set. With assistance from an impressive backup crew (pianist Billy Childs, flugelhornist Randy Brecker, Frank Foster or Bob Mintzer on tenor, and a pair of rhythm sections), Lundy performs six standards, four of her stimulating originals, and Donny Hathaway's "Flying Easy." The music ranges from fairly straight-ahead to more R&B-oriented, with Carmen Lundy's appealing voice being the main star. Scott Yanow 

Tracklist :
1 Star Eyes 4:42
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
2 When Your Lover Has Gone 4:46
Einar A. Swan
3 Just One More Chance 4:46
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston
4 You're Not in Love 4:35
5 I Didn't Know What Time It Was 3:21
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6 Flying Easy 4:14
Donny Hathaway / Walter Lowe
7 I'm Worried About You Baby 3:30
Carmen Lundy
8 Old Devil Moon 4:24
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg / Burton Lane
9 At the End of My Rope 4:24
Carmen Lundy
10 In a Sentimental Mood 6:29
Duke Ellington / Manny Kurtz / Irving Mills
11 Love Me Forever 4:26
Carmen Lundy
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Santi Debriano
Arranged By – Carmen Lundy
Drums – Omar Hakim, Winston Clifford
Electric Bass – Victor Bailey
Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker
Keyboards – Harry Whitaker
Piano – Billy Childs
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer, Frank Foster
Vocals – Carmen Lundy

TONINHO HORTA - To Jobim with Love (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Toninho Horta has been a reliable sideman and occasionally a leader in his lengthy career playing contemporary Brazilian music. The acoustic and electric guitarist has a quiet intensity that reflects the passion and verve of genius composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. This tribute to Jobim is quite laden with string charts, most done quite tastefully, rarely overarranged, and pleasantly emphasizing a flute section. Horta has an impressive complementary combo of pianist Dave Kikoski, bassist Gary Peacock, percussionists Paulo Braga and Manolo Badrena, special guests as saxophonist Bob Mintzer, harmonicist William Galison, trumpeter Glenn Drewes, Charles Pillow on oboe, John Clark on French horn, and several members of the large Horta family. Gal Costa sings in a choir, or individually for the CD's sweetest and beautiful moments - where flutes accent but do not swarm during a great take of "No More Blues," and the simple "Modinha" with only Horta's guitar where you clearly hear the depth of both artists' souls. Herat is an accomplished singer, heard in melancholy strains for "Without You," or in brighter spirits with wordless and worded lyrics for the sensual "Agua De Beber." And the hits keep on comin' with a no-frills take of "Desafinado" with strings and choral vocals melding beautifully, while the restraint of "Meditation" echoes the holding back on love until the right moment in time. Mintzer's cameos on Horta's original "Infinite Love" and the Paulo Horta/Donato Donatti tune "Promises I Made" show the neo-bop tenorman as a player who has his heart in the right place. Only during Horta's tiny notes on "Portrait in Black & White" and Kikoski's always brilliant pianistics for "If Everyone Was Like You" do the strings bury the solo instrumentalists. This is a good outing for Horta and friends, perhaps a tad self-indulgent or overproduced, but only by degrees. Those who are just discovering this Brazilian jazz giant should explore his discography, but this CD is a fine and satisfying entry point. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist :
1     Agua de Beber 5:49
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
Arranged By [Basic Track Co-arranged By], Programmed By [Synthesizer Programming By] – Andre Dequech
2     Portrait in Black and White 5:44
Chico Buarque / Antônio Carlos Jobim
3     If Everyone Was Like You 5:15
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
Lead Vocals – Luisa Schiavon Horta
4     From Ton to Tom (Silent Song) 4:45
Toninho Horta / Hillary James
5     Cristiana 4:38
Toninho Horta
6     Meditation 4:35
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
7     No More Blues (Chega De Saudade) 6:08
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
Edited By [Pro-tools Editing] – Pat Thrall
8     Infinite Love 4:00
Toninho Horta
9     Promises I Made 4:54
Paulo Horta
10     Modinha 3:30
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
11     The Girl from Ipanema 0:40
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
Acoustic Guitar – Manuel Shiavon Horta
Edited By – Jack Lee
12     Without You 3:30
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
13     Desafinado 5:14
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Newton Mendonça
All Credits

ARTURO SANDOVAL - Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You) (2012) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval's 2012 tribute to legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You) is a big-band Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz tour de force. Showcasing Sandoval's long-storied titan bop trumpet chops, Dear Diz frames the Cuban-born virtuoso with layered big-band arrangements on many of Gillespie's best-known compositions. Produced by Gregg Field and Sandoval, the album also features a bevy of name jazz musicians, including Hammond B-3 master Joey DeFrancesco, vibraphonist Gary Burton, tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer, clarinetist Eddie Daniels, and many more. Included here, among others, are such Gillespie songs as "Salt Peanuts!," "Birks Works," "Con Alma," and, of course, Gillespie's trademark theme, "A Night in Tunisia." Gillespie was Sandoval's biggest musical influence and, after the two met during Gillespie's tour of Cuba in 1977, he became one of Sandoval's most ardent champions, mentors, and friends. In that sense, Dear Diz is clearly a labor of love, a sentiment that permeates this joyously exuberant album. by Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1    Be Bop 8:19
Alto Saxophone – Zane Musa
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Piano – Shelly Berg
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
2    Salt Peanuts! (Mani Salado) 6:48
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Vibraphone – Gary Burton
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Kenneth Clarke
3    And Then She Stopped 5:18
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
4    Birks Works (Ala Mancini) 6:04
Arranged By – Shelly Berg
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Tenor Saxophone – Plas Johnson
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
5    Things To Come 7:11
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer, Bob Sheppard
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Waler Gilbert Fuller
6    Fiesta Mojo 5:09
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Clarinet – Eddie Daniels
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
7    Con Alma (With Soul) 6:00
Arranged By – Nan Schwartz
Cello – Trevor Handy
Viola – Roland Kato
Violin – Sara Parkins
Violin, Concertmaster – Ralph Morrison
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
8    Tin Tin Deo 6:52
Arranged By – Dan Higgins
Piano – Wally Minko
Vocals – Manolo Gimenez
Written-By – Chano Pozo, Walter Fuller
9    Algo Bueno (Woody And Me) 6:15
Arranged By, Alto Saxophone – Dan Higgins
Trombone – Andy Martin
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
10    A Night In Tunisia (Actually An Entire Weekend!) 7:23
Arranged By – Wally Minko
Tenor Saxophone – Ed Calle
Trombone – Bob McChesney
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli
    Encore    
11    Every Day I Think Of You 4:27
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Vocals – Arturo Sandoval
Written-By – Arturo Sandoval
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Flute [Alto] – Rusty Higgins
Alto Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute, Flute [Alto] – Dan Higgins
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Greg Huckins
Bass – Carlitos Del Puerto, Chuck Berghofer
Bongos – Andy Garcia
Drums – Gregg Field
Guitar – Brian Nova, Dustin Higgins
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Percussion – Joey De Leon, Munyungo Jackson
Piano – Shelly Berg
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Bob Sheppard, Brian Scanlon, Rob Lockart
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bruce Otto, Craig Gosnell, Steve Holtman, Wayne Bergeron
Trumpet, Vocals – Arturo Sandoval
Vibraphone – Gary Burton

YELLOWJACKETS - Lifecycle (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

If the Yellowjackets needed a guest guitarist, who would be the best person for the job? Pat Metheny would be an excellent choice, as would Al di Meola, John McLaughlin, Larry Coryell, or John Scofield. Well, the Yellowjackets did hire a guest guitarist for Lifecycle -- an excellent and well-known guitarist, in fact -- and they feature him extensively on this 2008 release. The guitarist is Mike Stern, who enjoys a strong rapport with the Yellowjackets' 2008 lineup: Russell Ferrante on acoustic piano and electric keyboards, Jimmy Haslip on electric bass, Bob Mintzer on tenor and soprano sax and bass clarinet, and Marcus Baylor on drums and percussion. Stern and the Yellowjackets are a perfectly logical combination -- especially in light of the hell-bent-for-jazz direction the Yellowjackets have favored since 1991's Greenhouse. With Greenhouse (which was Mintzer's first album with the outfit), Ferrante and Haslip made it clear that they wanted the Yellowjackets to be considered a serious, heavy-duty jazz combo instead of a group that pandered to smooth jazz stations. That isn't to say that the Yellowjackets' 1980s output lacks merit -- many of their '80s recordings are quite creative -- but with Greenhouse, Ferrante and Haslip really emphasized their Weather Report/Miles Davis/Return to Forever heritage. And that mindset continues to serve the Yellowjackets well 17 years later on Lifecycle. Jazz purists and bop snobs, of course, would argue that if you use electric instruments and have been influenced by rock or funk in any way, you aren't playing jazz, but the truth is that Stern and the Yellowjackets do bring a serious jazz improviser's mentality to engaging tracks like Haslip's bluesy "Country Living," Mintzer's mysterious "Falken's Maze," and Ferrante's probing, somewhat John Coltrane-ish "Measure of a Man." With its blend of electric and acoustic instruments, Lifecycle is relevant to both fusion and post-bop -- and it is also proof that collaborating with Stern was a very wise move for the Yellowjackets. by Alex Henderson

Tracklist:

1 Falken's Maze 6:25

Written-By – B. Mintzer

2 Country Living 6:24

Written-By – J. Haslip

3 Double Nickel 6:42

Written-By – M.Stern

4 Dreams Go 6:49

Written-By – M.Stern

5 Measure Of A Man 7:33

Written-By – R.Ferrante

6 Yahoo 4:52

Written-By – B. Mintzer

7 I Wonder 6:01

Written-By – B. Mintzer

8 3 Circles 7:30

Written-By – B. Mintzer, J. Haslip, M. Baylor, R.Ferrante

9 Claire's Closet 5:05

Written-By – R.Ferrante

10 Lazaro 5:15

Programmed By [Programming], Sequenced By [Sequencing] – Jimmy Haslip

Written-By – B. Mintzer, J. Haslip

Credits:

Marcus Baylor : Drums, Percussion

Russell Ferrante : Keyboards, Percussion, Piano

Jimmy Haslip : Bass (Electric), 

Bob Mintzer : Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)

Jerry Mitkowski : Piano Technician

Mike Stern : Featured Guitar 

YELLOWJACKETS - A Rise in the Road (2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The title of this Yellowjackets effort is an apt one. The departure of co-founding bassist Jimmy Haslip in 2012 left a huge hole in the lineup. Haslip wasn't only the group's bassist, but one of its most productive composers. Founding pianist/keyboardist Russell Ferrante, with longtime members saxophonist Bob Mintzer and drummer Will Kennedy, eventually chose Felix Pastorius, son of the mighty Jaco, and a seasoned performer in his own right. (On a number of tracks here, he plays his father's bass, loaned to him by its owner, Metallica's Robert Trujillo.) The younger man doesn't play with the same "lead bass" flash of his dad -- at least in the studio -- his style here reflects the role Haslip played, but his tone and nimbleness are his own. (Check his fleet-fingered work as it meets Ferrante's arpeggios in "Thank You.") The band still carries within it the meld of contemporary and straight-ahead jazz -- with Mintzer there is always going to be a nod to post-bop in there -- but the feel is far more immediate and organic. They departed from their usual recording procedure and cut the album live in the studio, adding relatively few overdubs later. Mintzer's opener, "When the Lady Dances," is a straight-ahead post-bop number that pops and swings with a fine understated solo by Ferrante. The pianist offers "Can't We Elope," a rewrite of Herbie Hancock's "Canteloupe." It's one of three tracks here that features the trumpet of Ambrose Akinmusire. The meaty piano groove and the twin horns offer a stylish, fresh take on soulful hard bop. Another of the pianist's compositions "An Amber Shade of Blue," features a knotty head with some fiery call and response between Akinmusire and Mintzer -- the track fades in what seems like mid-jam. Mintzer's "I Knew His Father" is both a welcome to the younger Pastorius and a nod to Jaco--the saxophonist played in the Word of Mouth Band and was present at Felix's birth-- drawing a large circle to a close. Its meld of Latin groove, punchy swing, and boppish blues, offers the younger bassist a fine opportunity to comp, fill, and run the board as the band gets deep inside the melody. A Rise in the Road provides longtime Yellowjackets' fans plenty; but more importantly, it delivers a a bracing new approach and a renewed sense of swinging adventure.

  (This comment is posted on allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower our blog O Púbis da Rosa)

Tracklist:

1 When the Lady Dances 5:07
Bob Mintzer2 Civil War  5:47
Bob Mintzer3 Can't We Elope  5:27
Russell Ferrante4 An Informed Decision  6:29
Russell Ferrante5 Longing  7:17
Russell Ferrante6 Thank You  5:46
Bob Mintzer7 Madrugada  5:08
William Kennedy8 An Amber Shade of Blue  6:57
Russell Ferrante9 (You'll Know) When It's Time  4:52
Russell Ferrante10 I Knew His Father  4:52
Bob MintzerCredits
Bass – Felix Pastorius
Composed By – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 1, 2, 6, 10), Russell Ferrante (tracks: 3, 4, 5, 8, 9), William Kennedy (tracks: 7)
Drums, Percussion – William Kennedy
Piano, Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Trumpet – Ambrose Akinmusire (tracks: 3, 4, 8)

BOB MINTZER & THE HORN MAN BAND - Papa Lips (1983) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Recorded in 1983 and previously only released in Japan on Cheetah, Papa Lips is Bob Mintzer's third album as a leader. A step ahead of the rather sterile production of his previous album for the label Source (both are now available in the U.S. on CD courtesy of the Elore Records imprint), Papa Lips features a stellar band playing a program comprised almost entirely of Mintzer tunes, the lone exception is the standard "I Hear a Rhapsody." The band here is stellar and includes in various places Michael and Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Don Grolnick, David Sanborn, Will Lee, Peter Erskine and Marvin Stamm, among others. The material is more Latin in flavor, and the arrangements are less funk-oriented than its predecessor's. The sound is still quite slick, but the material is stronger and there are no vocal performances this time out. The remarkable thing here is that the Michael and Randy Brecker and David Sanborn were not particularly well known as big band players at this time, but their execution of these often complex charts is remarkable -- check the title cut that opens the set with a fine Randy Brecker solo; it's knotty and multi-textured with colors coming from all over the tonal spectrum. "Lazy Day," a gospel flavored soul tune for big band is reminiscent of Thad Jones' and Mel Lewis' orchestra, with fine solo s from Mintzer on tenor and Grolnick on piano. Other standouts include "Latin Dance," with a great Sanborn flight on alto, and the remake of "Mr. Fonebone." It appeared on Source as well, but is much faster and more aggressive here, and Lee is less busy than Jaco Pastorius was. "I Hear a Rhapsody" contains an excellent, deeply emotional solo by Michael Brecker, though the tune itself is a bit flowery for this recording. In sum, however, Papa Lips is a fine record; it is still slick -- but that's how they made jazz records in the '80s -- but it's sheer musicality, muscle, and sophistication make it an excellent listen. 

(This comment is posted on allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower our blog O Púbis da Rosa)
Tracklist
1 Papa Lips 6:33
2 Lazy Day 9:30
Bob Mintzer
3 I Hear a Rhapsody 4:13
Dick Gasparre
4 Latin Dance 7:59
5 Truth 7:18
6 Mr Fonebone 6:42
Credits
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Pete Yellin
Arranged By, Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute, Clarinet – Bob Mintzer
Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Roger Rosenberg
Bass – Tom Barney (tracks: 2, 4, 6), Will Lee (tracks: 1, 3, 5) 
Bass Trombone – Dave Taylor (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6), George Moran (tracks: 3, 5) 
Congas – Frankie Malabe (tracks: 1, 4) 
Drums – Peter Erskine
Flute – Carla Poole (tracks: 6) 
Piano – Don Grolnick
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Michael Brecker
Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute – Lawrence Feldman
Trombone – Dave Bargeron, Keith O'Quinn
Trumpet – Laurie Frink, Lew Soloff, Marvin Stamm, Randy Brecker
Written-By – Bob Mintzer

BOB MINTZER - Spectrum (1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Included is an all-star lineup of R. Brecker, Peter Erskine, D. Grolnick, B. Malach, L. Gaines, and 14 other players. This is big-band jazz at its finest. The recording was made live to two-track digital, and the music, exceptional from start to finish, deserves it.  by Paul Kohler
Tracklist  
1 Like A Child 4:47
2 Spectrum 4:48
3 My Romance 6:20
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
4 Hanky-Panky 3:18
5 Mr. Funk 6:00
6 Mine Is Yours 5:03
7 Frankie's Tune 7:04
8 The Reunion 5:11
9 Heart Of The Matter 8:45
10 I Hear A Rhapsody 5:46
11 Solo Saxophone 1:34
12 Cowboys And Indians 5:45
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Lawrence Feldman, Peter Yellin
Arranged By, Producer, Edited By, Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Baritone Saxophone – Roger Rosenberg
Bass – Lincoln Goines
Congas – Frankie Malabe
Drums – John Riley (tracks: 1, 6), Peter Erskine
Piano – Don Grolnick, Phil Markowitz (tracks: 8, 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Malach
Trombone – Bob Smith, Dave Bargeron, Dave Taylor, Keith O'Quinn
Trumpet – Laurie Frink, Marvin Stamm, Randy Brecker, Bob Millikan
Written-By – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 12)