CURTIS FULLER — The Boss of the Soul-Stream Trombone (1960-1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 An obscure set by trombonist Curtis Fuller that was originally put out by the Warwick label, this otherwise unremarkable set is sparked by the inclusion of the young trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (recently arrived from Indianapolis) and tenor saxophonist Yusef Lateef. With veteran bebopper Walter Bishop on piano and two players from Quincy Jones' big band (bassist Buddy Catlett and drummer Stu Martin), Fuller performs four originals and three standards (including "If I Were a Bell"). Hubbard's fiery statements often steal the show. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

CURTIS FULLER — The Magnificent Trombone Of Curtis Fuller (1961-2014) Serie Jazz Collection 1000 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist & Credits :  

COLEMAN HAWKINS - Wrapped Tight (1966-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Hawkins's last strong recording finds the veteran, 43 years after his recording debut with Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds, improvising creatively on a wide variety of material on this CD, ranging from "Intermezzo" and "Here's That Rainy Day" to "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" and "Indian Summer." Best is an adventurous version of "Out of Nowhere" that shows that the tenor-saxophonist was still coming up with new ideas in 1965. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Wrapped Tight 3:30
Written-By – Albam
2 Intermezzo 3:38
Written-By – Mascagni
3 Out Of Nowhere 3:44
Written-By – Heyman, Green
4 Indian Summer 5:04
Written-By – Dubin, Herbert
5 Red Roses For A Blue Lady 2:27
Written-By – Brodsky, Tepper
6 Marcheta 3:08
Written-By – Schartzinger
7 Beautiful Girl 4:29
Written-By – Freed, Brown
8 She's Fit 2:45
Written-By – Hawkins
9 And I Still Love You 3:14
Written-By – Rivelli, Roberts, Clayton
10 Bean's Place 2:54
Written-By – Hammer, Clayton
Credits :
Bass – Buddy Catlett
Drums – Eddie Locke
Piano – Barry Harris
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Urbie Green (tracks: 1, 8)
Trumpet – Bill Berry (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8), Snooky Young (tracks: 4, 5, 6)

JOHNNY GRIFFIN | EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS - Pisces (1962-2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

When Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis entered a New York studio with producer Orrin Keepnews on May 3, 1962, they did some things that were unusual for the two-tenor team. They played mostly ballads, they didn't engage in any tenor battles and -- most surprising of all -- they didn't perform together on any of the tunes. Griffin was featured on four songs, Davis on another four. The same rhythm section -- Horace Parlan, bassist Buddy Catlett and drummer Art Taylor -- was always present, but Parlan played piano on the songs featuring Griffin and celeste on the songs featuring Davis. For whatever reason, the performances remained in the can for 42 years; they weren't even mastered until 1966, and they finally saw the light of day when Fantasy released Pisces in 2004. Pisces begs the following question: why, in God's name, would two saxmen who had as strong a rapport as Griffin and Davis not perform together when they were in the studio at the same time? Emphasizing ballads was an excellent idea, but wouldn't it have made more sense for them to do it as co-leaders of a quintet? According to jazz critic Larry Hollis -- who wrote Pisces' informative liner notes -- Griffin and Davis' decision to play separately had to do with the fact that they "didn't want to be stereotyped as merely a two-tenor team." In any event, both saxmen are in good form on this CD, which is enjoyable whether the soloist is Griffin on "Willow Weep for Me" and Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" or Davis on "Midnight Sun" and "Yesterdays." For Griffin and Davis, deciding to play separately on May 3, 1962 was probably a mistake; even so, Pisces is a noteworthy (if less than essential) album that shouldn't have gone unreleased for so long. Alex Henderson  
Tracklist :
1    Johnny Griffin–    Pisces 4'10
Written-By – Johnny Griffin
2    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Midnight Sun 4'34
Written-By – Mercer, Hampton, Burke
3    Johnny Griffin–    Willow Weep For Me 4'30
Written-By – Ann Ronell
4    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered 3'41
Written-By – Hart, Rodgers
5    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    What Is There To Say? 3'31
Written-By – Harburg, Duke
6    Johnny Griffin–    She's Funny That Way 4'29
Written-By – Moret, Whiting
7    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Yesterdays 4'15
Written-By – Kern, Harbach
8    Johnny Griffin–    Sophisticated Lady 4'06
Written-By – Ellington, Mills, Parish
9    Johnny Griffin–    Willow Weep For Me [Alternate] 4'46
Written-By – Ronell
10    Johnny Griffin–    She's Funny That Way [Alternate] 4'13
Written-By – Moret, Whiting
11    Johnny Griffin–    Sophisticated Lady [Alternate] 4'06
Written-By – Ellington, Irving Mills, Parish
12    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    What Is There To Say? [Alternate] 3'31
Written-By – Harburg, Duke
Credits :
Bass – Buddy Catlett
Celesta – Horace Parlan (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 12)
Drums – Arthur Taylor
Piano – Horace Parlan (pistas: 1, 3, 6, 8 to 11)
Producer [Original] – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 12), Johnny Griffin (pistas: 1, 3, 6, 8 to 11)

THE JOHNNY GRIFFIN AND 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS QUINTET - Tough Tenor Favorites (1962-1995) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, the two "tough tenors" in question, always made for an exciting team. With pianist Horace Parlan, bassist Buddy Catlett and drummer Ben Riley completing the quintet for this CD reissue of a Jazzland date from 1962, Griff and Lockjaw are in top form and quite competitive on a variety of standards. Highlights include "Blue Lou," "Ow," "I Wished on the Moon" and "From This Moment On." The main winner in these fiery tenor "battles" is the listener. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Bahia 5'53
Written-By – Ary Barroso
2    Blue Lou 4'41
Written-By – Sampson, Mills
3    How Am I To Know 4'54
Written-By – Parker, King
4    Ow! 4'20
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
5    I Wished On The Moon 6'39
Written By – Rainger / Parker
6    Tin Tin Deo 5'42
Written-By – Chano Pozo
7    From This Moment On 6'02
Written-By – Cole Porter
Credits :
Bass – Buddy Catlett
Drums – Ben Riley
Piano – Horace Parlan
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Johnny Griffin

LOUIS ARMSTRONG - The Best Live Concert Vol. 1 (1965-2000) Jazz In Paris 1 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1965 Paris concert by Louis Armstrong is not all that different in content from many of his live dates recorded during the last 15 years of his life. His all-stars had changed somewhat, with clarinetist Eddie Shu replacing Edmond Hall, singer Jewel Brown taking the place of the late Velma Middleton, and trombonist Tyree Glenn replacing Trummy Young, but the dependable pianist Billy Kyle (who died the following year) is still on hand to keep the band in a familiar groove. Armstrong sticks to his dependable opener, "When It's Sleepy Time Down South," following it with a spirited "Back Home Again in Indiana." Jewel Brown is acceptable on the snappy "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," but butchers "Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine" with an overly dramatic and very pop-ish rendition. The fireworks of "Tiger Rag" are all too brief, while the often-requested "Hello Dolly" provokes several brief codas to acknowledge the audience's enthusiasm. This is one of the better-recorded concerts from late in Louis Armstrong's career, and while it couldn't be called an essential release in his considerable discography, it will not disappoint fans of his enthusiastic brand of swing. Recommended. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     When It's Sleepy Time Down South 3:17
Clarence Muse / Otis Rene / Leon René
2     (Back Home Again In) Indiana 4:13
James F. Hanley / Ballard MacDonald
3     Tiger Rag 1:26
Harry Da Costa / Eddie Edwards / Nick LaRocca / Henry W. Ragas / Tony Sbarbaro / Larry Shields
4     When I Grow Too Old to Dream 4:08
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
5     Perdido 2:06
Ervin Drake / Hans Lengsfelder / Juan Tizol
6     Hello, Dolly! 5:49
Jerry Herman
7     On the Alamo 4:19
Isham Jones / Gus Kahn
8     A Kiss to Build a Dream On 4:30
Oscar Hammerstein II / Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby
9     Lover, Come Back to Me 2:33
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
10     Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man 3:10
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
11     Mop Mop/Blueberry Hill 3:30
Claude Demetrius / Al Lewis / Vincent Rose / Larry Stock / J. Mayo Williams
Credits :
Clarinet – Eddie Shu
Double Bass – Buddy Catlett
Drums – Danny Barcelona
Piano – Billy Kyle
Trombone – Tyree Glenn
Trumpet – Louis Armstrong
Vocals – Louis Armstrong (faixas: 1, 2, 6, 8)
Nota :
Recorded June 4, 1965 at the Palais des Sports, Paris.
Partial reissue of the Festival LP 200.

LOUIS ARMSTRONG - The Best Live Concert Vol. 2 (1965-2000) Jazz In Paris 2 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Louis Armstrong was recorded live so many times during the last two decades of his career that jazz fans tend to take many of these releases for granted. But this second volume from a 1965 Paris concert finds Armstrong expanding his repertoire a bit, including pop songs of the day in addition to expected fare like "Muskrat Ramble." The fluid muted trombone of Tyree Glenn is showcased in a swinging "Volare," vocalist Jewel Brown (Velma Middleton's replacement) offers a spirited rendition of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" backed by Billy Kyle's bluesy piano, while bassist Buddy Catlett takes his turn in the spotlight during "Cocktails for Two." The recent turnover in personnel not long before this concert tour hardly seems to have hampered Armstrong, who returns for an crowd-pleasing medley of "When the Saint Go Marchin' In" and the inevitable request for "Hello Dolly." This CD from the Jazz in Paris series benefits from 24-bit remastering, while the mid-line price also adds to its appeal. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Muskrat Ramble 3:35
Ray Gilbert / Kid Ory
2     Volare 4:35
Domenico Modugno
3     Cocktails for Two 4:19
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston
4     Stompin' at the Savoy 7:40
Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb
5     It's Easy to Remember 4:09
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6     Teach Me Tonight 2:25
Sammy Cahn / Gene DePaul
7     I Left Me Heart in San Francisco 4:16
George Cory / Douglass Cross
8     My Man 2:12
Maurice Yvain
9     Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home 1:17
Hughie Cannon
10     When the Saints Go Marchin' In/Hello Dolly 4:35
Traditional
Credits :
Clarinet – Eddie Shu
Double Bass – Buddy Catlett
Drums – Danny Barcelona
Piano – Billy Kyle
Trombone – Tyree Glenn
Trumpet – Louis Armstrong
Vocals – Jewell Brown (faixas: 7 to 9), Louis Armstrong (faixas: 10)
Nota :
Recorded June 4, 1965 at the Palais des Sports, Paris.
Partial reissue of the Festival LP 200 - Louis Armstrong - The Best Live Concert.
The titles "Cabaret", "Mack the knife", and the medley "Tenderly / You never walk alone / Mop mop" from the 1967 recording in Juan-les-Pins do not appear here.

BILL COLEMAN - From Boogie to Funk (1960-2000) Jazz In Paris 7 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

From Boogie to Funk finds the somewhat undercelebrated swing trumpeter Bill Coleman at a late period in his career, nailing down this set of blues in Paris with a fine group in 1960. The set begins wonderfully with an extended journey through a 16-minute two-part piece entitled "From Boogie to Funk," with the first part subtitled "The Blues" and the second titled "The Boogie." The subtitles prove fitting as Coleman indeed picks up the pace a bit for the second part, and from there the album never really slows down much. It's this swinging feel that propels the later pieces -- "Bill, Budd and Butter," "Afromotive in Blue," "Colemanonlogy," and "Have Blues, Will Play 'Em" -- which were all composed by Coleman, as were the two parts of "From Boogie to Funk." Overall, this set never hits a lull and proves delightful throughout, making one wish Coleman would have recorded a few more sessions such as this while in Paris. Joining him here are Budd Johnson (tenor sax), Les Spann (guitar), Patti Bown (piano), Quentin Jackson (trombone), Buddy Catlett (bass), and Joe Harris (drums). by Jason Birchmeier
Tracklist :
1     From Boogie to Funk, Pt. 1: The Blues 11:37
Bill Coleman
2     From Boogie to Funk, Pt. 2: The Boogie 4:34
Bill Coleman
3     Bill, Bud and Butter 9:42
Bill Coleman
4     Afromotive in Blue 6:30
Bill Coleman
5     Colemanology 5:11
Bill Coleman
6     Have Blues Will Play 'Em 9:46
Bill Coleman
Credits :
Double Bass – Buddy Catlett
Drums – Joe Harris
Guitar – Les Spann
Piano – Patti Bown
Saxophone [Tenor] – Budd Johnson
Trombone – Quentin Jackson
Trumpet, Written-By – Bill Coleman
Nota :
Recorded January 21 and 22, 1960 in Paris
Reissue of the Brunswick LP 87 905