DEXTER GORDON — Go (1962) Two Version | 1986, BLUE NOTE SUPER 50 – 48 + 1999, RM | Serie RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

From the first moments when Dexter Gordon sails into the opening song full of brightness and confidence, it is obvious that Go is going to be one of those albums where everything just seems to come together magically. A stellar quartet including the stylish pianist Sonny Clark, the agile drummer Billy Higgins, and the solid yet flexible bassist Butch Warren are absolutely crucial in making this album work, but it is still Gordon who shines. Whether he is dropping quotes into "Three O'Clock in the Morning" or running around with spritely bop phrases in "Cheese Cake," the album pops and crackles with energy and exuberance. Beautiful ballads like "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" metamorphosize that energy into emotion and passion, but you can still see it there nonetheless. Gordon had many high points in his five decade-long career, but this is certainly the peak of it all.Stacia Proefrock

Tracklist :

1 Cheese Cake 6:34
Dexter Gordon
2 I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry 5:23
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
3 Second Balcony Jump 7:06
Billy Eckstine / G. Valentine / Gerald Valentine
4 Love for Sale 7:37
Cole Porter
5 Where Are You? 5:20
Harold Adamson / Jimmy McHugh
6 Three O'Clock in the Morning 5:42
Julián Robledo / Dorothy Terriss
Credits:
Bass – Butch Warren
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Sonny Clark
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Dexter Gordon

HANK MOBLEY - The Turnaround ! (1965-2000) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 The Hank Mobley of the Turnaround album was a markedly different one from a few years earlier. This session issued in early 1965 was the product of two different sessions. The first was in March of 1963, immediately after Mobley left the Miles Davis band. Those recordings produced "East of the Village," possibly the greatest example of Mobley's "round tone" on record, and the other was "The Good Life," a ballad. The rest was recorded nearly two years later in February of 1965. The title cut was produced here -- an Alfred Lion answer to Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder," which was burning up the charts -- as well as the beautiful "Pat 'n' Chat," with "Straight Ahead" and "My Sin" rounding out the program. On the earlier material, Donald Byrd, Herbie Hancock, Butch Warren, and Philly Jo Jones helped Mobley out, and on the latter it was Freddie Hubbard, Barry Harris, Paul Chambers, and Billy Higgins. In each case, there were alumnus members of the Miles band Mobley had played in. The main thing about "East of the Village" is the striking difference between the gorgeous melding of Latin and post-bop, straight-ahead rhythms, and the easy, loping blues feel that is cheered on by Jones. This track contains one of Mobley's most memorable solos. On the title track and "Pat 'n' Chat," there are elongated blues structures; in the former -- it is an unusual 18 bar figure -- and in the latter, there is the major 44 bar pattern that sounds like a blues with a bridge when the AABA pattern is invoked. Here is the evolution of Mobley's tone in full flower, all but gone is the rounded, warm sound, and in its place is a shorter, declarative, bluesier tone with real bite that is perfect for pianists like Harris, who were used to the deeper funk of the Detroit sound. In all this is a solid date, despite its time lapse, and one that gives us a solid picture of the two Mobleys.
|This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa'|
Tracklist :
1     The Turnaround 8:15
Hank Mobley    
2     East of the Village 6:44
Hank Mobley    
3     The Good Life 5:08
Sacha Distel / Jack Reardon    
4     Straight Ahead 7:02
Hank Mobley    
5     My Sin 6:53
Hank Mobley    
6     Pat 'n' Chat 6:27    
Hank Mobley
Credits :
Bass – Butch Warren (tracks: 2, 3), Paul Chambers (tracks: 1, 4 to 6)
Drums – Philly Joe Jones (tracks: 2, 3), Billy Higgins (tracks: 1, 4 to 6)
Piano – Barry Harris (tracks: 1, 4 to 6), Herbie Hancock (tracks: 2, 3)
Recorded By, Remastered By [2000] – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trumpet – Donald Byrd (tracks: 2, 3), Freddie Hubbard (tracks: 1, 4 to 6)

HANK MOBLEY - No Room for Squares (1964-2000) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Why any critic would think that Hank Mobley was at the end of his creative spark in 1963 -- a commonly if stupidly held view among the eggheads who do this for a living -- is ridiculous, as this fine session proves. By 1963, Mobley had undergone a transformation of tone. Replacing the scintillating airiness of his late-'50s sides was a harder, more strident, almost honking one, due in part to the influence of John Coltrane and in part to Mobley's deeper concentration on the expressing blues feeling in his trademark hard bop tunes. The CD version of this album sets the record straight, dropping some tunes form a session months earlier and replacing them with alternate takes of the title cut and "Carolyn" for historical integrity, as well as adding "Syrup and Biscuits" and "Comin' Back." Mobley assembled a crack band for this blues-drenched hard-rollicking set made up of material written by either him or trumpeter Lee Morgan. Other members of the ensemble were pianist Andrew Hill, drummer Philly Joe Jones, and bassist John Ore. The title track, which opens the set, is a stand-in metaphor for the rest: Mobley's strong and knotty off-minor front-line trading fours with Hill that moves into brief but aggressive soloing for he and Morgan and brings the melody back, altered with the changes from Hill. On Morgan's "Me 'n' You," an aggressive but short bluesed-out vamp backed by a mutated samba beat, comes right out of the Art Blakey book of the blues and is articulated wonderfully by Mobley's solo, which alternates between short, clipped phrases along the line of the changes and longer trill and ostinatos where the end of a musical line is dictated by his breath rather than a chord change. Morgan is in the pocket of the blue shades, coloring the ends of his lines with trills and short staccato bursts, warping them in Hill's open, chromatic voicings. All eight cuts here move with similar fluidity and offer a very gritty and realist approach to the roots of hard bop. Highly recommended.                                 
|This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa'|
Tracklist :
1     Three Way Split 7'49
Hank Mobley    
2     Carolyn 5'30
Lee Morgan    
3     Up a Step 8'31
Hank Mobley    
4     No Room for Squares 6'57
Hank Mobley    
5     Me 'N You 7'17
Lee Morgan    
6     Old World Imports 6'08
Hank Mobley    
7     Carolyn (Alternate Take) 5'35
Lee Morgan    
8     No Room for Squares 6'45
Hank Mobley
Credits :
Bass – Butch Warren (tracks: 3, 6), John Ore (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Drums – Philly Joe Jones
Piano – Andrew Hill (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5), Herbie Hancock (tracks: 3, 6)
Recorded By [Recording By], Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trumpet – Donald Byrd (tracks: 3, 6), Lee Morgan (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)

HANK MOBLEY - Straight No Filter (1986-2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Straight No Filter finds tenor Hank Mobley in several settings from the mid-'60s, each of them excellent. The overall roster is quite impressive, starting with the first set which features trumpeter Lee Morgan, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Billy Higgins. The upbeat title cut is given a loose, post-bop feel by Tyner's comping, but things are brought back to earth by Mobley's emotional playing. A number of exchanges between Morgan and Mobley's horns give the piece an effective ending. "Chain Reaction" gives this group nearly 11 minutes to stretch things out, while "Soft Impressions" features a heavy blues groove. A couple of other standouts on this album -- "This Feelin's Good" and "Yes Indeed" -- feature trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Butch Warren, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Hancock provides a distinctive backdrop for Mobley and Morgan's solos while turning in some fine work himself. Mobley shines on Sy Oliver's "Yes Indeed," delivering a soulful solo, shot through with the blues. His playing throughout Straight No Filter is warm, accessible, and inventive, and it is instructive to have these sessions side by side, giving the listener a chance to compare Mobley's work in different settings. It should be mentioned that he penned eight out of the nine of these fine compositions. Bob Blumenthal's liner notes are helpful, breaking down the individual sessions and providing a good overview of Mobley's career. Straight No Filter will be welcomed by Mobley's fans and lovers of hard bop. It shouldn't be missed. Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Tracklist :
1     Straight No Filter 5:56
Hank Mobley    
2     Chain Reaction 11:00 crans
Hank Mobley    
3     Soft Impressions 4:46
Hank Mobley    
4     Third Time Around 6:23
Hank Mobley    
5     Hank's Waltz 7:41
Hank Mobley    
6     Syrup and Biscuits 5:34
Hank Mobley    
7     Comin' Back 6:24
Hank Mobley    
8     The Feelin's Good 5:38
Hank Mobley    
9     Yes Indeed 5:34
Sy Oliver
Notas.
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on June 17, 1966 (#1-3), February 4, 1965 (#4-5), October 2, 1963 (#6-7) and March 7, 1963 (#8-9).
Credits :
Bass – Bob Cranshaw (pistas: 1 to 3), Butch Warren (pistas: 8, 9), John Ore (pistas: 6, 7), Paul Chambers (pistas: 4, 5)
Drums – Philly Joe Jones (pistas: 6 to 9), Billy Higgins (pistas: 1 to 5)
Engineer [Recording Engineer] – Rudy Van Gelder
Mastered By [Using 24-bit Super Bit Mapping] – Ron McMaster
Piano – Andrew Hill (pistas: 6, 7), Barry Harris (pistas: 4, 5), Herbie Hancock (pistas: 8, 9), McCoy Tyner (pistas: 1 to 3)
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trumpet – Donald Byrd (pistas: 8, 9), Freddie Hubbard (pistas: 4, 5), Lee Morgan (pistas: 1 to 3, 6, 7)

JOE HENDERSON — Page One (1963-1999) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The title Page One is fitting for this disc, as it marks the beginning of the first chapter in the long career of tenor man Joe Henderson. And what a beginning it is; no less than Kenny Dorham, McCoy Tyner, Butch Warren, and Pete La Roca join the saxophonist for a stunning set that includes "Blue Bossa" and "Recorda Me," two works that would be forever associated with Henderson. Both are bossa novas that offer a hip alternative to the easy listening Brazilian trend that would become popular with the masses. Henderson and Dorham make an ideal pair on these and other choice cuts like the blistering "Homestretch" and the engaging swinger "Jinrikisha." These both show the already mature compositional prowess that would become Henderson's trademark throughout his legendary career. The final blues number, "Out of the Night," features powerful work by the leader that only hints of things to come in subsequent chapters. Rovi Staff
Tracklist :
1 Blue Bossa 7:55
Composed By – Kenny Dorham
2 La Mesha 9:05
Composed By – Kenny Dorham
3 Homestretch 4:10
Composed By – Joe Henderson
4 Recorda Me 5:56
Composed By – Joe Henderson
5 Jinrikisha 7:20
Composed By – Joe Henderson
6 Out Of The Night 7:20
Composed By – Joe Henderson
Credits :
Bass – Butch Warren
Drums – Pete La Roca
Piano – McCoy Tyner
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Trumpet, Liner Notes [Original] – Kenny Dorham

SONNY CLARK — Leapin' and Lopin' (1961-1987) Serie Blue Note CD Treasury – 24 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Sonny Clark's fifth Blue Note recording as a leader is generally regarded as his best, especially considering he composed four of the seven tracks, and they all bear his stamp of originality. What is also evident is that he is shaping the sounds of his quintet rather than dominating the proceedings as he did on previous dates. Tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse and trumpeter Tommy Turrentine play very little harmony on the date, but their in-tune unison lines are singularly distinctive, while bassist Butch Warren and young drummer Billy Higgins keep the rhythmic coals burning with a steady, glowing red heat. Among the classic tunes is the definitive hard bop opener "Somethin' Special," which lives up to its title in a most bright and happy manner, with Clark merrily comping chords. "Melody for C" is similarly cheerful, measured, and vivid in melodic coloration. The showstopper is "Voodoo," the ultimate late-night slinky jazz tune contrasted by Clark's tinkling piano riffs. Warren wrote the exciting hard bopper "Eric Walks" reminiscent of a Dizzy Gillespie tune, while Turrentine's "Midnight Mambo" mixes metaphors of Afro-Cuban music with unusual off-minor phrases and Rouse's stoic playing. Tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec plays a cameo sans the other horns on the soulful ballad "Deep in a Dream," exhibiting a vocal quality on his instrument, making one wonder if any other sessions with this group were done on the side. Top to bottom, Leapin' and Lopin' is a definitive recording for Clark, and in the mainstream jazz idiom, as well. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1     Somethin' Special 6:23
Sonny Clark
2     Deep in a Dream 6:47    
Eddie DeLange / James Van Heusen
3     Melody for C 7:50
Sonny Clark
4     Eric Walks 5:41
Butch Warren
5     Voodoo 7:39
Sonny Clark
6     Midnight Mambo 7:16
Tommy Turrentine
7     Zellmar's Delight 5:43
Sonny Clark
8     Melody for C 8:14
Sonny Clark
Credits :    
Bass – Butch Warren
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Sonny Clark
Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Rouse, Ike Quebec
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine

KENNY DORHAM - Una Mas (One More Time) (1963-1986) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

When one thinks of great talent scouts in jazz, the name of Kenny Dorham is often overlooked. However, many top young players benefited from playing in his groups, and for proof one need look no further than the lineup on this 1963 CD reissue: tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson, bassist Butch Warren, and (before either player joined Miles Davis) pianist Herbie Hancock and drummer Tony Williams. Together the quintet performs three of the trumpeter's originals ("Una Mas" is the most famous) along with the standard ballad "If Ever I Would Leave You." Even if the playing time (under 37 minutes) is a bit brief, the explorative yet swinging music lives up to its potential. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Una Mas [One More Time] 15:16
Kenny Dorham
2     Straight Ahead 8:55
Kenny Dorham
3     Sao Paolo 7:16
Kenny Dorham
4     If Ever I Would Leave You 5:07
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
Credits :
Bass – Butch Warren
Drums – Anthony Williams
Piano – Herbie Hancock
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Trumpet – Kenny Dorham 

SLIDE HAMPTON - Exodus (1962-2000) Jazz In Paris 10/ RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Trombonist Slide Hampton, just 30 years old at the time of this octet session in Paris, had already developed into a forward-thinking arranger. Scoring a mix of standards and well-known jazz compositions for a group that included two trombones, two trumpets, tenor sax, baritone sax, bass, and drums, Hampton's stunning interpretation of "Exodus" (from the film of the same name) still sounds very fresh decades later. The brisk "Star Eyes" might suggest the so-called "cool" players of the 1950s, featuring excellent solos by trumpeter Richard Williams and bassist Butch Warren. Baritone saxophonist Jay Cameron shines in "Confirmation," while the leader explodes in a powerful rendition of "Moment's Notice." Finally reissued as a part of Verve International's wide-ranging Jazz in Paris series, fans of the trombone will definitely want to acquire this very reasonably priced CD. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Exodus 3:48
Ernest Gold
2     Star Eyes 8:45
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
3     Confirmation 12:21
Charlie Parker
4     Moment's Notice 3:29
John Coltrane
5     I'll Take Romance 3:40
Oscar Hammerstein II / Ben Oakland
6     I Remember Clifford 5:10
Benny Golson
7     Straight, No Chaser 8:37
Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Arranged By – Slide Hampton
Baritone Saxophone – Jay Cameron
Bass – Butch Warren
Drums – Vinnie Ruggiero
Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman
Trombone – Benjamin Jacobs-El, Slide Hampton
Trumpet – Nat Pavone, Richard Williams
Nota :
Artist also listed as Slide Hampton Octet.
Recorded November 14 (3, 4, 6) and 18 (1, 2, 5, 7), 1962 in Paris.
Reissue of the Philips LP 77 915.
 

DEXTER GORDON — Go (1962-1986) BLUE NOTE SUPER 50 – 48 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

From the first moments when Dexter Gordon sails into the opening song full of brightness and confidence, it is obvious that Go is going to be one of those albums where everything just seems to come together magically. A stellar quartet including the stylish pianist Sonny Clark, the agile drummer Billy Higgins, and the solid yet flexible bassist Butch Warren are absolutely crucial in making this album work, but it is still Gordon who shines. Whether he is dropping quotes into "Three O'Clock in the Morning" or running around with spritely bop phrases in "Cheese Cake," the album pops and crackles with energy and exuberance. Beautiful ballads like "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" metamorphosize that energy into emotion and passion, but you can still see it there nonetheless. Gordon had many high points in his five decade-long career, but this is certainly the peak of it all.Stacia Proefrock

Tracklist :

1 Cheese Cake 6:34
Dexter Gordon
2 I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry 5:23
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
3 Second Balcony Jump 7:06
Billy Eckstine / G. Valentine / Gerald Valentine
4 Love for Sale 7:37
Cole Porter
5 Where Are You? 5:20
Harold Adamson / Jimmy McHugh
6 Three O'Clock in the Morning 5:42
Julián Robledo / Dorothy Terriss
Credits:
Bass – Butch Warren
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Sonny Clark
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Dexter Gordon