CHARLES TOLLIVER — The Ringer (1969-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is the Charles Tolliver record to get, although it may be hard to find. The masterful trumpeter, in a quartet with pianist Stanley Cowell, bassist Steve Novosel, and drummer Jimmy Hopps, plays five of his strongest compositions. Highlights include the powerful "On the Nile," "The Ringer," and "Spur," but each of the numbers has its memorable moments. Tolliver is heard at the peak of his creative powers; it is strange that he never received the fame and recognition that he deserved. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Plight    7:09
  Written-By – Charles Tolliver
2    On The Nile    12:31
  Written-By – Charles Tolliver
3    The Ringer    5:46
  Written-By – Charles Tolliver
4    Mother Wit    8:46
  Written-By – Charles Tolliver
5    Spur    5:02
  Written-By – Charles Tolliver
Credits :
Bass – Steve Novosel
Drums – Jimmy Hopps
Piano – Stanley Cowell
Trumpet – Charles Tolliver

OLIVER NELSON — Swiss Suite (1972-2014) RM | Flying Dutchman Jazz Classics Series | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Recorded at the 1971 Montreux Jazz Festival, this big-band outing features a mostly all-star band and altoist Oliver Nelson (who wrote all of the arrangements and compositions) and trumpeter Danny Moore on remakes of "Stolen Moments," "Black, Brown & Beautiful" and "Blues and the Abstract Truth." However it is the nearly 27-minute "Swiss Suite" that dominates this album and although tenorman Gato Barbieri has a couple of raging solos, it is a five-minute segment when guest altoist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson plays the blues that is most memorable. Vinson's classic spot alone is worth the price of this hard-to-find LP.  Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

GARY BARTZ - Libra + Another Earth (1998) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Altoist Gary Bartz's first two recordings as a leader are reissued in full (except for one selection, "Disjunction," left off due to lack of space) on this 1998 CD. 1967's Libra matches Bartz (then 26) with trumpeter Jimmy Owens, pianist Albert Dailey, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Billy Higgins for four diverse originals including "Eastern Blues," a lyrical "Cabin in the Sky," the old hymn "Deep River," and Charlie Parker's "Bloomdido." Another Earth features Bartz dueting with bassist Reggie Workman on "Lost in the Stars," performing three trio quartet numbers with Workman, pianist Stanley Cowell, and drummer Freddie Waits, and welcoming trumpeter Charles Tolliver and tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (who is a little more restrained than usual) to the 23-and-a-half-minute, three-part "Another Earth." The music is advanced but not avant-garde, essentially falling into the genre of modern mainstream for the period. Even at this early stage, Bartz had a fairly distinctive sound and a strong musical style. Scott Yanow
Libra (1967)
1 Eastern Blues  3:59
Gary Bartz
2 Cabin in the Sky  3:59
Vernon Duke
3 Air and Fire  5:53
Gary Bartz
4 Libra  6:22
Gary Bartz
5 Bloomdido 4:46
Charlie Parker
6 Deep River  4:51
Gary Bartz
7 Freedom One Day  5:08
Another Earth (1968)
8 Another Earth  23:46
Gary Bartz
9 Dark Nebula  5:04
Gary Bartz
10 UFO  4:49
Gary Bartz
11 Lost in the Stars  4:04
Kurt Weill
12 Perihelion and Aphelion  3:47
Gary Bartz
Credits 1-7
Bass – Richard Davis
Alto Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Albert Dailey
Trumpet – Jimmy Owens (tracks: 4, 7)
Libra (originally Milestone 9006): 1967
Credits 8-12
Alto Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Bass – Reggie Workman  
Drums – Freddie Waits
Piano – Stanley Cowell
Tenor Saxophone – Pharoah Sanders (tracks: 8)
Trumpet – Charles Tolliver (tracks: 8)
Another Earth (originally Milestone 9018): 1968

BOOKER ERVIN - Structurally Sound (1966-2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Mixing the dusky romanticism of Dexter Gordon and the progressive tonal ideology of John Coltrane, Booker Ervin is often filed under "A" for amalgam alongside other overlooked tenor masters such as Tina Brooks and Hank Mobley. Structurally Sound is perhaps not Ervin's most provocative album, but a solid and tasty endeavor featuring the suspended chord sounds popularized by McCoy Tyner during the late '60s. Here, the chords come via the brilliant pianist John Hicks, who opens the album with funky high-end triplet figures on Randy Weston's "Berkshire Blues." Joining in is a well-selected roster of musicians, many of whom were also overshadowed by their more well-known contemporaries, including Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Red Mitchell on bass, and Lenny McBrowne on drums. Tolliver contributes the original composition "Franess," a Wayne Shorter-influenced affair that features his fat and burnished tone. They also cover Oliver Nelson's blissful standard "Stolen Moments" to good effect. Originally ending with an athletic up-tempo version of "Take the 'A' Train," the Blue Note Connoisseur Series reissue includes a sparkling "Shiny Stockings," featuring an especially inspired chorus by Ervin. An oddball version of "White Christmas" also makes it onto the disc, as do alternate takes of "Franess" and "Deep Night." by Matt Collar  
Tracklist :
1     Berkshire Blues 5:30
Randy Weston
2     Dancing in the Dark 4:58
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
3     Stolen Moments 4:59
Oliver Nelson
4     Franess 5:08
Charles Tolliver
5     Boo's Blues 5:33
Booker Ervin
6     You're My Everything 4:46
Mort Dixon / Harry Warren / Joe Young
7     Deep Night 4:58
Charles Henderson / Rudy Vallée
8     Take the "A" Train 3:43
Billy Strayhorn
9     Shiny Stockings 4:48
Frank Foster
10     White Christmas 4:27
Irving Berlin
11     Franess 5:13
Charles Tolliver
12     Deep Night 7:15
Charles Henderson / Rudy Vallée
Credits :
Bass – Red Mitchell
Drums – Lenny McBrowne
Piano – John Hicks
Tenor Saxophone – Booker Ervin
Trumpet – Charles Tolliver