ROLAND KIRK - Introducing Roland Kirk (1960-1990) The Original Chess Jazz Masters | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although the title suggests otherwise, Introducing Roland Kirk is actually Kirk's second long player. Poor distribution kept his debut, Triple Threat, from receiving the attention it deserved until subsequent reissues of the album in the early '70s. On these sides, Kirk is accompanied by a quartet including: Ira Sullivan (trumpet/tenor sax), William Burton (keyboards), Don Garrett (bass), and Sonny Brown (drums). Kirk leads the ensemble with his "triple threat" -- consisting of a variation of the soprano sax called a manzello; a stritch, which is a variant of the straight alto saxophone; and a slightly modified tenor sax -- all of which he could maneuver simultaneously. Although Kirk's performances are exceedingly reserved on this album, there is little doubt of his technical proficiencies. The three sides penned by Kirk are among the most interesting as they allow for a certain degree of openness that is essential when spotlighting his unique talents. This autonomy yields some exceptional interplay between Kirk and Ira Sullivan -- highlighted on "The Call" and "Soul Station." One of the motifs evident throughout Kirk's career involved his ability to personalize pop standards into his very distinctive mold as "Our Love Is Here to Stay" aptly exemplifies. Although some free jazz and avant-garde purists may find Introducing Roland Kirk not challenging enough, it provides a solid basis for his increasingly bombastic post-bop experiments throughout the remainder of the '60s and '70s. Lindsay Planer  
Tracklist :
1     The Call 8'42
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
2     Soul Station 5'57
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
3     Our Waltz 4'51
David Rose
4     Our Love Is Here to Stay 4'50
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
5    Spirit Girl 5'33
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
6     Jack the Ripper 7'32
William Burton
Credits :
Bass – Don Garrett
Drums – Sonny Brown
Piano, Organ – William Burton
Tenor Saxophone, Saxophone [Manzello, Strich] – Roland Kirk
Trumpet, Tenor Saxophone – Ira Sullivan

ZOOT SIMS QUARTET - That Old Feeling (1956-1995) WV (image+.cue), lossless

That Old Feeling compiles 14 songs cut at two 1956 dates, which were released on Argo and ABC-Paramount. At the sessions, Sims not only played tenor, but cut a few songs on alto and baritone sax as well. Rovi Staff
Tracklist :
1     9:20 Special 4:53
William Engvick / Earle Warren    
2     The Man I Love 5:14
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin    
3     55th and State 4:42
Zoot Sims    
4     The Blue Room 5:08
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
5     Bohemia After Dark 3:34
Oscar Pettiford    
6     Gus's Blues 4:28
Gus Johnson    
7     That Old Feeling 5:34
Lew Brown / Sammy Fain    
8     Woody 'N You 5:21
Dizzy Gillespie    
9     Blinuet 4:35
George Handy    
10     The Trouble With Me Is You 3:44
George Handy / Jack Segal    
11     Zonkin' 5:46
George Handy    
12     Noshin' 3:26
George Handy    
13     Minor-Minor 4:03
Flo Handy
14     Pegasus 3:58
George Handy
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Zoot Sims (pistas: 5)
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Zoot Sims (pistas: 9, 11 to 14)
Bass – Nabil Totah
Drums – Gus Johnson
Piano – John Thomas Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8, 10)

BENNY GOLSON — Free (1962-1998) Serie A Chess Reissue – 0004 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1998 CD reissues tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson's excellent Free album of 1962 plus seven of the ten selections from his Take A Number From 1 To 10 project of 1960. Although one wishes that both sets could have been reissued in full (the CD is just 62 minutes long), it is a joy to have Free available again. Golson's last album as a leader in which he plays in his Don Byas/Lucky Thompson style (he would soon become a fulltime arranger and, by the time he led his next playing date in 1977, Golson's sound was quite a bit different) finds him in top form. Joined by pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Art Taylor, Golson performs two originals, Will Davis' catchy "Sock Cha" and three standards with "Mad About The Boy" and "Just In Time" (during which he sounds a bit like Sonny Rollins) being among the highlights. The other session found the tenorman playing unaccompanied on a brief "You're My Thrill" and adding an instrument to each song, up to a tentet on the original album, and a septet here. The duet rendition of "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" is excellent and trombonist Curtis Fuller makes a strong impression on the speedy "Swing It." Despite the three missing tracks, this CD is recommended. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist:
1 Sock Cha 7:10
Will Davis
2 Mad About the Boy 7:15
Noël Coward
3 Just by Myself 5:45
Benny Golson
4 Shades of Stein 4:30
Benny Golson

5 My Romance 7:30

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6 Just in Time 5:55
Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne
7 You're My Thrill 1:34
Burton Lane / Ned Washington
8 My Heart Belongs to Daddy 4:08
Cole Porter
9 The Best Thing for You Is Me 2:46
Clifford Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson
10 Impromptune 3:00
Benny Golson
11 Little Karin 3:33
Benny Golson
12 Swing It 4:24
Benny Golson
13 I Fall in Love Too Easily 4:46
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone – Sahib Shihab
Bass – Ron Carter (tracks: 1 to 6), Tommy Williams (tracks: 8 to 13)
Drums – Albert "Tootie" Heath (tracks: 9 to 13), Art Taylor (tracks: 1 to 6)
Piano – Cedar Walton (tracks: 10 to 13), Tommy Flanagan (tracks: 1 to 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Benny Golson
Trombone – Curtis Fuller (tracks: 12 to 13)
Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard (tracks: 11 to 13)