GEORGE RUSSELL SEXTET — Stratusphunk (1961-1995) RM | APE (image+.cue), lossless

 From 1960-1962, arranger/composer George Russell recorded six albums with his working combo that found him contributing "arranger's piano." The two Decca dates are very scarce, but the four Riversides have fortunately been reissued on CD under the Original Jazz Classics imprint. For this particular date, Russell is joined by five students at the Lenox School of Jazz: trumpeter Al Kiger, trombonist Dave Baker (who in the future would become an important jazz educator), tenor saxophonist Dave Young, bassist Chuck Israels, and drummer Joe Hunt. Surprisingly, only three of the six selections are Russell originals ("Bent Eagle" was an early effort by Carla Bley), but the leader's influence can be felt in all of the adventurous and slightly unusual yet swinging music. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Stratusphunk 6:06
Written-By – George Russell
2    New Donna 8:23
Written-By – George Russell
3    Bent Eagle 6:12
Written-By – Carla Bley
4    Kentucky Oysters 8:21
Written-By – Dave Baker
5    Lambskins 7:11
Written-By – David Lahm
6    Things New 6:52
Written-By – George Russell
Credits :
Bass – Chuck Israels
Drums – Joe Hunt
Piano, Arranged By – George Russell
Tenor Saxophone – Dave Young
Trombone – Dave Baker
Trumpet – Al Kiger

THE CLARK TERRY QUARTET | THE COLEMAN HAWKINS SEXTET - Eddie Costa : Memorial Concert (1963) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

A memorial concert was held in 1962 not long after the death of pianist and vibraphonist Eddie Costa in a car wreck; evidently, many musicians volunteered to perform at this Village Gate event but only parts of two sets were recorded and issued. Clark Terry, joined by Dick Hyman, Art Davis, and Osie Johnson, perform on the first side following comments by Willis Conover and Terry. The flügelhornist starts with his delightful "Simple Waltz," showcasing his fat lyrical tone, although the rhythm section is not well-recorded and is a little too much in the background. Trombonist Willie Dennis joins the quartet for a down-and-dirty arrangement of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be," which is highlighted by Terry's final solo where he alternates between a flügelhorn in one hand and a muted trumpet in the other. Coleman Hawkins leads off the second side; he's joined by Urbie Green, Markie Markowitz, Sonny Clark, Roy Haynes, and Chuck Israels. Like Terry, he starts off his first number, "I'm Confessin' That I Love You," with just the rhythm section. Hawkins is bursting with energy and imagination in his rendition, ranking this effort equal to or exceeding anything else he recorded in the 1960s; unfortunately, the song is suddenly faded out just after the six-minute mark. The interplay with the added horns on an extended take of "Just You, Just Me" is quite enjoyable, though Markowitz's trumpet seems somewhat off-mike at times. This long unavailable LP will be difficult to find. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1    The Clark Terry Quartet–    Introduction    1:40
2    The Clark Terry Quartet–    The Simple Waltz    6:32
3    The Clark Terry Quartet–    Things Ain't What They Used To Be    11:24
4    The Coleman Hawkins Sextet–    I'm Confessin' That I Love You    6:09
5    The Coleman Hawkins Sextet–    Just You, Just Me    15:45
Credits :
The Clark Terry Quartet :
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry
Bass – Art Davis
Drums – Osie Johnson
Piano – Dick Hyman
The Coleman Hawkins Sextet :
Bass – Chuck Israels
Drums – Roy Haynes
Piano – Sonny Clark
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Urbie Green
Trumpet – Marky Markowitz

JOHN COLTRANE - Coltrane Time (1958-1989) APE (image+.cue), lossless

This is a most unusual LP due to the inclusion of Cecil Taylor on piano. Although Taylor and John Coltrane got along well, trumpeter Kenny Dorham (who is also on this quintet date) hated the avant-garde pianist's playing and was clearly bothered by Taylor's dissonant comping behind his solos. With bassist Chuck Israels and drummer Louis Hayes doing their best to ignore the discord, the group manages to perform two blues and two standards with Dorham playing strictly bop, Taylor coming up with fairly free abstractions, and Coltrane sounding somewhere in between. The results are unintentionally fascinating. by Scott Yanow

Tracklist:

1 Shifting Down 10:39
Kenny Dorham
2 Just Friends 6:14
John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis
3 Like Someone in Love 8:10
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
4 Double Clutching 8:20
Chuck Isreals
Credits:
Bass – Chuck Isreals
Drums – Louis Hayes
Piano – Cecil Taylor
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Kenny Dorham
Note: Before being issued as COLTRANE TIME in 1962, this album appeared on United Artists in 1959 as STEREO DRIVE under Cecil Taylor's leadership. It is the original liner notes from that first issue that are included here.

MONICA ZETTERLUND / BILL EVANS - Waltz for Debby (1964-2001) FLAC (tracks), lossless

An oddity in Bill Evans' catalog, this 1964 date places the Swedish jazz vocalist Monica Zetterlund alongside the Evans Trio (with Chuck Israels on bass and Larry Bunker on drums). Still, the match is seemingly perfect. Evans' lyricism is well suited to a breezy, sophisticated songstress like Zetterlund. There is an iciness on this recording, but it is difficult to decipher if it is in the performance or in the engineering where she seems to be way out in front of the band, when she was really in the middle of all the musicians in the studio. This is a minor complaint, however, as the tune selection and decorum of these sessions are quite lovely. From the opener "Come Rain or Come Shine" through the Swedish ballad "A Beautiful Rose" and the achingly gorgeous delivery of "Once Upon a Summertime," it's as if Zetterlund were destined to sing with Evans for a career instead of an album. For his part, Evans is very relaxed, allowing the lyrics to feed his musing on the simple, yet elegant harmonics. The Swedish version of "Waltz for Debbie" is a true delight because Zetterlund's voice becomes another instrument, soloing over the top of Evans' stunning selection of comping chords. In all this is an odd but special item, one that is necessary -- for at least one listen -- by any serious fan of the pianist and composer.  by Thom Jurek  
Tracklist:
1 Come Rain or Come Shine 4:41
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
2 A Beautiful Rose (Jag Vet en Dejlig Rosa) 2:53
Bill Evans / Monica Zetterlund
3 Once Upon a Summertime 3:03
Eddie Barclay / Michel Legrand / Johnny Mercer
4 So Long Big Time 3:49
Harold Arlen / Dory Previn
5 Waltz for Debby (Monica Vals) 2:47
Bill Evans / Gene Lees
6 Lucky to Be Me 3:36
Leonard Bernstein
7 Sorrow Wind (Vindarna Sucka) 3:03
8 It Could Happen to You 3:00
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
9 Some Other Time 5:35
Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green
10 In the Night (Om Natten) 1:40
Olle Adolphson
Credits:
Bass – Chuck Israels
Drums – Larry Bunker
Piano – Bill Evans
Vocals – Monica Zetterlund

BILL EVANS – Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra (1966-1984) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This collaboration (reissued on CD) is predictably dull. Bill Evans and his 1965 trio (which also includes bassist Chuck Israels and drummer Larry Bunker) meet a symphony orchestra conducted and arranged by Claus Ogerman. They perform adaptations of six classical themes plus a pair of Evans compositions ("Time Remembered" and "My Bells") but, as one might expect, the strings weigh down the music and Evans' improvisations are somewhat buried beneath the unimaginative arrangements. This is one of Bill Evans' least significant recordings, a weak third stream effort. Scott Yanow

Tracklist :
1. Granadas (Enrique Granados) – 5:54
2. Valse (Johann Sebastian Bach) – 5:52
3. Prelude (Alexander Scriabin) – 3:01
4. Time Remembered (Bill Evans) – 4:10
5. Pavane (Gabriel Fauré) – 4:01
6. Elegia (Elegy) (Claus Ogerman) – 5:12
7. My Bells (Evans) – 3:48
8. Blue Interlude (Frédéric Chopin) – 6:04
Credits :
Bill Evans – Piano
Larry Bunker – Drums
Chuck Israels – Bass
Grady Tate – Drums
Claus Ogerman – Arranger, Conductor