PRINCE LASHA QUINTET ft. SONNY SIMMONS – The Cry ! (1963-2001) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

In the early '60s, flutist Prince Lasha's work with alto saxophonist Sonny Simmons was often compared to the trailblazing free jazz that Ornette Coleman was exploring at the time. To be sure, Coleman was a major inspiration to both of them. And yet, The Cry! demonstrates that Lasha's work with Simmons had an avant-garde energy of its own. Coleman is a strong influence on this 1962 session -- which Lasha co-led with Simmons -- but The Cry! isn't an outright imitation of Coleman's work any more than Phil Woods' recordings are outright imitations of Charlie Parker's. For one thing, The Cry! is slightly more accessible than the albums that Coleman recorded for Atlantic in the early '60s. Free jazz performances like "Bojangles," "A.Y.," and the rhythmic "Congo Call" are abstract, cerebral, and left-of-center, but they're still a bit more accessible than Coleman's harmolodic experimentation. The same thing goes for the Latin-influenced "Juanita" and the bluesy "Red's Mood," which is Coleman-minded but also has a strong Charlie Parker influence -- in fact, the tune successfully bridges the gap between Bird and Coleman and shows listeners what those altoists had in common. It should be noted that, even though The Cry! (which employs Gary Peacock or Mark Proctor on acoustic bass and Gene Stone on drums) is free jazz, it isn't the blistering, ferocious stuff that Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, and late-period John Coltrane were known for in the 1960s. This album is quirky and dissonant, but it isn't harsh or confrontational. In avant-garde circles, The Cry! went down in history as one of Lasha's finest accomplishments -- and deservedly so. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    Congo Call    5:02
  Written-By – Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons
2    Bojangles    7:00
  Written-By – Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons
3    Green And Gold    4:52
  Written-By – Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons
4    Ghost Of The Past    4:49
  Written-By – Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons
5    Red's Mood    5:04
  Written-By – Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons
6    Juanita    5:32
  Written-By – Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons
7    Lost Generation    5:15
  Written-By – Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons
8    A.Y.    4:46
  Written-By – Prince Lasha, Sonny Simmons
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Sonny Simmons
Bass – Gary Peacock, Mark Proctor (tracks: 1, 3 to 6)
Drums – Gene Stone
Flute – Prince Lasha

FRANK MORGAN ALLSTARS — Reflections (1988) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Altoist Frank Morgan leads an all-star group on this excellent hard bop set. With tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Al Foster also in the sextet, it is not surprising that Morgan sounds a bit inspired. The musicians all play up to their usual level, performing "Caravan" (which was added to the CD version) and Sonny Rollins' "Sonnymoon for Two," plus a song apiece by Thelonious Monk ("Reflections"), Miller, Hutcherson, Henderson and Carter. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Old Bowl, New Grits 7:33
Composed By – Mulgrew Miller
2    Reflections 7:12
Composed By – Thelonious Monk
3    Starting Over 6:09
Composed By – Bobby Hutcherson
4    Black Narcissus 6:49
Composed By – Joe Henderson
5    Sonnymoon For Two 9:06
Composed By – Sonny Rollins
6    O.K. 6:11
Composed By – Ron Carter
7    Caravan 9:10
Composed By – Duke Ellington
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Ron Carter
Alto Saxophone – Frank Morgan
Drums – Al Foster
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Vibraphone – Bobby Hutcherson

ART PEPPER — Living Legend (1975-1989) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Art Pepper, one of the major bop altoists to emerge during the '50s, started his comeback with this excellent set, Living Legend. After 15 years filled with prison time and fighting drug addiction, Pepper was finally ready to return to jazz. Accompanied by three of his old friends (pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Shelly Manne), Pepper displays a more explorative and darker style than he had previously. He also shows a greater emotional depth in his improvisations and was open to some of the innovations of the avant-garde in his search for greater self-expression. Although this recording would be topped by the ones to come, the music (five Pepper originals and an intense version of "Here's That Rainy Day") is quite rewarding. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 Ophelia 7:51
 Art Pepper
2 Here's That Rainy Day 5:37
Written-By – Jimmy Van Heusen And Johnny Burke
3 What Laurie Likes 6:45
 Art Pepper
4 Mr. Yohe 7:10
 Art Pepper
5 Lost Life 5:52
 Art Pepper
6 Samba Mom-Mom (Original Take) 8:18
 Art Pepper
7 Samba Mom-Mom (Alternate Take) 6:59
 Art Pepper
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Art Pepper
Bass – Charlie Haden
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Hampton Hawes

ANDRÉ PREVIN'S TRIO JAZZ — King Size! (1958-2001) RM | Serie Heritage Of Jazz By Digital K2 Contemporary 40 – 40 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The multi-talented Andre Previn is heard on this recording as the leader of a trio with bassist Red Mitchell and drummer Frankie Capp. Previn always had his own swing/bop piano style, and he is in top form on two of his originals (including the bluish "Much Too Late") and four superior standards. This fine release gives one an excellent example of Previn's skills as a jazz pianist. Scott Yanow

Tracklist
1. I'll Remember April - 6:25
(Raye-DePaul-Johnston)
2. Much Too Late - 9:31
(André Previn)
3. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To - 7:04
(Cole Porter)
4. It Could Happen to You - 5:57
(Van Heusen-Burke)
5. Low and Inside - 9:00
(André Previn)
6. I'm Beginning to See the Light - 8:02
(George-Hodges-James-Ellington)
Credits:
André Previn - Piano
Red Mitchell - Bass
Frankie Capp - Drums

BARNEY KESSEL – Let's Cook! (1957-1999) RM | FLAC (tracks+cue) lossless

This is an excellent session from guitarist Barney Kessel. Kessel is matched with vibraphonist Victor Feldman, pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Shelly Manne for a blues-with-a-bridge (the 11-minute "Let's Cook"), Vernon Duke's ballad "Time Remembered," and "Just in Time." The second half of the album has modernized versions of "Tiger Rag" and "Jersey Bounce" as played by the guitarist, tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, trombonist Frank Rosolino, pianist Jimmie Rowles, Vinnegar, and Manne. Throughout, Kessel keeps with the other all-stars, swinging hard while paying tribute to the legacy of Charlie Christian. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 Let's Cook 11:18
Written-By – Barney Kessel
2 Time Remembered 4:15
Written-By – Vernon Duke
3 Just In Time 4:57
Written-By – Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Jule Styne
4 Tiger Rag 9:45
Written-By – Original Dixieland Jazz Band
5 Jersey Bounce 9:30
Written-By – Bobby Plater, Buddy Feyne, Tiny Bradshaw
# 1-3 :
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Shelly Manne
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Piano – Hampton Hawes
Victor Feldman Vibraphone
# 4-5 :
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Saxophone – Ben Webster
Trombone – Frank Rosolino
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Shelly Manne

ANDRÉ PREVIN — Andre Previn Plays Songs By Vernon Duke (1958-1991) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A measure of how respected André Previn has long been in many musical fields is that this set of unaccompanied jazz piano solos has liner notes by the composer of the ten songs, Vernon Duke. Previn alternates well-known Duke pieces such as "Autumn in New York," "Taking a Chance on Love," "What Is There to Say," and "I Can't Get Started," with a few obscure numbers including "The Love I Long For," "Ages Ago," and "I Like the Likes of You." Previn is at the peak of his jazz powers, displaying an original yet accessible style that falls between swing and bop. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. Cabin In The Sky (4:05)
2. Autumn In New York (3:54)
3. The Love I Long For (3:40)
4. Ages Ago (3:51)
5. Taking A Chance On Love (5:17)
6. What Is There To Say? (3:59)
7. I Can't Get Started (5:27)
8. I Like The Likes Of You (3:47)
9. Roundabout (4:39)
10. April In Paris (3:43)
Piano – André Previn

ART PEPPER — Gettin' Together! (1960) Two Version | 1994, DCC Jazz – GZS-1054 | 24K Gold CD + 1997, Contemporary Records – VICJ-41170 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

As a sort of follow-up to Art Pepper's matchup with Miles Davis' trio in the 1957 classic Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, Pepper utilizes Davis' sidemen on this 1960 near-classic. In addition to pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Jimmy Cobb, trumpeter Conte Candoli makes the group a quintet on four of the eight numbers. This time around, rather than emphasizing standards, Pepper performs just three ("Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning," and "The Way You Look Tonight") and includes three originals of his own: "Diane," "Bijou the Poodle," and "Gettin' Together." The music is all very straight-ahead and bop-oriented, but as usual, Pepper brings something very personal and unique to his playing; he sounds like no one else. [Some reissues add "The Way You Look Tonight" (formerly only available on another LP) and an alternate take of the title cut to the original repertoire.] Scott Yanow    Tracklist & Credits :  

ART PEPPER QUINTET — Smack Up (1960-2001) RM | Serie Heritage Of Jazz By Digital K2 Contemporary 40 – 3 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The title of this recording, Smack Up is ironic and inadvertently truthful. Within a short period, Art Pepper would begin spending many years in jail due to his heroin addiction; this was his next-to-last album from that period. Despite the bleak future, the great altoist (who never seemed to make an uninspired record during his unstable life) is in excellent form in a quintet with trumpeter Jack Sheldon, pianist Pete Jolly, bassist Jimmy Bond, and drummer Frank Butler. Highlights of this fine album include Harold Land's title cut, the five/four blues "Las Cuevas de Mario," and Ornette Coleman's "Tears Inside." [Some reissues add two takes of the otherwise unknown "Solid Citizens."] Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Smack Up 4:18
Harold Land
2 Las Cuevas de Mario 7:11
Art Pepper
3 A Bit of Basie 7:26
Buddy Collette
4 How Can You Lose 6:57
Benny Carter
5 Maybe Next Year 4:24
Duane Tatro
6 Tears Inside 7:47
Ornette Coleman
7 Solid Citizens 6:32
Jack Montrose
8 Solid Citizens 6:29
Jack Montrose
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Art Pepper
Bass – Jimmy Bond
Drums – Frank Butler
Piano – Pete Jolly
Trumpet – Jack Sheldon

ART PEPPER — Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section (1957-2010) RM | Serie Original Jazz Classics Remasters | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

By the time of this, Art Pepper's tenth recording as a leader, he was making his individual voice on the alto saxophone leave the cozy confines of his heroes Charlie Parker and Lee Konitz. Joining the Miles Davis rhythm section of pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones made the transformation all that more illuminating. It's a classic east meets west, cool plus hot but never lukewarm combination that provides many bright moments for the quartet during this exceptional date from that great year in music, 1957. A bit of a flip, loosened but precise interpretation of the melody on "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" gets the ball rolling, followed by a "Bags Groove" parallel with "Red Pepper Blues," and a delicate, atypical treatment of "Imagination." A compositional collaboration of Pepper and Chambers on the quick "Waltz Me Blues" and hard-edged, running-as-fast-as-he-can take of "Straight Life" really sets the gears whirring. Philly Joe Jones is a great bop drummer, no doubt, one of the all-time greats with Kenny Clarke and Max Roach. His crisp Latin-to-swing pace for "Tin Tin Deo" deserves notice, masterful in its creation and seamlessness. Pepper makes a typical "Star Eyes" brighter, and he goes into a lower octave tone, more like a tenor, for "Birks Works" and the bonus track "The Man I Love." It's clear he has heard his share of Stan Getz in this era. Though Art Pepper played with many a potent trio, this one inspires him to the maximum, and certainly makes for one of his most substantive recordings after his initial incarcerations, and before his second major slip into the deep abyss of drug addiction. Michael G. Nastos 
Tracklist :
1 You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To 5:30
Composed By – Cole Porter
2 Red Pepper Blues 3:39
Composed By – Red Garland
3 Imagination 5:56
Composed By – Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke
4 Waltz Me Blues 2:58
Composed By – Art Pepper, Paul Chambers 
5 Straight Life 4:02
Composed By – Art Pepper
6 Jazz Me Blues 4:50
Composed By – Tom Delaney
7 Tin Tin Deo 7:42
Composed By – Chano Pozo, Gil Fuller
8 Star Eyes 5:12
Composed By – Don Raye, Gene De Paul
9 Birks' Works 4:15
Composed By – Dizzy Gillespie
- BONUS TRACK -
10 The Man I Love 6:36
Composed By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Art Pepper
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – "Philly" Joe Jones
Piano – Red Garland
Producer – Lester Koenig

BARNEY KESSEL — Barney Kessel Volume 1 : Easy Like (1956-2006) RM | MONO | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Other than four songs apiece released by Onyx and Verve, the CD reissue of Easy Like, Vol. 1 has guitarist Barney Kessel's first sessions as a leader, performances which launched his longtime association with the Contemporary label. Augmented by two "new" alternate takes, the set features Kessel in boppish form with quintets in 1953 and 1956 featuring, either Bud Shank or Buddy Collette doubling on flute and alto. Kessel shows off the influence of Charlie Christian throughout the performances, with the highlights including "Easy Like," "Lullaby of Birdland," "North of the Border," and the accurately titled "Salute to Charlie Christian." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Easy Like 4:04
Barney Kessel
2 Tenderly 4:06
Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence
3 Lullaby of Birdland 3:16
George Shearing / George David Weiss
4 What Is There to Say? 3:10
Vernon Duke / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
5 Bernardo 3:34
Barney Kessel
6 Vicky's Dream 2:37
Barney Kessel
7 Salute to Charlie Christian 2:52
Barney Kessel
8 That's All 3:18
Alan Brandt / Bob Haymes
9 I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart 4:12
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Henry Nemo / John Redmond
10 Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) 3:41
Duke Ellington / Lee Gaines
11 April in Paris 3:00
Vernon Duke / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
12 North of the Border 2:46
Barney Kessel
13 Easy Like 2:44
Barney Kessel
14 North of the Border 2:44
Barney Kessel
Credits :
Bass – Harry Babasin (tracks: 3 to 8, 10, 11), Red Mitchell (tracks: 1, 2, 9, 12 to 14 )
Drums – Shelly Manne
Flute, Alto Saxophone – Bud Shank (tracks: 3 to 8, 10, 11), Buddy Collette (tracks: 1, 2, 9, 12 to 14 )
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Piano – Arnold Ross (tracks: 3 to 8, 10, 11), Claude Williamson (tracks: 1, 2, 9, 12 to 14 )

HAMPTON HAWES — Bird Song (1958-1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The essence of this set is Charlie Parker's numerous variations on "I Got Rhythm" and Parker's key blues-based tunes, such as "Confirmation." The result is a spirited, highly communicative session, where pianist Hampton Hawes gets to the core of the bop idiom. It's a mystery why these tracks from 1956 and 1958 went unreleased until 1999. They come from a key creative period in Hawes' career when he was enjoying new levels of commercial and critical acclaim. Regardless, the music has now been done justice in a well-mastered release that will please fans of Hawes and of bop piano in general. From a lesser artist, the dry, unadorned, direct style at the center of Hawes' playing could expose technical vulnerabilities. In Hawes' case, it exposes a natural, fluent grace of phrasing and rhythm. Each track is a freshly interpreted joy ride across familiar chord changes. Bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Larance Marable, not Hawes' regular partners from this period, are prominent, supportive parts of the pianist's heartbeat. Besides the Parker originals and Parker-derived themes, there are fine versions of several standards, "Yesterdays" and "Stella by Starlight" being just two deliriously swinging highlights. The three tracks from a 1958 date, with Scott LaFaro on bass and Frank Butler on drums, maintain the same joyous pulse of the earlier tracks. Jim Todd  
Tracklist :
1 Big Foot 5:36
Charlie Parker
2 Ray's Idea 4:42
Ray Brown / Gil Fuller
3 Stella by Starlight 4:38
Ned Washington / Victor Young
4 Blues for Jacque 4:52
Hampton Hawes
5 I Should Care 4:41
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
6 Bird Song 4:05
Thad Jones
7 Yesterdays 5:29
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
8 What's New? 5:29
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
9 Just One of Those Things 3:15
Cole Porter
10 I'll Remember April 5:26
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
11 Cheryl 3:46
Charlie Parker
12 Clue 'N' Boogie 3:23
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Lawrence Marable
Piano – Hampton Hawes 

BENNY CARTER - Jazz Giant (1958-1987) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Benny Carter had already been a major jazz musician for nearly 30 years when he recorded this particularly strong septet session for Contemporary. With notable contributions from tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, trombonist Frank Rosolino and guitarist Barney Kessel, Carter (who plays a bit of trumpet on "How Can You Lose") is in superb form on a set of five standards and two of his originals. This timeless music is beyond the simple categories of "swing" or "bop" and should just be called "classic". Scott Yanow
 Tracklist  
1 Old Fashioned Love 7:46
Written-By – Cecil Mack, James P. Johnson
2 I'm Coming Virginia 5:45
Written-By – Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
3 A Walkin' Thing 5:55
Written-By – Benny Carter
4 Blue Lou 5:02
Written-By – Edgar M. Sampson, Irving Mills
5 Ain't She Sweet 3:32
Written-By – Jack Yellen, Milton Ager
6 How Can You Lose 6:12
Written-By – Benny Carter
7 Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me 4:32
Written-By – Arthur N. Swanstone, Carey Morgan, Charles R. McCarron
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter (tracks: 1, 3 to 7)
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Shelly Manne
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Piano – André Previn (tracks: 1, 4 to 7), Jimmy Rowles (tracks: 2, 3)
Producer – Lester Koenig
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (tracks: 1 to 4, 6)
Trombone – Frank Rosolino (tracks: 1 to 4, 6)
Trumpet – Benny Carter (tracks: 2, 6)

THE BENNY CARTER QUARTET - Swingin' The '20s (1959-1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Combining altoist Benny Carter with pianist Earl Hines in a quartet is an idea with plenty of potential, but the results of this 1958 session are relaxed rather than explosive. Carter and Hines explore a dozen tunes (standards as well as forgotten songs like "All Alone" and "Mary Lou") with respect and light swing, but one wishes that there were a bit more competitiveness to replace some of the mutual respect. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Thou Swell    2:50
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
2    My Blue Heaven    3:18
Walter Donaldson / George A. Whiting
3    Just Imagine    2:31
4    If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)    2:40
5    Sweet Lorraine    5:00
Clifford R. Burwell / Mitchell Parish
6    Who's Sorry Now    2:23
Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby / Ted Snyder
7    Who's Sorry Now (Alternate Take)    2:24
8    Laugh! Clown! Laugh!    3:20
Sam M. Lewis / Ted Fio Rito / Joe Young
9    Laugh! Clown! Laugh! (Alternate Take)    2:50
10    All Alone    3:12
Irving Berlin
11    All Alone (Alternate Take)    3:08
12    Mary Lou    3:08
13    In A Little Spanish Town    2:44
14    Someone To Watch Over Me    2:38
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
15    A Monday Date    3:10
Earl Hines
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Trumpet – Benny Carter
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Shelly Manne
Producer, Liner Notes [August 12, 1959] – Lester Koenig
Piano – Earl Hines

ART FARMER - Portrait of Art Farmer (1958-1988) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Portrait of Art Farmer is an excellent showcase for the trumpeter in the 1950s. Farmer is showcased with a quartet that also includes pianist Hank Jones, bassist Addison Farmer, and drummer Roy Haynes. The repertoire alternates veteran standards with lesser-known material, including three of Farmer's originals and George Russell's "Nita" along with a particularly strong version of Benny Golson's "Stablemates." An excellent outing. [Some reissues add a version of "Folks Who Live on the Hill" to the original program.] Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
 1     Back in the Cage 5'04
Art Farmer
2     Stablemates 4'32
Benny Golson
3     The Very Thought of You 5'41
Ray Noble
4     And Now... 6'07
Art Farmer
5     Nita 4'28
George Russell
6     By Myself 6'15
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
7     Too Late Now 5'55
Burton Lane / Alan Jay Lerner
8     Earth 4'10
Art Farmer
9     Folks Who Live on the Hill 4'35
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
Credits :
Bass – Addison Farmer
Drums – Roy Haynes
Piano – Hank Jones
Trumpet – Art Farmer

ART FARMER | FRANK MORGAN | LOU LEVY | ERIC VON ESSEN | ALBERT "TOOTIE" HEATH - Central Avenue Reunion (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Three of the five musicians on this quintet date (flügelhornist Art Farmer, altoist Frank Morgan, and pianist Lou Levy) had played on Central Avenue in Los Angeles of the late '40s. Not all of the eight songs that they perform with bassist Eric Von Essen and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath are from the era ("Blue Minor" and "Cool Struttin'" were written by Sonny Clark several years later), but the outing is very much in the bop style of the period. Their live set is highlighted by spirited versions of "Star Eyes," "Farmer's Market," "I Remember You," and "Donna Lee." This CD is filled with high-quality bebop that is easily recommended to straight-ahead jazz fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Star Eyes 8'43
Written-By – Raye, DePaul
2    Farmer's Market 6'58
Written-By – Art Farmer
3    Embraceable You 6'48
Written-By – Gershwin-Gershwin
4    Blue Minor 7'08
Written-By – Sonny Clark
5    I Remember You 9'03
Written-By – Mercer, Schertzinger
6    Don't Blame Me 5'45
Written-By – Fields-McHugh
7    Cool Struttin' 9'21
Written-By – Clark
8    Donna Lee 6'15
Written-By – Charlie Parker
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Eric Von Essen
Alto Saxophone – Frank Morgan
Drums – Albert "Tootie" Heath
Flugelhorn, Arranged By, Trumpet – Art Farmer
Piano – Lou Levy

ART FARMER - Ph.D (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flugelhornist Art Farmer recorded quite a few records with tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan during the late '80s/early '90s. This sextet outing (which also includes guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist James Williams, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith) was one of their better efforts. With the exception of "Like Someone in Love," all of the material is obscure. James Williams contributes three tunes that alternate with songs by Donald Brown, Thad Jones, Kenny Drew and Clifford Jordan. The advanced hard bop music has enough unpredictable moments to hold one's interest. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Ph.D. 8:09
James Williams
2     Affaire d'Amour 6:42
Donald Brown
3     Mr. Day's Dream 6:02
James Williams
4     The Summary 6:10
Thad Jones
5     Blue Wail 8:31
Kenny Drew
6     Like Someone in Love 6:42
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
7     Rise to the Occasion 6:13
James Williams
8     Ballade Art 4:47
Clifford Jordan
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Art Farmer
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – James Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

CURTIS COUNCE — You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce! (1957-1988) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although the title and even the cover photo have been changed, this CD reissue has the same music as was earlier issued as Counceltation; the "bonus cut" "Woody 'n You" has also been reissued on Sonority. In any case, the program features the underrated but talented Curtis Counce Quintet of 1956-1957, a group consisting of the bassist/leader, trumpeter Jack Sheldon, tenor saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Carl Perkins, and drummer Frank Butler. Counce contributed two originals but otherwise the band sticks to jazz standards, with some of the best moments being on "Too Close for Comfort," "Mean to Me," and Charlie Parker's "Big Foot." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Complete 5:51
Curtis Counce
2     How Deep Is the Ocean? 6:35
Irving Berlin
3     Too Close for Comfort 5:36
Jerry Bock / Larry Holofcener / George David Weiss
4     Mean to Me 4:31
Fred E. Ahlert
5     Stranger in Paradise 7:03
Alexander Borodin / George Forrest / Robert Wright
6     Counceltation 6:01
Curtis Counce     
7     Big Foot 9:02
Charlie Parker
8     Woody 'n You 6:14
Dizzy Gillespie
Credits :
Bass – Curtis Counce
Drums – Frank Butler
Piano – Carl Perkins
Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land
Trumpet – Jack Sheldon

SHELLY MANNE & HIS MEN — At the Blackhawk, Vol. 1 (1959-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Shelly Manne's Quintet was recorded extensively at San Francisco's Black Hawk club for three nights in 1959. Although not the most significant group that the drummer led, this edition (with trumpeter Joe Gordon, tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, pianist Victor Feldman, and bassist Monty Budwig) was certainly capable of playing high-quality bebop. Originally their output was released on four LPs; the reissue expanded the music to five CDs. The first volume adds an alternate take of Frank Rosolino's "Blue Daniel" to a set that includes swinging versions of "Blue Daniel," "Poinciana," "Our Delight," and "Summertime." The extended performances are easily recommended to straight-ahead jazz fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Summertime 12:01
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
2     Our Delight 12:03
Tadd Dameron
3     Poinciana 13:17
Buddy Bernier / Nat Simon
4     Blue Daniel 8:43
Frank Rosolino
5     Blue Daniel 8:15
Frank Rosolino
6     Theme: A Gem from Tiffany 0:49
Bill Holman
Credits :
Credits :
Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Victor Feldman
Tenor Saxophone – Richie Kamuca
Trumpet – Joe Gordon

SHELLY MANNE & HIS MEN — At the Blackhawk, Vol. 2 (1959-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Vol. 2 of the five CDs that document drummer Shelly Manne's Quintet at the Black Hawk club in San Francisco during a three-day period adds a new alternate take of Charlie Mariano's "Step Lightly" to the original program ("Step Lightly," "What's New," "Vamp's Blues"). These lengthy performances ("Vamp's Blues" is over 19 minutes long) give trumpeter Joe Gordon, the cool-toned tenor-saxophonist Richie Kamuca, pianist Victor Feldman, bassist Monty Budwig and the leader/drummer a chance to really stretch out. Fine 1950s bebop. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Step Lightly 12:59
Benny Golson
2     What's New? 13:28
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
3     Vamp's Blues 20:14
Charlie Mariano
4     Step Lightly 14:18
Benny Golson
5     Theme: A Gem from Tiffany 0:42
Bill Holman
Credits :
Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Victor Feldman
Tenor Saxophone – Richie Kamuca
Trumpet – Joe Gordon

SHELLY MANNE & HIS MEN — At the Blackhawk, Vol. 3 (1959-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Originally released as four LPs, the Shelly Manne Quintet's three days at San Francisco's Black Hawk club is now documented on five CDs. The third volume adds a second (and longer) version of "Whisper Not" to the original rendition, Cole Porter's "I Am in Love" and the spontaneous 18-minute "Black Hawk Blues." Considering how much music was documented, it is fortunate that trumpeter Joe Gordon, tenorman Richie Kamuca, pianist Victor Feldman, bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Shelly Manne were in top form for this enjoyable gig. The music is high-quality straightforward and uncomplicated bebop. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     I Am in Love 12:22
Cole Porter
2     Whisper Not 10:04
Benny Golson
3     Black Hawk Blues 19:20
Shelly Manne
4     Whisper Not 12:25
Benny Golson
Credits :
Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Victor Feldman
Tenor Saxophone – Richie Kamuca
Trumpet – Joe Gordon