CHARLES MINGUS — Blues & Roots (1959) Two Version (2002, RM | Atlantic Masters Series) + (2007, RM | Atlantic 60th Series) APE (image+.cue), lossless & FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In response to critical carping that his ambitious, evocative music somehow didn't swing enough, Charles Mingus returned to the earthiest and earliest sources of black musical expression, namely the blues, gospel, and old-time New Orleans jazz. The resulting LP, Blues and Roots, isn't quite as wildly eclectic as usual, but it ranks as arguably Mingus' most joyously swinging outing. Working with simple forms, Mingus boosts the complexity of the music by assembling a nine-piece outfit and arranging multiple lines to be played simultaneously -- somewhat akin to the Dixieland ensembles of old, but with an acutely modern flavor. Anyone who had heard "Haitian Fight Song" shouldn't have been surprised that such an album was well within Mingus' range, but jazz's self-appointed guardians have long greeted innovation with reactionary distaste. After Blues and Roots, there could be no question of Mingus' firm grounding in the basics, nor of his deeply felt affinity with them. Whether the music is explicitly gospel-based -- like the groundbreaking classic "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" -- or not, the whole album is performed with a churchy fervor that rips through both the exuberant swingers and the aching, mournful slow blues. Still, it's the blues that most prominently inform the feeling of the album, aside from the aforementioned "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" and the Jelly Roll Morton tribute "My Jelly Roll Soul." The recording session was reportedly very disorganized, but perhaps that actually helped give the performances the proper feel, since they wound up so loose and free-swinging. With a lineup including John Handy and Jackie McLean on alto, Booker Ervin on tenor, frequent anchor Pepper Adams on baritone, and Jimmy Knepper and Willie Dennis on trombones, among others, Blues and Roots isn't hurting for fiery soloists, and they help make the album perhaps the most soulful in Mingus' discography. Steve Huey
Tracklist  :
1. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting 5:39
 Charles Mingus
2. Cryin' Blues 4:58
 Charles Mingus
3. Moanin 8:01
 Charles Mingus
4. Tensions 6:27
 Charles Mingus
5. My Jelly Roll Soul 6:47
 Charles Mingus
6. E's Flat Ah's Flat Too 6:37
 Charles Mingus
– BONUS TRACKS –
7. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting (Alternate Take)    6:54
8. Tensions (Alternate Take)    5:14
9. My Jelly Roll Soul (Alternate Take)    11:20
10. E's Flat Ah's Flat Too (Alternate Take)    6:47
Credits :
Charles Mingus – Bass
John Handy, Jackie McLean – Sax Alto
Booker Ervin – Sax Tenor
Pepper Adams – Sax Baritone
Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis – Trombone
Dannie Richmond – Drums
Horace Parlan (tracks: 1 to 5, 7 to 9), Mal Waldron (tracks: 6, 10) - Piano

CHARLES MINGUS — Mingus at Carnegie Hall (1974-2006) RM | Serie Atlantic 60th | FLAC (tracks+.cue) lossless

Atlantic Records, somewhat perversely, chose to release two performances from this concert that had the strongest aura of "jam session" about them. But the show included a solid opening set by the working band of the time, as well as a freer finale, all of which remains unissued. This is a fun 45 minutes, particularly for the jovial interplay between saxophonists Kirk and Adams, but in its released form, only hints at the strength of The Jazz Workshop in 1974. Stuart Kremsky
Tracklist :
1    C Jam Blues 24:40
Written-By – Duke Ellington
2    Perdido 21:57
Written-By – Ervin Drake, Hans Lengsfelder, Juan Tizol
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Charles McPherson
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – John Handy
Baritone Saxophone – Hamiet Bluiett
Bass – Charles Mingus
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Piano – Don Pullen
Tenor Saxophone – George Adams
Tenor Saxophone, Saxophone [Stritch] – Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Trumpet – Jon Faddis

ZOOT SIMS - Down Home (1960-1992) RM | Bethlehem Classic Jazz Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims recorded on a regular basis as a leader for most of 45 years, and virtually all of his many sessions are worth acquiring. Sims's Bethlehem date also gives one a look at the great pianist Dave McKenna in his early days, along with bassist George Tucker and drummer Dannie Richmond. Sims mostly explores standards from the swing era (including a rare version of "Bill Bailey") on this enjoyable and consistently swinging set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Jive at Five 5:18
Count Basie / Harry "Sweets" Edison    
2     Doggin' Around 4:39
Edgar Battle / Ray Evans    
3     Avalon 4:29
Buddy DeSylva / Al Jolson / Vincent Rose    
4     I Cried for You 6:50
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman    
5     Bill Bailey 5:17
Hughie Cannon    
6     Goodnight, Sweetheart 4:22
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ray Noble    
7     There'll Be Some Changes Made 5:24
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet    
8     I've Heard That Blues Before 5:26
Zoot Sims    
9     There'll Be Some Changes Made 6:46
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet    
10     Jive at Five 6:17
Count Basie / Harry "Sweets" Edison     
11     Doggin' Around 3:36
Edgar Battle / Ray Evans    
12     Avalon 4:09
Buddy DeSylva / Al Jolson / Vincent Rose    
13     Goodnight, Sweetheart 5:09
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ray Noble    
14     Bill Bailey 5:02
Hughie Cannon
Credits :
Bass – George Tucker
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Piano – Dave McKenna
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

CHET BAKER - Chet Baker Sings It Could Happen to You (1958-2010) Original Jazz Classics Remasters / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The ultra-hip and sophisticated "cool jazz" that Chet Baker (trumpet/vocals) helped define in the early '50s matured rapidly under the tutelage of producer Dick Bock. This can be traced to Baker's earliest sides on Bock's L.A.-based Pacific Jazz label. This album is the result of Baker's first sessions for the independent Riverside label. The Chet Baker Quartet featured on Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen to You includes Kenny Drew (piano), Sam Jones (bass), and Philly Joe Jones (drums). (Performances by bassist George Morrow and drummer Dannie Richmond are featured on a few cuts.) This results in the successful combination of Baker's fluid and nonchalant West Coast delivery with the tight swinging accuracy of drummer Jones and pianist Drew. Nowhere is this balance better displayed than the opening and closing sides on the original album, "Do It the Hard Way" and "Old Devil Moon," respectively. One immediate distinction between these vocal sides and those recorded earlier in the decade for Pacific Jazz is the lissome quality of Baker's playing and, most notably, his increased capacity as a vocalist. The brilliant song selection certainly doesn't hurt either. This is an essential title in Chet Baker's 30-plus year canon. [Some reissues contain two bonus tracks, "I'm Old Fashioned" and "While My Lady Sleeps"].  by Lindsay Planer
Tracklist :
1   Do It The Hard Way  3:00
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
2   I'm Old Fashioned  5:04
Written-By – Kern, Mercer
3   You're Driving Me Crazy  2:54
Written-By – Walter Donaldson
4   It Could Happen To You  2:50
Written-By – Burke-Van Heusen
5   My Heart Stood Still  3:26
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
6    The More I See You  3:03
Written-By – Warren, Gordon
7   Everything Happens To Me  5:02
Written-By – Matt Dennis, Tom Adair
8   Dancing On The Ceiling  3:06
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
9  How Long Has This Been Going On?  4:07
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
10    Old Devil Moon 2:58
Written-By – Lane, Harburg
11    While My Lady Sleeps (Take 10) 4:22
Written-By – Kaper, Kahn
12    You Make Me Feel So Young (Take 5) 3:41
Written-By – Myrow, Gordon
13    The More I See You (Take 8) 2:51
Written-By – Warren, Gordon
14    Everything Happens To Me (Take 2) 4:51
Written-By – Dennis, Adair
Credits :
Bass – George Morrow (faixas: 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 14), Sam Jones (faixas: 3, 4, 6, 9 to 13)
Drums – Philly Joe Jones (faixas: 1, 2, 5 to 8, 10 to 14), Dannie Richmond (faixas: 3, 4, 9)
Piano – Kenny Drew
Trumpet, Vocals – Chet Baker

JOHN JENKINS | KENNY BURRELL – John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell (1957-1996) Blue Note Connoisseur Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second (and best) of John Jenkins' two sessions as a leader features the altoist in a quintet with guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Sonny Clark, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Dannie Richmond. Sounding at times like Charlie Parker (with touches of Phil Woods and Jackie McLean), Jenkins easily keeps up with his better-known sidemen and plays the boppish music with plenty of creativity, emotion, and excitement. After listening to the high-quality set, one wonders why Jenkins did not make it. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 From This Moment On 7:36
Written-By – Cole Porter
2 Motif 6:11
Written-By – Jenkins 
3 Everything I Have Is Yours 6:08
Written-By – Lane, Adamson 
4 Sharon 7:46
Written-By – Jenkins
5 Chalumeau 5:55
Written-By – Jenkins
6 Blues For Two 4:40
Written-By – Burrell
Credits
Alto Saxophone – John Jenkins
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Sonny Clark