Mostrando postagens com marcador Dave Samuels. Mostrar todas as postagens
Mostrando postagens com marcador Dave Samuels. Mostrar todas as postagens

20.3.24

DANNY GOTTLIEB — Aquamarine (1987) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
1. Aquamarine (Doug Hall) 4:59
2. Monterey (Danny Gottlieb, Joe Satriani) 4:22
3. The Aviary (Danny Gottlieb, John Abercrombie) 4:39
4. Alaska (Danny Gottlieb, Doug Hall) 6:52
5. Waterfall (Doug Hall) 3:08
6. Being (Mitchell Forman) 6:27
7. Duet (John McLaughlin) 3:28
8. Upon A Time (John Abercrombie) 4:54
9. Peace Of Mind (John McLaughlin) 3:33
Credits:
Personnel:
Bass – Mark Egan (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 9)
Drums – Danny Gottlieb
Guitar – Jeff Mironov (tracks: 4), Joe Satriani (tracks: 2), John Abercrombie (tracks: 1, 3, 8), John McLaughlin (tracks: 7), Steve Kahn (tracks: 1)
Keyboards – Mitchell Forman (tracks: 2)
Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Mixed By – Doug Hall (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Percussion – Cafe (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
Saxophone – Bill Evans (tracks: 4, 5)
Vibraphone – Dave Samuels (tracks: 5)

29.5.21

PAQUITO D'RIVERA & THE UNITED NATION ORCHESTRA - A Night in Englewood (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After Dizzy Gillespie's death in 1991, his colorful Afro-Cuban United Nation Orchestra (which was formed in 1988) was headed by altoist-clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera. With the better-known sidemen on this 1993 CD including first trumpeter Byron Stripling, trombonist Conrad Herwig and tenor saxophonist Mario Rivera, additional solo space was allocated to some of the other talented players as were guest spots for trumpeter Claudio Roditi, trombonist Slide Hampton and vibraphonist Dave Samuels. A Night in Englewood is an easily recommended set. The music is very Latin-oriented and shows that the orchestra had moved away from Gillespie's usual repertoire to exclusively feature originals by bandmembers (including D'Rivera's "I Remember Diz"). Definitely worth investigating. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Snow Samba    6:38
Paquito D'Rivera / Claudio Roditi
2    Alma Llanera    6:18
Pedro Elias Gutiérrez
3    I Remember Diz    5:04
Paquito D'Rivera
4    Blues For Astor    6:31
Diego Urcola
5    Modo Cubano    5:30
Leopoldo "Pucho" Esclante
6    La Puerta    3:17
Luis Demetrio
7    Bonitinha    5:02
Carlos Franzetti
8    Milonga Para Paquito    6:53
Diego Urcola
9    To Brenda With Love    7:09
Paquito D'Rivera
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Marshall McDonald
Congas – Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (faixas: 6)
Drums – Adam Cruz (faixas: 1, 3 to 9), Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (faixas: 2)
Electric Bass – Oscar Stagnaro
Guest, Bandoneon – Raul Jaurena (faixas: 4, 8)
Guest, Marimba, Vibraphone – Dave Samuels (faixas: 2, 6, 9)
Guest, Trombone – Slide Hampton (faixas: 1, 3)
Guest, Trumpet – Claudio Roditi (faixas: 1)
Guitar – Romero Lubambo (faixas: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
Leader, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Paquito D'Rivera
Percussion, Guiro, Bata, Claves, Congas, Bongos – Bobby Sanabria
Piano – Carlos Franzetti (faixas: 4, 7, 8), Mike Orta (faixas: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9)
Tenor Saxophone – Andres Boiarsky (faixas: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9), Steve Sacks (faixas: 4, 7, 8)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Mario Rivera (faixas: 8)
Tenor Trombone, Bass Trombone – William Cepeda
Trombone – Conrad Herwig
Trumpet – Byron Stripling
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Diego Urcola (faixas: 3, 8), Mike Ponella (faixas: 8, 9) 

16.5.21

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT - The Caribbean Jazz Project (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This was the debut release by the Caribbean Jazz Project, a colorful co-op project that combines together the very different but complementary styles of Paquito D'Rivera (doubling on alto and clarinet), Dave Samuels (on marimba and vibes) and the brilliant steel drummer Andy Narell. Backed by a four-piece rhythm section, the accessible group sticks mostly to catchy group originals that range from Latin jazz to Caribbean music. The likable results are melodic and not overly predictable. This CD gives listeners an excellent example of the group's sound. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     One for Tom 5:01
Paquito D'Rivera / Dave Samuels
2     Abracadabra 6:32
Andy Narell
3     Carousel 2:43
Andy Narell
4     Como un Bolero 5:58
Paquito D'Rivera
5     Paco & Dave 6:03
Paquito D'Rivera / Dave Samuels
6     Valse Triste 6:30
Alain Mallet
7     Latin Quarter 4:58
Dave Samuels
8     Todo Aquel Ayer 4:14
Armando Becerra Guerrero
9     Three Amigos 6:31
Andy Narell
10     Afro 5:55
Paquito D'Rivera
11     Café España 4:04
Dave Samuels
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Paquito D'Rivera
Bass – Oscar Stagnaro
Drums – Mark Walker
Marimba, Vibraphone – Dave Samuels
Percussion – Andy Narell, Luis Conte
Piano – Dario Eskenazi
Producer – Caribbean Jazz Project

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT - Island Stories (1997) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The second recording by this co-op group (which has three leaders in steel drummer Andy Narell, Dave Samuels on marimba and vibes and Paquito D'Rivera tripling on alto, clarinet and soprano) crosses a lot of boundaries. Designed as a musical tour through Latin America, the music ranges from a tribute to Cal Tjader and Astor Piazzolla's "Libertango" to "Andalucia" (better known as "The Breeze and I") and "Bluellespie" (which fuses together parts of several Dizzy Gillespie-associated songs). The blend between the vibes and steel drums is unique, the rhythm section (pianist Dario Eskenazi, bassist Oscar Stagnaro, drummer Mark Walker and percussionist Pernell Saturnino) is versatile and exciting, and D'Rivera's soprano playing in particular is impressive. Easily recommended to all jazz listeners. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Bluellespie 4:26
Paquito D'Rivera
2     Sadie's Dance 6:24
Dave Samuels    
3     Calabash 9:27
Andy Narell
4     Tjaded Motion 4:56
Dave Samuels
5     Zig Zag 7:17
Andy Narell
6     Andalucia 5:55
Ernesto Lecuona
7     Shadow Play 7:32
Andy Narell
8     Libertango 5:52
Astor Piazzolla
9     The Lost Voice 6:22
Dario Eskenazi
10     Grass Roots 6:57
Dave Samuels
Credits :
Bass – Oscar Stagnaro
Congas, Percussion – Pernell Saturnino
Drums – Mark Walker
Piano – Dario Eskenazi
Producer, Marimba, Vibraphone – Dave Samuels
Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Paquito D'Rivera
Producer, Steel Drums [Steel Pans] – Andy Narell

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT – Paraiso (2001) APE (image+.cue), lossless

When Dave Samuels first formed the Caribbean Jazz Project with, at that time, Paquito D'Rivera and Andy Narell, it was an extension of his own studies in Latin jazz that had been part of his music -- both solo and with Spyro Gyra -- since the mid-'70s. After two albums with the first team, the Project was set aside for other gigs. During this time, Samuels kindled musical friendships with flutist Dave Valentin and guitarist Steve Khan, and Samuels got excited about the possibility of playing off of a traditional Latin instrument -- flute -- and the guitar, which wasn't. This current lineup released New Horizons in early 2000, and Paraiso is an exciting fusion of many different influences and styles. Most of these tunes are over seven minutes, allowing for a live dynamic without the trappings of airplay consideration. Samuels' "One Step Ahead" begins mystically with flute and soundscaping, then romps as a duet between vibes and flute -- backed by increasingly powerful percussion patterns and improvisations -- before Khan's crisp and subtle electric lines offer an irresistible power and edge. The slow dance "Naima" is a loving twist on a Coltrane tune, pepped up by a breezy extended flugelhorn solo by Ray Vega. Khan plays a subtle rhythm line behind a bouncy cha-cha groove and Valentin's cheery flute on "El Tacano." The Duke Ellington standard "Caravan" rolls along at a brisk pace, with Khan backing exciting melodic and improv passages by Samuels and Valentin. Samuels' "Jamboree" is smooth and silky, very much reminiscent of his work with Spyro Gyra -- but think flute in the lead instead of Jay Beckenstein's sax. Overall, this is another glorious celebration of the ways traditional and Latin jazz can meet on common ground. It's a disc that can be appreciated by hardcore fusion fans as well as Latin fans who just want to party. Jonathan Widran  
Tracklist :
1    One Step Ahead 9:10
Written-By – Dave Samuels
2    Naima 7:08
Written-By – John Coltrane
3    Maluco 7:00
Written-By – Steve Khan
4    Caravan 9:32
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol
5    El Tacano 7:23
Written-By – Steve Khan
6    Five For Elvin 6:50
Written-By – Dave Samuels
7    Second Opinion 5:22
Written-By – Dave Samuels
8    Jamboree 6:09
Written-By – Dave Samuels
9    ¡Ca-ni-mo! 6:21
Written-By – Steve Khan
10    Obaricoso / Ritmos, Colores y Sentidos 3:55
Written-By – Mongo Santamaria, Richie Flores
Credits :
Bass – Rubén Rodriguez
Congas, Shekere – Richie Flores
Drums – Dafnis Prieto (faixas: 10)
Flute – Dave Valentin
Guest, Congas – Poncho Sanchez (faixas: 8)
Guest, Flugelhorn – Ray Vega (faixas: 2)
Guest, Trombone – Conrad Herwig (faixas: 2, 4)
Guitar, Guiro – Steve Khan
Timbales, Percussion – Dafnis Prieto (faixas: 1, 4, 6, 7), Luisito Quintero (faixas: 2, 3, 5, 8 to 10)
Producer, Vibraphone, Marimba – Dave Samuels

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT - The Gathering (2002) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The Gathering is the Caribbean Jazz Project's third release; principals Dave Samuels and Dave Valentin are joined by Paquito D'Rivera, once a regular with the group, on the lively opener, "Rendezvous," as well as a Latin reworking of Monk's "Bemsha Swing." Oliver Nelson's classic "Stolen Moments" comes in for a moody 7/4 treatment. Pianist Dario Eskanazi, bassist Ruben Rodriguez, and percussionists Dafnis Prieto, Richie Flores, and Robert Quintero provide strong backing for the front-and-center solo exchanges of Samuels and Valentin. The band is consistently melodic and accessible, not just on romantic themes like "Libertad" and "The Path" but also on more adventurous fare like Prieto's "El Guarachero Intrigozo (The Scheming Party Animal)" and the big finish, "Masacoteando (In the Groove)." by David R. Adler
Tracklist :
1    Rendezvous 5:19
Written-By – Dave Samuels
2    Stolen Moments 7:25
Arranged By – Dave Samuels
Written-By – Oliver Nelson

3    See You In A Minute 4:51
Written-By – Dave Valentin
4    The Gathering 5:53
Written-By – Dave Samuels
5    Bemsha Swing 7:36
Arranged By – Dave Samuels
Written-By – Thelonious Monk

6    Libertad 4:49
Written-By – Ruben Rodriguez
7    El Guarachero Intrigozo (The Scheming Party Animal) 5:34
Written-By – Dafnis Prieto
8    The Path 5:48
Written-By – Dave Samuels
9    Masacoteando (In The Groove) 3:04
Written-By – Dafnis Prieto, Richie Flores
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Paquito D'Rivera
Bass – Ruben Rodriguez
Congas – Richie Flores (faixas: 1 to 5, 7, 9), Roberto Quintero (faixas: 6)
Drums, Timbales – Dafnis Prieto
Flute – Dave Valentin
Percussion – Roberto Quintero (faixas: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8)
Piano – Dario Eskenazi
Vibraphone [Vibes], Marimba, Producer, Liner Notes – Dave Samuels 

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT - Birds of a Feather (2003) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The Caribbean Jazz Project has built its reputation by forging a colorful blend of Latin and Caribbean styles. Whether one references Dizzy Gillespie's pioneering work, or more recent work efforts in Afro-Cuban jazz, the Caribbean Jazz Project seems comfortable exploring and stretching the genre. Although the band's lineup has continued to evolve on Birds of a Feather, vibraphonist Dave Samuels, trumpeter Ray Vega, percussionist Robert Quintero, drummer Dafnis Prieto, and bassist Ruben Rodriguez remain from the original incarnation. A number of guests, including trumpeter Randy Brecker, guitarist Romero Lubambo, and drummer Mark Walker help fill out the arrangements. With all of the high profile talent here, it's important to remember that Birds of a Feather worries less over standout solos than the overall tapestry. Lubambo offers a lovely lead in Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bed Time Story," while Samuels' vibe solo shines in "Minor Mood," but in both cases the instrumental work is carefully woven into the overall fabric that is the Caribbean Jazz Project. The Project also explore Charles Mingus' "Weird Nightmare," along with a number of Samuels' originals. While it's impossible to guess if this disc will receive the same Grammy winning attention as The Gathering, fans will nonetheless be treated to the same enticing Latin mix they've come to expect from the band. by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.  
Tracklist :
1     Birds of a Feather 5:04
Dave Samuels
2     On the Road 5:29
Dario Eskenazi
3     Turnabout 8:29
Dave Samuels
4     Against the Law 6:06
David Prieto
5     Tell Me a Bedtime Story 6:03
Herbie Hancock
6     Valencia 1 7:38
Romero Lubambo
7     Picture Frame 6:02
Dave Samuels
8     Blue 5:59
Dave Samuels
9     Weird Nightmare 5:51
Charles Mingus
10     Minor Mood 5:03
Dave Samuels
Credits :
Bass – Ruben Rodriguez
Congas, Percussion – Roberto Quintero
Drums, Guest [Special Guest] – Mark Walker
Drums, Timbales – Dafnis Prieto
Guitar, Guest [Special Guest] – Romero Lubambo
Percussion, Guest [Special Guest] – Café
Piano – Dario Eskenazi
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Ray Vega
Trumpet, Guest [Special Guest] – Randy Brecker
Vibraphone [Vibes], Marimba, Producer – Dave Samuels

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT - Here and Now : Live in Concert (2005) 2xCD / APE (image+.cue), lossless

Led by vibraphone and marimba ace (and ex-Spyro Gyra member) Dave Samuels, the Caribbean Jazz Project has undergone an almost steady shift of members in its decade-long existence, but the rotation of personnel has had no effect on the group's smooth as silk approach to Latin jazz. After six studio albums, CJP finally gets to shine on a live set, recorded over three nights in March 2004 at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsman's Guild, and the lineup this time around features Samuels on vibes and marimba, Diego Urcola on trumpet and flügelhorn, Robert Quintero on conga and percussion, Mark Walker on drums, Dario Eskenazi on piano, and Oscar Stagnaro on bass. Live, the group has a little bit more step and punch to its sound, and gets to stretch past the ten-minute mark on several cuts, but nothing here will startle longtime fans. Highlights include covers of John Coltrane's "Naima," an energetic rendition of Duke Ellington's ubiquitous "Caravan," and an interesting rearrangement of Thelonious Monk's "Bemsha Swing." by Steve Leggett
Tracklist 1 :
1     Rendezvous 6:55
Dave Samuels
2     Stolen Moments 9:44
Oliver Nelson
3     Turnabout 10:16
Dave Samuels
4     Arthur's Dance 8:03
Dave Samuels
5     The Gathering 8:29
Dave Samuels
6     Picture Frame 9:13
Dave Samuels
7     Bemsha Swing 10:07
Thelonious Monk
Tracklist 2 :     
1     One Step Ahead 11:18
Dave Samuels
2     Mariella's Dream 7:35
Alain Mallet / Oscar Stagnaro
3     On the Road 10:49
Dario Eskenazi
4     Five for Elvin 6:26
Dave Samuels
5     Naima 9:51
John Coltrane
6     A Night in Tunisia 9:52
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
7     Caravan 13:53
Duke Ellington / Juan Tizol
Credits :
Bass – Oscar Stagnaro
Congas, Percussion – Roberto Quintero
Drums – Mark Walker
Ensemble – Caribbean Jazz Project
Piano – Dario Eskenazi
Producer, Vibraphone, Marimba – Dave Samuels
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Diego Urcola

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT - Mosaic (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Working a bright, innovative corner of Latin jazz and drawing on Jamaican, Afro-Cuban, Venezuelan, and Peruvian rhythms to create a hybrid mosaic (as the title suggests), the loose, rotating collective that is the Caribbean Jazz Project manages to be many things at once, including a dance band with a hard bop sensibility, and at times the ensemble comes close to being a new age chillout orchestra. Whatever label they wear, CJP have a bright, infectious sound, led by vibraphonist Dave Samuels' bubbling and watery tones and, on three tracks here, the amazing talking steel drums of Andy Narell. Violinist Christian Howes guests on Samuels' "Slow Dance," giving it a wonderfully eerie and wheezing feel. Other highlights in what is truly a compellingly bright mosaic are the angular "Spinnaker," the ever-expanding "Portraits of Cuba," and the interesting version of Miles Davis' "Nardis" that starts off the sequence. CJP, in whatever incarnation (and players vary here almost from track to track with Samuels as the main constant), manage to sound new and fresh, experimental and atmospheric, and yet still familiar and traditional, and often all of these things at once, resulting in music that is as fluid as a wave in the sun. by Steve Leggett
Tracklist :
1 Nardis 6:59
  Miles Davis
2 St. Ogredol 4:59
 Alain Mallet
3 Portraits Of Cuba 7:51
 Paquito D'Rivera
4 Afro Green 5:40
Dave Samuels
5 Wazo Dayzeel 8:48
 Andy Narell
6 Slow Dance 4:42
Dave Samuels
7 Spinnaker 4:39
Dave Samuels
8 Mambo De Luna (Para Cachao) 6:54
 Alain Mallet
9 Dusk 7:59
Dave Samuels
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Boris Kozlov (tracks: 1, 2, 4 ,6, 7, 8)
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Paquito D'Rivera (tracks: 3, 5, 9)
Drums – Dafnis Prieto (tracks: 1, 2, 4 ,6, 7, 8), Mark Walker (tracks: 3, 5, 9)
Electric Bass – Oscar Stagnaro (tracks: 3, 5, 9)
Percussion – Pernell Saturnino (tracks: 3, 5, 9), Roberto Quintero (tracks: 1, 2, 4 ,6, 7, 8)
Piano – Alon Yavnai (tracks: 3, 5, 9)
Piano, Organ – Alain Mallet (tracks: 1, 2, 4 ,6, 7, 8)
Steel Drums [Steel Pans] – Andy Narell (tracks: 3, 5, 9)
Vibraphone, Marimba – Dave Samuels (tracks: 1 to 9)
Violin – Christian Howes (tracks: 1, 2, 4 ,6, 7, 8)

CARIBBEAN JAZZ PROJECT - Afro Bop Alliance (2008) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Where once they were three -- Dave Samuels on vibes, Paquito D'Rivera on saxophone, and Andy Narell on steel drums -- Caribbean Jazz Project has morphed over the past decade-plus into a big band of close to 20 members, 13 of them horn players. Samuels, who contributes marimba as well as vibes, remains at the helm, and it's clearly his vehicle -- he also wrote five of the nine tracks on this set. The band cooks, no question about it, and Samuels' Latin-leaning arrangements are smart and steamy. But new material is in short supply, and the album ultimately has a sense of déjà vu about it. Nearly all of the material, including covers of Thelonious Monk's "Bemsha Swing," Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments," and John Coltrane's "Naima," has appeared on previous CJP recordings, and even if Samuels felt a burning need to return to these songs to recast them as big-band numbers, he might have tried reworking them while he was at it -- outside of the sheer volume of players involved, there's simply not much going on here that adds a new dimension to the Caribbean Jazz Project story. That said, the quality of musicianship throughout the album is superb, and those unfamiliar with the previous releases will undoubtedly find it exhilarating. But those who've experienced the previous recordings and seek newness won't find it here. by Jeff Tamarkin 
Tracklist :
1 Rendezvous   4:55
Written-By – Dave Samuels
2 Naima 6:11
Written-By – John Coltrane
3 Five For Elvin 8:45
Written-By – Dave Samuels
4 Soul Souce 5:20
Written-By – Robert Thiele, Chano Pozo, Dizzy Gillespie, Milton Delugg, Pauline Rivelli
5 Picture Frame 6:30
Written-By – Dave Samuels
6 Stolen Moments 8:35
Written-By – Oliver E. Nelson
7 Birds Of A Feather 4:55
Written-By – Dave Samuels
8 Afro Green 4:42
Written-By – Dave Samuels
9 Bemsha Swing 7:54
Written-By – Denzil Best, Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Andy Axelrad
Alto Saxophone [Lead], Soprano Saxophone – Steve Williams
Arranged By – Alain Mallet (tracks: 4), Dave Samuels (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 9)
Baritone Saxophone – Rob Holmes
Bass – Max Murray
Bass Trombone – Mark Morgan
Drums, Percussion – Joe McCarthy
Orchestrated By [Big Band Orchestrations] – Dan Drew
Percussion – Roberto Quintero
Piano – Harry Appelman, J J Wright (tracks: 3)
Tenor Saxophone – Luis Hernandez, Vince Norman
Trombone – Ben Patterson , Jim McFalls
Trombone [Lead] – Dan Drew
Trumpet – Nick Cooper , Tim Stanley
Trumpet [Lead] – Chris Walter
Vibraphone, Marimba – Dave Samuels

22.4.17

FRANK ZAPPA – Läther (1996) 3CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The official version of Läther was released posthumously in September 1996. It remains debated whether Zappa had conceived the material as a four-LP set from the beginning, or only when approaching Phonogram; In the liner notes to the 1996 release, however, Gail Zappa states that "As originally conceived by Frank, Läther was always a 4-record box set." Along with most of Zappa's material, a "mini-LP" CD edition was also released by Rykodisc in Japan, with the artwork reformatted to resemble the packaging of a vinyl album. In December 2012, the album was reissued with different packaging that better reflected the intended album cover.
The recordings for the album were originally delivered to Warner Bros. in 1977. Contractual obligations stipulated that Zappa deliver four albums for release on DiscReet Records, which eventually resulted in much of the material on Läther being released on four separate albums: Zappa in New York (1977), Studio Tan (1978), Sleep Dirt (1979), and Orchestral Favorites (1979), only the first of which was produced with Zappa's oversight. Zappa had planned to include much of the material from these albums as a quadruple box set entitled "Läther", but Warner Bros. refused to release it in this format. However, bootlegs of the original recording had existed for decades before the album's official release as a result of Frank Zappa broadcasting it over the radio in 1977 and encouraging listeners to make tape recordings of it.
Gail Zappa has confirmed that the 2-track masters for the planned original album were located while producing the 1996 version. While the official CD version of Läther released is reportedly identical to the test-pressings for the original quadruple album, four bonus tracks were added to the 1996 release and the title of the song, "One More Time for the World" was changed to "The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution", the title under which the same song appears on the album Sleep Dirt. The album does not include "Baby Snakes", a song which was originally planned for the album. A version of the song served as the title of the film from the same era.
Zappa managed to get an agreement with Phonogram Inc. to release Läther in its original configuration, and test pressings were made targeted at a Halloween 1977 release, but Warner Bros. prevented the release by claiming rights over the material. Zappa responded by appearing on the Pasadena, California radio station KROQ, allowing them to broadcast Läther and encouraging listeners to make their own tape recordings. After Warner Bros. censored Zappa in New York to remove references to Angel guitarist Punky Meadows, and demanding four additional albums, a lawsuit between Zappa and Warner Bros. followed, during which no Zappa material was released for more than a year. Eventually, Warner Bros. issued Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt and Orchestral Favorites. The original cover artwork had featured a photograph of Zappa in blackface and holding a mop; this photograph was eventually used as the cover for Joe's Garage, Act I.
In the spring of 1977, Frank delivered the master tapes for a four-record boxed set called Läther (pronounced “leather,” due to the umlauts over the A) to Warner Bros., who then decided not to pay the amount they contractually owed him, oafishly thinking that he’d frivolously thrown the package together just to speed along his remaining album requirements, thereby freeing himself from his recording contract. He retrieved the tapes and offered the set to EMI instead. Warner, currently being sued by Frank (who wanted the rights to his old albums, plus damages for years of bad bookkeeping and deficient royalties), threatened EMI with a lawsuit, scaring them out of negotiations. Frank then tried Mercury/Phonogram, who was to press and distribute the set as the first release on Zappa Records; but after it had gone through the test-pressing phase and had even been assigned a catalogue number, they suddenly refused to distribute it, as someone there had noticed its “offensive lyrics.”
He resorted to splitting the set into four separate LPs, leaving out all linking transitions, adding a few songs and omitting others. He delivered the first Läther-ette, Zappa in New York, with packaging and liner notes that were preserved when Warner finally released the album on DiscReet. Shortly after providing that live double-disc, he handed over the other three all at once, fulfilling his contractual obligations anyway. Whether he planned to turn in his packaging designs upon being paid for these three, submitted designs that were ignored by Warner, or was shut out of the process as soon as they had the actual tapes, the albums were ultimately issued with sequencing and artwork that he hadn’t approved.
Before Warner could begin these staggered releases, Frank played the orignal Läther in its entirety on KROQ-FM (Burbank-Pasedena, California), encouraging listeners to record it off the radio. The conflicting report that the four separate albums came first, and were rearranged into Läther after Frank learned that Warner wouldn’t pay fairly, is false, according to Gail Zappa’s booklet notes in the CD set: “As originally conceived by Frank, Läther was always a 4-record box set.” The triple-CD package was released in 1996 on Rykodisc. Four bonus songs were added, extending the length to nearly three hours. Included were a 1993 remix of “Regyptian Strut” (spelled without the hyphen this time, as on Sleep Dirt); Frank’s opening and closing comments on the radio at the time of his broadcast; a piece called “Leather Goods,” which was made up of unused Lumpy Gravy dialogue, some Gravy-reminiscent instrumental music, and the original beginning of “Duck Duck Goose” (which included Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” riff before the “Whole Lotta Love” one heard on Läther proper, as well as two solo breaks, tributing Jimmy Page’s in “Whole Lotta Love” and “Heartbreaker”); “Revenge of the Knick-Knack People,” heard during some of the non-stage segments in the Baby Snakes movie; and the instrumental “Time Is Money” (included on Sleep Dirt but not Läther itself).
Gary Panter, an artist best known for his work in Raw Comix, was responsible for the illustrations on the covers of Studio Tan, Sleep Dirt and Orchestral Favorites. Frank hadn’t chosen Gary’s work; one of the titles wasn’t his, either. “I might point out that [Sleep Dirt is] not the name of the album,” he told Record Review in the spring of 1979. “That’s just a further violation of the original contract. The original title of that album, as delivered to them, was Hot Rats III. I presume that’s just another snide attempt to undermine the merchandising of it. If you saw an album sitting in the rack with the title Sleep Dirt on it, you probably wouldn’t be too intrigued by it. And based on the job they did with the cover of Studio Tan, they made [all of the packaging] as unappealing as possible.”
The full saga of Läther (pronounced leather) is tangled enough to give a migraine to all but committed Zappaphiles. Basically, what you need to know is that this project was originally conceived of as a four-record box set. When record company politics prevented its release in that format, much of the material was spread over the albums Live in New York, Sleep Dirt, Studio Tan, and Orchestral Favorites. This three-CD set presents the album as it was originally conceived, with the addition of four bonus tracks at the end. It mixes previously available material, alternate mixes, and edits, and previously unissued stuff, though only the most serious Zappa fans will have a good grip on exactly what has appeared where (the liner notes are surprisingly unexact in this regard). And the music? It's almost like a résumé of Zappa's bag of tricks: Uncle Meat-like experimentation, intricate jazz-rock, straight hard rock, orchestral composition, and comedy. Some of those comedy tracks became some of his most notorious routines, like "Punky's Whips" and "Titties 'n Beer," which amounted to avant- rock for drunk frat boys and pot smoking, underachieving junior high school students. The juvenile humor, hamfisted parody of hard rock clichés, and the shaggy-dog opera of the 20-minute "The Adventures of Greggery Peccary" are outshone by the lengthy, more experimental instrumental passages. It's interesting, but exhausting to wade through all at once, and the avant-garde/composerly cuts are not as exceptional as his earlier work in this vein in the late '60s and early '70s. That means that this will appeal far more to the Zappa cultist than the general listener, though the Zappa cult -- which has been craving Läther in its original format for years -- is a pretty wide fan base in and of itself. [In 2005, Rykodisc made available the Japanese Mini LP replica version...which is a bit strange since Läther was never officially released on LP.] 

e.s.t. — Retrospective 'The Very Best Of e.s.t. (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"Retrospective - The Very Best Of e.s.t." is a retrospective of the unique work of e.s.t. and a tribute to the late mastermind Esb...