BILL EVANS – Symbiosis (1974-1994) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans is most often thought of as a "trio" player, as most of his albums have been piano/bass/drums, with the occasional solo or duo album. But he did record a select few albums with orchestras, and that's what makes SYMBIOSIS a special and unique entry in Evans' hugh catalog. Recorded in 1974, it was released in 1994 on CD for the first time. Further, this albums contains no standards or Evans originals--the title piece is a multi-part suite composed, arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman (who also collaborated with Stan Getz and Frank Sinatra, among many others).

The album runs the stylistic gamut: there are moments of Philip Glass-like minimalism (!), samba-flavored big-band passages, echoes of the early 20th century Russian composers, Third Stream jazz, lush yet slightly ominous string arrangements and '70s film music. Throughout, Evans, alternating between acoustic and electric pianos, shimmers and entrances with his inventively lyrical solos. Not your "typical" Bill Evans album--but that's what makes SYMBIOSIS such a fine, gently challenging listen. AllMusic
Tracklist  :
1st Movement (Moderato, Various Tempi)
1. (a) (7:55)
2. (b) (5:18)
3. (c) (11:55)
2nd Movement (Largo, Andante, Maestoso, Largo)
4. (a) (9:14)
5. (b) (6:47)

The Bill Evans Trio
Bill Evans - Steinway grand piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano
Eddie Gomez - Bass
Marty Morell - Drums

Orchestra conducted by Claus Ogerman
Phil Woods, Jerry Dodgion, Walt Levinsky, Harvey Estrin - Alto Saxophone
Bill Slapin, Don Hammond, Hubert Laws - Flute
George Marge, Phil Bodner - Oboe
Danny Bank, Ron Janelly - Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Wally Kane - Bassoon
Don MacCourt - Contra Bassoon
Brooks Tillotson, James Buffington, Earl Chapin, Ray Alonge, Al Richmond, Pete Gordon - French Horn
Marvin Stamm, John Frosk, Bernie Glow, Marky Markowitz, Victor Paz, Mel Davis - Trumpet
Urbie Green - Tenor Trombone
Paul Faulise, Tommy Mitchell - Bass Trombone
Don Butterfield - Tuba
George Devens, Dave Carey, Doug Allen - Percussion
Ralph McDonald - Congas
David Nadien - Concertmaster

OLIVER NELSON ORCHESTRA — Afro-American Sketches (1961-1993) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Oliver Nelson merged the rhythmic fervor of Africa and Black America with the organizational flair of Europe on this release. The often spectacular work features the orchestra sometimes whooping and clashing in the backdrop and other times giving soulful statements or converging in a blues setting. While Nelson combined Afro-Latin rhythmic support from Ray Barretto with crisp jazz drumming from Ed Shaughnessy, he also contributed his own soaring alto and tenor sax solos and conducted the orchestra. It was a monumental job, and Nelson exceeded it. Ron Wynn   Tracklist & Credits :

THE OLIVER NELSON ORCHESTRA ft. PHIL WOODS — Impressions Of Phaedra (1962) Vinyl, LP MONOAURAL | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Moody and long-forgotten, like the film it was inspired by, Phaedra interchanges film-like cues with some torrid jazz content (mostly courtesy of Phil Woods). Makes an interesting case for "Greek Jazz."  Douglas Payne
Tracklist & Credits :

OLIVER NELSON AND HIS ORCHESTRA — The Kennedy Dream : A Musical Tribute To John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1967-2006) RM | Serie Impulse! Originals | FLAC (tracks), lossless

When the late President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, the world lost not only a prominent politician, but one who truly championed the arts and civil rights. In February of 1967, Oliver Nelson recognized Kennedy's contributions and assembled a big band to play music in his honor, with taped segments of his speeches as preludes. The result is a heartfelt yet eerie combination, perhaps a bit off-putting, but absolutely relevant decades later. The music is reflective of the changing times as identified by Nelson, ranging from commercial movie score-type music, to soulful or straight-ahead jazz, bop, and the modern big-band sound that the leader, composer, and orchestrator owned. Kennedy's most famous speech about fellow Americans, asking what they can do for their country, is folded into the last track "John Kennedy Memory Waltz" with a string quartet and the regret-tinged alto sax of Phil Woods. The 34th President's oratorios on human rights act as prelude to the soft clarion horns, 7/8 beat, flutes, and vibes, giving way to the modal and serene passages of "Let the Word Go Forth," or the cinematic, military, harpsichord-shaded, plucked-guitar-and-streaming-oboe-accented "The Rights of All," which is also reflective of the immortal spiritual song "Wade in the Water." Where "Tolerance" has a similar verbal tone, the mood is much more ethereal between the flutes, oboe, and strings, while the two-minute etude for the first lady and widow, "Jacqueline," has a loping stride. "A Genuine Peace" is an anthem for all times in a soul-jazz mode that parallels Aaron Copland's Americana moods, while "Day in Dallas" is the expectant, ominous, foreboding calm before the chaos. Nelson's straight-ahead jazz exercise is "The Artists' Rightful Place," a spoken word tonic for musical troops in a bop framework that has the horn section jumping for joy. As always, Nelson surrounds himself with the very best musicians -- Woods and Phil Bodner in the reed section, tuba player Don Butterfield, bassist George Duvivier, and pianist Hank Jones -- and all produced by Bob Thiele. Michael G. Nastos   Tracklist & Credits :

JIMMY HEATH AND BRASS — Swamp Seed (1963-1997) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is a delightful if underrated set that was reissued on CD in 1997. The multi-talented Jimmy Heath has many consistently rewarding and distinctive tenor saxophone solos; he also contributed three of the seven pieces and arranged all of them for a group also including trumpeter Donald Byrd, two French horns, Don Butterfield's tuba and a rhythm section that has bassist Percy Heath and (on three numbers) drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. The music is straight-ahead but contains some unpredictable moments. Highlights include Heath's versions of Thelonious Monk's "Nutty" and "More Than You Know." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. Six Steps 4'49
Jimmy Heath
2. Nutty 4'05
Thelonious Monk
3. More Than You Know 5'09
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
4. Swamp Seed 5'19
Percy Heath
5. D. Waltz 6'33
Jimmy Heath
6. Just In Time 5'28
Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne
7. Wall To Wall 5'27
Jimmy Heath
Credits
Jimmy Heath - Tenor Saxophone
Donald Byrd - |Trumpet
Julius Watkins - French Horn
Jim Buffington - French Horn
Don Butterfield - Tuba
Harold Maybern - Piano (tracks 1, 2, 4)
Herbie Hancock - Piano
Percy Heath - Bass
Albert "Toothie" Heath - Drums (tracks 1, 2, 4)
Connie Kay - Drums

CLARK TERRY QUINTET with DON BUTTERFIELD - Top and Bottom Brass [Riverside] (1959-1992) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This lesser-known Clark Terry session (reissued on CD in the OJC series) has an unusual lineup with the flugelhornist joined by Don Butterfield on tuba, pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Art Taylor. Butterfield has nearly as much solo space as C.T. (and is given a prominent role in the ensembles) while Jimmy Jones's chordal solos are somewhat eccentric. Terry is in fine form on a variety of blues, originals and obscurities along with the interesting versions of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" and "A Sunday Kind of Love" but the results overall are not all that significant. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Mili-Terry 4'19
Smith, Terry
2     The Swinging Chemise 6'58
Duke Ellington
3     My Heart Belongs to Daddy 3'13
Cole Porter
4     Blues for Etta 7'22
Grant / Terry
5     Top 'N' Bottom 4'51
Clark Terry
6     "127" 8'06
Pauline Terry
7     A Sunday Kind of Love 3'24
Barbara Belle / Anita Leonard / Louis Prima / Stan Rhodes
8     Mardi Gras Waltz 4'03
Joe Ely / Clark Terry
Credits :
Bass – Sam Jones
Drums – Art Taylor
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Producer, Liner Notes – Orrin Keepnews
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry
Tuba – Don Butterfield