ELVIN JONES — And Then Again (1965-2017) RM | SHM-CD Limited Edition | Serie Jazz Masters Collection 1200 – 10 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Azan 3:38
Charles Davis / Arranged By, Conductor – Melba Liston
2    All Deliberate Speed 7:35
Arranged By, Conductor – Melba Liston
3    Elvin Elpus 5:52
Arranged By, Conductor – Melba Liston
4    Soon After 3:35
Arranged By, Conductor – Melba Liston
5    Forever Summer 4:04
Thad Jones / Arranged By, Conductor – Melba Liston
6    Len Sirrah 3:42
Arranged By, Conductor – Melba Liston
7    And Then Again 6:21
Elvin Jones / Arranged By, Conductor – Melba Liston
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis
Bass – Art Davis, Paul Chambers
Cornet – Thad Jones
Drums – Elvin Jones
Piano – Don Friedman, Hank Jones
Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Frank Wess
Trombone – Hunt Peters
Arranged By, Conductor – Melba Liston

LEE KONITZ | DON FRIEDMAN | ATTILA ZOLLER - Thingin' (1995-2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With the superb packaging and quality of sound for which the Swiss hatOLOGY label is noted, and the adventurous, Tristano-tinged blowing for which saxophonist Lee Konitz is known, this set of mostly originals ("Alone Together" being the exception) should satisfy a broad range of listeners. Joined by pianist Don Friedman and guitarist Attila Zoller, the trio dances gently with nuanced patter and exquisite precision, creating minor gems of graceful expansion. The unique instrumentation precisely fits the style of Konitz, bringing back memories of past encounters. Zollar adds a pleasing touch with his dry, lilting approach. If the session does not totally stand out from the wealth of others the saxophonist has led it is only because of the plethora of high quality disks Konitz has produced during his career. In every way, this one is a worthy contribution to his discography, with the characteristic beautiful and mellow tone, laid-back style, and advanced harmonics. Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1     Thingin' 11:54
Lee Konitz
2     Joy for Joy 12:07
Attila Zoller
3     Opus d'Amour 8:52
Don Friedman
4     Cloisterbells 3:38
Attila Zoller
5     Images 4:22
Don Friedman
6     Alone Together 10:24
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
7     Suite for 3 13:49
Don Friedman
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Guitar – Attila Zoller
Piano – Don Friedman

LEE KONITZ - Lee Konitz Meets Don Friedman (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lee Konitz is one of a few alto saxophonists in jazz who avoided succumbing to copying Charlie Parker's approach, instead developing a dry, very lyrical style and an adventurous spirit in his musical instruments that rivals almost any other instrumentalist of his era. Matching him with the superb pianist Don Friedman was an inspired decision, as the two men soar in their musical explorations together, along with bassist Tsutomu Okada and drummer Jeff Williams. Their reworking of Dave Brubeck's "In Your Own Sweet Way" finds them moving further away from its famous theme (compared to its composer's performances) in a lengthy, but never dull interpretation. Konitz plays soprano sax on several tracks, including the drummer's driving "Huntington Street" and the leader's tricky "Lew 'N' Shu." Beautifully recorded in front of a respectful audience, this Japanese release is worth acquiring. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     Alone Together 11:53
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
2     In Your Own Sweet Way 10:11
Dave Brubeck
3     Huntington Street 7:45
Jeff Williams
4     Opus d'Amour 9:40
Don Friedman
5     It's You 7:52
Lee Konitz
6     My Old Flame 8:28
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston
7     Almost Everything 8:57
Don Friedman
8     Lew 'N' Shu 7:04
Lee Konitz
Credits :
Bass – Tsutomu Okada
Drums – Jeff Williams
Piano – Don Friedman
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz

CHARLES LLOYD - Discovery! (1964-2014) RM | Jazz Collection 1000 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Charles Lloyd's recorded debut as a leader was made while he was a member of the Cannonball Adderley Sextet. Doubling on tenor and flute, Lloyd teamed up with pianist Don Friedman, either Eddie Khan or Richard Davis on bass, and Roy Haynes or J.C. Moses on drums. This out of print LP has among its highlights "Little Piece" (dedicated to Booker Little), "Days of Wine and Roses," "Sweet Georgia Bright," and the initial full-length version of "Forest Flower." Lloyd's Coltrane-inspired sound was already in place, and his flute playing was becoming distinctive. The music is essentially melodic but advanced hard bop, a strong start to an important career. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Forest Flower    7:53
Written-By – C. Lloyd
2    How Can I Tell You?    5:15
Written-By – C. Lloyd
3    Little Peace    6:31
Written-By – C. Lloyd
4    Bizarre    4:19
Written-By – C. Lloyd
5    Days Of Wine And Roses 5:52
Written-By – H. Mancini, J. Mercer
6    Sweet Georgia Bright    5:44
Written-By – C. Lloyd
7    Love Song To A Baby    5:55
Written-By – C. Lloyd
8    Ol' Five Spot    6:34
Written-By – C. Lloyd
Credits :
Bass – Eddie Khan (pistas: 1, 4, 5, 8), Richard Davis (pistas: 2, 3, 6. 7)
Drums – J.C. Moses (pistas: 2, 3, 6. 7), Roy Haynes (pistas: 1, 4, 5, 8)
Piano – Don Friedman
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Charles Lloyd

CLARK TERRY - It's What's Happenin' The Varitone Sound of Clark Terry (1967) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Not many will bother to recall that Clark Terry was the first trumpeter to make a recording with Selmer's Varitone attachment -- an electronic hookup to an amplifier that allowed a horn player to play octaves. Though the instrument quickly fell out of favor after a very brief vogue, it still produced an attractively soulful sound that was a good fit with Terry's jaunty, slurry, note-bending manner. Naturally, there is yet another ride on the "Mumbles" train called "Electric Mumbles," in which Terry talks back and forth to his horn, and he sings, scats and mumbles a few choruses of "Take the 'A' Train." But he also plays some mighty soul-satisfying blues on his electric horn on "Take Me Back to Elkhart" (Selmer's headquarters), really exploiting the opened-up lower register. The rhythm section (Don Friedman, piano; George Duvivier, bass; Dave Bailey, drums) plays straight and solid jazz behind their happy-go-lucky tinkerer/leader; there is nothing unmusically sensational about anything that happens here. Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1     Electric Mumbles 3'51
Clark Terry
2     Secret Love 6'15
Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster
3     Take Me Back to Elkhart 7'11
Clark Terry
4     Take the "A" Train 5'03
Billy Strayhorn
5     Tee Pee Time 6'25
Hal Crook / Clark Terry
6     Grand Canyon Suite 7'05
Grofe
Credits :
Bass – George Duvivier
Drums – Dave Bailey
Piano – Don Friedman
Trumpet [Varitone] – Clark Terry

CLARK TERRY - Portraits (1989-2004) 24bits-96hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Flugelhornist Clark Terry recorded quite frequently in the 1980s, and his consistency was very impressive. Terry's good humor, joyful and immediately distinctive sound, and creative, bop-oriented ideas combined to form a very accessible style. This Chesky CD finds C.T. joined by pianist Don Friedman, bassist Victor Gaskin and drummer Lewis Nash for a variety of superior standards and Terry's lone original "Finger Filibuster." The songs all pay tribute to various trumpeters, and some, such as "Pennies from Heaven," "Little Jazz" and "I Don't Wanna Be Kissed," were not performed by the flugelhornist all that often; the resulting music is fresher than usual and often quite inspired. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Pennies from Heaven 6'04
Johnny Burke / Arthur Johnston
2     Sugar Blues 4'37
Clarence Williams
3     Autumn Leaves 4'44
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
4     Finger Filibuster 3'52
Clark Terry
5     Little Jazz 5'46
Roy Eldridge / Buster Harding
6     When It's Sleepy Time Down South 5'14
Clarence Muse / Otis Rene / Leon René
7     Jive at Five 8'13
Count Basie / Harry "Sweets" Edison
8     Ciribiribin 3'50
Alberto Pestalozza / Traditional
9     Ow! 3'35
Dizzy Gillespie    
10     I Can't Get Started 4'31
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin
11     I Don't Wanna Be Kissed 6'08
John Elliott / Harold Spina
Credits :
Bass – Victor Gaskin
Drums – Lewis Nash
Flugelhorn – Clark Terry
Piano – Don Friedman
Trumpet – Clark Terry

CLARK TERRY - Live at the Village Gate (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flugelhornist Clark Terry, three weeks shy of his 70th birthday at the time of this live performance, sounds very much at the peak of his powers throughout Live at the Village Gate. Teamed up with old friend Jimmy Heath, who doubles on tenor and soprano, pianist Don Friedman, bassist Marcus McLauren and drummer Kenny Washington (altoist Paquito D'Rivera guests on "Silly Samba"), Terry performs eight little-known originals. The tunes are all fairly basic, but they inspire these talented musicians to some of their best playing. The hard-swinging music, which includes a trumpet-drums duet on "Brushes & Brass" and some singing from the audience on "Hey Mr. Mumbles," is quite enjoyable, and among the most accessible type of jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Top and Bottom 5'10
Clark Terry
2     Keep, Keep, Keep on Keepin' On 6'01
Clark Terry
3     Silly Samba 8'49
Clark Terry
4     Pint of Bitters 8'30
Clark Terry
5     Sheba 6'35
Clark Terry
6     Brushes and Brass 3'20
Clark Terry
7     Simple Waltz 9'12
Bob Brookmeyer / Clark Terry
8     Hey Mr. Mumbles 11'04
Clark Terry
Credits :
Bass – Marcus McLauren
Composed By – Clark Terry
Drums – Kenny Washington
Piano – Don Friedman
Tenor Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone – Jimmy Heath
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry

CLARK TERRY - Live at the Village Gate 'The Second Set' (1995) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Clark Terry has made so many fine records in the 1990s that virtually all of them are recommended; this Chesky CD is no exception. A quintet date with tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath, pianist Don Friedman, bassist Marcus McLauren and drummer Kenny Washington, Terry plays a variety of original tunes based on the blues and other fairly common chord changes. The good-humored music (which includes such song titles as "One Foot in the Gutter," "Serenade to a Bus Seat" and "Ode to a Flugelhorn") is quite enjoyable, highlighted by Terry's Mumbles vocal on "Joonji," a few creative singalongs, and lots of exciting flugelhorn playing. This fine set is rounded off by ten minutes of storytelling by Terry that covers Count Basie, Duke Ellington, jazz education, Dizzy Gillespie, and Miles. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     One Foot in the Gutter 11'53
Clark Terry
2     Opus Ocean 6'49
Clark Terry
3     Michelle 7'31
Clark Terry
4     Serenade to a Bus Seat 7'18
Clark Terry
5     Joonji 7'09
Clark Terry
6     Ode to a Flugelhorn 9'12
Clark Terry
7     Funky Mama 11'55
Clark Terry
8     Interview 10'42
Credits :
Bass – Marcus McLauren
Drums – Kenny Washington
Executive-Producer – Norman Chesky
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Clark Terry
Piano – Don Friedman
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Heath

CLARK TERRY QUINTET - The Hymn (2001) FLAC (tracks), lossless

While it didn't see release until 2001, this quintet date was recorded in 1993 at New York's Birdland, which at the time was still on 105th Street (it would soon move to 44th, near Times Square). Joining trumpet legend Clark Terry in the front line is the young alto saxophonist Jesse Davis, who is quite at home with the bop-oriented material at hand. Pianist Don Friedman, bassist Marcus McLaurine, and drummer Sylvia Cuenca complete the lineup, helping Terry do his thing, whether it's the fast swing of "The Hymn," "Rhythm Ride," and "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?"; the medium tempos of "Ow!" and "On the Trail"; or the greasy, comedic, vocal showstopper "Blues for Rebecca." Terry likes to double- and even triple-time his ballads, as he does on "My Romance" and "Mood Indigo" (on the latter, listen for his quotes of "Jersey Bounce" and "Cherokee," and also Friedman's superb solo). He also covers effortlessly for his mangling of the lyrics to "Sunny Side of the Street." And no Clark Terry album would be complete without his trademark back-and-forth improv on trumpet and flugelhorn -- sure enough, it surfaces during "On the Trail." A worthy addition to a lengthy discography. David R. Adler  
Tracklist :
1     The Hymn 6'17
Charlie Parker
2     My Romance 7'11
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
3     Ow! 10'49
Dizzy Gillespie
4     On the Sunny Side of the Street 5'39
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
5     Is It True What They Say About Dixie? 5'28
Irving Caesar / Sammy Lerner / Gerald Marks
6     Mood Indigo 12'44
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
7     On the Trail 7'27
Ferde Grofé
8     Blues for Rebecca 9'35
Clark Terry
9     Rhythm Ride 4'48
Clark Terry
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jesse Davis
Double Bass – Marcus McLaurine
Drums – Sylvia Cuenca
Piano – Don Friedman
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals – Clark Terry

CLARK TERRY & MAX ROACH - Friendship (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

When you get to the point in your career that drummer Max Roach and trumpeter Clark Terry are, it's not so much what you say, but how you say it. These jazz giants may not be at the top of their game technically, but artistically no Young Lion can touch them. Starting with the leadoff track on Friendship, it's clear that all bets are off. "Statements" is a drum and trumpet duet loosely based around a blues theme, with Terry playing off various rhythms and drum head detunings from Roach. It's easily one of the most avant-garde things these guys have played in a while, and possibly the most surprising thing you'll hear on a straight-ahead jazz recording from 2002. Elsewhere, Terry takes a burnished and juicy stroll through "When I Fall in Love," Roach gets some solo time on the furious "Lil Max," and both of them turn "Makin' Whoopee" into a bittersweet daydream. Backed sensitively by pianist Don Friedman and bassist Marcus McLaurine, Roach and Terry make Friendship a pure joy. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1     Statements 1'47
Max Roach / Clark Terry
2     Let's Cool One 6'35
Thelonious Monk
3     Brushes and Brass 1'44
Clark Terry
4     Simple Waltz 3'10
Bob Brookmeyer / Clark Terry
5     I Remember Clifford 2'26
Benny Golson
6     Lil Max 3'37
Max Roach
7     But Beautiful 6'28
James Van Heusen
8     The Profit 2'20
Max Roach
9     When I Fall in Love 2'07
Edward Heyman / Victor Young
10     For Dancers Only 3'13
Sy Oliver / Don Raye / Vic Schoen
11     Makin' Whoopee 7'14
Walter Donaldson / Gus Kahn
12     To Basie with Love 1'51
Clark Terry
13     The Nearness of You 2'24
Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington
Credits :
Bass – Marcus McLaurine
Drums – Max Roach
Piano – Don Friedman
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry