ARCHIE SHEPP - Something to Live For (1997) FLAC (tracks), lossless

This highly anticipated vocal album does not quite make it. Unfortunately, either the saxophonist was having an off night (or nights), or he simply lost his ability to sing gracefully by the mid-'90s. The choice of tunes is perfect: "A Flower Is a Lonesome Thing," "Strange Fruit," "Hello, Young Lovers," and "Georgia on My Mind," among others. So is the band, which includes trumpeter Eddie Henderson, pianist John Hicks, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Iris Muhammad (with Steve McCracken substituting on one track). Shepp speaks and shouts the lyrics more than he sings them, seemingly agonizing over each syllable. His tenor performance is subpar, too. He sounds almost as though he is playing with marbles in his mouth. Hicks explores some nice, if familiar ground, on piano, where he adds pleasant and stimulating lines both in support and as a soloist. Shepp's career as a vocalist appears short-lived, as he again focused on his saxophones after this one was recorded. Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1    A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing 6:00
Composed By – Billy Strayhorn
2    My Foolish Heart 5:52
Composed By – Ned Washington, Victor Young
3    Strange Fruit 4:35
Composed By – Lewis Allan
4    You're Blasé 8:41
Composed By – Bruce Sievier, Ord Hamilton
5    Something To Live For 5:31
Composed By – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington
6    Georgia On My Mind 7:00
Composed By – Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell
7    Hello, Young Lovers 10:35
Composed By – Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers
8    California Blues 8:01
Composed By – Archie Shepp
Credits :
Bass – George Mraz
Drums – Idris Muhammad (pistas: 1 to 7), Steve McCraven (pistas: 8)
Piano – John Hicks
Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – Archie Shepp
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Eddie Henderson

LEON THOMAS & GARY BARTZ QUINTET - Precious Energy (1987-1993) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Leon Thomas and Gary Bartz are two tremendously gifted artists who have had problems with direction and taste. Thomas' seminal works with Pharoah Sanders, Lonnie Liston Smith, Santana, and others in the '70s weren't matched by some things he did in the early '80s, while Bartz's tough combo dates also weren't equaled by some pop-oriented recordings he cut later. The two have since gone back to their strengths and made an excellent team on the 1987 session Precious Energy. Although he doesn't try the ambitious yodeling and special effects he did with Sanders, Thomas does demonstrate the creamy sound and full force of earlier years, while Bartz's solos are once more fluid, strong, and expansive. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1    Precious Energy    12:55
 Leon Thomas
2    You Treat Me Like A Yo-Yo    8:15
 Leon Thomas
3    Sunflowers    11:13
 Freddie Hubbard / Leon Thomas
4    Cousin Mary    6:58
John Coltrane / Jon Hendricks
5    Woman    4:53
 Leon Thomas
6    Close Your Eyes    7:11
Bernice Petkere
7    Boom, Boom, Boom    15:38
 Leon Thomas
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Bass – Geoff Harper
Drums – Steve Johns
Piano – Bob Butta
Trumpet – Eddie Henderson
Vocals – Leon Thomas

GARY BARTZ - Reflections of Monk (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After a long period of indifferent recordings, altoist Gary Bartz started to fulfill his potential in the early '90s. Joined by a superb rhythm section (comprised of pianist John Hicks, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Al Foster) and trumpeter Claudio Roditi (whose restrained power complements rather than competes with Bartz), the altoist really stretches out, particularly on "Speak Low" and "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" which both clock in at within seven seconds of 19 minutes apiece. Bartz is quite lyrical on a superior version of "It's Easy to Remember" and also takes inventive solos on his modal blues "Cousins" and Wilbur Harden's "West 42nd Street." A highly recommended gem. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Thelonious 0'55
Thelonious Monk
2     Brilliant Corners 4'56
Thelonious Monk
3     The Pennywhistle Call/Reflections 10'05
Gary Bartz / Thelonious Monk
4     Played Twice 6'27
Thelonious Monk
5     Crepescule With Nellie 4'40
Thelonious Monk
6     Hackensack 8'16
Thelonious Monk
7     Let's Cool One 8'15
Thelonious Monk
8    Monk's Mood 9'58
Thelonious Monk   
9     Epistrophy 8'37
Kenny Clarke / Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Bass – Geoff Harper
Drum – Billy Hart
Piano – Bob Butta
Trumpet – Eddie Henderson
Vocals – Jenelle Fisher (pistas: 8), Mekea Keith (pistas: 3.2)  

GARY BARTZ - The Red and Orange Poems (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Alto veteran Gary Bartz may not have made it as big as originally predicted, but as shown on this 1994 studio date, he developed a sound of his own and was always capable of coming out with exciting yet thoughtful music. Joined by such associates as trumpeter Eddie Henderson, John Clark on French horn, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Dave Holland, drummer Greg Bandy and percussionist Steve Kroon, Bartz is in excellent form on a variety of standards (including "By Myself" and "But Not for Me") and originals. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     By Myself 7:02
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz    
2     Nusia's Poem 9:27
Gary Bartz    
3     I'm Gonna Laugh You Right out of My Life 5:56
Cy Coleman / Joseph McCarthy    
4     J Seas 6:45
Gary Bartz    
5     Relentless 9:56
Gary Bartz    
6     Along the Twelve 4:12
Gary Bartz    
7     Soul Mate 5:58
Gary Bartz    
8     But Not for Me 9:25
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Producer, Arranged By – Gary Bartz
Bass – Dave Holland
Drums – Greg Bandy
French Horn – John Clark
Percussion – Steve Kroon (pistas: 2, 7)
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Eddie Henderson