LUCY REED — This Is Lucy Reed (1957-2001) RM | Mono | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In a perfect world, Lucy Reed would have been much better-known and would have built a large catalog. But regrettably, the obscure Midwestern jazz singer never became well-known, and she only recorded a few albums. Recorded at various sessions in January 1957, This Is Lucy Reed is the second of two albums she provided for Fantasy. This album, which Fantasy reissued on CD in 2001, finds Reed backed by some of bop's heavyweights, including trumpeter Art Farmer, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, bassist Milt Hinton, arranger George Russell (who is heard on drums), and arranger Gil Evans (who plays piano on four selections). Unfortunately, the sidemen usually don't get enough solo space. But Reed's vocals are the main thing, and the singer really shines on cool-toned yet expressive performances of well-known standards like "You Don't Know What Love Is" and W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues." Cool School goddesses like Chris Connor and June Christy are prominent influences, and yet, the recognizable Reed was a fine singer in her own right. The word "recognizable" also describes Gil Evans' arranging on "Love for Sale," "No Moon at All," and the goofy novelty item "A Trout, No Doubt"; Evans' classical-influenced style of arranging is quite distinctive, and true to form, his contributions to This Is Lucy Reed underscore his interest in European classical music. Equally attractive are Russell's arrangements on "Born to Blow the Blues," "This Is New," and "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning." Russell was only 34 when this album was recorded, but even in early 1957, he was a forward thinker. Anyone who is seriously into Cool School singers of the 1950s should give This Is Lucy Reed a very close listen. Alex Henderson
Tracklist
1        There He Goes 2:50
Arranged By – Jack English
2        Lucky To Be Me    2:28
 Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green
3        In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning 4:24
Arranged By – George Russell
4        St. Louis Blues    3:25
 W.C. Handy
5        Easy Come, Easy Go    4:55
 Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
6        Love For Sale 4:27
 Cole Porter, Arranged By – Gil Evans
7        Little Boy Blue    2:55
 Eugene Field
8        A Trout, No Doubt 2:35
Arranged By – Eddie Higgins
9        Born To Blow The Blues 4:40
 Bob Russell / Jack Segal, Arranged By – George Russell
10        This Is New 3:55
 Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill, Arranged By – George Russell
11        No Moon At All  2:15
 Redd Evans / Dave Mann, Arranged By – Gil Evans
12        You Don't Know What Love Is    4:00
 Gene DePaul / Don Raye
 Credits :
Alto Flute – Romeo Penque (tracks: 1, 6, 8, 11)
Bass – Bill Pemberton (tracks: 1, 6, 8, 11), Milt Hinton (tracks: 3, 9, 10), Verne Rammer (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12)
Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Sol Schlinger (tracks: 3, 9, 10)
Bass Trombone – Tommy Mitchell (tracks: 1, 6, 8, 11)
Bassoon – David Kurtzer (tracks: 1, 6, 8, 11)
Clarinet – Ken Soderblom (tracks: 4)
Drums – George Russell, William Gaeto (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12)
English Horn, Flute – Romeo Penque
Guitar – Barry Galbraith (tracks: 3, 9, 10), John Gray (tracks: 2)
Piano – Don Abney (tracks: 3, 9, 10), Eddie Higgins (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12), Gil Evans (tracks: 1, 6, 8, 11)
Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 1, 6, 8, 11)
Trumpet – Art Farmer (tracks: 3, 9, 10)
Violin [Tenor] – Harry Lookofsky (tracks: 1, 6, 8, 11)
Vocals – Lucy Reed

EDDIE HIGGINS - Zoot's Hymns (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Pianist Eddie Higgins alternates trio outings (also including bassist Phil Flannigan and drummer Danny Burger) with quartet performances that feature the cool-toned tenor of John Doughten on this consistently swinging set. "Zoot's Hymns" is a Higgins original that sets the tone for the CD (of which many but not all of the songs were formerly performed by Zoot Sims); other highlights include "The Red Door," "In Your Own Sweet Way," "Hi Fly," and "'Tis Autumn."  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1    Red Door 4:37   
Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims
2    In Your Own Sweet Way 6:33
 Dave Brubeck
3    Zoot's Hymns 6:12   
 Eddie Higgins
4    Gabriela/Marina 5:20   
 Antonio Carlos Jobim
5    Come Rain or Come Shine 7:05
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
6    Waltz for Allison 5:49   
 Eddie Higgins
7    Image 4:35   
Luis Eça   
8    Hi-Fly 6:23   
Randy Weston
9    'Tis Autumn 5:07
Henry Nemo
10    Red Blouse 6:08   
Antonio Carlos Jobim   
11    When Your Lover Has Gone 4:25   
Einar A. Swan
Credits:
Bass – Phil Flanigan
Drums – Danny Burger
Piano – Eddie Higgins
Tenor Saxophone – John Doughten

EDDIE HIGGINS TRIO - Dear Old Stockholm (2003) 24K GOLD CD / APE (image+.cue), lossless

 

Tracklist:
1    Moonlight Becomes You 5:06
Written-By – J. Van Heusen
2    More Than You Know 5:16
Written-By – V. Youmans
3    Nardis 4:31
Written-By – M. Davis
4    Over The Rainbow 4:57
Written-By – H. Arlen
5    Dear Old Stockholm 5:50
Written-By – Trad
6    I Remember Clifford 5:17
Written-By – B. Golson
7    You And The Night And The Music 6:19
Written-By – A. Schwartz
8    If You Could See Me Now 5:30
Written-By – T. Dameron
9    Again 4:48
Written-By – L. Newman
10    We Will Be Together Again 4:02
Written-By – C. Fisher, F. Laine
11    Witchcraft 7:11
Written-By – C. Coleman
12    It Never Entered My Mind 5:22
Written-By – R. Rodgers
13    Stella By Starlight 5:19
Written-By – V. Young
14    Blame It On My Youth 4:45
Written-By – O. Levant
Credits:
Bass – Jay Leonhart
Drums – Joe Ascione
Piano – Eddie Higgins