BASIE | BENNETT — Count Basie And His Orchestra Swings, Tony Bennett Sings (1959-1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The Roulette half of the two Bennett/Basie sessions is a band singer's paradise, with the Basie band caught at a robust and swinging peak and Bennett never sounding happier or looser in front of a microphone. The Count himself, alas, appears on piano only on two numbers ("Life Is a Song" and "Jeepers Creepers"), while Bennett's perennial pianist Ralph Sharon takes over on the remaining ten tracks and does all the charts. Yet Sharon writes idiomatically for the Count's style, whether on frantic rave-ups like "With Plenty of Money and You" and "Strike Up the Band" or relaxed swingers like "Chicago." Though not a jazz singer per se, the flavor of jazz is everywhere in Bennett's voice, which in those days soared like a trumpet. The 1990 CD included an atmospheric unissued Neal Hefti ballad "After Supper," but even this bonus track does little to extend the skimpy playing time (about 31 minutes) of what is still a great, desirable snapshot from American showbiz of the late 1950s. Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1    Life Is A Song 2:55
Written By – Fred Ahlert, Joe Young
2    Plenty Of Money 1:35
Written By – Al Dubin, Harry Warren
3    Jeepers Creepers 2:09
Written By – Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer
4    Are You Havin' Any Fun 2:48
Written By – Jack Yellen, Sammy Fain
5    Anything Goes 2:21
Written By – Cole Porter
6    Strike Up The Band 1:34
Written By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
7    Chicago 2:08
Written By – Fred Fisher
8    I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face 3:04
Written By – Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Lowe
9    Poor Little Rich Girl 3:33
Written By – Noel Coward
10    Growing Pains 3:36
Written By – Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields
11    I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans 1:45
Written By – Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
12    After Supper 3:36
Written By – Neil Hefti
Credits :
Arranged By – Ralph Sharon
Baritone Saxophone – Charlie Fowlkes
Bass – Eddie Jones
Drums – Sonny Payne
Guitar – Freddie Green
Piano – Count Basie (tracks: 1, 3), Ralph Sharon (tracks: 2, 4 to 12)
Tenor Saxophone – Billy Mitchell
Trombone – Al Grey, Benny Powell, Henry Coker
Trumpet – Joe Newman, Snooky Young, Thad Jones, Wendell Culley
Vocals – Tony Bennett

FRANK WESS — The Frank Wess Quartet (1960-2004) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Frank Wess has long been one of the most underrated flautists in jazz, but it's his primary instrument on this CD reissue of a Moodsville LP recorded in 1960. With fine accompaniment by piano master Tommy Flanagan, bassist Eddie Jones and drummer Bobby Donaldson, the leader's lyrical chops are evident in Alec Wilder's rarely performed ballad "It's So Peaceful in the Country." The light Latin setting of "Star Eyes" initially spotlights Flanagan's elegant piano, with the rhythm switching gears as Wess works his magic on flute. Flanagan alone introduces the dreamy interpretation of "But Beautiful," while Wess will melt any heart with his gorgeous flute solo. Wess is best known for his swinging tenor saxophone, heard on the richly textured "Gone With the Wind," a spacious "Stella by Starlight" (which will rival any saxophonist's recording for pure beauty), as well as his bluesy original "Rainy Afternoon," with Donaldson's light percussion possibly suggesting stepping in sidewalk puddles or windshield wipers clearing intermittent precipitation. Highly recommended. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    It's So Peaceful In The Country    4:58
 Alec Wilder
2    Rainy Afternoon    8:24
 Frank Wess
3    Star Eyes    3:51
 Gene DePaul / Don Raye
4    Stella By Starlight    5:08
 Ned Washington / Victor Young
5    But Beautiful    4:33
 Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
6    Gone With The Wind    5:44
 Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel
7    I See Your Face Before Me    6:04
 Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
Credits :
Bass – Eddie Jones
Drums – Bobby Donaldson
Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Frank Wess
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

CORA LEE DAY - My Crying Hour (1960) M4A (tracks) lossless / lp / MONO [16bits 44.1khz]

Cora Lee Day (1914-1996) was virtually unknown when she recorded 'My Crying Hour' in 1960, the only album in her brief singing career, before becoming an actress. She bore a striking vocal resemblance to another legendary “Day,” the immortal “Lady Day” —Billie Holiday— but her voice still has that certain intangible quality that singles her out as a rare-find on the jazz scene and is sure to catch your ear. Under the direction of pianist Jimmy Jones and with a number of skillful arrangements, Cora Lee gained the drive and confidence to sing an engaging repertoire of fragile, moving songs in the manner that came most natural to her —soft and intimate. freshsoundrecords.
Tracklist :
1- My Crying Hour 3:47
(Sonny LeGlaire)
2- When Your Lover has Gone 3:01
(E.A.Swan)
3- Trouble is a Man 3:03
(Alec Wilder)
4- The Very Thought of You 3:17
(Ray Noble)
5- I See a Million People 3:32
(Robert Sour)
6- Ain't no Use 3:10
(Wyche-Kirkland)
7- It isn't Fair 2:38
(Warshauer-Sprigato-Himber)
8- You Taught Me How to Cry 3:31
(E.Johnson)
9- Weeping Willow 3:05
(Zola Garrett)
10- Try a Little Tenderness 3:21
(Woods-Campbell-Connelly)
11- I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of my Life 3:30
(Coleman-McCarthy)
12- The Masquerade is Over 3:16
(Magidson-Wrubel)
Credits:
Cora Lee Day, vocals
Accompanied by Sextet & Orchestra conducted by Jimmy Jones
Sextet (#2,3,6,7,9,10,12): Harry Edison, trumpet; Illinois Jacquet, tenor sax; Jimmy Jones, piano, Barry Galbraith, guitar; Eddie Jones, bass; Osie Johnson, drums.
Orchestra (#1,5,8,11): Arrangements by Jerry Valentine.
Recorded in New York City, June 1960

KENNY CLARKE — Telefunken Blues (1955-1992) RM | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Everyone's in good form on these two sessions from the mid-'50s. The earlier 1954 set, though, is the more interesting. It teams Modern Jazz Quartet alumni Kenny Clarke, Milt Jackson, and Percy Heath with West Coast beboppers Frank Morgan, Walter Benton, and Gerald Wiggins. Jackson's spirited solos and strong presence in the ensembles make clear he is enjoying a change of pace from the austere formalism of the MJQ. Altoist Frank Morgan, too, comes to play, tempering tart Parker-isms with sounds that Jackie McLean, a Morgan contemporary, was also exploring at this time. Section partner Walter Benton counters with a rich, sonorous Websterian fog, rounding out a horn section that has range, depth, ideas, and chops. Wiggins, a commanding, understated presence, is in a role that would probably have gone to Wynton Kelly or Red Garland if the casting had not been for a West Coaster. Between them, Wiggins, Morgan, and Benton further undermine the artificial and meaningless dichotomy of West Coast cool versus New York City heat.

The four tracks from the later 1955 date feature a familiar Savoy grouping of Count Basie band members: Frank Wess, Henry Coker, Charlie Fowlkes, and Eddie Jones, with Jackson, and Clarke. In the company of the Count's men, Clarke and Jackson create a successful hybrid of bop and Basie-style swing. Frank Wess' tenor and flute playing, both on form, is most at home with the Jackson and Clarke direction. Bassist Jones and Clarke are an effective study in contrasts, with Jones walks his bass unperturbedly as Clarke throws curves and change-ups to his cohorts. Telefunken Blues is recommended for the set with Morgan, Benton, and Wiggins, although the session with the Count's men does offer several pleasures, notably, the work of the rhythm section, Wess' flute, and Ernie Wilkins' arrangements. Jim Todd 
Tracklist :
1 Sonor  4:52
Kenny Clarke
2 Strollin'  4:24
Horace Silver
3 Blue's Mood  4:20
Kenny Clarke
4 Skoot  3:50
Eddie Beal / Erroll Garner
5 Klook's Nook 5:11
Kenny Clarke
6 Inhibitions 3:53
 Ernie Wilkins
7 Bags' Groove  5:41
Milt Jackson
8 Telefunken Blues 5:52
Kenny Clarke / Ernie Wilkins
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Frank Morgan (tracks: 1 to 4)
Arranged By – Ernie Wilkins (tracks: 5 to 8)
Baritone Saxophone – Charlie Fowlkes (tracks: 5 to 8)
Bass – Eddie Jones (tracks: 5 to 8), Percy Heath (tracks: 1 to 4)
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder (tracks: 5 to 8)
Piano – Gerald Wiggins (tracks: 1 to 4)
Tenor Saxophone – Walter Benton (tracks: 1 to 4)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Frank Wess (tracks: 5 to 8)
Trombone – Henry Coker (tracks: 5 to 8)
Vibraphone, Piano – Milt Jackson (tracks: 5 to 8)
Vibraphone, Vocals – Milt Jackson (tracks: 1 to 4)