ARCHIE SHEPP - California Meeting "Live On Broadway" (1987) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Archie Shepp recordings in the 1980s are hit and miss; this is one of the more interesting ones. Shepp does make the mistake of playing soprano on "A Night in Tunisia" (his abilities on that instrument pale next to his tenor) and having a guest singer (Royal Blue) brought out of the audience to sing "St. James Infirmary." But Shepp's tenor playing is excellent on a roaring "Giant Steps" and the ballad "My Romance," and his sidemen (pianist George Cables, bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Eddie Marshall) are flexible and versatile enough for the diverse music. Not essential but this CD is worth picking up by Archie Shepp's fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     St. James Infirmary 7:20
Guest, Vocals – Royal Blue
Written-By – Joe Primrose
2     A Night in Tunisia 13:42
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli    
3     Giant Steps 6:54
John Coltrane
4     My Romance 12:27
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits
Bass – Herbie Lewis
Drums – Eddie Marshall
Piano – George Cables
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp

MIKE NOCK / BENNIE MAUPIN / CECIL McBEE / EDDIE MARSHALL - Almanac (1967-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This quartet set was an unusual release for Paul Bley's Improvising Artists label in that the music was not comprised of free improvisations and the session was actually recorded independently and then bought by the company. The 1967 session was an early effort by pianist Mike Nock, Bennie Maupin (who doubles on tenor and flute and often sounds here a bit like Joe Henderson), bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Eddie Marshall. Together they perform seven of Nock's post bop originals and there is enough adventure in the music to hold on to one's interest. This set has been reissued on CD through Black Saint/Soul Note. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Specific Gravity One 6:27
Bennie Maupin / Mike Nock
2     Symbiosis 5:29
Bennie Maupin / Mike Nock
3     Emotivations 4:14
Bennie Maupin / Mike Nock
4     Almanac 6:18
Bennie Maupin
5     Hallucinogen 3:45
Bennie Maupin / Mike Nock
6     Double Split 3:49
Bennie Maupin / Mike Nock
7     J.C. Dudley 2:55
Bennie Maupin / Mike Nock
Credits :
Bass – Cecil McBee
Drums – Eddie Marshall
Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Bennie Maupin
Piano, Producer – Mike Nock