ELMO HOPE — Homecoming! (1961-1992) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Homecoming! is a particularly high-spirited record for this stage in Hope's troubled career. Following an extended stay in Los Angeles, a number of the day's top players helped welcome a refreshed Hope back to New York on this session. Tenor saxophonists Frank Foster and Jimmy Heath, as well as trumpeter Blue Mitchell, form the front line on the sextet numbers, while on all tracks Hope is joined by the rhythm section of Percy Heath and Philly Joe Jones. Four of the album's (original) seven tracks are sextet performances and the two alternate takes only appear on the Fantasy Original Jazz Classics CD reissue. The Dameron-esque bop numbers sizzle and weave and the tenor work of Frank Foster is especially rewarding on the album's bouncing opener, "Moe, Jr.," take four on the CD. The three ballads are equally fresh and less doom-ridden than comparable performances found elsewhere in his catalog. Expect fine performances by all. This great hard bop record is highly recommended. Brandon Burke
Tracklist :
1    Elmo Hope Sextet–    Moe, Jr. (Take 4)    5:52
Composed By – Elmo Hope
2    Elmo Hope Sextet–    Moe, Jr. (Take 2)    4:37
Composed By – Elmo Hope
3    Elmo Hope Trio–    La Berthe    3:10
Composed By – Elmo Hope
4    Elmo Hope Sextet–    Eyes So Beautiful As Yours    6:28
Composed By – Elmo Hope
5    Elmo Hope Trio–    Homecoming    5:04
Composed By – Elmo Hope
6    Elmo Hope Trio–    One Mo' Blues    6:44
Composed By – Elmo Hope
7    Elmo Hope Sextet–    A Kiss For My Love (Take 5)    5:29
Composed By – Elmo Hope
8    Elmo Hope Sextet–    A Kiss For My Love (Take 4 - Previously Unissued)    5:35
Composed By – Elmo Hope
9    Elmo Hope Trio–    Imagination 6:39
Composed By – Jimmy Van Heusen And Johnny Burke
Credits :
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – "Philly" Joe Jones
Piano, Arranged By – Elmo Hope
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Tenor Saxophone – Frank Foster (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8), Jimmy Heath (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8)
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8)

JOHN COLTRANE — The Prestige Recordings (1991) 16-CD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The 16 CDs in this compendium represent nearly everything that John Coltrane recorded for the Prestige label during a 32-month period between May 7, 1956, and December 26, 1958. What's missing are Coltrane's contributions to the mid-'50s Miles Davis band, which are on the equally exhaustive and highly recommended Davis Chronicle box set released in 1990. Otherwise, listeners are treated to the sessions that produced the seminal long-players Coltrane, Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette, Traneing In, Soultrane, Lush Life, Settin' the Pace, Standard Coltrane, Stardust, The Believer, Black Pearls, Bahia, and The Last Trane -- all of which highlight the artist as either a leader or co-leader. Not included in that list are an additional 19 albums that boast Coltrane's involvement as a support musician. The music is presented primarily in a chronological fashion -- commencing with a pair of May 1956 outings with pianist Elmo Hope and tenor saxophonist

Sonny Rollins. Wrapping things up are five tunes cut the day after Christmas of 1958 alongside trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. Coltrane's legend is ingrained in the grooves of such indispensable entries as "How Deep Is the Ocean?" flanked by tenor saxophonists Zoot Sims, Hank Mobley, and Al Cohn -- as originally heard on Tenor Conclave. There is also the Tadd Dameron-commanded "Soultrane" and the definitive "The Way You Look Tonight," during one of the many Mal Waldron confabs, plus "Undecided," sporting Red Garland at the helm. And who could forget the Great American Songbook selections "Lush Life," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Lover," "Russian Lullaby," "Why Was I Born?," "Lover Come Back to Me," "Stardust," and "Time After Time"? Accompanying the music is a 32-page liner notes booklet. Inside are a historical essay from Doug Ramsey, a session-by-session breakdown by Carl Woideck (and the occasional notation from producer Orrin Keepnews), and several different cross-references of the contents. Overall, the audio quality is excellent throughout, especially considering that the original tapes were transferred during the infancy of digital audio technology. Since 1991, the majority of the music has been remastered and issued on the individual album titles with even more astonishing results. Lindsay Planer
All Tracks & Credits :

CLIFFORD BROWN – The Complete Blue Note And Pacific Jazz Recordings (1995) 4xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This four-CD set has the exact same music as an earlier Mosaic five-LP box, but is highly recommended to those listeners not already possessing the limited-edition set. Trumpeter Clifford Brown is heard on the most significant recordings from the first half of his tragically brief career. Whether co-leading a date with altoist Lou Donaldson, playing as a sideman with trombonist J.J. Johnson, interacting with an all-star group of West Coast players, or jamming with the first (although unofficial) edition of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers (a two-disc live performance with a quintet that also includes the drummer/leader, Donaldson and pianist Horace Silver), Brown is the main star. Highlights are many, including versions of "Brownie Speaks," Elmo Hope's "De-Dah," "Cherokee," "Get Happy," "Daahoud" and "Joy Spring." The attractive packaging, with its 40 pages of text and many rare pictures, is an added bonus. Scott Yanow    Tracklist + Credits :

CLIFFORD BROWN – Memorial Album (1956-1989) RM | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Like swing guitarist Charlie Christian, Clifford Brown was incredibly influential for someone who died so young. The Fats Navarro-minded trumpeter was only 25 when a car accident claimed his life in 1956, but his influence remained long after his death -- Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Woody Shaw, Donald Byrd, and Carmell Jones were among the many trumpet titans who were heavily influenced by Brown. In the early to mid-'50s, Brown kept getting more and more exciting; those who found him impressive in 1952 found even more reason to be impressed in 1955. That means that when it comes to Brown's dates, excellent doesn't necessarily mean essential. Recorded in 1953, the material here isn't quite as essential as some of Brown's work with drummer Max Roach in 1954 and 1955, but it's still superb. The trumpet icon is heard at two different sessions, the first with saxmen Gigi Gryce and Charlie Rouse, pianist John Lewis, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Art Blakey. The other includes Heath, alto saxman Lou Donaldson, pianist Elmo Hope, and drummer Philly Joe Jones (who in 1953 was two years away from joining Miles Davis' quintet). Brown's solos are consistently expressive; he swings unapologetically hard on up-tempo fare like "Carvin' the Rock," "Cherokee," and Quincy Jones' "Wail Bait," but is quite lyrical on the ballads "You Go to My Head" and "Easy Living." One thing all of the performances have in common is a strong Fats Navarro influence; Navarro was Brown's primary inspiration, although Brown became quite distinctive himself at an early age. Casual listeners would be better off starting out with some of Brown's recordings with Max Roach; nonetheless, seasoned fans will find this to be a treasure chest. Alex Henderson   Tracklist + Credits :

LOU DONALDSON | CLIFFORD BROWN - New Faces-New Sounds (1953-2014) FLAC (tracks), lossless

New Faces New Sounds is a 1953 date featuring saxophonist Lou Donaldson and trumpeter Clifford Brown leading a quartet. The tracks were also issued on 1956's Memorial Album after Brown's death. Backing them here are pianist Elmo Hope, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. This is superb, highly influential hard bop jazz. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1     Carving the Rock 3'57
Elmo Hope / Sonny Rollins
2     You Go to My Head 4'21
J. Fred Coots / Dizzy Gillespie        
3     De-Dah 4'51
Elmo Hope    
4     Brownie Speaks 3'47
Clifford Brown    
5     Cookin' 3'14
Lou Donaldson    
6     Bellarosa 4'14
Elmo Hope
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – "Philly" Joe Jones
Piano – Elmo Hope
Trumpet – Clifford Brown

LOU DONALDSON - Quartet / Quintet / Sextet (1957-1999) RM | MONO | 24 Bit By RVG | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Since Quartet/Quintet/Sextet is Lou Donaldson's first full-length album, it's not surprising that it captures the alto saxophonist at the height of his Charlie Parker influence. Throughout the album -- on CD, the collection features all the music on the 12" LP, music from its 10" incarnation, and three alternate takes -- Donaldson plays in a straight bop vein, whether on up-tempo swingers or ballads. Most of the songs on the collection are standards, with a couple of fine originals from Donaldson and pianist Horace Silver spicing the mix; in particular, Silver's rollicking, Latin-tinged "Roccus" is a standout. While Donaldson's tone isn't quite as full as it would be within just five years, he impresses with his bold, speedy technique and fine phrasing. He doesn't play anything out of the ordinary, but he plays it very, very well, and his playing is enhanced by the three stellar bands that support him on these sessions. Among his fellow musicians on Quartet/Quintet/Sextet are Silver, bassist Gene Ramey, drummer Art Taylor, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, pianist Elmo Hope, and trumpeter Kenny Dorham. Everyone plays in a straight bop and hard bop tradition, contributing fine performances to a strong debut effort by Donaldson. Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist :
1     If I Love Again 2:41
Jack Murray / Ben Oakland    
2     Down Home 3:21
Lou Donaldson    
3     The Best Things in Life Are Free 3:26
Lew Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson
4     Lou's Blues 3:44
Lou Donaldson    
5     Cheek to Cheek 3:04
Irving Berlin    
6     Sweet Juice 3:32
Horace Silver    
7     The Stroller 5:38
Lou Donaldson    
8     Roccus 3:27
Horace Silver    
9     Caracas 6:02
Lou Donaldson    
10     Moe's Bluff 5:08
Elmo Hope
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Gene Ramey, Percy Heath
Drums – Art Blakey, Arthur Taylor
Piano – Elmo Hope, Horace Silver
Recorded By [Recording By], Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trombone – Matthew Gee
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell, Kenny Dorham

ELMO HOPE – The All Star Sessions (1976-1989) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

This single-CD reissues all of the music (except for a second take of "Moe, Jr.") formerly on a two-LP set having the same name and catalog number. Before that, the music originally came out on the Prestige album Informal Jazz and the Riverside release Homecoming. The often-overlooked pianist/composer Elmo Hope is heard in three different settings. He first heads a four-song jam session (two swinging originals and a couple of standards) that has lengthy solos from trumpeter Donald Byrd and the contrasting tenors John Coltrane and Hank Mobley, along with fine support from bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Jones. The 1961 dates consist of a sextet outing with trumpeter Blue Mitchell and the tenors of Jimmy Heath and Frank Foster, plus four numbers played with the trio from the album (which has bassist Percy Heath and drummer Philly Joe Jones). Other than a version of "Imagination," all of the selections from 1961 are Hope's intriguing and ultimately logical originals. Excellent music from an underrated great. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :