BEN WEBSTER — At The Renaissance (1985-1993) RM | 24 Karat Gold | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This live set features tenor great Ben Webster playing with pianist Jimmy Rowles, guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Red Mitchell, and drummer Frank Butler in a club, and the music is consistently wonderful. Whether showing warmth and sentimentality on "Georgia on My Mind" and "Stardust" or growling and roaring on "Caravan" and "Ole Miss Blues," Webster (who was then somewhat taken for granted) is in superior and creative form. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Caravan 10:15
Written-By – Ellington, Mills, Tizol
2    Georgia On My Mind 6:41
Written-By – Carmichael, Gorell
3    Ole Miss Blues 6:45
Written-By – W.C. Handy
4    What Is This Thing Called Love 7:49
Written-By – Cole Porter
5    Stardust 11:09
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael
6    Gone With The Wind 9:01
Written-By – Wrubel, Magidson
7    Renaissance Blues 5:49
Written-By – Webster, Butler, Hall, Rowles, Mitchell
8    Mop Mop 8:27
Written-By – Heard, Wilson
Credits :
Bass – Red Mitchell
Drums – Frank Butler
Guitar – Jim Hall
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster

RED GARLAND — Red Alert (1978-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is an interesting set, featuring pianist Red Garland with a sextet also including cornetist Nat Adderley, both Harold Land and Ira Sullivan on tenor, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Frank Butler. With one of the largest recording groups he ever led, Garland sounds fine, but the material (which includes "The Whiffenpoof Song," "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Stella By Starlight" and "It's Impossible") could certainly have been more inspired. Scott Yanow    Tracklist & Credits :

ART PEPPER QUINTET — Smack Up (1960-2001) RM | Serie Heritage Of Jazz By Digital K2 Contemporary 40 – 3 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The title of this recording, Smack Up is ironic and inadvertently truthful. Within a short period, Art Pepper would begin spending many years in jail due to his heroin addiction; this was his next-to-last album from that period. Despite the bleak future, the great altoist (who never seemed to make an uninspired record during his unstable life) is in excellent form in a quintet with trumpeter Jack Sheldon, pianist Pete Jolly, bassist Jimmy Bond, and drummer Frank Butler. Highlights of this fine album include Harold Land's title cut, the five/four blues "Las Cuevas de Mario," and Ornette Coleman's "Tears Inside." [Some reissues add two takes of the otherwise unknown "Solid Citizens."] Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Smack Up 4:18
Harold Land
2 Las Cuevas de Mario 7:11
Art Pepper
3 A Bit of Basie 7:26
Buddy Collette
4 How Can You Lose 6:57
Benny Carter
5 Maybe Next Year 4:24
Duane Tatro
6 Tears Inside 7:47
Ornette Coleman
7 Solid Citizens 6:32
Jack Montrose
8 Solid Citizens 6:29
Jack Montrose
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Art Pepper
Bass – Jimmy Bond
Drums – Frank Butler
Piano – Pete Jolly
Trumpet – Jack Sheldon

STUFF SMITH — Stuff Smith, Dizzy Gillespie & Oscar Peterson (1957-1994) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The great swing violinist Stuff Smith had not recorded as a leader since 1945 when producer Norman Granz got him to make three albums for Verve during a three-month period. Smith, who was still very much in his prime, recorded 11 selections (one previously unissued) with pianist Carl Perkins, either Red Callender or Curtis Counce on bass and Oscar Bradley or Frank Butler on drums (Have Violin Will Swing), jammed nine numbers (three released for the first time here) with the Oscar Peterson Trio (for the album titled Stuff Smith), and on five tunes teamed up with trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and a rhythm section (Dizzy Gillespie-Stuff Smith); all are reissued in full on this generous two-CD set from 1994. In each of the settings, the violinist excels, making this an easily recommended and very satisfying release.
Scott Yanow   Tracklist + Credits :

AL COHN - Night Flight To Dakar + Xanadu In Africa (1980-2015) RM | 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 This compilation brings together two of saxophonist Al Cohn's live albums featuring his Xanadu ensemble. Both recorded while touring Africa in 1980, here we get Xanadu in Africa and Night Flight to Dakar. Joining Cohn are his associates in Xanadu, tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell, pianist Dolo Coker, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Frank Butler. Featured are such songs as "Blues Up and Down," "Sweet Senegalese Brown," "The King," "All or Nothing at All," "Robbins Nest," "Blues in the Closet," and more. This is aggressive, straight-ahead hard bop played to an enthusiastic audience. Matt Collar
Tracklist 1 :
1    Night Flight To Dakar    8:45
2    Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying    6:44
3    Blues Up And Down    9:10
4    Sweet Senegelese Brown    12:05
5    The King    10:39
Tracklist 2 :
1    All Or Nothing At All    12:41
2    Robbins Nest    10:47
3    I Surrender Dear    8:58
4    Blues In The Closet    4:56
5    Easy Living    9:35
Credits :
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Frank Butler
Piano – Dolo Coker
Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Billy Mitchell

CURTIS COUNCE — You Get More Bounce With Curtis Counce! (1957-1988) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although the title and even the cover photo have been changed, this CD reissue has the same music as was earlier issued as Counceltation; the "bonus cut" "Woody 'n You" has also been reissued on Sonority. In any case, the program features the underrated but talented Curtis Counce Quintet of 1956-1957, a group consisting of the bassist/leader, trumpeter Jack Sheldon, tenor saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Carl Perkins, and drummer Frank Butler. Counce contributed two originals but otherwise the band sticks to jazz standards, with some of the best moments being on "Too Close for Comfort," "Mean to Me," and Charlie Parker's "Big Foot." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Complete 5:51
Curtis Counce
2     How Deep Is the Ocean? 6:35
Irving Berlin
3     Too Close for Comfort 5:36
Jerry Bock / Larry Holofcener / George David Weiss
4     Mean to Me 4:31
Fred E. Ahlert
5     Stranger in Paradise 7:03
Alexander Borodin / George Forrest / Robert Wright
6     Counceltation 6:01
Curtis Counce     
7     Big Foot 9:02
Charlie Parker
8     Woody 'n You 6:14
Dizzy Gillespie
Credits :
Bass – Curtis Counce
Drums – Frank Butler
Piano – Carl Perkins
Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land
Trumpet – Jack Sheldon

HAMPTON HAWES – For Real! (1961-1992) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Although For Real! was at least Hampton Hawes' 11th record as a leader, it was his first (and one of his relatively few) that included a horn player. The pianist matches quite well with the hard bop tenor of Harold Land (heard in his early prime), and the quartet outing, which also includes drummer Frank Butler, has an extra bonus in the playing of the brilliant bassist Scott LaFaro. Performing three bop standards (including "Crazeology") and three originals (two of which were co-written by Land), pianist Hawes sounds inspired by the other players and is in top form throughout the generally memorable outing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Hip 6:14
Written-By – Hampton Hawes
2 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 9:20
Written-By – Billy Moll, Harry Barris, Ted Koehler
3 Crazeology 6:40
Written-By – Bennie Harris
4 Numbers Game 8:04
Written-By – Hampton Hawes, Harold Land
5 For Real 11:21
Written-By – Hampton Hawes, Harold Land
6 I Love You 3:50
Written-By – Cole Porter
Credits
Bass – Scott La Faro
Drums – Frank Butler
Piano – Hampton Hawes
Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land