LEE KONITZ - Round & Round (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The most unusual aspect to this outing by altoist Lee Konitz is that all nine selections are performed in 3/4 time. "Someday My Prince Will Come" and Sonny Rollins's "Valse Hot" were originally waltzes but "Lover Man," "Bluesette" and particularly "Giant Steps" were never recorded in that time signature before. With the assistance of pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Mike Richmond and drummer Adam Nussbaum, Konitz manages to uplift this session above the level of a potential gimmick and finds unexpected beauty in these standards and originals. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Round and Round and Round 7:25
Lee Konitz
2     Someday My Prince Will Come 5:04
Frank Churchill / Larry Morey
3     Luv 6:10
Teo Macero
4     Nancy (With the Laughing Face) 4:43
James Van Heusen / Phil Silvers
5     Boo Doo 5:26
Lee Konitz    
6     Valse Hot 6:22
Sonny Rollins
7     Lover Man 4:28
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
8     Blusette 6:48
Norman Gimbel / Toots Thielemans
9     Giant Steps 7:00
John Coltrane
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Bass – Mike Richmond
Drums – Adam Nussbaum
Piano – Fred Hersch

ART FARMER WITH JOE HENDERSON - Yama (1979-2017) RM | CTI 50th Anniversary | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flugelhornist Art Farmer's fourth and final LP for CTI also features tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson. The material (which includes originals by Clare Fischer, Joe Zawinul, Don Grolnick and Mike Mainieri) is not the most memorable and the funky rhythm section (which is greatly expanded) does not really blend all that well with the styles of Farmer and Henderson so this set is not as exciting as one might hope. A decent but largely forgettable effort. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Dulzura 4'10
Joe Henderson
2    Stop (Think Again) 6'48
Composed By – Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
3     Young and Fine 6'44
Joe Zawinul
4     Lotus Blossom 8'23
Don Grolnick
5     Blue Montreux 6'58
Mike Mainieri
Credits :
Arranged By, Producer [Associate], Synthesizer, Vibraphone – Mike Mainieri
Bass – Eddie Gomez
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Bass – Will Lee
Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
Guitar – David Spinozza, John Tropea
Keyboards – Don Grolnick, Fred Hersch, Warren Bernhardt
Mastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Percussion – Sammy Figueroa
Producer – Creed Taylor
Synthesizer [Programming] – Suzanne Ciani
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson

THE ART FARMER QUINTET - You Make Me Smile (1985-2021) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Among the most consistent of jazzmen, flugelhornist Art Farmer sounds in fine form on this quintet outing with tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan, pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Akira Tana. The material, other than the standards "Nostalgia" and "Have You Met Miss Jones?" is more obscure than usual, with an adaptation of a Scriabin classical prelude and numbers by Rufus Reid, Farmer ("Flashback") and Benny Carter ("Souvenir"). Creative bop-based music with Farmer's usual subtlety clearly in evidence. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     You Make Me Smile 4'19
Rufus Reid2     Prelude No. 1 7'02
Alexander Scriabin
3     Nostalgia 5'42
Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro
4     Flashback 7'51
Art Farmer
5     Souvenir 6'52
Benny Carter
6     Have You Met Miss Jones? 4'48
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Double Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Akira Tana
Flugelhorn, Producer – Art Farmer
Painting – Giuliano Crivelli
Piano, Directed By [Recording Coordinator] – Fred Hersch
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

THE ART FARMER QUINTET - You Make Me Smile (1985-2021) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Among the most consistent of jazzmen, flugelhornist Art Farmer sounds in fine form on this quintet outing with tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan, pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Akira Tana. The material, other than the standards "Nostalgia" and "Have You Met Miss Jones?" is more obscure than usual, with an adaptation of a Scriabin classical prelude and numbers by Rufus Reid, Farmer ("Flashback") and Benny Carter ("Souvenir"). Creative bop-based music with Farmer's usual subtlety clearly in evidence. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     You Make Me Smile 4:19
Rufus Reid
2     Prelude No. 1 7:02
Alexander Scriabin    
3     Nostalgia 5:42
Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro
4     Flashback 7:51
Art Farmer
5     Souvenir 6:52
Benny Carter
6     Have You Met Miss Jones? 4:48
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Double Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Akira Tana
Flugelhorn, Producer – Art Farmer
Piano, Directed By [Recording Coordinator] – Fred Hersch
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

FRED HERSCH ENSEMBLE / WALT WHITMAN - Leaves of Grass (2005) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Leaves of Grass finds pianist Fred Hersch and a stellar ensemble of musicians performing Walt Whitman's classic poetry to music. Hersch has long displayed an organic mix of Keith Jarrett's blissed-out focus, Bill Evans' epic patience, and Tommy Flanagan's straight-ahead sense of swing. Combine all that with a deft post-bop harmonicism, classically trained technique, and finally the epic poetry of Walt Whitman and you get this gorgeously cerebral album. Interestingly, Hersch has apple picked from various parts of Leaves of Grass, only including certain parts that truly spoke to him. The result is a semi-classical-sounding oratorio that makes room for spoken word sections, sections done in vocalized song, and outright improvisation. Giving life to Whitman's actual words are singers Kurt Elling and Kate McGarry, who instill each phrase with precision and eloquence. Similarly, Hersch's backing ensemble, including trumpeter Ralph Alessi, tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby, trombonist Mike Christianson, clarinetist Bruce Williamson, cellist Erik Friedlander, bassist Drew Gress, and drummer John Hollenbeck, helps deliver an atmospheric and nuanced backdrop for Whitman's poetry. Hersch's Leaves of Grass will certainly not be to everyone's taste -- poetry and jazz rarely are -- however, as an exercise in combining the two mediums, Hersch has not only succeeded, but also created one of the best albums of his career. by Matt Collar  
Tracklist:
Part One
1 A Riddle Song 3:38
2 Song Of The Universal 3:52
3 Whoever You Are Holding Me Now In Hand 0:50
Song Of Myself (31:15)
4 Part I (I Celebrate Myself) 3:49
5 Part II (A Child Sayd: What Is The Grass?) 3:24
6 Part III (A Learner With The Simplest) 2:17
7 Part IV (Exist As I Am) 2:19
8 Part V (I Am He That Walks) 2:58
9 Part VI (Through Me Forbidden Voices) 3:57
10 Part VII (Now I Will Do Nothing But Listen) 3:31
11 Part VIII (I Believe A Leaf Of Grass) 2:17
12 Part IX (I Fly Those Flights) 3:13
13 Part X (My Lovers Suffocate Me) 3:29
14 Part XI (Why Should I Wish To See God) 2:59
Part Two
15 The Mystic Trumpeter 5:10
16 At The Close Of The Day 4:35
17 To You / Perfections 0:22
18 The Sleepers 5:42
19 Spirit That Form'd This Scene / On The Beach At Night Alone (Interlude) 5:19
20 After The Dazzle Of Day 3:06
Credits:
Bass – Drew Gress
Cello – Erik Friedlander
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Bruce Williamson
Drums, Percussion – John Hollenbeck
Music By – Fred Hersch
Piano – Fred Hersch
Tenor Saxophone – Tony Malaby
Text By – Walt Whitman
Trombone – Mike Christianson
Trumpet – Ralph Alessi
Vocals – Kate McGarry, Kurt Elling

FRED HERSCH - Leaves of Grass (2005) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Leaves of Grass finds pianist Fred Hersch and a stellar ensemble of musicians performing Walt Whitman's classic poetry to music. Hersch has long displayed an organic mix of Keith Jarrett's blissed-out focus, Bill Evans' epic patience, and Tommy Flanagan's straight-ahead sense of swing. Combine all that with a deft post-bop harmonicism, classically trained technique, and finally the epic poetry of Walt Whitman and you get this gorgeously cerebral album. Interestingly, Hersch has apple picked from various parts of Leaves of Grass, only including certain parts that truly spoke to him. The result is a semi-classical-sounding oratorio that makes room for spoken word sections, sections done in vocalized song, and outright improvisation. Giving life to Whitman's actual words are singers Kurt Elling and Kate McGarry, who instill each phrase with precision and eloquence. Similarly, Hersch's backing ensemble, including trumpeter Ralph Alessi, tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby, trombonist Mike Christianson, clarinetist Bruce Williamson, cellist Erik Friedlander, bassist Drew Gress, and drummer John Hollenbeck, helps deliver an atmospheric and nuanced backdrop for Whitman's poetry. Hersch's Leaves of Grass will certainly not be to everyone's taste -- poetry and jazz rarely are -- however, as an exercise in combining the two mediums, Hersch has not only succeeded, but also created one of the best albums of his career. by Matt Collar 
Tracklist
1 A Riddle Song (Overture) 3:38
2 Song Of The Universal 3:52
3 Whoever You Are Holding Me Now In Hand 0:50
4 Song Of Myself: Part I (I Celebrate Myself) 3:49
5 Song Of Myself: Part II (A Child Sayd: What Is The Grass?) 3:24
6 Song Of Myself: Part III (A Learner With The Simplest) 2:17
7 Song Of Myself: Part IV (Exist As I Am) 2:19
8 Song Of Myself: Part V (I Am He That Walks) 2:58
9 Song Of Myself: Part VI (Through Me Forbidden Voices)
10 Song Of Myself: Part VII (Now I Will Do Nothing But Listen) 3:31
11 Song Of Myself: Part VIII (I Believe A Leaf Of Grass) 2:17
12 Song Of Myself: Part IX (I Fly Those Flights) 3:13
13 Song Of Myself: Part X (My Lovers Suffocate Me) 3:29
14 Song Of Myself: Part XI (Why Should I Wish To See God) 2:59
15 The Mystic Trumpeter 5:10
16 At The Close Of The Day 4:15
17 To You / Perfections 0:22
18 The Sleepers 5:42
19 The Spirit That Form'd This Scene / On The Beach At Night Alone 5:39
20 After The Dazzle Of Day 3:06
Credits
Bass – Drew Gress
Cello – Erik Friedlander
Clarinet – Bruce Williamson
Drums – John Hollenbeck
Piano – Fred Hersch
Tenor Saxophone – Tony Malaby
Trombone – Mike Christianson
Trumpet – Ralph Alessi
Voice – Kate McGarry, Kurt Elling

FRED HERSCH - Leaves of Grass

 (2005) Palmetto / APE (image+.cue), lossless

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