CHICO HAMILTON Introducing LARRY CORYELL — The Dealer (1967) Two Version (1990, MCA Records – MCAD-39137) + (1999, RM | Serie Impulse! Master Sessions) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Drummer Chico Hamilton introduced many top young players during his years as a bandleader, but few probably realize that Larry Coryell made his recording debut with Chico a year before joining Gary Burton's quartet. The Dealer marks Coryell's initial appearance on record, and at times he sounded oddly like Chuck Berry (especially on "The Dealer"). Also heard on this set are altoist Arnie Lawrence, bassist Richard Davis, organist Ernie Hayes (on two numbers), and, on his spirited boogaloo "For Mods Only," Archie Shepp making a rare appearance on piano. Most of the performances still sound surprisingly fresh, especially the explorative "A Trip," making this an underrated but worthy release. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. The Dealer 6:20
 Jimmy Cheatham / Chico Hamilton
2. For Mods Only 4:24
 Archie Shepp
3. A Trip 6:35
 Jimmy Cheatham / Chico Hamilton
4. Baby, You Know 3:55
 Jimmy Cheatham / Chico Hamilton
5. Larry Of Arabia 5:08
 Larry Coryell
6. Thoughts 6:28
 Chico Hamilton
7. Jim-Jeannie 5:45
 Chico Hamilton
– CD-BONUS TRACK –
8    Chic Chic Chico 2:49
 Manny Albam
9    Big Noise From Winnetka 2:49
 Bob Crosby, Bob Haggart, Gil Rodin, Ray Bauduc
10    The Second Time Around 3:12
Written-By – Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn
11    El Toro    3:12
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Arnie Lawrence (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7)
Arranged By – Jimmy Cheatham (tracks: 1, 4)
Bass – Albert Stinson (tracks: 8, 10, 11), Richard Davis (tracks: 1 to 7)
Cowbell – Willie Bobo (tracks: 9)
Drums, Percussion – Chico Hamilton
Flute – Charles Lloyd (tracks: 8, 11)
Guitar – Gabor Szabo (tracks: 8, 10, 11), Larry Coryell (tracks: 1 to 7)
Maracas – Willie Bobo (tracks: 8)
Organ – Ernie Hayes (tracks: 4, 5)
Percussion – George Bohanon (tracks: 11)
Percussion, Tambourine – Unknown Artist (tracks: 7)
Piano – Archie Shepp (tracks: 2)
Tenor Saxophone – Charles Lloyd (tracks: 10), Jimmy Woods (tracks: 8)
Trombone – George Bohanon (tracks: 10)
Vocals – Albert Stinson (tracks: 8), Chico Hamilton (tracks: 6)

GABOR SZABO — Femme Fatale (1978-1999) RM | Serie A Magyar Popsztori | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Released in 1981 on a small Hungarian label, this 1978 session recorded in Hollywood is the guitarist's final record. "Out of the Night" interestingly pairs him with pianist Chick Corea. But the remainder of the record is a standard late-'70s fusion date without Corea, highlighted by the Return to Forever intrigue of "A Thousand Times." Douglas Payne
Tracklist
1. Femme Fatale 8:18 (Gabor Szabo)
2. Zingaro (A. C. Jobim) 7:08
3. Serena (James Harrah) 3:38
4. A Thousand Times (Gabor Szabo) 9:13
5. Out Of The Night (Gabor Szabo) 8:06
Credits
Gábor Szabó - guitar
Chick Corea - piano (track 5)
Leon Bisquera - keyboards
James Harrah - guitar
Abraham Laboriel - bass
David Roney - electric bass
Hugh Moran - drums
Everette Bryson - percussion
Gary Grant, Jerry Hey - trumpet, flugelhorn
William Reichenbach - trombone
Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Williams - reeds
Lawrence Sonderling, Bobby Dubow, Ken Yerke, John Wittenberg,
Sheldon Sanov, Carol Shive - violin
Pamela Goldsmith, Arthur Royval, Michael Nowak - viola
Ronald Cooper, Ray Kelley - cello
David Campbell - arranger, conductor

CHARLES LLOYD QUARTET - Of Course, Of Course (1965-2007) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Charles Lloyd's second album as a leader teams him with guitarist Gabor Szabo (his old friend from the Chico Hamilton group), bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams. Although Lloyd was still a member of Cannonball Adderley's group, his playing on the set shows that he was clearly ready to become a leader. Seven of the nine diverse compositions are his originals; he takes "The Things We Did Last Summer" as a duet with Szabo and rips through "Apex," a trio number without the guitarist, but it is this cut most certainly reflects Ornette Coleman's influence (whereas Lloyd and everyone else who played tenor were being written about in the shadow of Coltrane). Certainly Coltrane's flurry of notes and deconstruction of chords is evident in places, but here, it is Coleman's unshakable sense of melody and rhyme that is most prevalent, and it sports is a brief but wonderfully woody solo by Carter. Other notable selections include "Goin' to Memphis" and Sammy Kahn's "Things We Did Last Summer" (where, according to Stanley Crouch's new liner notes, the saxophonist directly quotes the melody of Coleman's "Free at 3:00 of..."). Other cuts that really stand out here are the title track and the serious blowing session of "One for Joan," where the twinning and counterpoint interplay between Szabo and Lloyd is almost synchronous. Whether on tenor or flute, Lloyd was quickly coming into his own as an original voice, and this underrated set is a minor classic. [In 2007, Mosiac Records in its Singles series, reissued the recording for the first time on CD. In addition to a beautiful remastering job that is warm and clean, there are three bonus tracks also recorded in 1965 but not released until Lloyd's Nirvana album in 1968. Two of these, "Island Blues," and "Sun Dance" feature Albert Stinson on bass and Pete La Roca on drums in place of Carter and Williams. Another oddity is that in addition to Szabo's guitar playing, the Band's Robbie Robertson makes an appearance on the Caribbean-flavored latter tune. The other bonus cut, "East of the Sun and West of the Moon," uses the primary rhythm section, and was recorded for the original session, and left off the final version of the LP.] Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Of Course, Of Course 4'45
Charles Lloyd
2     The Song My Lady Sings 2'28
Charles Lloyd    
3     The Best Thing for You 5'18
Irving Berlin    
4     The Things We Did Last Summer 6'08
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
5     Apex 3'59
Charles Lloyd
6     One for Joan 5'07
Charles Lloyd
7     Goin' to Memphis 3'38
Charles Lloyd
8     Voice in the Night 6'44
Charles Lloyd
9     Third Floor Richard 6'16
Charles Lloyd
10     East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) 4'54
Brooks Bowman
11     Island Blues 3'25
Charles Lloyd
12     Sun Dance 3'32
Charles Lloyd
Credits :
Bass – Albert Stinson (11, 12), Ron Carter (1 to 3, 5 to 10)
Drums – Tony Williams (1 to 3, 5 to 10), Pete LaRoca (11, 12)
Flute – Charles Lloyd (1 to 10)
Guitar – Gabor Szabo (1 to 4, 6 to 12), Robbie Robertson (12)
Tenor Saxophone – Charles Lloyd

CHARLES LLOYD - Manhattan Stories (1965-2014) 2xCD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Manhattan Stories features two live concerts showcasing saxophonist/flutist Charles Lloyd performing with his group at Slugs Saloon in New York City in 1965. Joining Lloyd here are guitarist Gábor Szabo, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Pete La Roca. This is expansive, adventurous music by four of the jazz world's most forward-thinking luminaries.  Matt Collar
Tracklist 1 :
1     Sweet Georgia Bright 17'49
Charles Lloyd
2     How Can I Tell You 11'55
Charles Lloyd
3     Lady Gabor 12'51
Gabor Szabo
Tracklist 2 :
1     Slugs' Blues 12'56
Charles Lloyd
2     Lady Gabor 13'49
Gabor Szabo
3     Dream Weaver 15'27
Charles Lloyd
Credits :
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Pete La Roca Sims
Guitar – Gábor Szabó
Producer – Dorothy Darr, Zev Feldman
Saxophone, Flute – Charles Lloyd

CHARLES LLOYD - Nirvana (1968-2014) RM | Jazz Collection 1000 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Charles Lloyd & His Quintet–    Island Blues 3:26
Written-By – C. Lloyd
2    Charles Lloyd & His Quintet–    Carcara 1:45
Written-By – J. Candido, J. Vale
3    Charles Lloyd & His Quintet–    Long Time, Baby 2:12
Written-By – C. Lloyd
4    Charles Lloyd & His Quintet–    East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) 4:57
Written-By – B. Bowman
5    Charles Lloyd & His Quintet–    Love Theme From 'In Harm's Way' 2:11
Written-By – J. Goldsmith
6    Charles Lloyd & His Quintet–    Sun Dance 3:17
Written-By – C. Lloyd

7    Charles Lloyd & His Quintet–    You Know (From "Ecco") 1:39
Written-By – R. Ortolani
8    Chico Hamilton & His Quintet Featuring Charles Lloyd–    One For Joan/Freedom Traveler (Part I-Prayer) (Part II-Journey) 14:39
Written-By – C. Lloyd
Credits :
Bass – Albert Stinson (pistas: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9), Ron Carter (pistas: 4, 7)
Drums – Anthony Williams (pistas: 4, 7), Chico Hamilton (pistas: 8, 9), Pete La Roca (pistas: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6)
Guitar – Gabor Szabo
Producer – Teo Macero
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Charles Lloyd
Trombone – Garnett Brown (pistas: 7, 8)

LENA HORNE + GABOR SZABÓ - Watch What Happens! (1970-1990) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The pairing of chanteuse Lena Horne and guitarist Gabor Szabo may seem incongruous on paper, but Watch What Happens! is an unexpected delight, capturing a soulfulness and sass largely absent from the singer's previous efforts. Producer and arranger Gary McFarland's candy-coated orchestral settings afford Horne the opportunity to step out of the elegant but often stuffy refinement of her classic LPs and let down her hair. Her vocals pirouette around Szabo's hypnotically funky guitar leads with the focused abandon of a child playing hopscotch. Keyboardist Richard Tee, bassist Chuck Rainey, and drummer Grady Tate contribute the supple grooves that highlight so many McFarland sessions, and the material is top-notch, including no fewer than three Beatles covers: "In My Life," "Fool on the Hill," and "Rocky Raccoon," the latter featuring the most purely joyful performance of Horne's career. [Watch What Happens! was originally released on Szabo's Skye Records label as Lena & Gabor in 1970.]  by Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1 Watch What Happens 4:00
Jacques Demy / Norman Gimbel / Michel Legrand  
2 Something 3:08
George Harrison
3 Everybody's Talkin' 2:52
Fred Neil
4 The Fool on the Hill 3:35
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
5 Yesterday, When I Was Young 4:00
Charles Aznavour / Herbert Kretzmer
6 Rocky Raccoon 3:27
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
7 My Mood Is You 4:45
Carl Sigman
8 A Message to Michael 3:14
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
9 Night Wind 3:35   
Erroll Garner / Bobby Scott
10 In My Life 2:52
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Credits :
Bass – Chuck Rainey
Guitar – Cornell Dupree, Eric Gale, Gabor Szabo
Orchestrated By, Arranged By, Conductor – Gary McFarland
Organ – Richard Tee
Vocals – Howard Roberts Singers, Lena Horne

GABOR SZABO - Spellbinder (1966-1998) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Released just six months after Gypsy '66, Gabor Szabo's second album as a leader (after leaving a sublime Chico Hamilton band that also included Charles Lloyd) remains one of his finest moments in the studio. Szabo utilized the tales of bassist Ron Carter and his old boss Hamilton on drums, as well as a pair of fine Latin percussionists -- Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja. The groove quotient was very high on Spellbinder, maybe even higher than on later albums such as Jazz Raga or Sorcerer. This set is all Szabo, drifting, wafting, and soaring above all that rhythm; the track selection provides ample space for Szabo's highly individualized Eastern modal style to shine. The set opens with the title track, a snaky guitar masterpiece with plenty of droning strings and pinched chords that are followed by open string flourishes. Carter holds the entire band together as Hamilton plays in counterpoint to the percussionists. This is followed with two nuggets from the pop book of the day, the Coleman/Leigh classic "Witchcraft" and "It Was a Very Good Year." From the performances here, it's apparent that Szabo was deeply influenced by singers, and Frank Sinatra was at his pinnacle during this time. There's the emerging '60s psychedelic sound in Szabo's playing, but it is underlaid with bossa rhythms and swells. These tracks, while flavored with Latin and pop stylings, are gorgeous guitar jazz. Szabo gets back into his own mystic thang with "Gypsy Queen" (the opening droning moments of which the Doors lifted entirely for "The End"). Here the Latin rhythms and guitar go head to head, point to counterpoint. A pronounced yet elusive melody line propels a series of polyrhythms forward into an abyss of melody, mode, and frighteningly intense legato phrasing, leaving the listener breathless. He takes the edge off with Sonny Bono's "Bang Bang (She Shot Me Down)." Szabo sings here in his plaintive Hungarian-inflected English, and the tune becomes something other than a pop song, but a tome on despair and loss. The funky "Cheetah" follows with gorgeous arpeggios, pointedly turning into chords of distinction as Hamilton rides the crash cymbal into territories unknown and double-times the band until it notches up the intensity. This set follows with one more Szabo original ("Yearning") and a trio of standards, with a heartbreakingly beautiful read of "My Foolish Heart" and a medley of "Autumn Leaves" and "Speak to Me of Love." Szabo's read on jazz in the '60s was brilliant. He embodied all of its most popular aspirations with a genuine spirit of innovation and adventure. Spellbinder is a masterpiece.     
|> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <|
Tracklist:
1 Spellbinder  5:30
Gabor Szabo
2 Witchcraft  4:39  
Cy Coleman / Carolyn Leigh
3 It Was a Very Good Year  2:47
Ervin Drake
4 Gypsy Queen  5:13
Gabor Szabo
5 Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)  2:28
Sonny Bono
6 Cheetah  4:10
Gabor Szabo
7 My Foolish Heart  5:28
Ned Washington / Victor Young
8 Yearning  2:59
Gabor Szabo
9 Autumn Leaves/Speak to Me of Love  3:35
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
Credits
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Chico Hamilton
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Gabor Szabo
Percussion [Latin] – Victor Pantoja, Willie Bobo 

GABOR SZABO — Macho (1975-2013) RM Blu-Spec | Serie CTI Supreme Collection – 40 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Macho is right. This 1975 album is one of the headiest in the Hungarian-born guitarist Gabor Szabo's entire catalog. Produced by Bob James, the album is deep in fretless Fender basslines courtesy of Louis Johnson, funky Rhodes pianos and synthesizers from James and former Mother of Invention Ian Underwood, guitar savvy from Szabo with Eric Gale on rhythm, and a horn section that features no less than George Bohanon, Jon Faddis, and Tom Scott, with the venerable Harvey Mason Sr. on drums. This is a tough, in-your-face, funky soul-jazz band. Szabo's sense of camp was eternal as he covers, disco-style, Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody #2," but slips into the souled-out groove-jazz of his own "Time," without a seam. Szabo's playing, with its mysterious, liquid runs and razor sharp melodic sensibilities, is centered here by James, who attempts to make Szabo's six strings be at the absolute dead-center of the mix. Tracks like James' own "Transylvania Boogie," (the long title track), and Phoebe Snow's "Poetry Man," offer a glimpse of Szabo as the consummate melodist: with teeth. Harmonically, this band was as disciplined as the charts would allow, giving nothing away in the ensemble sections. This is a tough, streetwise, commercial jazz album that has plenty to offer to anyone with an open mind. In the pocket, groove-soaked, and flawlessly executed.  
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1 Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 6:56
Arranged By – Bob James
Written-By – F. Liszt
2 Time 5:41
Gabor Szabo
3 Transylvania Boogie 5:37
Bob James
4 Ziggidy Zog 6:03
Harvey Mason, Sr.
5 Macho 9:16
Gabor Szabo
6 Poetry Man 4:32
Arranged By – Bob James
Written-By – Phoebe Snow
Credits :
Bass – Louis Johnson, Scott Edwards
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Gabor Szabo
Lyricon, Tenor Saxophone – Tom Scott
Percussion – Idris Muhammad, Ralph MacDonald
Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Bob James, Ian Underwood
Rhythm Guitar – Eric Gale
Trombone – George Bohanon
Trumpet – Jon Faddis

PAUL DESMOND - Skylark (1973-2003) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Moving over to the CTI label with Creed Taylor, Paul Desmond injects a bit of the 1970s into his sound, obtaining agreeable if not totally simpatico results. Here, the cool altoist is teamed with the progressive-slanted drumming of Jack DeJohnette (who might have been too busy a drummer for his taste), and Bob James' electric and acoustic pianos, with Ron Carter as the bass anchor, Gene Bertoncini on rhythm guitar, and, most interestingly, another individualist, Gabor Szabo, on solo electric guitar. For the first and only time, even taking into account the most inspired moments of Jim Hall, Desmond is not the most interesting soloist on his own record, for it is Szabo who most consistently draws you in with his mesmerizing incantations over vamps from the rhythm section. For those who missed it the first time, Desmond remakes "Take Ten" -- without the Middle Eastern elements -- "Romance de Amor" is eventually dominated by Szabo, and the inclusion of "Was a Sunny Day" proves that Desmond's involvement with the music of Paul Simon in 1970 was not a passing infatuation. Don Sebesky is credited with the "arrangements" but his orchestrating hand is not felt except for a single solo cello (George Ricci) in an adaptation of Purcell ("Music for a While"). It's a cautious change of pace for Desmond, although the fiercer context into which he was placed doesn't really fire his imagination. by Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist:
1 Take Ten 6:08
Paul Desmond
2 Romance de Amor 9:40
Traditional
3 Was a Sunny Day 4:52
Paul Simon
4 Music for a While 6:45
Henry Purcell
5 Skylark 5:21
Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
6 Indian Summer 4:00
Al Dubin / Victor Herbert
7 Music for a While 5:56
Henry Purcell
8 Skylark 5:39
Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
9 Indian Summer 5:27
Al Dubin / Victor Herbert
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Paul Desmond
Arranged By, Supervised By – Don Sebesky
Bass – Ron Carter
Cello – George Ricci
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Gene Bertoncini
Guitar, Soloist [All Solos] – Gabor Szabo
Percussion – Ralph MacDonald
Piano, Electric Piano – Bob James
Producer – Creed Taylor