PHIL WOODS · GENE QUILL · JACKIE McLEAN · JOHN JENKINS · HAL McKUSICK — Bird Feathers (1957-2013) RM | MONO | SHM-CD | New Jazz Chronicle Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Bird Feathers features Woods with the McLean/Jenkins/McKusick lineup in a high-flying blowing/jam session from the '50s. Ron Wynn

Tracklist :
1    Solar    5:49
 Miles Davis
2    Bird Feathers    10:22
 Charlie Parker
3    Interim    5:48
 Hal McKusick
4    Airegin    6:23
 Sonny Rollins
5    Don't Worry 'Bout Me    8:06
 Rube Bloom / Ted Koehler
6    Con Alma    7:40
 Dizzy Gillespie
Credits :
(tracks: 1, 4)
Phil Woods, Gene Quill – Alto Saxophone  
George Syran - Piano
Teddy Kotick - Bass
Nick Stabulas Drums

(tracks: 2)
Jackie McLean, John Jenkins – Alto Saxophone
Wade Legge - Piano
Doug Watkins - Bass
Art Taylor - Drums

(tracks: 3, 5, 6),
Hal McKusick – Alto Saxophone  
Billy Byers - Trombone
Paul Chambers - Bass
Charlie Persip - Drums
Eddie Costa - Piano

THE GIL EVANS ORCHESTRA — Into the Hot (1962-1988) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Although this album (reissued on CD) proudly states that it is by the Gil Evans Orchestra and has Evans' picture on the cover, the arranger actually had nothing to do with the music. Three songs have the nucleus of his big band performing numbers composed, arranged, and conducted by John Carisi (who also plays one of the trumpets). Those selections by the composer of "Israel" are disappointingly forgettable. The other three performances are even further away from Evans for they are actually selections by avant-garde pianist Cecil Taylor's septet! Taylor's music features trumpeter Ted Curson, trombonist Roswell Rudd, altoist Jimmy Lyons, tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp, bassist Henry Grimes, and drummer Sunny Murray and is quite adventurous and exciting, the main reason to acquire this somewhat misleading set. Scott Yanow    Tracklist & Credits :

BUDDY DeFRANCO – 1949-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1445 (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Hep Records' issue of Buddy DeFranco's recordings as a leader of both a quintet and an orchestra between 1949 and 1952 is a welcome one. The material on these 26 cuts is standard fare from the swing era, which was way over by 1949, but it proves that DeFranco knew how to lead a big band and swing hard as a soloist in a quintet setting -- especially with the company he kept. Some of his crew on these sides include Serge Chaloff, Teddy Charles, Teddy Kotick, Lee Konitz, Max Roach, Jimmy Raney, and Al Cohn, just to name a few. Arrangements for these tunes were done by DeFranco, George Russell, and Manny Albam, which gives the listener a taste of the varied sonic interests of the great clarinetist. The sound on these sides is a tiny bit thin, but that's a minor complaint. The material swings no matter the arrangement or the size of the band. This is an intimate look at an often overlooked jazz great.
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Tracklist + Credits :

ZOOT SIMS - New Beat Bossa Nova Means the Samba Swing Vol. 1 + Vol. 2 (1962-2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

New Beat Bossa Nova Vol. 1   
1    Recado Bossa Nova Part 1 2:38
Written-By – Djalma Ferreira, Luiz Antônio
2    Recado Bossa Nova Part 2 3:00
Written-By – Djalma Ferreira, Luiz Antônio
3    Cano Canoe 5:38
Written-By – Mick Micheyl
4    Cantando A Orquestra    4:10
Distel / Peze
5    Ciume    4:15
Carlos Lyra
6    Maria Ninguem    2:40
Carlos Lyra
7    Sem Saudades De Vocé    6:04
Carlos Lyra
8    Barquinho De Papel    2:55
New Beat Bossa Nova Vol. 2  
9    Bernie's Tune 3:02
Written-By – Bernie Miller
10    Poquito Cantando 2:34
Written-By – Don Costa
11    Tickle Toe 2:41
Written-By – Lester Young
12    Lonesome Road 4:24
Written-By – Gene Austin, Nathaniel Shilkret
13    Instant Samba 2:28
Written-By – Don Costa
14    They Call The Wind Maria 2:59
Written-By – Lerner & Loewe
15    Lover Come Back To Me 5:04
Written-By – Hammerstein, Romberg
16    Nature Boy 3:05
Written-By – Eden Ahbez
17    Reaching For The Moon 2:54
Written-By – Irving Berlin
18    Don't fool With Love 3:19
Written-By – Johnny Lehmann, Stan Lebowsky
- BONUS TRACKS -    
19    I Got Rhythm 4:10
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
20    Recado Bossa Nova [Vocal Version] 2:11
Written-By – Djalma Ferreira, Luiz Antônio
21    Don't Fool With Love 2:14
Written-By – Johnny Lehmann, Stan Lebowsky
Written-By – Meredith Willson
23    Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart 2:36
Written-By – James F. Hanley
Notas.
New Beat Bossa Nova Vol. 1: August 28 1962 New York City
New Beat Bossa Nova Vol. 2: November 1962 New York City
Bonus Tracks: October 1-2 1962 New York City
All Credits :

AL COHN, JOE NEWMAN & FREDDIE GREEN - Mosaic Select 27 (2007) 3xCD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This Mosaic compilation draws from material that comprised five separate RCA Victor LPs of the 1950: Al Cohn's The Natural Seven and The Jazz Workshop: Four Brass, One Tenor, Freddie Green's Mr. Rhythm, plus two Joe Newman records, All I Wanna Do Is Swing and I'm Still Swinging. Cohn, Green, and Newman are the common element to all of the recording sessions, leading bands ranging from septets to nonets.The Natural Seven was inspired by the Kansas City Seven drawn from the Count Basie band of the 1930s, and while the arrangements by Cohn and Manny Albam swing lightly in the style of Basie's septet, the focus is more on originals written for the session rather than simply recreating earlier recordings. Joining them are pianist Nat Pierce, trombonist Frank Rehak, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Osie Johnson, highlighted by the upbeat unison horn line in Cohn's "Pick a Dilly" and Albam's swinging "Jump the Blues Away." Johnson even adds a vocal on his fun-filled "Osie's Blues." Cohn's other session as a leader includes Thad Jones with either Joe Wilder, Bernie Glow, or Phil Sunkel on third trumpet, with Dick Katz doubling on valve trombone and trumpet, pianist Dick Katz, and bassist Buddy Jones subbing for the previous personnel. Once more, Cohn and Albam split up the arrangements, with the tenor saxophonist benefiting from the quartet of brass players accompanying him. "Rosetta" and the leader's "Cohn Not Cohen" are among the highlights. Freddie Green was known for his superb timekeeping in the Basie band, a tenure which lasted a half-century until his passing in 1987, just a few years after the leader. Mr. Rhythm marked the first issued under his own name, plus eight of the dozen songs are Green's compositions, with Green sticking to playing rhythm throughout the date. Cohn, Albam, and Ernie Wilkins provide the swinging arrangements of the mostly blues-oriented material, while Cohn doubles on both clarinet and bass clarinet in addition to playing tenor sax. Two dates led by Newman in 1955 also fit in nicely, with either Frank Rehak or Urbie Green on trombone, Wilkins or Gene Quill on alto sax, and Pierce or Dick Katz on piano. Newman, who tended to be overshadowed by many of the other swing and bop trumpeters active at the time, shines on both open and muted horn, while featuring his musicians prominently throughout both dates. Green's "Corner Pocket" and a buoyant treatment of the standard "Exactly Like You" especially stand out. Most of this music was reissued on CD during the '80s and '90s, though none of it remained in print for long. Ken Dryden  
All Tracks & Credits

AL COHN - The Sax Section (1956-2010) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Al Cohn's writing for small groups is always appealing, and this Epic LP is no exception. Leading three separate groups consisting of various reeds (and no brass) plus a rhythm section, Cohn obtains marvelous results from his groups of all-stars and veteran session musicians. The first session concentrates on saxophones, including Cohn and Eddie Wasserman on tenor saxes, Sam Marowitz and Gene Quill on alto saxes, with Sol Schlinger on the baritone sax. Cohn's swinging "Shazam" brings the swing era to mind, while "Tears by Me Out the Heart" is a warm ballad.
The second meeting is more of a mixed bag, with Boomie Richman, Peanuts Hucko, Romeo Penque, Phil Bodner, Charlie O'Kane, and the leader switching out between various reed instruments from one track to the next. Particularly effective is Cohn's exotic arrangement of "While My Lady Sleeps," featuring two flutes in the lead, backed by oboe, clarinet, and bass clarinet. The final date matches three tenor saxophonists (Zoot Sims and Eddie Wasserman joining the leader) and Sol Schlinger again on baritone. The feeling throughout these tracks touches on the work of the big bands of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Woody Herman, always swinging, with plenty of hot solos and tight ensembles. This long-unavailable record is worth acquiring, but it will require both a tedious search and a sizable investment. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Reunion 6:54
Hank Mobley    
2     Ultra Marine 6:38
Hank Mobley    
3     Don't Walk 7:48
Hank Mobley    
4     Lower Stratosphere 10:36
Hank Mobley    
5     Mobley's Musings 6:04
Hank Mobley
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone [Alto Sax] – Gene Quill (tracks: 1, 4, 9, 12)
Alto Saxophone [Lead] [Alto Sax] – Sam Marowitz (tracks: 1, 4, 9, 12)
Baritone Saxophone [Baritone Sax] – Sol Schlinger (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12)
Bass – Milt Hinton
Bass Clarinet – Boomie Richman (tracks: 3, 4, 8, 10), Charlie O'Kane (tracks: 8, 10)
Clarinet – Charlie O'Kane (tracks: 3), Peanuts Hucko (tracks: 3, 4, 8, 10), Phil Bodner (tracks: 3), Romeo Penque (tracks: 3)
Drums – Don Lamond (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 11), Osie Johnson (tracks: 1, 3 to 5, 8 to 10, 12)
English Horn – Romeo Penque (tracks: 10)
Flute – Charlie O'Kane (tracks: 4), Phil Bodner (tracks: 4, 8, 10)
Oboe – Romeo Penque (tracks: 4, 8)
Piano – Hank Jones (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 11), Johnny Williams (tracks: 1, 3 to 5, 8 to 10, 12)
Tenor Saxophone [Tenor Sax] – Al Cohn (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12), Eddie Wasserman (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12), Zoot Sims (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 11)

AL COHN - Al Cohn And His "Charlie's Tavern" Ensemble (1954-2008) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Al Cohn was something special, a gem among musicians. Writer, arranger, performer, leaderhe was one of those rare creative artists gifted with unlimited imagination and technical resources, with magnificent taste and an unerring insight into the expressiveness of East Coast jazz. In the 50s, the personnel he assembled for the four sessions that make up this CD often relaxed in Charlies Tavern, a congenial watering hole on Broadway across from Birdland, the jazz corner of the world. Despite slight personnel changes, each group was power-packed and, unlike many such outfits, married outstanding individuality to collective cohesiveness. With them, Cohn emphatically demonstrated the allembracing brilliance of the many-faceted talents that earned him the title Mr. Music. freshsoundrecords
Tracklist :
1     Inside Out 6:48
Al Cohn    
2     Autumn Leaves 6:09     
Al Cohn    
3     Serenade for Kathy 6:58
Al Cohn    
4     Move 7:16
Denzil Best    
5     Never Never Land 5:29
Styne / Conmden / Green    
6     Something for Lisa 6:26
Al Cohn    
7     Count Every Star 3:08
Bruno Coquatrix / Sammy Gallop    
8     La Ronde 2:46     
Cochran / Strauss    
9     Breakfast with Joe 4:07
Johnny Carisi    
10     This Reminds Me of You 3:15
Ralph Burns    
11     Cabin in the Sky 3:05     
Duke / Latouche    
12     Lullaby of Birdland 2:22
George Shearing    
13     Cohn My Way 2:54
Manny Albam
Notas.
Tracks #1-3, from the album "East Coast-West Coast Scene" (RCA Victor LJM-1020)
Tracks #4-11 & 13, from the album "Mr. Music" (RCA Victor LJM-1024)
Track #12, from the album "Lullaby of Birdland" (RCA Victor LJM-1146)
Personnel on #1-3:
Al Cohn (ts); Joe Newman (tp); Billy Byers; Eddie Bert (tb); Hal McKusick; Gene Quill (as); Sol Schlinger (bs); Sanford Gold (p); Billy Bauer (g); Milt Hinton (b); Osie Johnson (d).
Recorded in New York City, October 26, 1954
Personnel on #4-5:
Same personnel, but Frank Rehak, trombone, replaces Eddie Bert.
Recorded in New York City, December 22, 1954
Personnel on #6-8:
Same personnel, but Jimmy Raney, guitar, replaces Billy Bauer.
Recorded in New York City, December 23, 1954
Personnel on #9-13:
Al Cohn (ts); Joe Newman (tp); Billy Byers (tb); Gene Quill (as); Sol Schlinger (bs); Sanford Gold (p); Buddy Jones (b); Osie Johnson (d).
Recorded in New York City, December 23, 1954

GERRY MULLIGAN AND THE CONCERT JAZZ BAND - At the Village Vanguard (1961-2002) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Of all the recordings made by Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band in the 1960s, this is the definitive one. There are many high points, including "Body and Soul" (which has fine solos from the baritone/leader and valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer), "Come Rain or Come Shine," and the swinging "Let My People Be," but "Blueport" takes honors. On the latter, after hot solos by Mulligan, trombonist Willie Dennis, and Jim Reider on tenor, Mulligan and trumpeter Clark Terry have a lengthy trade-off that is quite hilarious with a countless number of quotes from different songs; at one point they trade off cities. This music is essential. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Blueport 11:07
William Crow / Art Farmer
2     Body and Soul 5:45
Frank Eyton / John W. Green / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
3     Black Nightgown 4:10
Johnny Mandel
4     Come Rain or Come Shine 5:35
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
5     Lady Chatterley's Mother 6:14
Al Cohn
6     Let My People Be 8:00
Gerry Mulligan
Piano – Gerry Mulligan
Credits :
Alto Clarinet – Gene Quill
Alto Saxophone – Bob Donovan
Baritone Saxophone – Gene Allen, Gerry Mulligan
Bass – Bill Crow
Bass Clarinet – Gene Allen
Clarinet – Gene Quill
Drums – Mel Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Jim Reider
Trombone – Alan Ralph, Bob Brookmeyer, Willie Dennis
Trumpet – Clark Terry, Don Ferrara, Nick Travis

MICHEL LEGRAND – Legrand Jazz (1958-1986) RM | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Michel Legrand has spent most of his life as a composer in the studios and for films, but this release is a jazz classic. Legrand took 11 famous jazz compositions and arranged them for three different groups. Tenor great Ben Webster, flutist Herbie Mann, four trombonists, and a rhythm section perform pieces by Duke Ellington, Earl Hines, Django Reinhardt ("Nuages"), and the Count Basie-associated "Blue and Sentimental." A big band with trumpeters Art Farmer and Donald Byrd and altoist Phil Woods plays "Stompin' at the Savoy," "A Night in Tunisia," and Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist." The most famous session has Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, pianist Bill Evans, harp, vibes, baritone, and a rhythm section performing music by Thelonious Monk, John Lewis, Jelly Roll Morton ("Wild Man Blues"), and Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz." Throughout this superlative album, the arrangements are colorful and unusual, making one wish that Legrand had recorded more jazz albums through the years. Scott Yanow

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

1 The Jitterbug Waltz 5:16

Richard Maltby, Jr. / Fats Waller

2 Nuages 2:22

Django Reinhardt

3 A Night in Tunisia 5:51

Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli  

4 Blue and Sentimental 3:21 

Count Basie / Mack David / Jerry Livingston 

5 Stompin' at the Savoy 3:46

Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb

6 Django 4:12 

John Lewis  

7 Wild Man Blues 3:21 

Louis Armstrong / Jelly Roll Morton 

8 Rosetta 7:15 

Earl Hines / Henri Woode 

9 'Round Midnight 2:57 

Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams

10 Don't Get Around Much Anymore 2:32 

Duke Ellington / Bob Russell

11 In a Mist 3:17

Credits:

Bix Beiderbecke 

Alto Saxophone – Gene Quill (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Phil Woods (tracks: 1-6, 9)

Baritone Saxophone – Teo Macero (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Jerome Richardson (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Bass – George Duvivier (tracks: 7, 8,10, 11), Milt Hinton (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Paul Chambers (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Bass, Tuba – Major Holley (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11)

Conductor, Arranged By – Michel Legrand

Drums – Don Lamond (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), Kenny Dennis (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9), Osie Johnson (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Flute – Herbie Mann (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7-11)

French Horn – James Buffington (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Guitar – Barry Galbraith (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Harp – Betty Glamann (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Piano – Bill Evans (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9), Hank Jones (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), Nat Pierce (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), John Coltrane (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9), Seldon Powell (tracks: 2, 5, 6)

Trombone – Billy Byers (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), Eddie Bert (tracks: 7, 8, 10, 11), Frank Rehak (tracks: 2, 5-8, 10, 11), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 2, 5-8, 10, 11)

Trumpet – Art Farmer (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Donald Byrd (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Ernie Royal (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Joe Wilder (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Miles Davis (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)

Vibraphone [Vibes] – Don Elliot (tracks: 2, 5, 6), Eddie Costa (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 9)