THE HORACE SILVER QUINTET & TRIO — Blowin' the Blues Away (1959) Two Version (2004, RM | Serie Blue Note 決定盤 1500 – 21) + (2011, RM | SACD, Hybrid | Serie The Blue Note Reissues) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Blowin' the Blues Away is one of Horace Silver's all-time Blue Note classics, only upping the ante established on Finger Poppin' for tightly constructed, joyfully infectious hard bop. This album marks the peak of Silver's classic quintet with trumpeter Blue Mitchell, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Louis Hayes; it's also one of the pianist's strongest sets of original compositions, eclipsed only by Song for My Father and Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers. The pacing of the album is impeccable, offering up enough different feels and slight variations on Silver's signature style to captivate the listener throughout. Two songs -- the warm, luminous ballad "Peace" and the gospel-based call-and-response swinger "Sister Sadie" -- became oft-covered standards of Silver's repertoire, and the madly cooking title cut wasn't far behind. And they embody what's right with the album in a nutshell -- the up-tempo tunes ("Break City") are among the hardest-swinging Silver had ever cut, and the slower changes of pace ("Melancholy Mood") are superbly lyrical, adding up to one of the best realizations of Silver's aesthetic. Also, two cuts ("Melancholy Mood" and the easy-swinging "The St. Vitus Dance") give Silver a chance to show off his trio chops, and "Baghdad Blues" introduces his taste for exotic, foreign-tinged themes. Through it all, Silver remains continually conscious of the groove, playing off the basic rhythms to create funky new time patterns. The typical high-impact economy of his and the rest of the band's statements is at its uppermost level, and everyone swings with exuberant commitment. In short, Blowin' the Blues Away is one of Silver's finest albums, and it's virtually impossible to dislike. Steve Huey
Tracklist :
1    Blowin' The Blues Away    4:44
 Horace Silver
2    The St. Vitus Dance 4:10
 Horace Silver
3    Break City    4:56
 Horace Silver
4    Peace    6:02
 Horace Silver
5    Sister Sadie    6:19
 Horace Silver
6    The Baghdad Blues    4:52
 Horace Silver
7    Melancholy Mood (New Version) 7:10
 Horace Silver
 – BONUS TRACK –
8    How Did It Happen    4:4
Credits :
Bass – Eugene Taylor
Drums – Louis Hayes
Piano – Horace Silver
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Junior Cook
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

THE HORACE SILVER QUINTET — Song for My Father (1964-2004) RM | Serie Blue Note 決定盤1500 – 51 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of Blue Note's greatest mainstream hard bop dates, Song for My Father is Horace Silver's signature LP and the peak of a discography already studded with classics. Silver was always a master at balancing jumping rhythms with complex harmonies for a unique blend of earthiness and sophistication, and Song for My Father has perhaps the most sophisticated air of all his albums. Part of the reason is the faintly exotic tint that comes from Silver's flowering fascination with rhythms and modes from overseas -- the bossa nova beat of the classic "Song for My Father," for example, or the Eastern-flavored theme of "Calcutta Cutie," or the tropical-sounding rhythms of "Que Pasa?" Subtle touches like these alter Silver's core sound just enough to bring out its hidden class, which is why the album has become such a favorite source of upscale ambience. Song for My Father was actually far less focused in its origins than the typical Silver project; it dates from the period when Silver was disbanding his classic quintet and assembling a new group, and it features performances from both bands. Still, it hangs together remarkably well, and Silver's writing is at its tightest and catchiest. The title cut became Silver's best-known composition, partly because it provided the musical basis for jazz-rock group Steely Dan's biggest pop hit "Rikki Don't Lose That Number." Another hard bop standard is introduced here in the lone non-Silver tune, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson's "The Kicker," covered often for the challenge of its stuttering phrases and intricate rhythms. Yet somehow it comes off as warm and inviting as the rest of the album, which is necessary for all jazz collections -- mainstream hard bop rarely comes as good as Song for My Father. Steve Huey              
Tracklist:
1 Song for My Father 7:18      
Horace Silver
2 The Natives Are Restless Tonight 6:10 
Horace Silver
3 Calcutta Cutie 8:31
Horace Silver
4 Que Pasa? 7:47
Horace Silver
5 The Kicker 5:26
Joe Henderson
6 Lonely Woman 7:02
Horace Silver
Credits:
Piano – Horace Silver
Bass – Gene Taylor (tracks: 3, 6), Teddy Smith (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Drums – Roger Humphries (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5), Roy Brooks (tracks: 3, 6)
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell (tracks: 3, 6), Carmell Jones (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5), Junior Cook (tracks: 3, 6)
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

DUKE PEARSON – The Right Touch (1967-1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Duke Pearson rises to the challenge of writing for an all-star octet (with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, trombonist Garnett Brown, altoist James Spaulding, Jerry Dodgion on alto and flute, Stanley Turrentine on tenor, bassist Gene Taylor, drummer Grady Tate, and the leader/pianist), contributing colorful frameworks and consistently challenging compositions. The set is full of diverse melodies (the CD reissue has a previously unissued take of "Los Malos Hombres") played by a variety of distinctive soloists; many of these songs deserve to be revived. This is one of the finest recordings of Duke Pearson's career. Scott Yanow    Tracklist & Credits

BLUE MITCHELL - The Cup Bearers (1963-1993) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Trumpeter Blue Mitchell and four-fifths of the Horace Silver Quintet (with Cedar Walton in Silver's place) perform a variety of superior songs on The Cup Bearers, including Walton's "Turquoise," Tom McIntosh's "Cup Bearers," Thad Jones' "Tiger Lily," and a couple of standards. The music swings hard, mostly avoids sounding like a Horace Silver group, and has particularly strong solos from Mitchell, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook and Walton. Excellent hard bop. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1    Turquoise     5:03
Cedar Walton
2    Why Do I Love You?    5:28
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
3    Dingbat Blues    5:41
Charles Davis
4    Capers    6:04
Tom McIntosh
5    Cup Bearers 6:15    
Tom McIntosh
6    How Deep Is The Ocean?    6:43
Irving Berlin
7    Tiger Lily    8:31
Thad Jones
Credits
Bass – Gene Taylor
Drums – Roy Brooks
Piano – Cedar Walton
Tenor Saxophone – Junior Cook
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

THE BLUE MITCHELL QUINTET - Down with It! (1965-2005) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Down With It is a fairly standard bop and soul-jazz session from Blue Mitchell. Leading a quintet that features a young Chick Corea on piano, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Al Foster, Mitchell creates a laid-back atmosphere which makes R&B covers like "Hi-Heel Sneakers" or the lite bossa nova of "Samba De Stacy" roll along nicely. Just as often, the record is so relaxed that it fails to generate much spark, but each the soloists have fine moments that makes the session worthwhile for jazz purists. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Hi-Heel Sneakers 8:25
Robert Higginbotham   
2     Perception 5:42
Chick Corea / Blue Mitchell
3     Alone, Alone, And Alone 7:45
Terumasa Hino
4     March on Selma 6:16
Blue Mitchell
5     One Shirt 7:30
William Boone
6     Samba de Stacy 6:00
William Boone
Credits :
Bass – Gene Taylor
Drums – Al Foster
Piano – Chick Corea
Recorded By, Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Junior Cook
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

BLUE MITCHELL - Step Lightly (1963-2015) RM / BLUE NOTE MASTERWORKS / SHM-CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Trumpeter Blue Mitchell's Blue Note debut went unissued for 17 years, only coming out on this 1980 LP (not yet reissued on CD). The set must have been lost in the shuffle, for the music is consistently excellent. Mitchell, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, altoist Leo Wright, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Roy Brooks perform four originals and obscurities, plus lyrical versions of "Sweet and Lovely" and "Cry Me a River." Worth searching for. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Mamacita 5:46
Joe Henderson
2 Sweet and Lovely 7:44
Gus Arnheim / Jules LeMare (Chas. N. Daniels) / Harry Tobias
3 Andrea 5:13
Roger Boykin
4 Step Lightly 8:33
Joe Henderson
5 Cry Me a River 6:45
Arthur Hamilton
6 Bluesville 4:07
Sylvester Kyner
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Leo Wright
Bass – Gene Taylor
Drums – Roy Brooks
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Herbie Hancock
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

LEE MORGAN - The Rajah (1966-2014) RM / SHM-CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This long-lost Lee Morgan session was not released for the first time until it was discovered in the Blue Note vaults by Michael Cuscuna in 1984; it has still not been reissued on CD. Originals by Cal Massey, Duke Pearson ("Is That So") and Walter Davis, in addition to a couple of surprising pop tunes ("What Not My Love" and "Once in My Lifetime") and Morgan's title cut, are well-played by the quintet (which includes the trumpeter/leader, Hank Mobley on tenor, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Billy Higgins). Much of the music is reminiscent of The Jazz Messengers and that may have been the reason that it was lost in the shuffle for Morgan was soon investigating modal-oriented tunes. Despite its neglect, this is a fine session that Lee Morgan and hard bop fans will want. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 A Pilgrim's Funny Farm 13:36
Cal Massey
2 The Rajah 9:11
Lee Morgan
3 Is That So? 5:18
Duke Pearson
4 Davisamba 6:46
Walter Davis, Jr.
5 What Now, My Love? 5:22
Gilbert Bécaud
6 Once in My Lifetime 5:47
Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley
Credits:
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Gene Taylor
Piano – Cedar Walton
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trumpet – Lee Morgan

BLUE MITCHELL – Boss Horn (1966-2004) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Trumpeter Blue Mitchell delivers a solid hard bop date with his 1966 Blue Note release Boss Horn. [The Rudy Van Gelder edition of Boss Horn features remastered sound by original producer Van Gelder that does significanly improve the overall sound quality over the original release.] Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1 Millie 6:15
Duke Pearson
2 O Mama Enit 5:34
Blue Mitchell
 3 I Should Care 7:31
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
 4 Rigor Mortez 6:21
Dave Burns
 5 Tones for Joan's Bones 6:37
Chick Corea
 6 Straight Up and Down  6:36
Chick Corea
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Jerry Dodgion
Arranged By – Duke Pearson
Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell
Bass – Gene Taylor
Drums – Mickey Roker
Piano – Cedar Walton (tracks: 1 to 4), Chick Corea (tracks: 5, 6)
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Junior Cook
Trombone – Julian Priester