BARBARA LONG — Soul : The Voice Of Barbara Long (1961-1993) RM | Mono | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It is very easy to call this the definitive Barbara Long album (or her best) because it is the only one she ever made. The obscure singer had a swinging style and a soft voice whose pitch sometimes wandered a little. She definitely had an adventurous spirit, starting the date with a very uptempo "Trolley Song" and stretching herself on some of the dozen songs. This Savoy reissue from the Japanese Denon label features Long with a fine backup group that includes trumpeter Billy Howell (who has an active role), pianist Nat Phipps, bassist George Tucker, drummer Al Harewood, and (on two songs) the great tenor Booker Ervin. This sincere effort is worth a few spins. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Trolley Song 2:20
Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin
2 Gee Baby 3:10
Don Redman / Andy Razaf
3 Largo To Oscar 3:32
N. Phipps
4 When You Are Smiling 3:06
Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington
5 Call Me Darling 2:23
Mark Fisher / Joe Goodwin / Larry Shay
6 Where Is Lonesome 3:17
N. Phipps
7 Green Dolphin Street 3:10
Bronislau Kaper / Ned Washington
8 You Don't Know What Love Is 4:00
Andy Razaf / Don Redman
9 Serenade 1:45
N. Phipps
10 Squeeze Me 3:14
Thomas "Fats" Waller / Clarence Williams
11 Swan Lake 2:50
Tchaikovsky
12 It's Heaven 4:03
N. Phipps
Credits:
Arranged By, Trumpet – Billy Howell
Bass – George Tucker
Drums – Al Harewood
Piano – Nat Phipps
Tenor Saxophone – Booker Ervin
Vocals – Barbara Long

KENNY BURRELL WITH COLEMAN HAWKINS — Bluesey Burrell (1962-2019) RM | SACD Hybrid, DSD | The Prestige Stereo Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This session is valuable for the majestic playing of tenor great Coleman Hawkins, who performs on half of the eight tracks. Released on the Prestige subsidiary Moodsville -- a label that specialized in recordings with an intimate, reflective atmosphere -- the Moodsville sound doesn't sit comfortably on Hawkins. His playing is brilliantly relaxed, but it's not mood music. Leader Kenny Burrell's playing is much more in line with the Moodsville groove. The guitarist is not amplified as much as he is on his Prestige dates from this time. In fact, he performs on a nylon-string instrument almost as much as he does on his hollow-body electric. Unlike Hawkins, Burrell's subdued contribution is made to measure for this date. Listeners expecting to hear Burrell the hard bopper won't. The key moments come during the interaction between the guitarist and tenor player, especially during their exchanges on Burrell's "Montono Blues." The rhythm section, Hawkins' working band from this period (pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Major Holley, and drummer Eddie Locke) provides impeccable, sublime support. Jim Todd
Tracklist :
1    Tres Palabras 6:44
Written-By – Osvaldo Farres
2    No More 1:53
Written-By – Russell, Camarata
3    Guilty 4:17
Written-By – Kahn, Akst, Whiting
4    Montono Blues 4:45
Written-By – Kenny Burrell
5    I Thought About You 4:40
Written-By – Van Heusen, Mercer
6    Out Of This World 4:54
Written-By – Arlen, Mercer
7    It's Getting Dark 6:53
Written-By – Burrell
8    I Never Knew 5:19
Written-By – Kahn, Fiorito
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Leo Wright (pistas: 8)
Bass – George Tucker (pistas: 8), Major Holley (pistas: 1 to 7)
Congas – Ray Barretto (pistas: 1 to 7)
Drums – Eddie Locke (pistas: 1 to 7), Jimmie Smith (pistas: 8)
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Gildo Mahones (pistas: 8), Tommy Flanagan (pistas: 1 to 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (pistas: 1, 4 to 5, 7)

CURTIS FULLER — The Complete Blue Note/UA Curtis Fuller Sessions (1996) 3CD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Trombonist Curtis Fuller, who developed his sound out of the style of J.J. Johnson, recorded prolifically as a leader from 1957-1962. After recording three dates for Prestige and New Jazz within a seven-day period in 1957, Fuller made four albums for Blue Note from 1957-1958, and after three albums for Savoy, he cut a lone session for United Artists in 1959. All of the five Blue Note and United Artists records (plus an alternate take of "Down Home") are on this excellent three-CD limited box set, released in 1996. Fuller is heard with four different quintets that include either tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, baritonist Tate Houston, trumpeter Art Farmer, or (on a date only previously out in Japan) fellow trombonist Slide Hampton; the rhythm sections consist of either Bobby Timmons or Sonny Clark on piano, Paul Chambers or George Tucker on bass, and Art Taylor, Louis Hayes, or Charlie Persip in the drum slot. In addition, there is a sextet session with Lee Morgan, Mobley, Tommy Flanagan, Chambers, and Elvin Jones that has arrangements by Gigi Gryce and Benny Golson. Throughout, the music is high-quality hard bop with plenty of fine features for the underrated but talented Curtis Fuller. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

CURTIS FULLER — Volume 3 (1957-1999) RM | Serie 24 Bit By RVG | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Trombonist Curtis Fuller settled in New York in April of 1957, after working for several years in his native Detroit. Volume 3 pairs him with trumpeter Art Farmer, along with a buoyant rhythm section comprising Sonny Clark (who also relocated to N.Y.C. in April '57), George Tucker and Louis Hayes. This third solo recording for Fuller on the Blue Note label is stronger than its predecessors, especially in showcasing the trombonist's writing talents. The five original tunes and one standard feature some fine ensemble playing and cover a broad range from Afro-Cuban to medium swing to ballad. Fuller's composition "Carvon" is exceptional; the main theme is played on trombone accompanied only by bowed bass. This recording firmly established Curtis Fuller as a serious, mature voice on his instrument. Lee Bloom Tracklist & Credits

CURTIS FULLER — Two Bones (1958-2014) RM | SHM-CD | Serie Blue Note, The Masterworks | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Tracklist & Credits :

OLIVER NELSON — Takin' Care of Business (1960-1991) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Oliver Nelson would gain his greatest fame later in his short life as an arranger/composer, but this superior session puts the emphasis on his distinctive tenor and alto playing. In a slightly unusual group (with vibraphonist Lem Winchester, organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith, bassist George Tucker, and drummer Roy Haynes), Nelson improvises a variety of well-constructed but spontaneous solos; his unaccompanied spots on "All the Way" and his hard-charging playing on the medium-tempo blues "Groove" are two of the many highpoints. Nelson remains a vastly underrated saxophonist and all six performances (four of them his originals) are excellent. Scott Yanow
Tracklist & Credits :

ZOOT SIMS - Down Home (1960-1992) RM | Bethlehem Classic Jazz Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims recorded on a regular basis as a leader for most of 45 years, and virtually all of his many sessions are worth acquiring. Sims's Bethlehem date also gives one a look at the great pianist Dave McKenna in his early days, along with bassist George Tucker and drummer Dannie Richmond. Sims mostly explores standards from the swing era (including a rare version of "Bill Bailey") on this enjoyable and consistently swinging set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Jive at Five 5:18
Count Basie / Harry "Sweets" Edison    
2     Doggin' Around 4:39
Edgar Battle / Ray Evans    
3     Avalon 4:29
Buddy DeSylva / Al Jolson / Vincent Rose    
4     I Cried for You 6:50
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman    
5     Bill Bailey 5:17
Hughie Cannon    
6     Goodnight, Sweetheart 4:22
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ray Noble    
7     There'll Be Some Changes Made 5:24
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet    
8     I've Heard That Blues Before 5:26
Zoot Sims    
9     There'll Be Some Changes Made 6:46
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet    
10     Jive at Five 6:17
Count Basie / Harry "Sweets" Edison     
11     Doggin' Around 3:36
Edgar Battle / Ray Evans    
12     Avalon 4:09
Buddy DeSylva / Al Jolson / Vincent Rose    
13     Goodnight, Sweetheart 5:09
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ray Noble    
14     Bill Bailey 5:02
Hughie Cannon
Credits :
Bass – George Tucker
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Piano – Dave McKenna
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

KENNY BURRELL with COLEMAN HAWKINS - Bluesy Burrell (1962-2008) RVG Remasters | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This session is valuable for the majestic playing of tenor great Coleman Hawkins, who performs on half of the eight tracks. Released on the Prestige subsidiary Moodsville -- a label that specialized in recordings with an intimate, reflective atmosphere -- the Moodsville sound doesn't sit comfortably on Hawkins. His playing is brilliantly relaxed, but it's not mood music. Leader Kenny Burrell's playing is much more in line with the Moodsville groove. The guitarist is not amplified as much as he is on his Prestige dates from this time. In fact, he performs on a nylon-string instrument almost as much as he does on his hollow-body electric. Unlike Hawkins, Burrell's subdued contribution is made to measure for this date. Listeners expecting to hear Burrell the hard bopper won't. The key moments come during the interaction between the guitarist and tenor player, especially during their exchanges on Burrell's "Montono Blues." The rhythm section, Hawkins' working band from this period (pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Major Holley, and drummer Eddie Locke) provides impeccable, sublime support. Jim Todd
Tracklist :
1    Tres Palabras 6:44
Written-By – Osvaldo Farres
2    No More 1:53
Written-By – Russell, Camarata
3    Guilty 4:17
Written-By – Kahn, Akst, Whiting
4    Montono Blues 4:45
Written-By – Kenny Burrell
5    I Thought About You 4:40
Written-By – Van Heusen, Mercer
6    Out Of This World 4:54
Written-By – Arlen, Mercer
7    It's Getting Dark 6:53
Written-By – Burrell
8    I Never Knew 5:19
Written-By – Kahn, Fiorito
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Leo Wright (pistas: 8)
Bass – George Tucker (pistas: 8), Major Holley (pistas: 1 to 7)
Congas – Ray Barretto (pistas: 1 to 7)
Drums – Eddie Locke (pistas: 1 to 7), Jimmie Smith (pistas: 8)
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Gildo Mahones (pistas: 8), Tommy Flanagan (pistas: 1 to 7)
Recorded By, Remastered By [2008] – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (pistas: 1, 4 to 5, 7)

JEROME RICHARDSON - Roamin' with Richardson (1959-1994) Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jerome Richardson has long been one of the most versatile of jazzmen, able to get a personal sound and to swing on flute, tenor, alto, soprano and baritone. For his quartet date with pianist Richard Wyands (who at this point often sounded like Red Garland), bassist George Tucker and drummer Charlie Persip, Richardson plays baritone on three songs (in a deep tone a little reminiscent of Pepper Adams and Leo Parker), two on tenor and one on flute. The CD reissue (the second of only four sessions that the reedman has had as a leader) finds Richardson in excellent form, swinging through three group originals, "I Never Knew," "Poinciana" and a strong version (on baritone) of Duke Ellington's "Warm Valley." by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Friar Tuck 5:36
George Tucker
2     Up at Teddy's Hill 6:20
Jerome Richardson
3     Warm Valley 8:40
Duke Ellington
4     Poinciana 7:33
Buddy Bernier / Nat Simon
5     I Never Knew 6:38
Gus Kahn / Ted Fio Rito
6     Candied Sweets 4:25
Richard Wyands
Credits :
Bass – George Tucker
Drums – Charlie Persip
Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Jerome Richardson
Piano – Richard Wyands

STANLEY TURRENTINE - Look Out (1960-2016) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although he is best known for his bluesy soul-jazz outings, tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine's first Blue Note session as a leader was a much more traditional bop affair, and the resulting album, Look Out!, featuring a rhythm section of Horace Parlan on piano, George Tucker on bass, and Al Harewood on drums, shows as much artful restraint as it does groove. Not that this is a bad thing, since it allows Turrentine's big, clear tone to shine through in all its muscular sweetness, giving Look Out! a wonderful and flowing coherence. Among the highlights here are the pretty ballad "Journey Into Melody" and the gently funky "Little Sheri."  by Steve Leggett
Tracklist :
1. Look Out 7:07
Stanley Turrentine
2 Journey Into Melody 4:52
Robert Farnon
3 Return Engagement 4:40
Horace Parlan
4.  Little Sheri 7:46
Stanley Turrentine
5.  Tiny Capers 4:56
Clifford Brown
6.  Minor Chant 6:17
Stanley Turrentine
Credits :
Bass – George Tucker
Drums – Al Harewood
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine