ART PEPPER — Living Legend (1975-1989) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Art Pepper, one of the major bop altoists to emerge during the '50s, started his comeback with this excellent set, Living Legend. After 15 years filled with prison time and fighting drug addiction, Pepper was finally ready to return to jazz. Accompanied by three of his old friends (pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Shelly Manne), Pepper displays a more explorative and darker style than he had previously. He also shows a greater emotional depth in his improvisations and was open to some of the innovations of the avant-garde in his search for greater self-expression. Although this recording would be topped by the ones to come, the music (five Pepper originals and an intense version of "Here's That Rainy Day") is quite rewarding. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 Ophelia 7:51
 Art Pepper
2 Here's That Rainy Day 5:37
Written-By – Jimmy Van Heusen And Johnny Burke
3 What Laurie Likes 6:45
 Art Pepper
4 Mr. Yohe 7:10
 Art Pepper
5 Lost Life 5:52
 Art Pepper
6 Samba Mom-Mom (Original Take) 8:18
 Art Pepper
7 Samba Mom-Mom (Alternate Take) 6:59
 Art Pepper
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Art Pepper
Bass – Charlie Haden
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Hampton Hawes

HAMPTON HAWES — I'm All Smiles (1966-1993) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Pianist Hampton Hawes led a trio during the 1960s and '70s that remained popular without compromising its sound or musical integrity. His phrasing and voicings could entice or amaze, and he displays great range, rhythmic vitality, and harmonic excellence during the five selections featured on this 1966 live date now reissued on CD. Hawes moves from the Afro-Latin feel of "Manha de Carnaval" to the brilliant chordal exposition on "Spring Is Here" and "The Shadow of Your Smile," before concluding with a flourish on "Searchin." Hawes is backed by wonderful bassist Red Mitchell and steady drummer Donald Bailey, who had both been with him for over a decade. They are not just a cohesive unit, but an intuitive team, maintaining a communication with him that is amazing even within a genre that demands it. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1. I'm All Smiles (7:39)
 Michael Leonard / Herbert Martin
2. Manha De Carnaval (5:36)
 Luiz Bonfá / Antônio Maria
3. Spring Is Here (5:14)
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
4. The Shadow Of Your Smile (10:07)
 Johnny Mandel / Paul Francis Webster
5. Searchin' (10:31)
 Hampton Hawes
Credits :
Bass – Red Mitchell
Drums – Donald Bailey
Piano, Liner Notes – Hampton Hawes

BARNEY KESSEL – Let's Cook! (1957-1999) RM | FLAC (tracks+cue) lossless

This is an excellent session from guitarist Barney Kessel. Kessel is matched with vibraphonist Victor Feldman, pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Shelly Manne for a blues-with-a-bridge (the 11-minute "Let's Cook"), Vernon Duke's ballad "Time Remembered," and "Just in Time." The second half of the album has modernized versions of "Tiger Rag" and "Jersey Bounce" as played by the guitarist, tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, trombonist Frank Rosolino, pianist Jimmie Rowles, Vinnegar, and Manne. Throughout, Kessel keeps with the other all-stars, swinging hard while paying tribute to the legacy of Charlie Christian. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 Let's Cook 11:18
Written-By – Barney Kessel
2 Time Remembered 4:15
Written-By – Vernon Duke
3 Just In Time 4:57
Written-By – Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Jule Styne
4 Tiger Rag 9:45
Written-By – Original Dixieland Jazz Band
5 Jersey Bounce 9:30
Written-By – Bobby Plater, Buddy Feyne, Tiny Bradshaw
# 1-3 :
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Shelly Manne
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Piano – Hampton Hawes
Victor Feldman Vibraphone
# 4-5 :
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Saxophone – Ben Webster
Trombone – Frank Rosolino
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Shelly Manne

BUD SHANK | BILL PERKINS — Bud Shank and Bill Perkins (1998) MONO | Serie West Coast Classics | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Two of the stars of cool jazz, Bud Shank and Bill Perkins, are featured to various degrees throughout this session. Shank in the 1950s was practically the epitome of West Coast jazz. His cool tones on alto and his fluid flute were utilized on many dates; the main set here also finds him switching in spots to tenor and baritone. Perkins, always a versatile reed soloist, is best known for his tenor playing but during that date he also plays alto, and (on two versions of "Fluted Columns") there are some rare examples of his flute. Shank and Perkins team up quite effectively with pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Red Mitchell, and drummer Mel Lewis for the May 2, 1955 session, which includes a trio feature for Hawes ("I Hear Music"). Four numbers from February 19, 1956 (with Shank on flute and alto, pianist Russ Freeman, bassist Carson Smith, drummer Shelly Manne, and, on "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?," Perkins on tenor) are actually from a session led by Freeman but never completed, and were only put out previously on samplers. "Angel Eyes" (by a quartet with Perkins and pianist Jimmy Rowles) is a leftover track from a later date, as is "Sonny Speaks," which showcases Rowles in a trio without Perkins. This set concludes with the one surviving number ("Ain't Got a Dime to My Name") surviving from a truncated Perkins quartet set from 1958. Taken as a whole, there are many rewarding solos to be heard by Shank, Perkins, and the piano players on these formerly rare selections, even if the collection falls short of being classic. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits

CURTIS FULLER — Curtis Fuller and Hampton Hawes with French Horns (1957-2000) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The French horn has rarely been used in jazz as a solo instrument until recent times. Back in the 1950s, jazz's top French horn player was Julius Watkins, with David Amram certainly ranking in the top five. For this 1957 session, trombonist Curtis Fuller and his quintet with altoist Sahib Shihab, pianist Hampton Hawes (Teddy Charles, who contributed three originals, takes his place on one number), bassist Addison Farmer, and drummer Jerry Segal are joined by both Watkins and Amram. On originals by Charles, Amram, and Salvatore Zito, the colorful ensembles and the very adept soloing by the French horns make this a particularly memorable recording. Strange that this album has been obscure for so long. Only the brief playing time keeps this intriguing set from getting a higher rating. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

CHARLIE PARKER – The Complete Dean Benedetti Recordings Of Charlie Parker (1990) 7xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The packaging is impeccable, this seven-CD box set has a definitive 48-page booklet, and the recording quality is as good as possible, so why the "poor" rating? Dean Benedetti, a fanatical Charlie Parker disciple, recorded Bird extensively during three periods in 1947-1948 but did his best to turn off his wire recorder whenever anyone but Parker was soloing. He became legendary, as did his long lost acetates, and Mosaic has done what it could to make the excerpts coherent but the results
are still quite unlistenable. None of the performances on this large set are complete; guests such as Thelonious Monk and Carmen McRae are introduced, play, or sing two notes and then are cut off. And, although Parker seems to play well, these performances reveal no new secrets and add nothing to his legacy. Scott Yanow    Tracklist + Credits :

HAMPTON HAWES — Bird Song (1958-1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The essence of this set is Charlie Parker's numerous variations on "I Got Rhythm" and Parker's key blues-based tunes, such as "Confirmation." The result is a spirited, highly communicative session, where pianist Hampton Hawes gets to the core of the bop idiom. It's a mystery why these tracks from 1956 and 1958 went unreleased until 1999. They come from a key creative period in Hawes' career when he was enjoying new levels of commercial and critical acclaim. Regardless, the music has now been done justice in a well-mastered release that will please fans of Hawes and of bop piano in general. From a lesser artist, the dry, unadorned, direct style at the center of Hawes' playing could expose technical vulnerabilities. In Hawes' case, it exposes a natural, fluent grace of phrasing and rhythm. Each track is a freshly interpreted joy ride across familiar chord changes. Bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Larance Marable, not Hawes' regular partners from this period, are prominent, supportive parts of the pianist's heartbeat. Besides the Parker originals and Parker-derived themes, there are fine versions of several standards, "Yesterdays" and "Stella by Starlight" being just two deliriously swinging highlights. The three tracks from a 1958 date, with Scott LaFaro on bass and Frank Butler on drums, maintain the same joyous pulse of the earlier tracks. Jim Todd  
Tracklist :
1 Big Foot 5:36
Charlie Parker
2 Ray's Idea 4:42
Ray Brown / Gil Fuller
3 Stella by Starlight 4:38
Ned Washington / Victor Young
4 Blues for Jacque 4:52
Hampton Hawes
5 I Should Care 4:41
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
6 Bird Song 4:05
Thad Jones
7 Yesterdays 5:29
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
8 What's New? 5:29
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
9 Just One of Those Things 3:15
Cole Porter
10 I'll Remember April 5:26
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
11 Cheryl 3:46
Charlie Parker
12 Clue 'N' Boogie 3:23
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Lawrence Marable
Piano – Hampton Hawes 

JOHNNY GRIFFIN & DEXTER GORDON - "Jazz Undulation" (1977-2004) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Body And Soul 7'05
Written-By – Green
2    All The Things You Are 13'48
Written-By – Kern
3    Blues Up And Down 20'44
Written-By – Stitt
Credits :
Bass – Jimmy Woode
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Piano – Hampton Hawes
Tenor Saxophone – Dexter Gordon, Johnny Griffin

LENNIE NIEHAUS - Lennie Niehaus, Vol. 1: The Quintets (1954) OJC / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Alto saxophonist Lennie Niehaus is better known as the arranger for Clint Eastwood's films, but he has long been familiar to jazz fans as a respected bandleader, composer, arranger, and soloist. This limited-edition audiophile reissue of his first solo recordings (following stints with Stan Kenton and Shorty Rogers) is a stunner. Included is the first 10" LP he recorded with a three-saxophone front line -- in this case, with Jack Montrose (tenor), and Bob Gordon (baritone) -- and other quintet sessions with musicians including pianist Hampton Hawes, and fellow Kentonite Shelly Manne (who was responsible for Niehaus' record deal with Contemporary's Lester Koenig in the first place). The involvement of Kenton bandmembers familiar with one another lends an ease and excitement to the proceedings. These quintet sessions are West Coast jazz at its finest. Melodic tunes give plenty of air to the lyrical yet complex nature of much of the music coming from that region at the time, with no remnants of the cool jazz period. These 1954 sides stomp with swing, color, and style. Bebop is called upon for tempo and pace, while swing and hard bop are referenced as checkpoints. There is a genuine glee in Niehaus' playing on "I Can't Believe You're in Love with Me," when he trades solos with Stu Williamson, while he paces the slightly faster take on "I Remember You" until slipping into one of those long, melodically sophisticated solos of his, just when you expected another chorus. Listening to this, it's hard to believe West Coast jazz ever got a bad rap. This set sounds as fresh today as it did then. by Thom Jurek  
Tracklist:
1 I Remember You 2:39
Johnny Mercer / Victor Schertzinger
2 Poinciana 3:53
Buddy Bernier / Nat Simon
3 Whose Blues? 3:24
Jim Hall / Lennie Niehaus
4 Prime Ribs 3:13
Lennie Niehaus
5 I Should Care 3:18
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
6 Inside Out 2:59
Lennie Niehaus
7 I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me 3:33
Clarence Gaskill / Jimmy McHugh
8 You Stepped out of a Dream 2:43
Nacio Herb Brown / Gus Kahn
9 I'll Take Romance 3:03
Oscar Hammerstein II / Ben Oakland
10 Happy Times 3:31
Freddie Hubbard / Lennie Niehaus
11 Day by Day 3:40
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
12 Bottoms Up 3:14
Lennie Niehaus
Credits:
Alto Saxophone, Liner Notes – Lennie Niehaus
Baritone Saxophone – Bob Gordon (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12)
Bass – Monty Budwig (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12), Red Mitchell (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Hampton Hawes (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Jack Montrose (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12)
Valve Trombone, Trumpet – Stu Williamson (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Written-By – Lenie Niehaus (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 10, 12)

LENNIE NIEHAUS - Lennie Niehaus, Vol. 1: The Quintets (1954) 

(2000) RM / Contemporary / OJC / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

HOWARD RUMSEY'S LIGHTHOUSE ALL STARS - Sunday Jazz a La Lighthouse (1953) OJC / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For quite a few years in the 1950s, it was a tradition at the Lighthouse for music to be presented on Sundays from 2 p.m. until 2 a.m. The Lighthouse All-Stars formed the core of the all-star group, but quite often other notable players would sit in. This CD reissue presents live performances from one such Sunday. In addition to the usual bandmembers of the time (trumpeter Shorty Rogers, trombonist Milt Bernhart, Bob Cooper and Jimmy Giuffre on tenors, pianist Frank Patchen, bassist Howard Rumsey, and drummer Shelly Manne), trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, pianist Hampton Hawes, and Carlos Vidal on conga have opportunities to be heard. The music is straight-ahead, generally cool-toned, but with plenty of heat; "Viva Zapata" is a Latin romp. Virtually everyone is featured. Highlights include "Four Others," and Rogers' playing on "All the Things You Are" and "Bernie's Tune."  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Four Others 6:01
Jimmy Giuffre
2 All the Things You Are 5:16
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
3 Creme de Menthe 4:30
Erroll Garner / Jimmy Giuffre
4 Viva Zapata! 8:14
Shorty Rogers
5 Bernie's Tune 5:18
Jerry Leiber / Bernard Miller / Mike Stoller
6 Solitaire 4:24
Bill Russo
7 Morgan Davis 6:03
Shorty Rogers
8 La Soncailli 9:55
Jimmy Giuffre
Credits:
Bass, Liner Notes – Howard Rumsey
Congas – Carlos Vidal
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Frank Patchen, Hampton Hawes
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Cooper, Jimmy Giuffre
Trombone – Milt Bernhart
Trumpet – Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers

HOWARD RUMSEY'S LIGHTHOUSE ALL STARS - Sunday Jazz a La Lighthouse

 (1953-1991) Contemporary / OJC / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

HAMPTON HAWES - Everybody Likes Hampton Hawes, Vol. 3: The Trio [1956] Contemporary / FLAC

The third of three Hampton Hawes trio dates with bassist Red Mitchell and drummer Chuck Thompson (all reissued on CD) is on the same high level as his first two. Hawes introduces his "Coolin' the Blues" and "The Sermon," digs into eight standards (including "Somebody Loves Me," "Night In Tunisia" and "Billy Boy") and comes up with consistently creative ideas throughout this swinging bop date.  by Scott Yanow
Track Listing
1 Somebody Loves Me 5:32
Buddy DeSylva / George Gershwin / Ballard MacDonald
2 The Sermon 3:42
Hampton Hawes
3 Embraceable You 4:58
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
4 I Remember You 4:28
Johnny Mercer / Victor Schertzinger
5 A Night in Tunisia 3:54
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli
6 Lover, Come Back to Me 5:13
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
7 Polka Dots and Moonbeams 4:42
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
8 Billy Boy 3:01
Traditional
9 Body and Soul 4:17
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
10 Coolin' the Blues 4:18
Hampton Hawes
Credits
Bass – Red Mitchell
Drums – Chuck Thompson
Piano – Hampton Hawes

HAMPTON HAWES - Everybody Likes Hampton Hawes, Vol. 3: The Trio

 [1956] Contemporary / FLAC / scans

O Púbis da Rosa

HAMPTON HAWES – For Real! (1961-1992) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Although For Real! was at least Hampton Hawes' 11th record as a leader, it was his first (and one of his relatively few) that included a horn player. The pianist matches quite well with the hard bop tenor of Harold Land (heard in his early prime), and the quartet outing, which also includes drummer Frank Butler, has an extra bonus in the playing of the brilliant bassist Scott LaFaro. Performing three bop standards (including "Crazeology") and three originals (two of which were co-written by Land), pianist Hawes sounds inspired by the other players and is in top form throughout the generally memorable outing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Hip 6:14
Written-By – Hampton Hawes
2 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 9:20
Written-By – Billy Moll, Harry Barris, Ted Koehler
3 Crazeology 6:40
Written-By – Bennie Harris
4 Numbers Game 8:04
Written-By – Hampton Hawes, Harold Land
5 For Real 11:21
Written-By – Hampton Hawes, Harold Land
6 I Love You 3:50
Written-By – Cole Porter
Credits
Bass – Scott La Faro
Drums – Frank Butler
Piano – Hampton Hawes
Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land