JACKIE McLEAN — Let Freedom Ring (1961) Two Version (2003, RM | Serie 24 Bit By RVG) + (2003, RM | Serie RVG Edition ) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless & APE (image+.cue), lossless

Jackie McLean had always been a highly emotional soloist, so it makes sense that he was one of the first hard bop veterans to find a new voice in the burning intensity of jazz's emerging avant-garde. McLean had previously experimented with Coltrane's angular modes and scales and Ornette's concept of chordal freedom, but Let Freedom Ring was the landmark masterpiece where he put everything together and ushered in the era of the modernists at Blue Note. A number of saxophonists were beginning to explore the ability of the instrument to mimic human cries of passion, and here McLean perfected a long, piercing squeal capable of expressing joy, anguish, fury, and more. The music on Let Freedom Ring remained more rooted in hard bop structure than Coleman's, and McLean was still recognizably himself, but that was precisely what was revolutionary about the album: It validated the avant-garde aesthetic, demonstrating that it had enough value to convert members of the old guard, and wasn't just the province of radical outcasts. There are only four pieces, one of which is the surging Bud Powell ballad "I'll Keep Loving You"; the other three are McLean originals ("Melody for Melonae," "Rene," and "Omega," dedicated to his daughter, son, and mother respectively) that spotlight his tremendous inventiveness on extended material and amaze with a smoldering fire that never lets up. Pianist Walter Davis takes the occasional solo, but the record is McLean's statement of purpose, and he accordingly dominates the proceedings, with the busy, free-flowing dialogues of bassist Herbie Lewis and Ornette drummer Billy Higgins pushing him to even greater heights. The success of Let Freedom Ring paved the way for a bumper crop of other modernist innovators to join the Blue Note roster and, artistically, it still stands with One Step Beyond as McLean's greatest work. Steve Huey
Tracklist :
1    Melody For Melonae    13:17
 Jackie McLean
2    I'll Keep Loving You    6:14
 Bud Powell
3    Rene    9:57
 Jackie McLean
4    Omega    8:30
 Jackie McLean
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean
Bass – Herbie Lewis
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Walter Davis, Jr.
Recorded By, Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder

BOBBY HUTCHERSON — Four Seasons (1983-2015) RM | Serie Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 24 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This set by vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson is a bit unusual in that, rather than playing complex originals, he interprets seven jazz standards. With the assistance of pianist George Cables, bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Philly Joe Jones, Hutcherson sounds in top form on such numbers as Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You," "Star Eyes" and "If I Were A Bell." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    I Mean You 5:49
Composed By – T. Monk
2    All Of You 5:54
Composed By – Cole Porter
3    Spring Is Here 7:03
Composed By – Rodgers/Hart
4    Star Eyes 7:47
Composed By – Raye, De Paul
5    If I Were A Bell 5:37
Composed By – Loesser
6    Summertime 6:50
Composed By – Heyward, Gershwin
7    Autumn Leaves 6:36
Composed By – Prevert
Credits :
Bass – Herbie Lewis
Drums – Philly Joe Jones
Piano – George Cables
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Bobby Hutcherson

McCOY TYNER — Tender Moments (1968-1987) Serie Blue Note CD Treasury – CP32-9545 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

On this excellent set, McCoy Tyner had the opportunity for the first time to head a larger group. His nonet is an all-star aggregation comprised of trumpeter Lee Morgan, trombonist Julian Priester, altoist James Spaulding, Bennie Maupin on tenor, Bob Northern on French horn, Howard Johnson on tuba, bassist Herbie Lewis, and drummer Joe Chambers in addition to the pianist/leader. Tyner debuted six of his originals, and although none became standards (perhaps the best known are "The High Priest" and "All My Yesterdays"), the music is quite colorful and advanced for the period. Well worth investigating. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Mode To John    5:40
 McCoy Tyner
2    Man From Tanganyika    6:52
 McCoy Tyner
3    The High Priest    6:05
 McCoy Tyner
4    Utopia    7:35
 McCoy Tyner
5    All My Yesterday    6:03
 McCoy Tyner
6    Lee Plus Three    5:41
 McCoy Tyner
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Flute – James Spaulding
Bass – Herbie Lewis
Drums – Joe Chambers
French Horn – Bob Northern
Piano – McCoy Tyner
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Bennie Maupin
Trombone – Julian Priester
Trumpet – Lee Morgan
Tuba – Howard Johnson

ARCHIE SHEPP - California Meeting "Live On Broadway" (1987) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Archie Shepp recordings in the 1980s are hit and miss; this is one of the more interesting ones. Shepp does make the mistake of playing soprano on "A Night in Tunisia" (his abilities on that instrument pale next to his tenor) and having a guest singer (Royal Blue) brought out of the audience to sing "St. James Infirmary." But Shepp's tenor playing is excellent on a roaring "Giant Steps" and the ballad "My Romance," and his sidemen (pianist George Cables, bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Eddie Marshall) are flexible and versatile enough for the diverse music. Not essential but this CD is worth picking up by Archie Shepp's fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     St. James Infirmary 7:20
Guest, Vocals – Royal Blue
Written-By – Joe Primrose
2     A Night in Tunisia 13:42
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli    
3     Giant Steps 6:54
John Coltrane
4     My Romance 12:27
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits
Bass – Herbie Lewis
Drums – Eddie Marshall
Piano – George Cables
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp

STANLEY TURRENTINE — That's Where It's At (1962-2019) Serie Blue Note 80 More 60 Works | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A Blue Note release with Les McCann on piano, Herbie Lewis on bass, and Otis Finch on drums. Small group format. Excellent (and exciting) soul-jazz session with Turrentine blowing hot. Ron Wynn
Tracklist  :
1 Smile, Stacey 8:04
Written-By – Les McCann
2 Soft Pedal Blues 7:26
Written-By – Stanley Turrentine
3 Pia 5:33
Written-By – Les McCann
4 We'll See Yaw'll After While, Ya Heah 7:20
Written-By – Les McCann
5 Dorene Don't Cry, I 6:12
Written-By – Les McCann
6 Light Blue 6:30
Written-By – Tommy Turrentine
7 Light Blue (Alternate Take) 6:28

Written-By – Tommy Turrentine
Credits :
Bass – Herbie Lewis
Drums – Otis Finch
Piano – Les McCann
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine

SAM RIVERS – The Complete Blue Note Sam Rivers Sessions (1999) 3xCD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

From the time of his first Blue Note recording in 1964 to his final session for the label in 1967, Sam Rivers made stunning progress as an avant-garde innovator. Starting with an inside/outside hard bop foundation, Rivers quickly took his music as far out as he could while maintaining a recognizable structure; his work fearlessly explored wildly dissonant harmonies and atonality, dense group interaction, cerebral rumination, and passionately intense, free-leaning solos. The Complete Blue Note Sam Rivers Sessions traces that development chronologically (and flawlessly) over the course of three discs, including the entirety of his four albums as a leader: the relatively straightforward Fuschia Swing Song [sic], the avant-bop masterpiece Contours, the radical standards album A New Conception, and the galvanizing, brilliant avant-garde classic Dimensions and Extensions (which also comprised Rivers' half of the split double-LP Involution with Andrew Hill). Five alternate takes are also added to the program, including three of "Downstairs Blues Upstairs." What amazes just as much as Rivers' imaginative originality is how consistently rewarding all three discs are. Rivers may not be quite as much a household name as some of his equally forward-thinking peers, but any jazz fan remotely interested in the avant-garde should know that this set constitutes some of the finest avant-garde jazz Blue Note ever released -- the music here should be considered a cornerstone of any self-respecting avant-garde collection. [As of early 2002, the set was very close to going out of print, a real shame since at the time it was the only form in which any of Rivers' Blue Note recordings were available.] Steve Huey  

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

1-1 Fuschia Swing Song 6:00
1-2 Cyclic Episode 6:55
1-3 Luminous Monolith 6:28
1-4 Luminous Monolith (Alt Tk) 6:36
1-5 Ellipsis 7:39
1-6 Downstairs Blues Upstairs (Alt Tk 1) 8:06
1-7 Downstairs Blues Upstairs (Alt Tk 2) 7:44
1-8 Downstairs Blues Upstairs (Alt Tk 3) 7:46
1-9 Downstairs Blues Upstairs 5:31
1-10 Beatrice 6:10

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

2-1 Point Of Many Returns 9:18
2-2 Dance Of The Tripedal 10:06
2-3 Mellifluous Cacophony 8:57
2-4 Euterpe 11:42
2-5 Mellifluous Cacophony (Alt Tk) 9:00
2-6 I'll Never Smile Again 5:55
2-7 That's All 5:37
2-8 When I Fall In Love 5:48

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

3-1 What A Difference A Day Makes 6:17
3-2 Detour Ahead 5:08
3-3 Temptation 7:36
3-4 Secret Love 7:31
3-5 Paean 5:21
3-6 Precis 5:18
3-7 Helix 5:29
3-8 Effusive Melange 5:47
3-9 Involution 7:10
3-10 Afflatus 6:25

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪

Alto Saxophone, Flute 

– James Spaulding (tracks: 3-5 to 3-10)

Bass – Cecil McBee (tracks: 3-5 to 3-10), 

Herbie Lewis (tracks: 2-6 to 3-4), 

Ron Carter (tracks: 1-1 to 2-5)

Drums – Anthony Williams (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10), 

Joe Chambers (tracks: 2-1 to 2-5), 

Steve Ellington (tracks: 2-6 to 3-10)

Piano – Hal Galper (tracks: 2-6 to 3-4), 

Herbie Hancock (tracks: 2-1 to 2-5), 

Jaki Byard (tracks: 1-1 to 1-10)

Soprano Saxophone, Flute 

– Sam Rivers (tracks: 2-1 to 3-10)

Tenor Saxophone – Sam Rivers

Trombone – Julian Priester (tracks: 3-5 to 3-10)

Trumpet – Donald Byrd (tracks: 3-5 to 3-10), 

Freddie Hubbard (tracks: 2-1 to 2-5)