ROLAND KIRK - "Rahsaan" The Complete Mercury Recordings of Roland Kirk (1990) 11xCD BOX-SET | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Rahsaan Roland Kirk's nearly one-dozen long-players on the Mercury Records family of labels -- including the Smash and Limelight subsidiaries -- are gathered on this massive ten-disc compilation. Actually, it is 11 discs if you count the surprise bonus CD. Additionally, Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings of Roland Kirk lives up to its name by augmenting those albums with more than two-dozen previously unissued sides. Kirk's thoroughly innovative multi-instrumental reed work caught the attention of legendary producer Quincy Jones, then the vice-president of Mercury Records, who signed Kirk and would later arrange and conduct orchestrations for several of his memorable sessions. Perhaps the most recognizable among them is "Soul Bossa Nova" which is heavily featured in the Austin Powers franchise. Kirk's ability to perform several reed instruments -- including the tenor, flute, clarinet, manzello, and stritch -- simultaneously allowed him a musical autonomy few instrumentalists are afforded. His youthful embrace of the R&B, soul, pop, and eventually rock genres produced swinging interpretations of "And I Love Her" and "Walk on By," among others. Regardless of the genre, however, Kirk's ability to Swing -- with a capitol "S" -- is imprinted upon every piece he performed. Although Kirk continued his prolific output on Atlantic records in the late '60s and '70s, arguably his most profound sides are included here. We Free Kings, Domino, Reeds and Deeds, Gifts and Messages, I Talk with the Spirits and Rip, Rig & Panic are offered in their entirety. Undoubtedly the centerpiece of Kirk's work for the label is the live Kirk in Copenhagen, which features some wicked harp blowing from blues legend "Sonny Boy" Williamson, aka Big Skol. It is only fitting that this album benefits so greatly from inclusion on this set. The original six sides have been supplemented with an additional ten to present the entire October '63 performance, now complete at an hour and 45 minutes. Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings if Roland Kirk is complimented visually with a 56-page information packed booklet that includes: complete discographical and recording session logs, as well individual essays for each disc. Although not for the light of funds, this is truly the best way to become immersed in these early works of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Lindsay Planer
All Tracks & Credits

ROLAND KIRK - I Talk with the Spirits (1964-1998) RM | Verve Master Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Multi-instrumentalist Roland Kirk leaves the stritch, manzello and other exotic instruments at home for this all-flute outing from his pre-"Rahsaan" days. Consisting mostly of originals, with a couple of show tunes and a swinging take on John Lewis' "Django" thrown in, I Talk to the Spirits provides the best sampling of Kirk's unique flute style. He hums along with himself as he plays, inserts pieces of lyrics when the mood hits, finds overtones and multi-part harmonies as he blows madly through the upper register and sails sweetly through the lower. Included here is the original version of "Serenade to a Cuckoo," a song later taken to rock audiences with its inclusion on the first Jethro Tull album. (In fact, for the Tull fan who wants to hear where Ian Anderson borrowed his style, I Talk to the Spirits is the place to go.) The playing on this outing is uniformly excellent, with Kirk ranging from his trademark up-tempo overblowing on "A Quote from Clifford Brown" to bluesy growling on "The Business Ain't Nothing But the Blues" to placid beauty on the ballad "Trees." He guides Kurt Weill's "My Ship" on a five-minute voyage through calm seas and turbulent double-timed storms. Kirk's sense of whimsy and musical fun is evident throughout. Jim Newsom
Tracklist :
1     Serenade to a Cuckoo 4'40
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
2     We'll Be Together Again/People 4'38
Carl Fischer / Frankie Laine / Bob Merrill / Jule Styne
3     A Quote from Clifford Brown 4'22
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
4     Trees 6'18
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
5     Fugue'n and Alludin 0'41
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Vibraphone – Bobby Moses    
6     The Business Ain't Nothin' But the Blues 5'02
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
7     I Talk with the Spirits 3'56
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Vibraphone – Bobby Moses
8     Ruined Castles 1'18
Rentaroh Taki
Other [Music Box] – Roland Kirk    
9     Django 4'50
John Lewis
Idiophone [Celeste] – Horace Parlan    
10     My Ship 5'05
Ira Gershwin, Kurt Weill
Credits :
Bass – Michael Fleming (pistas: 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Drums, Percussion – Walter Perkins (pistas: 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Flute, Flute [Amplified Flute], Flute [African Wood Flute], Vocals [Vocal Interjections] – Roland Kirk
Piano – Horace Parlan (pistas: 1 to 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Vocals – Crystal-Joy Albert (pistas: 1, 7)

ROLAND KIRK - Slightly Latin (1965-1997) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     Walk on By 2:32
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
2     Raouf 3:03
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
3     It's All in the Game 5:14
Charles G. Dawes / Carl Sigman
4     Juarez 5:22
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
5     Shaky Money 2:36
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
6     Nothing But the Truth 3:33
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
7     Safari 4:26     
Eddie Mathias
8     And I Love Her 2:53
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
9     Ebrauqs 8:16
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Credits :
Arranged By [Vocals] – Coleridge Perkinson
Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Saxophone [Manzello, Strich] – Roland Kirk
Bass – Edward Mathias
Congas – Montego Joe
Drums – Gerald Brown
Flugelhorn – Martin Banks
Percussion – Manuel Ramos
Piano, Celesta [Celeste] – Horace Parlan
Trombone, Harp [Nagoya Harp], Arranged By – Garnett Brown
Trumpet – Virgil Jones

ARCHIE SHEPP & HORACE PARLAN - Goin' Home (1977-1988) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Archie Shepp's two duet albums with pianist Horace Parlan on SteepleChase (the other one is 1980's Trouble in Mind) both find the innovative avant-garde tenor in relaxed and melodic form, respectfully interpreting music of the 1920s and before. Goin' Home features Shepp (who doubles on soprano) and Parlan playing tasteful versions of nine ancient black folk melodies including "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Nobody Knows the Troubles I've Seen" and "Deep River." Those listeners only familiar with Shepp's earlier Fire Music will find these compelling performances to be a revelation. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Goin' Home 6'10
Traditional
2     Nobody Knows the Troubles I've Seen 4'43
Traditional
3     Go Down Moses 4'21
Traditional
4     Steal Away to Jesus 6'14
Traditional
5     Deep River 4'51
Traditional
6     My Lord, What a Morning 4'40
Traditional
7     Amazing Grace 4'22
John Newton / Traditional
8     Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child 5'20
Traditional
9     Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 2'43
Traditional
10     Come Sunday 7'45
Duke Ellington
Credits :
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Arranged By – Archie Shepp

ARCHIE SHEPP | HORACE PARLAN - Duo Reunion (1987) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Sophisticated Lady 7:47
Written-By – D. Ellington
2    Cousin Flo 5:10
Written-By – A. Shepp
3    A Flower Is A Lonesome Thing 8:42
Written-By – Billy Strayhorn
4    Call Me    6:44
Copyright Control
5    Pannonica 9:41
Written-By – T. Monk
6    When Lights Are Low 6:42
Written-By – Benny Carter
7    Stardust 8:21
Written By – D. Redman/H. Carmichael
Credits :
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp

ARCHIE SHEPP & HORACE PARLAN - Trouble in Mind (1980-1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is the second set of duets by Archie Shepp (doubling on tenor and soprano) and pianist Horace Parlan after an earlier SteepleChase set titled Goin' Home. It features the duo on blues-oriented pieces from the 1920s. It is particularly interesting to hear Shepp, best known for his ferocious free jazz performances of the mid- to late '60s, adjusting his sound and giving such songs as "Trouble in Mind," Earl Hines' "Blues in Thirds," and "St. James Infirmary" tasteful and respectful yet emotional treatment. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Backwater Blues 2:42
Bessie Smith / Traditional
2     Trouble in Mind 3:26
Richard M. Jones    
3     Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out 5:55
Archie Shepp / Traditional    
4     Careless Love 2:36
W.C. Handy / Martha E. Koenig / Spencer Williams    
5     How Long Blues 5:00
Leroy Carr    
6     Blues in Thirds 5:16
Earl Hines    
7     When Things Go Wrong 5:05
Archie Shepp / Traditional    
8     Goin' Down Slow 4:26
Archie Shepp / Traditional    
9     Court House Blues 3:41
Archie Shepp / Traditional    
10     See See Rider 4:43
Archie Shepp / Traditional    
11     Make Me a Pallet on the Floor 3:26
Archie Shepp / Traditional    
12     St. James Infirmary 4:22
Joe Primrose / Traditional
Credits :
Arranged By – Archie Shepp (pistas: 1 to 5, 7 to 12)
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp

ARCHIE SHEPP QUARTET - Splashes (Tribute to Wilbur Little) (1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Arrival 5'49
Horace Parlan
2    Steam 10'15
Archie Shepp
3    Reflexions 6'52
Thelonious Monk
4    Relaxing At Camarillo 8'49
Charlie Parker
5    Manhattan 10'17
V. Duke
6    Groovin’ High 8'08
D. Gillespie
Credits :
Bass – Harry Emmery
Drums – Clifford Jarvis
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp

ARCHIE SHEPP & HORACE PARLAN - Mama Rose : In Concert (1987-2000) 2xCD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist 1 :
1    Arrival 10'22
 Horace Parlan
2    Backwater Blues 9'02
 Bessie Smith / Traditional
3    Round About Midnight 11'03
 Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
4    Mama Rose 7'09
 Horace Parlan / Archie Shepp
5    How Long Blues 7'18
 Leroy Carr
6    Steam 7'03
 Archie Shepp
Tracklist 2 :
1    Make Me A Pallet On The Floor 9'03
 Archie Shepp / Traditional
2    Ruby My Dear 12'12
 Thelonious Monk
3    Nobody Knows You When You Are Down And Out 9'01
 Archie Shepp / Traditional
4    Trouble In Mind 7'21
 Richard M. Jones
5    Deep River 11'54
 Traditional
6    Sophisticated Lady 10'00
 Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish
Credits :
Archie Shepp - Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Vocals
Horace Parlan - Piano

ARCHIE SHEPP QUARTET - I Didn't Know About You (1991-2015) RM | Timeless Jazz Master Collection 20 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A strong effort by Shepp, who is reunited with pianist Horace Parlan and joined by bassist Wayne Dockery and drummer George Brown for a an eight-track set recorded in Germany. The highlight is clearly the sole track with Parlan in which they perform Monk's "Ask Me Now" both effectively and emotionally. The version of "Go Down Moses (Let My People Go)" is a winner for Shepp's glorious baritone vocals and his saxophone solo. The excellent choice of tunes (including Duke Ellington's "I Didn't Know About You," Todd Dameron's "Hot House," and Bird's "Now the Time") presents Shepp in a fine light, where he blows both tenor and alto saxophones. Some of the pieces, such as Shepp's "Party Time," are less than perfect and the saxophonist's vocals on "The Good Life" are only average, but overall, Shepp and the quartet are a pleasure to hear. Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1     Go Down Moses 11'04
Traditional
2     I Didn't Know About You 10'15
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
3     Billie's Bossa 5'33
Horace Parlan
4     Hot House 7'36
Tadd Dameron
5     The Good Life 9'49
Sacha Distel / Jack Reardon
6     Now's the Time 5'34
Charlie Parker
7     Ask Me Now 4'50
Thelonious Monk
8     Party-Time 9'27
Archie Shepp
Credits :
Bass – Wayne Dockery
Drums – George Brown
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Vocals – Archie Shepp (pistas: 1, 5, 8)

ARCHIE SHEPP | HORACE PARLAN - Swing Low : Live (1991-2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Swing Low, Sweet Chariot 6:39
Arranged By – A. Shepp, H. Parlan
Traditional
2    See See Rider 7:53
Composed By – C. Willis
3    Embraceable You 6:51
Composed By – George And Ira Gershwin
4    Go Down Moses 10:50
Arranged By – A. Shepp, H. Parlan
Traditional
5    Make Me A Pallet On The Floor 5:45
Composed By – W. C. Handy
6    I Didn't Know About You 8:35
Composed By – Bob Russell, Duke Ellington
7    Dedication To Bessie Smith's Blues 9:45
Composed By – A. Shepp
8    Billie's Bossa 6:14
Composed By – H. Parlan
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Archie Shepp (pistas: 3, 5)
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 6 to 8)
Vocals – Archie Shepp (pistas: 2, 4, 7)

ARCHIE SHEPP - Black Ballads (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp, who was one of the enfant terribles of the free jazz generation in the 1960s, once said, seemingly uncharacteristically, "You can hear every minute of every hour of every day of every year a player puts into practicing his horn when he plays a ballad." He was being prophetic, of course, as this date from 1992 suggests. Teamed with pianist Horace Parlan -- with whom he recorded the magnificent duet of spirituals Goin' Home -- bassist Wayne Dockery, and drummer Steve McCraven, Shepp leads the quartet through an astonishing series of ballads that are as revelatory for their understatement as they are for their musical aplomb. Shepp takes the Ben Webster approach on these 11 sides and comes off as a singer of songs (he is not singing) rather than as a saxophone player. His readings of "Angel Eyes," "All Too Soon," and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," and his souled-out cover of "Georgia on My Mind," are stunning for the restraint and nuance they contain. Parlan's comping slips toward fills of uncommon texture and dimensionality in the bridges of these tunes, and on Shepp's own "I Know About the Life," he reinvents the tune itself. The high point of this glorious record is Shepp's own "Déjà Vu," as it comes out of an uncommonly long "Lush Life," where the lyric of both compositions becomes a kind of recitation on the blues in stretched time. Issued on the Timeless label, this is a must-have for all Shepp fans, but more importantly, it is for all followers of the development in harmonic thinking about the ballad form in jazz.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1    Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans? 7:11
Composed By – Eddie Delange, Louis Alter
2    I Know About The Life 5:20
Composed By – Archie Shepp
3    Georgia On My Mind 4:58
Composed By – Hoagy Carmichael, Reginald Connelly, Stuart Gorrell
4    Embraceable You   4:41      
Composed By – George & Ira Gershwin
5    Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 5:18
Composed By – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
6    How Deep Is The Ocean 5:25
Composed By – Irving Berlin
7    Lush Life 8:33
Composed By – Billy Strayhorn
8    Déjà Vu 5:08
Composed By – Archie Shepp
9    Angel Eyes 7:56
Composed By – Earl Brent, Matt Dennis
10    All Too Soon 5:55
Composed By – Carl Sigman, Duke Ellington
11    Ain't Misbehavin' 5:16
Composed By – Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Harry Brooks
Credits :
Bass – Wayne Dockery
Drums – Steve McRaven
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Archie Shepp

AL COHN & ZOOT SIMS - Motoring Along (1974-2004) The Sonet Jazz Story | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Al Cohn and Zoot Sims were lifelong friends who were frequent collaborators both in the studios and in clubs. Cohn only led four recording sessions (two for tiny labels) during 1963-74; all featured Sims. For their Sonet date, Al and Zoot are joined by pianist Horace Parlan, bassist Hugo Rasmussen and drummer Sven Erik Norregaard and they perform three standards, two Cohn songs and Jimmy McGriff's "Motoring Along." Zoot plays some effective soprano on "Yardbird Suite." As usual the two saxophonists mutually inspire each other on the cool-toned but frequently-heated bop date. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Stockholm: L.A. 4'55
Al Cohn
2     My Funny Valentine 8'49
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
3     Yardbird Suite 8'04
Charlie Parker
4     Motoring Along 4'54
Jimmy McGriff    
5     Fallin' 7'13
Al Cohn    
6     What the World Needs Now 8'50
Burt Bacharach / Hal David    
7     Stockholm: L.A. [Alternate Take] 4'06
Al Cohn    
8     Fallin' [Alternate Take] 6'22
Al Cohn    
9     What the World Needs Now [Alternate Take] 7'51
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
Credits :
Bass – Hugo Rasmussen
Drums – Sven Erik Norregaard
Piano – Horace Parlan
Saxophone – Al Cohn, Zoot Sims

LOU DONALDSON - The Complete Blue Note Lou Donaldson Sessions 1957-60 (2002) RM | MONO | 6xCD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A soul survivor in every sense of the term, this alto saxophonist is one of the few remaining jazz artists who made a major impact on the jazz community via an extensive run with producer Alfred Lion and the Blue Note label (Horace Silver being another Blue Note legend that comes to mind). From his first recordings for the label with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, it was clear that Lou Donaldson put melody and sound at a premium, coming up with an amalgam that combined the creamy smoothness of Johnny Hodges with the quicksilver bop inflections of Charlie Parker.
Over the course of some 20 albums that Donaldson would cut for Blue Note beginning with his first sessions in 1953, you can trace the course of popular jazz styles, from bop inflected quintets to soul jazz organ combos. The majority of this new six disc set covers the type of bebop fare that is the core of Donaldson's musical persona and much of this material has been available previously on compact disc, although there are a few items that could only be found previously on pricey Japanese imports.

For the record, the albums included herein are Wailing with Lou, Swing and Soul, Lou Takes Off, Blues Walk, LD + 3, The Time Is Right, Sunny Side Up, Light-Foot, Gravy Train, and Midnight Sun.

Seven of the original sessions feature Donaldson in stripped down quartet formats, with conga player Ray Barretto added on occasion. Pianist Herman Foster is a mainstay on several of these dates and he shares a strong affinity with our leading man, especially on the albums Swing and Soul and Light-Foot. Of course, the cream of the crop in this category has to be Blues Walk, a certifiable Blue Note gem with bop ditties such as 'Move' and 'Callin' All Cats' mixing beautifully with lush ballad as found on 'The Masquerade Is Over' and 'Autumn Nocturne.' Never before available in the U.S. on disc, the transcendent L.D. + 3 should be considered the sleeper of these quartet/quintet sides, with Gene Harris and the Three Sounds helping to cast a bluish hue that finds Donaldson at his most sublime. In fact, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to suggest that this session alone is worth the price of admission.

The rest of the set finds Donaldson working with larger groups, starting with 1957's Lou Takes Off. Strictly a blowing session, the four extended performances allow Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller, and Donaldson to stretch out at length, with the rhythm section of Sonny Clark , George Joyner, and Art Taylor booting things along at a medium tempo for the most part. For Wailing With Lou, The Time Is Right, and Sunny Side Up, things revert to a quintet format that places trumpet and alto as the lead voices. The latter two albums are excellent Blue Note dates of the period that make the most of pianist Horace Parlan's bluesy grass roots approach. Plus, trumpeters Blue Mitchell and Bill Hardman make perfect foils to Donaldson in that each has a lyrical style that meshes beautifully with altoist's own melodic muse.

Closing this durable set and serving as a signpost of groovier things to come, namely the organ combo records that Donaldson would launch into beginning with The Natural Soul, 1960's Midnight Sun and the following year's Gravy Train, wrap up this set in a funky vein with Barretto (and Alec Dorsey on Gravy Train ) back to add a little percussive spice. Pieces like 'Dog Walk,' 'Twist Time,' and 'Gravy Train' are modern blues numbers with just a touch of soul and a flavor that would make them jukebox classics at the time—their crossover appeal was very strong.

In typical Mosaic fashion, this set is housed in a 12 x 12 inch box (although the company now is not fastening the top and bottom sections of the box; the top simply slips on top of the bottom half). Along with the 24-bit sound in this package, a 16-page booklet includes original session photographs by Francis Wolff and commentary by Bob Blumenthal. All recordings are available solely through Mosaic Records: 35 Melrose Place; Stamford, CT 06902; (203) 327-7111.

 All Tracks & Credits

LOU DONALDSON - Sunny Side Up (1960-2011) RM | SACD, Hybrid | The Blue Note Reissues | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sunny Side Up is closer to hard bop than the straight-ahead bop that characterized Lou Donaldson's '50s Blue Note records. There's a bit more soul to the songs here, which pianist Horace Parlan helps emphasize with his lightly swinging grooves. The pair help lead the group -- which also features trumpeter Bill Hardman, drummer Al Harewood and bassist Sam Jones (Laymon Jackson plays bass on two of the eight songs) -- through a mellow set of standards and bluesy originals from Donaldson and Parlan. Even the uptempo numbers sound relaxed, never fiery. Despite the general smoothness of the session, Donaldson stumbles a little -- the quotation of "Flight of the Bumblebee" on "Blues for J.P." is awkward, as is the snippet of "Pop Goes the Weasel" on "Politely," and "Way Down Upon the Swanee River" sounds lazy -- but there's enough solid material to make Sunny Side Up a worthwhile listen for fans of Donaldson and early-'60s hard bop. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1    Blues For J.P. 5'40
Written-By – Parlan
2    The Man I Love 5'16
Written-By – Gershwin
3    Politely 5'53
Written-By – Hardman
4    It's You Or No One 3'58
Written-By – Styne-Cahn
5    The Truth 5'22
Written-By – Donaldson
6    Goose Grease 6'10
Written-By – Donaldson
7    Softly As In A Morning Sunrise 6'34
Written-By – Romberg-Hammerstein
8    Way Down Upon the Swanee River (Bonus Track) 5'58
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Laymon Jackson, Sam Jones
Drums – Al Harewood
Piano – Horace Parlan
Trumpet – Bill Hardman

LOU DONALDSON - The Time Is Right (1960-2011) RM | SACD, Hybrid | The Blue Note Reissues | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Lou's Blues 5'55
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
2    Be My Love 5'45
Written-By – Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn
3    Idaho 5'10
Written-By – Jesse Stone
4    The Nearness Of You 4'42
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
5    Mack The Knife 5'17
Written-By – Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, Marc Blitzstein
6    Crosstown Shuffle 5'15
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
7    Tangerine 4'57
Written-By – Johnny Mercer, Victor Schertzinger
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Laymon Jackson
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Dave Bailey
Engineer [SACD Authoring] – Gus Skinas
Piano – Horace Parlan
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

LOU DONALDSON - Midnight Sun (1960-1980) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Recorded in July of 1960, Midnight Sun sat unissued in Blue Note's vaults until the early '80s, when it was issued as part of their LT series. Like many of the previously unreleased albums in the series, it's clear that the only reason this remained in the vaults was because the label was releasing too many records, not because the session itself was second-rate. Granted, there are a couple of awkward moments on the date, but for the most part, Midnight Sun is as strong as any of the hard bop records Donaldson released in the early '60s. Part of the reason the quality is so high is the fact his supporting quartet is so strong. Pianist Horace Parlan has a number of fine moments on the record, and Lou's longtime rhythm section of bassist Ben Tucker, drummer Al Harewood, and conga player Ray Barretto is as reliable as ever. Any dedicated Donaldson fan should search for this record; even if it doesn't reach the heights of Blues Walk and Here 'Tis, it still has plenty of fine music. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
A1    Candy 6:12
Written-By – Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney, Mack David
A2    Midnight Sun 5:46
Written-By – Johnny Mercer, Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke
A3    Avalon 5:18
Written-By – Al Jolson, Buddy G. De Sylva, Vincent Rose
B1    The Squirrel 3:33
Written-By – Tadd Dameron
B2    Si Si Safronia 4:31
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
B3    Exactly Like You 5:04
Written-By – Dorothy Fields, Jimmy McHugh
B4    Dog Walk 4:24
Written-By – Lou Donaldson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Ben Tucker
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Al Harewood
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Horace Parlan

BENNY CARTER - Benny Carter All Stars (1986-2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

After recording very few jazz sessions during 1963-75, Benny Carter has returned to the scene with a vengeance, but no one is complaining. Virtually all of Carter's recordings are worth acquiring and this Gazell LP, although not essential, is no exception. Vibraphonist Red Norvo (on one of his last recordings before his retirement) is featured on "Here's That Rainy Day," cornetist Nat Adderley gets to perform yet another version of his "Work Song" (taking a rare vocal) and Carter joins the sextet for "Memories of You" and three of his own compositions. This nice session offers few surprises but satisfying music. Scott Yanow

Tracklist :
1    Easy Money 10:32
Written-By – Benny Carter
2    Memories Of You 5:27
Written-By – Andy Razaf, Eubie Blake
3    Here‘s That Rainy Day 4:39
Written-By – Jimmy Van Heusen - Johnny Burke
4    Blues For Lucky Lovers 8:47
Written-By – Benny Carter
5    Work Song 5:33
Vocals – Nat Adderley
Written-By – Nat Adderley, Oscar Brown Jr.
6    When Lights Are Low 6:33
Written-By – Benny Carter, Spencer Williams
- BONUS TRACK -
7    Just Friends 6:24
Written-By – John Klenner, Samuel M. Lewis
8    Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be) 4:30
Written-By – Jimmy Davis, Jimmy Sherman, Roger Ramirez
9    What Is Thing Called Love 6:51
Written-By – Cole Porter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 6 to 9)
Bass – Red Mitchell
Drums – Ronnie Gardiner
Piano – Horace Parlan (pistas: 1, 2, 4 to 9)
Trumpet – Nat Adderley (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9)
Vibraphone – Red Norvo (pistas: 1 to 4, 7, 9)

JOHNNY GRIFFIN | EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS - Pisces (1962-2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

When Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis entered a New York studio with producer Orrin Keepnews on May 3, 1962, they did some things that were unusual for the two-tenor team. They played mostly ballads, they didn't engage in any tenor battles and -- most surprising of all -- they didn't perform together on any of the tunes. Griffin was featured on four songs, Davis on another four. The same rhythm section -- Horace Parlan, bassist Buddy Catlett and drummer Art Taylor -- was always present, but Parlan played piano on the songs featuring Griffin and celeste on the songs featuring Davis. For whatever reason, the performances remained in the can for 42 years; they weren't even mastered until 1966, and they finally saw the light of day when Fantasy released Pisces in 2004. Pisces begs the following question: why, in God's name, would two saxmen who had as strong a rapport as Griffin and Davis not perform together when they were in the studio at the same time? Emphasizing ballads was an excellent idea, but wouldn't it have made more sense for them to do it as co-leaders of a quintet? According to jazz critic Larry Hollis -- who wrote Pisces' informative liner notes -- Griffin and Davis' decision to play separately had to do with the fact that they "didn't want to be stereotyped as merely a two-tenor team." In any event, both saxmen are in good form on this CD, which is enjoyable whether the soloist is Griffin on "Willow Weep for Me" and Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" or Davis on "Midnight Sun" and "Yesterdays." For Griffin and Davis, deciding to play separately on May 3, 1962 was probably a mistake; even so, Pisces is a noteworthy (if less than essential) album that shouldn't have gone unreleased for so long. Alex Henderson  
Tracklist :
1    Johnny Griffin–    Pisces 4'10
Written-By – Johnny Griffin
2    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Midnight Sun 4'34
Written-By – Mercer, Hampton, Burke
3    Johnny Griffin–    Willow Weep For Me 4'30
Written-By – Ann Ronell
4    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered 3'41
Written-By – Hart, Rodgers
5    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    What Is There To Say? 3'31
Written-By – Harburg, Duke
6    Johnny Griffin–    She's Funny That Way 4'29
Written-By – Moret, Whiting
7    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    Yesterdays 4'15
Written-By – Kern, Harbach
8    Johnny Griffin–    Sophisticated Lady 4'06
Written-By – Ellington, Mills, Parish
9    Johnny Griffin–    Willow Weep For Me [Alternate] 4'46
Written-By – Ronell
10    Johnny Griffin–    She's Funny That Way [Alternate] 4'13
Written-By – Moret, Whiting
11    Johnny Griffin–    Sophisticated Lady [Alternate] 4'06
Written-By – Ellington, Irving Mills, Parish
12    Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–    What Is There To Say? [Alternate] 3'31
Written-By – Harburg, Duke
Credits :
Bass – Buddy Catlett
Celesta – Horace Parlan (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 12)
Drums – Arthur Taylor
Piano – Horace Parlan (pistas: 1, 3, 6, 8 to 11)
Producer [Original] – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 12), Johnny Griffin (pistas: 1, 3, 6, 8 to 11)

THE JOHNNY GRIFFIN AND 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS QUINTET - Tough Tenor Favorites (1962-1995) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Johnny Griffin and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, the two "tough tenors" in question, always made for an exciting team. With pianist Horace Parlan, bassist Buddy Catlett and drummer Ben Riley completing the quintet for this CD reissue of a Jazzland date from 1962, Griff and Lockjaw are in top form and quite competitive on a variety of standards. Highlights include "Blue Lou," "Ow," "I Wished on the Moon" and "From This Moment On." The main winner in these fiery tenor "battles" is the listener. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Bahia 5'53
Written-By – Ary Barroso
2    Blue Lou 4'41
Written-By – Sampson, Mills
3    How Am I To Know 4'54
Written-By – Parker, King
4    Ow! 4'20
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
5    I Wished On The Moon 6'39
Written By – Rainger / Parker
6    Tin Tin Deo 5'42
Written-By – Chano Pozo
7    From This Moment On 6'02
Written-By – Cole Porter
Credits :
Bass – Buddy Catlett
Drums – Ben Riley
Piano – Horace Parlan
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN QUARTET - Live In Tokyo (1976-1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The great tenor Johnny Griffin really gets a chance to stretch out on this two-LP set. Joined by pianist Horace Parland, bassist Mads Vinding and drummer Art Taylor for this Tokyo concert, Griffin digs into three standards and a pair of his originals; all except for a rapid "Wee" are at least 16 minutes long. Griffin's long cadenza on "The Man I Love" is a highlight. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     All the Things You Are 18'53
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
2     When We Were One 17'08
Johnny Griffin
3     Wee 3'47
Denzil Best
4     The Man I Love 16'47
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Credits :
Bass – Mads Vinding
Drums – Art Taylor
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin