DINAH WASHINGTON — I Wanna Be Loved (1962) Vynil, LP | Mono | FLAC (tracks) 24-96Hz

A torch song date recorded between Dinah Washington's commercial breakthrough in 1959 and her death in 1963, I Wanna Be Loved flaunts a large cast of talented collaborators -- plus, to be sure, Washington's regal readings of 12 great songs -- but, unfortunately, the musical side is overwhelmed by the heavy strings in attendance. Working with Quincy Jones, Washington found her studio cast to include Joe Newman and Clark Terry on trumpet, Jimmy Cleveland and Kai Winding on trombone, and Al Cohn on tenor. However, the arrangements (from Ernie Wilkins and Quincy Jones) rarely leave room for the musicians -- and, in fact, rarely feature them at all -- preferring instead to concentrate on strings and the occasional wordless vocal chorus. As usually happened in these circumstances, Washington appears unfazed by the treacle surrounding her; although she doesn't improvise, her performances of "Blue Gardenia," "Don't Explain," and the title track (originally an R&B hit for her 12 years earlier) are elegant and bewitching. The larger big band makes its presence felt on the two side-closers, both of them ("Let's Fall in Love," "Sometimes I'm Happy") more uptempo material. Although Washington's latter-day Mercury material is often derided, she always succeeded despite her surroundings, and this date is no different. John Bush  
Tracklist :
1 I Wanna Be Loved 2:40
Written-By – Heyman, Rose, Green
2 Don't Explain 2:28
Written-By – Herzog, Jr., Holiday
3 Everybody's Somebody's Fool 2:27
Written-By – Adams, Hampton
4 Invitation 2:59
Written-By – Kaper, Webster
5 You're Crying 3:25
Written-By – Feather, Jones
6 Let's Fall In Love 2:15
Written-By – Arlen, Koehler
7 When Your Lover Has Gone 2:08
Written-By – Swan
8 A Stranger In Town 2:15
Written-By – Tormé
9 God Bless The Child 2:43
Written-By – Herzog, Jr., Holiday
10 Blue Gardenia 3:19
Written-By – Russell, Lee
11 I Can't Face The Music (Without Singin' The Blues) 3:20
Written-By – Bloom, Koehler
12 Sometimes I'm Happy 2:04
Written-By – Grey, Caesar, Youmans
Credits :
Arranged By – Billy Byers (tracks: 1), Ernie Wilkins (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Hal Mooney (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Quincy Jones (tracks: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Conductor – Quincy Jones (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Drums – Gary Chester (tracks: 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Guitar – George Barnes (tracks: 2, 3, 10)
Piano – Jack Wilson (tracks: 1, 5), Patti Bown (tracks: 2, 3, 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn (tracks: 2, 3, 10)
Trombone – Billy Byers (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Kai Winding (tracks: 2, 3, 10)
Trumpet – Clark Terry (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Ernie Royal (tracks: 2, 3, 10), Joe Newman (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10)
Vocals – Dinah Washington (tracks: 1-12)

THE CLARK TERRY FIVE - Memories of Duke (1980-1990) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Flugelhornist Clark Terry and a strong quartet (pianist Jack Wilson, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Frank Severino) perform nine songs associated with Duke Ellington, including seven of Ellington's compositions, plus a tune apiece from Billy Strayhorn ("Passion Flower") and Mercer Ellington ("Things Ain't What They Used to Be"). Terry knows these songs, which include "Cottontail," "Come Sunday" and "Sophisticated Lady," backwards, but he infuses each of his renditions with enthusiasm and melodic creativity. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Passion Flower 4'27
Milt Raskin / Billy Strayhorn
2     Happy Go Lucky Local 4'28
Duke Ellington
3     Echoes of Harlem 4'01
Duke Ellington
4     Sophisticated Lady 8'27
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish
5     Things Ain't What They Used to Be 5'05
Mercer Ellington / Ted Persons
6     I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart 3'28
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Henry Nemo / John Redmond
7     Cotton Tail 2'16
Duke Ellington
8     Everything But You 7'51
Duke Ellington / Don George / Harry James
9     Come Sunday 2'34
Duke Ellington
Credits :
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Frank Severino
Guitar – Joe Pass
Piano – Jack Wilson
Producer – Norman Granz
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Trumpet – Clark Terry

JACK WILSON — Song for my Daughter (1968-2014) RM | SHM-CD | Blue Note, Masterworks Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On Song for My Daughter, his third record for Blue Note, Jack Wilson "changed with the times," to paraphrase one of the record's songs. Like many of his peers on the label, Wilson pursued a pop direction as the '60s drew to a close, which meant he covered pop hits like "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" and "Stormy," and that he recorded the album with a large band augmented by a string section. It is a testament to Wilson's strengths as a pianist that he doesn't get lost in this heavy-handed setting and manages to contribute some typically graceful moments, including the lovely title song. Nevertheless, the song selection is a little uneven, and there isn't much room for the band to improvise, which makes the album of marginal interest to serious jazz listeners. Audience that aren't quite so concerned such matters will find this an engaging pop-jazz album. Although the production has dated somewhat, it remains a pleasant artifact of its time, and fans of that sound should search for it. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist:
1    Imagine 4:24
Written-By – Francis Lai, Sammy Cahn
2    Herman's Helmet 4:33
Written-By – Jack Wilson
3    Changing With The Times 3:02
Written-By – George Shearing
4    Night Creature 3:55
Written-By – Duke Ellington
5    Scarborough Fair / Canticle (From The Motion Picture "The Graduate") 5:09
Written-By – Paul Simon - Art Garfunkel
6    Song For My Daughter 3:02
Written-By – Jack Wilson
7    Eighty-One 6:26
Written-By – Ron Carter
8    Se Todas Fossem Iguais A Voce 2:19
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius DeMoraes
9    Stormy 5:29
Written-By – Buddy Buie, James Barney Cobb Jr.
10    Soft Summer Rain 5:56
Written-By – David N. Baker
Credits:
Bass – Andy Simpkins (tracks: 2, 4, 7), Ike Issacs (tracks: 5, 9), Ray Brown (tracks: 1, 3, 8, 10)
Cello – Jesse Ehrlich (tracks: 6, 9), Kurt Reher (tracks: 6, 9)
Conductor, Arranged By [Strings] – Billy Byers (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 9)
Drums – Donald Bailey (tracks: 5, 9, 10), Jimmie Smith (tracks: 2, 4, 7), Varney Barlow (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Guitar – Howard Roberts (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 10), John Gray (tracks: 1, 3, 8)
Piano – Jack Wilson
Shaker – Stan Levey (tracks: 1, 8)
Timpani [Tympani] – Victor Feldman (tracks: 4)
Vibraphone – Stan Levey (tracks: 3), Victor Feldman (tracks: 2)
Vibraphone [Vibraharp] – Tommy Vig (tracks: 10)
Viola – Dave Burk (tracks: 6, 9), Myer Bellow (tracks: 6, 9)
Violin – Betty Marks (tracks: 6, 9), Israel Baker (tracks: 6, 9)