THE TAL FARLOW QUARTET — Cookin' on All Burners (1982-1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On the fifth of six Concord albums (a surprising amount of activity considering that he only played locally in the New England area during most of 1957-1975), the brilliant bop-based guitarist Tal Farlow performs concise renditions (none over six and a half minutes in length) of nine standards with pianist James Williams, bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, and drummer Vinnie Johnson. Highlights of the excellent straight-ahead date include "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "I've Got the World on a String," "Love Letters," and "Just Friends." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (Porter) - 3:35
2. If I Should Lose You (Robin-Rainger) - 5:06
3. I Wished on the Moon (Parker-Rainger) - 5:29
4. I've Got the World on a String (Arlen-Koehler) - 6:29
5. Love Letters (Young-Heyman) - 4:04
6. Why Shouldn't I (Porter) - 3:14
7. Lullaby of the Leaves (Petkere-Young) - 5:46
8. Just Friends (Lewis-Klenner) - 3:55
9. I Thought About You (Van Heusen-Mercer) - 4:23
Credits :
Tal Farlow - Guitar
James Williams - Piano
Gary Mazzaroppi - Bass
Vinnie Johnson - Drums

CURTIS FULLER — Four On The Outside (1978-2015) RM | Serie Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 55 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While Curtis Fuller may have reached his peak in the 1960s, he continued to be an important voice well into the 1970s and beyond. This delightful set features him in a front line with Pepper Adams, and the trombone-baritone saxophone combination was a natural. (Curiously, few others have followed this intriguing coupling.) While there is no new ground broken, Adams and Fuller negotiate tunes mostly written by Fuller, with simple, yet elegant heads. The version of "Hello Young Lovers" is characteristically conservative, yet sharp and well rehearsed. Fuller's nasal tone, machine gun-like spurts, and focus on the middle range on his horn complements Adams' angular, boppish lines. The fine rhythm section of pianist James Williams, bassist Dennis Irwin, and drummer John Yarling never gets in the way, but lets the horns spread their wings. Steve Loewy
Tracklist & Credits :

JAMES WILLIAMS SEXTET ft. CLARK TERRY - Talkin' Trash (1993) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Although pianist James Williams is the nominal leader of this CD and there is also room for many concise solos from Billy Pierce (mostly on tenor), vibraphonist Steve Nelson and the remarkable bassist Christian McBride, the star throughout is actually flugelhornist Clark Terry. 72 at the time but showing no sign of decline, Terry contributed three of the numbers, sings in his famous Mumbles voice on two humorous pieces (including a preacher routine on "The Orator") and plays quite well throughout. Highpoints of this straightahead session include the boppish "Serenade to a Bus Seat," the uptempo blues "Chuckles" and Terry's spectacular solo on "Moonglow." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Serenade to a Bus Seat 6'04
Clark Terry
2     The Orator (C.T.'s Sermon) 9'11
James Williams
3     Chuckles 5'13
Clark Terry
4     Moonglow 9'59
Eddie DeLange / Will Hudson / Irving Mills
5     Talkin' Trash 7'22
James Williams
6     Lotus Blossom 3'15
Billy Strayhorn
7     Embraceable You 8'00
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
8     Boomerang 6'19
Clark Terry
9     SKJ 9'10
Milt Jackson
Credits :
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Tony Reedus
Organ, Piano, Producer – James Williams
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Billy Pierce
Trumpet, Vocals, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry
Vibraphone – Steve Nelson

THE EMILY REMLER QUARTET - Take Two (1982) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Emily Remler's second recording as a leader finds the 24-year-old guitarist still very much playing in the Wes Montgomery vein, although showing her own musical personality here and there. She is joined by pianist James Williams, bassist Don Thompson, and drummer Terry Clarke on a challenging set of material filled with obscurities. Certainly such numbers as Cannonball Adderley's "Cannonball," Dexter Gordon's "For Regulars Only," McCoy Tyner's "Search for Peace," and Monty Alexander's "Eleuthra" are rarely performed. Better known are "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "Afro Blue"; Remler also contributes two originals. Throughout the date the guitarist displays a great deal of potential, much of which would sadly go unrealized due to her early death. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :    
1     Cannonball 4:48
Cannonball Adderley
2     In Your Own Sweet Way 4:52
Dave Brubeck
3     For Regulars Only 6:43
Dexter Gordon
4     Search for Peace 5:17
McCoy Tyner
5     Pocket Wes 6:45
Emily Remler
6     Waltz for My Grandfather 6:35
Emily Remler
7     Afro Blue 2:24
Mongo Santamaria
8     Eleuthra 6:20
Monty Alexander
Credits :
Bass – Don Thompson
Drums – Terry Clarke
Guitar – Emily Remler
Piano – James Williams