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 :

TEO MACERO with THE PRESTIGE JAZZ QUARTET [1957] OJC / Pestige / FLAC / 1992

Teo Macero with The Prestige Jazz Quartet is the 1957 self-titled album of the same name. Originally released by Prestige Records, this CD was released in 1992 by Original Jazz Classics/Fantasy Jazz and is remastered by Phil de Lancie.

This CD reissue features tenor saxophonist Teo Macero (who would later become much better known as a record producer) in as straight-ahead a setting as he ever appeared. With stimulating support from pianist Mal Waldron, vibraphonist Teddy Charles, bassist Addison Farmer, and drummer Jerry Segal, Macero performs a variety of then-recent ballads, of which only "Star Eyes" (arranged by Hall Overton) did not come from Teo or his associates. The music is advanced but from the jazz tradition, and overall this set is more noteworthy for Macero's interesting playing than for the tunes themselves.

1. Ghost Story

2. Please Don't Go Now

3. Just Spring

4. Star Eyes

5. Polody

6. What's Not

Recorded in Hackensack, NY, April 27, 1957

Recording engineer: Rudy Van Gelder

Digital remastering, 1992 - Phil De Lancie 

(Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)

Teo Macero-tenor saxophone

Teddy Charles-vibes

Mal Waldron-piano

Addison Farmer-bass

Jerry Segal-drums

O Púbis da Rosa