HAROLD LAND — West Coast Blues! (1960-1996) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This reissue (which surprisingly has not yet come out in complete fashion on CD) was originally recorded for the Jazzland label. Tenor saxophonist Harold Land leads an all-star sextet that includes guitarist Wes Montgomery, trumpeter Joe Gordon, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes. Together, they perform three of Land's originals, "Don't Explain," and Charlie Parker's "Klactoveedsedstene," and an early version of Montgomery's "West Coast Blues." The music is as well-played and swinging as one would expect from this superior bop group. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Úrsula 7:05
Written-By – Harold Land
2    Klactoveedsedstene 6:01
Written-By – Charlie Parker
3    Don't Explain 9:56
Written-By – Herzog, Holiday
4    West Coast Blues 7:45
Written-By – Wes Montgomery
5    Terrain 4:52
Written-By – Land
6    Compulsion 6:47
Written-By – Land
Credits :
Bass – Sam Jones
Drums – Louis Hayes
Guitar – Wes Montgomery
Piano – Barry Harris
Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land
Trumpet – Joe Gordon

JOE GORDON — Lookin' Good! (1961-2001) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Joe Gordon did not live long, only making it to 35. His second of two recordings as a leader (originally released by Contemporary) finds him on the verge of leading his own group. Gordon wrote all eight of the selections and is joined by adventurous but obscure altoist Jimmy Woods, pianist Dick Whittington, bassist Jimmy Bond, and drummer Milt Turner. Although the solos are generally more memorable than the tunes, this is an excellent effort that hints at what might have been had Joe Gordon lived. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Terra Firma Irma    7:42
Written-By – Joe Gordon
2    A Song For Richard    5:00
Written-By – Joe Gordon
3    Non-Viennese Waltz Blues    4:11
Written-By – Joe Gordon
4    You're The Only Girl In The Next World For Me    4:01
Written-By – Joe Gordon
5    Co-op Blues    5:55
Written-By – Joe Gordon
6    Marianna    4:08
Written-By – Joe Gordon
7    Heleen    4:01
Written-By – Joe Gordon
8    Diminishing    5:05
Written-By – Joe Gordon
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Jimmy Woods
Bass – Jimmy Bond
Drums – Milt Turner
Piano – Dick Whittington
Trumpet – Joe Gordon

BENNY CARTER - Aspects (1958-1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD reissues an enjoyable obscurity. Although originally associated with big bands, the set has what was Benny Carter's only big-band recording as a playing leader during 1947-86. While the song titles are a bit gimmicky, saluting the 12 months of the year (including "June in January," "I'll Remember April," "June Is Busting Out All Over," etc.), the music (which includes four alternate takes) is solid, mainstream big-band swing. The less familiar titles include four Carter originals written for the date, plus Hal Schaefer's "February Fiesta." The leader/altoist solos on every selection, and among the other top West Coast studio players featured are trumpeters Shorty Sherock, Pete Candoli and Joe Gordon, trombonists Frank Rosolino and Herbie Harper, vibraphonist Larry Bunker, pianists Arnold Ross and Gerry Wiggins, and guitarist Barney Kessel. Two overlapping big bands were utilized, and the music alternates between being forceful and lyrical. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     June in January 3:12
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin    
2     February Fiesta 1:54
Hal Schaefer    
3     March Wind 3:16
Benny Carter    
4     I'll Remember April 3:21
Gene DePaul / Pat Johnston / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
5     One Morning in May 2:49
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish    
6     June Is Bustin' Out All Over 2:59
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
7     Sleigh Ride in July 2:50
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen    
8     August Moon 3:39
Benny Carter / Ottmar Liebert    
9     September Song 2:39
Maxwell Anderson / Kurt Weill    
10     Something for October 2:52
Benny Carter    
11     Swingin' in November 3:02
Benny Carter    
12     Roses in December 2:36
George Jessel / Herbert Magidson / Ben Oakland
13     February Fiesta 1:55
Hal Schaefer    
14     June Is Bustin' Out All Over 3:00
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers    
15     August Moon 3:33
Benny Carter / Ottmar Liebert    
16     Swingin' in November 3:05
Benny Carter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Leader, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Bass – Joe Comfort
Drums – Shelly Manne
Guitar – Barney Kessel (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Bobby Gibbons (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
Mastered By – Ron McMaster
Piano – Arnold Ross (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Gerry Wiggins (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12)
Reeds – Buddy Collette, Chuck Gentry (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Jewell Grant (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Justin Gordon (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Plas Johnson (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Bill Green
Trombone – Frank Rosolino (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), George Roberts (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Herbie Harper (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Russ Brown (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Tommy Pederson
Trumpet – Al Porcino (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Conrad Gozzo (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Joe Gordon (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Pete Candoli (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Ray Triscari (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Shorty Sherock (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Stu Williamson (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Uan Rasey (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Larry Bunker (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)

SHELLY MANNE & HIS MEN — At the Blackhawk, Vol. 1 (1959-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Shelly Manne's Quintet was recorded extensively at San Francisco's Black Hawk club for three nights in 1959. Although not the most significant group that the drummer led, this edition (with trumpeter Joe Gordon, tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, pianist Victor Feldman, and bassist Monty Budwig) was certainly capable of playing high-quality bebop. Originally their output was released on four LPs; the reissue expanded the music to five CDs. The first volume adds an alternate take of Frank Rosolino's "Blue Daniel" to a set that includes swinging versions of "Blue Daniel," "Poinciana," "Our Delight," and "Summertime." The extended performances are easily recommended to straight-ahead jazz fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Summertime 12:01
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
2     Our Delight 12:03
Tadd Dameron
3     Poinciana 13:17
Buddy Bernier / Nat Simon
4     Blue Daniel 8:43
Frank Rosolino
5     Blue Daniel 8:15
Frank Rosolino
6     Theme: A Gem from Tiffany 0:49
Bill Holman
Credits :
Credits :
Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Victor Feldman
Tenor Saxophone – Richie Kamuca
Trumpet – Joe Gordon

SHELLY MANNE & HIS MEN — At the Blackhawk, Vol. 2 (1959-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Vol. 2 of the five CDs that document drummer Shelly Manne's Quintet at the Black Hawk club in San Francisco during a three-day period adds a new alternate take of Charlie Mariano's "Step Lightly" to the original program ("Step Lightly," "What's New," "Vamp's Blues"). These lengthy performances ("Vamp's Blues" is over 19 minutes long) give trumpeter Joe Gordon, the cool-toned tenor-saxophonist Richie Kamuca, pianist Victor Feldman, bassist Monty Budwig and the leader/drummer a chance to really stretch out. Fine 1950s bebop. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Step Lightly 12:59
Benny Golson
2     What's New? 13:28
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
3     Vamp's Blues 20:14
Charlie Mariano
4     Step Lightly 14:18
Benny Golson
5     Theme: A Gem from Tiffany 0:42
Bill Holman
Credits :
Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Victor Feldman
Tenor Saxophone – Richie Kamuca
Trumpet – Joe Gordon

SHELLY MANNE & HIS MEN — At the Blackhawk, Vol. 3 (1959-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Originally released as four LPs, the Shelly Manne Quintet's three days at San Francisco's Black Hawk club is now documented on five CDs. The third volume adds a second (and longer) version of "Whisper Not" to the original rendition, Cole Porter's "I Am in Love" and the spontaneous 18-minute "Black Hawk Blues." Considering how much music was documented, it is fortunate that trumpeter Joe Gordon, tenorman Richie Kamuca, pianist Victor Feldman, bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Shelly Manne were in top form for this enjoyable gig. The music is high-quality straightforward and uncomplicated bebop. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     I Am in Love 12:22
Cole Porter
2     Whisper Not 10:04
Benny Golson
3     Black Hawk Blues 19:20
Shelly Manne
4     Whisper Not 12:25
Benny Golson
Credits :
Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Victor Feldman
Tenor Saxophone – Richie Kamuca
Trumpet – Joe Gordon 

SHELLY MANNE & HIS MEN — At the Blackhawk, Vol. 4 (1959-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Shelly Manne's 1959 quintet (with trumpeter Joe Gordon, tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, pianist Victor Feldman, bassist Monty Budwig, and the drummer/leader) was not his most important, but it was a hard-swinging unit well versed in bebop. Their three days at the Black Hawk (a popular San Francisco jazz club during this era) was almost completely documented, originally on four LPs and now expanded to five CDs. As with the first three sets, the fourth volume adds an alternate take (of "Cabu") to the original program ("Cabu," "Just Squeeze Me," "Nightingale," and a full-length version of their theme, "A Gem from Tiffany"). The lengthy solos are consistently excellent, making this entire series recommended to straight-ahead jazz fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Cabu 10:59
Roland Alexander
2     Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) 13:02
Duke Ellington / Lee Gaines
3     Nightingale 12:07
Xavier Cugat / George Rosner / Fred Wise
4     Theme: A Gem from Tiffany 10:09
Bill Holman
5     Cabu 11:51
Roland Alexander
Credits :   
Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Victor Feldman
Tenor Saxophone – Richie Kamuca
Trumpet – Joe Gordon

SHELLY MANNE & HIS MEN — At the Blackhawk, Vol. 5 (1959-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Unlike the first four volumes of this series, which included three or four selections previously released plus a "new" alternate take, the final CD of the extensive documentation of the Shelly Manne Quintet's stint at the Black Hawk club consists entirely of previously unreleased material. Fortunately, the performances by trumpeter Joe Gordon, tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, pianist Russ Freeman, bassist Monty Budwig, and the drummer/leader are the same high level as on the more familiar material. They perform obscure songs by Horace Silver (has anyone else ever recorded his "How Deep Are the Roots?") and Victor Feldman in addition to a trio feature on "Wonder Why," the ballad "This Is Always," and a new version of the band's theme song, "A Gem From Tiffany." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     How Deep Are the Roots 11:12
Horace Silver
2     This Is Always 10:13
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
3     Wonder Why 8:56
Nicholas Brodszky / Sammy Cahn
4     Eclipse of Spain 10:41
Victor Feldman
5     Pullin' Strings 4:43
Victor Feldman
6     Theme: A Gem from Tiffany 5:48
Bill Holman
Credits :
Bass – Monty Budwig
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Victor Feldman
Tenor Saxophone – Richie Kamuca
Trumpet – Joe Gordon