THE GEORGE RUSSELL SMALLTET — Jazz Workshop (1957-1987) RM | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This set, originally cut for RCA, was composer/arranger George Russell's debut as a leader. The original program (which includes such numbers as "Ye Hypocrite, Ye Beelzebub," "Livingstone I Presume," "Ezz-thetic" and "Knights of the Steamtable") has been joined by alternate second versions of "Ballad of Hix Blewitt" and "Concerto for Billy the Kid." Listening to the music, it is hard to believe that Russell only utilized a sextet (comprised of trumpeter Art Farmer, altoist Hal McKusick, guitarist Barry Galbraith, pianist Bill Evans, one of two bassists and one of three drummers). The ensembles are frequently dense, the harmonies quite original and there are often several events occurring at the same time; one would swear there were at least four or five horns being heard in spots. "Fellow Delegates" is particularly intriguing for it finds Russell playing chromatic drums while joined by Osie Johnson on wood drums; the otherwordly effect is worthy of Sun Ra. Even the more conventional pieces such as "Ezz-thetic" (based on the chords of "Love for Sale" but here almost resembling a Lennie Tristano line played backwards) sound quite advanced. Russell was able to utilize some of the more versatile and technically skilled players of the era, several of whom worked regularly in the studios. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Ye Hypocrite, Ye Beelzebub    3:53
2    Jack's Blues    3:47
3    Livingstone I Presume    3:28
4    Ezz-Thetic    5:16
5    Night Sound    3:58
6    Round Johnny Rondo    3:31
7    Fellow Delegates    5:42
8    Witch Hunt    3:50
9    The Sad Sergeant    3:27
10    Khights Of The Steamtable    2:36
11    Ballad Of Hix Blewitt    3:18
12    Concerto For Billy The Kid    4:44
13    Ballad Of Hix Blewitt (Alternate Take)    3:45
14    Concerto For Billy The Kid (Alternate Take)    4:46
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Hal McKusick
Composed By – George Russell
Double Bass – Milt Hinton (tracks: 1-6, 8, 12, 14), Teddy Kotick (tracks: 7, 9, 10, 11, 13)
Drums – Joe Harris (tracks: 1-4), Osie Johnson, Paul Motian (tracks: 5, 6, 8, 12, 14)
Guitar – Barry Galbraith
Piano – Bill Evans
Trumpet – Art Farmer
Notes
Recorded at Webster Hall, New York City.
Tracks 1-4 recorded March 31, 1956.
Tracks 5, 6, 8, 12 recorded October 17, 1956.
Tracks 7, 9-11, 13-14 recorded December 21, 1956.

CHARLIE PARKER & DIZZY GILLESPIE — Diz 'N Bird At Carnegie Hall (1997) The Performance Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Nine years after Benny Goodman's groundbreaking concert, bebop finally came to Carnegie Hall. Most notable on this 1997 CD (which contains music that has been reissued many times, often incoherently) is the meeting between altoist Charlie Parker and trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. Joined by the underrecorded piano of John Lewis, bassist Al McKibbon and the slightly overrecorded drums of Joe Harris, Bird and Diz generate some real fireworks on five songs, and Parker's rendition of "Confirmation," and the CD's high point, is definitive and memorable. The remainder of the set (ten selections including "Cool Breeze," "One Bass Hit," "Cubano-Be, Cubano-Bop" and "Things to Come") features the Gillespie big band in typically spirited form. Of particular interest are a few numbers ("Relaxin' at Camarillo," which was arranged by George Russell, "Hot House," and "Toccata for Trumpet") that were never recorded in the studio by the big band. Classic bebop. Scott Yanow
Nota :
Recorded live at Carnegie Hall on September 29, 1947.
Tracks 1-5 were performed by a quintet; tracks 6-15 were performed by a big band.   Tracklist + Credits :

GENE KRUPA AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1935-1938 | The Chronogical Classics – 754 (1994) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

The first CD in the European Classics label's "complete" Gene Krupa series starts off with two all-star sessions that preceded the drummer's first dates as a big-band leader. Krupa, Benny Goodman, bassist Israel Crosby (featured on "Blues of Israel") and several sideman from Goodman's 1935 band jam four songs, and from the following year, Krupa is joined by trumpeter Roy Eldridge, tenor saxophonist Chu Berry, pianist Jess Stacy, guitarist Allan Reuss, Crosby and (on two of the four songs) singer Helen Ward. The two instrumentals ("I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music" and "Swing Is Here") are near-classics that are quite heated. Otherwise, this CD has Krupa's first 15 numbers with his big band, a promising outfit which during 1938 also featured tenor saxophonist Vido Musso, pianist Milt Raskin and the vocals of Irene Daye and Helen Ward. Highlights include "Feeling High and Happy," "Wire Brush Stomp" and the previously unissued "The Madam Swings It." Scott Yanow  Tracklist + Credits :

FRANKIE TRUMBAUER AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1929-1931 | The Chronogical Classics – 1245 (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

C-melody saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer will always be most famous for the recordings that he made with cornetist Bix Beiderbecke but he also led a series of fine sessions after Bix had departed the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. This CD features Trumbauer leading a large combo filled with Paul Whiteman sidemen during 1929-30 and a nonet in 1931. While some of the numbers are a bit commercial and there are vocals by Smith Ballew, Art Jarrett and Trumbauer himself, there are also some fine jazz solos from the leader, cornetist Andy Secrest, violinist Joe Venuti and trombonist Bill Rank. Among the better tracks are "Manhattan Rag" (which has Hoagy Carmichael on piano), "Happy Feet," "Get Happy" and "Honeysuckle Rose." Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :