HELEN MERRILL - Dream of You (1956-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 One thing that set Helen Merrill apart from other '50s jazz singers was her acutely dramatic vocal style. Her earnest phrasing, elongated notes, and incandescent tone might even strike the contemporary listener as qualities more appropriate for the Broadway stage than a jazz club. On 1955's Dream of You, though, Merrill found reconciliation, sounding both melodramatic and swinging within Gil Evans' darkly spacious, yet economical arrangements. Suitably, torchy ballads are prominent. On the somewhat grandiose side there's "Where Flamingos Fly" and "I'm a Fool to Want You," which find Merrill in a pensive mood amidst a variety of tempo and timbre shifts. More subdued ground is covered on "I've Never Seen" and "He Was Too Good to Me." Briskly swinging numbers like "People Will Say We're in Love," "By Myself," and "You're Lucky to Me" balance the program and feature the demure, yet fluid delivery Merrill favored on fast numbers. What is most impressive on this date is a group of sultry, medium tempo numbers including "Anyplace I Lay My Hat Is Home," "Just a Lucky So and So," and in particular "A New Town Is a Blue Town." The programmatic quality of Merrill's coyly sensual voice and Evans' slightly askew, bubbling reeds and languid rhythm conjure up dramatic, balmy southern scenes á la Tennessee Williams. In the picturesque arrangements one also hears the seeds of Evans' own future collaborations with Miles Davis. Even though her collaborations with Clifford Brown and others are great recordings, this one with Gil Evans shows off more of Merrill's expressive vocal talents, due in no small part to the sympathetic and urbane arrangements. Stephen Cook   
Tracklist:
1 People Will Say We're In Love 2:34
Written-By – O. Hammerstein II, R. Rodgers
2 By Myself 3:23
Written-By – A. Schwartz, H. Dietz
3 Anyplace I Hang My Hat Is Home 4:10
Written-By – Arlen, Mercer
4 I've Never Seen 3:30
Written-By – Marcotte, D. Cochran
5 He Was Too Good To Me 3:01
Written-By – L. Hart, R. Rodgers
6 A New Town Is A Blue Town 3:09
Written-By – J. Ross, R. Adler
7 You're Lucky To Me 3:26
Written-By – A. Razaf, E. Blake
8 Where Flamingos Fly 2:44
Written-By – E. Thea, H. Courlander, J. Brooks
9 Dream Of You 2:54
Written-By – S. Oliver
10 I'm A Fool To Want You 4:07
Written-By – F. Sinatra, J. Wolf, J. S. Harron
11 I'm Just A Lucky So And So 3:08
Written-By – D. Ellington, M. David
12 Troubled Waters 3:14
Written-By – A. Johnston, S. Coslow
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – John Laporta (tracks: 3, 6, 8, 11)
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Jerome Richardson (tracks: 3, 6, 8, 11)
Arranged By, Conductor – Gil Evans (tracks: 1 to 12)
Bass – Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 9)
Bass Saxophone – Danny Banks (tracks: 3, 6, 8, 11)
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – John Laporta (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 9)
Drums – Joe Morello (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 9)
Guitar – Barry Galbraith (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12)
Piano – Hank Jones (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12)
Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 9), Joe Bennett (tracks: 3, 6, 8, 11)
Trumpet – Art Farmer (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 9), Louis Mucci (tracks: 1, 2, 7, 9)
Vocals – Helen Merrill

THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET - Jazz Impressions of Japan (1964-2001) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Thirteen years into their tenure, the Dave Brubeck Quartet was still able to mine the creative vein for new means of expression. Despite the hits and popularity on college campuses, or perhaps because of it, Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello composed a restless band with a distinctive sound. These eight tracks, all based on a tour of Japan the year before, were, in a sense, Brubeck fulfilling a dictum from his teacher, the French composer Darius Milhaud, who exhorted him to "travel the world and keep your ears open." The sketches Brubeck and Desmond created all invoke the East, particularly the folk melodies of Japan directly, while still managing to use the Debussian impressionistic approach to jazz that kept them riding the charts and creating a body of music that, while playing into the exotica craze of the moment, was still jazz composed and played with integrity. The gorgeous modal blues that uses Eastern scale whole tones with Western harmonic notions -- chromatically -- that comprise the melody and solo frameworks for Desmond in "Fujiyama" are a beautiful contrast to the relatively straight-ahead ballad style featured on "Zen Is When," with its 4/4 time sling rhythm and simple melody -- extrapolated by Brubeck in purely Japanese whole tone scale on the harmony. Also, the shimmer and whisper of "The City Is Crying," where Desmond's solo is one of the most beautiful of his career, using arpeggios as half tones to reach down into the middle of his horn's register and play harmonically a counterpoint that is as painterly as it is poignant. On "Osaka Blues," Brubeck once again reaches for an oriental scale to play a modal blues à la Miles Davis with Wynton Kelly; Desmond responds by playing straight post-bop Bluesology with even a squeak or two in his solo. In all, Jazz Impressions of Japan is one of the great forgotten Brubeck records. Its sweetness is tempered with musical adventure and the improvisational experience only a band that had been together 13 years could provide. It's truly wonderful.
(This comment is posted on allmusic by Thom Jurek, a follower of our blog O Púbis da Rosa.)
Note: Dear Thom, infinite joy of being part of the Blog and being able to share your wise comments. Our greatest wish is to continue taking all the petals of our beloved rose! Lakhavinor Artus
Tracklist:
1 Tokyo Traffic 5:54
Dave Brubeck
2 Rising Sun 4:42
Dave Brubeck
3 Toki's Theme from CBS-TV Series, "Mr. Broadway"] 2:10
Dave Brubeck
4 Fujiyama 5:05
Dave Brubeck
5 Zen Is When 2:55
Dave Brubeck / Bud Freeman / Léon Pober
6 The City Is Crying 6:03
Dave Brubeck
7 Osaka Blues 5:11
Dave Brubeck
8 Koto Song 3:01
Dave Brubeck
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Paul Desmond
Bass – Eugene Wright
Drums – Joe Morello
Piano – Dave Brubeck
Producer – Teo Macero

DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET - My Favorite Things (1965-2014) RM / JAZZ COLLECTION 1000 / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Although recorded in sessions in 1962 and 1965, this set of Richard Rodgers tunes by the Dave Brubeck Quartet has a strong unity about it due to the consistent performances of the veteran group. With altoist Paul Desmond and the pianist-leader contributing some fine solos (and bassist Eugene Wright and drummer Joe Morello excellent in support), The Rodgers songs are treated with respect and swing. This comparatively gentle version of "My Favorite Things" would never be mistaken for John Coltrane's. by Scott Yanow

"My Favorite Things" is one of Dave Brubeck's "composer albums". Brubeck fans will recall such titles as "Anything Goes" (Cole Porter), and "Angel Eyes" (Matt Denise) here the Dave Brubeck Quartet pays homage to Richard Rogers and the results, while at as satisfying as "Anything Goes", make "My Favorite Things" one of Brubeck's best albums.

We start things off with a fast tempo version of the title track, minus Paul Desmond. Brubeck at times seems as if he's about to go off-time, but never does. Brubeck fans will take note of the fact he has made a career playing around with time signitures. But Brubeck does get some good passages in. I like a lot of the chord changes and Brubeck's right hand does some nifty work.

The next track "Over and Over Again" starts off with Brubeck playing the melody, almost as a ballad and then things pick up as Desmond comes in. Wonderful interplay between Brubeck and Desmond should make you keep coming back to this one.

My favorite track on the album might be "This Can't Be Love". Brubeck plays it as a familar tempo but again gets in a lot of good passages. As does Paul Desmond.

"Circus on Parade" is one the only song on the album I wasn't familar with it. The quartet swings on it from beginning to end and the result is rather pleasing.

"My Romance" and "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" are the same version heard on Brubeck's "Plays West Side Story". But are enjoyable to listen to but I prefer "Girl".

Overall "My Favorite Things" is a very good album that demonstrates with made the quartet so popular. Brubeck and Desmond as usual have wonderful chemistry together and the song selection is a delight. If there is one negative thing to say about the album it is that there aren't enough songs! Where are the recordings of "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered", "Where or When", "Soon (There'll Just Be Two Of Us)", "Lady Is A Tramp" and "Loads of Love"? But we Brubeck fans will take what we can get.

Bottom-line: One of Brubeck's best albums. Desmond and Brubeck are a delight to listen to as is the song selection. Fans of Brubeck should check this out despite it being very rare. by Alex Udvary, 

Tracklist:

1. My Favorite Things  2:57 

Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers

2. Over and Over Again 4:07

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

3. Why Can't I? 6:58

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

4. Little Girl Blue 5:35

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

5. This Can't Be Love 6:57

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

6. My Romance 6:55

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

7. The Circus on Parade 3:19

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

8. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World 5:18

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

Time: 0:42:10

Recorded on June 11, 1962 - September 22, 1965.

Credits

Dave Brubeck - piano

Paul Desmond - alto saxophone

Gene Wright - bass

Joe Morello - drums

 

TAL FARLOW - The Tal Farlow Album (1957) Verve / SHM-CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For guitarist Tal Farlow's second album as a leader (following a very obscure effort for Blue Note), he is joined by rhythm guitarist Barry Galbraith, bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Joe Morello on eight numbers, and pianist Claude Williamson and bassist Red Mitchell for the remaining four. Farlow is heard in his early prime. Thirty-two at the time, he was a brilliant technician who could play extremely fast, yet clean and with a light touch. His solos on the 11 standards (which include Pettiford's "Blues in the Closet," "Stompin' at the Savoy" and "You and the Night and the Music"), plus his own "Gibson Boy," are hard-swinging and creative, yet thoughtful. [Originally released in 1954, Tal Farlow Album was finally reissued on CD in 2002 and includes bonus tracks.]
by Scott Yanow

Tracklist:
1 If There's Someone Lovelier Than You 2:45
Tal Farlow
2 With the Wind and the Rain in Your Hair 3:04
Clara Edwards / Jack Lawrence
3 My Old Flame 3:36
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston
4 Gibson Boy 2:45
Tal Farlow
5 You and the Night and the Music 3:43
Otto Harbach / Walter Hirsch
6 Love Nest 2:45
Howard Dietz / Otto Harbach / Arthur Schwartz
7 Blues in the Closet 2:51
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
8 Everything I've Got 3:31
Oscar Pettiford
9 Lullaby of the Leaves 3:48
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
10 Stompin' at the Savoy 3:18
Tal Farlow
11 This Is Always 3:07
Bernice Petkere / Joe Young
12 Tea For Two 2:56
Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb 
Credits:
Bass – Oscar Pettiford
Drums – Joe Morello
Guitar – Barry Galbraith, Tal Farlow

TAL FARLOW - The Tal Farlow Album (1957-2013) 

 Verve Japan, SHM-CD / Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered

FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET - Time Out (1959-1983) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Dave Brubeck's defining masterpiece, Time Out is one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in jazz history, the first to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was a risky move -- Brubeck's record company wasn't keen on releasing such an arty project, and many critics initially roasted him for tampering with jazz's rhythmic foundation. But for once, public taste was more advanced than that of the critics. Buoyed by a hit single in altoist Paul Desmond's ubiquitous "Take Five," Time Out became an unexpectedly huge success, and still ranks as one of the most popular jazz albums ever. That's a testament to Brubeck and Desmond's abilities as composers, because Time Out is full of challenges both subtle and overt -- it's just that they're not jarring. Brubeck's classic "Blue Rondo à la Turk" blends jazz with classical form and Turkish folk rhythms, while "Take Five," despite its overexposure, really is a masterpiece; listen to how well Desmond's solo phrasing fits the 5/4 meter, and how much Joe Morello's drum solo bends time without getting lost. The other selections are richly melodic as well, and even when the meters are even, the group sets up shifting polyrhythmic counterpoints that nod to African and Eastern musics. Some have come to disdain Time Out as its become increasingly synonymous with upscale coffeehouse ambience, but as someone once said of Shakespeare, it's really very good in spite of the people who like it. It doesn't just sound sophisticated -- it really is sophisticated music, which lends itself to cerebral appreciation, yet never stops swinging. Countless other musicians built on its pioneering experiments, yet it's amazingly accessible for all its advanced thinking, a rare feat in any art form. This belongs in even the most rudimentary jazz collection.

Tracklist:

1. Blue Rondo a la Turk

2. Strange Meadow Lark

3. Take Five

4. Three to Get Ready

5. Kathy's Waltz

6. Everybody's Jumpin'

7. Pick Up Sticks

Credits

Dave Brubeck (piano)

Paul Desmond (sax alto)

Eugene Wright (bass)

Joe Morello (drums)