MORGANA KING — A Taste Of Honey (1964-1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    A Taste Of Honey 5:13
Written-By – B Scott, R Marlowe
2    Fascinating Rhytm 2:33
Written-By – G & I Gershwin
3    Prelude To A Kiss 3:39
Written-By – D Ellington, I Gordon, I Mills
4    Easy Living 3:36
Written-By – L Robin, R Rainger
5    All Blues 3:39
Written-By – M Davis, O Brown
6    Bluesette 2:42
Written-By – N Gimbel, J Thielemans
7    Easy To Love 2:40
Written-By – C Porter
8    The Night Has A Thousand Eyes 3:02
Written-By – B Bernier, J Brianin
9    The Lady Is A Tramp 2:17
Written-By – R Rodgers/L Hart
10    Try to Remember 2:36
Written-By – H Schmidt, T Jones
11    Meditation 3:48
Written-By – Jobim, Mendonca, Gimbel
12    I'll Follow You 4:38
Written-By – F Ahlert, R Turk
13    Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child     3:21
Credits :
Arranged and conducted by - Torrie Zito
ft. Clark Terry, Joe Wilder, Dave McKenna, Barry Galbraith, Mel Lewis, Mundell Lowe, Phil Woods, Hank Jones, Don Butterfield ...
Vocals - Morgana King

EILEEN FARRELL — Eileen Farrell Sings Torch Songs (1991) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:

1    Stormy Weather 6:38 
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
2    When Your Lover Has Gone 3:18   
Einar A. Swan
3    'Round Midnight 4:44 
Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
4    The End of a Love Affair 3:22   
Edward Redding
5    Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry 5:35
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
6    Something Cool 4:48     
Billy Barnes
7    I Get Along Without You Very Well 5:06
Hoagy Carmichael
8    Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most 6:02
Fran Landesman / Tommy Wolf
9    Black Coffee 4:59   
Sonny Burke / Paul Francis Webster
10    Don't Explain 4:30
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
11    Get Out of Town 3:15    
Cole Porter
12    This Time the Dream's on Me 4:32
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer

Credits:
Bass – Terry Peoplesrums – Bill Stowe
Guitar – Greg Hyslop
Piano, Arranged by – Loonis McGlohon
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Joe Wilder
Vibraphone – Jim Stack

OLIVER NELSON ORCHESTRA — Afro-American Sketches (1961-1993) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Oliver Nelson merged the rhythmic fervor of Africa and Black America with the organizational flair of Europe on this release. The often spectacular work features the orchestra sometimes whooping and clashing in the backdrop and other times giving soulful statements or converging in a blues setting. While Nelson combined Afro-Latin rhythmic support from Ray Barretto with crisp jazz drumming from Ed Shaughnessy, he also contributed his own soaring alto and tenor sax solos and conducted the orchestra. It was a monumental job, and Nelson exceeded it. Ron Wynn   Tracklist & Credits :

LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1946 | The Chronogical Classics – 946 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The bulk of this CD features the Lionel Hampton Big Band, an exciting orchestra that had roots in swing and was open to the influence of bebop, but also helped set the stage for somewhat exhibitionistic R&B. With a screaming trumpet section that included Jimmy Nottingham, Joe Wilder, and Leo "The Whistler" Shepherd (all who could play first trumpets) and both Arnett Cobb and Johnny Griffin on tenors, along with such soloists as trombonist Booty Wood, pianist Milt Buckner, and Hampton himself, this must have been a very difficult ensemble to defeat in "battle of the bands" contests. Best among the big band selections are "Cobb's Idea," "Adam Blew His Hat," and "Playboy." Also on this easily enjoyable disc are a quintet set that showcases Hampton's vibes and an octet session drawn from the big band that plays four songs, including "Double Talk" and "Jack the Fox Boogie."  Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

WYNONIE HARRIS – 1950-1952 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1289 (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Wynonie Harris specialized in driving jump blues numbers that celebrated the party side of urban life, and his tales of whiskey-soaked nights and relentless hangovers reached its peak during his long stay at King Records. This collection covers his last years at the label, and while a couple of his biggest hits are here, like the cranked-up version of Hank Penny's country classic "Bloodshot Eyes" and the engaging novelty number about trying to outsmart the IRS, "Good Morning Judge," Harris by this time was on the sundown side of his zenith, and even though he would seem like an artist ready-made for the emerging rock & roll craze, he never really made the transition. The song "All Night Long" included here is actually by Detroit group the Royals (who later morphed into Hank Ballard & the Midnighters), with Harris doing a guest vocal on the bridge. "All Night Long," in an interesting bit of music trivia, was the flip side to the original version of "Every Beat of My Heart," which Gladys Knight & the Pips turned into a huge hit nearly a decade later. Steve Leggett  
Tracklist
1     Rock Mr. Blues 2:41
Henry Bernard / Lois Mann
2     Stormy Night Blues 2:45
Henry Bernard / Sam Theard
3     Good Morning Judge 2:40
Wynonie Harris / Louis Innis
4     Be Mine My Love 2:52
Henry Bernard / Sydney Mann
5     Mr. Blues Is Coming to Town 3:02
Henry Glover
6     I Want to Love You Baby 2:35
Henry Glover / Lois Mann
7     Put It Back 2:47
Henry Glover
8     Oh Babe! 2:57
Milt Kabak / Louis Prima
9     Teardrops from My Eyes 2:54
Rudy Toombs
10     A Love Untrue 2:54
Henry Glover
11     Triflin' Woman 2:38
Henry Bernard / Lois Mann / Moon Mullican
12     Man, Have I Got Troubles 2:58
Mossman / Carlson
13     Confessin' the Blues 2:50
Walter Brown / Jay McShann
14     Tremblin' 2:28
Annisteen Allen / Henry Glover
15     Just Like Two Drops of Water 2:35
Joe Greene
16     I'll Never Give Up 2:32
Henry Glover / Sam Theard
17     Bloodshot Eyes 2:42
Wynonie Harris / Hank Penny
18     Here Comes the Night 2:36
Henry Glover
19     Lovin' Machine 2:27
Henry Glover / Lois Mann
20     My Playful Baby's Gone 2:30
Henry Glover / Wynonie Harris / Lois Mann
21     Luscious Woman 2:51
Henry Glover / Lois Mann    
22     All Night Long 2:18
Alonzo Tucker    
23     Keep on Churnin' (Till the Butter Comes) 2:55
Henry Glover
24     Married Woman - Stay Married 2:50
Henry Glover    
25     Rot-Gut 2:19
Henry Glover / Lois Mann

JIMMIE LUNCEFORD AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945-1947 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1082 (1999) FLAC (tracks), lossless

After a lengthy run of carefully laid-out chronological Lunceford, the folks at Classics gathered up material that wasn't included in the previous volumes and laid it out as a prelude to the very last of the records made by this excellent big band under Lunceford's leadership. Whatever the reasons were for the inconsistent chronology, this bag of remnants forms an interesting encapsulation of Lunceford's last years. The core sample opens with five previously unissued Decca recordings, the first dating from December of 1944. This pre-dates the range of years as stated in the CD's title, but who's counting. The serious problem involves Sy Oliver's departure from the band in 1939 and Lunceford's quest for stylistic stability from that point onwards. One tactic involved sentimental vocalists, some of them much less hip than singing tenor man Joe Thomas. Speaking of saxophones, this band had a wicked reed section and a justifiably famous load of brass on top. Four V-Disc sides show off all of the ensemble's best qualities. Finally we come to the Lunceford band's Majestic recordings, which are a gas. Slim Gaillard's "Cement Mixer" is nearly as delightful as the original. There is a similarly spiffed group vocal on "Sit Back and Ree-Lax (With Your Battle Ax)." In addition to several remakes of earlier Lunceford hits, this disc contains no less than three different versions of Eddie Wilcox's "I Need a Lift." By the time you get to the Majestic take, you'll be able to sing along with the band. Trummy Young practically whispers his way across a thoroughly cool portrait of "Margie," and Joe Thomas handles three more topical treats, including a funny, rocking theatrical take on "Call the Police," a song most commonly associated with the King Cole Trio. Lunceford's version has shouts from the band and more than a few blasts on a police whistle. Thomas also contributed "Shut-Out," a hard-boiled bit of swing with a particularly strong rhythm component. "Water Faucet" is a stupid, shameless imitation of "Cement Mixer" burdened by a lot of slapstick dialogue with all the dignity of a Fatty Arbuckle skit. A volcanic "One O'Clock Jump" (with a fade-out!) finishes off this grab bag of uncommon Lunceford, pointing the way to the next part of the story. This consists of recordings made after Jimmie Lunceford's death, with the orchestra under the direction of Ed Wilcox and Joe Thomas. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1    Oh Gee, Oh Gosh 2:38
2    I Passed Through Memphis Last Night 2:55
3    I Need A Lift 2:51
4    Where's The Melody 2:32
5    I've Got The Carolina Blues 2:57
6    The Jimmies 3:30
7    I Need A Lift 2:30
8    For Dancers Only 2:28
9    What To Do 3:06
10    Cement Mixer 2:44
11    Just Once Too Often 3:05
12    Jay Gee 2:44
13    Sit Back And Ree-Lax 2:37
14    The "Jimmies" 2:59
15    I Need A Lift 2:33
16    Them Who Has Gets 2:55
17    Margie 3:05
18    Four Or Five Times 3:16
19    Shut-Out (Close Out) 2:39
20    Call The Police 3:01
21    Water Faucet 2:39
22    One O'Clock Jump 3:11

JOHNNY HODGES | WILD BILL DAVIS ft. KENNY BURRELL - Mess of Blues (2007) FLAC (tracks), lossless

In the 1960s altoist Johnny Hodges took a brief time off from Duke Ellington's orchestra to record eight albums with organist Wild Bill Davis. For this, their third collaboration, the duo welcome guitarist Kenny Burrell, trumpeter Joe Wilder and either Osie Johnson or Ed Shaughnessy on drums. Hodges plays typically beautifully on such numbers as "I Cried for You," "Lost in Meditation" and "Stolen Sweets" and, although no real surprises occur (and the playing time at around a half-hour is quite brief), the performances are up to par. However, the music on this long out-of-print LP has yet to appear on CD. Scott Yanow
"Mess Of Blues"
1     Jones 4:43
Johnny Hodges    
2     I Cried for You 3:02
Gus Arnheim    
3     Love You Madly 3:51
Duke Ellington    
4     Little John, Little John 4:03
Wild Bill Davis / Johnny Hodges    
5     Stolen Sweets 3:14
Wild Bill Davis    
6     A& R Blues 6:07
Wild Bill Davis / Johnny Hodges    
7     Lost in Meditation 3:17
Duke Ellington   
Credits
Johnny Hodges - Alto Sax
Wild Bill Davis - Organ
Kenny Burrell - Guitar
On all tracks except where otherwise indicated, with :
Credits 1-7
Drums – Ed Shaughnessy, Osie Johnson
Trumpet – Joe Wilder
New York, September 3 & 4, 1963.
From "Blue Rabbit"
8     I Let a Song Go out of My Heart 2:40
Duke Ellington / Redmond   
9     Tangerine 3:20
Victor Schertzinger   
10     Creole Love Call 5:34
Duke Ellington   
Credits 8-10
Drums – Bobby Donaldson
Organ – Ray Jackson (replaces Wild Bill Davis)
Bass - Jack Lesberg (#8-9), Wendell Marshall (#10)
New York, May 15 (8-9) & May 17 (10), 1963.
"Stride Right"
11     Caution Blues (Blues in Thirds) 3:58    
Earl Hines   
12     Stride Right 2:54
Earl Hines   
13     Rosetta 3:37
Earl Hines, Henri Woode
14     Perdido 5:09
Hans Lengsfelder   
15     Fantastic, That's You 3:04
George Cates / George Douglas   
16     Tale of the Fox 4:30
Duke Ellington / Johnny Hodges   
17     I'm Beginning to See the Light 3:01
Duke Ellington   
18     C Jam Blues 5:08
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington   
19     Tippin' In 3:10
Marty Symes
Credits 11-19 :
Piano, Organ – Wild Bill Davis out. Earl Hines
Bass – Richard Davis
Drums – Joe Marshall
New Jersey, January 14, 1966

ZOOT SIMS | AL COHN | TONY SCOTT - East Coast Sounds (1956-1999) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Zoot Sims and Al Cohn made many records together in small-group settings, but this isn't one of their better-known dates, though it is a rewarding one. These 1956 sessions recorded for the Jazzland label and reissued under Fantasy's limited-edition OJC imprint feature tenor saxophonist Sims (who doubles on alto sax) and Cohn (playing baritone sax on most of the selections) with clarinetist Tony Scott (who doubles on tenor), trumpeter Joe Wilder, and trombonist Urbie Green rounding out the front line. Either Marty Paich or Dick Hyman (neither of whom play on these pianoless charts) contributed the arrangements, all of which fall into the cool category. Though they include quite a few pieces by well-known composers, most of them are lesser-known works, such as George Gershwin's "Treat Me Rough," Vernon Duke's "I Like the Likes of You," and Richard Rodgers' "Where's That Rainbow?" Bassist Trigger Alpert gets some solo time as well and contributed one original, the loping "Trigger Fantasy." Recommended. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     Treat Me Rough 2:50
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin    
2     Looking at You 4:20
Cole Porter    
3     Love Me Tomorrow (But Leave Me Alone Today) 4:51
George Duke / John Latouche    
4     Trigger Happy 2:28
Tony Scott    
5     Tranquilizer 4:28
Dick Hyman    
6     I Like the Likes of You 4:08
Vernon Duke / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg    
7     I Wish I Were in Love Again 3:35
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
8     I Don't Want to Be Alone Again 3:28
Johnny Mercer / Jimmie Smith    
9     Trigger Fantasy 5:24
Trigger Alpert    
10     Where's That Rainbow? 3:35
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Arranged By – Dick Hyman (pistas: 1, 5, 9, 10), Marty Paich (pistas: 2, 3, 6, 7), Tony Scott (pistas: 4, 8)
Bass – Trigger Alpert
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Tony Scott
Drums – Ed Shaughnessy
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Al Cohn
Trombone – Urbie Green
Trumpet – Joe Wilder

PATTY McGOVERN & THOMAS TALBERT - Wednesday's Child (1956-1993) RM / Mp3

This was singer Patty McGovern's only solo record (hence her obscurity) but the main reason to search for this rare Japanese import CD is for the inventive arrangements of Thomas Talbert. He backs the vocalist with groups ranging from a quartet to a septet that utilize such instruments as flute, French horn, clarinet and bassoon in prominent roles. With lyrical solos by trumpeter Joe Wilder and guitarist Barry Galbraith and simple but effective interpretations from McGovern on these underplayed standards, this is a very enjoyable set well worth searching for. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Hooray For Love
2 Wednesday's Child
3 All In Fun
4 You Don't Know What Love Is
5 I Like Snow
6 Crazy He Calls Me
7 Lonely Town
8 Get Out Of Town
9 Love Isn't Everything
10 Winter Song
11 Will You Still Be Mine
12 Alone Together
13 Summer Rain
14 By Myself
Credits:
Arranged By – Thomas Talbert
Drums – Osie Johnson
Guitar – Barry Galbraith
Trumpet – Joe Wilder
Vocals – Patty McGovern 

DONNA HIGHTOWER - Take One! + Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You? (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During the mid 1950s she recorded R&B songs, for RPM Records, often accompanied by the Maxwell Davis Orchestra as on her 1955 version of "Hands Off". She toured widely in the US, with Louis Jordan, B. B. King, Johnny Mathis, Della Reese and others. While none of her records made the pop or R&B charts, she received good reviews and her discs did perform well in Decca Record's own sales guides, with her "I Ain't In The Mood" ranking #1 on their Sepia (race) charts. By 1958, her career had slowed and she began working for a music publishing firm in New York City, recording demonstration records of new songs. Her version of "Light of Love" — later recorded by Peggy Lee — was heard by record producer Dave Cavanaugh, and as a result of his interest she was signed to Capitol Records. She recorded two albums for Capitol, including Take One! and Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You?, both released in 1959. While noted for her "range and power, [she] was equally compelling doing sentimental, soft ballads."

In 1959, she performed in England, France, Sweden and elsewhere in Europe, later performing with Quincy Jones, The Platters and Johnny Hallyday. She settled in France, then Belgium and finally in the late 1960s, in Madrid. In 1971 she won the Costa del Sol International Song Festival, following which she began recording in Spain for Columbia Records, although her songs were issued in much of Europe by Decca Records. She worked with singer Danny Daniel as a duo, Danny y Donna, and they had a hit in the country with "El Vals de las Mariposas". She also recorded solo, and her most successful record, "This World Today Is A Mess" ("Este Mundo es En Conflicto"), which she co-wrote, was an international hit — though not in the US, where it was not released, or in the UK — in 1972, reportedly selling over one million copies worldwide. She is also known for the song "If You Hold My Hand", which was later sampled for the UK 2007 hit single "Handsfree" by Sonny J.

She returned to the US to live in semi-retirement in Austin, Texas, in 1990. She was active in the Austin Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, and appeared on local radio programs. Her last performance in Spain was at a jazz festival in 2006. She died in Austin in 2013 at the age of 86.

Tracklist:

Take One! (1958)

1. Perfidia (02:27)

2. Maybe You'll Be There (02:47)

3. Lover Come Back to Me (01:57)

4. There, I've Said It Again (02:14)

5. Because of You (02:30)

6. Please Don't Take Your Love Away From Me (02:52)

7. C'est La Vie (02:34)

8. Too Young (02:31)

9. Baby, Get Lost (02:39)

10. I Get A Kick Out Of You (02:26)

11. Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere (02:32)

12. Trouble In Mind (02:33)

Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You? (1959)

13. Every Day I Have The Blues (02:46)

14. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You? (03:06)

15. All Or Nothing At All (01:45)

16. I Laughed To Keep From Crying (02:20)

17. Lonesome And Sorry (01:37)

18. The First To Know (02:31)

19. The Blues Don't Care (02:54)

20. Can't Help It (02:05)

21. Born To Be Blue (02:25)

22. I'll Be Around (02:04)

23. A Cottage For Sale (03:05)

24. I'm Alone Because I Love You (02:32)

Personnel: 

Donna Hightower (vcl), 

Joe Wilder (tp),

 Ben Webster (ts), 

Mundell Lowe (g), 

Hank Jones (p), 

George Duvivier (b), 

Don Lamond (d), 

Sid Feller (dir)

One of the highest tributes to any musician in a recording session is that he or she is a “Take One” artist. Donna Hightower is just that, a singer who delivers perfectly the first time she steps to the mike. In these late Fifties sides she demonstrated the phrasing, taste and skill which marked her as one the brightest new vocalist stars of the time. Backing her are two all-star groups conducted by Sid Feller and featuring some of the greatest soloists of the New York jazz scene, including Joe Wilder, Ben Webster, Hank Jones, Georgie Auld, Mundell Lowe, George Duvivier and Don Lamond.

I was going to say that Donna Hightower "was" - but Ms Hightower was still performing as late as 2006 in her eighties and she doesn't strike me as someone who would take kindly to being placed in the past tense while she's still very much with us, so I'll say "is" - an outstanding jazz, blues and pop singer. All of those talents are on display on "Take One!"

Ms Hightower had an exceptional voice: Big, bold, brassy - with an understated natural vibratto. She could swing, sob, shout, rock-and-roll and burn your house down. Like Sarah Vaughan she could sing almost anything and like the Divine One, she was willing to try. Had it not been for the fact that shortly after she recorded "Gee Baby…." she went to London for a one-week gig at the Stork Club - and then spent the next 31 years in Europe - she might well have been a star in the US. But, we'll never know…. Instead, this CD is, to my knowledge, all that's available today. Fortunately it's an outstanding disc.

The CD is actually two Capitol LPs: "Take One!" recorded in 1958; and, "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You," recorded in 1959.

"Take One!" the LP, was recorded in a session that was actually supposed to be for Dakota Staton. Ms Staton canceled at the last minute and producer Dave Cavanaugh, now stuck with Sid Feller's All-Stars, featuring the likes of saxman Ben Webster, trumpeter Joe Wilder, guitarist Mundell Lowe and pianist Hank Jones cooling their heels with nobody to play for, suddenly remembered Ms Hightower, (who was working for a publishing company in Brooklyn). With three hours notice and no rehersal, Ms Hightower stepped in and stepped up - and man-oh-man, did she nail it! "Take One!" is a set of standards, including: "There I've Said It Again," "Please Don't Take Your Love Away From Me," "I Get a Kick Out of You," and "Trouble in Mind." This is swinging, rollicking '50's jazz and jazzy pop. Every one of the 12 songs in the set is a gem.

Six months later, Ms Hightower was back in the studio again - and this time it was her session. The musical credits for "Gee Baby…," are a little unclear - it was Sid Feller's Orchestra with saxman George Auld, Chauncey Welsh on trombone, and Mr Jones again at the piano - after that, the credits are hazy. But the music certainly isn't. Some jazz, some blues, some pop - Ms Hightower just cranks it up and lets it fly! The 12 song set includes; "Every Day I Have the Blues," "All or Nothing at All," "I'm Alone Because I Love You," and of course, the title song.

The sonics are excellent: Ms Hightower's voice is clear and clean and there's plenty of instrumental separation.

 

CHARLIE BYRD - For Louis (2000) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Charlie Byrd's last studio recording, 2000's For Louis, finds the journeyman swing guitarist paying tribute to jazz trumpet legend Louis Armstrong. Backed by an all-star ensemble featuring saxophonist Steve Wilson, trumpeter Joe Wilder, pianist Robert Redd, bassist Dennis Irwin, and drummer Chuck Redd, Byrd dives into a bevy of songs strongly associated with Armstrong throughout his career. Included here are such tunes as "A Kiss to Build a Dream On," "Hello, Dolly!," "Tin Roof Blues," "Struttin' with Some Barbecue," and more. by Matt Collar
Tracklist:
1    Petite Fleur 5:09
Sidney Bechet
2    Remembering Louis Armstrong 4:20
Charlie Byrd
3    A Kiss to Build a Dream On 5:05
Oscar Hammerstein II / Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby
4    Autumn in New York 6:48
Vernon Duke
5    Hello, Dolly! 4:07
Jerry Herman
6    Tin Roof Blues 5:05
George Brunies / Georg Brunis / Paul Mares / Walter Melrose / Ben Pollack / Leon Roppolo / Mel Stitzel / Melville Stitzel
7    Soft Lights and Sweet Music 5:04
Irving Berlin
8    A Child Is Born 4:22
Thad Jones
9    Struttin' with Some Barbecue 4:49
Lil Hardin Armstrong / Louis Armstrong / Lil Hardin / Don Raye
10    Indian Summer 4:04
Al Dubin / Victor Herbert
11    Rosetta 4:40
Earl Hines / Henri Woode
12    What a Wonderful World 4:59
Bob Thiele / George David Weiss
Credits:
Bass – Dennis Irwin
Drums – Chuck Redd
Guitar – Charlie Byrd
Piano – Robert Redd
Saxophone – Steve Wilson
Trumpet – Joe Wilder