OSCAR PETERSON and COUNT BASIE — Satch and Josh Again! (1978-1998) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Recorded three years after their first full album together, this second encounter between Count Basie and Oscar Peterson on twin pianos (this time with a quartet) is as strong as the original, alternating standards with blues. Both Peterson and Basie have one number apiece on electric piano, making this album historic as well as quite musical. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    Roots 6:44
Count Basie / Oscar Peterson
2.    Red Wagon 5:37
Gene DePaul / Richard M. Jones / Don Raye
3.    Home Run 2:40
Count Basie / Oscar Peterson
4.    Sweethearts on Parade 6:37
Carmen Lombardo / Charles Newman
5.    Lil' Darlin' 4:28
Neal Hefti
6.    The Time Is Right 4:31
Oscar Peterson
7.    Cherry 5:50
Don Redman
8.    Lester Leaps In 4:49
Lester Young
9.    She's Funny That Way 5:38
Neil Moret / Richard A. Whiting
10.    Lady Fitz 4.46
Count Basie / Oscar Peterson
Credits :
Bass – John Heard
Drums – Louis Bellson
Electric Piano – Count Basie (tracks: 10), Oscar Peterson (tracks: 5)
Piano – Count Basie (tracks: 1 to 9), Oscar Peterson (tracks: 1 to 4, 6 to 10)
Producer – Norman Granz
Remastered By – Joe Tarantino

PHAROAH SANDERS - Heart Is a Melody (1982-1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This Evidence CD is a reissue of a Theresa LP, adding two songs ("Naima" and "Rise 'n' Shine") to the original program. Pharoah Sanders is heard at his best on a 22-minute version of "Olé," where the tenor really gets a chance to stretch out. His "vocal" on "Goin' to Africa" is spirited, but otherwise most of his solos are very much in the tradition of John Coltrane. There are some fiery moments but few surprises on this date chiefly recommended to Sanders fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Olé 2:13
John Coltrane    
2     On a Misty Night 7:00
Tadd Dameron    
3     Heart Is a Melody of Time (Hiroko's Song) 7:32
William S. Fischer / Pharoah Sanders
Vocals – Andy Bey, Cort Cheek, Debra McGriffe, Flame Braithwaite, Jes Muir, Kris Wyn, Mira Hadar
4     Goin' to Africa (Highlife) 3:49
Pharoah Sanders    
Bells – Paul Arslanian
Vocals – Pharoah Sanders, Audience
- BONUS TRACKS -
5     Naima 7:28
John Coltrane    
6     Rise 'n' Shine 15:07
Stephen Ballantine / Buddy DeSylva / Vincent Youmans
Credits :
Bass – John Heard
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Liner Notes – Dave Holland
Piano – William Henderson
Producer, Tenor Saxophone – Pharoah Sanders

ZOOT SIMS - Passion Flower : Zoot Sims Plays Duke Ellington (1980-1997) RM | WAV (tracks), lossless

Benny Carter provided the arrangements for the 16-piece band that accompanies the great tenor Zoot Sims on this set of Duke Ellington songs. The album is highlighted by "In a Mellow Tone," "I Got It Bad," "Passion Flower" and "Bojangles," but all nine selections are enjoyable and Sims is in top form. In fact it can easily be argued that Zoot Sims never made an indifferent or unswinging album, so it is not much of a surprise that this date is quite successful and should greatly appeal to straightahead jazz fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 5:02
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
2     In a Mellow Tone 2:58
Duke Ellington / Milt Gabler    
3     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 4:47
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster    
4     I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart 2:58
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Henry Nemo / John Redmond
5     Black Butterfly 3:51
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
6     Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 6:46
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell    
7     Your Love Has Faded 4:45
Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn    
8     Bojangles 4:46
Duke Ellington / Jerome Kern    
9     Passion Flower 4:11
Milt Raskin / Billy Strayhorn
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Marshall Royal
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Frank Wess
Bass – Andy Simpkins, John Heard, Michael Moore
Conductor, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Drums – Grady Tate, John Clay, Shelly Manne
Guitar – John Collins
Leader – Zoot Sims
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Producer – Norman Granz
Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Collette, Plas Johnson
Trombone – Benny Powell, Britt Woodman, Grover Mitchell, J.J. Johnson
Trumpet – Al Aarons, Bobby Bryant, Earl Gardner, Oscar Brashear

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

Due to his being such a talented altoist, arranger and occasional trumpeter for seven decades, it is often forgotten that Benny Carter wrote some worthy songs along the way. "When Lights Are Low" and "Blues in My Heart" are standards while "Only Trust Your Heart," "Key Largo" and the novelty hit "Cow-Cow Boogie" are close. For this unusual set, 14 different singers had opportunities to interpret one or two Carter compositions while joined by a fine quintet consisting of cornetist Warren Vache, pianist Chris Neville, bassist Steve LaSpina, drummer Sherman Ferguson and Carter himself (88 at the time!) on alto. The ambitious program includes five Carter songs that were receiving their world premiere; in addition Carter also wrote or co-wrote the lyrics to nine of the pieces. The singers all show respect for the melody and words with Jon Hendricks being playful on "Cow-Cow Boogie," Joe Williams quite touching on "I Was Wrong" and a weakened Peggy Lee making a memorable cameo on "I See You." The vocalists consistently seem quite inspired by the unique project. There are many short Carter and Warren Vache solos and, even with the emphasis on ballads, there is more variety than one might expect. The well-conceived tribute (which also has fine appearances by Dianne Reeves, Carmen Bradford, Kenny Rankin, Marlena Shaw, Diana Krall, Billy Stritch, Shirley Horn, Bobby Short, Ruth Brown, Weslia Whitfield and Nancy Marano) is easily recommended. Scott Yanow   
Tracklist :
1 Only Trust Your Heart 5:28
Sammy Cahn / Benny Carter
Vocals – Dianne Reeves
2 All That Jazz 4:53
Benny Carter / Al Stillman
Vocals – Carmen Bradford, Kenny Rankin
3 I Was Wrong 4:21
Benny Carter
Vocals – Joe Williams
4 Rain 4:58
Benny Carter
Vocals – Marlena Shaw
5 Cow Cow Boogie 5:32
Benny Carter / Gene DePaul / Don Raye
Vocals – Jon Hendricks
6 Fresh Out of Love 5:37
Benny Carter
Vocals – Diana Krall
7 Speak Now 4:54
Benny Carter
Vocals – Billy Stritch
8 A Kiss from You 5:27
Benny Carter / Johnny Mercer
Vocals – Shirley Horn
9 You Bring Out the Best in Me 4:15
Benny Carter
Vocals – Bobby Short
10 My Kind of Trouble Is You 5:46
Benny Carter / Paul Vandervoort II
Vocals – Ruth Brown
11 When Lights Are Low 4:05
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams
Vocals – Weslia Whitfield
12 Lonely Woman 6:33
Benny Carter / Ray Sonin
Vocals – Nancy Marano
13 Key Largo 4:32
Benny Carter / Karl Suessdorf / Leah Worth
Vocals – Carmen Bradford
14 We Were in Love 6:00
Benny Carter
Vocals – Dianne Reeves, Joe Williams
15 I See You 4:48
Benny Carter
Vocals – Peggy Lee
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Bass – John Heard (tracks: 15), Steve LaSpina (tracks: 1 to 14)
Cornet – Warren Vaché (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 7, 9, 11, 13, 14)
Drums – Roy McCurdy (tracks: 2, 10, 13), Sherman Ferguson (tracks: 1, 3 to 9, 11, 12, 14, 15)
Piano – Chris Neville (tracks: 1 to 14), Gene DiNovi (tracks: 15)

CLARK TERRY - "Yes, the Blues" (1981) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This blues-oriented Pablo recording has an ideal matchup: flugelhornist Clark Terry and altoist Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson. Both musicians take a good-humored vocal apiece, but the emphasis is on their playing. The complementary stylists, backed by pianist Art Hillery, bassist John Heard and drummer Roy McCurdy, work together very well on their originals, plus "Swingin' the Blues," and create some memorable, if fairly basic, music straddling the boundaries between swing, bop and early R&B. Scott Yanow

Tracklist :
1     Diddlin' 8'45
Clark Terry
2     Railroad Porter's Blues 5'36
Jessie Mae Robinson
3     Swingin' the Blues 7'00
Count Basie / Eddie Durham
4     Marina Bay Rednecks 7'46
Clark Terry
5     Quicksand 4'05
Clark Terry
6     The Snapper 5'05
Clark Terry
7     Kidney Stew 4'41
Clark Terry
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Vocals (pistas: 2) – Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson
Bass – John Heard
Drums – Roy McCurdy
Harmonica – "Harmonica George" Smith
Piano, Organ – Art Hillery
Producer – Norman Granz
Trumpet, Vocals (pistas: 7) – Clark Terry