BIG JOHN PATTON — Got A Good Thing Goin' (1966-2003) RM | Blue Note Rare Groove Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Grant Green always brought out the best in Big John Patton. Almost any record that featured the guitarist and organist was dominated by their scintillating interplay, and it always sounded like they were trying to top each other's blistering, funky solos. Patton and Green rarely sounded better than they did on Got a Good Thing Goin', a 1966 session that functioned as a showcase for the pair's dynamic interaction and exciting, invigorating solos. In particular, the duo's mastery is evident because there are no horns to stand in the way -- only drummer Hugh Walker and conga player Richard Landrum provide support, leaving plenty of room for Green and Patton to run wild. All five numbers -- two originals by Patton and Green, two pop covers ("Ain't That Peculiar," "Shake"), and Duke Pearson's "Amanda" -- are simple blues and soul-jazz songs that provide ample space for the guitarist and organist to stretch out. And they do stretch out -- as a pair, they have never sounded so fiery or intoxicating. Fans of hard bop may find the songs a little too simple, but hot, up-tempo soul-jazz rarely comes any better than it does on Got a Good Thing Goin'. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1    The Yodel 8:15
Written-By – Green, Patton
2    Soul Woman 7:40
Written-By – Green, Patton
3    Ain't That Peculiar 6:45
Written-By – Tarplin, Rogers, Robinson, Moore
4    The Shake 7:44
Written-By – Sam Cooke
5    Amanda 6:08
Written-By – Duke Pearson
Credits :
Congas – Richard Landrum
Drums – Hugh Walker
Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Grant Green
Organ – John Patton

LOU DONALDSON - The Natural Soul (1962-2003) RM | RVG Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Natural Soul finds Lou Donaldson delving deeply into soul-jazz, recording a set of funky, greasy instrumentals with only a few references to hard bop. Donaldson occasionally sounds a little awkward with the relaxed groove of The Natural Soul, as does trumpeter Tommy Turrentine, but the trio of guitarist Grant Green, organist John Patton, and drummer Ben Dixon keep things cooking. Green and Patton's solos often burn and are always invigorating, and Lou frequently matches their heights. The original compositions -- which form the bulk of the album -- aren't much more than blues and soul vamps, but they provide an excellent foundation for the combo to work hot grooves. And, in the end, that's what The Natural Soul is about -- groove. It maintains the high standards Donaldson established with his first soul-jazz foray, Here 'Tis, and remains one of his best records in that genre. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Funky Mama 9'05
Big John Patton
2    Love Walked In 5'10
Composed By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
3    Spaceman Twist 5'35
Composed By – Lou Donaldson
4    Sow Belly Blues 10'11
Composed By – Lou Donaldson
5    That's All 5'33
Composed By – Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes
6    Nice 'N' Greasy 5'24
Composed By – Johnny Acea
7    People Will Say We're In Love 7'53
Composed By – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon
Guitar – Grant Green
Organ – John Patton
Recorded By, Remastered By [2002] – Rudy Van Gelder
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine

LOU DONALDSON - "Good Gracious!" (1963-1997) RM | Blue Note Rare Groove Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Good Gracious may be Lou Donaldson's record, but guitarist Grant Green and organist John Patton steal the show. Working with a tight, soulful groove laid down by drummer Ben Dixon, the guitarist and organist trade hot lines that often steal the thunder from Donaldson, who nevertheless turns in a robust, tuneful performance. Donaldson's tone is richer and fuller than it is on many of his early-'60s records, and he really connects with the laid-back R&B grooves and soul-jazz vamps on Good Gracious, turning in melodic, memorable solos. However, Grant and Patton take the songs even further with their intense solos and fills; Patton, in particular, sounds on fire even when the tempo is mellow. Good Gracious still falls prey to some of the lazy tempos that pop up on most Lou Donaldson records, but it remains one of his finest soul-jazz sessions. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1     Bad John 8:16
Lou Donaldson    
2     The Holy Ghost 8:36
Lou Donaldson    
3     Cherry 5:15
Don Redman    
4     Caracas 7:17
Lou Donaldson    
5     Good Gracious 6:50
Lou Donaldson    
6     Don't Worry 'Bout Me
Rube Bloom / Ted Koehler
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon
Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Grant Green
Organ – John Patton
Producer [Blue Note Rare Groove Series] – Michael Cuscuna, Tom Evered

LOU DONALDSON - Signifyin' (1963-2002) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

This 1963 date by Lou Donaldson was his first for Argo/Cadet. It followed hot on the heels of two organ jazz dates for Blue Note, Here 'Tis and Natural Soul. Like those previous sessions, Donaldson has a band that can cook whatever meat he gives them -- John Patton, organ; Tommy Turrentine, trumpet; Ben Dixon, drums. Whether swinging on the soulful side of hard bop on Donaldson's own composition "Si Si Safronia" (with a steamy Latin beat played by Patton in chord comps), playing a straight-ahead greasy soul steamer such as the title track that opens the record, or offering up a funkified swinging version of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," the band keeps the beats tight, full of deep backbeat funk and raw soul. The finest moment, however, is on the eight-plus minute "Coppin' a Plea," which is all rough and ready blues with fuzzy overtones and Patton playing one of his finest solos of the period criss-crossing chunky chords and right-hand lines while double-timing Dixon. No matter how you add it up, the only complaint about these six tracks that can justifiably be mustered is that there weren't more.
>|This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa'<|
Tracklist :
1     Signifyin' 7'07
Lou Donaldson    
2     Time After Time 2'35
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne    
3     Si Si Safronia 5'38
Lou Donaldson    
4     Don't Get Around Much Anymore 3'53
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell    
5     I Feel It in My Bones 8'15
Lou Donaldson    
6     Coppin' a Plea 4'09
Lou Donaldson     
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon
Guitar – Roy Montrell
Organ – John Patton
Trumpet – Tommy Turrentine, Jr.

LOU DONALDSON - Possum Head (1964-2005) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Possum Head reunites Lou Donaldson with organ great Big John Patton, a component of virtually all of the altoist's strongest Argo label efforts -- time and time again, Patton's sublimely funky grooves effectively sand away Donaldson's wooden edges to create rolling melodic contours. Guitarist Ray Crawford, trumpeter Bill Hardman, drummer Bill Dixon, and the presumably pseudonymous percussionist Cleopas "Mopedido" Morris round out the session, which boasts a lighter, breezier approach than the earlier Signifyin'. Donaldson circles around the hard-driving soul-jazz sensibilities of his later records but never quite commits, instead favoring lyrical solos well-matched to standards like "Laura," "Bye Bye Blackbird," and "Secret Love." An engaging and underrated record. Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1     Possum Head 3:15
Lou Donaldson    
2     Secret Love 5:44
Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster    
3     Midnight Soul 4:57
Lou Donaldson    
4     Bye Bye Blackbird 6:28
Mort Dixon / Ray Henderson    
5     Laura 4:42
Johnny Mercer / David Raksin    
6     Persimmon Tree 5:35
Lou Donaldson    
7     Frenesi 6:15
Alberto Dominguez / Leonard Whitcup    
8     Man With a Horn 5:04
Eddie DeLange / Jack Jenney / Bonnie Lake
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Congas – Cleopas "Mopedido" Morris
Drums – Ben Dixon
Guitar – Ray Crawford
Organ – 'Big' John Patton
Trumpet – Bill Hardman

LOU DONALDSON - Blue Breakbeats (1998) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Back in 1998, Blue Note came out with a series of little 35- to 45-minute "Breakbeats" samplers taken from the thick, rich catalogs of Bobbi Humphrey, Grant Green, Reuben Wilson, Lee Morgan, Donald Byrd, and Lou Donaldson. What you get on this particular volume are six very enjoyable examples of Lou Donaldson's best jazz-funk grooves harvested from the golden formative years of this well-loved style (1963-1970). The collective personnel is pretty wicked, and includes Blue Mitchell, Melvin Sparks, Grant Green, Charles Earland, and Idris Muhammad. As usual, the background for the music is way bigger and runs much deeper than many folks realize. Anyone who has gone back and assessed Donaldson's entire career knows that he was one of the few alto players who didn't switch to tenor in the shadow of Charlie Parker during the 1950s. Donaldson's chops were always as formidable as Bird's or Earl Bostic's, James Moody's or Cannonball Adderley's. His recorded legacy is a lot more diverse than you would imagine if all you went by were the funky tracks that have since been lucratively "legitimated" by the recording industry in response to the sampling habits of a whole generation of DJ mixologists. Not to complain -- it's very cool that Lou Donaldson's funk-jazz is getting reissued and is being enjoyed by people young enough to be his great-grandchildren. It's just that it would be awfully nice if more people were aware of the considerable stylistic range of his music. The root system of these "Breakbeats" exists in the amazing and to some extent overlooked records that Lou Donaldson made between 1952 and 1963. For maximum enjoyment and fulfillment, get some context for the funk and you'll enjoy it like never before. arwulf arwulf  
Tracklist :
1     Turtle Walk 7:54
Lou Donaldson
Drums - Idris Muhammad   
Trumpet – Ed Williams
Organ – Charles Earland
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
2     Brother Soul 8:13
Lou Donaldson / Leon Spencer
Drums - Idris Muhammad   
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell
Organ – Charles Earland
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Guitar – Jimmy Ponder
3     Minor Bash 6:08
Lou Donaldson   
Organ – Dr. Lonnie Smith
Drums - Idris Muhammad
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
4     Pot Belly 8:05
Lou Donaldson   
Drums - Idris Muhammad
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell
Organ – Leon Spencer, Jr.
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Guitar – Ted Dunbar
5     One Cylinder 6:45
Freddie McCoy
Drums - Idris Muhammad   
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Guitar – George Benson
Trumpet – Melvin Lastie
Organ – Dr. Lonnie Smith
6     Caracas 7:19
Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon
Organ – John Patton
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Guitar – Grant Green

LOU DONALDSON - A Man with a Horn (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

These sessions were recorded for Blue Note in 1961 and 1963. The first date features five cuts with Jack Mcduff on organ, Grant Green on guitar, and Joe Dukes on drums. The four remaining cuts were recorded two years later with John Patton on organ, Ben Dixon on drums, and the addition of Irvin Stokes on trumpet. This is a mainly mellow affair with six of the nine tracks exchanging the hard bop and soul-jazz of the times for ballads and slow blues. However, the occasional up-tempo funky surprise does pop up on "My Melancholy Baby" and the Donaldson originals "Hipty Hop" and "Soul Meetin'." Al Campbell
Tracklist :
1     Misty 8:30
Johnny Burke / Erroll Garner     
2     Hippity Hop 5:44     
Lou Donaldson    
3     Please 6:07
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin    
4     My Melancholy Baby 6:29
Ernie Burnett / George Norton    
5     Man With a Horn 5:47
Eddie DeLange / Jack Jenney / Bonnie Lake
6     Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White 4:22
Mack David    
7     Prisoner of Love 5:10
Russ Columbo / Clarence Gaskill / Leo Robin
8     Soul Meetin' 7:11
Lou Donaldson    
9     Stardust 6:11
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
Notas.
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on September 25, 1961 (#1,3,5,7,9) and June 7, 1963 (#2,4,6,8)
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Drums – Ben Dixon (pistas: 2, 4, 6, 8), Joe Dukes (pistas: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9)
Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Grant Green
Organ – Jack McDuff (pistas: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9), John Patton (pistas: 2, 4, 6, 8)
Trumpet – Irvin Stokes (pistas: 2, 4, 6, 8)
Trumpet – Danny Moore, Ernie Royal, Joe Shepley

JOHNNY GRIFFIN & MATHEW GEE - Soul Groove (1963-2012) RM | Jazz Best Collection 1000 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The music seldom reaches ignition point on this undistinguished 1965 session. Co-leader Johnny Griffin has many more valuable items in his discography. While not as well-known as Griffin, the same can be said of trombonist Matthew Gee, whose resumé includes work with Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington and whose style straddles swing and bop (this was actually one of only two dates where Gee recorded as a leader).

Soul Groove disappoints in several areas, including the writing that seldom surpasses head-arrangement status. Drummer Art Taylor and bassist Aaron Bell plug away purposefully, but in a mix that blunts the personalities of their playing. The co-leaders' contributions also pass in a blur. Tenor and trombone front lines can work, but here the tone of the two instruments is too similar; Griffin and Gee's solos tend to drift and smear over one another.

Organist John Patton is on three tracks, pianist Hank Jones on four, and Jones, again, is on organ for one track. The presence of Jones and Patton looks promising, but the shuffling between the two and between organ and piano actually adds to the session's lack of focus. Jones has occasional moments of sparkle at the piano, but like his rhythm section colleagues, he often suffers from indifferent treatment in the mix. The best tracks end up being the three with Patton, as all hands settle in for the familiar pleasures of organ combo-style blowing. Jim Todd  
Tracklist :
1     Oh Gee 2'21
Matthew Gee
2     Here 5'10
Gerry Beckley / Matthew Gee
3     At Sundown 4'51
Lou Donaldson    
4     The Swingers Get the Blues, Too 8'00
Duke Ellington / Matthew Gee
5     Twist City 5'22
Matthew Gee
6     Poor Butterfly 4'59
John Golden / Raymond Hubbell    
7     Mood for Cryin' 4'42
Matthew Gee / Johnny Griffin          
8     Renee 5'18
Matthew Gee
Credits :
Bass – Aaron Bell (pistas: 1-3, 5-8)
Congas, Bongos – Carlos "Patato" Valdes
Drums – Art Taylor
Organ – Hank Jones (pistas: 2,6), John Patton (pistas: 1,5,8)
Piano – Hank Jones (pistas: 3,4,7)
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin
Trombone – Matthew Gee
Tuba – Aaron Bell (pistas: 4)

JOHN ZORN : The Unknown Masada (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The third installment in this Tenth Year celebration is the most exciting yet. Fourteen tunes from Zorn’s legendary Masada songbook that have never been heard before. Performed and arranged by an incredible lineup of musicians, the music here touches upon hard rock, world beat, klezmer and jazz, often all in the same arrangement! Highlights include a lyrical ballad by Wadada Leo Smith, two explosive rock tracks by the powerful Japanese duo the Ruins and Mike Patton’s Fantomas, and a gorgeous solo performance by Ukrainian bandura virtuoso Julian Kytasty. TZADIK
Tracklist :
1    Erik Friedlander–    Kinyan 4'50
Bass – Stomu Takeishi
Percussion – Satoshi Takeishi
Producer, Arranged By, Cello, Mandolin, Engineer – Erik Friedlander
Saxophone, Clarinet – Andy Laster
2    Rashanim–    Olamim 3'48
Drums, Percussion – Mathias Künzli
Electric Bass – Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz
Engineer – Jamie Saft
Guitar – Jon Madof
3    Dave Douglas–    Vehuel 5'32
Alto Saxophone – John Zorn
Bass – Greg Cohen
Drums – Ben Perowsky
Engineer – Jamie Saft
Producer, Arranged By, Trumpet, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Dave Douglas
Tenor Saxophone – Greg Tardy
4    Tatsuya Yoshida–    Shofetim 3'02
Producer, Arranged By, Voice, Drums, Synthesizer – Tatsuya Yoshida
5    Naftule's Dream–    Partzuf 4'22
Clarinet – Glenn Dickson
Drums – Eric Rosenthal
Electric Guitar – Brandon Seabrook
Engineer – Mark Tanzer
Piano, Arranged By – Michael Mclaughlin
Trumpet – Gary Bohan
Tuba – Jim Gray
6    Jamie Saft–    Zarach 6'57
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar, Drums, Keyboards, Programmed By, Engineer – Jamie Saft
7    Zahava Seewald–    Shagal 6'46
Arranged By, Accordion – Tuur Florizoone
Arranged By, Oud, Fiddle [Medieval] – Michaël Grébil
Vocals, Arranged By, Producer – Zahava Seewald
Written-By [Lyrics] – Solomon Ibn Gabirol
8    Koby Israelite–    Herem 5'06
Baritone Saxophone – John Telfer
Bass, Guitar – Yaron Stavi
Drums, Percussion, Accordion, Guitar, Keyboards, Clarinet, Vocals, Engineer, Arranged By, Producer – Koby Israelite
Flugelhorn – Sid Gauld
9    Julian Kytasty–    Kadmut 4'44
Producer, Arranged By, Bandura – Julian Kytasty
10    Fantômas–    Zemaraim 3'34
Bass, Arranged By – Trevor Dunn
Drums – Dave Lombardo
Guitar – King Buzzo
Voice, Electronics – Mike Patton
11    Wadada Leo Smith–    Demai 6'22
Computer [Laptop], Electronics, Arranged By – Ikue Mori
Engineer – Jamie Saft
Trumpet, Arranged By, Producer – Wadada Leo Smith
12    Eyvind Kang–    Belimah 4'09
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar, Drums, Strings – Eyvind Kang
Credits :
Composed By, Executive-Producer – John Zorn
Painting [Cover Painting (Ma'dah, 2000)] – Karen Liebowitz

GRANT GREEN - Am I Blue ? (1963-2002) RVG Edition / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

AM I BLUE features the classic Green / Patton / Dixon ensemble plus Johnny Cole and Joe Henderson on horns in a delightful yet unusually laid back vain. The gospel influence in John's playing is particularly evident on this recording, as is his minimalist philosophy. (If you don't have to play it, don't) Ironically, in his latter years, due to a strange accident with a car jack which would injure a tendon in his hand he would not have use of his pinky and fourth finger, yet could still create some of the richest and most amazing connections on the organ as well as develop very rich and lucid solo ideas ! The showstopper on the CD is the light and bouncy FOR ALL WE KNOW… Of course, Johnny Coles and a then newcomer and relatively unknown Joe Henderson definitely get their word in, but it is amazing to hear John's passing chords behind them. Grant Green typically lays out, listening, listening, listening, listening (which is what a soloist needs to be doing when his other bandmates are playing… not playing over them, or holding coversations, but listening and taking in the dialogue). Finally, Grant comes in and is as crisp, melodious and swinging and used expect him to be… throwing in a few surprise left hooks as well! - - Last word goes to John… who in turn not only takes a well crafted single note solo, but digs down with a real nifty shout chorus as well (though admittedly I will ever have to admit that Johnny Hammond Smith and Wild Bill will ever have him beat on that.) With Ben Dixon in his corner, however, he does take it home quite masterfully ! of note: That's the one thing that distinguishes a Grant Green session from one of those sessions where people are trying to copy such a session - - you can really tell the players are listening to each other, providing a lot of space and responding to one another's ideas! True Jazz masters are at their best not when they're showing off what they know… but when they're really listening and responding to what's going on around them. Then magic occurs, as was the historical case of John Coltrane's layer of sound discovery. - by Eddie Landsberg
Tracklist
1. Am I Blue? 6:54
Harry Akst / Grant Clarke
2. Take These Chains From My Heart 6:09
Hy Heath / Fred Rose
3. I Wanna Be Loved 7:34
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Billy Rose
4. Sweet Slumber 7:12
Lucky Millinder / Al J. Neiburg / Henri Woode
5. For All We Know 13:57
J. Fred Coots / Sam M. Lewis
Credits :
Grant Green - Guitar
Johnny Coles - Trumpet
Joe Henderson - Tenor Saxophone
"Big" John Patton - Organ
Ben Dixon - Drums

BIG JOHN PATTON - Blue John (1963-2014) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless