SAM JONES PLUS 10 — The Chant (1961-1994) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Bassist Sam Jones's Riverside recordings have long been underrated. This CD reissue features Jones on bass and cello for four songs apiece with a particularly strong supporting cast including cornetist Nat Adderley, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, trombonist Melba Liston, altoist Cannonball Adderley (who only takes one solo) and Jimmy Heath on tenor; Victor Feldman and Heath provided the colorful arrangments. Highlights include "Four," "Sonny Boy," Jones's "In Walked Ray" and "Over the Rainbow" but all eight selections in this straightahead set are rewarding. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    The Chant    3:24
 Victor Feldman
2    Four    4:23
 Miles Davis / Jon Hendricks
3    Blues On Down    5:45
 Benny Golson
4    Sonny Boy    4:54
 Lew Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson / Al Jolson
5    In Walked Ray    4:04
Written-By – Sam Jones
6    Bluebird    4:10
 Charlie Parker
7    Over The Rainbow    6:37
 Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
8    Off-Color    4:26
Written-By – Rudy Stevenson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Julian "Cannonball" Adderley
Arranged By – Jimmy Heath, Victor Feldman
Baritone Saxophone – Tate Houston
Bass – Keter Betts (tracks: 4 to 7), Sam Jones (tracks: 1 to 3, 8)
Cello – Sam Jones (tracks: 4 to 7)
Cornet – Nat Adderley
Drums – Louis Hayes
Guitar – Les Spann (tracks: 1 to 3, 8)
Piano – Victor Feldman (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 8), Wynton Kelly (tracks: 4, 6, 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Heath
Trombone – Melba Liston
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell
Vibraphone – Victor Feldman (tracks: 4 to 7)

CURTIS FULLER — The Magnificent Trombone Of Curtis Fuller (1961-2014) Serie Jazz Collection 1000 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist & Credits :  

RED GARLAND — The Nearness of You (1962-1999) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Unlike his slightly earlier recordings for Moodsville (which feature Red Garland on unaccompanied piano solos), this strictly ballad date has Garland joined (on all but the solo "Lush Life") by bassist Larry Ridley and drummer Frank Gant. Since all eight of the standards are taken at the same medium/slow tempo, there is not much variety here, keeping the CD from being essential. But Garland's attractive and distinctive chord voicings, plus his ability to uplift melodies while swinging at a slow speed, make this project a success. Highlights include "The Nearness of You," "Where or When," and Irving Berlin's "All Alone." Particularly effective when used as background music. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

RED GARLAND QUARTET — Solar (1962-1992) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Pianist Red Garland recorded many sessions during 1955-63 and his distinctive chord voicings and relaxed style was always worth hearing. The wild card on this quartet is Les Spann who had the unusual double of guitar and flute; his flute is a major asset on "Where Are You?" and "The Very Thought of You." Garland (along with bassist Sam Jones and drummer Frank Gant) is in fine form throughout these underplayed standards; highlights include "Sophisticated Swing," "Solar" and "This Can't Be Love." Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

DIZZY GILLESPIE — Have Trumpet, Will Excite! (1959-2015) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It's easy and perhaps unfair to take any later jazz album by a trendy, "hot" trumpeter and compare it to a classic like Have Trumpet, Will Excite!. Critics and fans have been afforded the luxury of time to weed out half-efforts. Still, even without former knowledge of who Dizzy Gillespie is, Have Trumpet, Will Excite! separates itself from the crowd pretty quickly. The Latin up-tempo arrangement of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" thrusts the song into an entirely different realm. Junior Mance's piano kicks things of with a quirky, forceful rhythm, and after Gillespie's trumpet lays down the bare bones of the melody, it's pretty much forgotten. From there, the band takes off on a creative surge. The same is true of "My Man." A brave arrangement, kicked off by piano and outlined by trumpet, completely rewrites the piece. "Sure," Gillespie and the band, seem to say, "We can play old swing tunes, but wouldn't it be cool if we turned them inside out?" This approach, along with sharp solos, gives the material an exciting edge. Gillespie's solo on "St. Louis Blues" just soars, while Les Spann, who plays both flute and guitar on the album, follows him with a bristly guitar solo. Mance offers distinctive piano work that matches Gillespie's enthusiasm on tunes like "Woody 'N' You," while bassist Sam Jones and drummer Lex Humphries keep a high-octane rhythm in constant motion. Have Trumpet, Will Excite! more than measures up to its promise and stands as a cornerstone of Gillespie's '50s work. Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Tracklist + Credits :

JOHNNY HODGES - Triple Play (1967-1996) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Altoist Johnny Hodges is heard in three different settings on this reissue CD. Such top swing stars as trumpeters Ray Nance, Cat Anderson and Roy Eldridge, trombonists Buster Cooper, Lawrence Brown and Benny Powell, tenors Paul Gonsalves and Jimmy Hamilton, baritonist Harry Carney, pianists Hank Jones and Jimmy Jones (the latter two sometimes together), guitarists Tiny Grimes, Les Spann and Billy Butler, bassists Milt Hinton, Aaron Bell and Joe Benjamin and drummers Gus Johnson, Rufus Jones and Oliver Jackson are heard in nonets with the great altoist. Despite the many changes in personnel, the music is pretty consistent, with basic swinging originals, blues and ballads all heard in equal proportion. As usual, Johnny Hodges ends up as the main star. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Take 'Em off, Take 'Em off, Pt. 1 3:39
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Guitar – Tiny Grimes    
Cornet – Ray Nance
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
2     Take 'Em off, Take 'Em off, Pt. 2 2:56
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Cornet – Ray Nance    
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Tiny Grimes
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges    
3     The Nearness of You 3:46
(Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Cornet – Ray Nance
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Tiny Grimes
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges    
4     Monkey on a Limb 3:53
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Cornet – Ray Nance
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Tiny Grimes
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
5     A Tiny Bit of Blues 4:53
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Cornet – Ray Nance
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Tiny Grimes
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
6     For Jammers Only 3:02
(Claude Bolling)
Piano – Jimmy Jones    
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Rufus Jones
Guitar – Les Spann
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry    
7     On the Way Up 2:52
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Rufus Jones
Guitar – Les Spann
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry    
8     Big Boy Blues 3:20
(Johnny Hodges)
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Guitar – Billy Butler
Piano – Nat Pierce
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges    
9     The Very Thought of You 2:49
(Ray Noble)
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Guitar – Les Spann
Bass – Aaron Bell      
Drums – Rufus Jones    
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
10     Fur Piece 6:22
(Johnny Hodges)
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Guitar – Billy Butler
Piano – Nat Pierce
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
11     Sir John 3:19
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Drums – Rufus Jones
Bass – Aaron Bell
Guitar – Les Spann
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry    
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
12     Figurine 2:39
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Rufus Jones
Guitar – Les Spann
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry    
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
13     C Jam Blues 4:21
(Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington)
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Guitar – Billy Butler
Piano – Nat Pierce
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges

JOHNNY HODGES | WILD BILL DAVIS ft. LES SPANN & MUNDELL LOWE - Blue Hodge (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"Blue Hodge"    
1    And Then Some 4:06
Written-By – Johnny Hodges
2    I Wonder Why 4:30
Written-By – Mercer Ellington
3    Azure Te 2:57
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
4    Blue Hodge 6:19
Written-By – Gary McFarland
5    Hodge Podge 4:04
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
6    It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream 3:10
Written-By – Don George, Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges
7    Why Are You Blue? 3:25
Written-By – Gary McFarland
8    Knuckles 5:11
Written-By – Johnny Hodges
9    Stand By Blues 4:30
Written-By – Johnny Hodges
10    There Is No Greater Love 3:27
Written-By – Isham Jones, Marty Symes
Personnel 1-10 :
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Organ – Wild Bill Davis
Bass – Sam Jones
Drums – Louis Hayes
Guitar, Flute – Les Spann
From "Blue Rabbit"    
11    Blues O'Mighty 4:57
Written-By – Johnny Hodges
12    Fiddler's Fancy 2:52
Written-By – Johnny Hodges
13    Things Ain't What They Used To Be 4:18
Written-By – Mercer Ellington, Ted Persons
14    Wisteria 3:14
Written-By – Jimmy Jones, Mercer Ellington
15    Satin Doll 2:32
Written-By – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer
16    Mud Pie 4:10
Written-By – Johnny Hodges
Personnel 11-16 :
Organ – Wild Bill Davis
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Bass – Richard Davis
Guitar – Mundell Lowe
Drums – Osie Johnson
From "Blue Notes"    
17    Rent City 3:52
Written-By – Johnny Hodges
18    Sometimes I'm Happy 2:46
Written-By – Clifford Grey, Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans
19    The Midnight Sun Will Never Set 3:35
Written-By – Quincy Jones
20    Sneakin' Up On You 5:38
Written-By – Chip Taylor, Ted Daryll
Personnel 17-20 :
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Arranged By, Conductor – Jimmy Jones
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Danny Bank
Bass – George Duvivier
Bass Trombone – Tony Studd
Drums – Grady Tate
Guitar – Eric Gale
Harmonica – Buddy Lucas
Piano – Hank Jones
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Hamilton
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Frank Wess, Jerome Richardson
Trumpet – Ernie Royal, Snooky Young
Vibraphone – Joe Venuto
Notas.
Tracks 1 to 10 recorded in New Jersey on August 23 and 24, 1961, and issued as Blue Hodge.
Tracks 11 to 16 recorded in New York on April 28 and 30, 1964, and issued on Blue Rabbit.
Tracks 17 to 20 recorded in New York on October 24, 1966, and issued on Blue Notes.
The CD erroneously credits track 13 to "Ted Parsons" and track 20 to "Creed Taylor."