KENNY DREW TRIO — Your Soft Eyes (1982) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Pianist Kenny Drew is accompanied by fellow expatriate drummer Ed Thigpen and the talented young bassist Mads Vinding on these 1981 sessions. The leader continued to grow as a player during his years living in Europe, evolving from a strong bop pianist into something more. He opens "Alone Together" with a tense, evocative solo before returning to familiar territory as the rhythm section joins him. His sprightly, brisk take of "How Are Things in Glocca Mora" is a nice change from the usual arrangements, with Vinding's walking bass prominent in the mix. The leader's two originals include the snappy "Evening in the Park" and the lush, intimate ballad "Your Soft Eyes." This rewarding CD seems to have been deleted from Soul Note's catalog, so it is well worth tracking down. Ken Dryden 
Tracklist :
1 Forgotten But Not Gone 3:52
Ernie Wilkins
2 Alone Together 9:50
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
3 Your Soft Eyes 5:06
Kenny Drew
4 Evening in the Park  5:18
Kenny Drew
5 How Are Things in Glocca Morra?  7:36
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg / Burton Lane
6 Mads' Blues
Kenny Drew
Credits :
Double Bass – Mads Vinding
Drums – Ed Thigpen
Piano – Kenny Drew

JOHNNY GRIFFIN QUARTET - Live In Tokyo (1976-1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The great tenor Johnny Griffin really gets a chance to stretch out on this two-LP set. Joined by pianist Horace Parland, bassist Mads Vinding and drummer Art Taylor for this Tokyo concert, Griffin digs into three standards and a pair of his originals; all except for a rapid "Wee" are at least 16 minutes long. Griffin's long cadenza on "The Man I Love" is a highlight. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     All the Things You Are 18'53
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
2     When We Were One 17'08
Johnny Griffin
3     Wee 3'47
Denzil Best
4     The Man I Love 16'47
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Credits :
Bass – Mads Vinding
Drums – Art Taylor
Piano – Horace Parlan
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN QUARTET - Blues for Harvey (1973-1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Johnny Griffin is heard in a pair of dates recorded in 1972 at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen, joined by fellow American expatriates Kenny Drew and Ed Thigpen, along with bassist Mads Vinding. Most of this album is devoted to Griffin's originals. His piercing, extended blues "That Party Upstairs" is followed by a somber ballad "Alone Again" (not the bland Gilbert O'Sullivan pop hit "Along Again (Naturally)," as listed in some discographies). His remake of his early composition "Soft and Furry" features Vinding's delightful arco bass in octave unison with Griffin's tenor sax. The furious uptempo "Blues for Harvey" gives way to a turbulent pair of choruses of Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning." There are some exciting moments, but overall, this live record falls just a bit short of essential for hard bop fans. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     That Party Upstairs 14'42
Johnny Griffin
2     Alone Again 8'42
Johnny Griffin
3     Sound Track Blues 6'13
Johnny Griffin
4     Theme 0'26
Traditional
5     Soft and Furry 11'34
Johnny Griffin
6     Blues for Harvey 12'53
Johnny Griffin
7     Rhythm-A-Ning (Theme) 2'36
Thelonious Monk / Traditional
Credits :
Bass – Mads Vinding
Drums – Ed Thigpen
Piano – Kenny Drew
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Griffin

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - Johnny Griffin and the Great Danes (2003) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1     Just Friends 12'02
John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis
2     All the Things You Are 13'30
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
3     When We Were One 15'59
Johnny Griffin
4     Blues Up and Down 12'44
Gene Ammons / Sonny Stitt
5     Body and Soul 5'27
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
6     Rhythm-A-Ning 9'26
Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Bass – Mads Vinding
Drums – Alex Riel
Piano – Thomas Clausen
Tenor Saxophone – Jesper Thilo, Johnny Griffin

ART FARMER QUINTET - Manhattan (1985) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Art Farmer added a bit of a different twist for these 1981 studio sessions, including baritone saxophonist Sahib Shihab with him in the front line, along with fellow expatriate Americans Kenny Drew (piano) and Ed Thigpen (drums), plus bassist Mads Vinding. Drew contributed the first two songs, including the boisterous mid-tempo opener "Context" and the brisk blues "Blue Wail," both top-notch features for Farmer and Shihab. The intricate take of Charlie Parker's "Passport" and Bennie Wallace's inventive "Back Door Beauty" find Shihab switching to soprano sax. The only standard is a lush take of "Manhattan," showcasing the leader's lyrical flugelhorn. This release is a little short by CD standards, clocking under 40 minutes, but it will be of great interest to fans of Art Farmer. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Context 6'53
Kenny Drew
2     Blue Wail 5'06
Kenny Drew
3     Manhattan 6'50
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
4     Passport 6'48
Charlie Parker
5     Arrival 6'51
Horace Parlan
6     Back Door Beauty 6'17
Bennie Wallace
Credits :
Bass – Mads Vinding
Drums – Ed Thigpen
Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
Piano – Kenny Drew
Soprano Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Sahib Shihab

YELENA ECKEMOFF - Cold Sun (2009) FLAC (tracks), lossless