TOOTS THIELEMANS - One More for the Road (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

These sessions by harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans are a mixed bag of vocal and instrumental interpretations of works by Harold Arlen. Unfortunately, the project comes across as more of a crossover date, featuring several vocalists who will be of little interest to many jazz fans, while conductor Jurre Haanstra's orchestrations are rather bland and sometimes a bit syrupy. Thielemans' own solos tend to be fairly short, while his regular pianist, Kenny Werner (switching to Fender Rhodes on a few tracks), isn't utilized enough as a soloist. The best selections include "This Time the Dream's on Me," which features Till Brönner on both trumpet and vocals in a warm and unpretentious setting, a campy treatment of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" by Madeleine Peyroux, along with Trijntje Oosterhuis' warm rendition of the nearly forgotten "I Wonder What Became of Me." But several tracks don't make the cut, including Jamie Cullum's pop-infused "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)," Beth Hart's dreadful "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," and urban contemporary singer Oleta Adams' lackluster version of "Stormy Weather." This CD falls short of being an essential Toots Thielemans release. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist:
1    Come Rain Or Come Shine 4:41
Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Trumpet – Ruud Breuls
Vocals – Lizz Wright
2    Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 2:40
Engineer [Protools] – Jay van den Berg
Vocals – Madeleine Peyroux
3    Last Night When We Were Young 5:14
Bass – Ruud Jacobs
Piano – Hans Vroomans
Vocals – Silje Nergaard
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg
4    Ill Wind    3:55
Written-By – Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
5    One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) 5:09
Vocals – Jamie Cullum
6    I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 3:05
Vocals – Beth Hart
7    I Wonder What Became Of Me 4:04
Bass – Ruud Jacobs
Piano – Hans Vroomans
Vocals – Trijntje Oosterhuis
8    That Old Black Magic    4:18
Written-By – Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
9    This Time The Dream's On Me 4:47
Electric Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Electric Piano – Jurre Haanstra
Rhythm Guitar – Martijn van Iterson
Vocals, Trumpet – Till Brönner
10    Stormy Weather 5:33
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Electric Piano – Jurre Haanstra
Vocals – Oleta Adams
11    It's Only A Paper Moon 3:46
Vocals – Laura Fygi
12    Over The Rainbow 5:49
Bass – Stefan Lievestro
Drums – Hans Van Oosterhout
Keyboards, Piano – Mike del Ferro
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Jurre Haanstra
Bass – Aram Kersbergen (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6, 8 to 11)
Drums – Marcel Serierse (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 11)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Kenny Werner (tracks: 1, 4, 8, 11)
Guitar – Martijn van Iterson (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans
Keyboards – Jurre Haanstra (tracks: 1, 4, 10)
Percussion – Eddy Conard (tracks: 4, 8, to 10)
Piano – Kenny Werner (tracks: 2, 5, 6)
Vibraphone – Frits Landesbergen (tracks: 1, 4, 11)
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer (tracks: 1, 5, 7 to 9, 11), Ted Koehler (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 10)

KEITH JARRETT / GARY PEACOCK / JACK DeJOHNETTE - Whisper Not (2000) 2xCD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For Keith Jarrett, this extremely satisfying concert with the Standards Trio on two CDs is a personal landmark, the first for-the-record sign that he had recovered from the chronic fatigue syndrome that laid him low for three years in the late 1990s. Indeed, by the time this Paris gig took place, he had come all the way back -- his technical facilities intact (a handful of smeared notes aside), his inventiveness bubbling over. Old cohorts Gary Peacock (bass) and Jack DeJohnette (drums) are back, too, regenerating their propulsive, swinging, collective E.S.P. at will. Not too much has changed from the pre-illness days, though the focus is very much on classic bebop now -- with Bud Powell getting a good deal of attention with an outstanding "Bouncing With Bud" and a terrific "Hallucinations" that has an atypically funny false ending. Jarrett's bebop runs on "Groovin' High" are astonishing, "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" is appealingly jaunty and carefree, and ballads like "'Round Midnight" and "Prelude to a Kiss" revert to the melodic simplicity that was cultivated during Jarrett's down time. Even though the Standards Trio has been one of the most prolifically recorded groups of its era, only the final encore, "When I Fall in Love," had been recorded before by this group. So even those who think they have enough material by this group will be rightly tempted to invest in this document of Jarrett's resurrection. by Richard S. Ginell  

Tracklist 1 :

1 Bouncing With Bud 7:33

Composed By – Bud Powell

2 Whisper Not 8:06

Composed By – Benny Golson

3 Groovin' High 8:31

Composed By – Dizzy Gillespie

4 Chelsea Bridge 9:47

Composed By – Billy Strayhorn

5 Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 5:48

Composed By – Billy Moll, Harry Barris, Ted Koehler

6 Round Midnight 6:45

Composed By – Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk

7 Sandu 7:26

Composed By – Clifford Brown

Tracklist 2 :

1 What Is This Thing Called Love 12:23

Composed By – Cole Porter

2 Conception 8:08

Composed By – George Shearing

3 Prelude To A Kiss 8:16

Composed By – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills

4 Hallucinations 6:36

Composed By – Bud Powell

5 All My Tomorrows 6:23

Composed By – Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn

6 Poinciana 9:11

Composed By – Buddy Bernier, Nat Simon

7 When I Fall In Love 8:06

Composed By – Edward Heyman, Victor Young

Credits:

Double Bass – Gary Peacock

Drums – Jack DeJohnette

Piano – Keith Jarrett

Producer – Manfred Eicher

ECM 1724 / 25

Recorded live July 5, 1999 at Palais des Congrès, Paris [1:53:10]

MICHEL PETRUCCIANI - 100 Hearts (1984) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

If it were not for Michel Petrucciani's good taste, it is likely that his very impressive technique would dominate his solos. As it is, the pianist has been able to use his technique in surprising ways, avoiding the obvious and showing self-restraint while coming up with ingenious ideas in his improvisations. This solo album, his first for an American label, finds Petrucciani exploring pieces by Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, and Sonny Rollins, in addition to two of his own songs and a lengthy wandering medley that somehow incorporates "Someday My Prince Will Come," "All the Things You Are," "A Child Is Born," and Bill Evans' "Very Early" into a collage. A very impressive outing. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Turn Around 9:20
Ornette Coleman
2 Three Forgotten Magic Words 5:26
Michel Petrucciani
3 Silence 5:57
Charlie Haden
4 St. Thomas 6:41
Sonny Rollins
5 Pot Pouri (Medley): Someday My Prince Will Come/All the Things You Are 14:21
Frank Churchill / Oscar Hammerstein II / Thad Jones / Jerome Kern / Michel Petrucciani
6 100 Hearts 11:59
Michel Petrucciani
Credits:
Michel Petrucciani Composer, Piano

MICHEL PETRUCCIANI ft. JIM HALL AND WAYNE SHORTER - Power of Three (1987) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This is an all-star summit that works quite well. Pianist Michel Petrucciani, a major jazz musician who had already led 11 record dates by this time (despite still being only 23), teams up with guitarist Jim Hall at the 1986 Montreux Jazz Festival for two lyrical duets: the altered blues "Careful," in which they comp exquisitely behind each other's solos, and "In a Sentimental Mood." Petrucciani and Hall are joined by Wayne Shorter on soprano and tenor for "Limbo," "Morning Blues," and the calypso "Bimini," and these songs feature some of Shorter's finest jazz playing of the era.

Tracklist:

1. Limbo (Wayne Shorter) - 7:57

2. Careful (Jim Hall) - 6:49

3. Morning Blues (Michel Petrucciani) - 8:15

4. Waltz New (Jim Hall) - 5:30

5. Beautiful Love (King, Young, Alstyne, Gillespie) - 7:19

6. In A Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington) - 12:18

7. Bimini (Jim Hall) - 10:05

Personnel

Michel Petrucciani - piano

Jim Hall - guitar

Saxophone – Wayne Shorter

Note

Tracks 4 and 5 do not appear on the LP configuration.

SONNY ROLLINS - Sonny Rollins Plus Four (1956-1985) RM / MONO / Prestige Masterpiece Series / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

1956, Sonny Rollins was spiritually and physically rejuvenated. And on Sonny Rollins Plus 4, he's clearly inspired by Max Roach and Clifford Brown's depth of spirit. Multi-dimensional re-arrangements of popular songs were a Brown-Roach trademark. "Kiss and Run" is treated to a stop-and-go intro, then settles into a brisk 4/4, as Rollins, Brown, and the perennially underrated Richie Powell fashion long dancing lines. "I Feel a Song Coming On" creates tension by alternating a vamp figure with a swinging release. Rollins takes an immense solo, contrasting chanting figures and foghorn-like long tones with Parker-ish elisions, and Brown answers with buzzing figures and daring harmonic extensions. Then Roach takes things out with sweeping melodic choruses and polyrhythmic fanfares, setting the stage for a torrid tenor-trumpet duel. On "Valse Hot," there's an early example of a successful jazz waltz as Rollins offers up one of his most charming themes. Max Roach treats the European three with the dancing elan of an American four, and Rollins responds by floating in between the beat, syncopating in Monk-ish stabs and thrusts, as Brown answers with the kind of rhythmically complex, sweetly articulated melodic lines that have inspired every modern trumpeter. by Rovi Staff  

1 Valse Hot 8:35

Composed By – Sonny Rollins

2 Kiss And Run 7:07

Composed By – Sam Coslow

3 I Feel A Song Coming On

Composed By – Dorothy Fields, George Oppenheimer, Jimmy McHugh

4 Count Your Blessings 5:13

Composed By – Irving Berlin

5 Pent-Up House 8:53

Composed By – Sonny Rollins

Credits:

Bass – George Morrow

Drums – Max Roach

Piano – Richie Powell

Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder

Tenor Saxophone – Sonny Rollins

Trumpet – Clifford Brown

JOHN COLTRANE AND PAUL QUINICHETTE - Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette (1957-1995) RM / MONO / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This mid-'90s DCC Jazz edition of the John Coltrane (tenor sax)/Paul Quinichette (tenor sax) title Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette (1958) contains the same excellent remastering and bonus tracks as its standard silver pressing -- without the superfluous expense of a 24-karat gold disc. Audiophile pressing or naught, what remains as the centerpiece are the selections that the co-leads cut during a mid-May 1957 session with Mal Waldron (piano), plus a rhythm section consisting of Julian Euell (bass) and Ed Thigpen (drums). Waldron -- who penned all the album's originals -- proves why he is one of the best composer/arrangers for Coltrane. His stylish tickling of the 88s sets the pace with a stealthy and sinister platform for Coltrane's bluesy blowing, followed by Quinichette's exceedingly soulful solo. "Sunday" exemplifies why Quinichette was considered as a sonic successor to Lester Young. Both of the primary constituents put forth much of their respective selves, with Quinichette's reserved and thoughtful input balancing Coltrane's inspired torrent of notes. Somewhat darker in tone, "Anatomy" is a springboard for indulging the development of singular and personable statements from Coltrane and company. Another key component to Cattin' is the unification of Quinichette and Coltrane on "Vodka." The pair is joined by Waldron for a few energetic and lyrical submissions before converging for a sublime conclusion that will make enthusiasts pine for more. In terms of the extras, "Green Is Blue," "You Belong to Me," and "Birdland Jump" are all credited to the Paul Quinichette Quintet and do not feature Coltrane. by Lindsay Planer  
Tracklist:
1 Cattin' 7:20
Written-By – Mal Waldron
2 Sunday 7:00
Written-By – Cohn, Krueger, Stein, Miller 
3 Exactly Like You 6:45
Written-By – Fields-McHugh
4 Anatomy 8:50
Written-By – Mal Waldron
5 Vodka 9:04
Written-By – Mal Waldron
- Special Bonus Tracks -
6 Tea For Two 8:04
Written-By – Caesar, Youmans
Paul Quinichette Quintet/ Unreleased Tracks From August 14, 1952
7 Studio Chatter & Green Is Blue 3:31
Written-By – Freddie Green
8 You Belong To Me 3:01
Written-By – King, Stewart
9 Birdland Jump 2:47
Written-By – Joe "King" Oliver, Walter Melrose
Credits:
Bass – Gene Ramey (tracks: 7 to 9), Julian Euell (tracks: 1 to 6)
Drums – Ed Thigpen (tracks: 1 to 6), Gus Johnson (tracks: 7 to 9)
Guitar – Freddie Green (tracks: 7 to 9)
Piano – Kenny Drew (tracks: 7 to 9), Mal Waldron (tracks: 1 to 6)
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5), Paul Quinichette

DUKE ELLINGTON / JOHN COLTRANE - Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (1962-2011) SACD / FLAC (tracks), lossless

The classic 1962 album Duke Ellington & John Coltrane showcased the rising jazz saxophone innovator performing alongside the long-established piano institution. While the pairing might have portended a dynamic clash of the musical generations, instead we got a casual, respectful, and musically generous meeting of like-minded souls. Similarly, while one might have assumed that Ellington would use his sidemen, instead producer Bob Thiele (who also produced similar albums for Ellington including pairings with Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins) chose to bring in Coltrane's own outfit for the proceedings. Consequently, the duo is backed here at various times by bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones, as well as alternates bassist Aaron Bell and drummer Sam Woodyard. The most surprising aspect of the Ellington/Coltrane date is how well suited Coltrane and his group are at playing what largely ends up being Ellington's own material. While he was certainly in the nascency of his more avant-garde period in 1962, Coltrane had a deep understanding of traditional jazz vocabulary, having played in a swing band in the Navy in the 1940s and studied the style of artists like Hawkins and Ben Webster while coming up in Philadelphia. Similarly, though an icon of the big-band era by the 1960s, Ellington had been on the upswing of a career resurgence ever since his dynamic performance at the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, later released as Ellington at Newport. His meeting with Coltrane was emblematic of his renewed creativity and was one of several albums he recorded in his latter life with theretofore unexpected artists, not the least of which his other 1962 date, Money Jungle with bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach. Here, Ellington and Coltrane play a handful of well-known Ellington book numbers, including a supremely lyrical "In a Sentimental Mood" and a soulful, half-lidded version of Billy Strayhorn's "My Little Brown Book." Ellington even supplied the brisk original "Take the Coltrane," allowing plenty of room for Coltrane to let loose with knotty, angular lines. by Matt Collar

Tracklist:

1 In A Sentimental Mood 4:16

Written-By – D. Ellington, I. Mills, M. Kurtz

2 Take The Coltrane 4:42

Written-By – Duke Ellington

3 Big Nick 4:28

Written-By – John Coltrane

4 Stevie 4:23

Written-By – Duke Ellington

5 My Little Brown Book 5:20

Written-By – Billy Strayhorn

6 Angelica 5:55

Written-By – Duke Ellington

7 The Feeling Of Jazz 5:37

Written-By – Bobby Troup, Duke Ellington, George Simon

Personnel:

Bass – Aaron Bell, Jimmy Garrison

Drums – Elvin Jones, Sam Woodyard

Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder

Piano – Duke Ellington

Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – John Coltrane

Note:

Format: SACD, Hybrid, Album, Stereo, Reissue, 24bit 88.2kHz

SHELLY MANNE & HIS FRIENDS - Modern Jazz Performances Of Songs From My Fair Lady (1956-2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This trio set by Shelly Manne & His Friends (consisting of the drummer/leader, pianist André Previn, and bassist Leroy Vinnegar) was a surprise best-seller and is now considered a classic. Previn (who is really the main voice) leads the group through eight themes from the famous play, including "Get Me to the Church on Time," "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," "I Could Have Danced All Night," and "On the Street Where You Live." The result is a very appealing set that is easily recommended. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Get Me to the Church on Time 4:14
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
2 On the Street Where You Live 5:41
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
3 I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face 3:25
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
4 Wouldn't It Be Loverly? 5:36
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
5 Ascot Gavotte 4:21
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
6 Show Me 3:43
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
7 With a Little Bit of Luck 6:04
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
8 I Could Have Danced All Night 3:01
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
Credits:
Shelly Manne - Drums
André Previn - Piano
Leroy Vinnegar - Bass

JOE NEWMAN - Four Classic Albums : Locking Horns / All I Wanna Do Is Swing / The Midgets / Soft Swingin' Jazz (2012) RM / 2CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The 2012 double-disc collection Four Classic Albums: Locking Horns/All I Wanna Do Is Swing/The Midgets/Soft Swingin' Jazz brings together four of jazz trumpeter Joe Newman's albums from the 1950s. These are swinging, soulful, and straight-ahead releases that showcase Newman's mainstream and bop-oriented trumpet playing. Featured here are such other stellar musicians as Al Cohn, Frank Wess, Shirley Horn, Hank Jones, Freddie Green, Oscar Pettiford, and others. Ultimately, fans of Newman's midrange melodicism and bluesy group interplay will find much to enjoy on this generous set. by Matt Collar
Tracklist 1:
Locking Horns (1957)
1 Corky
2 Mambo For Joe
3 Wolafunt's Lament
4 Midnight Fantasy
5 'Tater Pie
6 Oh Shay
7 Bassing Around
8 Oh Joe
9 Susette
10 Similar Souls
All I Wanna Do Is Swing (1955)
11 Soon
12 Limehouse Blues
13 Dream A Little Dream Of Me
14 Corner Pocket
15 If I Could Be With You
16 It's A Thing Of The Past
17 Pretty Skinny Bunny
18 Leonice
19 Jack's Wax
20 Topsy
21 Captain Spaulding
22 I Could Have Told You
Tracklist 2:
The Midgets (1956)
1 The Midgets
2 The Late Late Show
3 Really? Healy!
4 One Lamper
5 She Has Red Hair
6 Valerie
7 No Moon At All
8 Indeed The Blues
9 Living Dangerously
10 Scooter
11 My Dog Friday
Soft Swingin' Jazz (1958)
12 Makin' Whoopee
13 Three Little Words
14 Scotty
15 There's A Small Hotel
16 I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
17 Moonglow
18 Organ Grinder's Song
19 Rosetta
20 Too Marvellous For Words
21 The Farmer's Daughter
22 Save Your Love For Me

OSCAR PETERSON AND ROY ELDRIDGE - Oscar Peterson & Roy Eldridge (1975-1992) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Part of his five sessions that featured duets with different trumpeters, pianist Oscar Peterson's matchup with trumpeter Roy Eldridge (reissued on CD) has its strong moments. Eldridge did not quite have the range of his earlier years, but his competitive streak had not mellowed with age. Peterson pushes Eldridge to his limit and the music is generally quite exciting. Highlights include "Little Jazz," "Sunday," and "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea."  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Little Jazz 4:45
Roy Eldridge / Buster Harding
2 She's Funny That Way 7:34
Neil Moret (Chas. N. Daniels) / Richard A. Whiting
3 The Way You Look Tonight 6:22
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
4 Sunday 5:48
Chester Conn / Benny Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Styne
5 Bad Hat Blues 7:34
Roy Eldridge / Oscar Peterson
6 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 5:16
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
7 Blues for Chu 5:46
Roy Eldridge / Oscar Peterson
Credits:
Piano, Organ – Oscar Peterson
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge

LOUIS ARMSTRONG / OSCAR PETERSON - Louis Armstrong Meets Oscar Peterson (1957-1997) APE (image+.cue), lossless

By 1957, hard bop was firmly established as the "jazz of now," while pianist Oscar Peterson and his ensemble with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis were making their own distinctive presence felt as a true working band playing standards in the swing tradition. Louis Armstrong was more recognizable to the general public as a singer instead of the pioneering trumpet player he was. But popularity contests being the trend, Armstrong's newer fans wanted to hear him entertain them, so in retrospect it was probably a good move to feature his vocalizing on these tracks with Peterson's band and guest drummer Louie Bellson sitting in. The standard form of Armstrong singing the lead lines, followed by playing his pithy and witty horn solos based on the secondary melody, provides the basis for the format on this charming but predictable recording. What happens frequently is that Armstrong and Peterson play lovely ad lib vocal/piano duets at the outset of many tunes. They are all songs you likely know, with few upbeat numbers or obscure choices. It is, however, the familiarity of songs like the midtempo "Let's Fall in Love," with Armstrong's gravelly scat singing, and his marvelous ability to riff off of the basic songs, that make these offerings endearing. A classic take of "Blues in the Night" is the showstopper, while choosing "Moon Song" is a good, off-the-beaten-path pick as the trumpeter plays two solo choruses, and he leads out on his horn for once during the slightly bouncy, basic blues "I Was Doing All Right." Some extremely slow tunes crop up on occasion, like "How Long Has This Been Going On?," an atypically downtempo take of "Let's Do It," and "You Go to My Head," featuring Peterson's crystalline piano. There are the dependable swingers "Just One of Those Things," "I Get a Kick Out of You," and "Sweet Lorraine," with Peterson at his accompanying best. There's a ramped-up version of the usually downtrodden "Willow Weep for Me" and a duet between Armstrong and Ellis on the sad two-minute ditty "There's No You." All in all, it's difficult to critique or find any real fault with these sessions, though Peterson is subsumed by the presence of Armstrong, who, as Leonard Feather notes, really needs nobody's help. That this was their only collaboration speaks volumes to how interactive and communal the session really was, aside from the fairly precious music. by Michael G. Nastos
 Tracklist:
 1    That Old Feeling 2:43
Written-By – Lew Brown, Sammy Fain
2    Let's Fall In Love 3:16
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
3    I'll Never Be The Same 3:30
Written-By – Frank Signorelli, Gus Kahn, Matty Malneck
4    Blues In The Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me) 5:17
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
5    How Long Has This Been Going On 5:58
Written-By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
6    I Was Doing All Right 3:21
Written-By – George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
7    What's New 2:40
Written-By – Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke
8    Moon Song 4:33
Written-By – Arthur Johnston, Sam Coslow
9    Just One Of Those Things 4:03
Written-By – Cole Porter
10    There's No You 2:16
Written-By – Hal Hopper, Tom Adair
11    You Go To My Head 6:25
Written-By – Haven Gillespie, J. Fred Coots
12    Sweet Lorraine 5:12
Written-By – Cliff Burwell, Mitchell Parish
13    I Get A Kick Out Of You 4:17
Written-By – Cole Porter
14    Makin' Whoopee 3:56
Written-By – Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson
15    Willow Weep For Me 4:17
Written-By – Ann Ronell
16    Let's Do It / Blues In The Night (outtake) 11:45
Written-By – Cole Porter
Credits:
Bass – Ray Brown (tracks: 1 to 6, 8, 9, 11 to 16)
Drums – Louis Bellson (tracks: 1 to 6, 8, 9, 11 to 16)
Guitar – Herb Ellis (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 16)
Piano – Oscar Peterson (tracks: 1 to 9, 11 to 16)
Trumpet – Louis Armstrong (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12)
Vocals – Louis Armstrong

VICTOR FELDMAN - Suite Sixteen (1958-1991) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

This interesting set features Victor Feldman shortly before he left England for the United States. Feldman, mostly heard on vibes but also making strong appearances on piano and drums, heads several groups filled with English All-Stars, including such notable musicians as trumpeters Jimmy Deuchar and Dizzy Reece, tenors Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes, and pianist Tommy Pollard. The music is boppish with some surprises in the consistently swinging arrangements, giving one a definitive look at Victor Feldman near the beginning of his  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Cabaletto 2:52
2 Elegy 3:32
3 Suite Sixteen 8:45
4 Sonar 6:40
5 Big Top 3:38
6 Duffle Coat 5:18
7 Brawl For All 4:16
8 Sunshine On A Dull Day 5:51
9 Maenya 3:49
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Derek Humble (tracks: 3,4,7,8)
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Klein (tracks: 1,2,5,9)
Bass – Eric Peter (tracks: 3), Lennie Bush (tracks: 1,2,4 to 9)
Congas – Victor Feldman (tracks: 9)
Drums – Phil Seamen (tracks: 1,2,5,9), Tony Crombie (tracks: 3,4,6,7,8,), Victor Feldman (tracks: 1)
French Horn – John Burden (tracks: 1,2,5,9)
Piano – Norman Stenfalt (tracks: 1,2,5,9), Terry Pollard (tracks: 1 to 6, 8,9), Victor Feldman (tracks: 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Ronnie Scott (tracks: 1,2,5,9), Tubby Hayes (tracks: 1,2,5,9)
Trumpet – Dizzy Reece (tracks: 1,2,4,5,7,8,9), Jimmy Deuchar (tracks: 1,2,4,5,7,8,9)
Vibraphone – Victor Feldman (tracks: 2 to 6, 8)

PHINEAS NEWBORN JR - Here Is Phineas (1958-2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Other than two numbers cut for the Progressive label in Houston a couple years earlier (and thus far never reissued), this Atlantic session (put out as a Koch CD in 1999) was the recording debut for the remarkable Phineas Newborn. The 24-year-old pianist's playing on this trio/quartet date with bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Kenny Clarke (and occasionally guitarist Calvin Newborn) is virtuosic to say the least, on Oscar Peterson's level if not Art Tatum's. Newborn rips through the repertoire (which is highlighted by "Barbados," "Celia," "Daahoud," and "Afternoon in Paris"); try to tap your foot to "Celia" without breaking your ankle! In the liner notes, George Wein faults Newborn's tendency to double time the ballads, and some listeners may shake their heads at his constant outpouring of technically impossible runs (those speedy octaves are ridiculous) -- but if one has chops on this level, one should feel free to display them. This is a dazzling debut from an ill-fated but classic pianist, and this CD is a gem. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Barbados 4:00
Written-By – Charlie Parker
2 All The Things You Are 7:22
Written-By – Hammerstein-Kern
3 The More I See You 3:59
Written-By – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
4 Celia 3:05
Written-By – Bud Powell
5 Dahoud 3:32
Written-By – Clifford Brown
6 Newport Blues 4:31
Written-By – Phineas Newborn Jr.
7 I'm Beginning To See The Light 3:03
Written-By – Don George, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Johnny Hodges
8 Afternoon In Paris 6:46
Written-By – John Lewis 
Credits:
Bass – Oscar Pettiford
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Guitar – Calvin Newborn
Piano – Phineas Newborn Jr.

LENNIE NIEHAUS - Lennie Niehaus, Vol. 1: The Quintets (1954) OJC / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Alto saxophonist Lennie Niehaus is better known as the arranger for Clint Eastwood's films, but he has long been familiar to jazz fans as a respected bandleader, composer, arranger, and soloist. This limited-edition audiophile reissue of his first solo recordings (following stints with Stan Kenton and Shorty Rogers) is a stunner. Included is the first 10" LP he recorded with a three-saxophone front line -- in this case, with Jack Montrose (tenor), and Bob Gordon (baritone) -- and other quintet sessions with musicians including pianist Hampton Hawes, and fellow Kentonite Shelly Manne (who was responsible for Niehaus' record deal with Contemporary's Lester Koenig in the first place). The involvement of Kenton bandmembers familiar with one another lends an ease and excitement to the proceedings. These quintet sessions are West Coast jazz at its finest. Melodic tunes give plenty of air to the lyrical yet complex nature of much of the music coming from that region at the time, with no remnants of the cool jazz period. These 1954 sides stomp with swing, color, and style. Bebop is called upon for tempo and pace, while swing and hard bop are referenced as checkpoints. There is a genuine glee in Niehaus' playing on "I Can't Believe You're in Love with Me," when he trades solos with Stu Williamson, while he paces the slightly faster take on "I Remember You" until slipping into one of those long, melodically sophisticated solos of his, just when you expected another chorus. Listening to this, it's hard to believe West Coast jazz ever got a bad rap. This set sounds as fresh today as it did then. by Thom Jurek  
Tracklist:
1 I Remember You 2:39
Johnny Mercer / Victor Schertzinger
2 Poinciana 3:53
Buddy Bernier / Nat Simon
3 Whose Blues? 3:24
Jim Hall / Lennie Niehaus
4 Prime Ribs 3:13
Lennie Niehaus
5 I Should Care 3:18
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
6 Inside Out 2:59
Lennie Niehaus
7 I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me 3:33
Clarence Gaskill / Jimmy McHugh
8 You Stepped out of a Dream 2:43
Nacio Herb Brown / Gus Kahn
9 I'll Take Romance 3:03
Oscar Hammerstein II / Ben Oakland
10 Happy Times 3:31
Freddie Hubbard / Lennie Niehaus
11 Day by Day 3:40
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
12 Bottoms Up 3:14
Lennie Niehaus
Credits:
Alto Saxophone, Liner Notes – Lennie Niehaus
Baritone Saxophone – Bob Gordon (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12)
Bass – Monty Budwig (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12), Red Mitchell (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Hampton Hawes (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Jack Montrose (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12)
Valve Trombone, Trumpet – Stu Williamson (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Written-By – Lenie Niehaus (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 10, 12)

LENNIE NIEHAUS - Lennie Niehaus, Vol. 1: The Quintets (1954) 

(2000) RM / Contemporary / OJC / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

ERROLL GARNER - Concert by the Sea (1955) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Concert by the Sea is certainly one of the biggest albums in jazz history, selling over 225,000 copies in the first year after its 1956 release and turning into such a steady seller over the next few years, it reportedly brought Columbia Records a million dollars by 1958 -- a nice sum at any time but astronomical in the late '50s. It should've turned Erroll Garner into a full-fledged superstar and, in a way, it did, because it was a reliable catalog item and earned him plenty of fans, including Johnny Carson, who frequently invited the pianist onto The Tonight Show. Instead, Concert by the Sea turned into a pinnacle, with Garner and manager Martha Glaser sliding into contractual battles with Columbia that hampered his long-term growth. Glaser is the one who had the idea to turn the tapes of Garner's September 19, 1955 concert at the Sunset School in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California into a full-fledged album, taking tapes that may have otherwise wound up as a bootleg and turning them over to Columbia. The label whittled the 19-song concert into an 11-track single LP -- Columbia/Legacy's 2015 The Complete Concert by the Sea restores the entirety of the concert over the course of two CDs, adding the original LP as a third -- and, by doing so, they wound up distilling Garner's joyous appeal. Supported by bassist Eddie Calhoun and drummer Denzil Best, Garner seems at home skipping and swinging through a collection of bop and big-band standards, tunes that offer showcases for his sly skill of remaining melodic even when departing from the melody. Garner's playing is so robust and easy to enjoy that his flashier flourishes, such as the cloistered chords that call up "Caravan," almost seem camouflaged, but there are also subtler signatures, like how he slyly emphasizes staccato left-hand rhythms as much as the melody on "They Can't Take That Away from Me." These are distinctions that appear on close listening but the wonderful thing about Concert by the Sea is how it's so infectious and open-hearted, it almost defies inspection: it's the kind of warm, inviting music that seems born from joy and can't help but engender bliss in the listener. [The 2015 expansion offers simply more of a good thing: the rest of the concert is every bit as good as the selections that made the official LP.] by Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
Tracklist:
1 I'll Remember April 4:14
Gene DePaul / Pat Johnston / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
2 Teach Me Tonight 3:37
Sammy Cahn / Gene DePaul
3 Mambo Carmel 3:43
Erroll Garner
4 Autumn Leaves 6:27
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
5 It's All Right with Me 3:21
Cole Porter
6 Red Top 3:11
Lionel Hampton / Ben Kynard
7 April in Paris 4:47
Vernon Duke / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
8 They Can't Take That Away from Me 4:08
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
9 How Could You Do a Thing Like That to Me 3:59
Tyree Glenn / Allan Roberts
10 Where or When 3:06
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
11 Erroll's Theme 0:46
Erroll Garner
Credits:
Bass – Eddie Calhoun
Drums – Denzil Best
Piano – Erroll Garner

 ERROLL GARNER - Concert by the Sea (1955) 

(1969) COLUMBIA / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless 

O Púbis da Rosa

GEORGE VAN EPS / HOWARD ALDEN - Hand-Crafted Swing (1992) CONCORD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The master of the seven-string guitar, George Van Eps, joins the rising young jazz guitarist Howard Alden, which works perfectly in spite of a 45-year difference in age and different approaches to the guitar. Van Eps' chordal style meshes perfectly with Alden's single note lines in part because of the younger man's study of the senior's recordings and Alden's quick ear and gift for harmony. In any case, it was an obvious thrill for Alden to play with the experienced Van Eps, who literally invented the seven-string guitar (also played by Bucky Pizzarelli) and would soon be added to Alden's musical arsenal. The second of four CDs that they would make together prior to Van Eps' death in 1998, they play a mix of popular standards and show tunes from the 1930s, '40s and '50s. Highlights include a lyrical "What's New." a deliberate "I Could Write a Book," and an intricate "All the Things You Are," along with less frequently played chestnuts like the swinging "It's Wonderful." Van Eps is unaccompanied on both of his original compositions, "Lap Piano" and "Forty-Eight." Bassist Dave Stone and drummer Jake Hanna, who sticks to brushes, are present on most of the tracks. by Ken Dryden   
Tracklist:
1 Stompin' at the Savoy 4:12
Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb
2 What's New? 4:16
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
3 It's Wonderful 4:13
Howard Alden / George Van Eps
4 Lap Piano 2:34
George Van Eps
5 I Could Write A Book 4:39
Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence
6 Tenderly 3:36
Paul James / Kay Swift
7 Can't We Be Friends 5:15
Neal Hefti
8 Just in Time 4:18
Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne
9 The Nearness of You 6:27
Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington
10 Forty-Eight 6:11
Howard Alden / George Van Eps
11 All the Things You Are 1:18
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
12 I Could Write a Book 4:53
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
13 I've Got a Crush on You 4:58
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
14 Moonglow 4:47
Eddie DeLange / Will Hudson / Irving Mills
 Credits
Bass – Dave Stone
Drums – Jake Hanna
Guitar – George Van Eps, Howard Alden

GEORGE VAN EPS / HOWARD ALDEN - Hand-Crafted Swing

 (1992) CONCORD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

JOE PASS - Songs for Ellen (1992) PABLO / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This posthumous CD is novel because it features Joe Pass exclusively on acoustic guitar, and it is obvious that he enjoyed every minute of these sessions. "The Shadow of Your Smile" is no longer easy listening fodder, as Pass turns it into a miniature master class in swing. "Star Eyes" is accented by the soft squeaks of Pass' fingers gently weaving their intricate magic. Most of the works of Joe Pass tended to be improvised blues, so the title track is an exception -- a simple yet elegant ballad written for his wife. "Blues for Angel" highlights his matchless mastery of slow blues. The boppish blues "Satellite Village" is a perfect closer. The good news is that there are several more unreleased sessions by Joe Pass that will follow this superb collection. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist:
1 The Shadow of Your Smile 2:43
Johnny Mandel / Paul Francis Webster
2 Song for Ellen 2:55
Joe Pass
3 I Only Have Eyes for You 2:52
Al Dubin / Harry Warren
4 Stars Fell on Alabama 4:07
Mitchell Parish / Frank Perkins
5 That Old Feeling 2:53
Lew Brown / Sammy Fain
6 Star Eyes 2:40
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
7 Robbins Nest 2:42
Illinois Jacquet / Sir Charles Thompson
8 Someone to Watch over Me 3:00

George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin

9 Blues for Angel 3:36
Joe Pass
10 There's a Small Hotel 2:53
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
11 How Deep Is the Ocean? 2:25
Irving Berlin
12 Stormy Weather 3:16
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
13 Just Friends 3:21

John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis

14 Blue Moon 3:29
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
15 Satellite Village  2:34
Joe Pass
Credits
Acoustic Guitar – Joe Pass

JOE PASS - Songs for Ellen

 (1992) PABLO / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

ARNE DOMNÉRUS - Jazz at the Pawnshop [1977] LP [24-96] FLAC (tracks), lossless

This is the first of four CD volumes that fully document a legendary engagement at the Pawnshop club in Stockholm, Sweden. Featured are Arne Domnerus (doubling on alto and clarinet), pianist Bengt Hallberg, vibraphonist Lars Erstrand, bassist Georg Riedel and drummer Egil Johansen. They mostly stick to swing standards, recalling the groups of Benny Goodman and Lionel Hampton. Highlights include a heated "Limehouse Blues," the African folk song "High Life," "Lady Be Good" and Coleman Hawkins's "Stuffy." All of the volumes in this series are well worth getting by straightahead jazz fans, particularly those not familiar with Arne Domnerus's excellent playing. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist  
A1 Limehouse Blues                9:35
   Written By – Philip Braham / Douglas Furber / Arne Domnérus
A2 I'm Confessin                    8:00
   Written By – Ellis Reynolds / Arne Domnérus
A3 High Life                          6:40
   Written By – Traditional / edit B. Egerbladh
B1 Lady Be Good                      9:00
   Written By – George Gershwin / Bengt Hallberg
B2 Take Five                          7:00
   Written By – Paul Desmond / Arne Domnérus
B3 Everything Happens To Me 5:00
   Written By – Matt Dennis / Arne Domnérus
Personnel:
– Arne Domnérus - alto saxophone & clarinet
– Bengt Hallberg - piano
– Lars Erstrand - vibes
– Georg Riedel - bass
– Egil Johansen - drums

ARNE DOMNÉRUS - Jazz at the Pawnshop 

[1977] ATR / LP [24bit 96khz] FLAC (tracks), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

SCOTT HAMILTON & BUCKY PIZZARELLI - Red Door : Remember Zoot Sims [1998] APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

As of 1998, when this CD was released, Scott Hamilton had recorded over 30 albums as a leader for Concord. Although all are quite worthwhile, the swing tenor's consistency and unchanged style since the 1970s have resulted in a certain sameness and predictability to his recordings. This release, however, definitely stands apart from the crowd, for it is a set of tenor/guitar duets that Hamilton performs with Bucky Pizzarelli. A tribute to Zoot Sims (one of Hamilton's early influences), this is a very successful outing. Pizzarelli's mastery of the seven-string guitar allows him to play basslines behind solos, so one never misses the other instruments. Although the duo performs a variety of standards, there are also some lesser-known pieces among the highlights including the title cut, Al Cohn's "Two Funky People," the Sims/Cohn collaboration "Morning Fun," and the obscure "In the Middle of a Kiss." Both Hamilton and Pizzarelli sound inspired in this format, stretching themselves while always swinging. Pizz had recorded a duo album with Sims back in 1973, and Zoot also cut a full set with guitarist Joe Pass a couple years later. This excellent, slightly offbeat outing is on the same level as those two and is highly recommended to fans of swinging mainstream jazz. by Scott Yanow  
Tracklist:
1 It Had to Be You 7:37
Isham Jones / Gus Kahn
2 Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You 5:53
Andy Razaf / Don Redman
3 The Red Door 4:57
Gerry Mulligan / Zoot Sims
4 Dream of You 5:24
Jimmie Lunceford / Michael Morales / Sy Oliver
5 Jitterbug Waltz 5:43
Richard Maltby, Jr. / Fats Waller
6 Two Funky People 5:21
Al Cohn
7 Just You, Just Me 5:02
Jesse Greer / Raymond Klages
8 In the Middle of a Kiss 5:28
Sam Coslow
9 Morning Fun 4:17
Al Cohn / Zoot Sims
10 It's All Right With Me 7:18
Cole Porter
Credits
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli
Tenor Saxophone – Scott Hamilton

SCOTT HAMILTON & BUCKY PIZZARELLI - Red Door : Remember Zoot Sims 

[1998] Concord / APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

JON HENDRICKS - ¡Salud! João Gilberto [1963] FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 Jon Hendricks idolizes João Gilberto -- he has spoken fondly of their first meeting where they scatted to each other before ever speaking a word -- and he wasted little time putting together a tribute album at the height of the first bossa nova wave. It ought to come as no surprise that he would display total sympathy with the bossa nova manner here, singing softly and smoothly -- and Hendricks' English wordplay is quite faithful to the original tunes and meanings of the Portuguese lyrics, in contrast to his usual whimsical work with jazz improvisations. Hendricks is particularly winning, and irresistibly swinging on the rare occasions ("Voce E Eu," "Samba Da Minha Terra") when he scats to the Brazilian rhythm; he should have done more of that here. But then, his versions of Gilberto's repertoire are carefully based on Gilberto's early EMI/Odeon recordings (now available on The Legendary João Gilberto); even Antonio Carlos Jobim's string and wind charts for the originals are preserved by adapter Johnny Mandel. Alas, the only Hendricks lyric that has become a universal standard is Jobim's "Chega de Saudade" ("No More Blues"). As Hendricks' only album-length encounter with bossa nova, Salud! João Gilberto Originator of the Bossa Nova is essential. by Richard S. Ginell   
Tracklist:
1     The Duck (O Pato)    1:55
Jon Hendricks / Jayme Silva / Neuza Teixeira
2     Quiet Nights (Corcovado)    2:06
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Gene Lees
3     You and I (Voce E Eu)    3:06
Jon Hendricks / Carlos Lyra
4     Love in Peace (O Amor Em Paz)    2:34
Jon Hendricks / Antônio Carlos Jobim
5     Little Paper Ball    1:16
Jon Hendricks
6     Longing for Bahia    2:26
Dorival Caymmi / Jon Hendricks
7     Little Train of Iron (Trem de Ferro)        1:55
Jon Hendricks
8     No More Blues (Chega de Saudade)    2:06
Jesse Cavanaugh / Jon Hendricks / Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
9     Rosa Morena    2:11
Dorival Caymmi / Jon Hendricks
10     The Most Beautiful Thing (Coisa Mais Linda)    3:06
Jon Hendricks / Carlos Lyra / Jimmy Eat World
11     Samba of My Land (Samba da Minha Terra)    2:29
Dorival Caymmi / Jon Hendricks
12     Once Again (Outra Vez)    1:57
Jon Hendricks / Antônio Carlos Jobim
13    Jive Samba      2:18
Nat Adderley / Jon Hendricks
 Credits:
Milt Bernhart     Trombone
Pete Candoli     Trumpet
Buddy Collette     Flute
Conte     Trumpet
Jon Hendricks     Vocals
Antônio Carlos Jobim     String Arrangements
Gildo Mahones     Piano
Frank Messina     Accordion
Ray Sherman     Organ
Jimmie Smith     Drums  

JON HENDRICKS - ¡Salud! João Gilberto [1963] 

[2002] Collectables / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa