KENNY BURRELL — Midnight Blue (1963) Three Version (1986, Serie Blue Note CD Super 50 – 29) + (1999, RM | Serie RVG Edition) + (2010, RM | SACD, Hybrid, DSD | Serie The Blue Note Reissues | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless & FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This album is one of guitarist Kenny Burrell's best-known sessions for the Blue Note label. Burrell is matched with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, bassist Major Holley, drummer Bill English, and Ray Barretto on conga for a blues-oriented date highlighted by "Chitlins Con Carne," "Midnight Blue," "Saturday Night Blues," and the lone standard "Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Chitlins con Carne 5:30
Kenny Burrell
2 Mule 6:56
Kenny Burrell / Major Holley
3 Soul Lament 2:43
Kenny Burrell
4 Midnight Blue 4:02
Kenny Burrell
5 Wavy Gravy 5:47
Kenny Burrell
6 Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You 4:25
Andy Razaf / Don Redman
7 Saturday Night Blues 6:16
Kenny Burrell
8 Kenny's Sound 4:43
Kenny Burrell
9 K Twist 3:37
Kenny Burrell
Credits:
Bass – Major Holley, Jr.
Congas – Ray Barretto
Drums – Bill English
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Tenor Saxophone – Stanley Turrentine

KENNY BURRELL WITH COLEMAN HAWKINS — Bluesey Burrell (1962-2019) RM | SACD Hybrid, DSD | The Prestige Stereo Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This session is valuable for the majestic playing of tenor great Coleman Hawkins, who performs on half of the eight tracks. Released on the Prestige subsidiary Moodsville -- a label that specialized in recordings with an intimate, reflective atmosphere -- the Moodsville sound doesn't sit comfortably on Hawkins. His playing is brilliantly relaxed, but it's not mood music. Leader Kenny Burrell's playing is much more in line with the Moodsville groove. The guitarist is not amplified as much as he is on his Prestige dates from this time. In fact, he performs on a nylon-string instrument almost as much as he does on his hollow-body electric. Unlike Hawkins, Burrell's subdued contribution is made to measure for this date. Listeners expecting to hear Burrell the hard bopper won't. The key moments come during the interaction between the guitarist and tenor player, especially during their exchanges on Burrell's "Montono Blues." The rhythm section, Hawkins' working band from this period (pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Major Holley, and drummer Eddie Locke) provides impeccable, sublime support. Jim Todd
Tracklist :
1    Tres Palabras 6:44
Written-By – Osvaldo Farres
2    No More 1:53
Written-By – Russell, Camarata
3    Guilty 4:17
Written-By – Kahn, Akst, Whiting
4    Montono Blues 4:45
Written-By – Kenny Burrell
5    I Thought About You 4:40
Written-By – Van Heusen, Mercer
6    Out Of This World 4:54
Written-By – Arlen, Mercer
7    It's Getting Dark 6:53
Written-By – Burrell
8    I Never Knew 5:19
Written-By – Kahn, Fiorito
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Leo Wright (pistas: 8)
Bass – George Tucker (pistas: 8), Major Holley (pistas: 1 to 7)
Congas – Ray Barretto (pistas: 1 to 7)
Drums – Eddie Locke (pistas: 1 to 7), Jimmie Smith (pistas: 8)
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Gildo Mahones (pistas: 8), Tommy Flanagan (pistas: 1 to 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins (pistas: 1, 4 to 5, 7)

OSCAR PETERSON – 1949-1950 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1198 (2001) FLAC (tracks), lossless

This second installment in the Classics Oscar Peterson chronology opens with eight sides recorded in Montreal for the Victor label in March and November of 1949. After a Babs Gonzales-inspired version of "Oop-Bop Sh-Bam" (a rare example of Oscar Peterson the vocalist), the trio takes off at Bud Powell velocity on "Sweet Georgia Brown." Although the author of the liner notes tried to impose stylistic delineations by stating that Peterson was "firmly rooted in the swing tradition" but "never played bebop," the truth of the matter is that Oscar Peterson came up in the middle of the 20th century at a time when music critics were struggling to invent categorical definitions to match a music that was evolving at a rate slightly faster than the speed of sound. If Peterson must be placed somewhere in the early modern jazz schematic, it should be among Garner, Nat King Cole, Al Haig, and Bud Powell. To say that Peterson "never played bebop" is misleading, preposterous, pointless, inane, and also factually incorrect. Bop logic erupts consistently throughout most of the performances heard here. How could anyone deny the bop content and indeed almost frightening dexterity demonstrated in Peterson's lightning-quick execution of his original composition "Nameless"? Contemplate instead the evolution of Peterson's instrumentation over the space of 14 months. Beginning with the trio involving bassist Austin Roberts and drummer Clarence Jones, the chronology leads to a modified trio with guitarist Ben Johnson replacing the drummer, and then to the threshold of Oscar Peterson's lifelong partnership with producer Norman Granz in the form of eight duets with bassist Ray Brown recorded for Mercury in March of 1950. Here and on seven duets with the mighty Major Holley recorded on May 8, 1950, Peterson emerged onto the U.S. jazz scene as a fully mature and somewhat formidable interpreter of ballads, standards, and the occasional original invention. One mistake to report: track 11, originally issued as Mercury 8921, is not Rodgers & Hart's "Lover" but rather Sigmund Romberg's "Lover Come Back to Me." That appears to be the only flaw in this wonderful survey of some of Oscar Peterson's all-time greatest recordings. arwulf arwulf     Tracklist :

OSCAR PETERSON – 1950 | The Classics Chronological Series – 1250 (2002) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The music on this chronological CD traces Oscar Peterson's career shortly after he settled in the United States. The music is drawn from Mercury, Clef, and Norgran sessions that consist of six duets with bassist Major Holley and 16 duets with Ray Brown, three of which are taken from a Carnegie Hall concert. Peterson's style was almost fully formed by this time, and he was certainly a virtuosic player with very impressive playing chops. With a few exceptions (Johnny Hodges' "Squatty Roo," Billy Strayhorn's "After All," "Summer Nocturne," and the catchy "Salute To Garner," and a few rare Peterson originals), the music is comprised of standards. Although the Oscar Peterson Trio was still in the near future, all of the components (except the guitarist) were in place by mid-1950. This formerly rare music (which has rarely been reissued) will be desired by Oscar Peterson collectors. Scott Yanow      Tracklist + Credits :

LEE KONITZ - Chicago 'N All That Jazz (1975-1986) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

For Chicago 'N All That Jazz, altoist Lee Konitz and his augmented nonet perform eight numbers from the musical Chicago, all songs that have been long forgotten since. However, Konitz (switching between alto and soprano) and his sidemen (who include trumpeter Richard Hurwitz, Dick Katz, and Michael Longo on keyboards, and bassist Major Holley, who also takes a couple of vocals) play with enthusiasm and melodic creativity; some of the themes are quite catchy. The playing time (around 36 minutes) is quite brief and the music is far from essential but the performances are surprisingly pleasing, making this a worthy purchase if found at a budget price. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     My Own Best Friend 3:55     
Fred Ebb / John Kander
2     Razzle Dazzle 4:09
Fred Ebb / John Kander
3     Loopin' the Loop 3:59
Fred Ebb / John Kander
4     Funny Honey 5:03
Fred Ebb / John Kander
5     Class 5:51
Fred Ebb / John Kander
6     Me and My Baby 5:20
Fred Ebb / John Kander
7     Roxie 3:30
Fred Ebb / John Kander
8     Ten Percent 4:36
Fred Ebb / John Kander
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Bass, Vocals – Major Holley
Drums – Eddie Locke
Guitar – George Davis
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Michael Longo
Percussion – Ray Armando
Piano, Electric Piano – Dick Katz
Trombone – Alan Raph, Barry Maur
Trumpet – Lloyd Michels, Richard Hurwitz

ROLAND KIRK - Here Comes the Whistleman (1967-1998) RM | Atlantic Original Sound | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Here Comes the Whistleman showcases Rahsaan Roland Kirk in 1967 with a fine band, live in front of a host of invited guests at Atlantic Studios in New York. His band for the occasion is stellar: Jacki Byard or Lonnie Smith on piano, Major Holley on bass, Lonnie Smith on piano, and Charles Crosby on drums. This is the hard, jump blues and deep R&B Roland Kirk band, and from the git, on "Roots," they show why. Kirk comes screaming out of the gate following a double time I-IV-V progression, with Holley punching the accents along the bottom and Byard shoving the hard tight chords up against Kirk's three-horn lead. The extended harmony Kirk plays -- though the melody line is a bar walking honk -- is extreme, full of piss and vinegar. On the title track, along with the artist's requisite, and genuinely good, humor, Kirk breaks out the whistles on top of the horn for a blues stomp with Smith taking over the piano chores. Smith plays a two chord vamp, changing the accent before he beings to break it open into a blues with skittering fills and turnarounds while Kirk blows circularly for 12 and 14 bars at a time. Byard returns for a tender and stirring duet rendition of "I Wished on the Moon," with his own glorious rich lyricism. And here is where Kirk displays the true measure of his ability as a saxophonist. Turning the ballad inside out, every which way without overstating the notes. Here, Ben Webster meets Coleman Hawkins in pure lyric ecstasy. The set officially ends with the wailing flute and sax jam "Aluminum Baby," (both courtesy of the irrepressible Kirk) and the bizarre ride of "Step Right Up" where Kirk sings scat in a dialect that sounds like Pop-eye. Now that's where the LP version ended, but the Label M CD reissue tags on, without credits anywhere two absolutely essential scorchers with what seems to be Byard on piano and an over-the-top bass blowout from Holley. Kirk plays saxophones on both, being his own horn section. This makes an already satisfying date an essential one. Given these additions, this might arguably be the place to start for an interested but underexposed listener who wants to experience how dazzlingly original Kirk was.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1     Roots 4'09
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
2     Here Comes the Whistle Man 4'53
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
3     I Wished on the Moon 4'48
Dorothy Parker / Ralph Rainger
4     Making Love After Hours 4'20
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
5     Yesterdays 3'54
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
6     Aluminum Baby 4'41
Jaki Byard
7     Step Right Up 4'41
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Roland Kirk (pistas: 7)
Double Bass – Major Holley
Drums – Charles Crosby
Flute – Roland Kirk (pistas: 4, 5)
Nose Flute – Roland Kirk (pistas: 2)
Piano – Jackie Byard (pistas: 1, 3, 6), Lonnie Smith (pistas: 2, 4, 5, 7)
Saxophone [Manzello] – Roland Kirk (pistas: 4, 6)
Saxophone [Stritch] – Roland Kirk (pistas: 4)
Tenor Saxophone – Roland Kirk (pistas: 1 to 4)

RAHSAAN ROLAND KIRK & AL HIBBLER - A Meeting of the Times (1972-2004) Atlantic Masters | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On first glance this LP combines together a pair of unlikely musical partners; the unique multi-instrumentalist Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Duke Ellington's former ballad singer Al Hibbler. However Rahsaan was very well acquainted with Ellington's music and he plays respectfully behind Hibbler on many of the standards, taking the wild "Carney and Bigard Place" as an instrumental. Hibbler (who did not record much this late in his career) is in good voice and phrases as eccentrically as ever on such songs as "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" and "I Didn't Know About You." One leftover selection from Rahsaan's session with singer Leon Thomas ("Dream") rounds out this surprising set. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 4'38
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
2     Daybreak 3'12
Duke Ellington / John Latouche / Billy Strayhorn
3     Lover, Come Back to Me 3'48
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
4     Don't Get Around Much Anymore 2'53
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
5     This Love of Mine 4'55
Sol Parker / Henry Sanicola / Frank Sinatra
6     Carney and Bigard Place 5'34
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
7     I Didn't Know About You 4'01
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
8     Something 'Bout Believing 6'05
Duke Ellington
9     Dream 2'30
Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Credits :
Bass – Major Holley (pistas: 9), Ron Carter (pistas: 1 to 8)
Drums – Charles Crosby (pistas: 9), Grady Tate (pistas: 1 to 8)
Piano – Hank Jones (pistas: 1 to 8), Lonnie Liston Smith (pistas: 9)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Rahaan Roland Kirk
Vocals – Al Hibbler (pistas: 1 to 5,7,8), Leon Thomas (pistas: 9)

ZOOT SIMS - “Live” In Philly (1973-2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Released for the first time on this 1998 CD, this excellent live set dates from the early '70s (1973 is an educated guess) and features the always swinging tenor man Zoot Sims in a quartet with pianist Benny Aronov, bassist Major Holley, and drummer Mickey Roker. Sims is in top form on a variety of veteran standards, including "In a Mellow Tone" and a lengthy "Do Nothin' 'Till You Hear from Me." Holley's bowing and singing combination is showcased on "Polka Dots and Moon Beams," and Aronov shows plenty of fire and potential. Easily recommended to bop and Zoot Sims fans. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     That Old Devil Called Love 9:08
Doris Fisher / Allan Roberts
2     Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 10:53
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
3     Polka Dots and Moon Beams 5:38roke
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
4     I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You 9:03
Bing Crosby / Ned Washington / Victor Young
5     In a Mellow Tone 5:32
Duke Ellington / Milt Gabler
6     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 4:31
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster
7     Theme 4:46
Zoot Sims
Credits :
Bass – Major Holley
Drums – Mickey Roker
Piano – Benny Aronov
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

DAVE McKENNA QUARTET - Dave McKenna Quartet featuring Zoot Sims (1994) RM | WV (image+.cue), lossless

This CD reissues a rare Zoot Sims set originally made for the defunct Famous Door label. Accompanied by pianist Hank Jones, bassist Milt Hinton and either Louie Bellson or Grady Tate on drums, Zoot (who doubles on tenor and soprano) is in typically swinging form. In addition to a few standards, Sims explores some obscurities (including "Alabamy Home" and "In The Middle Of A Kiss") and even turns the theme of "Rosemary's Baby" into jazz. A slightly above-average set from a saxophonist who always sounded inspired. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Limehouse Blues 5:57
Philip Braham / Douglas Furber    
2     I Cover the Waterfront 6:00
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman    
3     'Deed I Do 3:07
Walter Hirsch / Fred Rose    
4     Grooveyard 5:13
Carl Perkins    
5     One Good Turn 3:30
Erroll Garner    
6     Dave's Tune 2:45
Dave McKenna    
7     Linger Awhile 4:22
Harry Owens / Vincent Rose    
8     There'll Be Some Changes Made 5:17
Billy Higgins / W. Benton Overstreet    
9     Wherever There's Love 4:35
Eddie Condon / John DeVries    
10     I Cover the Waterfront 7:40
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman    
11     Grooveyard 4:53
Carl Perkins    
12     One Good Turn 5:06
Erroll Garner    
13     Wherever There's Love 4:41
Eddie Condon / John DeVries
Credits :
Bass, Vocals – Major Holley (pistas: 1, 3 to 13)
Drums – Ray Mosca (pistas: 1, 3 to 13)
Piano – Dave McKenna
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Zoot Sims

THE AL COHN | ZOOT SIMS QUINTET - You'n Me (1960-2002) RM | Verve Master Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The most unusual selection on this Al Cohn-Zoot Sims set from 1960 is "Improvisation for Unaccompanied Saxophones," a short but effective two-tenor workout that, through a clever arrangement by Cohn, gives one the impression that both saxophonists are using circular breathing. Another departure is "Angel Eyes," which has both Cohn and Sims switching to clarinet and showcases Major Holley's singing and bowed bass. Otherwise, the co-leaders stick to their main instruments and enjoy swinging together with the assistance of Holley, pianist Mose Allison (who would soon be starting his own successful solo career), and drummer Osie Johnson. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     The Note 4:11
Al Cohn    
2     You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To 4:51
Cole Porter    
3     You 'n' Me 4:40
Al Cohn    
4     On the Alamo 4:36
Isham Jones / Gus Kahn    
5     The Opener 3:45
Bill Potts    
6     Angel Eyes 3:17
Earl Brent / Matt Dennis    
7     Awful Lonely 4:19
George Handy    
8     Love for Sale 4:59
Cole Porter    
9     Improvisation for Unaccompanied Saxophones 2:24
Al Cohn / Zoot Sims
Credits :
Bass – Major Holley
Drums – Osie Johnson
Piano – Mose Allison
Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Zoot Sims

COLEMAN HAWKINS | ROY ELDRIDGE | JOHNNY HODGES - Hawkins! Eldridge! Hodges! Alive! At the Village Gate! (1962-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

From the mid-'50s until Coleman Hawkins's death in 1969, the tenor-saxophonist frequently teamed up with trumpeter Roy Eldridge to form a potent team. However, Hawkins rarely met altoist Johnny Hodges on the bandstand, making this encounter a special event. Long versions of "Satin Doll," "Perdido" and "The Rabbit in Jazz" give these three classic jazzmen (who are ably assisted by the Tommy Flanagan Trio) chances to stretch out and inspire each other. The remainder of this CD has Eldridge and Hodges absent while Coleman Hawkins (on "new" versions of "Mack the Knife," "It's the Talk of the Town," "Bean and the Boys" and "Caravan") heads the quartet for some excellent playing. Timeless music played by some of the top veteran stylists of the swing era. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Satin Doll 11:15
Duke Ellington / Johnny Mercer / Billy Strayhorn
2     Perdido 11:35
Ervin Drake / Hans Lengsfelder / Juan Tizol
3     The Rabbit in Jazz 16:45
Coleman Hawkins / Johnny Hodges
4     Mack the Knife 8:29
Marc Blitzstein / Bertolt Brecht / Kurt Weill    
5     It's the Talk of the Town 7:23
Jerry Livingston / Al J. Neiburg / Marty Symes    
6     Bean and the Boys 6:53
Coleman Hawkins
7     Caravan 10:30
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol    
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Bass – Major Holley
Drums – Edward Locke
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Producer – Creed Taylor
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge

COLEMAN HAWKINS | CLARK TERRY - Back in Bean's Bag (1963) lp | 24bits-96hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Hawkins teamed up with the personable trumpeter Clark Terry for this upbeat set of of solid swing. Terry in particular is in exuberant form on "Feedin' the Bean" and a delightful version of "Don't Worry About Me," but Hawkins's playing (particularly on the trumpeter's ballad "Michelle") is also in fine form. The Tommy Flanagan Trio assists the two classic hornmen on this superior LP. Scott Yanow
Side A
1    A Tune For The Tutor
Written-By – P. Patrick
2    Don't Worry 'Bout Me
Written-By – R. Bloom, T. Koehler
3    Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
Written-By – D. Ellington, L. Gaines
Side B
1    Feedin' The Bean
Written-By – C. Basie
2    Michelle
Written-By – C. Terry
3    Squeeze Me
Written-By – C. Williams, T. Waller
Credits :
Bass – Major Holley
Drums – Dave Bailey
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trumpet – Clark Terry

COLEMAN HAWKINS - Hawkins! Alive! at the Village Gate (1962-1995) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

The great Hawkins (who debuted on records 40 years earlier) gets to stretch out on this live outing by his 1962 quartet (which also features pianist Tommy Flanagan). This CD, which as a former LP had lengthy versions of "All the Things You Are," "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" "Mack the Knife" and "Talk of the Town," is augmented by previously unreleased versions of "Bean and the Boys" and "If I Had You," all of which show that Coleman Hawkins in his late 50s was still a powerful force. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     All the Things You Are 8'22
Jerome Kern
2     Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho 10'45
Traditional
3     Mack the Knife 8'59
Bertolt Brecht / Kurt Weill    
4     It's the Talk of the Town 9'25
Jerry Livingston    
5     Bean and the Boys 6'59
Coleman Hawkins
6     If I Had You 8'28
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
Credits :
Bass – Major Holley
Drums – Ed Locke
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Producer – Creed Taylor
Remastered By [Digitally] – Dennis Drake
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins

COLEMAN HAWKINS - Good Old Broadway (1962-1974) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     I Talk to the Trees 4'23
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
2     Smoke Gets in Your Eyes 4'40
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern
3     Wanting You 2'26
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
4     Strange Music 6'17
George Forrest / Edvard Grieg / Robert Wright
5     The Man That Got Away     4'08
Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin
6     Get Out of Town 4'14
Cole Porter
7     Here I'll Stay 4'08
Alan Jay Lerner / Kurt Weill
8     A Fellow Needs a Girl 4'47
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Bass – Major Holley, Jr.
Drums – Eddie Locke
Engineer, Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins

COLEMAN HAWKINS QUARTET - Today And Now (1962-1996) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A very nice digital reissue of a very congenial and nicely played Coleman Hawkins Quartet release. Not always the most compelling title from the Hawkins catalog, the record at least has the virtue of both being listenable and worthy of somewhat deeper inspection. Steven McDonald
Tracklist :
1    Go Lil Liza 6:23
Arranged By – Coleman Hawkins
Written-By – Traditional
2    Quintessence 4:44
Written-By – Quincy Jones
3    Don't Love Me 4:38
Written-By – Bill Katz, Pauline Rivelli, Ruth Roberts
4    Love Song From "Apache" 4:12
Written-By – D. Raksin, J. Mercer
5    Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet 9:50
Written-By – P. Wenrich, S. Murphy
6    Swingin' Scotch 5:31
Written-By – Coleman Hawkins
7    Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree 4:29
Written-By – C. Tobias, L. Brown, S. Stept
Credits :
Bass – Major Holley
Drums – Eddie Locke
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins