What would in any other instance be a potent Jazz at the Philharmonic meeting of the minds, the pairing of Oscar Peterson and Benny Carter in the studio turns out to be a neat and trim session of mutual respect between these two titans of American music. Six standards and a blues jam has Peterson deferring to Carter's alto sax in most instances, as the horn takes the lead with Peterson happy to follow. Guitarist Joe Pass seems an afterthought on most of this material, while Toronto bassist Dave Young and British drummer Martin Drew turn in a reliable and steady rhythmic performance. Young is particularly inspired, with big shoes to fill treading footprints of the brilliant Peterson at the time, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and is more than up to the task. Considering his age (almost 80,) Carter sounds splendid, as lyrical as ever, and with a slight hint of vibrato or legato inflections and flourishes. He sure sounds sweet, whether sighing for "Sweet Lorraine," combining cool and animated lines during the simple "It's a Wonderful World," or paralleling "Melancholy Baby" on "Whispering." Only for "Just Friends" does Peterson lead out, and brilliantly as usual, extrapolating his heart out, with Carter in late as Peterson quotes "Moose the Mooch." Pass does congeal with Peterson in distinguished classy phrases for "Baubles, Bangles & Beads" with Carter using upper register embellishments, while Pass is the leader on a balanced read of "If I Had You." The CD ends with a made up "Some Kind of Blues," with Peterson flying as only he can, setting up classic solos from Pass and Carter. This is a sturdy album, spectacular in spots, consistently tasteful, and swinging from top to bottom. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1 Just Friends 6:37
John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis
2 Sweet Lorraine 6:46
Clifford R. Burwell / Mitchell Parish
3 Baubles, Bangles and Beads 8:13
Alexander Borodin / George Forrest / Robert Wright
4 It's a Wonderful World 6:30
Harold Adamson / Jan Savitt / John Kluczko Watson / Johnny Watson
5 If I Had You 6:43
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
6 Whispering 4:50
Richard Coburn / Doris Fisher / Vincent Rose / John Schoenberger
7 Some Kind of Blues 4:43
Benny Carter / Oscar Peterson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Bass – Dave Young
Drums – Martin Drew
Guitar – Joe Pass
Piano – Oscar Peterson
Producer, Liner Notes, Layout, Design – Norman Granz
13.9.22
BENNY CARTER - Meets Oscar Peterson (1986-1995) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
26.6.21
JOE PASS - Eximius (1982-2000) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
Joe Pass took time off from his solo guitar projects to record this excellent trio set with bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and drummer Martin Drew. Pass swings hard throughout, is consistently inventive within the bebop tradition, and indulges in close interplay with Pedersen. Together, these musicians make the wondrous seem effortless. Among the highlights are "We'll Be Together Again" (the one unaccompanied guitar showcase on the program), "Robbins Nest," "Lush Life," "Night and Day," and "Speak Low." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 A Foxy Chick and a Cool Cat 5:29
Joe Pass
2 Robbins Nest 4:07
Illinois Jacquet / Sir Charles Thompson
3 Lush Life 2:47
Billy Strayhorn
4 Serenata 3:24
Leroy Anderson / Mitchell Parish
5 Love for Sale 7:29
Cole Porter
6 Night and Day 5:34
Cole Porter
7 We'll Be Together Again 5:32
Carl Fischer / Carl Fishcer / Frankie Laine
8 Ev'rything I Love 5:01
Cole Porter
9 Ev'rything I've Got 3:01
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
10 Speak Low 5:08
Ogden Nash / Kurt Weill
Credits :
Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
Drums – Martin Drew
Guitar – Joe Pass
Producer – Norman Granz
8.6.21
BENNY CARTER - Meets Oscar Peterson (1986-1995) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
What would in any other instance be a potent Jazz at the Philharmonic
meeting of the minds, the pairing of Oscar Peterson and Benny Carter in
the studio turns out to be a neat and trim session of mutual respect
between these two titans of American music. Six standards and a blues
jam has Peterson deferring to Carter's alto sax in most instances, as
the horn takes the lead with Peterson happy to follow. Guitarist Joe
Pass seems an afterthought on most of this material, while Toronto
bassist Dave Young and British drummer Martin Drew turn in a reliable
and steady rhythmic performance. Young is particularly inspired, with
big shoes to fill treading footprints of the brilliant Peterson at the
time, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and is more than up to the task.
Considering his age (almost 80,) Carter sounds splendid, as lyrical as
ever, and with a slight hint of vibrato or legato inflections and
flourishes. He sure sounds sweet, whether sighing for "Sweet Lorraine,"
combining cool and animated lines during the simple "It's a Wonderful
World," or paralleling "Melancholy Baby" on "Whispering." Only for "Just
Friends" does Peterson lead out, and brilliantly as usual,
extrapolating his heart out, with Carter in late as Peterson quotes
"Moose the Mooch." Pass does congeal with Peterson in distinguished
classy phrases for "Baubles, Bangles & Beads" with Carter using
upper register embellishments, while Pass is the leader on a balanced
read of "If I Had You." The CD ends with a made up "Some Kind of Blues,"
with Peterson flying as only he can, setting up classic solos from Pass
and Carter. This is a sturdy album, spectacular in spots, consistently
tasteful, and swinging from top to bottom. by Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1 Just Friends 6:37
John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis
2 Sweet Lorraine 6:46
Clifford R. Burwell / Mitchell Parish
3 Baubles, Bangles and Beads 8:13
Alexander Borodin / George Forrest / Robert Wright
4 It's a Wonderful World 6:30
Harold Adamson / Jan Savitt / John Kluczko Watson / Johnny Watson
5 If I Had You 6:43
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
6 Whispering 4:50
Richard H. Coburn / Doris Fisher / Vincent Rose / John Schoenberger
7 Some Kind of Blues 4:43
Benny Carter / Oscar Peterson
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Bass – Dave Young
Drums – Martin Drew
Guitar – Joe Pass
Piano – Oscar Peterson
17.5.21
ARTURO SANDOVAL & CHUCHO VALDÉS - Straight Ahead (1984) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
With his remarkable range and phenomenal technique, Arturo Sandoval is one of the world's great trumpeters; he can do virtually anything he wants on his instrument. Some detractors have claimed that he has too much technique (is such a thing possible?) and that his recordings for GRP are a bit erratic. The latter criticism cannot be applied to this 1988 release. Sandoval is heard with a standard quartet comprised of the great pianist Chucho Valdes (the leader of Irakere), bassist Ron Matthewson, and drummer Martin Drew. Recorded in England before Sandoval broke ties with Cuba, Sandoval is in near-miraculous form on some blues, a lyrical "My Funny Valentine," and a few basic originals. Just listen to him tear through "Blue Monk," playing in the low register with the speed of an Al Hirt before jumping into the stratosphere like Maynard Ferguson. This CD serves as an excellent introduction for the bop lover to the very talented Arturo Sandoval. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 King Pete's Heart 7:55
Arturo Sandoval
2 My Funny Valentine 10:25
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
3 Mambo Influenciado 4:26
Chucho Valdés
4 Claudia 7:16
Chucho Valdés
5 Blues 88 6:78
Arturo Sandoval
6 Blue Monk 8:08
Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Bass – Ron Matthewson
Drums – Martin Drew
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Arturo Sandoval
Piano – Chucho Valdes
+ last month
ESBJÖRN SVENSSON TRIO — Winter In Venice (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Esbjörn Svensson has stood not only once on stage in Montreux. He was already a guest in the summer of 1998 at the jazz festival on Lake Gen...