DIANNE REEVES — I Remember (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

When she wants to sing jazz, Dianne Reeves has always had the ability to reach the top of her field, but she has long seemed unable to make up her mind between jazz, R&B, world music, and pop. This Blue Note disc fortunately finds her mostly sticking to jazz and in consistently superb form. Reeves' treatments of such numbers as "Afro Blue" (which is particularly memorable), "Love for Sale," "Softly As in a Morning Sunrise," "How High the Moon," and McCoy Tyner's "You Taught My Heart to Sing" all border on the classic. Joined by such illustrious sidemen as pianists Billy Childs, Mulgrew Miller, and Donald Brown; bassists Charnett Moffett and Chris Severin; and drummers Billy Kilson and Marvin "Smitty" Smith, plus guest appearances by vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, altoist Greg Osby, and guitarist Kevin Eubanks, Reeves sounds inspired by the company. If only she would stick to this direction. Highly recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Afro Blue 4:49
Bass – Chris Severin
Drums – Billy Kilson
Percussion – Bill Summers, Luis Conte
Saxophone – Justo Almario
Written-By – M. Santamaria, O. Brown Jr.
2    The Nearness Of You / Misty 3:12
Arranged By – Dianne Reeves
Bass – Chris Severin
Drums – Billy Kilson
Piano – Billy Childs
Written-By – Garner, Carmichael, Burke, Washington
3    I Remember Sky 4:23
Bass – Chris Severin
Drums – Billy Kilson
Piano, Arranged By – Billy Childs
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
4    Love For Sale 3:43
Arranged By – David Torkanowsky
Bass – Chris Severin
Drums – Billy Kilson
Piano – Billy Childs
Written-By – Cole Porter
5    Softly As In The Morning Sunrise 4:52
Alto Saxophone – Greg Osby
Arranged By – David Torkanowsky
Bass – Charnett Moffett
Drums – Marvin Smitty Smith
Percussion – Ron Powell
Piano – Donald Brown
Vibraphone – Bobby Hutcherson
Written-By – Hammerstein, Romberg
6    Like A Lover 5:37
Acoustic Guitar – Kevin Eubanks
Wind Chimes – Ron Powell
Written-By – A. Bergman-M. Bergman, D. Caymmi
7    How High The Moon 4:05
Arranged By – Richard R. Cummings
Bass – Charnett Moffett
Drums – Terri Lyne Carrington
Percussion – Ron Powell
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Written-By – Lewis, Hamilton
8    You Taught My Heart To Sing 6:14
Bass – Charnett Moffett
Drums – Marvin Smitty Smith
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Written-By – M. Tyner, S. Cahn
9    For All We Know 8:02
Bass – Charnett Moffett
Drums – Marvin Smitty Smith
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Written-By – Coots, Lewis

ARCHIE SHEPP QUARTET - Soul Song (1982-1997) 25th Anniversary Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is one of Archie Shepp's more erratic sets. On the 15 1/2 minute "Mama Rose," the great tenor (who is joined by pianist Ken Werner, bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith) unfortunately plays his out-of-tune soprano and takes an eccentric vocal. Additionally, Werner's brief "Soul Song" tends to wander without much direction. Much better is the 18 1/2 minute "Geechee," a lengthy workout for Shepp's emotional tenor, but due to this release's weak first half, it can be safely passed by. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Mama Rose 15'17
Horace Parlan / Archie Shepp
2     Soul Song 4'00
Archie Shepp
3     Geechee 18'33
Archie Shepp
4     My Romance 7'17
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits
Bass – Santi DeBriano
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Piano – Kenny Werner
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – Archie Shepp

DAVE HOLLAND QUINTET - Seeds of Time (1985) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

In the mid-1980s, bassist Dave Holland led his finest group, a quintet with up-and-coming altoist Steve Coleman, trombonist Julian Priester, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler and (on this date) drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. The all-star musicians pack plenty of music and concise solos into each performance (nine originals), and the unique group carved out its own niche, not quite free but certainly unpredictable. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Uhren 4:53
Composed By – Steve Coleman
2    Homecoming 6:01
Composed By – Dave Holland
3    Perspicuity 3:42
Composed By – Doug Hammond
4    Celebration 5:11
Composed By – Julian Priester
5    World Protection Blues 7:00
Composed By – Doug Hammond
6    Gridlock (Opus 8) 8:23
Composed By – Steve Coleman
7    Walk-a-way 3:55
Composed By – Holland, Smith
8    The Good Doctor 5:54
Composed By – Kenny Wheeler
9    Double Vision 7:09
Composed By – Dave Holland
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Steve Coleman
Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Double Bass – Dave Holland
Drums, Percussion – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Producer [Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Trombone – Julian Priester
Trumpet, Cornet, Trumpet [Pocket Trumpet], Flugelhorn – Kenny Wheeler

DAVE HOLLAND QUINTET - The Razor's Edge (1987) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Dave Holland's mid-1980s band played inventive music that was between post-bop and the avant-garde. The group acted as a launching pad for altoist Steve Coleman, gave publicity to the always-underrated trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, and in 1987 also featured trombonist Robin Eubanks and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. The group's three ECM releases are well worth exploring, and this set gives listeners a strong example of their work. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Brother Ty 4:34
Written-By – Doug Hammond
2    Vedana 4:53
Written-By – Dave Holland
3    The Razor's Edge 7:52
Written-By – Dave Holland
4    Blues For C.M. 9:15
Written-By – Dave Holland
5    Vortex 8:11
Written-By – Steve Coleman
6    5 Four Six 4:26
Written-By – Kenny Wheeler
7    Wights Waits For Weights 5:25
Written-By – Steve Coleman
8    Figit Time 6:17
Written-By – Doug Hammond
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Steve Coleman
Bass – Dave Holland
Design [Cover Design] – Barbara Wojirsch
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Flugelhorn, Trumpet, Cornet – Kenny Wheeler
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Trombone – Robin Eubanks
 

DAVE HOLLAND QUARTET - Extensions (1989) APE (image+.cue), lossless

For this tight and enjoyable quartet date, bassist Dave Holland spread the composing opportunities around, his sidemen accounting for four of the six pieces. Arguably, none of these musicians ever sounded better, or more adventurous, than when performing in Holland's bands. While the leader himself retreated a good deal from his more routinely avant-garde recordings of the '70s, he appeared unwilling to allow his younger compadres to simply coast, instead evoking probing and thoughtful playing from them. Altoist Steve Coleman derives particular benefit from Holland's supervision, sounding far more fluid and confident than own his own rather more stilted albums. The pieces follow a general head-solos-head format, though with substantial elasticity and enough variation that no sense of sameness settles in. Holland, of course, is masterful throughout, and one can easily imagine simply listening exclusively to his basslines, the amazing imagination they convey, and being very satisfied. One of his better albums from this period, Extensions should please any Holland fan, and is an agreeable and non-threatening jumping in point for the curious. by Brian Olewnick  
Tracklist :
1     Nemesis    11:36
Kevin Eubanks
2     Processional    7:21
Dave Holland
3     Black Hole    10:15
Steve Coleman
4     The Oracle    14:37
Dave Holland
5     101° Fahrenheit (Slow Meltdown)    4:56
Steve Coleman
6     Color of Mind    10:11
Kevin Eubanks
Credits :
Bass – Dave Holland
 Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
 Guitar – Kevin Eubanks
 Producer – Manfred Eicher
 Saxophone – Steve Coleman

EMILY REMLER - East to Wes (1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The late guitarist's last CD to be released before her premature death is her finest effort. Emily Remler's fluid technique brightens such seldom-heard numbers as Clifford Brown's "Daahoud" and her simplified arrangement of Claude Thornhill's lovely "Snowfall," as well as more relaxed tunes like "Sweet Georgia Fame." The polished rhythm section includes the masterful pianist Hank Jones, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. Highly recommended. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Daahoud 5:19
Clifford Brown
2     Snowfall 6:39
Claude Thornhill
3     Hot House 5:45
Tadd Dameron
4     Sweet Georgie Fame 5:38
Blossom Dearie / Sandra Harris
5     Ballad for a Music Box 7:25
Emily Remler
6     Blues for Herb 6:26
Emily Remler
7     Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise 8:14
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
8     East to Wes 6:12
Emily Remler
Credits :
Bass – Buster Williams
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Guitar – Emily Remler
Piano – Hank Jones

THE ART FARMER / BENNY GOLSON JAZZTET - Back to the City (1986) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Recorded at the same sessions as Real Time, this set features a reunion by the Jazztet, a classic sextet that originally broke up in 1963 due to lack of work. Twenty-three years later, flugelhornist Art Farmer and trombonist Curtis Fuller are heard playing in their unchanged styles while tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson (who had evolved from a Don Byas-type approach to a sound influenced by Archie Shepp) is in fine form. With pianist Mickey Tucker, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith completing the group, the band plays four lesser-known Golson compositions, Farmer's "Write Soon" and the standard "Speak Low." Timeless hard bop music. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Back to the City 7:55
Composed By – Benny Golson
2     From Dream to Dream 6:49
Composed By – Benny Golson
3     Write Soon 9:44
Composed By – Art Farmer
4     Vas Simeon 7:31
Composed By – Benny Golson
5     Speak Low 6:07
Ogden Nash / Kurt Weill
6     Without Delay/Time Speaks 6:59
Composed By – Benny Golson
Credits :
Arranged By – Art Farmer, Benny Golson
Bass – Ray Drummond
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
Piano – Mickey Tucker
Tenor Saxophone – Benny Golson
Trombone – Curtis Fuller

ART FARMER - Ph.D (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flugelhornist Art Farmer recorded quite a few records with tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan during the late '80s/early '90s. This sextet outing (which also includes guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist James Williams, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith) was one of their better efforts. With the exception of "Like Someone in Love," all of the material is obscure. James Williams contributes three tunes that alternate with songs by Donald Brown, Thad Jones, Kenny Drew and Clifford Jordan. The advanced hard bop music has enough unpredictable moments to hold one's interest. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Ph.D. 8:09
James Williams
2     Affaire d'Amour 6:42
Donald Brown
3     Mr. Day's Dream 6:02
James Williams
4     The Summary 6:10
Thad Jones
5     Blue Wail 8:31
Kenny Drew
6     Like Someone in Love 6:42
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
7     Rise to the Occasion 6:13
James Williams
8     Ballade Art 4:47
Clifford Jordan
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Art Farmer
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – James Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan