BUDDY RICH AND HIS SEXTET — Blues Caravan (1961-2005) RM | LP Reproduction Series | APE (image+.cue), lossless

This crack sextet recording by Buddy Rich is one of the long lost treasures in his vast discography as a leader, featuring a band he took on a State Department-sponsored tour of the Far East and Asia not long after the recording sessions were completed for this album. The band includes flutist Sam Most, trumpeter Rolf Ericson (who achieved his greatest fame with Duke Ellington), Wyatt Ruther (previously a sideman with Dave Brubeck), vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, and the somewhat obscure pianist Johnny Morris. Rich's pulsing drums are right in front in their aggressive arrangement of Horace Silver's blues "Blowin' the Blues Away," in which each soloist seems stimulated by the musician preceding him. "Caravan" begins with the leader's thunderous solo, though it quickly softens with Rich taking a backseat to Most and Ruther; the remainder of the band makes a delayed entrance. Mainieri contributed the exciting blues "Young Blood," which showcases his best solo on the date. The vibraphonist is also the featured soloist in the mellow interpretation of "I Remember Clifford," where he is backed by the haunting blend of trumpet and flute, with Rich staying very much in the background. Reissued as a limited-edition CD by Verve in 2005, this should be considered an essential Buddy Rich recording. Kent Dryden
Tracklist :
1. Blow'n The Blues Away 8:40
 Horace Silver
2. BR Blues 3:14
 Buddy Rich
3. Late Date 5:12
 Waalter Maynard
4. Caravan 9:44
 Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol
5. Young Blood 5:59
  Mike Mainieri
6. I Remember Clifford 3:35
 Benny Golson
Credits :
Bass – Wyatt Ruther
Drums, Leader – Buddy Rich
Flute – Sam Most
Piano – Johnny Morris
Trumpet – Rolf Ericson
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Mike Mainieri

STEPS AHEAD — Modern Times (1984) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

By 1984, Steps Ahead's personnel had stabilized with original keyboardist Warren Bernhardt rejoining the group and teaming up with tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Eddie Gomez, drummer Peter Erskine, and vibraphonist Mike Mainieri; guitarist Chuck Loeb guests on one selection, as does Tony Levin, who is heard on the Chapman stick. This outing is very electronic and does not quite reach the heights of Steps Ahead's earlier Elektra album, but it certainly has plenty of spirit and power. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Safari    6:58
 Michael Brecker
2    Oops    6:20
 Mike Mainieri
3    Self Portrait    6:02
 Mike Mainieri
4    Modern Times    6:17
 Warren Bernhardt
5    Radio-Active    8:49
 Warren Bernhardt / Craig Peyton
6    Now You Know    6:25
 Peter Erskine
7    Old Town    6:19
 Mike Mainieri
Credits :
Bass – Eddie Gomez
Drums, Percussion, Drum Machine [DMX] – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Chuck Loeb (tracks: 6)
Keyboards – Warren Bernhardt
Saxophone – Michael Brecker
Vibraphone, Marimba – Mike Mainieri

ART FARMER WITH JOE HENDERSON - Yama (1979-2017) RM | CTI 50th Anniversary | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flugelhornist Art Farmer's fourth and final LP for CTI also features tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson. The material (which includes originals by Clare Fischer, Joe Zawinul, Don Grolnick and Mike Mainieri) is not the most memorable and the funky rhythm section (which is greatly expanded) does not really blend all that well with the styles of Farmer and Henderson so this set is not as exciting as one might hope. A decent but largely forgettable effort. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Dulzura 4'10
Joe Henderson
2    Stop (Think Again) 6'48
Composed By – Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb
3     Young and Fine 6'44
Joe Zawinul
4     Lotus Blossom 8'23
Don Grolnick
5     Blue Montreux 6'58
Mike Mainieri
Credits :
Arranged By, Producer [Associate], Synthesizer, Vibraphone – Mike Mainieri
Bass – Eddie Gomez
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Bass – Will Lee
Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
Guitar – David Spinozza, John Tropea
Keyboards – Don Grolnick, Fred Hersch, Warren Bernhardt
Mastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Percussion – Sammy Figueroa
Producer – Creed Taylor
Synthesizer [Programming] – Suzanne Ciani
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson

ART FARMER AND JIM HALL — Big Blues (1978-2006) RM | Serie CTI Timeless Collection | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flügelhornist Art Farmer and guitarist Jim Hall had a regular group for a time in the mid-'60s but (with one exception) didn't play together again until this 1978 LP. It's an unusual effort for CTI in that it is a quintet set without added horns, strings, or keyboards. Farmer and Hall are joined by vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, bassist Michael Moore, and drummer Steve Gadd for two standards, the title cut, and a jazz adaptation of a piece by Ravel. Since Farmer and Hall have long had very complementary styles (both being lyrical, harmonically advanced, and thoughtful in their improvisations), it is little surprise that this set is a complete success. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Whisper Not 8:44
Benny Golson
2     A Child Is Born 7:40
Thad Jones
3     Big Blues 7:23
Jim Hall
4     Pavane for a Dead Princess 10:50
Maurice Ravel
Credits :
Arranged By – David Matthews
Bass – Mike Moore
Drums – Steve Gadd
Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
Guitar – Jim Hall
Vibraphone – Mike Mainieri

THE BRECKER BROTHERS - Blue Montreaux (1978) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

At the 1978 Montreux Jazz Festival, a variety of artists (including keyboardist Warren Bernhardt, tenor-saxophonist Michael Brecker, guitarists Steve Khan and Larry Coryell, trumpeter Randy Brecker and vibraphonist Mike Mainieri) recorded a dozen funky selections which were originally released on two Arista LPs. This single CD has the eight top performances from these important fusion stylists; Michael Brecker in particular is in good form. The results are not essential but offer listeners a time capsule of where R&B-oriented fusion was in 1978.  by Scott Yanow

PETER ERSKINE - Peter Erskine (1982-1991) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Drummer Peter Erskine's debut as a leader (originally made for Contemporary and reissued on CD in the OJC series) finds him using top players (most of whom had played with Steps Ahead) in various combinations. Erskine performs a few of his own originals (including an 11-minute "All's Well That Ends" and a short drum solo) plus "My Ship," Wayne Shorter's "E.S.P.," and Bob Mintzer's "Change of Mind." With such musicians as trumpeter Randy Brecker, tenors Michael Brecker and Mintzer, pianist Kenny Kirkland, and vibraphonist Mike Mainieri getting some solo space, this post-bop music (from an often-overlooked set) is of consistent high quality. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Leroy Street 7:55
Peter Erskine
2 In Statu Nascendi 1:30
Peter Erskine
3 E.S.P. 2:58
Wayne Shorter
4 Change of Mind 7:29
Bob Mintzer
5 All's Well That Ends 11:08
Peter Erskine
6 My Ship 5:44
Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
7 Coyote Blues 4:42
Peter Erskine
Credits :
Bass – Eddie Gomez
Congas, Shaker, Drum [Bata Drum] – Don Alias
Drums, Percussion, Keyboards [Obx] – Peter Erskine
Electric Piano, Keyboards [Obx] – Don Grolnick
Piano – Kenny Kirkland
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker
Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Mike Mainieri