HERB ELLIS | RAY BROWN SEXTET — Hot Tracks (1976) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Herb Ellis was the leader of six of the first dozen Concord releases. This lesser-known set has some fine playing from Ellis, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson, bassist Ray Brown, drummer Jake Hanna and keyboardist Mike Melvoin although Melvoin's electric piano sounds a bit dated today. As usual the music is uncomplicated, straightahead, swinging and tasteful. Six of the songs are originals by group members which are performed along with Johnny Hodges' "Squatty Roo" and the ballad "But Beautiful." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. Onion Roll (Ellis) - 4:26
2. Spherikhal (Brown) - 4:55
3. But Beautiful (Burke-Van Heusen) - 5:25
4. Blues for Minnie (Brown) - 4:41
5. Bones (Johnson) - 5:54
6. So's Your Mother (Melvoin) - 5:20
7. Squatty Roo (Hodges) - 3:10
8. Sweetback (Edison) - 4:27
Credits :
Herb Ellis - Guitar
Ray Brown - Bass
Harry "Sweets" Edison - Trumpet
Jake Hanna - Drums
Plas Johnson - Saxophone
Mike Melvoin - Keyboards

HERB ELLIS / RAY BROWN SEXTET — In the Pocket : After You've Gone + Hot Tracks (2002) 2CD | APE (image+.cue), lossless

0This two-CD set compiles two of the earliest recordings made by Herb Ellis and Ray Brown for Concord in the mid-'70s. The first disc, originally issued as After You've Gone, featuring keyboardist George Duke, tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson, trumpeter Sweets Edison, and drummer Jake Hanna, was recorded at the 1974 Concord Jazz Festival. Duke is the wild card on this performance, because during this time frame he was typically recording and touring with rocker Frank Zappa or leading his own heavily funk recording dates; though he switches back and forth between electric and acoustic piano, he fits in rather well. Edison's poignant muted solo in "Mood Indigo," Brown's blistering blues "Fatty McSlatty," and a raucous treatment of the famous "Meet the Flintstones" television theme are all memorable, but the intricate duet by Ellis and Brown of "Detour Ahead" seems to hush the crowd with its brilliance. Disc two was first released as Hot Tracks and dates from a 1975 studio session. Mike Melvoin takes over on keyboards; otherwise, the personnel is identical. The music relies more on original compositions by the participants, with the music being enjoyable but not quite as strong as the first CD in this set. The best tracks include the understated treatment of the timeless standard "But Beautiful" and a sassy take of Johnny Hodges' "Squatty Roo." Ken Dryden 
Tracklist 1:
1    After You've Gone    7:55
2    Mitch's Lament    7:46
3    Home Grown    5:52
4    Mood Indigo    5:28
5    Detour Ahead    6:22
6    Fatty McSlatty    9:40
7    Flinestones II    5:38
Tracklist 2:
1    Onion Roll    4:21
2    Spherikhal    4:50
3    But Beautiful    5:19
4    Blues For Minnie    4:36
5    Bones    5:49
6    So's Your Mother    5:15
7    Squatty Roo    3:04
8    Sweetback    4:24
Credits :

Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Jake Hanna
Guitar – Herb Ellis
Keyboards – Mike Melvoin (tracks: CD2-1 to CD2-8)
Piano – George Duke (tracks: CD1-1 to CD1-7)
Tenor Saxophone – Plas Johnson
Trumpet – Harry "Sweets" Edison

Notes :
IN THE POCKET includes 2 LPs on 2 CDs: AFTER YOU'VE GONE (1975)/HOT TRACKS (1976). The first disc, originally issued as After You've Gone, was recorded live at the 1974 Concord Jazz Festival, Concord Boulevard Park, Concord, CA. Disc two was first released as Hot Tracks and dates from a 1975 studio session at Western Studios, Hollywood, CA.