COUNT BASIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA — April in Paris (1955) RM | Two Version | Original Master Recording, Ultradisc II Series + Verve Master Edition, Clef Series | WV + FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

One of the staples in the Count Basie discography, April in Paris is one of those rare albums that makes its mark as an almost instant classic in the jazz pantheon. April in Paris represents the reassembly of the original Count Basie orchestra that define swing in the 1930s and 1940s. The title track has come to define elegance in orchestral jazz. Though only ten tracks in its original release, seven alternate takes have now been incorporated into Verve's re-release of the original session tapes. Other key tracks include "Corner Pocket" and "Magic," both of which are also featured in the alternate takes. Recorded in 1955 and 1956, April in Paris proved Count Basie's ability to grow through modern jazz changes while keeping the traditional jazz orchestra vital and alive. Christopher Fielder
Tracklist :
1.    April In Paris 3:47
Arranged By – Wild Bill Davis
Composed By – E.Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke
2.    Corner Pocket 5:15
Composed By, Arranged By – Freddie Green
3.    Didn't You? 4:43
Composed By, Arranged By – Frank Foster
4.    Sweetie Cakes 3:58
Composed By, Arranged By – Ernie Wilkins
5.    Magic 3:06
Composed By, Arranged By – Frank Wess
6.    Shiny Stockings 5:14
Composed By, Arranged By – Frank Foster
7.    What Am I Here For? 3:19
Arranged By – Frank Foster
Composed By – Duke Ellington
8.    Midgets 3:13
Composed By, Arranged By – Joe Newman
9.    Mambo Inn 3:23
Arranged By – Frank Foster
Composed By – Bobby Woodlen, Edgar Sampson, Mario Bauzá
10.    Dinner With Friends 3:05
Composed By, Arranged By – Neal Hefti
11.    April In Paris [2nd Take] 3:45
Arranged By – Wild Bill Davis
Composed By – E.Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke
12.    Corner Pocket [2nd Take] 4:59
Composed By, Arranged By – Freddie Green
13.    Didn't You? [3rd Take] 4:50
Composed By, Arranged By – Frank Foster
14.    Magic [1st Take] 3:42
Composed By, Arranged By – Frank Wess
15.    Magic [2nd Take] 3:50
Composed By, Arranged By – Frank Wess
16.    What Am I Here For? [1st Take] 4:06
Arranged By – Frank Foster
Composed By – Duke Ellington
17.    Midgets [4th Take] 3:11
Composed By, Arranged By – Joe Newman
Credits :
Bass – Eddie Jones
Clarinet, Saxophone [Alto] – Marshal Royal (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16)
Drums – Sonny Payne
Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone [Alto], Saxophone [Tenor] – Frank Wess
Guitar – Freddie Green
Percussion – Jose Mangual (tracks: 9), Ubaldo Nieto (tracks: 9)
Piano – Count Basie
Saxophone [Alto] – Bill Graham (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16)
Saxophone [Baritone] – Charlie Fowlkes (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16)
Saxophone [Tenor], Clarinet – Frank Foster (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16)
Trombone – Benny Powell (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16), Bill Hughes (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16), Henry Coker (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16)
Trumpet – Joe Newman, Reunald Jones (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16), Thad Jones (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16), Wendell Culley (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 16) 

BUD POWELL TRIO - Bouncing with Bud (1962) RM | MONOAURAL | 24 Kt Gold Plated | Original Master Recording, Ultradisc II Series | Three Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Although Bud Powell's performance level could widely vary during the last few years of his life, this
1962 session in Copenhagen finds him in top form. Joined by promising young bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer William Schiopffe, Powell literally wails along as he plays the works of fellow boppers such as Thelonious Monk ("Straight, No Chaser" and "52nd Street Theme"), Tadd Dameron ("Hot House"), Denzil Best ("Move"), as well as his own "Bouncing With Bud." He also delves into a breezy take of Irving Berlin's "The Best Thing for You" and Coleman Hawkins' "Rifftide" (a familiar reworking of "Oh, Lady Be Good!"). Even though the music pretty much stays at a fairly brisk to fast tempo, there's no danger of listener burnout. Originally issued by Sonet, the selections on this highly recommended Storyville CD have also been issued on a number of other labels. Ken Dryden 
Tracklist :
1 Rifftide  4:10
Coleman Hawkins
2 Bouncing with Bud  5:57
Gil Fuller / Bud Powell
3 Move  4:57
Denzil Best
4 The Best Thing for You  6:00
Irving Berlin
5 Straight, No Chaser  6:40
Thelonious Monk
6 I Remember Clifford  6:07
Benny Golson
7 Hot House  5:47
Tadd Dameron
8 52nd Street Theme  2:22
Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Bass – Niels Henning Orsted Pedersen
Drums – William Schiöpffe
Piano – Bud Powell  

ZOOT SIMS QUARTET - Zoot at Ease (1973) RM | Original Master Recording | 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     Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise 4:45
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg    
2     In the Middle of a Kiss 5:16
Sam Coslow    
3     Alabamy Home 5:54
Duke Ellington / Dave Ringle    
4     Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 4:37
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell    
5     Rosemary's Baby 6:36
Krzysztof Komeda    
6     Cocktails for Two 4:55
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston    
7     My Funny Valentine 5:04
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
8     Beach in the A.M. 4:13
Hank Jones    
9     In the Middle of a Kiss [Take 1} 4:04
Sam Coslow    
10     In the Middle of a Kiss 5:53
Sam Coslow    
11     Alabamy Home 6:54
Duke Ellington / Dave Ringle
12     Beach in the A.M. 3:42
Hank Jones    
13     Alabamy Home 6:01
Duke Ellington / Dave Ringle
Credits :
Bass – Milt Hinton
Drums – Grady Tate (pistas: 2, 4, 6, 8), Louis Belson (pistas: 1, 3, 5, 7)
Piano – Hank Jones
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

ZOOT SIMS WITH THE KENNY DREW TRIO - Zoot Sims In Copenhagen (1978-1995) RM | Original Master Recording, Ultradisc II | 24Kt Gold Plated | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Formerly put out by Storyville, this audiophile CD reissue features the great Zoot Sims performing in a quartet with bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and two notable expatriates: pianist Kenny Drew and drummer Ed Thigpen. Sims, who doubles here on soprano, is in typically swinging form on such numbers as "Too Close for Comfort," "In a Mellowtone," an extended, nearly ten-minute rendition of "All the Things You Are," and "It's All Right with Me." The supporting rhythm section is perfect for this style of music, and Sims is heard throughout in prime form. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Too Close for Comfort 7:27
Jerry Bock / Larry Holofcener / George David Weiss    
2     (I Wonder) Where Our Love Has Gone 7:17
Buddy Johnson    
3     In a Mellow Tone 5:12
Duke Ellington / Milt Gabler
4     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 2:14
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster    
5     Caravan 6:32
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Juan Tizol
6     Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise 7:33
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg    
7     All the Things You Are 9:57
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern    
8     I'll Remember April 8:46
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye    
9     Morning Fun 4:49
Al Cohn / Zoot Sims
10     In the Middle of a Kiss 7:42
Sam Coslow
11     It's All Right with Me 8:15
Cole Porter
Credits :
Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen
Drums – Ed Thigpen
Piano – Kenny Drew
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

STING – ... Nothing Like The Sun (1987-1991) RM | 24 kt GOLD | Original Master Recording | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

If Dream of the Blue Turtles was an unabashedly pretentious affair, it looks positively lighthearted in comparison to Sting's sophomore effort, Nothing Like the Sun, one of the most doggedly serious pop albums ever recorded. This is an album where the only up-tempo track, the only trifle -- the cheerfully stiff white-funk "We'll Be Together" -- was added at the insistence of the label because they believed there wasn't a cut on the record that could be pulled as a single, one that would break down the doors to mainstream radio. And they were right, since everything else here is too measured, calm, and deliberately subtle to be immediate (including the intentional throwaway, "Rock Steady"). So, why is it a better album than its predecessor? Because Sting doesn't seem to be trying so hard. It flows naturally, largely because this isn't trying to explicitly be a jazz-rock record (thank the presence of a new rhythm section of Sting and drummer Manu Katche for that) and because the melodies are insinuating, slowly working their way into memory, while the entire record plays like a mood piece -- playing equally well as background music or as intensive, serious listening. Sting's words can still grate -- the stifling pompousness of "History Will Teach Us Nothing" the clearest example, yet calls of "Hey Mr. Pinochet" also strike an uneasy chord -- but his lyricism shines on "The Lazarus Heart," "Be Still My Beating Heart," "They Dance Alone," and "Fragile," a quartet of his very finest songs. If Nothing Like the Sun runs a little too long, with only his Gil Evans-assisted cover of "Little Wing" standing out in the final quarter, it still maintains its tone until the end and, since it's buoyed by those previously mentioned stunners, it's one of his better albums. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist + Credits :