FREDDIE GREEN — Mr. Rhythm (1955-2007) RM | MONO | BMG Prime Jazz Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Freddie Green seldom led sessions and seldom played lead. Instead, he formed part of the classic rhythm section that gave the Count Basie band its steady pulse. This rare date finds Green with tenor Al Cohn, trumpeter Joe Newman, trombonist Henry Coker, pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Milt Hinton, and either Jo Jones or Osie Johnson on drums. Mr. Rhythm, in fact, will remind many of a good Basie set. The steady drums, bass, and guitar on "Back and Forth" and "Something's Gotta Give" push the music forward, swinging ever so lightly. Nat Pierce's minimalist piano work also owes something to Basie. He adds small flourishes to the rhythm of pieces like "Easy Does It," and only a scattering of tastefully chosen notes on his solo. Coker and Cohn deliver nice solos on "When You Wish Upon a Star," with the trombone's lovely tone and the tenor's deep, mellow pitch complimenting the romanticism of the piece. Newman offers a concise, discerning solos on "Free and Easy" and "Learnin' the Blues." He uses a mute for both solos, perfectly capturing a calm, bluesy mood. Of course Green doesn't solo, and while his guitar is often barely audible, his presence is always felt. This album shows him to be a fine leader who is happy to remain in his role as rhythm guitarist. For fans of Green, and for those who enjoy swinging jazz with great soloists, Mr. Rhythm is a fine release. Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.
Tracklist :
1    Up In The Blues    2:34
 Freddie Green
2    Down For Double    3:58
 Freddie Green
3    Back And Forth    2:17
 Freddie Green
4    Free And Easy    3:25
 Freddie Green
5    Learnin The Blues    3:28
 Freddie Green / Delores Vicki Silvers
6    Feed Bag    2:58
 Freddie Green
7    Something's Gotta Give    2:51
 Freddie Green
8    Easy Does It    3:42
 Freddie Green / Sy Oliver / Trummy Young
9    Little Red    2:08
 Freddie Green
10    Swinging Back     3:21
 Freddie Green
11    A Date With Ray    4:52
 Freddie Green
12    When You Wish Upon A Star    2:38
 Freddie Green / Leigh Harline
Credits
Bass – Milt Hinton
Drums – Jo Jones, Osie Johnson
Guitar – Freddie Green
Piano – Nat Pierce
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Al Cohn
Trombone – Henry Coker
Trumpet – Joe Newman

JOHNNY HODGES - Triple Play (1967-1996) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Altoist Johnny Hodges is heard in three different settings on this reissue CD. Such top swing stars as trumpeters Ray Nance, Cat Anderson and Roy Eldridge, trombonists Buster Cooper, Lawrence Brown and Benny Powell, tenors Paul Gonsalves and Jimmy Hamilton, baritonist Harry Carney, pianists Hank Jones and Jimmy Jones (the latter two sometimes together), guitarists Tiny Grimes, Les Spann and Billy Butler, bassists Milt Hinton, Aaron Bell and Joe Benjamin and drummers Gus Johnson, Rufus Jones and Oliver Jackson are heard in nonets with the great altoist. Despite the many changes in personnel, the music is pretty consistent, with basic swinging originals, blues and ballads all heard in equal proportion. As usual, Johnny Hodges ends up as the main star. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Take 'Em off, Take 'Em off, Pt. 1 3:39
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Guitar – Tiny Grimes    
Cornet – Ray Nance
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
2     Take 'Em off, Take 'Em off, Pt. 2 2:56
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Cornet – Ray Nance    
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Tiny Grimes
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges    
3     The Nearness of You 3:46
(Hoagy Carmichael / Ned Washington)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Cornet – Ray Nance
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Tiny Grimes
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges    
4     Monkey on a Limb 3:53
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Cornet – Ray Nance
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Tiny Grimes
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
5     A Tiny Bit of Blues 4:53
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Hank Jones
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Cornet – Ray Nance
Bass –  Milt Hinton
Drums – Gus Johnson
Guitar – Tiny Grimes
Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves
Trombone – Buster Cooper
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
6     For Jammers Only 3:02
(Claude Bolling)
Piano – Jimmy Jones    
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Rufus Jones
Guitar – Les Spann
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry    
7     On the Way Up 2:52
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Rufus Jones
Guitar – Les Spann
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry    
8     Big Boy Blues 3:20
(Johnny Hodges)
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Guitar – Billy Butler
Piano – Nat Pierce
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges    
9     The Very Thought of You 2:49
(Ray Noble)
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Guitar – Les Spann
Bass – Aaron Bell      
Drums – Rufus Jones    
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
10     Fur Piece 6:22
(Johnny Hodges)
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Guitar – Billy Butler
Piano – Nat Pierce
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
11     Sir John 3:19
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Drums – Rufus Jones
Bass – Aaron Bell
Guitar – Les Spann
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry    
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
12     Figurine 2:39
(Johnny Hodges)
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Rufus Jones
Guitar – Les Spann
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Hamilton
Trombone – Lawrence Brown
Trumpet – Cat Anderson
Vibraphone – Bill Berry    
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges
13     C Jam Blues 4:21
(Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington)
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Carney
Bass – Joe Benjamin
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Guitar – Billy Butler
Piano – Nat Pierce
Piano [2nd] – Jimmy Jones
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge
Alto Saxophone – Johnny Hodges

ZOOT SIMS | BOB BROOKMEYER - Stretching Out + Kansas City Revisited (1958-2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

"Stretching Out". Like many studio sessions recorded for United Artists, this 1958 session co-led by Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer can be a bit tricky to find. Brookmeyer contributed most of the charts, including the easygoing blues which serves as the title track, as well as updated treatments of Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp" and "Ain't Misbehavin'." Al Cohn is responsible for a swinging chart of "Pennies from Heaven" during which he switches to baritone sax, while Bill Potts wrote and arranged "Bee Kay." The rest of the superb band includes Harry "Sweets" Edison, Hank Jones, bassist Eddie Jones, guitarist Freddie Green, and drummer Charlie Persip. Aside from a few innocuous reed squeaks, the music is essentially flawless and has stood the test of time very well.

"Kansas City Revisited". Cool jazz meets swing on this valuable LP. Valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, tenors Al Cohn and Paul Quinichette, pianist Nat Pierce, guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Addison Farmer and drummer Osie Johnson perform four songs associated with the late-'30s Count Basie Orchestra plus a couple of numbers ("A Blues" and "Travlin' Light") that are sung by the underrated vocalist Big Miller who was making his recording debut at the time. web
Stretching Out
1    Zoot Sims - Bob Brookmeyer Octet–    Stretching Out    6:08
Written-By – Bob Brookmeyer
2    Zoot Sims - Bob Brookmeyer Octet–    Now Will You Be Good 5:27   
Written-By – Terke, Jentes, Pease
3    Zoot Sims - Bob Brookmeyer Octet–    Pennies From Heaven    6:15
Written-By – Johnston, Burke
4    Zoot Sims - Bob Brookmeyer Octet–    King Porter Stomp    4:38
Written-By – Morton, Robbins, Burke
5    Zoot Sims - Bob Brookmeyer Octet–    Ain't Misbehavin'    6:54
Written-By – Razaf, Brooks, Waller
6    Zoot Sims - Bob Brookmeyer Octet–    Bee Kay    6:42
Written-By – Bill Potts
Kansas City Revisited   
7    Bob Brookmeyer's KC Seven–    Jumpin' At The Woodside    8:00
8    Bob Brookmeyer's KC Seven–    A Blues (What's On Your Mind)    5:05
9    Bob Brookmeyer's KC Seven–    Blue And Sentimental    6:53
10    Bob Brookmeyer's KC Seven–    Doggin' Around    8:40
11    Bob Brookmeyer's KC Seven–    Moten Swing    10:12
12    Bob Brookmeyer's KC Seven–    Trav'lin' Light    3:35
Credits :
1-6
Arranged By – Bill Potts
Arranged By, Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn
Arranged By, Valve Trombone, Liner Notes – Bob Brookmeyer
Bass – Eddie Jones
Drums – Charlie Persip
Guitar – Freddie Green
Piano – Hank Jones
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Trumpet – Harry Edison
7-12
Bass – Addison Farmer
Drums – Osie Johnson
Guitar – Jim Hall
Piano – Nat Pierce
Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Paul Quinichette
Valve Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer

AL COHN, JOE NEWMAN & FREDDIE GREEN - Mosaic Select 27 (2007) 3xCD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This Mosaic compilation draws from material that comprised five separate RCA Victor LPs of the 1950: Al Cohn's The Natural Seven and The Jazz Workshop: Four Brass, One Tenor, Freddie Green's Mr. Rhythm, plus two Joe Newman records, All I Wanna Do Is Swing and I'm Still Swinging. Cohn, Green, and Newman are the common element to all of the recording sessions, leading bands ranging from septets to nonets.The Natural Seven was inspired by the Kansas City Seven drawn from the Count Basie band of the 1930s, and while the arrangements by Cohn and Manny Albam swing lightly in the style of Basie's septet, the focus is more on originals written for the session rather than simply recreating earlier recordings. Joining them are pianist Nat Pierce, trombonist Frank Rehak, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Osie Johnson, highlighted by the upbeat unison horn line in Cohn's "Pick a Dilly" and Albam's swinging "Jump the Blues Away." Johnson even adds a vocal on his fun-filled "Osie's Blues." Cohn's other session as a leader includes Thad Jones with either Joe Wilder, Bernie Glow, or Phil Sunkel on third trumpet, with Dick Katz doubling on valve trombone and trumpet, pianist Dick Katz, and bassist Buddy Jones subbing for the previous personnel. Once more, Cohn and Albam split up the arrangements, with the tenor saxophonist benefiting from the quartet of brass players accompanying him. "Rosetta" and the leader's "Cohn Not Cohen" are among the highlights. Freddie Green was known for his superb timekeeping in the Basie band, a tenure which lasted a half-century until his passing in 1987, just a few years after the leader. Mr. Rhythm marked the first issued under his own name, plus eight of the dozen songs are Green's compositions, with Green sticking to playing rhythm throughout the date. Cohn, Albam, and Ernie Wilkins provide the swinging arrangements of the mostly blues-oriented material, while Cohn doubles on both clarinet and bass clarinet in addition to playing tenor sax. Two dates led by Newman in 1955 also fit in nicely, with either Frank Rehak or Urbie Green on trombone, Wilkins or Gene Quill on alto sax, and Pierce or Dick Katz on piano. Newman, who tended to be overshadowed by many of the other swing and bop trumpeters active at the time, shines on both open and muted horn, while featuring his musicians prominently throughout both dates. Green's "Corner Pocket" and a buoyant treatment of the standard "Exactly Like You" especially stand out. Most of this music was reissued on CD during the '80s and '90s, though none of it remained in print for long. Ken Dryden  
All Tracks & Credits

FREDDIE GREEN | AL COHN - Natural Rhythm (1987) WV (image+.cue), lossless

Wonderful mid-50s date with Freddie Green (g) stepping outside Basie's orchestra; Joe Newman accenting things on trumpet.
Freddie Green - Mr. Rhythm - RCA Victor LPM-1210    
1    Up In The Blues    2:32
2    Down For Double    3:57
3    Back And Forth    2:16
4    Free And Easy    3:23
5    Learnin' The Blues    3:27
6    Feed Bag    2:57
7    Something's Gotta Give    2:52
8    Easy Does It    3:41
9    Little Red    2:07
10    Swinging Back    3:21
11    A Date With Ray    4:51
12    When You Wish Upon A Star    2:36
Al Cohn - The Natural Seven - RCA Victor LPM-1116    
13    Doggin' Around    2:59
14    Jump The Blues Away    2:54
15    Jack's Kinda Swing    3:33
16    The Natural Thing To Do    2:58
17    A. C. Meets Osie    2:40
18    Baby Please    3:02
19    9:20 Special    2:56
20    Pick A Dilly    3:28
21    Count Me In    3:32
22    Freddie's Tune    3:24
Notas.
Release combines tracks from 2 LPs as described in the headings.
The two LPs featured the same personnel except the trombonist.
Both LPs recorded in 1955.
Total playing time = 70:53 min
Tracks A-1 ("A Kiss To Build A Dream On") and B-6 ("Osie's Blues") from the LP "The Natural Seven" were not included in this CD..
Credits :
Bass – Milt Hinton
Drums – Osie Johnson
Piano – Nat Pierce
Rhythm Guitar – Freddie Green
Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn
Trombone – Frank Rehak (pistas: 13 to 22), Henry Coker (pistas: 1 to 12)
Trumpet – Joe Newman

BENNY CARTER - 'Live And Well In Japan! (1977-1985) 32bits-96hz | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Benny Carter headed a talent-filled tentet for this frequently exciting concert. With trumpeters Cat Anderson and Joe Newman, trombonist Britt Woodman, Cecil Payne on baritone and Budd Johnson doubling on tenor and soprano, it is not at all surprising that the results would be memorable, but this date actually exceeds one's expectations. In addition to fine jam versions of "Squatty Roo," "Them There Eyes" and "It Don't Mean a Thing," there is a remarkable Louis Armstrong medley on which Carter (on trumpet) plays "When It's Sleepy Time Down South," Cat Anderson follows with a high note solo on "Confessin'" and then Joe Newman (who rarely recorded vocals) does a near-perfect imitation of Louis Armstrong singing on "When You're Smiling." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Squatty Roo 12:45
Johnny Hodges
2     Tribute to Louis Armstrong: When It's Sleepy Time Down South/Confe ... 6:05
Doc Daugherty / Marvin Fisher / Otis Rene / Ellis Reynolds / Shay
3     Them There Eyes 11:22
Maceo Pinkard / Doris Tauber / William Tracey
4     It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 10:45
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone, Trumpet, Producer – Benny Carter
Baritone Saxophone – Cecil Payne
Bass – George Duvivier
Drums – Harold Jones
Guitar – Mundell Lowe
Piano – Nat Pierce
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Budd Johnson
Trombone – Britt Woodman
Trumpet – Cat Anderson, Joe Newman