GERALD WILSON ORCHESTRA – In My Time (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Veteran arranger Gerald Wilson utilized a New York band full of all-stars for this very rewarding and memorable project. Three of the selections ("Dorian," "Ray's Vision at the U," and "Blues for Manhattan") form a suite called "The Diminished Triangle," which is based upon diminished chords and utilizes Wilson's eight-part harmony. Guitarist Russell Malone is showcased on the ballad "Musette," a remake of "Lomelin" pays tribute to a bullfighter in dramatic fashion, and such players as tenor saxophonist Kazumi Washington (an impressive new voice), pianist Renee Rosnes, trumpeters Jon Faddis, Jimmy Owens, and Sean Jones, and tenor man Ron Blake are among the many colorful soloists. But it is the enthusiastic arranger/bandleader who takes honors with his consistently inventive writing and (one imagines) enthusiastic conducting. Highly recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Sax Chase 10:21
Written-By – Miles Davis
The Diminished Triangle - Three Part Composition
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
2    Dorian 7:27
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
3    Ray's Vision At The U 4:25
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
4    Blues For Manhattan 8:47
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
5    Lomelin 7:41
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
6    A.E.N. 10:26
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
7    Musette 5:47
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
8    So What 11:08
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
9    Love For Sale 5:05
Written-By – Cole Porter
10    Jeri 3:55
Written-By – Gerald Wilson
Credits :
Gerald Wilson Orchestra:
Steve Wilson , Gary Smulyan, Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake , Dustin Cicero, Jerry Dodgian -Woodwinds
Russell Malone - Guitar
Eddie Henderson, Frank Green, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Owens, Jon Faddis, Sean Jones, Mike Rodriguez - Trumpet
Luis Bonilla, Benny Powell, Douglas Purviance, Dennis Wilson - Trombone
Renee Rosnes - Keyboards
Peter Washington - Double Bass
Lewis Nash - Drums

ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY — Easy Living (1999-2005) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is Ann Hampton Callaway's seventh recording, Easy Living, is one of her very best. It's a program of well-known standards and fairly stock arrangements, but in the middle is her pristine, well-defined, flexible voice. She retains a lower-end range in her style that suggests only one singer: Sarah Vaughan. She's joined by several different rhythm sections and soloists, including pianists Benny Green (six cuts), Bill Charlap (five), and Kenny Barron (two); bassists Peter Washington or Neal Miner; drummers Clarence "Tootsie" Bean and Lewis Nash; percussionist Jim Saporito; saxophonists Andy Farber, Nelson Rangell, and Gerry Niewood; and on three selections, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. A collection of love songs sung convincingly and with no frills, Callaway shows great depth in ballad singing. Hard evidence is presented in her takes of "Skylark" and "The Very Thought of You," with Charlap's glistening piano tones ringing bells for the singer and Farber's tenor sax replies. "'Round Midnight" is the penultimate interp with Barron's wistful piano and Marsalis' spare trumpet offering advice on ol' midnight. Callaway can swing well when she chooses; "Easy to Love" brings home her lower dulcet tones, while Farber's tenor cops a Stan Getz-Joe Henderson type plea bargain. Green's intro to "Nice Work If You Can Get It" has a "Giant Steps" quote before the singer digs into this lyric. She scats a little during the middle of the program, on the melody line, and the coda, of "Bluesette," and more in the improvised bridge during "It Had to Be You." Bossa nova is always a sidebar for singers, and Callaway uses this Brazilian rhythm on an interesting arrangement of "You Don't Know What Love Is" spiked with high drama, Saporito's Latin percussion, Barron's deft piano, and Niewood's flavorful tenor. The lone composition of the vocalist "Come Take My Hand" is also bossa, with Rangell's flute chirping on this definitive love anthem. Marsalis is also bolder on the stark ballad title track and a nice version of "In a Sentimental Mood," while it's the singer getting brash and daring in a lower tone than normal for perhaps the highlight "All of You," Green's piano matching the depths of Callaway's yearnings. It's not hyperbole to understand this is the perfect singer with a perfect voice that sounds so effortless, mature, and flowing. Though the others six recordings are just fine, this one really hits the spot, especially instrumentally. Callaway proves up to the challenge with every measure, phrase, and inflection. Michael G. Nastos   
Tracklist :
1        Easy To Love    3:48
 Cole Porter
2        'Round Midnight    5:56
 Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
3        Come Take My Hand    3:32
 Ann Hampton Callaway
4        Easy Living    5:44
 Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
5        All Of You    3:22
 Cole Porter
6        Blusette    3:41
 Norman Gimbel / Toots Thielemans
7        It Had To Be You    3:27
 Isham Jones / Gus Kahn
8        In A Sentimental Mood    5:22
 Duke Ellington / Manny Kurtz / Irving Mills
9        You Don't Know What Love    4:00
 Gene DePaul / Don Raye
10        Come Rain Or Come Shine    4:11
 Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
11        Skylark    5:47
 Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
12        Nice Work If You Can Get It    2:32
 George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
13        The Very Thought Of You    5:48
 Ray Noble / Roy Noble
 Line-up / Musicians
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Nelson Rangel
Bass – Neal Miner, Peter Washington
Drums – Clarence "Tootsie" Bean, Lewis Nash
Percussion – Jim Saporito
Piano – Benny Green, Bill Charlap, Kenny Barron
Tenor Saxophone – Andy Farber, Gerry Niewood
Trumpet – Wynton Marsalis
Vocals – Ann Hampton Callaway

RALPH MOORE — Images (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The particularly strong material and the all-star lineup (tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, pianist Benny Green, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Kenny Washington) make this a particularly enjoyable set from the tenorman. Although still displaying the inspiration (soundwise) of early-'60s John Coltrane, Moore had developed an increasingly original style within the modern mainstream throughout the 1980s. Highlights of this excellent set include J.J. Johnson's "Enigma" (a ballad feature for Moore), Hank Mobley's "This I Dig of You," and Moore's "Blues for John" (written in tribute to Coltrane). One of Ralph Moore's more significant recordings to date. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Freeway    8:04
 Ralph Moore
2    Enigma    5:29
 J.J. Johnson
3    Episode From A Village Dance    7:37
 Donald Brown
4    Morning Star    8:31
 Rodgers Grant
5    This I Dig Of You    5:36
 Hank Mobley
6    Blues For John    5:04
 Ralph Moore
7    Punjab    6:59
 Joe Henderson
8    One Second, Please    5:01
 Elmo Hope
Credits :
Bass – Peter Washington
Congas – Victor See Yuen (tracks: 3)
Drums – Kenny Washington
Piano – Benny Green
Saxophone – Ralph Moore
Trumpet – Terence Blanchard (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7)

DIZZY GILLESPIE – To Diz, With Love (Live At The Blue Note) (1992) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

Dizzy Gillespie's final recording, taken from a month he spent featured at the Blue Note in New York, matches the aging giant with such fellow trumpeters as Jon Faddis, Wynton Marsalis, Claudio Roditi, Wallace Roney, Red Rodney, Charlie Sepulveda and the ancient -- but still brilliant -- Doc Cheatham (who cuts both Diz and Faddis on "Mood Indigo"). Although Gillespie was no longer up to the competition, the love that these fellow trumpeters had for him (and some fine solos) makes this historic CD worth getting. Scott Yanow              Tracklist + Credits :

LEE KONITZ - Frescalalto (2017) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     Stella by Starlight 9:35
Victor Young
2     Thingin 6:26
Lee Konitz
3     Darn That Dream 4:58
James Van Heusen
4     Kary's Trance 5:18
Lee Konitz
5     Out of Nowhere 7:27
Johnny Green
6     Gundula 3:26
Lee Konitz    
7     Invitation 9:20
Bronislaw Kaper    
8     Cherokee 3:56
Ray Noble
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Lee Konitz
Double Bass – Peter Washington
Drums, Producer – Kenny Washington
Painting, Cover – Patrice Beauséjour
Piano – Kenny Barron