KING PLEASURE | ANNIE ROSS — King Pleasure Sings | Annie Ross Sings (1958-1987) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The brief life span of classic jazz vocalese singing found its first inspiration in these King Pleasure sides. Pleasure vocalized many bebop solos by the likes of James Moody, Charlie Parker, and Lester Young, often adding his own hip and witty lyrics to the mix. Initially issued on his debut, Moody's Mood for Love, the first eight sides here include solid senders like "Parker's Mood," "Red Top" (based on a Gene Ammons solo and featuring singer Betty Carter), and "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" (Lester Young). Balancing out the boppish fare, Pleasure also delivers ballads like "This Is Always" (featuring the Dave Lambert Singers) and his own composition, "Don't Be Scared" (up-and-coming vocalese star Jon Hendriks guests). Future Hendriks cohort Annie Ross co-headlines this LP, matching Pleasure's best with hits like "Twisted" (Wardell Gray) and "Farmer's Market" (Art Farmer). Her wordless scat feature, "Annie's Lament," is a highlight as well. A must for bop and vocal jazz fans. Stephen Cook 
Tracklist :
King Pleasure Sings
King Pleasure - Red Top 3:12
Bass – Peck Morrison
Drums – Herbie Lovelle
Piano – Ed Swanston
Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Ferguson
Trumpet – Eddie Lewis
Vocals – Betty Carter
King Pleasure - Jumpin' With Symphony Sid 2:34
Bass – Peck Morrison
Drums – Herbie Lovelle
Piano – Ed Swanston
Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Ferguson
Trumpet – Eddie Lewis
King Pleasure - Sometimes I'm Happy 2:55
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Piano – John Lewis 
Vocals – Dave Lambert Singers
King Pleasure - This Is Always 3:12
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Piano – John Lewis 
Vocals – Dave Lambert Singers
King Pleasure - What Can I Say Dear 3:09
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Piano – John Lewis 
King Pleasure - Don't Get Scared 3:18
Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank
Bass – Paul Chambers 
Drums – Joe Harris 
Piano – Jimmy Jones 
Tenor Saxophone – Lucky Thompson
Trombone – J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding
Vocals – Eddie Jefferson, Jon Hendricks
King Pleasure - Parker's Mood 2:55
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Piano – John Lewis 
King Pleasure - I'm Gone 3:27
Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank
Bass – Paul Chambers 
Drums – Kenny Clarke
Piano – Jimmy Jones 
Tenor Saxophone – Lucky Thompson
Trombone – J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding
Vocals – Eddie Jefferson, The Three Riffs
Annie Ross Sings
Annie Ross - Twisted 2:37
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Art Blakey
Organ – Ram Ramirez
Piano – Teacho Wiltshire
Annie Ross - Farmer's Market 2:43
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Art Blakey
Organ – Ram Ramirez
Piano – Teacho Wiltshire
Annie Ross - The Time Was Right 3:16
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Art Blakey
Organ – Ram Ramirez
Piano – George Wallington
Annie Ross - Annie's Lament 2:58
Bass – Percy Heath
Drums – Art Blakey
Organ – Ram Ramirez
Piano – George Wallington

JOHN KIRBY AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1945-1946 | The Classics Chronological Series – 964 (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fourth and final Classics CD to reissue all of the studio recordings of the John Kirby Sextet features the band's very rare 1945-1946 performances, originally released by the Asch, Crown, Disc, and Apollo labels. The personnel of the classic unit had changed, with only the bassist/leader and clarinetist Buster Bailey still present on all of the numbers (although altoist Russell Procope and pianist Billy Kyle are on half the selections). Trumpeters Emmett Berry, Clarence Brererton, and George Taitt do their best to fill in for the departed Charlie Shavers; drummer Bill Beason was the late O'Neil Spencer's permanent replacement; other musicians making appearances include altoists George Johnson and Hilton Jefferson, tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson (who makes the sextet a septet on six songs), and pianists Ram Ramirez and Hank Jones. The young Sarah Vaughan is featured on four selections (including classic renditions of "You Go to My Head" and "It Might as Well Be Spring"), and the forgotten Shirley Moore takes two vocals. Although the group's sound had not changed and there are some colorful arrangements, Shavers' muted yet fiery trumpet was definitely missed. This valuable release is recommended after acquiring Kirby's first three Classics CDs. Scott Yanow
Tracklist + Credits :

PUTNEY DANDRIDGE AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1936 | The Classics Chronological Series – 869 (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist
1     It's a Sin to Tell a Lie 2:52
Billy Mayhew
2     All My Life 3:11
Sidney Mitchell / Sam H. Stept
3     Ol' Man River 2:48
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
4     Why Was I Born? 2:50
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
5     These Foolish Things 2:25
Harry Link / Holt Marvell / Jack Strachey
6     Cross Patch 2:40
Vee Lawnhurst / Tot Seymour
7     A Star Fell Out of Heaven 2:36
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
8     Mary Had a Little Lamb 2:45
Matty Malneck / Marty Symes
9     Here Comes Your Pappy 2:36
Harry Tobias
10     If We Never Meet Again 2:40
Louis Armstrong / Horace Gerlach
11     Sing Baby Sing 2:24
Channing Pollack / Jack Yellen
12     You Turned the Tables on Me 2:38
Louis Alter / Sidney Mitchell
13     It's the Gypsy in Me 2:39
Harry Tobias
14     When a Lady Meets a Gentleman Down South 2:38
Michael Cleary / Jacques Krakeur III / David Oppenheim
15     A High Hat, a Piccolo and a Cane 2:28
Harry Akst / Lew Brown / Sammy Fain
16     Easy to Love 2:41
Cole Porter
17     You Do the Darn'dest Things, Baby 2:41
Sidney Mitchell / Channing Pollack
18     The Skeleton in the Closet 2:33
Johnny Burke / Arthur Johnston
19     I'm in a Dancing Mood 2:46
Al Goodhart / Al Hoffman / Maurice Sigler
20     With Plenty of Money and You 2:29
Al Dubin / Harry Warren
21     That Foolish Feeling 2:28
Harold Adamson / Jimmy McHugh
2     Gee! But You're Swell 2:32
Harry Tobias