BOOKER ERVIN — The In Between (1968-1997) RM | Blue Note Connoisseur Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Booker Ervin headed to Blue Note in 1968 for The In Between, a record that found him continuing in the vein of his later Prestige sessions. Supported by trumpeter Richard Williams, pianist Bobby Few, bassist Cevera Jeffries and drummer Lennie McBrowne, Ervin created an album that pushed the boundaries of hard bop. Every song on The In Between is an Ervin original designed to challenge the musicians. The music rarely reaches avant-garde territory -- instead, it's edgy, volatile hard bop that comes from the mind as much as the soul. Appropriately, Ervin balances his full-bodied tone with a forceful, aggressive attack that even sounds restless on the slower numbers. The result is a satisfying, cerebral set of adventurous hard bop that finds Booker Ervin at a creative peak. Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist :
1    The In Between    7:39
 Booker Ervin
2    The Muse    7:14
 Booker Ervin
3    Mour    5:57
 Booker Ervin
4    Sweet Pea    5:33
 Booker Ervin / Tommy Roe
5    Largo    6:23
 Booker Ervin
6    Tyra    7:28
 Booker Ervin
Credits :
Bass – Cevera Jeffries Jr.
Drums – Lenny McBrowne
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Bobby Few Jr.
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Booker Ervin
Trumpet – Richard Williams (tracks: 1 to 4, 6)

OLIVER NELSON SEXTET ft. ERIC DOLPHY | RICHARD WILLIAMS — Screamin' the Blues (1960) Two Version | 1991, RM | Original Jazz Classics – OJCCD-080-2 + 2018, SACD | The Prestige Stereo Series | FLAC (tracks+.image+.cue), lossless

Oliver Nelson (on tenor and alto sax) meets Eric Dolphy (alto, bass clarinet and flute) on this frequently exciting sextet session with trumpeter Richard Williams, pianist Richard Wyands, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Roy Haynes. Although Dolphy is too unique and skilled to be overshadowed in a setting such as this, Nelson holds his own. He contributed five of the six compositions (including "Screamin' the Blues," "The Meetin'," and "Alto-Itis") and effectively matches wits and creative ideas with Dolphy. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Screamin' the Blues 10:59
Oliver Nelson
2 March on, March On 4:59
Esmond Edwards
3 The Drive 5:48
Oliver Nelson
4 The Meetin' 6:43
Oliver Nelson
5 Three Seconds 6:25
Oliver Nelson
6 Alto-Itis 4:58
Oliver Nelson
Credits:
Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Eric Dolphy
Bass – George Duvivier
Drums – Roy Haynes
Piano – Richard Wyands
Recorded By, Remastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Oliver Nelson
Trumpet – Richard Williams

RED GARLAND — Soul Burnin' (1964-1997) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Soul Burnin' contains material recorded at Red Garland' final two sessions for the Prestige label. Garland is generally in fine form, drawing on his bop and blues influences to produce cleanly coherent solos.
On "If You Could See Me Now" and "On Green Dolphin Street," Garland's trio (with Charlie Persip, drum, and Peck Morrison, bass) is supplemented by the trumpet of Richard Williams and the saxophone of Oliver Nelson. Nelson (known mostly as an arranger/ composer) has an unformed sound and a melodic conception that recalls Coltrane.
The three tunes performed by Garland's other trio (with Sam Jones, bass, and Art Taylor, drums) are solid, if uninspired. Also included as a bonus track is a tune called "A Little Bit of Basie" -- Garland's playing here echoes the elegance, economy, and style of the Count's. Rovi Staff    Tracklist & Credits :