LEE KONITZ QUARTET - Ideal Scene (1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This Soul Note release features Lee Konitz with his 1986 quartet, a unit that also includes pianist Harold Danko, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Al Harewood. Konitz, listed as playing soprano on the album but actually sticking exclusively to alto, not only interprets three veteran standards ("Ezz-thetic," "If You Could See Me Now" and "Stella by Starlight") but also three of Danko's then-recent originals and his own "Chick Came Around." The subtle but swinging music is harmonically advanced and full of surprising twists; no predictable bebop here. More than most members of his musical generation, Lee Konitz has continued to keep his music and improvising style fresh and enthusiastic while retaining his own original musical personality through the years. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Chick Came Around 6:13
Lee Konitz
2     Tidal Breeze 7:50
Harold Danko
3     Silly Samba 6:30
Harold Danko
4     Ezz-Thetic 4:35
George Russell
5     If You Could See Me Now 7:30
Tadd Dameron / Carl Sigman
6     Stare-Case 3:06
Harold Danko
7     Stella by Starlight 9:24
Ned Washington / Victor Young
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Liner Notes – Lee Konitz
Artwork [Cover Art] – Giuliano Crivelli
Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Al Harewood
Piano – Harold Danko

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Seven Standards (1985), Vol. 1 (1985) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On the first of two Lp's released by Windham Hill's mid-80's jazz subsidiary Magenta, the great avant-garde altoist Anthony Braxton teams up with a modern bop trio (consisting of pianist Hank Jones, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis) to explore seven jazz standards. Included along with a few familiar pieces are such obscurities as Clifford Jordan's "Toy" and Warne Marsh's "Background Music." Braxton generally plays the melodies fairly straight before taking off into abstract improvisations; unfortunately his sidemen seem to mostly operate independently of the altoist. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Joy Spring 7:33
Written-By – Clifford Brown
2    Spring Is Here 3:53
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
3    I Remember You 5:22
Written-By – Mercer, Schertzinger
4    Toy 6:35
Written-By – Clifford Jordan
5    You Go To My Head 9:35
Written-By – Gillespie, Coots
6    Old Folks 7:10
Written-By – Hill, Robeson
7    Background Music 5:34
Written-By – Warne Marsh
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Victor Lewis
Piano – Hank Jones

JIMMY HEATH - New Picture (1985) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Ten years after his most recent set as a leader, Jimmy Heath (heard here on tenor and soprano) finally had another opportunity to lead an album of his own. This date, reissued on CD, finds Heath playing in a largely unchanged style from his earlier days, although some of his freer flights hint slightly at the avant-garde. With strong support given by pianist Tommy Flanagan, guitarist Tony Purrone (an alumnus of the Heath Brothers), bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Al Foster, Heath performs four originals, "Lush Life," and Charlie Parker's "Dewey Square," and "Sophisticated Lady." Three numbers add two French horns, a trombone and a tuba to the ensembles for color; Heath provided the arrangements. A tasteful and swinging effort. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     New Picture 5'00
Jimmy Heath
2     Lush Life 8'06
Billy Strayhorn
3     Changes 5'59
Jimmy Heath
4     Keep Love Alive 5'21
Jimmy Heath
5     Dewey Square 4'05
Charlie Parker
6     Sophisticated Lady 6'44
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish
7     Togetherness 5'10
Jimmy Heath
Credits :
Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Al Foster
Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Tommy Flanagan (pistas: 3, 4)
French Horn – Bob Routch (pistas: 2, 4, 6), John Clark (pistas: 2, 4, 6)
Guitar – Tony Purrone
Piano [Acoustic] – Tommy Flanagan (pistas: 1, 2, 6, 7 , 8)
Producer – Jimmy Heath, Orrin Keepnews
Recorded By, Engineer [Remix] – Rudy Van Gelder
Soprano Saxophone – Jimmy Heath (pistas: 4 to 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Heath (pistas: 1 to 3, 5)
Trombone – Benny Powell (pistas: 2, 4, 6)
Tuba – Howard Johnson (pistas: 2, 4, 6)

THE ART FARMER QUINTET - Blame It on My Youth (1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is one of the better Art Farmer recordings of the 1980s, which is saying a great deal, for the flugelhornist is among the most consistent of all jazz musicians. The two ballads that open and close this set ("Blame It on My Youth" and "I'll Be Around") give Farmer an opportunity to display his warm and attractive sound (with fine support from pianist James Williams, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis), while the other five pieces (Benny Carter's "Summer Serenade" and more obscure material) add the great tenor saxophonist (and so-so soprano player) Clifford Jordan to the group. It's an enjoyable and very successful outing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Blame It on My Youth 7'05
Edward Heyman / Oscar Levant
2     Fairy Tale Countryside 9'46
Fritz Pauer
3     The Smile of the Snake 6'01
Donald Brown
4     Third Avenue 8'16
Clifford Jordan
5     Summer Serenade 6'16
Benny Carter
6     Progress Report 4'32
James Williams
7     I'll Be Around 5'04
Alec Wilder
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Victor Lewis
Flugelhorn, Arranged By – Art Farmer
Piano – James Williams
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

THE ART FARMER QUINTET - You Make Me Smile (1985-2021) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Among the most consistent of jazzmen, flugelhornist Art Farmer sounds in fine form on this quintet outing with tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan, pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Akira Tana. The material, other than the standards "Nostalgia" and "Have You Met Miss Jones?" is more obscure than usual, with an adaptation of a Scriabin classical prelude and numbers by Rufus Reid, Farmer ("Flashback") and Benny Carter ("Souvenir"). Creative bop-based music with Farmer's usual subtlety clearly in evidence. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     You Make Me Smile 4'19
Rufus Reid2     Prelude No. 1 7'02
Alexander Scriabin
3     Nostalgia 5'42
Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro
4     Flashback 7'51
Art Farmer
5     Souvenir 6'52
Benny Carter
6     Have You Met Miss Jones? 4'48
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Double Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Akira Tana
Flugelhorn, Producer – Art Farmer
Painting – Giuliano Crivelli
Piano, Directed By [Recording Coordinator] – Fred Hersch
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

THE ART FARMER QUINTET - You Make Me Smile (1985-2021) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Among the most consistent of jazzmen, flugelhornist Art Farmer sounds in fine form on this quintet outing with tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan, pianist Fred Hersch, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Akira Tana. The material, other than the standards "Nostalgia" and "Have You Met Miss Jones?" is more obscure than usual, with an adaptation of a Scriabin classical prelude and numbers by Rufus Reid, Farmer ("Flashback") and Benny Carter ("Souvenir"). Creative bop-based music with Farmer's usual subtlety clearly in evidence. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     You Make Me Smile 4:19
Rufus Reid
2     Prelude No. 1 7:02
Alexander Scriabin    
3     Nostalgia 5:42
Tadd Dameron / Fats Navarro
4     Flashback 7:51
Art Farmer
5     Souvenir 6:52
Benny Carter
6     Have You Met Miss Jones? 4:48
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Double Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Akira Tana
Flugelhorn, Producer – Art Farmer
Piano, Directed By [Recording Coordinator] – Fred Hersch
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

ART FARMER - Ph.D (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flugelhornist Art Farmer recorded quite a few records with tenor-saxophonist Clifford Jordan during the late '80s/early '90s. This sextet outing (which also includes guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist James Williams, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith) was one of their better efforts. With the exception of "Like Someone in Love," all of the material is obscure. James Williams contributes three tunes that alternate with songs by Donald Brown, Thad Jones, Kenny Drew and Clifford Jordan. The advanced hard bop music has enough unpredictable moments to hold one's interest. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Ph.D. 8:09
James Williams
2     Affaire d'Amour 6:42
Donald Brown
3     Mr. Day's Dream 6:02
James Williams
4     The Summary 6:10
Thad Jones
5     Blue Wail 8:31
Kenny Drew
6     Like Someone in Love 6:42
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
7     Rise to the Occasion 6:13
James Williams
8     Ballade Art 4:47
Clifford Jordan
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Art Farmer
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – James Williams
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

ETTA JONES - My Mother's Eyes (1977-2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although by the mid-1970s she had already been a professional singer for 30 years, Etta Jones was in reality just entering her musical prime. Having developed her individuality gradually through the years, she was heard at her very best during her long string of Muse recordings. On this fine date, Jones is joined by her husband (tenor saxophonist Houston Person) and an oversized rhythm section that features keyboardist Sonny Phillips and guitarist Jimmy Ponder. Among the highlights are "The Way You Look Tonight," "Don't Misunderstand," "You Do Something to Me" and "This Girl's In Love With Me." by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     The Way You Look Tonight 4:50
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
2     Don't Misunderstand 6:12
Gordon Parks
3     Be My Love 5:50
Nicholas Brodszky / Sammy Kahn
4     You Do Something to Me 4:44
Cole Porter
5     My Mother's Eyes 5:49
Abel Baer / Louis Wolfe Gilbert
6     This Girl's in Love With You 3:59
Burt Bacharach / Hal David
7     Gloomy Sunday 4:38
László Jávor / Rezsö Seress
Credits :
Bass – Rufus Reid
Congas, Percussion – Lawrence Killian
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Jimmy Ponder
Keyboards – Sonny Phillips
Producer, Tenor Saxophone – Houston Person
Vibraphone – George Devens
Vocals – Etta Jones